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. I.(>I.'.?IM^>II.I,II,,II,.." ? M<llMl'?l,WHinilH|IWNmrill|l||l<)yMIUM|<<UlWMSMI?V?('>AC Tv E WILL CLING TO THE PILLARS o:? THE TEMPLE OF OUR LIBERTIES, AND IF IT MUST FALL, WE WILL PERISH AMIDST THE RUIS 8.' 2*f ."..'I,'.M<" '??"?l'l.?.,,'.,?!,,',,!!,,!!.I,. ,,.MUI H',,)!,,',,, SI3IKINS, DURISOE & ?0., Proprietors. EDGEFIELD, S. C., MARCH 18, 1863. i.M,.M.r>.....?...??? .m^.???.^,...*,..*?,4..' VOLUME XXVI1I.--RO. ll -o BY MISS CLARA V. DARGAN. Fast Day. Friday, thc 27tb, is appointed by our Chief Magistrate as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer. It has been frequently proposed that certain hours of certain days he set apart for special prayer bv tho Women of the South in behalf of our suffering land. We believe -tve, we lenoir-that these periuds have bc:n scarcely observed by some, at least, if not by all : and none can deny the efficacy of "faith ful prayer.*1 On this day therefore, Friday, the 27th of March, at three o'clock in the air ternoon, will not the Mothers, Sisters, and Daughters of this Confederacy unite ia earn est petitions for a speedy nail honorable peace, j ! rod will be with us. u If two of you shall agree on earth as j touching anything that they shall ask, it shall j be ?one for them of my Father in Heaven." " The Substitute.?* The reader wili be involuntarily attracted to this striking poem, which we copy, from the Richmond II! i struted News, hs subject is one o? those instances of grand bero'stn which tell us that man is not yet altogether lost to the god-like attribute of his original nature. Pei haps no incident of the war has challenged the poet's genius, having so high a grade of moral beauly in its toni ensemble : And, for one, we are satisfied with the dasie purity and dignity with which Mr. IIAY.VK has committed it to verse, and, we may add. to immortality. The lirace?e?. A STORY FOR THE CHILDREN. Uv CLARA V. DARGAN. ''Uh. Mamma, Annie Lyman is going to j Rive a party: Grace and Marv Fuller, and '? Lizzie Truman and Bessie and ull the girls , tue going. On, Mamma,,mayn't ? go?" H Always in a glee. See, how your cheeks i glow, and your curls am all tossed ! Be gea- i tier, my child.'" " Hut, Mamma, how can I be gentle wLoa I'm talking , about the party. Please say 1 ninv ?rr. ! ?tl] "my ttrarr^t Matnrro, fayre?. !" h The little .?peaker threw her plump white anns around ber mothers neck, and kissed I h.*r vigorously. Mts. Merton smiled. " Oh, Maysie, von are a sad leazer ! A nd : Vt hy do you wish logo to Annie Lyman's' p :rty'.' 1 thought you did liol ?ike her." '.oh, that was Song ago. She us.? t?> !>.. proud and not notice us girls at school ; but j si e bas ?rown quite pleasant now. /'" !av yrs !'' lt was not tue mother's rub- ti) refuse con Bent unless justified by some good reason ; au after settling the preliminaries, and finding that the party would not interfere with school- j dutiesbeingonFriday night, tin-little girl was sent away to see if Polly had "done up" thc pretty white swi-s ber Grandmamma sent her for the last May parly. Thc importan! evening arrived, and May Merton stood before the great cheval glass in her mother's dressing room viewing ber grace- j ful little figure. The folds of muslin fell like ? tie? ry clouds from the slender waist clasped by a blue silk zone: a wreath of rosebuds 1 confined the wayward curls ; and then her fairy feet, with their tiny slippers, and the j amber necklace-Cousin Fannie's Christmas j gift-which lay upon her fair throat as some- \ body has said '' like sunset upon snow"- ? you may be sure it was a pretty picture. But ' . the little lady wr.s not quite satisfied. In a velvet-lined casket beside ber mothers jewell case lay a bracelet which May bad of ten covetted. It was very delicately plaited' of her dead father's hair ; and tho' destined j as a gift to her only child, Mrs. Merton very properly fjrbadc her to wear it till she was old enough to appreciate its value, and take due care of what was so precious. " I wish I could wear it to-night," May murmured to herself ; "None of the girls have bracelets except Annie, and they would admire it so much. I am MHO 1 shouid not hurt it this one night.'' Sb"! turned lound. The dressing-case was open, and the casket iu it The maid Lad inst gone up stairs together cloak