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x\ % / VOL. 1 THE FRE.E SOUTH, j BEiVFOUT, S. C.,JFLY 11, 1863. Afent. for the Free Soath. Tatlos & Co. Hilton ifead, and St. Helena Island. C. C. Lxioit, Xo. 1 fiercer street, Xew York. ZV Agents wanted in the different Kegiirents of this Department, for the Fiaa Socth. Preaching to Negroes. Of late years, with the advance of books and newspapers, the relative importance * of pnblic speaking as a power over the public mind, has greatly diminished. Bnt there are still left occasions when words, - - - . f tly spoken, may be of incalculable ser- i vice. And rarely ever since the world began has there been an opportunity of this kind presented equal to that which those now have who can address the negroes of the slave states on their transition to freedom. These people cannot read* and if they could, no newspaper fitted to their condition and ideas has as yet been published. Their instruction, as to their duties and position, must therefore be exclusively oral; and of this they need much. Thev enter on their new state with few ? ideas of freedom?and these to a great degree wrong and pernicious. They do not at first understand that freedom is a life of struggle, in which a man must work for a living, and if need be, fight for his liberty. They need to be instructed as to the rights of property, as to the duties involved in marriage and paternity, and as to industry, good order, sobriety, cleanliness, and an improved household life. The minister of religion, with such topics and such hearers before him, has a work not less important or sublime than that of St. \Paul. ^ "rtiis work, we must sadly confess, is understood by very few preachers who at, tempt it, or if it is, they are without the skill to perform it aright. They read sometimes old sermons which they have ^ * preached in northern churches, or if they do not read, they fall into the same old strain which they can repeat from habit or recal from memory. Their poor hearers sleep through thn, (^aden monotony, not understanding the mysterous harangue They are treated to disquisitions on theology, natural history and the like, which might have done well enough in divinity schools and quarterly conferences, but are decidedly out of place here. They are longing for the everlasting food by the nourishment of which they shall become good citizens, good Christians, good husbands and fathers, honest men and chaste ?and instead of this they get chips and stones. We have listened to such sermons in this department, and we should have slept under them more soundly than the negroes were it not that our nerves became all excited under ihe infliction. Not thus did the Saviour of mankind teach in Judea. He drew his illustrations from the processes of nature and the customs of life which were familiar to his hearers. He talked not about Plato and the Academy. He split no hairs with sophists. He illustrated his teachings by fhe lillies of the fields, the birds of the air, the stars of Heaven, the exactions of creditors, the lending and the use of money, the labors of the vineyard, and the festivities of marriage. Let those who now minister in His name follow His example. Let them enter the cabins of the freedmen, and there learn their forms of expression, the tone of nArniVa* +)w\n*rtifa O-n/1 I lit? IX 1U1UU0) ?W yw?mi4 ??|^ir|? T then they win be able to set before them the appropriate food. Let them ilhistrate their teachings by the scenes of the cotton and corn field, the catching of fish, the hunting of game, the beauty of the flow4 ers like the jessamines and the yucca, and even the turkey buzzard may sometimes ' point a moral and adorn a tale." St Paul, who was a Christian minister, and a man of the world, too, who knew both Greek and Barbarian, recognized this duty of the bishop, and required that he should be "apt to teach." * - V < r* .V * THE FREE SOUTH?, SA1 The missionaries, -who are privileged to preach the gospel to the freedmen, have a mission not less glorions than that of the early fathers of the Christian church. But they will be false to their trust if they give this interesting people the chips of a cold exegesis, or homilies of a technical and partizan theology. It is of little moaiert whether they are Methodists, Baptists, Episcopalians, or Unitarians, so loig as they become brave soldiers, good citizens, Christian men and women. Two gentlemen of African descent, clergymen by profession, have recently come to the Department, who, from what we can learn, answer well the qualifications which St Paul requires of the bishop. May their ministrations be blessed to the welfare of souls, and may they b an example to white men engaged in a like service, Newbern dispatch says thh. opposition papers in North Carolina are very severe on the "fire eaters" and original secessionists, who, according to the utterances of the special organ of Gen. Vance, the Raleigh Standard, will never be allowed hereafter to hold an office of honor or trust