Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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BY ROBT. A. THOMPSON & CO, P1CKENS COURT HOUSE. S. C, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1807. VOL. IL.?.?NO. 50. REPLY OF GEN SICKLES TO THE .Comm un tendon of thc Charleston Jina rd oj Trade, asking a Modification of General Order No. ?0. HEADQUARTERS, ) SKCOND Mi td TA RY DISTRICT, ' ?H?ur,K8?0?f, S. C. Aug. 10, 1867. ) <$Icssrs. William Gurney, Wm. S. Hastie, Edwin Rutes, A. R. Taft, ll. Golda, and E. W. Marshall, Committee of tho Hoard of Trade of the City of Charleston, S. C. G KN TI, KM KN : I nm instructed by the Major General Commanding to communicate to you thc results of his careful consideration .of the remonstrance of tlio Doard of Trade of Charleston, addressed to him on thc 28th of ?lune, ultimo. It has been deemed proper to defer this reply to your communication until nf ter tho action of Congress upon tho ques tions made in relation to thc authority of the Commanding Officers of Military Districts. In behalf of the Roard of Trude, you com plain of tho action of the Commanding Gen eral upon certain subjects of local administra tion as Unconstitutional, unwise, unjust and inexpedient. Thc pro-cut occasion seems to be a fitting ouo to remove some of thc miSiipprelioiisions entertained in relation to tho origin and sanc tion of the military iiuthority now exercised in thc Carolinas. South Carolina in 1801 renounced her re lations with the United States, asserted her independence, and by military forces of her own and of her confederates, expelled thc troops of the United States and every repre sentative of the authority of the United States, from her territory. A long ami eventful war followed; In 1865, the military forces of the United States completed the conquest and occupation of the territory of South Carolina and of her lillies. Martial law ensued us tho legitimate and necessary consequence of such conquest and occupation. All local civil uuthoVity thereupon ceased, or, if Subs?quent ly exer cised, depended for its validity upon tho mil itary authority of the conqueror. ( These recognized principles of public law are announced in General Orders Nu. 100, W?r Department, 1868, iWfii? r.iiiowii.g ??u *^iirtgVV: " A pince, ?Hstrlct or county occupied by an enemy, stands, in consequence of the j occupation, under the martial law of thc j invading or oooopyiug army, whether any | , proclamation declaring martial law or any ! warning has boen issued or not." ?' Martial law in a hostile country consists in the nus . pension, by the occupying military authority, of tho civil and .criminal law and of thc do mestic administration and government in the occupied place or territory, and in the substi tution of military rule and force for the name, ns well ie* iu tho dictation of general laws, us .far us military necessity requires (bis suspen sion, substitution or dictation. The command er of the forces may proclaim that the admin istration bf all civil and ponai laws shall con tinue, eithor wholly or in part, UB in time of peace, unless otherwise ordered by the milita ry authority." In pursuance of the foregoing instructions for the guidance of tho military forces occu pying the theatre of war, military government was instituted in South Csrolina. Martial law has ever t-incc been exercised, with occasional and defined concessions to civil forms of authority. In June, 1865, Mr. Derry wis appointed by tho President, by virtue of his authority as Commander-in-Chief, Provisional Governor of South Carolina. Under martial law Govern or Perry proceeded to remodel thc institutions of tho State and revive certain forms of oivil administration. A prescribed oath of allegi ance, amnesty, or a special pardon, rendered persons eligible to otlicc and thc enjoyment of civil rights On the 1st of January, 1866, by General '..Orders No. .1, Headquarters Department of South' Carolina, series of 1866. it was provi - dod, among other regulations for (he govern ment, of South Carolina, that no person should be denied any civil right on account < f his 'col?f Or race . Ry the " Civil Rights bill," passed April 9th, 1866, the military regulation thus estab lished acquired thc sanction of law, and thc * -^ulOiWhs made general throughout the United ?trttos. On thc 12th of January, 1866, Commnnd . ? 'ing Officers.wero vequired by the General in Chief to protect persons from prosecution in . Stnta .or municipal courts, when ohnrged with .offences arising oui. of thc enforcement of the .military orders of thc President or other com petent military authority ; also to proteot from prosecution and ponalties all occupants of . .abandoned lands und all persons holding prop erty by the military authority of the Presi dent; and nlsoto protect colored persons from oil penalties not imposed on whito persona. Qn M a roh 12 th, 1866, a military quaran tine was established on tho seacoast of the ppnq??rc.d territory. On July 6th, 1866, military arrests wore ordored of all offondcrs in tho conquered ter ritory tohenovcr tho oivil courts- noglocted or . rofusod to proceed ngaiust suoh persons for pUblio offbnoos. On July 18th. I860, certain civilians un dergoing sontcnco of military courts for often 'pcs committed within tho conquored territory, were, by authority of tho Prosidont, ordored to? $$ held in military custody. ' ?.r? the ?Oth of July? 18.60, Congress, by an not entitled " An aot to continuo