for she was lo walk with ber little mistress as tl night was clear ; and no one was near, it was a great temptation. " 1'wonder why Mamma always refuses to let me wear it. Annie Lyman wears a gold one with rubic-s in it, ard she is no older than J am. Any how it would be no barm to fry it on." Thus soliloquising she moved towards the bu-eau, and lifted the li I of the casket with a trembling hand. There it lay with ?is richly-chajed cl.isp gleaming in the gas-light. It was a decidive moment. Oh, children, >,t such a l ine as this, when you feel tuc pow erful ?Vm|t r in yt ur heart and bear him whisper, '*Do!'' think of thc blessed Savior in thc wilderness when all tue powers of earth and hell combined to lure bim from bis Fath er ; think oi your guardian nriL'el who flut ters lils bright wings above yon. und is ever near lo guard tho1 you cannot see him ; think of th'rie things, and clasping your little bauds pray cai neatly " God IK lp me." May stood quite still for a moment, aud I then-tho Tempter conquered ! She too' bracelet from its velvet bad, and clasp on her fair, round arm. Just then a t was heard on the stairs, and hastily shu ! the box, rhe little girl caught up her cl i and met Ellen as she opened the c ; " Your Mamma wishes you to wear this, j Muy,"' said the maid, holding a beautifu J mine mantle ; "She says it may be when we are coming linnie, and she cai I send thc carriage for you as one of the he is lame.'' ' . And herc was the second temptation. ' could not drop her cloak for fear Ellen wi see the bracelet ; but wear the ermine n tie she must. Deception comes easily, there was but one way. " Ellen," she said, "I wish wry raui ha d boquet of some kind. Can you not me one ?" " There are some beautiful roses in the j den, aud that bush of-what-ever-you-ca -all white blossoms, you know, is bloom but your Mamma tobi you not to pull tb without her leave." " Oh," returned May, " she will not ca I can explain it. Ruu down quickly, Ell and get me a pretty bunch-that's a ge girl." Away went the maid, always read}' to her little misticss' bidding; and May hast threw aside her cloak, and wrapped the mine mantle around her pretty white sho ders. ' Afraid to go down to the parlor 1 her mother should wVh to inspect her dr -as was quite natural-she stood by the w dow aud watched tho passengers hurryi along the street below. Once somethi whispered to ber to take off the bracelet, I she put thc ?rood angel off with " Just tl oue night;'' and soon Fdlcn returned braal less with the stolen Howers. For wbatei is taken secretly and without leave is certa ly stolen. But poor lit;le May did no1: ?hi about it in this light ; she only kn.'W thats was determined to wear the bracelet, a uerer once dreamed of the many sins would lead to. They went down togetbi and leaving the boquet on the table in t hall, May entered the parlor to bid her mot er good-nigh". Der heart beat guiltily, Mrs. Merton looked tip from ber netting at said with a smile ,; Dressed at last ; And quite tastefully have no doubt. Throw aside the mantle, ai VT me'see yrm,"May?n>'." '.Oh, Mamma, Ibave on just what y? ?aid ont for m.* : the dress, and sash and nee lace, and-and, besides it is so late. The mother looked at her child; tbesm't faded from ln-r tacp N'ot the words a!oi pained her, bul Ihe tone was decidedly imp lieut, and May had not been accustomed : speak thus. Alas! bow one sin leads to ai (.thor! .Mrs. Merton turned to the mai .. Ellen, take good catv of your mistress, nr see that she is well wranped-np before ri goes into the night air. You may go, ni daughter, I hope you will enjoy yourself The tears started into .May's eyes at thof words. A good resolution rose in ber hear but tit that moment tin- door bell rang, an she beard Crace Fuller's voice enquiring .