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About Weekly constitutionalist. (Augusta, Ga.) 185?-1877 | View Entire Issue (March 28, 1866)
TEE WEEKLY CONSTITUTIONALIST Important from Washington. Ultimatum of the lladical*—General Amnesty and Universal Suffrage.—Senator Stewart's Resolutions — Their Approval by Sumner and Wilson. In the Senate, on Friday, the 16th, Mr. Stew art introduced the following Joint resolution, which was referred to the Committee on Re construction: Whereas, in the present distracted condition of the country It is emminently proper and ne cessary that all just and constitutional means should be employed for the quieting of popular •xcltcment, the removal of unreasonable preju dice, and the obliteration of all hostile feeling growing out of the late unhappy civil war; and whereas one of the most prolific sources of un friendly sentiment Is the conflict of opinion ex isting on the subject of negro suffrage; and whereas it is now most evident that there is no probability whatever that Senators and Repre sentatives in Congress from the Slates whose people were lately in insurrection, will be al lowed to occupy the seats to which they have been elected until said States shall have com plied with certain fundamental conditions, a portion of which are hereinafter recited; and whereas it is unreasonable to expect the estab lishment of harmony and good feeling as long as the eleven Southern States, whose people were recently in insurrection, are prevented from resuming their ancient relations to this Government; therefore, bs it Resolved, Ac., First, That each of said States whose people were lately in insurrection, as aforesaid, shall be recognized as having fully and validly resumed its former relations with this Government, and its chosen representatives shall be admitted into the two houses of the National Legislature, whenever said State shall have so amended its constitution as, Ist, to do away with all existing distinctions as to civil rights and disabilities among the various classes of its population, by reason either of race or color, or previous condition of servitude; 2d, to repudiate all pecuniary indebtedness which said State may have heretofore contracted, in curred or assumed in connection with the late unnatural and treasonable war; 3d, to yield all claim to compensation on account of the libe ration of its slaves; and, 4th, to provide for the extension of the elective franchise to all per sons upon the same terras and conditions, mak ing no discrimination on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude: Provided, Tliat those who were qualified to vote in the year 1860 by the laws 'of the respective States shall not be disfranchised by reason of any new tests or conditions which have been or may be prescribed since that year. Resolved, That after the aforesaid conditions have been complied with, and the same shall have been ratified by the majority of the present voting population of the State, including all those qualified to vote under the laws thereof ns they existod in 1860, a general amnesty shall be proclaimed in regard to ail persons in such State who were in any way connected with armed opposition to the Government of the United States, wholly exonerating them from all pains, penalties, or disabilities to which they may have become liable by reaaon.of connection with the rebellion. Resolved, That hi view of the Importance of the thorough assimilation of the basis of suff rage in the various States of the Union, all oth er States not above specified shall be respectfu - ly requested to Incorporate an ainondmeut in their State constitutions respectively, corres ponding with the one specified. Resolved, That in tha adoption of the afore said resolutions, It is not intended to assert a coercive powor on the part of Congress In re gard to the regulation of the right of suffrage In the different States of the Union, but only to make a respectful and earnest appeal to their own good sense and love of country, with a view to the prevention of serious evils now threatened, and te the peaceful perpetuation of the repose, the happiness and the true glory of the whole American people. Mr. Stewart said that he asked that the reso lution be printed and referred to the Commit tae on Reconstruction, and added, I have been a careful observer of the current of event* since Congress assembled, and 1 have come to the conclusion that a proposition of that kind corresponds with the prevailing sentiments in Congress and also in the country, and is Indi cated by the public press; and without express ing any opinions as to the propriety or Impro priety of negro suffrage, which I have steadily avoided (lorn the first to the present time, I have come to the conclusion that In the pres ent attitude oi Congress and the conntry, the terms which Congress Is willing to grant should ho submitted to the South for them to adopt