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BY ?TO THINE OWN SELF BK TUUE, AND IT MUST FOLLOW, AS THE IIOB'T. A. THOMPSON & CO. iummMmnmt?i?fm*?m)?mm i m j '-_ ^ M I I - - rn Milli II I I I I i i n II irn?ri?. m.mi mniii PICKENS COURT HOUSE, S. C. SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1801. NIGHT THE DAY, THOU NO. 5& POETRY. Prayer. Privyer is thc iuceuso of tlie soul, The o?lor of the flower, Aiul rises ns thc waters roll To Ood's controlling power ! Witina the soul there would not he This infinite desire To whisper thoughts in prayer to T ce, Hadn't thou uo lit tho lire. Prayer is the spirit sponuing Irr?th To Thee, whose love divine Steals gently down like dew to soothe, Or like tho sunbeams shine ; For in tho humblest soul that lives, As in the lowliest flower, Tho dew drop back Mis imago gives. The soul reflects his power! At night, when all is hushed and still, And e'en PO l echo bleeps, A still small voice doth o'er me thrill, And lo each hear? throb leaps ; Il is the spirit pulse which bents. Forever deep nnd true, The atom with its Author meets, As sunlight greets the dew ! jp o L ? T i ? IK lET ! THE FREEDMAN'S BUREAU BILL. Section 1. That thc Act to establish a Bu reau fur thc relief of freedmen and refugees, approved March third, eighteen hundred and sixty-five, shall continue ill force for the term of two year? from and after the passage of this Act. Sec. 2. That the supervision ao l care of a*id Bureau shall extend to all loytil refugees and freedmen, so far as the same bhall bc neces sary to enable them as speedily as practicable to become self-supporting citizens of the Uni ted States, and to aid them in making thc freedom conferred by proclamation of thc Commander-in-Chief, by emancipation under the laws of tho States, sud by constitutional amendment, available to them and beneficial to the Republic. Sec. JV. That the President shall, by and with tho advice and consent of thc Senate, appoint two Assistant Commissioners, in addi tion to those authorized by the. Act to which this is an amendment, who shall give like bonds and receive thc same annual salaries provided iu said Act, and each of the Assist ant Commisioners of the Bureau shall have charge of one district containing such refugees or freed moil, to be assigned him by thc Coin missioner, with thc approval of tho President. And thc Commissioner shall, under thc direc tion of thc President, and so far tis the same shall be. in his judgment, necessary for the efficient and economical administration td' thc affairs of the Bureau, appoint such agents, elbrks, and assistants as may be reqi '""d for the proper conduct of the Bureau, .a, .. ry officers or enlisted men may bc detailed for service and assigned to duty under this Act ; and the President may, if in his judgment safe and judicious so to do, detail from the army all the officers and agents of this Hu reau ; but no officer so assigned shall have in crease of pay or allowances. Knell agent or clerk, not heretofore authorized by law, not being a military officer, shall have an annual salary of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than twelve hundred dollars, according to the service required of him. And it shall be thc duty of the Commissioner, when it can be done' consistently with public interest, to appoint, as assistant commissioners, agents and clerks, such men as have proved their loyalty by faithful service in thc. armies of the Union during the rebellion. Anti all persons appointed to service under this Act, and the Act to wdiich this is nu amendment, shall be so far deemed in tho military service of the United States ns to be under the military ju risdiction and entitled to the military protec tion of thc Government while in thc discharge of thc duties of their office. Sec. 4. That officers of tho Veteran Re serve Corps or of thc volunteer service, now on duty in the Freedmen's Bureau ns Assist ant Commissioners, Agents, Medical Officers, or in other capacities, whose regiments or corps have been or may hereafter bc mustered but of sorvice, may be retained upon snob duty ns officers of said Rurcnu, with tho same compen sation as is now provided by law for their rc spcotivo grades ; and tho Secretary of War shall havo power to fill vacancies until other ofiioers can bc detailed in their places without detriment to the public service. Sec. 6. That tho second Rection of thc Act to whioh this is an amendment shall bs deemed to authorize tho Secretury of War to issue suoh medical stores or other supplies and trans portation, und of?ordsuoh medical or other aid ss may bo needful for' the purposes named in t?aid section : Provided, Tnnt no person shall he deomod " doslituto," " suffering,'1 or de pendent up the Government for support," within tho moaning of this Act, who is able to find employment, and could, by proper indus try or exertion, ?void suoh destitution, suffer ing, or dependeooo. .Sue. G. Whereas by the provisions of an Act approved February sixth, eighteen hun dred and sixty-three, entitled "ob Aot to Hiiiend nu Act entitled ' an Act for the collec tion