-be were ready, lt was too late now, sb thought. " Good-night, dear Mamma," sh whimpered throwing ber arms around be mother's neck, and kissing ber, '. Forgive m impatience !"' and she ran to meet race. The large drawing rooms of Annie Lyman princely home were blazing with light, an gav with bright - faces and merry voices a Grace and May reached the door. They wer greeted with great enthusiasm for both wer general favorites. All eyes fell upon May' new bracelet, and many were the enquiries a to who gave it, and whose hair it was, ani why ?he bad not worn it before. To all thes questions the little lady replied with dignity anil reserve ; so much so that some of thc en vious went oil declaring May Merton hai grown very vain and haughty. The eveuinj passed pleasantly. Annie Lyman the onb daughter of wealthy and injudicious pareuts moved about among ber little guests in al the glories of a llounced tarleton and the rii by-bracelet. I have not time to tell all tha happened on that wonderful night long re membered by the girls and boys who partied pated in its pleasures ; nor how May laugbee and danced and played till Elleu came to tel her it was after ten. But in all her uiirtr and lightness the bracoiet was never forgot len ; and all thc admiring glance? cast upor ir, and all thc complime nts paid ber by the young beaux in -oiind-jackets and white pants did not.case the aching pain in hei ! heart. She bad never deceived her mothei ; before, and the thought of her gentle face land its painful surprise cankered in May's heart till she almost cried. Sbo left ll:< : bright scene and her merry companions, anc sought thc room where a few of the girls wert putting on their cloaks and hoods. Good ' natured Lizzie Truman was there, and insist ed on May's*riding with her as she was alone in the large family-conch. So Grace ant May, dismissing their maids to walk un, wait ; ed a little for Lizzie to finish marking the les i suis for Annie. Lyman who bad nut J>een t. : school for several days, aud the three thc ; b ide good night to all, and entered the car ! Hage. In a few minutes they reached May': ; hume, and after many promises to meet earlj at Seb-.ol on Monday, the little girl jampee ! out and ran up the t?U p<. lier Mamma wa: i not yet gone to bed but sat netting by th? ! lump as if she had not moved. " Come in, m j daughter I" she said, as ii; stood hesitating upon the threshold. " Ha you enjoyed the evening ?" Thc gentle ton fell upon tLe miserable child's heart lil oil on troubled waters." She burst into teai and fell at her mother's ??et. " Mamma, Mamma," she cried, " doc speak so kindly to me ! I do not deserve i -indeed, I do not." As she spoke she took the bracelet fro: her ann, and phced it in ber mother's ham " There, Mamma, see how wicked I ha-* been ?"-and tho' choked with sobs she toi thc whole story of her sic, from the first di ception to the last. It wt s a great relief t tell the whole without a ningle excuse, an May poured ont all her guilt and vanity int that dear, kind mother's sympathizing hear And what did that mother do ? She took th little wanderer in her arnie, and forgave her Just, my dear children, as God forgives a those who turn from their sins and seek hi love. May you learn like this bule girl t acknowledge your faults, and come to you Heavenly Father's feet, to implore bis for givencss. Ile will never refuse it. Little May grew up to 1)2 a noble and beau tiful woman. Years after this incident bap pened she would recall il to preserve ber fron temptation ; and now, as ber own cbildrei gather arouud ber knee, their sweet-facc< Grandmother still netting by the lamp, an< Ellen a portly old Mourner rocking the bab] in the corner, she warns t ?ein to beware o vanity, and tells them the story of " Tbi Bracelet." Fi-uu thc " Illuttrattd New*." The Substitute. BY PAUL H. IIAV.SK. (Note.-The infamous crime of McNeil, perpe trated in one of our Western States has now me with the shuddering reprobatiou of Christendom Uut at tho time the following verses-cast, as lil reader AV i il perceive, in a partly dramatic mould were composed, nothing was kouwn of tho Trago dy, excepting the nuked fact that rea Confeder ates had been hastily and ignominiously murdered hy order of a Federal Commander, on a chargt afterwards proved to have been false, and Ibui mic of these unfortunate victims (a mere youth), voluntarily sacrificed his life to rescue his friend, :i man advanced in years, and with a large family! In tho Poem this latter individual is represeu ted as unaware of the youth's resolve until it hud been executed. lietwein the l-i and 2nd part* of the phve, ubiiur twrutu-fottf A our? are supposed lu Lave el*psed.F- ' -**- - -, ? r ~ ''' ' PAP.T I'll: 1. (Phet:-A Federal Prism,-A Confed?rate chained, and a Viritor, hin frU'ud.) t ' *. How say's! thou? die to-morrow? Oh! my Friend! Thc hitter. Litter doom ! Whai /..!?./ thou done to tempt this ghastly end This death of s-huiuc und gloom ?" II. Whut done? Do Tyrants wail for guilty deeds, To ?iud, or prove a crime They who have cherished Hatred's flory seeds Hot for the Ila:vest lim?? irr. j "A snn-r ! a smile ! vallie trifle? lighl as air- . j Some foolish, false surmise Lead to tin-, harrowing Drama .'