The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-03-16

has hardly ere&bcen so great money cr-
sis. Money readily commands 8 per cent.
per month, and often higher rates on I'M
questionable commercial paper. There are
hundreds Of negroes forced to cash sales,
and 60 very low. A large drove left here
last week for South and North Carolina to
get better prices. bought five very fke-
ly ones for $4,000. Our city will soon Be
in Railroad connection with the fine port
of Pensacola, and then it will ask low wa
ter no odds.
Our Court has just closed, having sat
six weeks. The criminal docket occupied
three weeks. About half dozen were sent
to the Pentcntiary for life or years. I'm
agine my surprise when the first day went
into Court, SALLY PoRrERF1ELD was ar
raigned for larceny. SALLY is from Null
berry creek in Abbeville, and got some no.
toriety before she left there. Four of your
Abbeville women are in the Penitentiary for
ten years for larceny. Court adjourned,
leaving over five hundred cases on the dock
ct. 1t would require over two years Of a
constant session to get through with the old
chronic cases. The simplest case, in which
there is only a sham plea, defers trial for
five or ten years. A creditor cannot get
judgment OH promissory note in less than
that time, and this, together with the fact
that he pays his lawyer five per cent for col
lccting, puts the creditor at the mercy of the
debtor. This seems hard, and the judges
say it is wrong, but it is the same in all the
new States. The laws are made for the
ease of the debtor In the old States they
are made vigorously for creditors. Bail
writs and ca. sas. are practically abolished
in this, as in all the new States
We have had most unparalleled winter
for dryness and fairness. The weather has
been lovely. We are looking anxiously for
rain, now, for planting the crop, as well as
for navigation. Yesterday, however, there
was rise of seven feet in the river which
will put all craft afoat. There must have
been heavy rains above, though there was
none here.
Our City has lacked its wontcd gaiety
this winter. The yellow fever, which ragged
here two months last year, carried death
into so many families that the garments of
mourning are familiar on the streets. For
two years successfully our city has been
scourged by this disease. In 1853 it at
tackled one part of tile city, and principally
the poor population. Lastyear it was con-
fined to a different part, and selected its
victims mostly from the wealthy. One
family of seven lost six of its members.
There was brisk business done in val
Eentines yesterday, and doubtless the secret
and long -pent passion breathed in their ten
der notes will bring many brides to the altar.
There was an immense wedding last night.
There was taste and appropriateness in the
selection Of the day. thought that the
hard times would check matrimony, and SO
remarked to a lady. She replied wittily,
that it would probably increase it, as it
would take t,co to bear up against such
times.
have too rapidly and irrcgularly touch
ed upon many small topics, and there are
many others occurring to ME that l must
pass for the present.
I have only word for yourself: l am
pleased to see that you have not departed
from tile faith which your predecessor prac-
tised, except that you are moro orthodox in
religion. I thank you, especially, for your
support of my friend, the Hon. Mr.. BRooKs.
| was considered demented when in his first
election I bet hundreds on him. But l.
knew him too we'll to err, and knew the
Spontaneous combustion" which his pres
ence kindles among the people. In the re-
cent canvass, declared through the Press,
that it would be desperate in any man to
oppose him. The result verified it. Long
may he represent; the glorious fourth Dis
trict, and long he will, for mo man of wo-
man born" is his equal before the people.
hope to be able to visit you in the spring.
Yours sincerely, - BEN LANE.
3 A Texas exchange says that the earth is
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