of direct taxes in insurrectionary districts within tho U.iitcd Stntcs, und for other pur pose?,' approved June seventh, eighteen hun dred and sixty-two," certain lands in the Par ishes of Saint Helena and Saint Luke, South Carolina, were bid in by thc United States at public tux sales, and by thc limitation of said Act the time of redemption of said lauds hus expired ; and, whorens, in accordance with instructions issued by Pr?sident Lincoln on the 16th day of September, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, to the United States Direct Tax Commissioners fur South Carolina, cer tain lands bid in by the United States in thc Parish of Saint Helena in said State, were, in part, sold by the said Tax Com missioners to " heads of families of the African race" in parcels of not more than twenty acres to each purchaser; and, whereas, under thc said in structions the said Tax Commissioners did also set apart as "school-farms" certain par cels of land in said Parish, numbered on their plats from one to thirty three, inclusive, ma king an aggregate of six thousand acres, HW or less : Therefore, be it further enacted, That thc sales made to " heads of families of thc African race," under the instructions of President Lincoln to thc United States Direct Tax Commissioners for South Carolina, of date of September sixteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, are hereby confirmed and estab lished ; and all leases which have been made to sueh " heads of families" by said Direct Tux Commissioners shall bc changed into cer tificates of sale in all cases w herein the lease provides for such substitution ; and all thc lands now remaining unsold which conic with in the said designation, being eight thousand acres, more or loss, shall bc disposed of accord ing to said instiuctions. Seo. 7. That all other lands bid in by thc United States nt tax sales, being thirty-eight thousand acres, more or less, and now in the hands of thc said Tax Commissioners ns the property of tho United States, in thc Parishes of St. Helena nnd St. Luke, excepting tho "school farms," as s peel fled in the preceding section, and so much as may bc necessary for military and naval purposes at Hilton Head, Day Point, and Land's lind, and excepting also the city of Port Royal, on St. Helena Island, and thc town of Beaufort, shall bc dis posed of in parcels of twenty acres, at ono dol lar and fifty cents per acre, to such persons, and to such only, us have acquired and are now occupying lands under and agreeably to tho provisions of General Sherman's special Held order, dated at Savannah, Georgia, Jan uary sixteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty five, and the remaining lands, if any, shall bc disposed of in like manner to such persons as had acquired lands agreeably to the said order of General Sherman, but who have been dis possessed by the restoration of the. same to former owners: Provided, That the lands ?old in compliance with thc provisions of this and thc preceding section shall not be a)inha led bj .heir purchasers within six years from and after thc passage of this Act. See. S. That thc "school farms" in thc Par ish of St. Helena, South (.la roi i na, shall bo sold, subject to any leases of the same, by the said Tax Commissioners, at public auction, on or before thc first day of January, eighteen hundred and sixty seven, nt not less than ten dollars per acre; and the lots in thc city of Port Hoynl, as laid down by thc said Tax Commissioners, and thc lots and houses in thc town of Boliufort, which arc still held in like manner, shall be sold at publicauction ; and thc proceeds of said sales, after paying oxpenses of the surveys and sales shall bo in vested in United States bonds, thc interest of which shall be appropriated, under thc direction of the Commissioner, to tho support of Behool." without distinction of color or race, on thc islands in the Parishes of Saint Helena nnd Saint Luke. Sec. I). That thc Assistant Commissioncrf for South Carolina and Georgia arc hereby au thorized to examine all claims to land in theil respective States, which arc claimed under tin provisions of General Sherman's Special Fielt! Order, and to givo each person having a valid claim a warrant upon tho Direct Tax Com missioner for South Carolina for twenty acm of land, and thc said Direct Tax Commission crs shall issue to every person, or to his 01 her heirs, but in no case to any assigns prc scnting such wnrrnnt, a lease of twenty acrei of land, as provided for in Section 7, for tin term of six years; but nt any time thereafter upon the payment of a sum not exceeding om dollar and fifty cents per acre, tho person hold i og such lease shall bo entitled to certificat of sale of said tract of twenty acres from th? Direct Tax Commissioner or such officer n may bo authorized to issue thc same; but ni warrant shnll be hold valid longer than tw years after tho issue of tho same. Sec.10. That tho direct Tax Commissioner for South Carolina are hereby authorized an? required, at tho oarliest day praofioablo, t survey tho lands designated in sootion 7 int