.f d.- pair Wherein-the victim dies ! IV. " And I shall perish ! Comm ie, head me not ! For thus my teurs must start-? Not for thu ndsery of my blasttd lot, Hut ber's who bolds my hean ! ' V. And there's tho flowers that wreathed ray bum ble hearth With roseate blush and bloom, To-morrow eve they stand alone on earth, Beside their Father's tomb ! XL " There's Blanche, ?ray serious beauty, lithe and tall, With pensive eyes and brow, There's Kate, the tenderest darling of them all, Whose kisses thrill mo now ! VII. " And little Rose 1 the suushino of our days A tricksy, gladsome spright How vividly como buck her witisonic ways, Her laughters und delight ! VIII. "And my brave boy-my Arthur! Did his arm Second his will nud brain, I ihoutd not groan beneath this iron charm, Clashing my chuins in vuiu ! * IX. " Oh ! Christ ! and hath it come to this ? Wi'] none Ward off the " ghastly End ?" And yet methinks I heurd the \oice of One Who culled the old man-" Friend !" X. "May all thc curses caught from deepest Hell Light on thc blood-stained knave, Who laughs to beor tho Patriot ? funeral knell, Blaspheming o'er" his grave ! XL " Away ! Such dreams are madiess ! My pule lip? Had best besiege Heaven's car; But in the turmoil of my mind s eclipse, No thought, no wish is clear ' XII. '. Dear friond, forgive mo ! Sorrow, frenzy, ire My bosom's raging guests By turn have whelmed mo in their floods of fire Fierce passions, swift unrests ! XIII. "And now, farewell ! Thc sentry's warning hand Tap? at my prison bars ! Wu part, but not forever! There's a Land, Comrade, beyond the stars!" XIV. " Yea !" raid thc youth ; und o'er his kindling fae? A enint-liko glory came -T~.?V As if somo prescient Aiiijld, breathing grace, Had touched it into ?'fme ! PAET;^ECOND. (Place: The same P??*ov. Penoni : The Con federate Priioner- tqjSB?r inti AfcNci.l and th Jailor.) jj* . . The Hours siuk slow tuffeunset ! Suddenly Rose a deep, gathering hum ! And o'er the measured ??id.e of soldiery, Rolled out the mu file';, dr um ! Thc Prisoner started ! ctoshed a stifling 6igh, Then rose erect and proud ! Scorn's lightning quiver^ in his stormy eye, 'Neath the brow's thu?ler-cloud ! I And girding round his iiribs and stalwart breast Each iron chain and1 Ho stood sublime, impotj?d, self-possessed And haughty as a Kin ? ! I Tho " dead-inarch" watf,fjwithout the Frison gate. Up tho calm cven?n?*ky ; Aud ruffian jesling.?, boin of ruffiau bato, Make loud, unmeet r?Wy ! . The "dead-march" wafJs^without the Prison wall, Up the calm eveninWmr^ And timed to tne dread;dirge's ?se and Tall, More thc fierce Murderers by ! vi The hired Bravoes, whew pitiless features palo In front of armed vnqa Eut whose magnanimous courage will not quail Where-none can stritte again ! Ttl. They passed ! and wondering at his doom deferred The Captive's lofty frije Suuk id his breast by tdjrtunng memories stirred Of Husband, and of .?ire ! Vdlt But hark ! the clash of bolt and opening door ! The tramp of hostile heel ! When lo ! upon the dattening prison floor, (Hared the falso hound-McNeill ! And next him, like a ban-dog scenting blood, Roused from bis drunken ease The grimy, low browed Jailer glowering stood, Clanking his iron keys! " Quirk'! sirrah I iSrfi-e y?m*^RdbcI's fetten otT, And-Ut 1 tlC Cid fool /rO What ransom, iwith a low anj bitter r?o?T) Wbat ransom -ieta bini t're.e ! Xl. ..A glorious Luaio&sa ! by the Pieud, I think hold Butler's put to shame ! I mark his lui! 1 hun ur? pule nod ?ink Bvfure my rrimson fame!" XU. As the night Traveller in a land of foes, Tho Huming instinct fuels, Timi through the treacherous diurne?* und repose, A shrouded Horror steals ! XIII. So, at theto veiled words, the Cuptive's soul Shook with a solem dread And ghostly voices prophesying d?Ie, M ..at;e-I fuinllv over head! XIV. His limbs ure freed ! bis swarthy, scowling guide Lends thru' tin: silent town. Where from dim casements-black with wrath and pride .Stern eyes gleam darkly down ! XV. They bolted where a dense wood showered around Dank leaflets on thc sod, And thc live air seemed vocal with the sound Of wild appeals to God ! XVI. Heaped as if common carrion in thc gloom, Nino mangled corpei lay, All speoehless now !