The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-03-18
Mn. Eprron: The facilities for travel


ing are now 80 gre.t that it is only
twenty.iours' hours journey from Mont
gomery, Ala. to Columbia, s. G. You
leave Montgomery one day, at half-past
II o'clock A. NJ, and arrive in Oolum-
lumbia the day following. at half-past
-. set out from Montgomery on the
morning of the 9th ult.. but, owing to
the breaking down Of freight train.
failed to connect at Augusta, where l
had to wait for the o'clock P. NJ. train.
Augusta has improved since my last
visit, but, as in Montgomery, business
was dull, owing to the low price of cot
ton. Here I met Capt. Stuart Harrison,
of the old 7th South Carolina Volun
teers. He is connected with business
house in the oity, and hope the plant
ers will give him good share of their
patronage. found my old friend, a.
Poullain, still at his old stand, where he
is doing leading business. While here
I renewed my acquaintance with Maj or
General McLaws, of the old service. un-
der whom served i'll our move to cover
Richmond in the spring of 1862. Here
I also met Capt. N. 0. Butler, that gal
liant aud daring young officer, whom I
have seen on 80 many hard-fought bat
tle-lields. The captain was fortunate
until our lust battle, when ne lost his
arm in gallant charge. found him
as cheerful aud as full of life as when
we we're on the tented field. He intro
duced me to his wife, charming wo-
man. whom he married in Baltimore.
Many, many years OF happiness attend
my former companions in arms.
have been away from Columbia sew
eral years. It has been three years since
was here on visit, and T am the bet
ance Of the city. There has been con-
buildings have gone up-scme Of them
very fine ones. The block known as
Davis Block is the finest that was ever
constructed in the city. In this block is
the Columbia Hotel, first class house
There are several fine stores. superior,
think, to any one house in Montgomery,
but business is not active, owing to the
condition of the farmers and planters
who have been compelled to sell their
cotton below the cost of production
Northern capital is being invested here.
but it will be many years before Colum-
bia can regain her former beauty and
prosperity. 1t was the growth of three
quarters of century. Travellers pro.
uounced it to be the prettiest city on
this continent. The enormous taxes on
city property deters many from invest
ing in lots, and building. The author-
ties are thus working against their own
true interest in keeping the city from
being built up.
The losses of the people of this State
h;.re been for heavier than those of any
other, and it is wonderful to see how
they have sustained themselves and paid
the enormous taxes which have been i'm
posed. These in the year 1868, according
to the message of Governor Scott,
amounted TO 3.5OO,000. For third of n
million of people to pay this much after
the loss Of $3.50, 900. 900 of negro pro-
perty, to say nothing of losses from de-
probation of other property, proves
them to he great people.
The Legislature was in session. I
visited the House and Senate. Had not
dent of the Senate. and James Simons,
Speaker of the House. These were
polished and refined gentlemen, either OF
whom would have done honor as pre-
siding officer to any deliberative body
South Carolina, in former times, was
most fortunate in the selection of the
Speakers of the House-Hons. D. L.
Wardlaw, w. T. Colcock and james
Simons. never saw their equal. They
presided over men who were as grand in
their honor and patriotism as they were
elevated and refined in their social and
political intercourse. What a contrast
before me. There were many coored
members; some of them spoke, but did
not exhibit much intelligence. Speaker
Moses was despatching the business of
the House with great rapidity He ap-
peared to be very efficient. The Lieu
tenant. Governor, who is colored man,
presides over the Senate. I thought he
did very we'll; for the body he had to
control were not easily managed. There
appeared to be confusion in their ideas.
But I will say this much for them; they
have acted very wisely in one thing;
they made ample appropriation for the
University of the State; left it in the
hands of our best professors, whom they
provided with good salaries. The peo-
pie should support and keep up this in