davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-21
MERE.MENTION.

We have received from Mr. Samuel E. jackson,
of this District an unusually large turnip. II
weighed 81 pounds and measured 81 inches in cir.
cumference ut costs nineteen-twentieths Of
the laboring men Of the country the best part Of
two weeks wages to buy barrel of -four Ex'
Governor Joseph E. Brown, Of Georgia, has been
admitted to practice in the United States Supreme
Court. ''""Solomon johnson, negro, has beenap'
pointed to frst-cass Clerkship in the Treasury
Department. He was formerly President Lincoln's
barber. ".'''"'Statistics show that widower is
twice as likely to marry as widow. Mexico
has had thirty-four rulers since 1921 The longest
reign was three years ''''''The health Of Jeffer-
son Davis is much better than it has been for six
months past '''''''''Why are young ladies kissing
each other like an emblem of Christianity? Be-
cause they are doing unto each other as they would
that men should do unto them !'''''''S6, 900 per-
sons formerly in the Methodist Episcopal Church,
have transferred their membership to the African
Methodist Episcopal Church. Massachusetts
has one convict to every hundred citizens; Ala
bama has one convict to every five thousand three
hundred and ninety citizens ''''''There are near
ly twice as many newspapers published in the U.
S. as in all the rest of the world together. ''''A
son of Gen. John G. Breckenridge is clerk in
wholesale dry goods store on Broadway
John G. Breckenridge is the choice of Ballard
county, Kentucky, Democrats, for next Governor,
they having formally instructed their delegates to
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-21

Southern men, while the others are men who have
spent their whole lives in the North, some OF them
in all likelihood, having never even visited South OF
the Potomac 1t is no very high compliment to
the integrity or capacity of our people, to intimate
in this way, that fifteen men could not be found IN
as many States worthy to be trusted in the man
agement of this fund Mr.. PEABODY has too
high reputation for good sense, as well as good
feeling towards his kind, for it to be supposed that
such is his opinion though his selection Of trustees
has unfortunately made him liable to the suspicion
that he thinks so.
tits not to our taste to pick flaws in noble deeds,
but there is another objection to the agents ap'
pointed to carry out the end aimed at by Mr.. PEA.
BODY, which should also be stated. If they are to
promote the intellectual, industrial and moral ed
ucation' of our youth, according to the Southern
idea of what that education ought to be, they are
not familiar enough with the subject to perform
their task. If, on the other hand, they aim to es-
tablish the Massachusetts, doctrines on education,
we would prefer that the donation be handed over
to the king of the cannbal isles, for the use OF his
subjects. We have no great admiration tor the
system of intellectual education, which insists up
on teaching everybody to read, write and cypher,
and then turns them loose upon the world to COM
bat and upset everything that they cannot under
stand. Still less is our faith in the industrial edu-
cation whose sole result is skilfuness In cheating
enough to live without work And as for Yankee
moral education, as illustrated by their police re-
ports and the narratives of outrageous violations
of honor, faith and decency which fill their news
papers, we trust the day is far distant when it will
become the standard in our sober and still partial
ly respectable land.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-21

wings of its 'imbecile members would provoke a
smile not unlike that which expands the counte-
nance of the;spectator, who gazes at the solemnly
ludicrous ceremonies performed in the monkey7cage
of amenagerie. But the spectacle Of idiots sport
ing upon the crater of volcano, whose shoulder
ing flames may, at any moment, hurl them to des-
truction, is not one to excite laughter No circum-
stance is 50 porentous Of evil to the whole country,
as the utter absence of craftsmanship and the to:
tai lack of brains and character, in the legislative
branch of our Government Solomon says, 'sWoe
tothee, Oh land, when thy king is IA child" What
would he say of land whose rulers are fools, with
out wisdom to understand the teachings ofthe past
and without sense to see or shun the dangers Of the
future?
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-21
LIFE OF HON. A. H. STEPHENS.