or reject. Thia proposition avoids all the odious objections attached to the other propo sitions that have appeared, and all that appears like coercion. It ulso avoids the long roll ot amendments which must be contended for on Northern battle-fields before the South bo heard at all. It is the ouly proposition that can be heard t>y the South. I want tho South to havo an opportunity to act upon it, without imparting to it what they regard ns odious. When they reiuse the pro position it will be time enough to consider oilier ones. Until they do I think, it unjust to the Soutli to take from them the right to decide for themselves. And I would say, further- 1 more, that 1 And it to he in accord with the etter written by the President of the United | States, which 1 am authorised to state Judge Carter says is genuine. It corresponds in spirit with that letter, and I have no reason to be lieve from anything the President has thereaf ter said that he at ail objects to it. I beg leave to read the letter. Mr. Stewart then road President Johnson’s telegram of the Kith of August, 18(15, to W. L. Sharkey, of Mississippi, In which the President expresses his pleasure at the organisation of the convention in Mississippi, ana his hopes that the convention will so amend the constitution of that State as to abolish slavery by adopting the constitutional amendment, and adding : “ft you could extend the elective franchise to all persons who can read the Constitution of the United States In English and can write their names, and to all persons of color who owu real estate to the s alue of #250 and j>ay taxes thereon, it would disarm your enemies and set an example for other States. This letter was not read to the convention, who refuses to receive any official communica tions, so that it was not presented to the peo ple of that or any other State. The President did not feel authorized to submit tiie question to the people, or to demand anythiug as a con dition which was not one of the issues in the war. Tills was an outaide matter, which the people therefore could have no opportu ity ol passing upon. Mr. Stewart remarked that tho resolution left to the State the power of passing property test that would include all men under twenty seven years of age, and that the colored popu lation would be placed under the same footing as to educational tests. It would lie unfair, he said, to place that test upon ft man who had passed the years when learning was easy. A young man of the age of twenty.seveu can easily iearu to read and write, and a test of that kind can be applied so as to exclude that mass "l ignorance which would embarrass the oper ations of the Government; and it holds out an opportunititv for the negro to become enfran chised, and yet expressly disclaims any desire to coerce the people of the South in so doing, and places betorc them the questions regarding the rebel debt and compensation for their slaves. He was of opinion that the South cannot be governed except by a majority vote of the peo ple and did not believe the majority could he governed by one-tenth of the people. Either the majority must govern or arbitrary means must be resorted to, snd free government must be destroyed. Mr. Stunner said: I welcome the Senator from Nevada as anew convert to the necessity of negro suffrage, and I have already repeatedly said that it was the only guarantee of future peace and security in this country. I have in sisted that it is a necessity; that without it your national debt is imperilled; that without it your freedmen stand in constant peril, and tiiat this Republic cannot enjoy permanent peuee without it. Sir, 1 welcome with opcu arms the Senator from Nevada. Mr. Saulsbury moved that the resolution be laid upon the table. The motion was disagreed to. Mr. Wilson said : I thank the Senator from Nevada for offeriug this resolution, and I have no doubt that it will receive the consideration of the committee and of Congress. I am, for one, desirous to settle the whole question on the basis of universal liberty, universal suffrage and universal amnesty. Mr. Stewart said he would move that the reso lution he printed, which was agreed to. The Oivil Eights Bill as it Passed Congress. The bill as it has passed both Houses, and will be presented to the President for his sig nature, is as follows : Section 1. That all persons born in the United States and not subject to any foreign power, excluding Indians not taxed, are hereby de clared to be citizens of the United States, and such citizens, of every race and color, without regard to any previous condition of slavery or involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall have the same right in every State and Territory to make and enforce contracts, to sue and be sued, and give evi dence, to inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold and convey real and personal property and to