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PUBLISHED BYBBY WEDNESDAY MORNING BT . DTJS1S0E, REESE 4 CO. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. INVARIABLY IN' ADVANCE. The ADVERTISER is published regularly ev ery WKDXESPAY Morawa, at THREE DOLLARS per .annum ; ONE DOLLAR and FIFTY CTS. rSix Month?; SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS for Three Month?,-nhottnn in aricante. papes di.-continucd at thc expiration of the time for which they hnvo boen paid. RATES OF ADVERTISING. PAYARLE IX ADVANCE. Advertisements will be inserted at the rato of ONE DOLLAR and FIFTY CENTS per SqnOet (10 Minion line." or less,) for the first insertion, and ONE DOLLAR for each subsequent insertion ?Sy*A libfr.il discount will be made to those wishing to adrcrtiso by tho year. Announcing C.indidates $;">,00, in ndvanco. To the Citizens of Soiith Carolina. Fr.u.ovr-Cmzrxs : AR vice-President of the National Union Club forlhe State of South Carolina, J earnestly invite your attention to tho call fora National Convention, issued by ? the Executive Committee of-that body, and recommended by many of -the most eminent and patriotic members of both branches of :!K> present, Confrres.*. The impcrtar.ee of this meetirtg, and tl c beneficial consequences to result from it. can scarcely be exasperated. Separated as we have bepn for the last five years from all com munication wirb the people of the North and West ; knowing but little of their opinions, exc::pt a? expressed through the nu just, and oppressive action o? the bitter partisan ma- j j jrity which at present controls the Nationnl j (legislature, tbis is the first opportunity which lias heen oiforrd us to take free and equal I counsel with those who feel impelled, by a sense or hi^h patriotism, to oppose thc un just schemes of the radicals in their systema lie effort to oppress and humiliate the people of these States, and defeat, ii possible, the reconstruction of the Union indefinitely. The address state3 clearly the principles upon which we are expected to act in common, ??nd it seems to me there is not one to which this Slate cannot subscribe in honor and with sincerity. We simply recognize those results which tte events of the late war have placed beyond bonds of any future political discussion, results in which we have u:ianioiously?nd sin cerely acquiesced, and iu conformity to which we have already modified our Constitution, our legislation and our political sentiments. We aro invited to join in an acknowledgment of the wisdom of that policy by which An drew Johnson, President of tb? United St-tes, bas, in the tnid>t of difficulties unparalleled io tlj? history of any Administration, main tained the integrity of the Constitution, iden tified the exercise of thc Executive power with the rules of strict justice and the spirit of mercy, and proved his legitimate right to succeed the great fouuders of the republic as che Chief Magistrate of a common country, which can be made and preserved as one na tion only by the equal administration of just and equal laws. The purpose of the Convention will be lo organize, upon the principles set forth in the committee's address, all conservative meu of all sections, and of all former parties, and, il possible, drive from power that radical party who r.TA daiiy trampling under foot the Con stitution, and fast converting a Constitutions 1 Repnblic into a consolidated despotism. The great mass of the people, North and West, have no higher interest jn party that; through it to secure tho wise, enlightened, just government, ot'the country, and when organ) /.ation is effected, and the President's enligh tened policy of reconstruction is presented for their approval or condemnation, there can be little doubt that he will be triumphantly sustained, and our rights as equals iu a ru mored Union fully conceded. The compact organization of the conser vative men is a necessity to meet successfully* the well-organized bands of the radicals, and every man who disapproves of the tyrannical and unwise policy of the latter, should join in ihis national patriotic league to defeat them. We are without representation in both house? cf Congress ; neither onr opiniorjs nor condition caa be officially known to the coun try ; unjust and dbcriurinating laxts are im posed on us-a people sadly impoverished by the calamities of the last five years-ann1 we are nllowed no voice of protest even in the councils o? tho nation. Our loyalty to .he Qovwnmsnt nf tho L"nit<?d .Stater: i? im pugned in thc face of bur oaths of allegiance, rsken solemnly and in good faith, and the poor privilege of ??n oftMal denial is withheld. We are threatened with disfranchisement and being remanded toa territorial condition, and we are to be denied all the rights anti priv'leges dear to an* American, and consecra ted hy the blood of the heroes of 17TC, until wo subscribe to terms too degrading and hu milia'.mg to be entertained by a freeman for a singly moment. WP, thetij have the deepest interest in the meeting of the Convention, in organizing all rouservative men :o aid in parrying ont the wise and generous policy inaugurated by Pres ident Johnson ; and I therefore reiterate the earnest hope that you will take immediate ?vp? to secure the represeutation of this State in the Philadelphia Convention, in August, by the wisest and ablest men in the State. As the time is short, and the means of in. tercommunication between the different sec tions of the State imperfect, I beg leave res pectfully to suggest that public meetings of the citizens of e:ich Judicial District be held on the fourth Monday in July instant, (2,'ld.) at tbs Court Houses, and that delegates be appointed at these meetings to a Convention of the State, to meet at Columbia, on Wednes day, the first day of August ; that the State Convention uppoint thc delegntes to Philadel phia. Each Judicial District sending as many delegates to Columbia as may bo convenient or agreeable, and that Convention determin ing the vote of each District, which will, per haps, be a vote equal to the represeutation ot each District in the House of Representatives, he delegates from the several Judicial jtricts making up the Congressional Dis .cts, will mo3t likely be charged with the -election of two delegates for each District, and tho whole Convention select the four del egates at large to represent the State. The selection of the delegates for the State at ?arge would seem to require a State Conven tion, and if it assembles, it would be desira ble, as already indicated, that it should like wise select the District delegates. fhese suggestions as to the rnodp of select ing a convention-the time, place of meeting, and the basis of its organization-are made in the hope of certainly securing action in every District, and there is not time other wise to settle by^fliscusaion or consultation the details which I have ventured to make. JAMES L. ORR, yic?rPresidcnt of the Union Club, For South Carolina.. ANDERSON, S. C., July 4, 18CG. Cnpricions Freedmen to bc Overhauled. Major G col. SCOTT, at the head of the Freed men* Bureau