Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-12-20
FROM COLUMBIA.

COLUMBIA, S. c., December II, 1877.--DEAR
CounrER: This week Columbia has been full to
the overfowing. great many visitors have
been in attendance upon tho United States Court,
State Supreme Court and tho Annual Conference
Of tho Methodist Church, which convened in tho
Washington Street Methodist Church on Wednes.
day last. People from all parts of tho State
can DC seen upon the streets, with hearts full Of
hope and faces beaming with joy and peaec-all
in pursuit of their own individual inclinatons,
without the shadows which twelve months ago
hung so portentiously over our people, almost
banishing hopc and len wing all to despair and
gloom. The contrast is indeed great. In De-
ccmbcr last tho streets Of Columbia wcro filled
with thousands of men, ready at my moment,
IN Tho twinkling of m oyc, at the least provoca.
ton, TO plunge into n deadly civil war tho whole
country. In December last tho armed soldiery
OF the United States Government could be seen
anu heard trcading in tho corridors Of our
State capital, upholding tho most iniquious 60
veinment the world has ever seen, tramplng
upon the dearest rights of our citizens, and by
tho strong arm of the warrior presuming to pass
upon tho credentials of tho highest power in
highest judicial tribunal of our State was in
suited and ruthlcssy trend upon by an usurpcr
whose highest duty was TO obey the pnrty behcst,
and in so doing to ignore the mandates of our
highest court. In Dcccmbcr last the whole 60
vcrnmcnt was in anarchy and confusion, with
no power to enforce its order or compel obcli-
encc to its powers, md it seemed then indeed
that the end Of civil government had como TO
South Carolina, and that she was doomed 10 the
f'c of the many republics which had gone before
her. But not so; the tncs have dccrccd other.
wise, and December, 1877, witness our people
contentcd and happy, each pursuing his own
happiness in way he thinks best Under the
protecting care of Providence Governor lamp
ton has been instrumental hy the sure but slow
processes OF the law to re- establish order peace
and good government in South Carolina Gu,
people instead Of tho gloomy and sour aspect
which they presented last year, when our whole
State was almost an armed camp, have now an
appearance of happiness and peace. Our courts
are thoroughly organized and performing their
duties with vigor and rigor unknown for many
years; our executive officers arc performing
their duties to the satisfaction Of ALL and the
Legislature is now in the full and free exercise
of its functions uncncumbcrcd by the incubus of
the Federal army This time last year Gov.
Hampton stood upon the streets Of Columbia
encouraging, restraining and controlling the
most exciting an cxcitablc multitude ever
assembled in South Carolina. But yesterday
he STOOL up in The Conference Of the Mcthodists
of South Carolina and sai,l: "My friends was
not willing to interrupt your proceedings by my
presence, but Celt that if there was any body
Of men in South Carolina who were entitled TO
my respect it was your reverend body, for
! remembered how last year, when all was dark,
you made supplication for our troubled country,
| and it seemed as if that prayer secured II direct
| answer. ask your continued prayers AMI nm
glad 10 greet you under the brighter skies which
| now oyersprcad our land" The contrast cannot
| DC madc greater than By the following figures
Which show the expenditures of the Chambc, lain
| Government in 1876 and the Hampton Govern
mcnt Of 1877, which were few moments ago
| given us by Mr.. Simpson, Of the Ways and
Means Committee Of the House, and there is
! nothing which can show the active working
power OF government rs facts by figures
| These speak louder than any others and show
| more plainly to our people than anything else
the economy aud wisdom OF tho government
| These, TOO, must be taken in connection with
| the fact that almost the half of an entire year
was gone before our government was in full
operation, and that our officials received it in
condition which no person will ever be able to
depict in all lis deformity. The figures nrc as
! follows; Tax levy Of ,,ss75-'7G. under Chamber
lain, was II mils, on a basis Of ,..z"'ooo'ooo
of nropcrty-Sl,a2 ,000 deficiencies un1.er
Chamberlain for lS75-'7G $3.50 900; the whole
amount expended by tho Chamberlain Govern
mont for lS75-'7G was Sl,77o,o0O. Tax levy
for 1877, under Hampton, was mills, on
basis OF Sl2O, 100000 Of property-S8i 10, 900;
the deficiencies under Hampton arc none, AZ
the end Of tho first fiscal year year Of the
Hampton Government we have n su, plus in the
treasury uncxpcndcd Of SIl5,O making the
total expenditures Of tho first year Of the
Hampton Government $,725 900, leaving a diff
ference between the two governments in favor OF
inc Hampton Government Of 81 ,0I5 900! Yhat
Is, the Chamberlain Government spent ST ,0l5,-
600 more in 1876 than the Hampton Government
spent in 1877, with nll the troubles incident to
the assuming control Of the government. These
figures speak for Themselves
Tho tax levy for State purposes, VIC arc in
formed, for the present year, will not be rs high
rs seven mills, so that the incoming year will
snow greater fruits Of tho Home. Hampton
kulc. The Legislature too, has now fairer
and better opportunity TO lcgislatc than last
spring and the results of its work will bc more
clearly seen. The lnbors Of the session are
very heavy. AS early in the morning rs the
members can get to tho capitol tho committees
assemble and prepare worl; for tho session of