full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of person and property as is en joyed by white citizens, and shall be subjected to like pnnishment, pains aud penalties, and to none other, any law, statute, ordinance, regula tion or custom to the contrary not withstanding. And that any person who, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation or custom, shall subject or cause to be subject ed, any inhabitant of any Btate or Territory to the deprivation of any right secured or pro tected by this act, or to punishment, pains or penalties on account of such person having at any tima been held in a condition of slavery or involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, or by reason of his color or race, than is prescribed for the punishment of white persons, shall be deemed guilty of a mis demeanor, and on conviction shall be punished by fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both, in the discretion of the eourt. Seetion 3. That the district courts of the United States within their respective districts shall have, exclusively ,of the courts of the seve ral States, cognizance of all crimes and offenses committed against the provisions of this act, and also concurrently with the circuit courts of the United States, of all causes, civil and crimi nal, affecting persons who are denied or cannot enforce in the courts or judicial tribunals of the State or locality where they may he, any of the rights secured to them by the first section of this act; and if any suit or prosecution, civil or criminal, has been or shall be commenced in any State court against any such person, for any cause whatever, civil or military, or other person, for any arrest or imprisonment, tres passes or wrongs done or committed by virtue or under color of authority derived from this act, or the act establishing a bureau for the re lief of freedmen and refugees, and an aet amend atory thereof, or refusing to do any act upon the ground that it would be inconsistent with this act, such defendant shall have the right to remove such cause for trial to the proper dis trict or circuit court, In the manner prescribed by the act relating to habeas corpus and regula ting judicial proceedings in certain cases, ap proved March 3d, 1863, and all acts amendatory thereto, the jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters hereby conferred on the district and circuit courts of the United States shall be ex ercised and enforced in conformity with the laws of the United States, so far as snch laws are suitable to carry the same into effect; but in all exits where such laws are not adapted to the object or are deficient in the provisions ne cessary to furnish suitable remedies and punish offenses against law, the common law, and sta tutes of tha State wherein the court having ju risdiction of the cause, civil or criminal, la held, so far as the same is not inconsistent with the' Constitution and laws of the United States,' shall be extended to and govern said courts in the trial aud disposition of such eause, and if of a criminal nature, In the infliction of punish ment on the party found guilty. Section 4. That the district attorneys, mar shals and deputy marshals of the United States, the commissioners appointed by the circuit and territorial courts of the United States, with powers of arresting, Imprisoning or bailing of fenders against the laws of the United States, the officers and agents of the Frecdinen’s Bureau, and every other officer who may be specially empowered by the President of the United States, shall be and they are hereby specially authorized and required, at the expense of the United States, to institute proceeding against all gad every person who shall violate the pro visions of this act, and cause him or them to be arrested and imprisoned, or bailed, as the ease may be, for trial before such court of the United States or Territorial court, as by this act has I cognizance of the offense, and with a view to affording reasonable protection to all persons in their constitutional rights of equality before the law, without distinction of race or color, previous condition of slavery or involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly con victed, and to the prompt discharge of the duticß of this set, it shall be the duty of the circuit courts of the United States, and the superior courts ol the Territories of the Uuited States, from time to time, to increase the num ber of commissioners, so ns to afford a speedy and convenient means for the arrest and exami nation of persons charged with a violation of this act. Section 5. That said commissioners shall have concurrent Jurisdiction with the judges of the circuit aud district courts of the United States and the judges of the superior courts of the Territories, severally and collectively, in term time and vacation, upon satisfactory proof being made, to issue warrants and precepts for arresting and