ia this State, has latoly issued a ? (.ry important Hnd bi?hjy necessury order. We rogret wc bnvc not room t? publLh it this week at full length. The following paragraphs how ever contain the gist of it. Read it to your labo rers, and rocoinmtnd it for their inward digestion. II. It is ordered that all men or women who ?caye the plantation on w li ich they are employod to labor, either by the month, for share of .the erop, or as rontcrs of Jand, and thereby neglect their growing crops, be at once arrested as va grants and put te work on the public roads, as provided for by Par, XII., G. 0. No. 1, Head quarters Department of South Carolina. All planters who have freedmen employed on th?lr plaptation who do not, at this important ?canon of the year, give their entire time to tho growing crops, are authorized, if ofter reading this iirder to them and they neglect or refuse to ?bey it, to r??port. tbem, at once ,U> the officer in command of the distrier, who will cause them to < be taken from the plantation as vagrants and pnt ( ?o work on the public roads 'Their -children, if ] say, w?i be bound to inch perses* M will take J ' c*f o? ibm ogg tar n feat b??U$ pf jndjwiryJ J rr TH E ADVERTISER. JAKES T. BACON, EDITOB. - WEDNESDAY, JUL? ll, 1866. p3* Several .Communications omitted this week, will nppcar in our nert. Still Another Step towards Civil ^ Liberty. '~r. We publish to-day a very impertm.t and very j;ratifying Special Order from Genl. SICKLES, Commander of (bo Department nf thc Carolinas. And a*l?o a Proclamation from Gov. OUR, conse quent upon tie raid Order. Tins Proclamation embodies thc legal opinion of Chief Justice T?RKIN, upan which Genl. SlCKJ.RS' 0<dor is '.rn sed. According to this Order, our fellow- citizens,JO long under arrest in Charleston, have been deliv ered into the custody of the Sheriff of Edgefield District. They are to rendezvous at Abbevilla Court House to-day, (Tuesday,) and .hero make implication, before Judge WARDLAW, for ;bail. Messrs Boxnaw and BACCX, as Attorneys, and Mr. JAS. M. HAnnisox on thc part of tho'Sheriff nf our Dirtrict, will accompany them to Abbeville. Their cases will in all probability cornu up before the Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions in October next. ?- The Lost Cause." This is the name of E. A. POLLARD'S History of tho War. E. A. POLLARD, as i? known to ino?t cf our reader.?, U the gifted and brilliant editor of the Richmond Examiner. Tais History ha? already bien published in New York, and is now being published in Charleston. It is univer sally pronounced t" be an authority ti re work en the grout war sn lately over: and to Ins worthy of thc cartful appreciation of every historical student. It is sold only by subscription; and in nnothcr column will bc f.und a card from our worthy young townsman, Mr. W. D. RA it nv, Sole Agent for procuring subscriptions in Edgefield District Already, he ha? obtained m?ny nnmcs.in and H round the village, and now he will go out into different parts of thc District. Wo take much pleasure in recommending him to the polite re ception of nil. Early Dawning of the Potato Season. Fabulous as it may seem, our good friend, Wy. E. DOBv, Esq., ha's actually sent us a mers of now Sweet Potatoes. And they arc by no means strings either. They are five inches long and an inch in thickness. And this, despite the fearful drought. Who ever heard of such a thing ? Or, rather, who can beat this thing? If any, let him send u sample : for him do we challenge. The Famous Quattlebauin Flouring Mills. See the advertisement, in another column, from Genl. QrATTLEBAVJf of Lexington. Wc will not attempt to trumpet these Mills. TL?y need not a note from us. Their own undisputed merits trumpeted them into fame long ago. Negro Progress and Negro Politeness. Thc -Uh of July, Inst pa?t, was marked, in Edgefield, by naught save an examination, and pic-nic among thc negroes. If, in the Course of time, the ioutharn States shall again take their legitimate place in the American Union, then will Southern vhito people, in all probability, once more cslebra'e thc 4th with honor and rrjoicing; at present, however, tho day can bring little else than s ul ?nd bitter memories. As long as our po litical status remains so degrading as now, it wero bot for us to observo the 4th of July ns Dean Suift did hi.' birthday after he had reached thirty :-alone in agnrret.withfustingandprayerl The negro school in Edgefield is prended over bj Lu ic mice Cain, a young man of t arenty-onc or two, formerly a slave of Major ZACH CARWILE : he is white ia complexion, genteel in manners; and since becoming a "citizen" bas deported himself in a way whi&h prores that h > bas both good sense and good feeling. 'He has some fifty iidd scholars, of all ages between si ?teen and seven, and of all color?, or shades, rather, between ebon black and lily white. And this puts us in mind of the famous and delightful anecdote ol old Parson DASELLV preaching in Charleston, und being very much struck with the handsome and well-drossed mulattoes in the gnllery. Ad dressing thc white congregation, and painting to the gallery, tho torriblo ond pluirr-s>>oken old parson said : " What sort of people o::o those ? Where <li<l they come from ? I'm sure SW never made any such." Laurence Cain has hfen teach ing most of these pupils fur six months past, and on Wednesday lust he gathered them together, in the pleasant grovo around Mrs. S?KPrAKVs ?prin.t, that their attainments might be put to the prof. Th? parents of the schedar!", nnd tho nc %ro community generally, proviJed a combined barbecue and pic-nic on (ho occasion : and the ?Thole affuir proved to be one of real and peculiar interest. With good judgment and good feeling that dois equal rrciit to their heads and heart?, thc nejrocf invited tho whites to bc present at their examino, tion and pic-nic ; or rather, wo should say ? nif iicicntly lar?o number of gentlemen to represent the white ceramuniry. And these in their turn, attended; evincing an interest ia tho progress ol the scholars, nnd a kindliness towards their old servants generally, very gratifying to every right miaded man. But tl? whites wero not invited to be mere lookers" on ; a separate table was spread for them, and ea^h and all partook of as delightful barbe cued mea!.?, and c.? nicely prepared sances, vege tables, cakes, pies, lemonade and fruit?, as could reasonably be wished for. Two long and l?bcral!yrprovided tables were also rprcad for the blacks. Wo aro not very sure however, but that the blacks, in theiroommend.i blo exercise of hospitality towards the white, practised considerable self-denial. And'we are suro that tho Intrcr, with their greater abundance of mean?, ought not to forget to return, in somo proper an* becoming mannir, this gratuitous and woll-meant hospitality. . As to the examination, it revealed wonders. Boys and girl*, as we have said before, fro-n seven to sixteen, who six or eight months aga, knew nota letter in tho book, spelt in four md five syllables, and pronounced, and read, and a iswered questions in Arithmetic, and said (heir mnltipll caticn table, with anerring rc.d ?neis and precision. The yoong tann who has taught these young colored folk?, deserves a great deal of credit, and we earnestly hwpe the means will he provided him of still further fitting himself for the) usiness he is pursuing so commendably. Hi d somo of the Radicals been preen", on the ocoasion of which we spe-k, they v,ould not have believed their senses to soe the perfectly good feeling and-good understanding betweci these negroes and their former owners. Avaunt, ye Abolitionists and Freedmen's Bureau Men ! Your work in the South is to poison the milk of human kindness in the breast? of both black and white. For tho black man's sake, leave him alone; for when left aleno he knows very well whe is his true friend. The Pure Article. Mr. JAS. STOOXSR, 308 Broad Street, Augusto, has, in addition to his large and superior stock of j groceries, Ac, a chi)ice*lot of Wines. Of these Wines the Daily Prest writes as follows: Goon WIXES.