The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1865-1866, November 24, 1865, Image 1
- ^ .VOLUME XXIV. CAMDEN, S. C., FRIDAY &ORNING, NOVEMBER 24, 1865. NUMBER 21.
J. T HEH3HMAIT?Editor.
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To the Freedrnen cfj
Louisiana.
ITD'QRS lJpftSAtf 01" REFUGEES, 7
Erekdmen AND ABANDONED LANDS J >
Now Orleans, October 20, ISG5. -J
A change lias been made in tbc office
w* the Assistant Commissioner of the
Bureau of Refugees, Frecdrocn and
Abandoned Lands for the State of Lon
? ^ . 1 1 _ .. 1' 1
roiana. Mr. Conway juas uecn reiievou,.
ami 1 have temporarily assumed the dutics
of said oflico. l>eforo progressing j
further in my work I wish to address to j
you the following plain words. The re-J
marks will perhaps propeily apply to j
but few, fori believe that nearly all of<.
you fully understand the relation to whiclr
you stand towards the Government and
the white people; that you endeavor to
observe that relation ; and that you are
in the main industrious; honest and
frugal.
* The Government has made ydH free.
Yon can now work for such employers as !
yon may desire ; yon can control and use j
your own wages, and you con sue and i
obtain justice in the State courts, as ollu-r |
frocdmen did when you were in a state of j
slavery. For what more can you ask. |
' Slavery has passed away, and you are
-* now on trial. It is for you to prove that!
you are able to take care of yourselves,!
and that you deserved to be made free. !
in the abrupt change brought about by-}
the sudden passing away of slavery, you |
i.Mnti.nil cftnwi .nu>r> some llOWCl" I
. that would take chi c of you for the time,
and that would properly direct you in a
iip.w path of life. Therefore the Bureau
of Ilefugees, Freed men and Abandoned
Lands was established. But you must
not mistake the objects of this Department.
It is not the intention of the
officer* of the Bureau to nurec and pam>
per you, to feed and clothe yon, or to
gtve'you any privileges that other per-,
sons do not enjoy. Neither will you be
shielded and protected when you do
wrong, for you will then be placed in the
hands of the military authority or the
eivil couvts for trial. The object of the
Bureau was merely to protect you when
you were debarred from tbe benefits of
the law, and to teach you how to live
and labor as free men. i'ou cannot aU
ways have this help which a generous
Government has offered you. Soon it
will be withdrawn and if you cannot
then live without it you do not deserve
to bo free.
Vam ** 1r?nr rnitrcnlpOQ
JLUU <uu ii\jn nviivtu^ iu? ? vutuvt ? vj
and you Lave every inducement to be
indnstrions and frugal; faithful to your
emplojers and houest* By so doing you
will soon gain the confidence of the community,
and all men will respect yon and
treat you fairly and kindly. Yon must
now try and lay by as much of your wages
as possible; thus you will soou be abla
to buy Jand and establish your selves in
business, and then when old ago comes
you will have the means to live in peace
* and comfort. You must remember that
yon have no masters now to take care of
you in sickness and in old age.
Some few of you have the mistaken
notion that freedom means liberty to be i
. idle. This is a great mistake. There is
work for every person in this country,
and idlers and vajrrants will not be toler
a.ted. Those of you who hare gone to
the cities and cannot get work to do
must leave them and go back to the
Elantations, where all can be employed,
to not fear that you will not be paid for
your labor, for the law will protect you.
The planters will give -you good wages,
and your work will be of benefit both to
them and yourselves.
There is no way for you to live but by
liard work. I believe, now that yon arc
free, that you will work better than ever;
but if you do not work of your own ac^
cord, or if the law can not compel you to
work, tlieu you must leave the country,
?nrl fl-.n rrnnd nm-iorfnnit\ii>c t)iut. von now
bwwu ? j ..w...
have of gaining a living and making
yourselves independent, will be given to.
inore deserving persons. I advise you
all to return to your old plantations,
where yon have been kindly treated, for
there you are known and there you can
get better wages.
Yon must not suppose that your former
masters have become your enemies
because yon are free! All good men
among tnem "will properly recognize your
relations towards them as free laborers,
and you e/in gain the confidence and
good will of all others by being industrious
and faithful, and by living up to your
r contracts. Neither fear that you will
loose your freedom, for your former masters
ackuowiedge it, and it will bedefen^
_ ded by the Government.
