Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-05-07
EDITORIAL INKLINGS.
CaroIina Press Association.

EDITORIAL lNkLlNHS.
North Carolina Press Association.
- We return our thanks to Jordan Stone,
ESQ.,, Chairman of the Executive Association
of the North Carolina Press Association for
an invitation to the second annual session OF
the North Carolina Press Association, to be
held in Raleigh on the 18th and 18th instant
Also, to Col. Thomas NJ. Holt, President OF
the North Carolina State Agricultural Asso'
citation for an invitation to complimentary
dinner to be given the members of the press on
the occasion of an excursion to his residence
at Haw River, on the 14th.
Wisconsin Railroad Law.
-'rhe new railroad law in Wisconsin, an
offspring of the "Grange" movement, which is
designed to regulate by legislative enactment
the tariff of rates by the different railroads OF
the State went into effect last week. Three
commissioners have been appointed to carry
out the provisions of the act, but the point
has been raised that they cannot legally as.
sumo their duties until their appointment is
confirmed by the Senate. The railroad COM
panies have signi6ed their intention not to
comply with the law. They will, at an early
day, address letter to the Governor, setting
forth their reasons for refusing to obey the
law, and embodying the opinion of eminent
counsel that it is unconstitutional. With this
they will leave the question to be determined
by the courts. In the meantime the Govern
or of the State has issued proclamation
having reference to resistance of the law, and
warning the railroad companies that as Exec.
utive he is charged with the responsibility Of
seeing that the laws are faithfully executed
and that all the functions of his Office will be
exercised to that end.
Modification Of Test Oaths.
- The Washington Chronicle of Friday
says that the House judiciary committee has
agreed upon report to be presented to the
House to cover all the disabilities in regard
to oaths, &c., necessary to;be taken by those
living in the South during the war, when ap.
plying for bounties, pensions, payment of con-
tracts, &c. Quite number of bills and res
olutions have been introduced during the ses'
sion of different character, but all aiming
to one point, viz: the removal of all laws dis,
eliminating against Southern people, and the
report just agreed upon is intended to cover
the ground embraced in all these bills. The
report sets forth that, as the general acts OF
amnesty and laws of the United States have
exempted property from con6scation, there
can be no just reason for adhering to laws
which prevent creditors Of the United States
from receiving their just dues, as such impedi'
ment virtually confscates persons property
in the shape of debts due. The report accom-.
panies bill which repeals all laws discrimi'
mating against those who, on account of par
ticipation in or sympathizing with the late
rebellion, were debarred from receiving their
claims.
The Flood in the South.
- The devastation in the South and South
west, occasioned by the overAowing of the
rivers, is unprecedented in the history Of the
States. Louisiana has suffered most; though
Mississippi and Arkansas have been severely
overfowed by the rise Of the Mississippi river,
while the overflow of other streams, though
not so disastrous as that of the "Father of
Waters" has inflicted serious loss in Ken:
lucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. Not
less than 14,4O0 square miles of the best cot
ton. growing region of Louisiana, Mississippi
and Arkansas are under water, embracing a
belt of territory 4SO miles long by 80 miles
wide. The crops in this wide extent of ter
ritory are, as matter of course, totally de-
stroyed, and it will be too late, when the water
subsidies, to replant. AS affecting the next
cotton crop, the destruction caused by this
great overflow must necessarily exercise a con-
influence upon the price of the sta
pie next fall, and it will probably be much
higher than was anticipated before this un-
occurrence.
In the midst of this great calamity it is
pleasant to note the spontaneity with which
the northern cities have responded to the aid
of the suffering people, foremost in which work
is the city of Boston, which has contributed
$4,000. Baltimore contributes $4,000, and
other cities are also liberal in their donations
to the impoverished people.
Judge Mackey and Congress.
The Columbia U',ion- Herald of Sunday
last, publishes the subj joined letter from Judge
Mackey to Hon. A. S. Wallace. The letter
is dated, Chester, May l, 1874:
DEAR SIR desire to inform you that l
am not candidate for Congress. Having
been solicited by many Republicans to permit
my name to be placed in nomination, l have
had the matter under consideration, and
have decided after mature reflection, that I
will not become candidate for Representa-
tive in Congress from the fourth district un-
der any circumstances, nor would accept the
nomination at this juncture, even though it
were unanimously rendered me by the conven-
ton. The main issue that comes home to the
business and bosom Of every good citizen is,
to effect thorough and durable reform in
the administration of the entire Government
of the State. In comparison with that, it is
of little Importance whether South Carolina
has any Representative in the Congress Of the
United States; and it is of still less Importance
to her people who that Representative shall
be- To aid in combining all elements friend
ly to that reform, is the ever present and par
amount purpose of my life. To that end 1
invoke with confidence your active efforts in
the pending canvass. You cannot be neutral
in the local issue of regenerating instantly the
State and county Governments, without CIV
ing by your silence presumptive endorsement
TO the existing organized wrong and political
, Il