-" Good wine needs no bush." is an old saying but thcro may be some wbt- don't RBO?? that Mr Jaa Stogner keeps the bestir-qual ity and variety that can be had.- Wc speak from experiepre. We received'a package yest M-day, with the coropliinnnts of Mr. S., that, " wh:le ca tering to the public taste, wo might get a taste ourselves." which "indeed we did," ?no pro nounco it capital-jngt the article for tho .overs of puro wines. To all those we invite an carly visit to Mr, -Stogner'p store, and a trial of his best. Latest advices from Mexico ?pr?sent the cause of Maximilian lo bo rapidly on tho ?ano. Tho Liberals are now united, and there ?re large acscrsions :o jheir ranks from the Imporiulif?. T'jAy have gained several important Victorian reT sently, and ere now bcaleging Tampico, vbich ;bey are likely to capture. The idea of annexa ion to tb? Unite* States is widely prevalent and 11 popnlArwaon^tirpL?b?raU. j, Gov. Orr on the National Union Con vention. ' In arothor colman will be found thc address of Gov. Qua to tho people of South Carolina, on the subject of sending Delegates to. the National Union Convention to be held in Philadelpnia, on Tuesday tbe"14th day of August nest. Gov. Ona is Vice-President of the Union Cbjb for South Carolina. As will be seen by. his address, he is entirely in favor of South Carolina being ropro sentcd in thi3 Convention; and to that end pro poses a distinct pion for thc choosing of Dele gate?. This plan, considering tho short time in tervening between this .'.nd thc mooting of the Convention, is undoubtedly os feasible a ona as could bo projected. . Tho call for this Convention is made by the National Union Club, and receives the ?ndorse ment of Democratic and Conservative Republi can Sonntors. This cf.ll, specifying and embody ing tho principles upon which tho Convention shall act, wc published in our las. ir.?... ...at it will be seconded in every State wo havo no doubt; nndjvhether it do much towards tho ob ject of restoring the integrity and harmony of tho Union cr not, tho experiment is certainly worth trying. While tho Radicals aro working like beavers, ns they always arc, it will not do for those who wish to sustain thc Administration in maintain ing unbroken the union of the States, under the Constitution which our fathers established, to bo standing always idle. It rejoices us to see that they ure np and doing; and wo hope South Caro lina will be full}* represented in their Convention. It is our opinion that, as aspirants for popular liberty, we should leave nothing undone in nssist .ing conservativo men throughout the whole coun try, to show*n strong, dotcrmined nnd united front pgainst that formidable rmd unscrupulous party who would forever keep up sectional prejudice and strife. Gov. Ona suggests that public meetings of tho citizens of each Judicial District bo held on thc fourth Monday of tho present month at thc Court nooses : tkat ??del?gales be appointed at these meetings te aConventlou of the State to meet nt Columbia on Wednesday the 1st day of August; and that tho State Convention appoint the dele gates tf> Philadelphia. As next wook's issue of our paper will bo th? only one between this, and the fourth Monday, wc hope that prominont citizens throughout thc District will consider the matter and make through our columns, on the coming Wednesday, the ne cessary calf for a public meeting at ?dge?eld Court House. A Large City in Ashes. Portland, one of the great seaports of Maine, and perhaps thc largest and handsomest city in that Slate, has been almost entirely destroyed by fire. The whole business portion lies in ashes. The conflagration is described as having been terrible in an unprecedented degree. Thc fire was caused by a boy throwing a fire-cracker among somo shavings. Judge Bryan, 0/ Charleston, hns ordered an attachment to bc served on General Sickles for contempt of court. A writ of habeas corpus had been served on Sickles by the United States District - of Churlestou, to produce the bodies of Thomas G. Stowers and others, under sentence of death, aud confined at Castle Pinckncy. The general refused, on thogrtuiad that thc pi is oners bad been convicted of murder by a court martial and that the writ of habeas corpus was and is suspended in South Carolina. Hence the attachment. For the Advertiser To R. B. WATSON, MILTON Noams and OTHEBF Committee. Gentlemen: In consequence ef ray absence from home, I did not receive, until day before jester day, your note of the J.Ith June, inviting me " to attend a meeting of the citizens of Edgcfield and Lexington District*; to be hold at the Ridge, on the 21st inst., to obtain an expression of opinion from the citizens concerning the 'Stay Law.'" You address me as a member of the Legi>lature As such you have n right to my opinions, ond it is proper that I should give them. My votes in the Legislature upon the " Stay Law" speak for themselves, and indicate my posi 'tlon. They wore cast and recorded for its con tinuance, and I have seen nothing Eincc that would induce me to change the record. I said then, as I do now, that I had no partial ity for " Stay Laws," or any laws, which interfere with thc contracts airead}' made betweon private individuals. I objoct to them bocause I believe them to be contrary to good policy, and to the spirit of Republican Government. When two per sons have .entered into- a contract, with cerftin welfcr.'tablished, specific, legal rights and rcmo diop, no Legislatur?? bas tho right to come in and interfere between these pr?rties, and modify its terms. The only question to bc asked is this : Is the contract a legal, valid one? If so, "both par ties must bo held to a strict observance thereof. This I lay down ns 1 general proposition which I bolieve to bc true,-and which under ordinary circumstances, it would be safest for the State tu adh?re to. But the last Legislature found the '.Stay Law," as it is called, an established fact, it had been upon the Statute Books sinco ISfil, period of years. It was enacted at a time of great anxiety ami commotion, during a terrific civil war, and whether wiso or unwise, constMu Monal or