bringing before them all offenders against the provisions of this act, and, on ex amination, to discharge, admit to bail or com mit for trial, as the facts may warrant. Section 6. Such commissioners are hereby authorized and required to exercise and dis charge all the powers and duties conferred on them by this act, and the same duties with re gard to offenses created by this act, as they are authorized by law to exercise with regard to other offenses agaiust the laws of the United States ; that it shall be the duty of all marshals and deputy marshals to obey and execute all warrants and precepts issued under the provi sions of this act, when to them directed ; and should any marshal or deputy marshal reflise to receive such warrant or other process when ten dered, or to use all proper means diligently to execute the same, he shall, on conviction there of, lie lined in the sum of one thousand dollars, to the use of the person upou whom the ac cused is alleged to have committed the offense ; and the better to enable the said commissioners to execute their duties faithfully and efficiently, in conformity with the Constitution 6f the United States and the requirements of this act, they are hereby authorized and empowered, within their counties, respectively, to appoint in writing under their hands, any one or more suitable persons, from time to time, to execute such warrauts aud other process as may be is sued by them in the lawful performance of their respective duties; aud the persons so appoint ed to execute any warrant or process as afore said, shall have authority to summon and call to their aid the bystanders or posse comitatus of the proper, county, or such portion of the laud or naval forces of the United States, or of the militia, as may be necessary to the perform ance of the duty with which they are charged, and to insure a faithful observance ol the clause of the Constitution which prohibits slavery, in conformity with the provisions pf this act, and said warrants shall run and be executed by said officer anvwhere in the State or Territory with in which they are issued. Seetion 7 That any person who shall know ingly and wilfully obstruct, hinder or prevent any officer or other person charged with the execution of any warrant or process issued un der the provisions of this act, or any person or persons lawfully assisting him or them, from arresting any person for whose apprehension such warrant or process may have been issued, or shall rescue or attempt to rescue such person from the custody of the officer, other person or persons, or those lawfully assisting as afore said, when so arrested pursuant to the authority hereby given and declared, or shall aid, abet or assist any person so arrested as aforesaid, di rectly or indirectly, to escape from the custody' of the officer or other person legally authorized as aforesaid, or shall harbor or conceal any per son for whose arrest a warrant or process shall have been issued as aforesaid, so as to prelent his discovery and arrest, after notice or knowl edge of the fact that a warrant has been issued for the apprehension of such person, shall, for either of said offenses, he subject to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, and imprison ment not exceeding six months, by indictment ,and conviction before the district court of the United States for the district in which said of fense may have been committed, or before the proper court of criminal jurisdiction, if com mitted within any one of the organized Terri tories of the United States. Section 8. That the district attorneys, the marshals, their deputies and the clerks of the said district and territorial courts shall be paid for their services the like fees as may be allow ed to them for similar services in other cases, and in all cases where the proceedings are be fore a commissioner, he shall be entitled to a fee of ten dollars, in full for his services in each ease, inclusive of all services incident to such arrest and examination. The person or persons authorized to execute the process to be issued by sucli commissioners for the arrest of offend ers against the provisions of this act shall be entitled to a fee of five dollars for each person he or they may arrest and take before any such commissioner as aforesaid, with such other fees as may be deemed reasonable by such com missioner for such other additional services as may be necessarily performed by him or them such as attending at the examination, keeping the prisoner in custody, and providing with food and lodging during his detention, and un til the final determination of such commission er, and in general for performing such other duties as may be required in the premises, such fees to be made up in conformity with the fees usually charged by the officers of the courts of justice within the proper district or county, as near as may be practicable, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States, on