I lots of twenty acres cooli, with proper mete 1 and bounds distinctly marked, 60 that th severa] tracts shnll be convenient, iu form, ! nod as uear as practicable bave un average of fertility and woodland ; and thc expense of such surveys shall be paid from thc proceeds of sales of saids land, or, if sooner required, ; out of any moucys received for otho hindson ? these islands, sold by tho United States for taxes, and now in the bonds of thc direct Tax Commissioners. Sec. ll. That restoration of the lands now occupied by persons under General Sherman's I special field order dated ut Savannah, Georgia, January sixteenth, eighteen hundred and six ] ty-fivc, shall not bc made until thc crops of the present year shall hayo been gathered by thc occupants of suid lands, nor until a fair compensation shall have been mude to them by tue former owners of said linds, or their tegul representatives, for all improvemuts or betterments erected or constructed thereon, and after due notice of the same being done shall have been given hy thc Assistant Com missioner, Sec. 12. That the Commissioner shall have power to seize, bold, uso, lease or sell all buildings and tenements, and any i lids ap pertaining to thc same, or otherwise, held un der claim of title by thc lutoso called Confede rate States, and any buildings or lands held in trust for thc same by any person or persons, and to use thc same or appropriate thc pro ceeds derived therefrom to the education of the freed people ; and whenever the Bureau shall cense to exist, such of thc late so called Confed?rate States as shall have made pro vision for thc education of their citizens with out distinction of color shall receive the sum remaining unexpended of such sales or ren tals, which sholl bc distributed among said Slates for educational purposes iii proportion to their population. Sec. 13. That thc Commissioner of this Bureau shall at all times co-operate with pri vate benevolent associations of citizens in aid of freedmen, and with agents and touchers duly accredited and appointed by them, and .shall biro or provide by lease buildings for.purposes of education whenever such association shnll, without cost to the Govcrn<tK.ut, provide suita ble teachers and moans tit instruction } and be ?ball furnish such protection as may bc re quired for the safe conduct of such.schools. Seo. l-l. That in every State or district whore t he ordinary course of judicial proceed ings bus been interrupted by thc rebellion, and until thc same shall bc fully restored, and in every State or district whose constitutional relations to the Government have been prac tically discontinued by the rebellion, and un til such State shall have been restored in such relations, and shall be duly represented in tilt Congress of thc United States, the right tr make und enforce contracts, to sue, be parties, and give evidence, to inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold, and convey real und personal prop orly, and to have full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings concerning personal lib ci ty, personal security, and acquisition, enjoy mont and disposition of estate real ?md per sonal, including the constitutional right t( bear arms,.shall bc secured to and enjoyed bi all tho citizens of such State or district with out respect to race or color, or previous eondi tion of slavery. And whenever in cither o said States or districts the ordinary course o judicial proceedings has been interrupted b; the rebellion, and until thc same shall bc fui ly restored, and until such State shall huv been restored in its constitutional relations t thc Government, and shall be duly represente in the Congress of thc United Stnles, thc Presi dei)' shnll, through tho,Commissioner und th officers of the Bureau, and other such rule and regulations as thc President, through th Secretary of War, shall prescribe, extend mi itnry protection and havo military jurisdiot'o over all cases and questions concerning free enjoyment of such immunities and rig und no penalty or punishment for any vioh tion of law shall bc imposed or permitted bi cause of race or color, or previous conditio of slavery, other or greater than thc ponnlt or punishment to which whito persons mn be liable by law for thc liko offence. But tl jurisdiction conferred by this section upo the. officers of thc Bureau shall not exist i any State where thc ordinary course of jud cir?l proceedings has not boen interrupted I rebellion, and shall cease in every State who tho Courts of thc State and thc United Stat are not disturbed in the peaceable course < justice, and ofter snob State shall be fully r stored in its constitutional relations to tl Government, and shall ho duly represented the Congress of tho United States. Soo. If). That all officers, ugo nts, emplo eos of this Bureau, boforo entering upon tl duties of their omeo, shall tako thc oath pf soribed in tho first section of the Act which this is an amendment ; and all Ac or parts of Acts inconsistent with thc provi ions of this Act aro hereby ropcoled. Letter from Seoretary Seward on the Phi adelphia