unconstitutional, ths people of the State did not stop to inquire. They relied upon the wisdom nnd discretion of their representatives who had time to deliberate, those in the army and out of ii, and those in the field, and at homo They had learned to'look to it as a protection to Iheir property during their nbsence and the con tinuance of tho struggle. Tho struggle termina .ted disastrously to them, ond they, the people, ! still leaned upon this law, under which they hoped to save something from thc general wreck of fortunes. . The Legislature found also thc country literally prostrated by defeat and disaster, nothing left but the soil ot* the State, which we all loved so well. * No money, no crodit, a host of enemies in and around her. What was to be done to save her from utter, irretrievable ruh? I confess that I had never before felt responsibility more grave ly, and labored moro anxiously to pursue that co::rso which would be best for the whole State. And after deliberate corrsjdorafion, it occurred to me that, though some objections might be urged to this law, it wt.uld be best to re-enact it,-and to protect as far as possiblo the interest of both tho debtor and creditor. To give our people time, -time to make another crop and raise money; and time to compromise their debts, by paying eo mach in tho dollar, by assignment, by confession of Judgment, and by a hundred different ways. Timo was necessary. The sea is not upturned, nor does it subside in a day. It takes time. Sud den, harsh and convulsive measures frequently produce desperation. We feared that to throw the Courts soddenly open, would add to the ca lamities of tho times, and result in a "Kilkenny cat" fight, with the Yankee coming iu to seizo the "lion's share." It will not do in times of great civil commotion, when society is being torn up by the roots, and new systems growing up, to adhere too strictly to more legal technicalities, to old opinions, and the boaten track. If so, the world will mnko no progress. " Times change, and we chango with them." Events control men, and men can only- endeavor so to shape events, that they will operate.ns little u.? possible to our disad vantage. For these reasons, I regard it peculiarly unfor tunate that the Court of Errors should have seen fitto pronounce n judgment upon the constitu tionality of the "Stay Law," whloh, if nn evil, bud beoomov a necessary evil. If they could not avoid the issue, it is urged, with the utmost re spect, that they might havo reserved their judg ment, at least, until a crop had been made, and tho country to some extent bettor supplied wilh ajeons.to -pay. It was enacted, ns it was said, Jecnusc the; exigencies and pnblio wei fate de manded somo ?itch law during tho war. If that ?ras truo daring the war, it was .eminently so for lome "years after its disastrous :erminatjon.* Ital utistenoe had been tolerated /or toar yearr, why j in ?Ptfora ita* longer? Tho Constitution could] ive survived thia violence to its integrity i bile longer. So profound a respect hov? io Judiciary of South Carolina, that I a .most to doubt my own convictions in thii .r, and I dissent reluctantly from the wird toir action. The judgement hewevcr In iveni and however much we'may regret it, pt avail us in our present difficulties to d ead'issues. JEhe absorbing enquiry note is, an bo done to relievo the country? T confess that I fcol wholly .unable to sug lan which will be free from difficulties ar ?ctioDS. Repudiation hy tho State, is, i idgincnt, impracticable "a'n^ unadvimbh lomestead law, retrospective in its operat nd to afford relief, it mustr.ie.retrospectiv iable to tho same, if not greater constitu Meanies than the " Stay Law." A Han jaw by the State would encounter grave ci g* its constitutionality. The plan sug( j Mr. W.'W.'ADAI?S, of tm*?State's bom aonc'y andflending upon"mor^Eagp of real.t rould bc, in effect, making th? State a larg stato agoncy, and I fear impracticable and ive. Tho.- plan of my col?cigue, Mr. Ti losES,-of calling a Convention as a last ros lo certain things indicated-inbis communie o ?i% Advertiser, I anprehond, would throw lonflict or antagonism whh-thj?Federnl Cori ion and tho Federul authorities, wi'wb v lot prepared to maintain. I have no' 0 discover any systematic plan propose 'COKK/' and consequently cannot ind?calo i ions to his views. It may bo, that bis plan ight ono.. Having offered objections to thc plans of o vhichia much easier than to suggest one o )'wn, it"may naturally ho asked, what I pr< M y proposition, like tho others i?,. I am a iable to serious objections, but 3* occurs 1 hat it is the bost thing to be done under th :umstnnceF. Tho Legislature-will m.ost like ?onvened as soon as Congress adjourns, wh j thought v, ill occur between this and the fi August. I would then propose to pass a limilur in its provisions to the act. of 17S7, v iras tho one of a series of Instalment laws fi adopted after the Revolution of 'JG. In addition to this, pass a Law makin; misdemeanor for any lawyer) or officer o Court, or magistrate, to institute proceedin, my case unless the cost? and ali chargos are in advance, and impose a heavy tax upo amounts thus collected. It may bc said that tho Instalment Law v, ho declared unconstitutional.. It may and it not.be. Tho point may not be mado befor Courts, and if it ir, it will require time, and is what our people want to-put their hon.: order. Some may say, that this is temporizii trifling with a great question. It is bett temporize and save the patient, than inser knife so doeply and suddenly that it will under the operation. Rat a law requiring thc costs and charges paid.in advance, and levying a heavy tax o amounts collected, would not be unconstitutic and would impose a partial check upon s creditors. An act was passed ut tho last Session lcavi optional with tho officers of Court, whetherjoi they would reqniro tho costs in advance. Itch kayo been prcremptory and binding upon all tics necessary to institute proceedings,-an< doubt it cnn now bc so modified. As to debts contracted for negroes, I do think that they should bo paid in full. Thi terest on tho amount, or a reasonable hire foi timo that they were in possession, or some i arrangement, appears (o mo to be right and p cr. Rut, to put an end to all dispute in refer to debts of thia character, would U not be we refer thea lo the Jnry ? No man cou ld comp of the judgment of his peers. Not more I one or two precedents would have to be cstubl ed, before such claims would be readily com inised, and if these debts could bc satisfacer adjusted, it would rid the country of .i g;?ai cuhus. 