Uhis thing you must learn above all
, others?a eoitract must be sacredly observed.
If yon engage to work, and then
through no fadt on the part of your employer
you do rot do so, or cease to work
after having conmenced, or do not work
vidH your employers will lose all confi\
\ ' '
. \
donee in you, they will not then be obliged
to pay yon von:' wages, and you will not
again he hired. In the absence of civil
law regulating agreements between the
whites and yourselves, contracts for hire
have been made for you by the agents of
this Jhjrcnu and by military officers. For
the present your wages are secured l?y n
licr on the crops which you are producing:
but as the civil law cannot afford
rolcif to tho planters, they have no way
to make you perforin your part of the
contract. Instructions will, thcrr'm.e
be given to all officers and agents of the
Iiurcmi to compel those of you who do
not do so to work and fulfil your obligations,
unless you have, been unfairly dealt
with by your employer*. A.~. soon as these
contracts expire you must make new ones
eimilar to them for the coming year, for
you must remember that you arc' workinf
for yourselves; and if you do not. renew
your contracts, and live up to them,
you will have no means of living, for in
that case you will be able to get assistance
from ho person.
You must not believe the idle and ma1'ninnQ
ctrtrlnc flitit ltarn Khitn fn1?l mil m*
bad men jis to what tbe Government intends
to do'for yon. All lias been done
for you that you can expect. Neither rations,
nor clothing, nor males, no wagons
nor working implements will be given to
yon hereafter. The most that will be
done by the Government will be to furnish
assistance to (lie aged and infirm?
those who cannot work; and this ussiss
tance will not be furnished when the
State can take care of Such persons. A7o
land will be f/iren you. Already a large
quantify of the land that was held by
this Bureau has been returned to its owners,
and even had it not. been leturned,
it would not have been given to you or
divided amongst y? 11. There is no possible
way by which you can procure bouses
and lands for yourselves but by working
hard and saving your wages. Then you
will have the means to purchase such, as
other persons have done,
The Government will not do more fm
you than for the white laborers who are
your neighbors, and it is not proposed to
divide up the lands _ in the South for
them, nor do thoy . expect or demand
suil.h action. The Government has made
you free And it will protect you in ynnr
freedom. It will do nothing . more.
The only change that you mu?t expect
next Christmas and New Year's,
is that you must then make new
contracts to work and lor biro for the
coming year.
I have addressed yon thus plainly, tu
order that vou mav all understand what
1 say. Now lot. mo repeat, that you newl
have no fear of being again reduced to
slavery. The Government will protect
you in your freedom for all time to come
and in return for this great boon do n> t
disappoint those who expect to find you
industrious, enterprising and honest.
J. S. Fulleuthn'
Brevet Brig. Gen. Vols.,
Ass't Comiu'r Burau Ji.'F and A. L
' State of Lnusintia.
[for tiib camdkx jofuxao.]
General Council of the
Protestant Episcopal
Church . in the Late
Confederate States.
This ecclesiastical body, composed of
Bishops, Clergymen and Laymen from
Dioceses in sundry Southern Stages, met
pursuant to appointment three years ago,
in Augusta, Georgia, Nov. 8. The
Bishops of Virginia, Gcorgin, Alabama
and Mississippi were present, with deputies,
clerical and lay, from their Dioi^scs,
and also from South Carolina, ivhosc
Bishop was detained at home by illuess
consequent upon the operation lately 011
his eyes. The Bishop of Florida also
was expected, but from some cause unknown
did not appear. The house of
Deputies was organized by the election
of the llcv. C. C. Pinckuey, of S. C., to
the Presidency, and of the Rev J. M.
Mitchell, of Ala., as the Secretary. The
next important questions before the Council
were of rc-union with the Protestant
Episcopdfefiburcli in the United States
of the Nffth, and of the course proper to
be pursued in-reference'to the military
order which has closed the Knisennal
" \ ?r J
Churches in Alabama and suspended the
Bishop and Clergy of that Diocese from
their functions. On both* these matters,
which were discussed unreservedly and
in the best temper, the decisions of the
Council were unanimous, and are expressed
in the following resolutions and
protests:
Action of the General Council of the
Episcopal Church in Reference to Re-*
union with the General Convention.