the certificate of the judge of the district within which the arrest is made, and to be recoverable from the defendant as part of the judgment in cage of conviction. Section 9. That whenever the President of the United States shall have reason to believe that offenses have been or are likely to be committed against the provisions of this act within any judicial district, it shall be lawful for him, in his discretion, to direct thejudge, marshal or district attorney of such district- to attend at such place within the district, and for such time as he may designate, for the purpose of the more speedy arrest and trial of persons charged with a violation of this act, and it shall be the duty of every judge or other officer, when any such requisitions shall be received by him, to attend at the time and place, and for the time therein designated. Section 10. That it shall be lawful for the President of the United States, or such persons as he may empower for that purpose, to employ such part of the land or naval forces of the United States, or of the militia, as shall be ne cessary to prevent the violation and enforce the due execution of this act. Seetion 11. That upon all questions of law arising In any eause under the provisions of this act, a final appeal may be takqn to the Su preme Court of the United States. The Confederate Dead. The New York News, of Saturday, publishes the touching appeal of the committee es citi zen* appointed to collect the remains of the Confederate dead, which repose in the vicinity of Winchester, Virginia, and transfer them to a suitable ground to be provided and sat apart for that purpose. The News contents upon the appeal for aid to enable them to perform thair mission as follows: Many tribute* of respect have been paid to the memory of the soldier* who fell fighting for tha Federal eause. Their ashes have been gathered and entombed with solemn ceremony in consecrated cemeteries, and above their grave* the monumental stone recites the histo ry of their deeds. The wants of their orphans and widows have been supplied by the gener ous contributions of their countrymen, and the sorrow of bereavement has been soothed by the voices of the living, uttering the language of praise and sympathy for the fallen. This is the moat just and commendable. It would be a sin against uature to refuse the offerings due to the men who have perished upon tbs field of battle: and it is a labor of love and duty to keep the grass green upon those graves, and the bloom forever fresh upon their laurels. But the Confederate dead ! Are they to be forgotten and neglected ? Thousands of them lie mouldering where they fell, without a stone to mark their resting place, without a sign to tell the wayfarer that the bones of brave men repose beneath the dust, trampled by feet un conscious of the sacred attributes of the place. Hundreds of thousands of our sorrowing coun trymen and women of the South know not where the remains of their kindred rest, or wliethsr, indeed, the pulseless hearts that were once warm with affection have even the cover ing of the quiet sod in the eternal sleep. Tet those bereaved ones feel keenly as their con querors the obligations that a Christian senti ment owes to the manes of the departed, but they are too poor to the last sad offices to their fallen kindred. They have not even the means to feed and clothe their living dependents, and in their desolate households they weep for the dead without the mournful privilege of know ing that they repose in hallowed ground. It is not charity that here appeals to wealth, but the spirit of a holy duty that invites aid to its fulfillment. Conquerors have the pride and joy of victory with which to combat the agony of bereavement; but the vanquished are left alone with their sorrow, te brood over it amid the wreck of their hopes and the ruins of their fortunes. The Southern people have but little consolation beyond the thought that their fallen ones fought bravely and perished nobly. It is in them a virtue to respect the memory of the Confederate dead. They were the champions of a cause to which the Southern heart cleaved with an unshaken faith until the last whisper of hope was hushed, and the conquered banner was lowered in the shadow of despair. But why should that shadow l'allwipon the graves of heroes, although their life-blood flowed in vain? In the presence of peace the foemen of the past can stand together uncovered beside the tombs of the fallen of either side, and upon those sad mementoes ol a cruel strife they can join to lay the offerings that manhood loves to give to the monuments of heroism and devotion. It should be our pride to render tribute to American valor; and were not the Confederate dead our countrymen ? Are they not of our race and country who weep for them ? The North will honor itself by companionship in a labor that seeks to mark the