The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-26

| ketttns-A visit to st. Elmo-I Nc
Prospects of the Good City and Her
People, &c.
AIKEN. S. c., February 25, 1869.-The South
ern Press Association has met and adjourned.
You have not publish ed its pr proceedings nor do
I propose to send them to you in fell; but
may say here that the Association is now on a
firm footing, anu promises to be productive OF
great benefit to the whole press of the South h.
At the present time the Southern newspa-
pers-excluding the presses of Virginia and
Louisiana-pay to the society known as the
New York Associated Press about fifty thou
sand dollars per annum FOR tclcgraphic news.
This amount OF money pays the cost OF send
ing the dispatches, pays tho salaries OF the
agents of the Associated P-ess throughout the
South, and leaves profit to the New York AS
sociation, which association obtains from the
South free of COST its agents being paid by
the contributions of our press, that Southern
political, commercial and miscellaneous news
which the North cannot do without. There
is no reciprocity in the existing arrangement.
All the advantages are on the side Of the New
York Associated Press, and it was high time
that the Southern Press Association, which
represents tho public presses of the Caro-
linas, Georgia. Alabama, Tennessee and Mis-
sisslppi. should take some steps to obtain
the control of Its own money, to emcdy tho
fragrant abuses which now exist, aud TO provo
that the newspapers of six Southern States
shall no longer be made the shuttlecocKs of the
press caucus in New York. The Southern
Press Association has made 4 good beginning.
It had reputation in the cow ention just held
in Mobile which entitled it to respectful
hearing, and before many months arc over
THE NEWS, in common with every other paper
in the South which receives telegraphlc news,
will feel the happy consequences of the deter
minstion of the Southern Press Association to
be independent as far as practicable, and to
secure that equitable treatment which has
always been its due. Efforts will Of course
be made by interested persons to pooh pool!
the whole project from Alpha 10 Omega, but
say to you frankly, that if our presses continue
to stand together as they do now, the New
York Association must make the concessions
which We demand, or else do without the snug
sum which We now pay into its treasury.
For the present, however. I will allow the
Press Association to take care Of itself, and
give you brief sketch of our trip TO Mobile,
and the manner OF our treatment in that beau
titul and thriving city.
On my way down travelled in company with
Major Engelh ard, the editor of that sound
Democratic daily, the Wilmington Journal; Mr..
james, assistant editor Of the Wilmington
Post; Mr. James R. Randall, the managing
editor of the Augusta Constitutionalis:-a
paper to which Georgia owes debt OF graft
tude which she cannot easily pay-and Mr..
Patrick Walsh, assistant editor Of the Augusta
Chronicle. live and pushing journal. This
formed our whole party until We reach
Atlanta, but at that point and at other
points along the route We were Joined
by other representatives OF the press. Among
whom may name Major Steele, Of the Atlanta
Intelligencer, the Nestor of the Southern Press
ESQ dubbed by an enthusiastic editor at an ear
ly hour in the mornipg) Major Thompson, of
the Savannah News, well known as the author
Of Major Jones' Courtship and Travels; Colonel
Lamar, OF the Columbus Sun, President OF the
Southern Press Association, and one of the
bolsiest aud mest trenchant journalists in Geor-
sia, and Mr.. Reese, Of the Macon Journal aud
Messenger, accompanied by his young and
charming wife.
The press party was treated with great cour-
tesy by Captain Moore, Of the South Carolina
Railroad, Captain Smith, of the Georgia Rail
C,D in Harn1on of fha Ar
lanta and West Point Railroad.
The journey was marked by no special incl
dent, but it was refreshing to hear the manner
in which the Georgians whom We met in the
cars. gentle and simple, spoke Of the political
situation in their State. Our sister State has
thrown down the gauntlet. She has written
the doom Of Radlcalism on the gates of the
capitol, and, como what may, will not turn her
face from the shining goal of right and consti-
iutional freedom. The political creed OF Gcor-
gia is plain and concise. Il IS this: "Full
protection to the co.orcd people in their
rights OF person aud property. Persistent
and untiriug opposition 10 that equality with
tho whites which the negro has been en-
couraged 10 claim" The Gcorsans, rs
well as I can gather, judge every question
from the white point OF view. They are the
champions OF the whito race, aud will brook
no such thing as negroes iu oftico or negroes
in the social circle. They Sem determined to
make no compromise, and daro Congress 10 do
ITS worst. So much for the politics Of the most
aourshing State OF the South.
MOBILE.
1t was about midday on Tuesday, the 10th
instant when we reached Mobile. The weather
vas cold and drzzllng, and our comfortable
quarters at the Battle House, still one OF
the best hotels in the South, wero welcome TO
our weary crew. In the course OF an hour or
Lwo we were called o. by Colcnel Johu Forsyth
and L. Cooper DeLeon, Esq, of the Mobile Re-
gister, and Captain Eg sleston and AIR. MI
gulre, of The Mobile Tribune. These gentle
mea gave Us O hearty Welcome, aud to them is
due muc!i Of the pleasure which We received
during our stay.
will not attempt to tell you oil that nc saw
AID heard. You must be satisfied With tho
salient events.
The delegates to the Press Convention, as
soon as they arrived, received the e"Tee OF tho
Manassas and ST. James CLUBS. aud on Tues
day evening cpioycd the hospitalites OF pri-