in force and to amond am not to establish a Bureau for i " tho relief of froo#m.ea and rofugoos, and for other purposes." proVidod for tho exerolso of military juristRotiou wifch?t tho conquered ter to constitutional relations to thc government, and tho inhabitants duly represented in thc Congress of the United States. lu November, I860, tho orders of the Major-Ccncral Commanding disbanding the militia in thc Carolinas were approved by the Sccretury of War. By the uct of 2d Mureil, I 18G7, Congress made the like prohibition ab j solute in all thc conquered territory. On March 2d, 1867, Congress declared that uo legal State governments existed in tho con quered territory, including South Carolina ; divided tho territory into Military Districts, of which North and South Carolina comprise tho second; provided for thc appointment cf a Military Commander for each District ; de clared all civil government therein to be sub jeot in all respects to the Military Command er, and that all interference, under e >h>r of State authority, with the exercise of military authority, should bc null aud void. Congress, in tho exorcise of its paramount authority an nouoccd. also, tho conditions on which the inhabitants might bo restored to constitutional telations to tho Government of the United States. Having shown the nature of the authority that exists in South Carolina, and traced its origin to the law of war and to tho Govern ment of the Hutted States, it may not be with out utility to show tbat this exercise ol' power is author sied by tho constitution. Congress is tho authority competent to de clare war, to determine tho conditions of peace, and to define thc political relations of thc in habitants of conquered territory. Thc drnn prehensivo war powers found somewhere in every government, are given by thc Constitu tion of the United Stales to Congress. Tlie States that made war upon tho Union, set up a government of their own. and re nounced nil their rights under our constitu tion. The Uuited States made war, not for the purpose of compelling the hostile S,tatcs and people lo resume their rights and privi leges under the constitution, but to compel them to yield submission to the authority of the United States. It was for thc parly ag grieved, and not for thc wrong-doer to say whether the offender should ever be restored to tho privileges of the compact ho had re nounced. The United States acquired, by conquest, absolute authority over all their en emies and over all the territory in dispute. The principles governing tho relations of pvffiurauou ur cuiii|ucruu territory to nu military authority in possession, have been announced hy the Supreme Court of the Uni tel States in the case of Lcitcniidorfcr os. W>M (20th Howard.) That case arose out of the conquest and occupation of New Mexi co by the United States. Thc court held that the occupation by the armies of tho United St.?les overthrew the existing civil govern ment, although the relations of persons lo each ??thor remained in force, exceptas these might contravene the Constitution and laws of the United States or thc regulations for the gov ern mont of the inhabitants established by tho Commanding General, lt appeared that Gen. Kearney had, while in command, ordained a eode of regulations for the government of the territory) it was contended that the binding force of the code ceased with the treaty of pcHce ana the cession of the territory to the United States. The court denied this prop osilion, holding that General Kearney's regu lations having been established by competent authority remained in force until repealed bj the authority of Congress, or that of a territo rial government deriving ita power from Con gress. In the case cited the Supreme Court of thc United States sanctioned the principh since asserted hy Congress, to wit: that ovei territory acquired and held by the anns of lin Uuited Slates, military authority represent; temporarily the legislative power of Congress and thnt the duration and scope of such au thority depend upon Congress, and do not de pend upon the cessation of hostilities. It has been clsimed for the rebel States tba they sro exempt, from the political consequon ces of any war they may choose to wage. This plea is ns preposterous ns the theory up on which it is based, to wit: that war ontino exist between thc Federal Union and ono o more of the States. Thc proposition* that the late war di (Te rr< in no essential particular from ordinary war.? has been settled by all thc depnitinonts of lb Government of thc United States, with th acquiescence of the governments and jurist of all nations. Soldiers captured were a lowed tho amenities of prisoners of war, an uero formally exchanged j fln^s of truce wer permitted and respected ; captures by lan mid by sea wcro tolerated as lawful ; condon nation in pri/.o courts in conformity with th 1H\F& ont! usages of nations, wore decreed b the courtsof the United States; foreign gm erninents and judicial tribunals acquiesced i Dioso de irees ; paroles havo been receive and observed, and in accordnnco with tho cm tom of war. Until an armed longue of hostile State under un ulion flag, undertook to ovorthro this government, thc occasion hnd never ari en for ooniinunitics owing allegiance to tl Union, to realize that tho guarantees of tl constitution can no longer be claimed by the for tho assertion of any political right. Tl States which composed that league are to dr without n franchise. A sensitivo, bravo nu proud pcoplo nro subjoytto martini Inw. Thc ancient rights aro nil fenoun?od by their o*s net, forfoitod by their own voluntary oxp trlation, surrendered with their arms to tl oonquoror-r-thobj onn novorthelesa bo rogai od ?pou tho terms presoribod by. those wi lomnined true to tho Union and tho flag. Those terms have boon announced by Co gross. . ' Tho Reconstruction acts of Congress oil bio tho conquered Staten, or either of thoi to return to tho Colon, if thoy shall elect do SO. In choosing tho more expedient li of action, it/may b? \Wftful far thos.0 flOUQO?q to bear in mind some of tlie lost opportunities' throwu away by tho leaders who have hereto fore cou trolled tho polities of the South.