Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-01-29


after the Governor suspected him OF bcing
particeps crimi".s in the Randolph affair.
Be it remembered. moreover, that saw no
one who knew Of such completely or con
necton on the part of Talbot.
Aud because few bad men in n COM
munity break the laws, and, favored by
circumstances, get away, the whole com
munity must he scolded with messages and
proclamations, threatened with martial law
and negro militia, and finally with bran
new act Of the Legislature giving the At
torney for the State power to change the
venue, when in his judgment he deemed it
necessary, in order to convict political
(orquasi-politicaD prisoner, measure re-
served for tho second half Of the nineteenth
| century, in free and Republican America,
though unknown in the darkest period OF
the middle ages, and in the most arbitrary
of despotic government. Juries have been
packed ere now, but not under aegis OF
constitution securing its State "a RepuLii-
can form Of government" However, I see
by the newspapers, that his Exce!ency the
| Governor has thought better Of the matter
and no longer favors the measure.
was fortunate in being at Abbeville during
| the session of the South Carolina Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church. South, and thus
had the best possible opportunity Of witnessing
the large. whole -soued. Christian hospitality,
for which others. more familiar with the p!ace
and its people, have long known the latter
| famous, The town was full of preachers.
There were old preachers and young preachers,
large preachers aud small preachers, hig preach
ers and little preachers; some married and some
| single. some goodlooking md some who were
| not; but old and young. fat aud lean, great and
small. they all appeared in fine spirits, and in
the very best of good humor. enjoying to the
full The annual reunion. the brief interval of rest
! and freedom from the weight and care Of pa
rochial duty, and the renewal of good fellowship
| between the preachers themselves, as we'll as
between them and their hospitable entertainers.
! II was my good fortune 10 hear Bishop Wight
man, Of your city. preach OH Sunday morning
and although he labored under severe Infection
of the throat, and evidently spoke with diff.
Guilty and even pain. the greatness of the occa-
sion seemed 10 endow him with suprrhuman
strength, and he soon soarcd untramln.lsd into
the lofty heishts OF Gospel truth, carrying with
him in full sympathy the entire congregation,
large number of whom were preachers, who
| keenly enjoy this refined and elevated pleasure
of listening annually to the Bishops Conference
sermon.
Abbeville village has not grown of late years
US many other places in the ceuiraI 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. Sumo, hear, from this
| district. even 60 to Augusta with wagons
! Then, again. as AbbevilIe is about eleven miles
] frum the main trunk Of The Greenvillo Railroad
much trade goes to Hodges Depot on that road
Then there are Greenwood. Nneiy.Six Cokes-
! bury and New Market. places Of more or less
note, long established. each one of which is re
celving its share Of cotton. Newberry also
| receives some Of the trade of Abbevle county
| Abbeville Court House las, year is estimated
| to have received about eight thousand bales of
cotton. while Hodges Depot shipped about f We
thousand bales. l have no data by which
can estimate the present production of cotton Of
2l.977 bales. exceeded only by Barnwell (23,
400 and Edgehsld (27,i97) at that time
Abbeville had a population of 82.Ss5, Of whom
2O,5o2 were slaves. The improved lands
are put down at 23s,ooO acres, and those
unimproved at $4,000. Cash value of
farm lands s., ,93s,O0O.
AbbevilIs boasts Of two papers, the
Banner and the Press, both well edited,
and thoroughly rejecting the public opiu-
ion of the county.
The principal business firms here are J.
Knox & Co., Tro~bridge & Co., Fowler &
Mcdonald, J. J. Cunningham, Miller &
Robertson, White, Smith & Co., A. III.
Weir, Dr.. E. Parker, and Dr.. w. T. Penny.
There are two hotels here, ore of Which.
the Marshall House, is kept by Mr.. Mays
Abbevills is the place of residence Of
Judge Wardlaw, of Hon. Armis,ead Burt,
Of Colonel Perrin, of General MCGOWAN,
and of many other gentlemen d distinguished
heretofore in tie field, the forum, and 10
the councils Of the State and Of the coun =
try. Their voice now is silent, but iheir
presence still is felt; and the time, hope,
my dear readers of the News. will ere long
come when their counsel will not bs passed
by uuheeded simply because i. ia the voice
Of age, wisdom and experience. Stupidity
must yield to intelligence, ignorance 10
education, sans-cnllottes and proletanot to
men Of wealth and station. It,has ever
been thus, and will ever SO continue, thougl,
the order Of thousand sears may be re-
versed for q brief space Of time, the resaIs
Of species Of political earthquake.
WRD'S-EYE.
Correspondence oharseston- News.
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