resting place of brave men, and to redeem their memories from oblivion. The holy mission appeals to the loftiest and purest emotions of human nature: let it not appeal in vain. Condition of Affairs in Alabama-Progress of Restoration —Cotton and the Negro. The following private letter from a well known gentlemen of Alabama to Hon. H. T. Blow, member of Congress from Missouri, has been handed to the editor of the New York Times for publication. It contains information of general public interest: Florence, Ala., Feb. 28,1866. Hon. Henry T. Blow. Dear Sir : * * I see you have got in a wonderful muss about the admission of our Southern members. I was in hopes that you politicians could have agreed upon some plan by which this question could have been amica bly settled. I have never been much of a poli cian, nor was Ia follower of Jeff. Davis & Cos. I did not belong to that party known as the Se cession Party, and had but little to do with the late rebellion; but it had much to";do with me, as I lost all I possessed by it. This being my position, I think I have the right to speak. I must say to you that I was very apprehensive as to 'the course Governor Parsons adopted at the outset in reorganizing our State; but the thing worked so admirably that my doubts have all vanished. I never have seen more peace and quiet in the conntry than exist at this time; everybody is at work, anew order of things has sprung up—such prosperity I never expected to see in this country. No history that 1 have read records anything like it —it would aston ish you and your friends in Congress if you wercjhere to witness it. I am happy to 6tate to you that our free ne groes are doing finely. We have no trouble with them ; they have all gone to work man fully ; they give an impetus to trade that we neTer before had. I have sold Jack Peters’ ne groes more goods this year and last year than I ever sold Peters, and he owned 450 negroes. So you see the free-negro system is working well with us. The Froedmen’s Bureau is a perfect humbug. I have watched its operations here closely. No use for it in the world. Any two good citizens can witness negro contracts as well as officers, most of whom can’t read. Besides, they are making money out of it, charging $2 for every contract. There was a lot of negroes called on me a few days ago to write them a petition, and they would get all to sign it, and send it to Mr. Sumner, to have the whole thing abolished.— The negroes in this country have heard of Mr. Bumner. They think he will and can do for them anything they want; but I told them it was useless, and they abandoned it. I have written you this much to inform you how we are getting along, and what the country is doing. What I have stated you can rely upon. I do hope yon will not find it necessary to increase the tax on cottofi. I fear it would work badly. Tax the luxuries, but not the necessaries. The best informed of our negroes are kicking up at this increased tax. They think it is a lick at them. Hoping that all things will work out to the happiness and prosperity of our whole country, I remain yours, &c., NeanAer H. Rice. General Sherman on the Burning of Colum bia, S. 0. The following is the letter of Major-General Sherman on the burning of Columbia, S. C., an abstract of which has already been given in our columns. It will be seen that he is opposed to the payment of Southern war claims of even the most worthy character, though he express es sympathy for those who sustained losSes: Hbadq’es Mil. Div. of the Mississippi, ) St. Louis, Mo., March 8, 1866. j Bbnj. Rawls, Columbia, 8. C.: Dear Sis: I have your letter enclosing a petition to the Congress of the United States, asking to ba indemnified for the loss by fire of your house and contents, at the time of our oc cupation in February, 1865. I assure you that I feel deeply for you and all others who lost their property in the fire; but if the United States were to assume the liability, it would be an admission that we had done wrong. This is not true. The rlghtftal authority of the National Gov ernment had been resisted in the State of South Carolina for years, and we wera compelled, at a great cost of life and money, to conduct thither a vast army, and our progress was resisted by all the force the State could obtain. Your own citizens resisted our approach, not only with arms, but by burning the bridgea over the Edis to, Congaree, Saluda, and Broad rivers. They burned the depot in Columbia before we enter ed the city, because it contained corn and stores they supposed we needed, and set fire to thou sands of bales of cotton rolled out into the streets, and which were burning before we en jered Columbia. I myself was in the city as early as noon, and saw those fires, and know that efforts were made to extinguish them, but a high and strong wind kept them alive. I gave no orders ior the burning of your city, but, on the contrary, the