This volume, published by the National Publish
ing Company, has been for sometime on our table.
Though professedly biography the bulk of the
book is taken up by the letters and speeches OF
Mr.. STEPHENS, the narrative of his life being
merely sketch from the pen of HENRY CLEvE-
LAND, ESQ.,, formerly editor of the Augusta Con-
stitutionaISt
The subject of this sketch must be pronounced,
by every one at all familiar with his history, re-
markable man. Gifted, beyond most of his fellow
mortals with the power of reading the future by
the light of the past his speeches previous to Sc
cession read almost like the prophecies of inspra-
ton. 1t is doubtful, whether any Of the then
prominent statesmen, either North or South, COM
pretended the momentous consequences of that
movement, in degree at all equal to MIR. STEPH-
EMS. His mind alone, of all the leading minds OF
the republic, saw the dangers to be avoided, the
obstacles to be overcome, and the moumful result
in case of failure, which were to- be met by the
infant Confederacy. Joining his fortunes to those
of his native South only when he saw that the
contest could not be averted, he at once favored
system of policy, bold, vigorous and decided No
half way measures met his views; but he was for
TaSlllS dI OuCe d ulSHly alihy ohu Po"SiAu nSS''
To accomplish these all-important objects, his plan
was to use cotton, our only great to obtain
money and credit. But, unfortunately for the
cause, the ruling spirits could not see the emergen-
cy of the crisis and the imperative necessity for
spending our substance freely, in exchange for the
munitions and implements of war. A niggardy
boarding. at the beginning of the struggle COM
PEELED useless extravaganza in the end Mr.. STE
pHENs is in no wise responsible for the failure Of
the Conederacy. Itwas his fate to be opposed to
the leading measures of the government through
out but as the second officer Of the Confederacy,
his mouth was sealed. In the true spirit Of pa,
triotism, he gave hearty support to the govern
ment, though he felt that it was doomed to de-
struction. No instance is on record, where he of;
fered the slightest hindrance, by word or act, to
any measure after it had received the sanction Of
the government.
The history of such man IS full of interest," and
those who wish to learn the causes of our defeat,
should read this book. The letters and speeches
it contains, more than the sketch of Mr.. STEPH-
EMS life will shed clear light upon it.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-21
WASHINGTON NEWS.

| The subject of impeachment has not occupied
public attention so much as usual, during the last
week, for the reason that new schemes have been
Originated by the Radical leaders for the oppression
and plundering of the South. The House has,
however, proceeded so far in advance Of the Com
mittee in charge of impeachment, as provide for
President in case of a vacancy. The President
of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court are the per-
sons succeeding in turn to the White House.
The Reconstruction Committees bill, or, as it is
more generally called, the STEVENS bill for provi-
ding military Governors for the excluded States,
has not been acted on by the House. But it is
virtually dead, as another bill worse, if possible,
than STEVENS bill has passed the House by vote
of ll3 to 49, thus making the former bill unneces.
sary. This is known as the New Orleans Riot
Committee Bill; it provides new government for
Louisiana, and does not affect the other States.-
But as it is intended as an entering wedge for the
subsection of the Southern white race to the blacks,
in all the excluded States we publish synopsis of
| it in another column. 1t has not yet been acted
upon in the Senate and its fate there is still doubt
| full.
Iue Lii was paooSo W eiiS oS10'o>'
and sent back to the House for concurrence in a.
mendments.
The House has passed bill to pay bounties to
the soldiers of the Federal army, excluding rebels
who joined that army to escape from prison. The
amount required by the provisions of this bill is
variously estimated, from $3.50, 100000 to $780,
900, ,OOO 1t has the ordeal of the Senate and the
President S veto to run before it can be law.
The House also passed bill to build lighthouses
at several points on the coast of Georgia, and on
Morris Island, S. G.
Congress has now but two weeks left, in which to
''save the country" and they seem very anxious
to do it effectually. The new Congress meets on
the 4th of March; but as it will contain most of
the present members, the work Of patriotism will
doubtless 20 on with undiminished vigor. The
proceedings hitherto have borne lamentable sim
arty to those of the circumlocuton Office, as des-
cribed by DICKENS in one Of his novels in which
the great problem to be solved was How not to do
it" Were it not that a great country, bleeding
and torn is awaiting in anxious hope, for Congress
Ito bind up its gaping wounds, the antics and "a
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-21
STATES, RIGHTS REVIVED.

