The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-07-10
cOLUMBIA--FoURTH OF JULY--THE PENITEN-
TIARY &C.


our once beautiful capital, and will endeavor to in
tcrest the reader with brief sketch of what we
saw and heard while there. 1t is nearly two wears
and n half since the fire fend swept away the toll
and accumulation of more than half a century, and
the inhabitants were driven from happy homes into
val has been marked by an unprecedented prostra-
ton in business generally, and the owners of real
estate have gained scarcely any assistance from
abroad. Yet, amid this disheartening aspect of
affairs, there has been activity and enterprise, sug
gesting spirit of perseverance that actuatcd the
people in by-gone days to improve and bcautify
their beloved city. The magnificent buildings on
Main Street are not inferior to the most attractive
blocks in other places and indeed there are few
surprising any of the architecture to be seen in
the interior towns of the South. 4 condition Of
prosperity will undoubtedly restore the capital to
her former position of Importance in the State,
while the energy of her citizens will be directedto
increasing the commercial interests Such will be
the future of Columbia, when the dawn of peace
begins.
Politically, the capital is invested at this time
with high degree of interest, especially to those
desirous of mingling in the present complexion of
affairs Reconstruction seems to engage the atten-
ton of one and all, but the greatest dcvotees to
politics are the intelligent american citizens OF
African descent" Their unusual devotion and 10y
atty had full vent on the glorious Fourth, when
they assembled by thousands to testify their appre-
citation of the liberties bequeathed by the patriotic
ancestry of their former masters! This unimpor-
tant item, though, escaped notice, and the 'loyal
clement participated in the joyous notes of praise
to our forefathers, with commendable promptness
and industry, even though their historical inter-
est in the occasion has been overlooked. But the
day must be celebrated, in pursuance of orders,
and it is scarcely appropriate for the down-trodden
descendants of those patriots and statesmen to sing
peans of glory to the hand that smites them.
The freedmen of Columbia and vicinity were ad-
dressed in the morning by Col. r. B. CARPENTER,
formerly of Covington, KY, but now Register in
Bankruptcy for Charleston District. He is said to
be fine orator, and his published speech indicates
that he is q fair-minded man and thorough Union
ist While there is much not to our liking, we
can heartily commend him whenever he slays the
tribute of g generous foe upon the graves of our
comrades, and seeks TO inculcatc the doctrine Of
forgiveness and forgetfuness. Hs speech was
we'll received by the vast concoursc of cwly-madc
citizens, and frequently appauded at the outbursts
of patriotic sentiment! He was followed, We be-
lieve, by other white and colorcd gentlemen. What
these speakers said has not been recorded, but VIC
were informed that there was evident antagonism
to Southern white men throughout theft har-
angucs.
Another feature of ethe day We celebrate" was
inauguratcd by the colorcd gentry. In the after
noon, of the most grotcsquc and motley process
sions we ever witnessed paraded through the
streets 1t was dry hot and sultry, but the hun
dreds of big and little freedmen needed not the one
or the other With shouts and yells, accompanied
by burlcsquc on music, this surging throng pass
ed up one street and down another; until the
shades of evening brought their hiarity to a con-
clusion.
But for fear the reader will suppose that the day
was monopolizcd by the colorcd population, we
will remark that the Marion Street Methodist Sun
day School celebrated its nineteenth anniversary
an occasion of deep and abiding interest to the
children. The young men of Columbia enjoyed
the exciting scenes of the tournament, while q few
INDUCED in horsc-racing, cock-6ghtng, and sport
ing generally.
Only one accident occurred to mar the pleasures
of the day, and it is worthy of remark thnt SINH
lar occurrence transpircd in Raleigh about the
same hour. The platform erected by the freedmen
gave way prcciptatiug some to the ground, and
crushing others severely. In neither instance,
fortunately, were any lives lost but it is remark
able coincidence that the caatal of both the Caro-
linas witnessed the downfall of the platform upon
which stood the representatives of the Republican
party! We were told that some of the negroes re-
garded the descent as evil omen
In company with friend, we paid visit to the
South Carolina Pcnitentiary, and was warmly re-
ceived by its courteous officers. The Superintcnd
ent, Mai Tuos b. LEE, kindly showed us over
the grounds and about the structure, which is des-
tined to become ono of the most substantial and
elegant works of the State. The building is
made of native granite from quarry in that vicn-
ty, and the material is transported by the canal.
At the boat landing, an inclined plano is made to
place the cars upon, and the huge rocks arc un-
loaded for the first time, at the exact spot upon
which the work is progressing. There arc up
wards of fifty convicts in the Pcnitcntiary, and
accommodations for another score have been pre-
pared. When completed, more than five hundred
can find lodging and employment. Maj LEE de-
sires to reduce the system OF labor to the most per-
feet economy, and consequently, wherever convict
labor can be obtained, he employs none other. He
is certainly m excellent officer, and the State will
be indebted to him for practical sagacity in the
udicious management of this experimental prison.
We would recommend visit TO the Pcntentary,
if it is voluntary, and will guarantee both profit