reverse, and I believe the con flagration resulted from the great imprudence of cutting the cotton bales, whereby the con tents were spread by the winds, so that it be came an impossibility to arrest the fire. I saw in your Columbia newspapers the printed order of General Wade Hampton, that on the approach of the Yankee army all the cot ton should be burned, and, from what I saw myself, have no hesitation in saying that he wa3 the cause of the destruction of your property. Your true remedy is against him, and such oth ers of your own citizens as conspired with him and made the military occupation of your city an absolute necessity. I hardly think it is fair that Congress should tax the people of Ohio, Illinois and Missouri to pay such losses; but ag it is not my province to judge in such matters, I send your petition according to its address. I again assure you of my personal sympathy, by reason of your age aud infirmity, but this must not lead me to endorse a wrong princi ple. I am, with great respect, your obedient ser vant, W. T. Sherman, Major General. Gas. 8. D. Leb. —A correspondent, writing from Artesia, Miss., on the 26th ult., thus al ludes to Gen. Stephen D. Lee. The writer says: “ Ex-Lieut. Gen. S. D. Lee has leased a large plantation. He has employed more than fifty freedmen, and is of the opinion that cotton growing for the next four or five years will be most lucrative. Speaking of Mexican emigra tion, not long since, he remarked that from" ex perience he knew the Mexican soil to be the most fertile in the world, and the climate the most salubrious, but from history he had learned sufficiently the character of the people to con vince him that revolutions were as natural and inevitable in Mexico as eruptions in Mt. jEtna or Vesuvius. He encourages all lovers of peace to remain at home, and by honestly adhering to the support of President Johnson, by strict conformant* to all laws and proclamations en deavor to regain the political rights and privi leges lost by the rebellion and restore the pros perity of the South as speedily as possible. Gen. Lee was ever regarded as a gentleman of tine attainments, and the high opinion enter taiifcd of him hitherto has rather enhanced since his settlement in our midst. His opinion will doubtless be of great weight in deterring the people of these wealthy districts from * flv’- ing to the ills they know not t ’ Advices from Spain state that wolves hare appeared in such numbers in the province of Badajos, and have made such ravages among the cattle, that the Avuntamientos hare organ ized hunts in every soxnmune. \ [From the Charleston N* ew , * UNFORTUNATE TRAGEDY. THE STEAMER GEN. HOOKER nr STROYED BY FIRE. SOME EIGHT LIVES LOST. A sad occurrence took place near this nor* yesterday, by which some eight persons wer . drowned, and others injured. The steam General Hooker, Captain Davidson, which feu been plying as a packet from this port m Georgetown, 8. C., for several months fee Boyce & Co.’s Wharf, in tlife city, on Wednes day, about 8, a. m., and about one hour later when the steamer was off Breech Inlet break' ers, she was found to be on fire in and near the coal bunkers. Although a stream of water was immediately played on it, aud every effort used to put out the flames, they increased rapidly and in some fifteen minutes the entire upne part of the steamer appeared to be on fire The boats were got ready, and the steamer pointed for the beach, but there was a heavy sea rolling which, with the confusion among the passen gers, interfered seriously with the use of the boats, and finally capsized and filled them with water, causing the drowning of several ladies and perhaps others. 1 The fire progressed so quickiy that the Oiler ropes were burnt before the Hooker could be got to the beach, and she consequently became unmanageable. While in this position, passen gers took to the water, and hung with tenacity to any object that would support them. 7 The steamer Pilot Boy, Capt. Payne, also oa her way to Georgetown, and which was about one and a half miles off, put about and came to the aid of the Hooker as soon as her situation was discovered. Capt. Payne, on reaching the spot, anchored his steamer to keep her head to wind and sea, got out his life-boat, which was taken charge oi by Capt. John Ferguson, who together with Capt. Davidson, of the Hooker’ who was in a half-sunken boat, and Mr. Doane' pilot, succeeded in placing some twenty persona on the Pilot Boy, by which means they reached this cityabout 11, a. m., and bringing the first news of the disaster. The following are the names of those who came up in the Pilot Boy as near as could be ascertained: D. Risley, wife, and sister, passengers, George town, S. C. 5 W. Burke, passenger.. J. H. Foote, passenger. Master Bush, passenger, Georgetown, S. C. Mrs. Davidson and child, wife of the Captaiu of the Hooker. F. G. Coffin, Mate of the Hooker. A. F. Doane, Pilot