The doctrine of States Rights, which has OF late
been generally considered as dead, has recently
been re-af6rmed by the Supreme Court in a unanl-
nous decision. The question before the court was
the right of the Federal government to license lot
teries to exist in a State, whose laws prohibit
them. The case in point was from New York, the
managers of the lottery claiming right to carry
on their business, despite the local law OF New
York, on the ground that they paid taxes to the
Federal government under the Internal Revenue
Act. The Court decided that the requirement OF
taxes for any business licensed by State, Is a
right belonging to Congress- but that the exercise
of this right is lawful only in those States whose
laws authorize such business, and does not con-
fer upon the Revenue taxpayer the right to carry
on the business in violation of the laWs OF State.
This decision clearly recognizes the right OF
State to make laws for its own internal regulation,
and denies the power of Congress to set aside
these local laws by means ofacts that are intended
to be of universal application. If this decision is
strictly carried out in all its legitimate consequences,
the greater part of the Acts passed by the present
Congress will become waste paper. Congress must
either squelch the Supreme Court or annul the
constitution, or the Court will very soon make ''pl
of Congressional enactments Both can not exist
together, in the present crisis of affairs; for Con-
gess recognizes no constitution, while the Court
sole duty is to maintain the constitution as para
mount to all law.
One remarkable feature in this decision is the
agreement of Chief Justice CHASE with his asso-
ciates on the bench Heretofore he has always
felt it his duty to dissent from the decisions Of the
Court, thus presenting the singular spectacle Of a
chiefjustice who is always in the minority. This
is the first occasion, on which he has enjoyed the
pleasure of delivering the opinion of the Court,
but, hereafter inasmuch as the radical scales ap-
pear to be dropping from his eyes, there is reason
to hope the learned Chief Justice will be able to
see the constitution i'll the light his associ-
ates see it.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-21

The five gentlemen from Rome, says the At
lanta Latel;geneer, who for three weeks past have
occupied quarters in the Fedeal barracks, near this
city, were released on Wednesday last The orde,
setting them at liberty emanated from the head
quarters of General Thomas, at Louisville, anc
was unconditional. Nobond or parole was required
and no investigation had as to the merits or de
merits of the case. They were simply set at hber
ty, and there the matter will end. The gentlemen
were on the streets yesterday, and will at once re
turn to their homes in Rome.
"A minister of the Kirk of Scotland, once dis
covered his wife asleep in the midst OF his family
on the Sabbath. &c. pausing in the steady a5I ane
possibly monotonous flow Of his oratory' ne DIoks @
forth with this personal address, sharp and clear
but very deliberate: "Susan!' Susan opened he'
eyes and ears in twinkling as did aother dream n
ers in the house, whether asleep or awake. "Su
san didna marry ye for your wealth, since y
had name and I didna marry ye for your beauty
that the hail congregation can see and If ye have
no faith, have made but a sair bargain.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-21
THE BANKRUPT LAW.