Convention. Tho following important lettor has jv been made publ?o ? . ' DEPAUTMENT om STATE, ) Washington, July ll, 1866. j Sir: Excuse tn? for esprmiug eufpri . timi you ask mc whether I approve of the call of a proposed National Union Convention at Philadelphia. After more than live years of dislocation hy civil war, I regard a restoration of the unity of thc country its most immedi ate as well as its most vital interest. That restoration will he complete when loyal men arc admitted as Representatives of thc loyal people of the eleven States so long unrepre sented in Congress. Nothing but this can complete it. Nothing more remains to be done, nnd nothing more is necessary. Kvory day's delny is attended by multiplying and in creasing inconveniences, embarrassments, and dangers, at home and abroad. Congress pos sesses the power exclusively. Congress, after a session of seven months still omits to exer cise that power. What can be done to in duce Congress to act ? This is tho question of the day. Whatever is done must bo done in accordance with the Constitution and laws. It is in perfect accordance with the Constitu tion and laws that thc people of thc United States shall assemble by delegates in Conven tion, and that when so assembled they shall ..uldress Congress by remonstrance; in d that the people in their several States, Districts and Territorios shall approve, sanction and unite in such respectful representations to Congress. No ono party could do this effectually or even seems willing to do it, alone No local or popular organization could do it effectually. Il is thc interest of all parties alike, of *all the Stales, and of all sections-a national in terest-the interest of thc whole people. The Convention, indeed, may not succeed in indu cing Congress to act : but if they fail thc at tempt can make matters no worse. It will bo a lawful and patriotic attempt made in the right direction-an effort to be remembered with pi ide and satisfaction whether it succeed or fail. The original union of thc States was brought about by movements of the snmc char acter. The. citizen who objects to the conven tion is bound to propose a bi tter plan of pro ceeding to effect the desired end. No other plan is offered, or even thought of. Those who should oppose it would seem to me to manifest?t best unconcorn, if not opposition, to all reconstruction, reorganization and re conciliation between thc alienated masses of thc American people. To admit that thc convention will fail, would be to admit that the peaplc of the United States are deficient in either wisdom or the virtue necessary to continue thc existence of tho Republic. I believe no such thing. A great political writer soys that government is a secular religion, and that the people of every country are divided into two classes, each maintaining a distinct political faith. Thc one class always fearing the very worst that can possibly happen, and the other hopes, un der every circumstance, the very bcht that can possibly happen. Without accepting this theory as absolutely true, I think that all men do generally act from a motive to guard against public danger, or else from a positive desiri to do good. Doth classes may, therefore, favoi the present attempt to restore the unity of thc nation. I am, sir, your ob't. t orv't. WM. II. SBW?HD. lion. J. R. Doolittlo, Chairman Kxcoutivi Committee. Relief to Debtors. We observe that meetings have recently been held in several Districts of tho State, ti give expression to public sentiment on tin subject of tho late Stay Law and thc decisiot of its unconstitutionality by the highest judi cial tribunal in tho State, and to inaugurati some system of relief to debtors under th perilous circumstances by which they are sm rounded. If relief is within thc power of tho people cither through the State Legislature or a Stat Convention, these public demonstrations ar perhaps proper and should be encouraged. If, on tho other hand, tho people of Sout! Carolina arc absolutely powerless in tho pren) iscs and have no control over the subject mal ter under consideration, then these publi moetings will doubtless do harm, by cncoui ing a belief that relief is at hand, when no ri lief is possible For it is obvious that if i be not possible to relieve tho debtor from th terms of the contract by which bc voluntaril bound himself, thc sooner this uuplcasat truth is realized tho better, so that debtor un creditor may make such arrangements as wi subsorvc thc interest of both. Now, the true, and the only practical que tion ia, whether relief is within tho power < thc people of thc State ? More than six months ngo, when " repud ntion" was tho all-absorbing publio topio, w endeavored to show, in nn nrtiolo prepart with somo care, that a certain provision in tl Constitution of tho United States was an i superable barrier to tho wild project, so gc orally entertained, of a repudiation of all pi vate contracts. That instrument, which bo remembered, is tho supremo law of tho lan says that no Stato shall pass a law impairit tho obligation of contraots. This provisii was no doubt