-but with what tongues of doom Reserved for Judgement Day! XVII. And ne.ir them, hut apart, one youthful form Profecd a fair upland slope, O'er whose white brow a sunbeam flickering warm Played, like a heavenly hopo ! XVIL There, with tho sume grand look which yesternight That face ut parting wore, The self-mado martyr in the sur..ot-ligbt Slept on bis coucb of gore! XIX. Thc sunset wnncd ! tho wakening forest waved, Struck by the Xortb-wiud's moan, While He whoso Life this matchless death had saved Knelt bv the corse-Mono ! Poor PERCIVAL I His only grief was the early blight of a first and only love. His was a broken heart : and all the u forms and ? shows of things " in the world had DO attrac ! tion in his eyes. It wa? in a spirit such as ; this, that he wrote these exquisites lines: I saw, on tho top of a mountain high, A gem that shone like fire by night; It seemed astar that hud left the sky, And fallen asleep on that lonely height. I ..limbed the peak, and found it soon, A lump of icc. in the clear cold moon : Wouldst thou its hidden sense impart? 'Twas a cheerful look and a broken heart." Separation. i lu any caT, a feeling of sadness will come : over the heart, at the reflection that a friend I whom wc have loved will be with us no more. ; Tho word, Farewell ! has in it something ' dirge-like, which all more or less feel-so ; many things may occur to prcveut the alter ! meeting of those who part; or they may \ meet with altered feelings. Oh 1 wo would ? rather never, never again see those we have loved, and whose remembrance is twined around our heart, than meet the averted eye of changed affection. We would rather kneel above the graves of those with whom we parted in friendship, than read, within those eyes whose every gleam and glance ia stamp ed upon our memory-change ! AN ACT TO ORCANIZE AND SUPPLY NEC.RO LABOR FOR COAST DEFENCE, IN COMPLI ANCE WITH; REQUISITIONS OF THE GOVERN MENT OF THE CONFEDERATE STAES. I. Be it enacted by the Senate-and House of Representatives now met and Fitting in Gen eral Assembly and by the authority of tho same, That from and after the passage of this Act this State shall be divided into four Ter ritorial Divisions, as follows, to wit : Division No. 1. The Jndical Districts of Pickens, Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Union, York, Chester, Laurens, Abbeville and Newberry to constitute the first divi sion. Division No. 2. The Judicial Districts of Lancaster, Kershaw, Chesterfield Marlboro, Darlington, Marion, Sumter, Clarendon, Wil liamsburg and Ilorry, including Upper All Saints, to constitute tho second division. Division No. 3. The Judicial Districts of Fairfield, Richland, Lexington, Edgefield, Barnwell and Oiangebnrg, to constitute the third division. Division No. 4. The Judicial Districts of Charleston, Colleton, Beaufort, Georgetown, including Lower All Saints, to constitute the lourth division. II. That the negro labor hereinafter re quired shall be furnished by the several dis tricts aforesaid, as follows, to wit : first, by Division No. 2 ; next, by Division No. 3 ; next, by division No. 1 ; and last, by Division So. 4. III. That as soon as the Governor shall kave received from the Confederate Govern ment, tkrongh tho proper officer authorized thereto, written assent and agreement to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, he shall call for such labor ns may be de manded by the Confederate Military Au thority from the several divisions in the or der aforesaid, to be furnished by the slave holders thereof, in proportion to the slave population, as specified in the last cousus re turn of thi3 State: .kt. Trhat't4wv?laven liable lo th*? rill -hall ! lie the same that are liable io road duly in ! (his State: 2d. Thal it shall be the duty of the Com missioners of Hoads, and the Authorities of incorporated'eities, towns and villages not subject to the jurisdiction of the Commis sioners of Roads in the performance of road duty in thc several districts to summon the owners to furnish their respective quotas of slave labor which the Governor shall re