of the Hooker. Four other white passengers. The body of Miss Bush. Two Firemen, Steward, .Waiter, and one deck hand. Also, three or four colored persons, one a woman badly burnt. The following landed on Sullivan’s Island : Captain Davidson. Mr. Long, Engineer. Mr. Rottereau, Purser. And two deck hands. The following are lost: Mrs. Rhodes, passenger, of Georgetowa, South Carolina. Miss Belle Risley, of Philadelpiia. Miss Bush, daughter of the Mayor of George town, S. C., who was just returning home from school. Her body was kept afloat by her cloth ing, and she was picked up, but life was extinct when she was got on board the steamer. The number of colored persons drowned we found it impossible to learn, and placing them at four or five, we do so only conjecturally— there may have been a greater number. The Hooker has burnt to the water’s edge, and has floated ashore on Sullivan’s Island. The bodies of Mrs. Rhodes and a colored woman floated ashore on the beach yesterday, and others will no doubt soon find their way there. Captains Ferguson and Payne, and Mr. Doane, pilot «f the Hooker, are particularly spoken of in re* ference to their efforts to save the lives of the unfortunate. The Gen. Hooker was anew boat, and to owned by Messrs. McKay & Aldus, of Rost Boston. Thocbi.s* op a Married Mae. —One moral ing an athletic young farmer, in the town es Waynesburg, took a fair girl, “ all bathed in blushes,” from her parents, and started tor the first town across the Pennsylvania line, to be married, where the ceremony could be perform ed without* license. The happy pair were ac companied by a sister of the girl, a tall, gaunt, sharp-featured female, of some thirty-seven summers. The pair crossed the line, were married, and returned to Wellsville to pas* the night. People at the hotel where the wedded party stopped observed that they conducted themselves in a rather singular manner. The husband would take his sister-in-law, the tall female aforesaid, into one corner of the parlor, and talk earnestly to her, gesticulating wildly at the time. Then the tall female would “ put her foot down,” and talk to him in an angry and excited manner. Then thehusband would take his fair young bride into a corner ; but he would no sooner commence talking to her, than the gaunt sister would rush in between them and angrily join in the conversation.— The people at the hotel ascertained what this meant about nine o’clock that evening. There was an uproar in the room which had been as signed to the newly married couple. Female shrieks and masculine “ swears ” startled the people at the hotel, and they rushed to the spot. The gaunt female was pressing against the door of the room, and the newly married man, mostly undressed, was barring her out with all his might. Occasionally she would kick the door fur enough open to disclose the stalwart husband, in his gentleman Greek Slave apparel. It appears that the tall female insisted upon occupying the same bed with the newly wed ded pair ; that her sister was favorably disposed to the arrangement, and that the liuaband had agreed to it before the wedding “took place,” and now indignantly repudiated the contract. “Won’t you go away now, Susan?” said the newly married man, softening his voice. “No,” said she, “I won’t, so there !” “ Don’t you budge an inch !” cried the mar ried sister within the room. “Now—now, Maria,” said the young man te his wife, in a piteous tone, “ don’t go to cuttin’ up in this way ; now don’t.” “ I’ll cut up as much as I wanter !” she sharply replied. “ Well,” roared the desperate man, throwing the door wide open and stalking out among the Qrowd, “jest you two wimmim put on your duds aud go right straight home, and bring baek the old man and woman, and your grand father, who is nigh on to a hundred ; bring ’em all here, and I’ll marry the whole caboodle of ’em, and we’ll sleep together !” Thedifficulty was finally adjusted by the tall female taking a room. Wellsville is enjoying Itself over the sensation. Gen. J. C. Vaughan.— Gen. J. C. Vaughan, who commanded at the Piedmond fight, after Gen. Jones fell, writes to a gentleman in Au gusta county: “I have never returned to Ten nessee since the surrender. My wife and child ren were all arrested and sent North as priso ners—his home was on Sweet Water, Monrod •ountv, East Tennessee—and all he had confis cated ; even our wardrobes were destroyed- Therefore, I brought my family to this point on the Florida line, only forty miles from the coast, aud am trying to support them by hard labor. I had nothing left at the close of the war.” [ Wytheville Dispatch. The Galveston C ivilian, of the 15th, says the rigid quarantine established by authority of the United States against the West Indies has taken many persons by surprise. A late arrival from the West Indies reports the cholera disappear ing from Guadaloupe, tnd it has not broken out in any of the adjacent islands.