1 have thus given you my views af on the q lions ot issue hurriedly hut frankly. I find self in a position not to be coveted, but, 'as u all previous occasions,- I shall endeavor to do duty conscientiously to tho country without gard to personal consequences. That there numhor.' of men in our country who ore, or I bo able, by honest exertion, to poy ac lea portion of their indebtedness, and who do intend to pay a cent if they can avoid it, I h no doubt. For these I have no sympathy. For tho honest man, who has done his wi duty to his State, and finds himself encompas with difficulties which threaten4iiui with mir fool deeply. The State should extend to him lief, and if there aro constitutional or other d cutties in the way, they should stand aside ul relief can be afforded. It is idle to-say that any ono man,, or any cl of men, is responsible for tho presont condit of the country. "TVo are all responsible nli The whole people arc responsible. It was a mo ment of the ptoplo. They pushed thc politick forward. If any ono thing is moro certain th motlier, it is that wo will not extricate ourseb from present difficulties, by crimination and crimination. A fair, manly, and respectful cri cism of the acts and opinions of each other, xi always be productive of good results. But abu suspicion, and misrepresentation, will as certai ly produce bad results. If ibero was ever a til in the history of tho State, when she rehuir tho benefit of the plain, practical, unadulterati common rchse of her people, it is at this junctur It is no occasion for the ventilation of fancif theories of'rcform. . .Very Respectfully, Your obedient ST/ant. M. C. BUTLER. July 3rd, ISM. .-? -.- ?-? For the Advertiser. Public Meeting. Tho citizens of, and around Kirkscy's X Road met together on Saturday, Juno 30th." On motijn, Rev. JOHN Taar-r was called to tl Chair and explained the object of thc mcetinj 'Totako into consideration the indebtedness i he country, kc." J. P. Bom:: was eleetc sccrotary. The Chair then appointed a Committee of Te ,o. draw up Resolutions for tho meeting. Tho Committee after retiring for a short tim? ?eturned and submitted the following which wa idopted : Haring seen, and read the proceedings of a mas neeting held at Bethel Church by tho citizens o Sdgefield and Lexington Districts, wo, tho chi ;ons in tho vicinity of Kirksey's X Roads, di manitnously concur in the sentiments therein ex tressed. Aud that wo do most- respectfully sug ;est that every coiamucity meet and express theil entiinents on this, thc most important question hat was ever before the people of our ooce happy ind prosperous State for discussion. At tho same imo and.plano the following Preamble and R?so ut ions were unanimously adopted: WUKREAS, Tho system of free labor, as it now xists between the white and colored race, ts not ully understood, and not really appreciated by he Froodmen, especially as to what is their duty a referenco to their obligations, and also ours in he premises. . * Resolved, Therefore, That it is a subject of deep inportanco both to ourselves.and tho, Freedmen. Jlesolred, That we, the employers of said Frced len; aro fully convinced that unless some other leisures than, that of the present arrangement c adopted, We may hope for nothing less thnn overly, starvation and our utter ruin as a peoplo. Resolved, T'?at we are determined in future, tot j hire any Freedman who hus a contract with ny other person, until boor she shall bringa .?rtinea te of their dismission, and also ot their baractcr, from their former employer. Result ed, That we will look upon any person, Uh disdain and contempt, not tobe doponded pon, nor countenanced by u?, who will, wilfully ad knowingly, violate the above Resolution. Resolved, That this body in compact >^all be Down as tho Brier Patch Beat Society, and to .tend throughout hs limits; and we cordially ik tho concurrence of thc District, nnd even tho ate, lo help us carryout thc principien involved these Resolutions. Resolved, That these proceeding* be publishod the Edgfcijeld Advertiser. J.V.BQPJBt?tCxj. j For the Advertiser. |1& It seems to bc a very difficult matter to decide upon any plan by which our suffering people may bc satisfactorily relieved. No plan need be ex pected, that will -relieve every case. Suppose^ however, we were to relieve throe-fourths of them, much would certainly thereby be accomplished, and a contrary assertion would bops absurdas refusing to take three -children Tro?n a houso on firo because we might not. be able to rescue tho fourth. * We will now proceed to offer a plan, by which, in our opinion, a very large proportion, if net all, of our suffering oitizens may be rescued from the impending danger. The first class of debtor nnd creditors, between whom, I p'roposo equitably adjusting claims, is tho Gaurdian and-Ward. I suggest, for that pur pose, that the Legislature pass nn net authorizing Qaurdians to invest thc funds ef Wards in landed ostotcs, tho price, per aero, not to exceed, nor come below, thc value of thc iarao lands nt tho time of the appointment of tho Guardians.. Said lands to bo to selected by the Guardian, and as sessed by Commissioners of thc neighborhood, who should'sec that the interest of the Ward is not detrimehted by its locality and qualify. The Gaurdian-testock said farm, hire labor and su perintend tho same, for .thc benefit of tho Ward until of age. Such a course would enable Guar dians to settle with Wards, with lands, that; pro bably, would bo valued at ten dollars per acre, the value, of which, at present, would perhaps not exceed five dollars in consequence of the war; hence they would bc, virtually, settling with their |lWards at fifty cents in the dollar, arid tho Ward thereby not materially injured, for money, we consider, has a relativo valu? only j and if fifry cents will atprejynt, purchase as much real estate as ono dollar would before the- war, why should thc Ward bo reg?rdod loser-the land possess ing now tho same productive capacity ns in 1SC0 ? Claims for real estate should -bo adjustod by a return of the lands with reasonable rent, after de ducting expenses incurred for improvement. Claims for slaves bought and sold should bc settled by paying hire, if worth hire, over and above support, from tho dato of purchase to the dato of emancipation, and if .dead, interest from the date of death to date of emancipation ; the principal in all said, notes to bo null and void. Such a settlement I regard just and equitable apon tho principle that the negri/was warranted a slave for lifo, impliedly, if not expressed. Notes held for borrowed money and other con siderations, not as yet disposed of in this article, should be nominally taxed by the Legislature fifty cents to the dollar, whicb should be placed as a credit on each note for th? benefit of thc makers of them, the same to ho culloctcd by the State, free of haere.t-from the makers of said notes, at the expiration of the year l'J'Jf; such taxation I regard just upon all such claims, as they arc the only species of property, not admitted by all more or less, depreciated in value in consequence of thc war. Such persons as have their creditors residing without the limits of the. State should Be reim-, bursed by the State to thc amouut of their aotual losses only by said taxation. It is certainly within the province of the Legislature to levy a tax to satisfy the actual wants aud demands of the Stato, and it would certainly be laying itself Hubie to gross censuro if it failed to lay said-tax upon that species of taxable property that would be least burthonsome to the people. Now the people are thc