Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-04-22

Clayp0le and Beadle BUNDLE. so .lncongru0us,
50 queer andyet so suggestive speech have never
heard delivered in the Senate. The manner Of
Senator Spraguein making this speech was aggres.
sive and spirited, like one long restive under the
cha6ng of invisible He walked into theaisle,
supposed his various periods fitted aud made such
astonishment as he progressed that blank hces
greeted his peroration n'', ,'ll ~ S'Hn; z yG::
OUR CHARLESTON CORRESPONDENCE:
- .... OHARLEsroN, April 19, 1861
Dame Nature never introduced Spring time to
our Charleston family in better humor than she has
done this Ammo Domini 1869, All is sunshine and
warmth, and the bursting of buds and the oarolins
of. birds make the heart glad. IF there be one
thing lacking, it. is water. Our cisterns are dry,
our streets dusty and our throats driest and dus-
test of all. Two hours walk onthe Bay makes a
man feel as if he had q small sand 'barin his stem,
ach, and affords reasonable excuse for patronising
those 'mixologists Of tppulars which are to be
found on every corner. = ~ =. = T':.:Hg"'
One cannot complain, however, in the teeth Of
so much good fortune ,as has been 7pouchafed to
this community during thelast six oreight montha
On all sides mems faces tell Of an increase soi
worldly store Since the last Fall, stocks bonds,
city property and real estate in the vicinity al re-
sponsive as the needle to the magnet, have been
affected by the silent undercurrent Of prosperity.
Northern capital has sought the Southern field doi
investment and men of means continue to arrive
here by every steamer, in search: Of the mystical
lamp of Aladdin, or some new process wherewith
to swell their riches. Money has been plentiful,
country merchants have paid cash for their pur.
chases cotton has kept ships moving aud factors
busy, and every department Of trade has received
fresh and healthy impetus Just now there is q
lull Money is comparatively tight, and yet enough
is doing to keep the blood from stagnation and the
commercial coffee pot boiling. .-t'.- '.i.1:
But what contrast there is between April 1861
and 1869. How terrible have been the changes Of
eight years! Equally striking is the difference be.
tween 1865 and 1869. Then, more than half the
city was like desert over which presided the ge-
MUS Of destruction. The shrek Of the shen or the
clang of the fire bell were the only sounds that
broke the silence in the region known as aidown
town." Stores and dwellings were covered with
the ragged embroidenes Of Gen. Gilmore's guns
and their owners were refugees from home. The
streets were denuded Of pavements that batteries
might be built, and grass grew in the once busy
marts of trade.
Note the changes wrought in these three short
years. Abandoned and crumbling wharves are
lined with the finest ships. Scarcely wreck Of
the past is to be seen. The hand of improvement
still hard at work, has given to us some elegant
edifces, city railway, steam engines, banks, fac
tories and machine shops. The refugees who
once used to meet in the country grocery store OF
elsewhere, killing time with the discussions on the
situation" are now live, earnest business men
who make the most of every minute in the day.
Many have not recovered from their losses by the
war, but others, by shrewdH speculating in cotton
and other commodities, have comfortable bank 40
counts and few complaints.
You would be surprised at the number Of North.
ern men here and there is scarcely branch Of
trade in which they have not become interested.
Many large plantations are either owned Or leased
by these enterprising persons and they are testing
for themselves the problem of free labor. There
are plenty of negroes but not much disposition to
work. The misfortunes of the last three years in
cdent to the caterpillar scourge have not deferred
our people from another trial still, and the Sea
Islands promise to be thoroughly worked.
Many plantations have been sold at auction every
week, but at prices 30 low as to, indicate heavy
mortgages in the background. ..., -. ...
Consequent upon the return of prosperity We
have had the usual influx Of amusements, Com
mencing with those bare-legged abortions on the
ballet known as the, Black Crook" and white
Fawn," in which young women with inexpressibly
thin combinations resemble, gaudy colored um-
breTas, we have run the gamut Of popular specta.
cles from the circus to the opera. Brignoli has
just gone, after having drawn the largest audiences
that have attended any public exhibition in this
city. 1t is fair presumption that not less than
fifty thousand dollars have been taken out Of South
Carolina by these popular nomads. Paste, pos
tiers and printer ink will draw greenbacks out ola
Carolinian's pocket in less time than mustard
poultice can raise blister. e.. ......,L..'.
Our citizens are on the qui vire for the decision
Of Judge Carpenter in the case Of Plsburry g. the
present Mayor and Aldermen, The claimants,
through Corbin, their counsel, base their proceed.
ings upon the Act of 1869 which legislates Pills
bury and his friends into Office. The chief ground
on which the claim is opposed is that this act is u-
constitutional and void The case was argued
four or FIVE days, but Judge Carpenter, thus far, has
not rendered his decision. Several attempts have
been made to bull and bear the money market on
the supposed result, but there has not been the
ghost of an intimaion as to what that result will
be. Judge Carpenter, however, has established
himself in the confidence of the bar of Charleston
as lawyer who will not allow himself to be sway
ed professionally or udicially by mere political con-
siderations. ...
Among the new enterprises on foot is the
publication of q monthly magazine to be called
''the Nineteenth Century, which, it is said,
will be one of the most unique and entertaining
magazines ever published in the South. Some of
the abest writers have been engaged to furnish
reading matter for the million, and the design is
to make it attractive to everybody especially plant
ers, merchants and professional gentlemen. Those
who participated in the war will be glad to learn
that 'Personne" will commence, in the first num-
Der, "reminiscences of the War" dating from the
first bombardmeut of Fort Sumter in April, 1861,
1t will doubtless be faithful historical record and
especially interesting to the officers and priyates Of