quire : '.'A. That e::ch levy under the call shall serve for one month, and until relieved, in turn, by thc next levy. And if the said Com missioners of Roads, or any of them, shall neglect or refuse so in summon such slave owners to send their ?aid slaves in pursuance of the rii|uisition afore-mid, such Commis sioners or Commissioner shall sutler for each and every such neglect or default, the same pains and penalties and in the same manner as now prescribed by Statute Law in this State. And that the Boards of Commission ers shall have power to appoint Commission ers in such divisions as are uow vacated by the absence of Commisioners in the present war, for the ensuing year from citizens of any age :. 4th. That such notice shall be given by the Engineer or other officer of thc Confederate Government of all requisitions for negro la bor except thc first, as will enable the owners of slaves to have thirty days from the time ot summons to the time of furnishing their res pective quotas of slaves. That the first re quisition ?nay be made with such notice as ; thc urgency of the case will permit. 5th. That the Confederate authorities shall ! furnish transportation by railroad from the ' depot, nearest the owner's residence, the own ! er to trani-port his or her slaves at his or her I own expense to such depot, irrespective of I the distance of such depot from his or her residence : Gth. That rations shall be supplied by the Confederate authorities to the said slaves from the time of their arrival at such depots until their return to the homes of their owners; 7th. That the pay of each slave be eleven dollars per meath, to be paid by the Confed erate Government, and to be sheltered and receive all proper medical attendance in case of sickness : 8th. That the Confederate Government shall be liable to thc owner for any loss or damage of or to the slave or slaves during his or their service, or from disease contracted in service, such liability to commence on the arrival cf such slave or slaves at the railroad depot for transportation, and to continue un til his or their return to the 6ame ; and the value shall be assessed as hereinafter pro vided. Y. That a State agent shall be appointed ' by the Governor, who t>hall receive for his services the.pay of a Lieuteuant Colonel of infantry, as allowed by the Confederate Gov ernment, during his employment, to bo paid to him monthly by the Confederate Govern ment ; und there shall be also one overseer ?or every one hundred slaves, mi overseers to be selected by the owners or their agenl and to receive euch fifty dollors per mon' during his employment, to be paid month by the Confederate Government, ' these sa overseers to be, during their employment, sui jecttothe orders and the jurisdiction of tl Confederate military authorities. V. That it shall be the duty of the Stai agent to visit all ::he camps of the laborers, I examine their condition, to observe* the treatment and discipline, to axamine the food, both as to quantity and quality, and sc that it is thc proper ration for each as is a lowed by law, and particularly to inform hin self as to their medical and surgical attendant aud care, and whenever required, to repoi the same to the Governor, and especially s the conclusion of the tour of service < each levy, it shall be his duty to make sue a report to the Governor, in whose possessio it may be open for examination by the owe ers of the said slaves. VI. That it shall be the further duty of th State agent to collect and receive the slave as they shall be called into service, at th several railroad depots where they are to b delivered, to give receipts therefor to th owners or their agents at such depots, and sent forward the paid slaves to their points of desti nation ; and he shall also be present at tb assessment of thc slaves hereinafter provided and see that the same is made in duplicate am certify the same, s.nd one copy to be given U the owner and the other to bc retained bj the Confederate authorities. VIT. That it sha.ll be the duty of said Stat? agent to certify the bills for the pay of tb? said slaves for their respective owners, specify ing the number of the said slaves the ti mt they have been employed, and the names ol the owners, which bills so certified shall enti tle the owners by themselves or their ordei endorsed thereon, ta receive the same from Confederate authorities. VIII. That in case of any attack by the enemy the slaves..