State, and require under the present extraor dinary circumstances for their relief, extra taxa tion, and agree among themselves to lay it upon that species of property. Who, I ask, can cons tantly oppose it, when it is so . clearly exhibited that it is but satisfying thc demands of justice and equity to do so? With regard to unsettled* estates, sold durin; tho war, I would suggest thc appointment of ap praisers to overlook tho sale-bills, and m.dify thc prices of articles, so ns to make them correspond with tho prices of like articlos sold since the war ; the purchaser settling accordingly. Bonds in the Commissioners Office for landed estates should he similarly modified and reduced to their value in 1S60, or tendered back to the estates as the parties might choose, with rent for tho same after deducting expenses incurred'for improvement The Judiciary of. the State will tell us that wo havo no right to enact any law impairing the obligation of contracts-(which ordinarily I ad mit truo, as that would ho a violation of the Con stitat:on of thc United States.) Were wo living under, and governed by, the laws of tho United States at the time of snid sales ? I auswer in thc negative. Then every salo should be considered null and void, made during thc war so far as that instrument is concerned, if the State chooses to mako it so. Hy adopting the conrso herein suggested I soe no reason why we might not retain ult otu* old and long-cherished neighbor.', and thereby pre vent strangers Bnd untried one? Trorn, occupying their homes. Tho decision of tho Judges at the Court of Errors recently, has thrown us in sight of the brenkers, and wo are drifting rapidly to where destruction awaits us, if something he not speedily dono for our relief. The Stiy Law itself, never afforded tho kind of relief the Urger por tion of our citizens were clamoring for, and was only accepted by them as a check to harsh meas ures, until tho pcoplo could devise some plan hy which, tho desired relief could bo attained, and I am fully persuaded that nothing ^hort of partial repudiation will, or ought, under tho circumstan ces,, to satisfy them. No .nan, in my opinion, ought willingly to settle down to hard work after haring been deprived of from 3-4 to 4-5 of his pr?porty, by tho fortunes af war, and without remuneration, to satisfy tho clr.ims in full of an other citizen who had been so fortunate as to bold a species of property that was not destroyed or even depreciated in value in consequence of our bloody struggle. Let us depict to ourselves the shattered consti tution of somo brave soldier who ha<u,faithfully fought thc battles of his country, now so impov erished as to bo overtaxing himself by hardwick?, that he may be able nt tho end of each'year to meet the interest on/y due his creditors, after a scant support for bis beloved wife and chitdren, and perhaps in somo instances-even dictated to by his Shylock-likc, creditors as to what his ex ponses should be;-holding themselves, at the some ticqc, in readiness to pounce upon their unfortunate debtor, at any time the whole pound of flesh could be obtained. Imagine, if you ploasSflibe, unfortunate debtor and soldier upon his bed of affliction, the vital spark nearly extinct, his wife and little ones around him in tears, he, with a knowledge that the stay upon tho judgments against bis only i < means of support, ends whon the brittle thread of | | lifo is severed. The Sheriff then proceeds to sell, leaving bis impoverished family with not where to shelter them from the storm, and no bread to appease their hungor. Better by far, iu my opinion, for him, to give up all he hus, if allowed thtvjmvilege Of saving from his hurd earnings, something for tho relief and benefit of his family, in futuro. " In conclusion, I would suggest that thero bo a ? meeting of the District called at au early date, c and. that tho citizens appoint or elect twenty of c the best and ablest men, financiul men, and men t who would acorn, for the sake of tho almighty ^ dollar, to soe his oao-armod or one-legged neigh bor turned out doors, whilst perhaps the bones of a beloved son may bef' bleoding cn tho bloody plains of Manassas or Gettysburg. Select such- t as would eren scorn to see tho faithful soldier 1 working Uko a slavo all the days of hts lifo to I pay what tho fortunes of war havo rendered him n unable to pay, and to creditor*, in many instances, who stand as free-handed as though no Sherman, c with a devastating army, had ever passed through o our once happy, sunny South. After selecting tl said men, let them devise a plan, and put it upon c paper, send a.copy of thor samo to each election e precinct in the District On somo named day, let b all the citizens appear at their respectivo election p grounds, hear tho plan read.out, and so many as tl m.y approve it will place their signature thereto, p, and If signed by a large amjority of the clti- i p sens of the District, it should bo turnod aver to | ?] our Representatives to be* acted upon, ss contain lng the sentiments of their constituents. JUSTICE ANP WOT. I For the Advertiser. . Mn. EniToit: I regret that my frieri HOJ?AS JOSES feels that he is aggrieve i instruction I have put upon certain com ons in your paper signed "RUSTIC," si are no other than thc most friendly- feu im personally, I shair endeavor to ri monde honorable. ' The questions now being dfrcussod in. : cr involve so much of public interestas I iat I and Capt.. JOSES should resolve i ave to say on thom into a matter of pr!' ?rcaf ion. I accord lo your corre.-pondcnl ic," who it seems is my friend Capt ONES, motives of patriotism, and a sia ire to benefit our down-trodden country, is sentiments in regard to the indebte lie peoplp, beforo he was elected to the ! arc, and I voted for him with a full km f what his.viewe.wero, and would do si indor like circumstances. I predicate i ran said about armed resistance, upon the entenccsof Ihecall fora Public Meeting aper of the 13th Juno last. This ma( ailed " ogreeablo to suggestions of " 1 nd in this call the following sentiment;' iressed : " Let the people speak out. Tb In right to-remonstrate, to petition for a ? their griovanccs. And if all fail/, let 1 mr homes os still our own. Let us cling fith tho grasp of desperation, regardless equenccs." These are thc sentiments of those good rho call a "Public Meeting agreeable uggestions of "Rustic." This call is >y " Rustic's" neighbors, ond if I havo d riend Capt. J. injustice in attributing to h ympathy with, or participation in, tho sen inblicly avowed by his neighbors who )ublic meeting, agreeable to'his suggest ?ordially ask his pardon. It may bo (hat ic" had nothing to do with the draftii g .all for thc public meeting aforesaid, rind s in no wisc rosponsiblo fur the sen timer ti id in it. If sn, I have dono him injut-ti nay be also, that I have put a wrong coi :ion i n the language used in the call f public meeting. Lot us analyze this langua ?ce what it means. Ko one can queslii right of the people .to petition for a rad [heir grievances. This is an inalienable N'o one can object to fair remonstrance part