whatever in North Carolina From the same source it appears that Jeff Davis has been given to understand by Governor Vance, that the fate of the confederacy must be decided in Virginia ; that in no case will the confederate army be allowed to make a stand in North Carolina, and deluge her fields with blood and devastation ; but must, when they leave Virginia, retire into the cotton states, and end the conflict where it began. In the vicinity of Wilmington and near the borders of South Carolina, a large number of deserters and conscripts are entrenched, and successfully resisting the rebel authority, having had three engagements already, The rebel Secretary of War has ordered all the North Carolina troops into other states for immediate service, on account of the growing dissatisfaction among them. ?&*Uniomsm in Nashville increased since the President's emancipation proclamation. The Nashville Union instances the Union club of that city. Previous to the proclamation the applications for membership averaged about twenty-two per week for four weeks; since that time the applications have numbered forty per week. Slaveholders, who have never been suspected of harboring a thought adverse to the "divine institution,"have oome forward and avowed their firm conviction that the system was an unmitigated curse, and incompatible with our government We are informed that such discharged soldiers as intend to apply for a pension should do so within a year from the date of their discharge, or they will lose a whole year's pension. All applications made after the expiration of a year will only secure the pension from the date of said application, but if made within the year their pension will commence with their discharge. J^-Prisoners recently returned from Richmond state that the rebel leaders are watching, with intense interest, the negro soldier movement, now in progress in this department, Massachusetts, Louisiana, and in the southwest. In speaking upon this subject the rebels betray great excitement, and do not attempt to disguise their sentiments that it will nave an important influence upon the future of the campaign. J&^The Herald of Progress, a Spiritualist paper in New York, says that Stonewall Jackson has become an Abolitionist since his death, and has joined John Brown's phalanx of philanthropists. I^The New York Anti-Slavery Standard acknowledges the receipt of fifty dollars, for the benefit of the freedmen under the care of Mrs. Frances D. Gage, on Paris Island, S. 0. - v JSTUncle Sam's postal currency is car culating freely in the confederate capital, fURD/.y, JULY 11,1863. , j The Army of (he Potomac* 1 Tie New York Sun says the prompt ac! tioi of General Meade, in placing the arj i*y of the Potomac at important strategic ' 1 joints, has had the effect of relieving Har- 1 'risburg from immediate danger of attack, 1 * ^ 1 t -- x * ?j ov lorcing tjrenenu juee w i-ouceummc ma forces for a battle. This event is likely to 1 take place very soon, if, indeed, it has not 1 already commenced. The most momen- 1 tous consequences depend on the result, 1 which will be anticipated with the most 1 intense interest. All the indications pro- ^ niise a great Union victory. Our soldiers 1 fight on their own soil, and are animated ? by the powerful incentives of protecting their own homes and saving their country < from the impending ruin which is so os 1 tentatiously threatened by the Richmond f journals and the rebel leaders in Pennsyl- < vania. The coming battle will be the first 1 contest of the war on free soil; and a stern 1 poetic justice may require that the divine { inspiration that is to crush the slavehold- *1 ers' rebellion should be kindled on a northern battlefield. # ' gtfn^The following letter from Vice President Hamblin has been received by Gen. Saxton?it will be read with interest by the colored people in this Department : Bangor, Me., June 24, 1863. ^ My Dear Sir?I have had forwarded to ^ me by the colored women of Victoria, V. L, about six hundred dollars, and have the same in my hands. j My instructions are to send it to Beau- ( fort, S. C., "for the benefit of the con- ^ trabanas, it being the first placf a colored regiment was formed according to law." If yon will have the kindness to see the money expended according to the wishes of the donors, yon will mnch oblige me and all parties concerned?and I desire you will do so. If willing to assume the trust, as I trust you will be, will you inform me at your earliest convenience, and j instruct me in what manner I can best re- t mit you the funds. { Yours truly, i H. HAMLIN. i frpn Sattqv. Beaufort. S. C. ^ fla^The discharges from Gen. Rose- ** crans' army for the month of May exhibit the following gratifying results : Whole number discharged, one thousand fiftynine ; of these twenty-four re-enlisted in j the regular army, five hundred and sixtythree were discharged from the ranks in ( order to be promoted# and only four hundred and seventy-two were discharged for disability. These statistics