{?ball be immediately re moved to Home place of safety, and it shall l>e the duty of the .State Agent and overseers tn carry this provision promptly into execu tion-subject to the order and direction of the Confederate commanding officer, at the time and place wherp the slaves ard em ployed. IX. That hefora the slaves shall ba em ployed in labor, hy the. Confederate authori I ??fl tbrty ?IntiI Oe rtiiSV'rteil \ty au Aane*SdF, t> be chosen by said authorities, and an Asses sor selected by the owner or State Agent The assessment shall be in writing and con tain the name of the owner, the name or uames of the slave or slaves, and his or their respective value or values ; to be takeu in duplicate itt presence of the State Agent who shall certify the same, one copy to be deliv ered to the owner, and the other to be retain, ed by thc Confederate authorities, and such assessment shall be conclusive of the value of said slave or slaves. X. That it shall lie tte duty of the Con missioners of Roads to .see that one or more of their number bo pr?sent?t the respective Railroad Depots, where the said slaves are delivered to the State ngiut by the owner to verify the quota which each owner is bound to furnish under the call, and in dvfuult Lere of they shall bc liable lo the same penalties as now provided by law, fur ?ot summoning bauds to work on the ror.ds in their several districts. XI. That if any owner of slaves shall neg lect or refuse to send hi* slave or slaves lia ble to the call hereinbefore mentioned, after the notice herein provided shall have been giveu him or her by the Commissioner so to do, such owner shall be liable to the same tines and penalties now, provided by statute law for default in the performance of road duty, of which default the Board of Commis sioners shall have full jurisdiction. Xii. That no slave owner shall be exempt from supplying slave labor for such requisi tions by reason of bis slave or slaves being employed at the passage of this Act in manu, fiicturing or on Railroads, or in the boiling of salt'or itt any government contract, but in such case the owner may commute for such service, by paying into the Treasury a 6um of-money to be computed at eleven dol lars per month for each of such slaves for the time their labor would have been required under this Act XIII. That in the apportioning of the levies in the said several divisions, slave owners who have already furnished the slave labor shall be credited therefor, in the requisitions to be made under this Act, and no more la bor shall be rt-quiaed from Buch owners than may bc sufficient with the labor already lux? nished by them respectively, to make up their respective quotas. In the Senate House, the eighteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and in the eighty-seventh year of the sov ereignty and independence of the State of South Carolina. W. D. PORTER, President of the Senate. A. P. ALDRICH. Speaker House of Representatives. ! - J?3l" The Empress Eugenie dressed in the most gorgeous style while at Cotnpcigne. She appeared on oue occasion with quite a collection of tropical humming birds about ' her person. Hut, says a letter writer, they Were, however, arranged with good effect, ' She bad a dress of some very fl i m ay pink ma terial, which looked so light that one would bc in no way surprised to see it floating in the air like a pipe blown bobble. The skirt Would have been perhaps as long as the train of a court dress, were it not what 13 techni cally called " looped up" w;th bunches of roses, so fresh, so lair, and so like those which grow in a well-cultivated garden that the tropical bumming birds which fluttered on them seemed as if attracted there bj their beauty. Fireflies also gleamed out from be neath tho green leaves,' and on the sider of a wrei th of roses and rosebuds a very long tail ed bird of paradise had the privilege of be ing perched the whole evening. . ? -? ? ? - Confederate Finances. ? Our exchanges groan with learned essaya on finance-the object being to show how the Government can arrest ?fee depreciation of a redundant currency, maintain the public credit, and finally pay its debts. We have a supreme contempt, for words when great