Whebas, The several Dioceses, which
wc as Bishops and Deputies, represent at
this Council, were impelled by political
events to scperato in a legislative capacity
from the Protestant Episcopal Church
in the United States, and did decide 011
grounds sanctioned by Holy Scripture and
primitive antiquity, to unite together and
adopt for their better government and
more convenient action, a constitution
and code of canons, and did meet in pursuance
of tbat Constitution in General
Council in November, 1802. And
Whereas, This Church, so organized, al
though arising out of political events,
was, from that /iinc a duly torganized
branch of the Catholic and Apostolic
Church, a^l may of rij^lit so continue tot
l>p, or may through the action of its sevoral
Pioessean Councils form any Other
synod icnl association ; And
Whereas, I n'thc opinion of several of the
Pjoecscs which co-operated in the formation
of this independent branch of the j
Church Catholic, the political, exigency
which caused its arrangement no longer
exits; And
W/,wax, The spirit'of charity which
prevailed in the proceedings of the General.Convention
of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the Uuited States, at its
late .Mission in Philadelphia, has warmly
commended itself to the hearts, of this
council.;' Therefore, ?
Jivao/ccJ, 1st. That in the judgement
of this council it is perfectly consistent
with good faith which she owes to the
lTishopsand Piocosc with which she lias
been in union since 1 862, for any Diocese
to decide for herself, wether she shall any
longer continue in union with this council.
J
2d. That it^ nc recommended that
wherever the word Confederate ocelli's in
me sumnara? or mc cnurcn me worn
United be substituted therefor.
3d. That inasmuch.?8 the change recommended
in the fwogoing resolution
(being a change ' in the prayer book,)cannot
be legally 'completed until the
i next meeting of this council under the
circumstance- it should in the meantime
have the force of. law, in any Diocese
when approved by its Bishop and the
Diocescan council.
4th. That- each Diocese now in connection
with this Council shall begoverj
ncd by the Constitution and Cations
! thereof until such time as it shall have
j declared its withdrawal therefrom, as
h-rein provided for.
5th. That whenever any Diocese-shall
determine to withdraw from this Ecclesiastical
Confederation, such withdrawal
shall be considered .isduly accomplished
whe n an official notice, signed bv the
Bishop and Secretary oi such Diocese
shall have heen given to the Bishops of
the Dioceses remaining In conneeion
with this Council.. c /
Stephen E:.LIOTT.
Ch'n of Com of'ITnnsc of Bishops.
C. W. And hews.
Ch'n of Com of jftouse of Deputies
The-Committce to whom war referred
the lb!lowing;joint resolutions of the Gen .
i-ral Council, viz:
ftrfvtcA Utrt
change of word Confederate to that of
United -vheiuver it occurs in the Prayer
1 ioolc, w'e recommend that a joint cominiit-.
ehu appointed by this Council to
enter its solemn protest against those
1 military orders by which Churches have
hern closed oti l clergymen ordered to be
sns epned from their functions because
they ronbl not use certain prayers under
the dictation of iniliirry authority?do
respectfully report that
Wlivrcti". The. Bishop of Alabama
was elected and consecrated under the
Constitution and Canons of the Protestant.
Episcopal Church in the Confederate
States,.ami never has been, nor is
now, a Bishop of the Church in the United
States, nor can he so in the judge*
merit of tlial Church,as recently expressed
in his case, unless and until be shall
have made the required promise of coufortuity
to the Constitution and CanoDs
thereof, and
W/ierca.% For this reason he lield that
he was uuder no cccitsiaslieal obligation
to use the prayer appoint^ in the l'rnyer
Book of said Church for the President
of the United States, and all others
in civil authority ; and
Whereas, The independence of the
Church, in matters purely spiritual, is
hold to be of Divine authority and has
been the doctrine of the Church from
the foundation of Christianity, and is at
this day conceded universally by the
powers of this world, whenever, the
Church has been true to itself?
