The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-01-25

Iolsnop WlRuuInan, Oh your C1Cy, pTeaCn ON sum
! day morning; and although he labored under
severe affection Of the throat, and evidently
spoke with difficulty and even pain, the great
ness of the occasion seemed to endow him with
superhuman strength, and he soon scared un-
| trammelled into the lofty heights OF Gospel
truth, carrying with him in full sympathy the
| entire congregation, large number Of whom
were preachers, who keenly enjoy this re6ned
and elevated pleasure OF listening annually to
the Bishops Conference sermon.
AS the readers OF The NEWS wore informed
OF the time, by your attentive correspondent, of
the proceedings Of the Conference, I need say
nothing further about it, though I feel much
tempted to say few words about the fine eE-
fort OF your former fellow-townsman, Rov.
Whitefoord Smith, d. D., for many years the
Chrysostom Of this Conference. He is now one
Of the professors cf Wofford College, Spartan
burg; but although not in regular charge Of
any church, bis many Charleston friends will
be pleased to hear that ho has not buried his
talent, and that he is as "golden-mouthed" as in
days of yore, when, with his eloquence he used
to entrance those crowded congregations of
Sunday nights in Trinity and Cumberland.
The South Carolina Conference, though it
may not boast Of many ''star" preachers, can
show as fine and solid body Of men, as any
ecclesiastical organic ltion know OF, COM
posed Of similar number Of ministers. Many
OF them are regular college graduates; the
great majority are men of education; though
their education proper, their professional train
ing, may be said only to commence with their
entrance into the itinerant ministry. The
world has never known better school Of ora
tory, mean, of ertenapore speaking. than the
Methodist circuit pulpit. AS they are, moro
or less, all of them, self-made men, they gen
rally partake of the virtues and the foibles of
the autodidaktoi They are original, moro or
less eccentric. self-possessed and self-reliant;
seldom commonplace, never stupid. How
ever, I must not forget that am not writing
an essay on Methodist preachers, else shall
fill two columns with what should .;ke to say
on this subject.
Abbevlle village has not grown of late wears
as many other places in the central and upper
part Of the State. Much Of the trade of the
county, say within eight or ten miles of the
river, goes to Augusta. Some I hear, from
this district, even go to Augusta with wagons.
Then, again, as AbbevllIe is about eleven miles
from the main trunk Of the Greenville Rail
road, much trade goes to Hodges Depot on
that road. Then there are Greenwood, Ninety
Six, Cokeshury and Newmarket, places of more
or less note, long established, each one of
which is receiving it's share of cotton. New
berry also receives some Of the trade of Abbe-
vile county.
Abbevlle Courthouse last year is estimated
to have received about eight thousand bales Of
cotton, while Hodges Depot shipped about
five thousand bales. have no data by which
can estimate the present production of cotton
Of the county. The census Of 1860 gives it at
81 ,977 bales, exceeded only by Barnwell (23 4sO)
and Edgefld (27,197.) At that time Abbevile
had o. papulation Of 81, 1856, Of whom 1902
were slaves. Ths improved lands are put
down at 238. 600 acres. and those unimproved
ut 352, 900. Cash value of farm lands S. 938 ,0OO
AbDsviiie BOASTS oi two papers. the ban
ner" and the "Press," both well edited, and
thoroughly rejecting the public opinion of the
county.
The principal business FIRMS here are: j.
Knox & Co., Trowbridge & Co., Fowler &
Mcdonald, j. J. Cunningham, Miller & Robin
son, White, Smith & Co., A. M. Weir, DR.. E..
Parker, and DR.. w. 7. Penny.
There are two hotels here, one of which, the
Marshall House, is kept by Mr.. Mays.
Abbeville is the place of residence Of Judge
Wardlaw, OF Hon. Armisteed Burt, of Colonel
Perrin, Of General MCGOWAN, and OF many
other gentlemen distinguished heretofore in
the field, the forum. and in the councils of the
State and Of the country. Their voice now is
silent, but their presence still is felt; and the
time. hope, my dear readers Of The NEWS,
will ere long come when their counsel will not be
passed by unheeded simply because it is the
voice Of age, wisdom and experience. Stupidi-
ty must yield to intelligence, ignorance to
education, sans-cullottes and proletariot to
men OF wealth and station. 1t has ever been
thus, and will ever so continue, though the
order of thoust years may be reversed for
brief space Of tlme, the result of species OF
| political earthquake. BIRD'S-EYE.