This important measure has at last passed the
Senate, having barely escaped its death, by the
skin of its teeth. When it was brought up for re-
consideration, Mr.. SUMNER opposed its adoption
on the benevolent ground that it allows rebels the
privilege Of becoming bankrupts. AS the Senator
has spent his lifetime in trying to reduce the South
to bankruptcy this is rather Inconsistent; but while
he thinks there is any more meat to be picked from
the carcase, nothing is more natural than that the
buzzard should wish to hover near its bones SUM
NER's opposition however, was OF no avail, Its only
effect being to enrage one Of his hitherto obedent
followers, Mr.. CoNNEss, who said that 1.-THE Sen
ate was sick of such stuff, and would not submit
longer to be bullied by the Senator from Massa-
chusetts into the support of his foolish notions.
After some discussion and amendment, the bill
was passed by vote of22 to 90 1t will now 60
back to the House for concurrence in the amend,
ments of the Senate. There is no reason to ap'
prehend its defeat in the House or its veto from
the President; so that it may be considered virtu,
ally law. As matter of interest, we take from
the Baltimore Sun sketch of the closing scene in
the discussion of this bill by the Senate:
sThe vote was at last reached. 1t was known
that it would be very close and as no little feeling
has been engendered during the debates on the bill
and there being bitter opposition on the part Of
Western members to this species Of legislation, the
progress of the call was watched with much inter
est When all the Senators present had been call
ed, it was found that the vote stood twenty for
to nineteen against.
The Chair (Mr. Harris) then proceeded to an
nounce the passage of the bill, when at this juno
fha ahop,h ,hor or
dressed the chair, wishing to record his vote. The
chair either did not, or would not hear, and the
bill was declared passed This did not satisfy the
opponents of the measure, and the point was sue
cessfuly made that Mr.. Patterson vote must be
received. Mr. Patterson voted no, which made 3
tie. "It is killed." was now heard from several
with chuckle, but as the vote was being; second
time announced, the two New Jersey. Senators
who had been sent for post haste, came in, and de-
manded the calling of their names They both
voted aye, and it now stood % to 20; 50 the bill
was passed beyond peradventure 1t has now te
20 to the House for concurrence in the amend
mentS ~
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-21
FREEDMEN RETURNING.

Our exchanges make frequent mention Of the
return of freedmen who had emigrated to the
West. Those of them who have come back to
their old homes speak in rather disparaging terms
of the facilities for making aliving in the. West
They give but poor picture of the fancied para
disc they hoped to find there, and say that in
dustrious freedmen can make more in South Caro-
lima than in Mississippi The wages are better there
than here, but prices are so high that it takes all
they can make to buy the necessaries Of
This may be true, but the real disappointment to
most of the returning freedmen consists in the ne
cessity of working at all. They had the idea, that
by going out there they could live by very little ex
ertion, and could enjoy the dignity Of being free,
with nothing to do. But the sad lesson has to be
learned that 'sthe head must bow and the back will
have to bend, wherever the darkey maygo." Freed
men who cannot make living in Mississippi, are
not likely to be very useful members of society here,
and their room is decidedly preferable to their COM
pany Our opinion is that an industrious man,
whatever the hue of his hide, can support himself
anywhere in the South, and that there is no neces,
sity for freedmen running back and forth between
the Atlantic oceanandt the Mississippi rverin search
of employment. We have regretted thedeparture
of many valuable hands from our midst, as it
threatens our State with scarcity of labor. And
we would like to see every farmer try to prevent
this drain by using his best efforts to make his
laborers contented with their present homes, be-
lieving as we do, that the freedmen who remain
with their old masters fare the BEST both in con-
tracts and privileges.
This is an age when everybody must work, who
wishes lead life independence and respectable
ity. Dodging off to new and strange localities will
not relieve any one from this disagreeable necessi
ty and the sooner the freedman finds this out and
sets to work in the country where he was born and
is known, the sooner will he find himself in pros,
porous circumstances. But if he will 60 West, he
ought to stay there his return is bad voucher for
his fitness to be employed here
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-21
WEATHER STATISTICS FOR 1855,