Therefore, we the members of the
Council do, in our own behalf, and iti
behalf of the christian Church throughout
the world, solemnly protest against the
order issued September 2Gth, 1S65, from
the Headquarters of- the Department of
Alabama, that the Bishop and Clergy of
that Diocese be suspended from their
functions and forbiddeu to preach or per
form divine service, and that their places
of worship he closed, and against all and
every secular interference with eclcsiastical
affairs, as a violation of liberty of
conscience, as guaranteed by the Coustitution
of the United States.*. ' j
Stephen Elliott,
Cb'm'u of Com. on. part of House of
Bishops, Paul TtaI'ikr,
Cb'm'n of Com. on part of Clerical aud
Lay Deputies.
It was agreed that the next General
Council (if there be any,) shall meet in
Charleston in this State.
Resolutions expressive of the high
sense entertained by the Church of the
late Bishops of Tcnncsse arid Louisiana
(Bishops Otcy and Polk) and of the late
Treasurer (?J. K. Sass, Esq,) were passed
unanimously.
After an earnest and affectionate
prayer from the presiding Bishop (Elliott)
the Council adjourned,.
The Georgia Convention has repudiated
the war debt of the State by a vote of
133 to 117.
i
CAlTgPEtt, FRIDAY, H1>V. 2;t.
.THIS CAMDISN VOLUNTEER POUClfi
will meet in the Tcmpcrnnco Hall on Saturday
lies^at 4 o'elockP. 51'.
All merchants and tax payers Rve enrnestly
requested to meet at the same time'and place. *
33y orderof. A. D. Goodwyn, Oapt. Com
minding. U. P. BONNEY.O.S
November 24.
Doby's Hack Lo.'b to Scmtrii.?We are
pleased to learn that oar enterprising friends,
tha Messrs Dory, in connection/ with Messrs.
Stjedhaj.'andJUcPowAM., of Sumter, propose
running a daily line of luieks between
Sumter and this plac", llins giving us daily
communication with the outside world.
These gentlemen nlso hope i-> perfect on"orrangomcnt
whereby oar mails will be deiivorr d
here upon the day'after their receipt in Sumter,
thus putting us iu possession of our Wilmington
and Charleston files one day after their issue.
The efforts made by these gentlemen to secure
us regular and frequent mail facilities cer
muiiy onune uiem to our uianns ana support.
Remuneration for carrying the mail, they
get none, and the liopc of payment tor the services
they render us' and the countr/ may. if
granted at all, be at some very remote day.
To our people, then, tlioy look for support
Sustain the line and they will continue to serve
us Their hacks are comfortable, their drivers
nttentivc. and travellers will find this mode of
conveyance to the Railroad pleasant, and
charges reasonable.
To mcrchnntsljthcy offer an adhiirable opportunity
for getting goods with dispatch, which
they offer to transport at reasonable rates.
These gentlemen arc doing much for us, let
us sustain thorn. * t
OcnTinfEMATKFuture.?We aro not-permitted
to lift the veil which conceals coming
events, vct-inost of human life is expended in
thought and labor for the probaole futiye, and
tunn is deemed wise or improvident, as he cares
for or ignoros that future, and his sagacity is
measured by the success wi^h which be has anticipated
events.
We seemed, but. a little while since to be
sailing on a smooth sen, towards the port of reeotisU
uc/ion, and were preparing ourselves for
the duties incumbent upon us so soon as we
were landed. All at otico a dead calm is upon
us, with some heaviness in the political atmos-,
pkerc. betokening, perhaps, a storm. We are
powerless to prevent ii; and can but bow our
necks as has become our wont This is true
as to our political condition. To submit and
obey is all that we can do. This we have done,
and if wo are shnt out from the privilege of civil
ge+crniTivnt, \v^ can but submit still. We do
not know that there is real danger of this result,"
but there aro certain very threat
ening indications. But whether we are to live
under military government or aro to be reconstructed
with some share in civil government
there is much that wo can do for our material
advantage aud advancement. In either evet
President J on.win (heaven ssjmrc- Jiii") does not
seem disposed to crush us out entirely; and
we can nil go lo work and hclp'lo build uu the
dtale. by devoting ourselves assiduously to our
private pursuits. Every one in Jhis impover?
ished country has lo go to work, or be starved
out; and the so-.nor those who won't
work?be tliev white, black or colored?are
starved out thobetter fov tbo- common good.