-Vj Maintaining always either the attitude of dc lianco, or of antagonism, or of reserve, tho^ ?Southern leaders have neither offered or ac-* cepted any possible basis of accomodation and ' adjustment. Fair terms, repeatedly teudered by the Uuited States, have beeu ns often re- ' fused. On tho 4th of Mareh, 1801, President ' Lincoln in his inaugural address ottered ait amendment to tho constitution, guaranteeing-j slavery forever in tho States w li ero it. then ex isted. Ile demanded only that the South should relinquish tlio pretension that slavery must be recognizedland protected by Congress in territory under tho exclusive jurisdiction of tho Federal government. Lincoln's mag nanimous offer was treated with disdain. South Carolina declared war and began hos tilities. . . lu 18(52, President Lincoln proposed as the basis of sett lenient, a scheme of gradual emancipation, with compensation. lu September, 1802, one hundred days were given to those in arms against tho gov ernment to deliberate and choose between peace, rot??lining all their slaves and their poh iticnl rights intact-or war, foUowed by oman? cip (ion. and thc loss of all political rights. Unhappily, the lutter altem divo was chosen., On the 1st of January. 1808, emancipation . was proclaimed. In 1804, President Lincoln invited nogo-' tintions for peace on tho basis yf a restoration, of political rights, and a liberal measure of.'j compensation for emancipated slaves. Nego tiations upon the proposed basis were declined hy the enemy. In 1805, at tho conference of Forties Mon roe, President Lincoln renewed overtures for peace, and they were again refused. In 1805, after the surrender, President Johnson invited the constituencies included within thc provisional governments he had es tablished, to send eligible represen tat ives to Congress. Representatives were, indeed, oho* sou ; but not one in ten could take thc oath of office prescribed by Congress for members, and thereby representation was lost. In 1800, Congress, in au amendment to the constitution, proposed terms of settlement ad justing the'basis of future representation, im flosing disqualification for olhco upon certain rorsnt? wnd nan borne arms against tho Clo ted States, nod granting by luipttuniiotru gen eral amnesty to all others. This amendment, adopted hy nearly all the states in the Union, was not accepted ns a settlement by any of the rebel States except Tennessee, and thereupon Tennessee was promptly restored to the Union, with all her ancient rights and dignity unim paired. Dining 1805 60, riot-, tumults, affrays, and a long catalogue of cruel and unprovoked nut rages upon Union soldiers, loyal refugees, and blacks, made il plain to all (hal, military gov ernment must bc continued from the Dolo mite to tho Dio Grande Until, hy enfranchis ing the blacks, they should possess a sufficient share of political power to command respect and security for their own civil rights, and re inforce thc loyal white element of Southern population. In March and July, I $07, Congress hythe Reconstruction acts reaffirmed and continued military rule over the conquered torritory prescribing however, certain limitations and regulations in restraint, of martial law ; and nt the same time tendered to tho inhabitants the privilege and thc means by which a ma jority in any one of the rebel States might organize n legal government and bc readmit ted to the Union. Now, the question for the South is, wheth er, to reject this last opportunity and thereby challenge Congress to its worst, or, by accep ting in good faith the proffered terms, put an end to seven years of strife, ?av? what is left, and rcgaiu at least, if not political power, a large mensur? of political rights. The fruits of tho policy of tho past seven yearn are seen in tho contrast between thc terms of settlement offered by President Lincoln on the 4th of March, 1801, ?ri his first inaugurated address, and the terms now pioffered'by Congress in the act of July, 1807. If Lincoln's peace offering had been accepted, tho wealth, prosperity and power of thc South would hnvo remained unimpaired, and all tho sacrifices of a loi g war saved. Acquiescence now, in thc mensure provi ded by Congress to restore tranquility and es tablish legal State governments in the con quoted territory, is an obligation resting upon all who hnvo taken tho catii of allegiance and received the amnesty. For nt most it cnn on ly be said that the measures of Congress im pose on the vanquished the. institution*.of thc victors. And if it bo ,truo that antagonisti onl institutions made us enemies in war, then without homogenous institutions w moy not, oven in ponoe, bo friends. It mny bc assumed that no disability will bo removed from