speaa voi- ( macs for the sanitary condition of his < army. J&-The slaughter of the negro troops by the rebels in the battle of Milliken's Bend has induced Gen. Grant to issue an order, declaring that hereafter, should any ? soldier, whether white or black, wearing ( the uniform of a United States soldier, be ] captured and executed, retaliatory meas- 1 ures will be adopted by him, and rebel ( soldiers in his hands will be treated in like 1 manner. j jBS^Tlie Senate of Connecticut, by a , vote of twelve to eight, has refused to restore to the Senate hall the portraits of ex-Governor Toucy and Seymour, as evi- ^ dence of their loyalty was not produced, * which, according to the resolution ban- , ishing the pictures, must be forthcoming , before a restoration is in order. J^-The government agent reports the i sale of five-twenties on the 1st to the i amount of $1,700,000, by the various agents throughout the loyal states. The Secretary of the Treasury has authorized ~ the continuance of the agency system for . the sale of government loans. Lady Leconfield, the mother of the gallant English officer, Col. Sir Percy Wynd, ham, wounded in the cavalry battle on the Rappahannock, died lately in London under sudden and painful circumstances. The Richmond Inquirer says that Gen. Grierson is again, "canvassing" Mississippi ' } NO. 2T_ Tlie War Carried into Africa by her twi' Sonw. On the 27th nit, five colored men from < St. Helena and one i>om Beaufort, who acted as guide, crossed over to the Main, for the purpose of rescuing their relatives and friends from the hands of their cruel masters. Having successfully pawed the enemy's pickets, they landed witlioret difficulty, and found the prospects bette^ ilmost than they had hop$ji Tlicy saeW their friends, told their plans, and seoau bad a larger party to bring off than their boat would hold. In order to maknw jood job of it another boat was necessary, rhey returned to St Helena, and inynoliately went back with a larger boat, etn-" marking twenty-eight people, Jjirge ^nd, jmall, and last night the entire part^land~ ?d safely on this shore among their old i xiends and former fellow servants. , Ifc vas a scene of rejoicing and of thant?pving to God. Parents met children and msbauds met wives. Ishmael, the former driver of these refigees, says he has left on the Main sixty teres of corn, five acres of potatoes and ;wenty-one acres of cotton, which ho had liis year put in with the aid of eight lands. He has arrived here with his ppode in season to plant peas and slip potatoes, and will at once put in enough to urnish them with provisions for the coning winter. The above facts, and similar ones now ' ?? 1.1? in ?MA?a fkan IWJUeiiUJ' LKXJLLlUlg, 19 rnvic 1VAU1U1V liiMMi iny argument in favor of the courage, enerprise and the desire for liberty, possessid by the freedmen. D.F.T. St Helena, July 3, 1863. Fire-Inns, Ammunition, etc. GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 3. Office or THE Provoht Maf.kjiai.Genehal. Department of the S-with, > Port Royal, 8. C., July 4th, 1363. / The Provost Marshals of the several >osts of this Department will forthwith, ake possession, of all fire arms and the ammunition and equipments for the game n. the hands of any person not in the miliary serviae of the United States, and ivil] turn the same over to the Ordinance nf fhoir roenpetivp nnotn Any sutler found trading in such article rill subject liis entire stock to seizure, md all persons found with them in their possession, except by special order from he Commanding General of the Departnent or Post, will be at once arrested and lealt with as the commanding officer may lirect By command of Brig. General Q. A. jillmore, Commanding Department of the iouth. JAMES^F. HAUL, Lta*. Colonel aid Provost Marshal C?eneraL Take the Numbers.? Holbrook's Mail tays that it is very essential that parties inclosing bank notes in letters, for transnisei on in the mail, slioule- be particular n retaining the number, letter and data ?f each bilL If lost or stolen, this will aid essentially in tracing out the robbery and in the return of the property to the right:ul owner, provided it is recovered in (vhole or in part. It is not enough to be ibLe to say that the notes posted were of'. [particular denominations, and on certain, banks. Such identification is not sufficient to authorize the restoration, if found. Die practice of retaining a pretty full description would, if generally followed, tend1., greatly to prevent depredations, and aid materially in convictions where robberies, ire committed and detected. ^"Governor Tates has prorogued tiha Dlinois legislature according to law, though, extremely against the wishes of the copperheads, who threaten all sorts ot ven- ; geance. Kg*' The Union State Convention of Maine assembled at Bangor on the 1st, and nominated Samuel Coney for Governor by a large vote. -Say* Major General Franklin has been ordered to a command in Louisiana, under Major General Banks, V H i f v.' // * ?