There is certainly no stores for drones in this
hive. Away then, with "cot/chant"nimpaitf,"
etc. Let encli one's crest be the bmblem
of his calling?whether it be book, spade,
plough, hammer, or yard stick, and let each
ono's motto bo "scuffle on. "J
There is oue point upon which the- future is
revealed to us. It is evident that whether we
arc to live undor civilormilitaryn.de?whether
in this State the "Freedmen's Bureau" or the
"Freedmeu's Code" is to be our euide. no clas3
of men, white or colored, will he allowed to
lire in idleness and vagrancy?sleeping by
daj' and thieving by night. We ore informed
bj both of these authorities?the one existent,
the other expectant?that the freedincn ore expected
to enter into contracts for labor, and to
keep these contracts. That is what many of
them have failed to do; and it was absurd to
expect if, immediately succeeding so complete
a revolution in their whole condition. It
would not be wise to anticipate that, any regulation
will succeed, in any complete degree, in
producing this result. Cut the experiment
must be tried. There is no dodging it. I.ct us
tlion earnestly to work. Let us make all
due-allowances for the ignorant and benighted
condition of the colored race?more . sinned
agaiDstlhan sinning?let not the hvsuborilfna.
tien or ingratitude of a few months unaccustomed
license, estrange the kindly relations nf
a lifetime, aye, of generations. Let .each of us
who employ them as laborers essay the task in
a spirit of justice and generosity, starting out
with the recognition of the legal fact, that they
are tree, and therefore entitled to contract, aud
to have their just contracts enforced. Their
present unenlightened condition entitles them
to our generous forbearance and consideration.
They must be brought by cultivation to approach
the staudards which 'actuate the white
1 man;, and when we look around, us and see how
many whito men will starve rather than work,
rln not lot iit ho tnr> ensilr rlismiirocod in nnr
UV tlVH ?W *" '"J ? "O"" WMi
efforts in this experiment. Wo beliovc that a
firm exhibition of justice, mingled with a kind,
forbearing, generous spirit, Will doraucl^to
improve their condition and their value as laborers.
We know further, too, that our late"
slaveholders arc a generous, lofty poople, and
may well be trusted with their late slaves with
rnre exceptions. Wo know, unfortunately that
there are exceptions, who if not restrained both
by law and by tho moral influence of the community,
would add difficulties and embarrassments
to any system which may be adopted.
These difficulties aro Isiavy and numerous at
best. It vylll require prudence, discretion and
a wholesome public opinion to preserve society
from great disorders. That p.blic opipion
must bo brought to bear both to protect the
rights of the freedmcn and the rights of society;
for if it be one-sided it will not' only be valueless,
but it will involve us in difficulty and keep |
alive the pernicious intermeddling with our internal
affairs, which wc believe has resulted in
the utter wreck of the wh ite man's prosperity,
and the black man's happiness in the South,"
fur a long time at least.
Will Jeff. Davis be Pardoned.
"We copy the following from Mie
Washington correspondence (Xov. 10)
of the New Yovk "JWir* It lslrtte that
there was some time ago, a defermintion
on the part of.the Government, in gen*
ral terms, "to have Jeff.. Davis tried for
treason in the civil courts." * This was
the position of affairs at the time when
the South Carolina delegation applied for
his pardon. They were assured in substance,
by the President, that the Government
had no thirst for the blood of
iMr. JJavis; that even If he should be
convicted of treasoD, be would be par-*
donrd ; and that the President's only
anxiety in regard to the case was- to have
it determined by the highest'judicial
tribunal,- whether treason had been committed
or not. At that very time, that
question was under advisement, by wr
1-S8 than four of the most eminent eon
stitutional lawyers now living. The re
suit of their investigations hassione been
laid before the President and I communicated
the substance of it to "The -jYew*"
last Friday night, by telegraph.. ' The
principles which govern the case are
contained in my letter of October 1.
This legal opinion of course has-upset all
the calculations of those members of the
Cabinet who would have gloated over
the conviction of Mr. Davis for treason.