Major A. A. MCKENZIE has furnished us with
a synopsis Of the changes in the wind and wealth.
er in this District, during the last year. 1t twas
prepared from daily record kept by himself, and
is, therefore, to be relied on as accurate. From it
we learn that the coolest day in the year was Feb
ruary l6th and the hottest, August 9th; the ther-
mometer ranging from l2' to $50 Fahrenheit,
extremes, a difference of SO degrees. During the
year there was a fall of rain amounting to 25 3-l0
inches and in the month of December snow fell to
the extent of three inches. The wind was from
the s., 73 days; N, So days E., 20 days; W.,
70 days; s. E., IL days. S. W., 80 days; N. E.,
Is days; N. W., Is days which shows the pre-
vaiing winds to have been from the Westward
There were 2l5 clear and 40 cloudy and rainy
days.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-21
MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.

We have recently received several noticesof mar
riages and deaths which we have not published,
for the reason that the announcements were not &C
companied by the name of.a responsible person
known to us. We solicit notices of marriages OF
deaths when they occur, and will publish them gra
tuitousy, but in every case they must be accompa,
MED by the name of some person with whom we
are acquainted. The name of the person sending
the notice is not desired for publication, but as an
evidence of good faith and to shield us from i'm
position. o.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-21
MEssRs, HONESTY AND ASHER,

Those enterprising merchants have brought be-
fore the public an entirely new stock of Groceries
which they offer at reasonable prices. Their stock
is large, varied, and selected with view to the
wants of the community, and they claim their abiE
ty to sell upon terms satisfactory to the purchaser
This firm has exhibited a gratifying spirit o.
business enterprise and are true philosophers il
the policy of reconstruction on the States
rights principle but upon principles Of economy
industry and the laudable desire of supplying the
old things that went up in the wear and tear Of the
past years. Give them call
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-21
The Aurkrille Guqnirer.
YORKVILLE, S. c.:
THURSDAY MORNING, FEB'Y 81, 1876

Cash.-It must be distinctly understood that
our terms for subscription, advertising and Jop-
work, are cash, in advance.
X.-The paper will be discontinued on the expl-
ration of the time for which payment has been
made. A Subscriber finding (X) cross.mark on
the wrapper or margin of his paper, will under
stand that the time paid for has expired.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-21

vote for his nomination. '''''''.A G. Haskell, Esq
has been appointed by his E1cellency, Gov. Or
District Judge for Abbeville, vaee Judge Jones' re
signed. '.'.."'"One who knows says that thunde
and lightning in Winter is sign Of famine. '''''I
is positively announced that all the French solder
will leave Mexico on the 25th Of February. ''''''I
is stated that Massachusetts, has only fourteen hun
dred colored voters. '..''"'There is man out Wes
whose memory is so very short that it only reache
to his knees, consequently, he never pays for hi
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-21

DECISION BY THE SUPREME CoURr.--By late
decsion of the Supreme Court of this State, in a
case that went up from this county, negro women
have the right to go into Court and swear as to
the paternity of their bastard children, even though
Court to try the case, and take the womans testi-
mony for what it is worth. Charlotte North Car
Olii,a, Democrat.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-21

GIFT ENTERPRISES "A late Confederate officer
writes to the Richmond Examiner that q man re-
Gently detailed to him scheme on foot to get up
gift enterprise, ostensibly for the Southern Orphan
Association but in reality to benefit alone specua
tors The man came from Baltimore, and letters
have been written there exposing the scheme Il
is said that 'bogus' agents of memorial associa.
tions," and exhibitors of shows for aid for cemete
ry societies, &C.. in the South, are going about the
country. The public should be on their guard a,
gainst impostors.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-21
BETHEL PREsBYTERY.

A pro re mata meeting of Bethel Presbyterywin
be held at Bethel Church, on Thursday, the 2lst
of February, 1867.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-21
"CONTRIBUTORIAL." !"
COLUMBIA, SOUTH oARoI1HA 18th HFEBRUARY,l8s7

BY-JAs. WOOD DAVIDSON.