of the people against tb^o enforcement law, if by tho enforcement of tho law the iro injured. But this call for a " Public ru igrceablo to the suggestions of "Rustic,1 not stop with the right of petition, and th af remonstrance. It goes still further ant " Let the people speak out. They have th< to remonstrate, to petition for a redress ol grievances. And if all fails" let us citai bornes as still our own. Let us cling tx with the grasp of desperation, regardless o ?equencos." It is true thc terms " armed resistance" a used in this appeal, but if tho terms used i imply resistance to authority in thc last rcs do not know what thoy do mean. And it ' tic" has no sympathy with the sentiments ol (bis neighbors) who called tho public-mc agreeable to his suggestions, then I haro bim injustice in applying the terms. " arme sistonce to the Sheriff/' in connectiou rit plan of relief ruggested by him. Capt. . hos done sus tho favor to repro'duco the oin relief proposed by bim, and I propose lu turo communication, to consider his plan, r, suggest some of tho objections to it that oe. my own mind. In my last communication I ventured to gest a plan by which thc people moy be i eli to a great extent, from tho immediate prent their indebtedness. This plan is, that fie use ker credit for thc present relief of he;- pi by negotiating a loan of five millions of do for tho purporo of lending it to her cith.cn mortgage of real estate, for tho term of t years. I proposo now to consider tho prai hility of this plan ; and 1st, Can the State borrow the money ? be true as "Personne" thinks, that tho Stat no credit, then of course nothing can como c and the plan is impracticable. But is this tr fact? I agree with " Personne" that "ini for thc Stato to barrow money she must is sui bonds, and those bonds must be based upon : unquestionab.o tangible security,"-a ;?cc permanent, enduring and unchangeable. - can tho Stato offer such security?. In the placa tho bonds arc not ordinary State bi Tho money is not to be borrowed for tho ordi purposes of the Stato. Nor is it proposed tho interest is to be paid upon these bonds b; usual method of taxation. The money is t borrowed for a specific purposo, and ii lo bt out to the citizens only on mortgage of real tate, worth actually more than the nmoun which it is mortgaged.' And capitalists w be informed that they will havo tho benet the mortgage, in addition to.the faith of the Si as security for the payment of the annual into and of tho principal when it falls due. Now land area of the State of South Carolina is ( mated to be 29,355 square miles, nnd counj 010 square acros to th-i square milo, givus ]S,8 400 square acres of land in thc State. Is thu basis for credit ? And aro capitalists so dui not to bc able to seo that there would really very little risk in loaning"money upon such sc rity ? It may bc said that this land does not long to tho Stato ; that it is tho private prop? of her citizens. Neither docs the State prop to borrow the money for her own usc, hut for citizens, to enable ber citizens to keep their lan It is therefore not unreasonable that the citizi who owns tho land and need tho money, shoi pledge their lands for the repayment of' so mt af the money ns they borrow for their own u Oecauso tho Stato had difficulty in borrowi 5100,000 in the winter of 1SC5, in the usual wi is no satisfactory reason that she would not tble to borrow a much larger sum for the pr rpi indicated, to bo secured ia tho manner proposi md at a very reasonable rate of interest. Neil sr would I regard the fact that that tho City Cbarlcsten failed to borrow money at the rate live .per c.-ut. por month, ns any satisfactory rt ion why tho Sfate of South' Carolina should fi lo borrow money iu thc manner proposed, al reasonable ruto per cent, interest, becau?e i ifTur on the part of the City to poy five pei cei per month showed that the bad no faith ia h iwn credit. I would be unwilling- that the Sta ?hould borrow- the money for the purpose ind :atad, unless tho bonds could ho sold at or aboi par value. And upon tho security proposed I inure to tho capitalist, I can see no reason wh ihe money desired should not bo borrowed at < 11.out par. I believe the Stato yet has "?red ?uffieiout to caablo her to get all tiro monoy si nay need for tho purposo indicated, and op goo erma. - . 2d, Would thu plan proposed, if thc Stat:) ca lorrow. thc monoy, afford thu necessary relief t he people of the Stato ? " rursonne"- sayt nc iecauso " the passage of such un act by tho Log biaturo would bo subject to tho odious cry o las? legislation. Thero would bo.at least twi lasses bf our citizens excluded from its propos?e lencfits : Those who own no real estate, andthosi vhofo lands are under iucumbronco of judgment! ,nd mortgages, Ac." It occurs to me that i ' Personne" had bestowed a little inore thojghl ipon this subjoct, he would not have proposed hese as objections to the proposed plan of r- lief, "o my mind it seoms clear that an act of tnt legislature for thc purpose indicated, would be no ?oro obnoxious to the cry of class legislation, .han rould any ordinary act of incorporation by which crtain privileges nre granted to the corporation n certain conditions. Tho act can only affect lioso who avail themselves of its provisions; I onoode that if the money wero borr/wed, arni all lassos wero taxed to pay tho intercut,, it would B-surfleet to this objection. But this is not the nrposo. Those who get tho money are lo pay bo interest as it accrues, an J thc principal TI hen ? falls d?c: and the ?ot will carefully guard this olnt. Then who'can be prejudiced by it? -And ae two classu of our citizens who, nccording to Personne," would bc excluded from its proposed cnefiLs, while they would in no irise be injured, rould fa roany instances be the rory persons - rho would bo more bonc? ted t a as anj others. Ti ough they might not bs able to borrow the money from the State, they would be enabled to colrat from those who" could borrow*from ?he Slate nbatevof might be due them. And would this bo no bene fit? v The marx whose estate is now encumbered might hy this means be enablod to freo his estate from encumbrance. Bat the great object to be attaiped by the'proposed plan is the bringing of capital into tbb State. The means necessary for the proposed development of the industrial pur suit? of the country ; the means necessary to give tone and activity to business; the means necessa ry to free the minds of the people from the ap prehension of being at o?ce ousted from their homos by tho Sheriff. And the plan proposed, if it can be carried out, will doit. It is conceded that tho plan proposed does -not pay the debts of .the people. It gives timo to the dobVo'r, and ?t'the same time enables tho creditor to get a portion of, what ii due him. It will enable both debtor and creditor tn live and prospor.w?hd. although tho State is a'corporation, and technically has no soul, yet she is the fostering mother of her citi zens, and hath charity, and power to exercise ir. Neither does the proposed plan necessarily involve the opening of the " door to fraud of