They were willing enough to have him
tried, as long jts they Supposed that he
would certainly be convicted.* But now
that it is known that no such convictions
can be obtained, they are son-ly puzzled
what course to take. It is said that the
Divine Stanton fell back at once upon a.
military court; but there will never be
another tribuual of that description, as
long as Andrew .Johnson is President.
It is a mistake to suppose that any conditions
will he attached to the pardon of
Jefferson Davis. He will not he banished
or required to expatriate himself. His
pnrdoirwill be unconditional, as his acquittal,
if put npon .trial, would be full
..-,1
i?uu .jviwinyic. "
A Court Sc^ne.?"William, look up.
Ti'll ns, William, who- made you. Do
you know?*' William, who Was considered
a tool, screw.-d up his face and, looking
thoughtful, somewhat slowly answered
' Moses, i'Vposu*" "That will do," said
counsellor Gray, addressing the court;
1 "that certainly is an intelligent answer,
more than J supposed him napahld of giving,
for it shows that he has some faint
idea of Scripture * but I submit that it is
not sufticient'to entitle him to be sworn ns
a witness capable of giving evidence."
"Mr. Judge," said the fool, ""may T ax
the lawyer a question V1 "Certainly,"
said the Judge. "Wul, then, Mr. Lawyer
who d'ye 'spose made yon,?" M.\a in,
I 'spose,"said Counsellor Grav,imitating
tho witness. After the mirth had some_i_-i
u ; ?. i .i- . < i i
wnat buusiucu, ine witness nrawJcu out,
"Wal, dcoWj we do read iu tlie good book
that Aaron once made a calf, but wh'd
thought the darned critter had got in
here?" The Judge ordtfed the- man to
pe sworn*
The Chances of the Admission of
the Southern Mkmhers into Congress
?The well informed correspondent. of
the Philadelpia ''Ledger" whites from
Washington November 10:
The opposition are in fine feather over
the result in New Jersey and New York
vesterday, and they declare that the
coast is now clear for action. What they
propose, is to have an early caucus, at
which a plan of action shall be agreed
upon, and this action is to be made
binding, if possible, on all the opponents
of the President's policy. The bold fcaure
of the programme will be the exclusion
of the Southern Reprentativc's, and
there is too much reason to fear the game
will be successful. Indeed bets of two to
one niv making that the South will not
be admitted unless all the demands of
th ii T? arlir?nlc nri* onn it vncmrl in A mttnvi I
of tin'. D'oro .crntic imv.-iVas 'I;..- j
}.TortI: western Conservative lir., ' "iio-n?. j
iuay possibly upset the propose..! ficheirte;
liuI. tiio cii.nicesarc that the opposition
will have things pretty much their own
way, even though some burns while their
fiddling is in progress.
"If the Victors akk Magnanimous
the Vanquished will be Loyal!"?At
the. opening fair of the American Institute
in New York, General Daniel E.
Sickles uttered this sentiment. lie also
stated that it had been almost in every
instance, the uniform error of the successful
party, in civil wars, to prepetuatc
the passions of.the conflict be proecriptive
measures against the vanquished, and inN
stanced the bad results of such prescriptive
measures as applied to France in the
case of the Huguenots; in the action of
Spain towards the Moors and Jews; in
England towards Ireland, and in Austria
towards Italy and Hungary. Let the.
proscriptionists and radicals learn a lesson,
both from the text quoted above and the
illustrations drawn by Gen. Sickles.
Women are angels. If they were,
they would go to heaven for husbands?
or, at least, be more particular in choice
ou earth.
Important to the Blacks- ,
The Allowing important order is-pub*
li^fS^n flic Lyuchbnrg papers of thel-4ti?,
and has a special interest to our'
section just now:
Hd'qhs. Sur-Distrjct I.TNcnnUuc. }
Lynchburg, November 12,186y> y
The following circular is published for'
the i information of the public, by order'
of Major II. J. Mcdonald, commanding;
Sub-District of Lynchburg, Virginia: ^
IJd'qhs. District of Virginia.7
Richmond, Va , November 9, y
Circular No. ^5. /
The Mnjor-Ociiora? commanding is informed
that the impression prevails
among the freedtnen that the (jov.ern?
meat of llic.United States will, on Aft?
coining Christmas day, divide nmdug?
thttp large quantities of land, and tliat bi"
couscqnence of this imprtision' many of
them refuse to enter into contracts to labor
beyond that day.