and prominent facts stand oat to challenge uni versal attention, lt is a waste of breath, of paper and of common sense to beat the bush for impossible ways to do impossible things, when it is clear to every intelligent mind there is bot one way to accomplish the end sought, and that aa simple as the commonest sum in arithmetic, and as obvious as the evil to be corrected. What is the difficulty ? It is that the Government is paying lavishly out of the treasury for the support of the war and nothing is coming into it. An empty till and depreciation of Government paper to worthlessness are the inevitable results of such a process in a given time. What is the remedy ? There is but .oue earthly remedy., and Congressmen, Treasury Clerks and Edi tors may scratch their beads, and exhsust the finance libanes and fiscal references and experiences of the Governments of the world, in a vain effort to find another. Taxation is the only resource, to keep down the interest upon, and keep up the value of, your paper money, and finally to sink and absorb the principal of your debt. And while it is an inexorable truth that taxation ia the. tnie and only salvation of Confederate credit, it is- al so true that the sooner it is resorted to the better. Are our Congressmen afraid to ap proach the duty ? Then, they ?re not the men for the limes. Are they conscious- nf an - incapacity to master the subject of finance v Then, in mercy" to'the country, let t bern re sign and give place to those who bav? both the ability.and the courage to do their duty. The people are ready to pay the tax, and they are able to bear it. They expect* it. They know that their safety, property-, and liberties depend upon the public credit bebg sustained-that the army moat be disbanded unless it is, and they must become vassals to Yankee lords and their women the slaves of Yankee passions. If they have given -their ans and brothers and their own blood to Avert th-? horrid doom, will they not give their mbstauce ? Tax ! that is the cure of the financial malady. Tax heavily enough to meet the public ex;gencics during the war, iud wheu peace is restored it will require on ly a little courageous statesmanship to wield the immense resources of the Confederacy to :he speedy extinguishment of its debt. We bave several King staples besides cotton. The Mitside world may be made to pay royal tri bute to them, ll we succeed in this war, ?vc shall have saved these Kings of commerce to the world. It is but right that the world mould help bear the burden of the struggle, ay footing thc bill of costa. All this when ?ur ports are opened. Until then, taxation 3 the only panacea.-Mobile Register. -? m ?- . The True Spirit. , , The Natchez Courier relates tb? following incident : " At oue of the places burnt by the 1 Queen of the West,' owned by a lady who had been thus villainously left homeless, the valiant commander attempted to CJDverse with her on the bauk from the deck of lu's boat. She proved true pluck for him. He asked her : " Madam, have you a father, brother, or any relations in this war?" " The lady was quite young, a widow, with two young boys of five and seven j ears of age by her side. She answered, in sight of the smouldering ruins of her home : " I have two brothers in the army ; and if you keep ont his war twelve years longer (pres sing the beads of ber boys,) I shall have two sons to fight you WI their death .'-I ex peet nothing better than murder and arcon from any of your tribe." Noble woman ! The mother ol the " (rrac chi? could not have answered better. Wheo we hear of men, Southern men, talking about reconstruction* our indignation know* no re straint. Let all audi think of tb? response of the noble widow, and remite, if the War continues for " tvfelve years longer* to fight it mit I Let them expect nothing better than " murder and arson," save the liberty and independence of the South. Failing to se cure the latter, let VJ welcome the former with our face to the foe, the drawn sword and the glittering bayonet in our hands I-Atlanta In telligencer. . ? , _' . . . 1 J?3r A stick thrown ara-dog in front of the Washington Hotel, Boston, bit five Briga dier Generals. Hit 'em again, good stick ! ? Dtotrust ail abs> Uniter iou. Take } counsel of your own heart, and be careful lett you find a flatterer ?fe? t?*re?