maturely oonsidered ?Dd wit ly inserted by our forefathers, with a view romov o from the reach of the Ptut* ? teni tation, which, under extraordinary circum stances, (like the present) they might be in duced to fall into, bv interfering with tho sanctity cf contracts between man and man. ! Thc Court of Errors, thc highest judicial Tri bunal in thc State, has decided that thc late i Stay Law belongs to thc class of laws inter dieted by the Constitution of tho United States, and upon that ground, and that alone, ! they have declared it to be inoperative and j void. I Now with this experience and these ftiets be I fore us, seeing that we are the dependents of a j Government, one of thc constitutional rcquirc I incuts of which, is that no State shall pass a j law to change or impair thc obligation of con I tracts, is it not. sheer nonsense to talk of the j State Legislature, or Convention, affording u I remedy, cither by " repudiation" by " sca S ling debts," or by extending thc time for their j collection ? Let those who are clamorous fora meeting of the Legislature, seriously reflect whether that body can devise a law that would bc con stitutional. The measures which wc have heard suggested, such as closing thc Circuit Courts, abolishing the office of Sheriff, &o, nre revolutionary in their character and can not commend themselves to the mind of any sane or prudent in.li vidual. In our judgment there is but one way-ono hope of escape from the difficulties by which we arc surrounded, and that is, to face our troubles with manliness and hope, practice for bearance, toward each other, deal honestly with those whom wc owe, and trust thc futuro to Providence. The popular clamor, the harangues of pub lic speakers and newspaper editors, on tho subject of referring this grave question to tho people, can only result in mischief. It has al ready had tho effect to unsettle credit, and, if persevered in, will drive out capitalists und money from the country. No man will feel safe in lending money, even to bis nearest neigh bor, while public sentiment manifests a want of appreciation of moral obligation. Hones ty of purpose is far thc best policy in the end, and if all arc actuated by this feeling, much ! of the trouble nud difficulty which tho futuro promises, will be obviated. Let a good feeling bc engendered between debtor and creditor. It is tho interest of both to ask and grant concessions, and if left to themselves, untrammeled by the devices of demagogues, they will no doubt make arrange ments, more satisfactory to themselves, nud advantageous to thc country at large than it is possible for tho Legislature of the State to make for them.-Lancaster Ledger. THE AIR LINK RAILROAD.-Somo years ago our Legislature granted a charter for tho "Air Line Railroad," and the cnterpjisc was characterized, in a humorous way, as " begin ning and ending nowhere." Wc have posi tive information to thc effect that the capital has been subscribed, and thc road is to bo built without delny, lt is entirely a Now York onterpriso, intended to shorten the travel between New Orleans and that city. Tho route is from Atlanta, Georgia, to Charlotte, North Carolina, in an "air line," via Ander son Court House nnd Yorkville, S. C. A glance nt the map will show the great distance that will be saved ; passengers nt Charlotte, North Carolina, instead of coming down to Branchville, up to Augusta,' and thence West, will save nil this travel by tho short cut above described. We mention this as interesting information, and as showing what effort.? arc being made to shorten linos of travel. Verily the days of crooked railroads aro at an cud. Again, wo see in this scheme thc business forethought of New Yorkers, who ooolly put down ?5,000,. 000 to bring thc great Southwest ono day nearer to thom.- Columbia Carolinian. THE TRUCK I.NCI BUSINESS.-On Saturday ' last tho stoamcr George AppoM carried to Boston from Norfolk 565 barrel, of vegeta j hies and fruits, 745 boxes tomatoes and 4 crates of melons. In Florida a company of 1 Pennsylvania ./armers have bought lands and aro cultivating them for thc sole purpose of raising carly vegetables and fruit for thc North ern markets. There is no reason why tho planters of South Carolina may not do tho same. Properly packed, these nrticlcs can bo shipped and sold to immense profit in Balti more, Philadelphia, and New York. Whilo waiting on a crop of cotton some of our pro ducers might with a little enterprise realizo twice its valno, by these shipments. Wo aro not behind tho Wost, and an idea of the im menso productive power of the West may bo inferred from tho products of one township. Auburn, Gcnugn county, Ohio : Wheat, 15? ncrcR, 2,236 bushels ; corn, 325 acres, 13, 623 bushels; oats, 265 nores, 10,810 bush els; potatoes, 53 sores, 8,861 bushels; flax, 6 acres, 40 bushels ; 01 aores of olover yield ed 150 tons of hay, and 2,562 acres of mead ow produced 8,800 tons of hay. Pounds of wool, 6,450 ; pounds of butter, 80,774 ; and over 400,000 pounds of ohoeso. There wore mado 65,350 pounds of sugar, and 446'gal lons bf ayrnp.^Z'rt^frtirttfi