In order to correct this erronions im?
pression', the commandants of the several?
Districts will immediately detail proper '
officers and send them into every fcouuty'
and, as far as possible, into every neigh-borhood
within their several commandsto
explain to the frccamcn that the Gov-ernment
has neither the intention nor
the power to meet the>e' expectations,. *
arid to urge upon them the absolute necessity
which exists that they should
make proper contracts to labor during ,
the coming rear.
Officers will be selected with "greatcare
for this duty; they will consult with
the principal inhabitants of the. location?
to which they may go, and through themwill
endeavor to meet- and converse uirh
those of the freed men who possess the
greatest influence over their follows.
By command of Maj-Gen'l 2V. II. TkuRV(Signcd)
ED. W. SMITH, A A G.
Official: A. A. Skvmoi h, At'g Aj't-GeuT
Novel Place of Amusement.
Here is an anedote extra t?.d from tlte- #
London TelrrjrcplLS account of the building
of the new bridge at Black friars,
and worth quoting: *"
At the builditig^ of Westminister
Bridge, diving bells were used, but a
difficulty arose of a very nnexcepte.d kind..
The men in the bells, comfortably out'of
S'.rrht of their enmlbvers, found thnmenlvis.
- c r#" ' V.i 7""
wider no compulsion to work. OncwouM'
not think at first the bottom of the great.
London sewer was a ploascut place, fur
tlio liqtrd which fiowsln the* ThamesT"""
and i<fcbv courtesy called water, so thick
that, a bell a few feet bJow the sunn- e
it is as dark as nieht, though men have,
been down in six'y feet of sea water and .
worked by daylight. But the divers at;
Westminister did not mind the gloom. ***
'Lighting up their candles, they us'-dj-instead
of working, to ji'J cards and tead?
newspapers. They took down b"er, aud
even tried smoking during the sub aqnc-.'ous
debauches, but the effect uj>on thebreathing.
was not agreeable, and they
took Jo chewing instead. By giving a
random signal every now and then to the
.men directing the movements of the belf
from pbove, they could convey tho ini- ->
prossion that they were working, and their
little amusements were uninterrupted for
some time, till at last they were found out..
Diving dresses and helmets'were tlienuw
frnrlnOAfl ortrl tlin .ucn t\f l.nlle wne tt
up with very beneficial results. "
? *? ??
- How to Marry a Belle.?Tn Canada
a rich old widower is said to hnvg .
practised an ingenious scheme to gain
the hand of the belle of the village. IJe
hired an oM gipsy to tell the young lady's
fortune, and instructed her to state
that a wealthy old widower (giving a x
.description of his personal.-appearance
and dress) would pay her a visit and offer
himself, and,that she would accept, and!
be leftti wealthy young widow before
the close of the year. Jler next husband,
would he a young man she.liked at present.
Tlie gipsy did her duty, the* old
man presented himself, and the marriage
followed. He is likely to live mauy:
years, and the village belle may boa
grandmother before she becomes a wid
1 ow.
No Compliments in Prater.?"Wehave
heard some prayers which wore designed
to effect the hearer rather than toreach
heaven The following charncter* :-lw
aaeednte of John Randolph is a
keen rebuke to tin- practice :
Tn a sp. il of rcpiintence and sickness. "
lie was visited by a minister who, at his
request prayed for and with him. Tbo _
minister began in this wise: "Lord, onr
fliend is sick. Thou knowest how generous
he was to the poor, and what eminent
service he lias rendcied to his country,
and how lie is among the honored!
and great men of the earth."
"Stop, stop," said the impatient Ran
dolph, "no more of such eluff, else the?
Lord will damn us both.'*
The best stock a man can invest in is
the stock of a farm ; the best scares areplow-shares;
and the best banks are the- * .
fertile banks of the rural streams; themore
these are broken the better divi^
demis tliev pay.
A model young lady, just .graduated
from a certain distant academy, remarked
the other day;; "I can not deceive hqjrv v '
the young geutlcmcn can drink to such a.
recess, when they know it is so eonvirU
ous to their institutions."
'ii-;' , '