Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1849-11-10
CONSTRUCTIVE MILEAGE, RE
FORM. &c.

-
to fitch from the Public Treasury under
the spurious claim for constructive mi
leage.' For years'past, on the advent of
every new Administration, the Senate has
been in the habit of charging full mileage
for attendance at the special Executive
Session of that body, in addition to the
amount received for the regular Session.
OF course this usage had its origin during
the existence Of the 'dinasty of pccula.
tors;' but it was killed few DAYS since by
that incorruptible and intrepid guardian
of the peoples money Hon Elisha Whit
tlcscy, First Controller of the Treasury
1t seems that claim came up in usual
form, paid by G. Dickens esq, Clerk of
the Senate, for constructive mileage, in
attendance at the Executive Session in
March last, and that every member of the
Senate save three, received pay. Mr..
Whittlcscy, after full delibcration, was of
opinion that the claim ought not to be
allowed Fearing, however, that the Ad
ministration might regard this as an Incl,
perfume occasion for such action as might
displcasc the Senate, he stated the case
to the President, through Mr. CLAYTON,
and added the remark, that if it was not
thought proper to acti in accordaecc with
his (Mr. WIS., convictions, he would re-
sign the Controllcrship. The Presidents
prompt and characteristic reply was Tell
Mr. Whittlesey to do what is right, and
let the consequences take care Of them
selves The claim was Immediately re.
lcotcd,
Mr.. Dickens has his remedy against the
honorable Senators, and it is to be hoped
that they will Immediately make restitu-
ton,
have it from good authority that the
the 1st November.
Hon. A. K Paris I'd Controller of the
Treasury.
Hon. Peter G. Washington, Auditor of
the Treasury for the Post Office Depart
mcnt.
Maj Hobbie, lst Assistalt Postmaster
General.
Cor. cfN. Y. com. Dc En-.
SILK MANUFACTURE IN CHINA.
An American in China gives the fol-
lowing account of the silk and Grape man
ufactures in that country:
'Onc bright morning in November
met with party of gentlemen, including
several members of the French Embassy,
to visit such silk manufactures as were
worthy of notice. The Fronchmen, in
quisitivc in the extreme, stopped to look
at everything and to take notice of moth
ing at all. We proceeded until near the
city wall, and suddenly turning about
found ourselves in shop with silk Just
from the loom, and three or four of the
most prominent silk merchants waiting to
receive us.
Nearly the whole of the raw silk of
China is produced in four provinces, cut
by the thirtieth parallel of north latitude,
about four hundred miles from Canton
We saw many rich varieties of silks, and
were made aware of the fact that the
greater part of the finest goods are never
sent out of the ountry but are kept for
home consumption. Rich natives will
pay enormous prices, more than could be
generally obtained in foreign countries
The embroidery of the Grape shawls is
worked solely by hand. One Of them
there making was ordered by a China
man, and he was to pay five hundred
dollars for it. Instead of the usual flow
er pattern, twas embroidered by land
scapes, boats, houses and pagodas. We
also saw, for the same individual, coun-
terpane of straw -colored satin ground,
worked in variegated silk, valued at
three hundred dollars. Their damasks
are always splendid, and occasionally n
roll of it, brought from the northern pro-
yinces may be found, which is offar rich
er texture than the Canton work. 1t is
doubtless true in China, as in all parts of
the world, that the finest fabrics are
found in thegreat capital, and the richest
silks must go to Pekin.
The loom is strikmgly rude and clum-
sy in appearance. Two men work it
one shifting the woof, and the other
throwing the shuttle. That loom is like
the policy of the Chinese Government
seeking no new Improvements, wor.iing
on in the manner of by-gone centuries,
and weaving Its wonderfully beautiful and
harmonious fabric, The finest silks of
China are even now difficult to surpass,
and in anything that has called forth the