gigantic .proportions," as objected ty " Personne." There is certainly wisdom and foresight enough in the Legislature of the State to guard against the practico of fraud to any great extent in the de velopment of the proposed plan. The fnnd, if provided at all by the State, will be provided for the specific purpose of relieving her citizens from their debts, one to another. And it can easily re? quire, as a condition precedent to the getting of the money from tho treasury, that there shall be a reckoning between the debtors,-and snch other safeguards as the Legislature ic its wisdom may deem necessary, to tho honest working ot the plan. That there are some persons who would pocket thc fund and abscond, if allowed to do so, oannot.be doubted. But this is cosily guarded against, and I am surprised that " Personne," with h?3 want ofjaith in ' the honesty of men, coupled with his shrewdness, did not perceive that some plan for thc propor application of the fund could be easily devised. It is conceded also that the proposed plan woulrLnot prevent any creditor from suing his debtor, if he desired to do so, but I give my fellow-citizens credit for more charity than " Personne" seems to think they possess. ,1 cannot but believe that the num ber of suits at law would be greatly diminished, nnd that there aro but few creditors who would go to law if tho proposed^plan were put into exe cution, because confidence wonld at once be res ' tot ed, and men would no longer be afraid of one another. r 3d, The direct and immediate effect of tho pro posed plan would be to enhance the value of every species of property in tho State, There would be money in tho country to boy with, and there would be much less property offered for sale. Bat this cemmunication is already too long, and I will reservo what I have" further to say, for future communications. W. VY. ADAMS. From the Barnwell Sentinel. Judge Aldrich's Letter. BARNWELL C. H., 16th June, 186G. MY DEAR SIR.-Your kind note of the ll th informing me that " at a meeting of the citizens bf the Ridge you -were appointed to request me to address a mass meeting of the citizens of Hdgefield and Lexington, at Bethel Church on the 21st of June, upon the all ab sorbing question of the day, the indebtedness of the people, and the best means of staying the wide spread ruin that await us as a peo ple," hf.s been received. By. the, same.mail [ also teceived a like invitation from Messrs. Norris, Watson aud Boatwright. . While I thank you all very sincerely for the kindness of your invitational cannot ac cept it. Thc Judges ol South Carolina do not usually participate in public meetings of the people. As a general rule it is a good: one; yet there are occasions when Judges, like all other citizens, should embrace the opportunity to express their opinions freely aud lend their influence to advance particu lar measures of great public .interest. But this is not such an occasion ; " the indebtness of the people" is a question that will come before the Judges officially, and, of course, no Judge can have an opinion until the cas? is made before him in court.. I do not think I can be mistaken in the object cf your meeting ; it is to avoid the pay ment of debts. It is due to myself frankly \p~\ ?state, that I do not sympathize with any movement which bas tor its object,, the avoid ing of fair and honest contracts. Nor can I in anyway countenance any meeting which may encourage-the people to resist the laws of the land. No man in the State feels more deeply the terrible cotdiiion in which our people have been left by the results of the war, than myself. In addition to the mourn ful losses of children, relatives and friends, in battle, to the failure to establish the great principles for which we fought, and to the mortification of defeat, we have lost, in this State, at once and without preparation, over tico hundred millioits.^ of property, which is., the abstraction of just so much capital and labor from the payment of debts, which, in iood faith, were incurred on the strength of that property 'and . labor. The property is ?jone, the'moori*very uncertain, the debts remain. - Perhaps no people in the history of the world, have ever been so suddenly and completely ruined as this Suthern people. But even this ruin can be repaired by energy, con stancy and virtue. Let us preserve oar hon.br and at least try to pay our debts. Be Honest. This a common calamity in' which all par ticipate, both debtor and creditor, the loss is. mutual and is as hard to bear, by the one class as by the other ; common justice, it. would seem, ought fr, dictate to all the pro-, priety of inakiug ar . arnest effort to meek-, their engagements. A contract is a sacred obligation, equally binding in the court of," cots ience and in the court of law. Ourdu-'. ty is plain, it is forbearance. We should all; act towards each other as neighbors anet'HO* burden those who are indebted totuVwith.Ibo costs of suit. I know thisi*s-n?t alway5,pra'c^ ' tical, because in all communities,' there are some hard men who will have their own, with out regard to the loss and distress which it occasions.to their debtor ;" but, for the honor of humanity, I do not think this is a largo class, and if the rule of forbearance be adopt ed, it will reinke and shame those who set at naught the better feelings of our nature. It may be supposed, that because I dissent from the majority of the Court of Errors on - the Constitutionality of the Stay Law, that [ will sympathise with those who favor resis tance to the laws of.the land.. This is a great mistake.. Although I do not agree with tm Court (and subsequent reflection strengthens me in my conviction,) yet there is no citizen who will counsel more earnestly acquiescence in the decision, and support more ti ron ly tho laws of the-land and the constituted authori ties of tho State, than myself. As I stand alone in the Court, it is very' probable I a n wrong,.although I cannot seethe errorV mjr; judgment. My earnest counsel to you, and': to all the good people of the State is, obey, the laws of tho land, pay as far as you car., auJ when your means are cxhau-ted, yon will have done all in your power, and can conv . mencoJife again with > clearc?nsc?ence and a brave beau. lam informed, that his ExceHency- Gor. Onywill probably call ihe Legislature togeth er, in extra aesipn, at an ea?ly day, to nertect such legislation as is required by the changed condition of society. If this be so I have no. doubt, that the wise and patriotic men who compose that body, will devise some relief, which while, it will afford time to the suffer^ ing people, and prevent the sacrifice, of their property at forced sales, will not be liable to constitutional.objections.' Truslitig that you will receive my counsel kindly and in the friendly spirit in which it is written, I am, Very Respectfully, - , your ob't sorv't, A. P. ALDRICH. ?3*MVo have been authorized by the many friends of Capt, L. YANCEY' j^EAN to an nounce bim a Candidate for Clerk of the Court - of Common Pleas for Edgefleld District at the. next election. Jane 2? * te 2T ? *