those who resist, oppose, ot discourage reconstruction. Tn ovory State who're the terms offered by Congress shall be rojeotod, it is plain that thenceforth political power will bo altogether and finally romitted totho hands of thoso who have been over loy al to tho Union. Ry the rejection of thc terms of reconciliation now offered, the pro motors of discord will sootier or later find themselves without possessions, without fran ehises, .nod no longor tho poor of tho hum blest oitiK?n of tho ropublic--and th?n wil tho rebellion have worked out upon? ifs unro pent ant authors its own improssivo and signu retribution. Tho particular gi * 'da of complaint aug gested In your remonstrance remain to bi considered s Yon take oxoeption to paragraph VII. o General Ordors 82, whioh deolaros that bot tain oont'raots if horeaft?f made by dealers h intoxicating Uqtfors) ?ha|l badoomed ant -?'ii/'. ?;? treated, wit Ititi this Military District, ns uifujtist publie policy ; iilso to paragraph IX, Gonei'nl Orders 32, abolishing distress for rent and Substituting in lieu thereof certain liens; *dso to Uen?rnl Orders 10, staying ^ho remo di"S for (bo onforceinent of certain olasses of debts. It ia to bo inferred from your state fmcnts that you regard tho rovocotiou of hose ci co. rs as essential to tho interests of thoso on ;jiVged'iu commerce and trade. lt is not always possible to extend to com n?orco the facilit ies most desired by merchants, tc should bo remembered that while it is thc provinco of commerce to direct the material resources nod energies of tho country into channels of enterprise that nourish material and morn! development, yet commerce itself ?fi dependent upon domestic security and con nd cn cc, and tho productiveness of labour in tho departments of agriculture and manufac tures. So far from cuni plaining of tempora ry inconveniences, (hose whose fortunate priv ilege it is to control the currency and capital of tho country, should be willing to forego uther peculiar privileges for tho sake of pro moting tho productions of labour, from which i he profits of commerce arc mainly derived. You object to paragraph VII of General Orders Nu. 32, because certain Northern, Western and foreign distillers had, previous LO tlio order, consigned liquors for salo with in this Military District j that tho customs I Utica on foreign liquors, and the excise tax m domestic liquors, had been paid. and you regard it as un act of injustice to those par lies to " suddonly withdraw all protection from said property against fire, and also to pro icct the owners of said property from collcc ing their just debts at comiuou law." You ivj.ll lind, by referring to the paragraph in juestion, that it. has not the retrospectiveope ,tiou complained of. It does not interfere ?vitli contracts of sale, storage, or insurance iheady made whoa the order went into ope ati-in ; nor duos it prevent thu sale of such (quors by a properly licensed dealer, who .on forms to tho prescribed rogi utions fol this ridlie. ? The objection presented by you to para in.ph IX, of general Orders No. 32, abolish no distress for rent, has been repeatedly re ected by (he courts of the country. To uiod f'v a remedy fur tho enforcement of contracts roes not impair their Obligation. In several if the States of the Uuiou, the abolition of ^rT'"''"'" ''"s temi ? meted witbotit rc farU tO CXiSlllip-lciiScw, BIN ?rt?? j/?.?uvj vi mell legislation lins been judicially sanctioned. While approving tho measure nt large, you jaso your only objection to it on the errono ms supposition (hut parties making contracts nave a right to demand that there shall be no mango in tho principle or policy of the code if procedure duri mr tho existence of such contracts. As the duration of contracts is or ion rily within tho control of thc contracting parties, you will perceive that thc effect ol ro?r proposition would he to subject the pub lin interests, concerned in the administration >f justice, to the interests and even caprice ol individuals. In proceeding to consider your objection! to General Orders No. 10, staying ccrtait remedies for the collection of debt, it will bi ?roper Orst to ant i oe your statement that th? legislature' of Soil th Carolina passed a law foi -i iinc purposo, and which, ns you observe, wm declared by thc Court of Appeals unconstitu lional. This circumstance had great weigh in the promulgation of the order in question The action of tho Legislature was regarded a proof that, in the belief of the people at large the public safety demanded such a measure The Major-Genend Commanding was untnini melted by provisions of the so-called Stat Constitution, adopted in contemplation o events quito different from thc actual situs lion ; ho could not fail to see that many thone unds of families, in deep misfortune and def titution, were menaced with utter ruin by tb inconsiderate and cruel pressure of arcditors nor could he, without being insensible to th [icneral appeal of a RU flori ng people, refuse t nfford some mensuro of adequate relief. At tho timo when tho Orders No.'10 wet issued,'thc people of thc Carolinas, and mot cspcoially of South Carolina, were exposed t overwhelming disaster from tho seizure an salo, under judicial process, of all tho ni oar they, possessed. Thoi r scanty stores of prov i ions, their worn-out household furniture, an their fow implements of husbandry saved froi tho wreck of the industry of tho cou n tr; woulO l.nvu availed nothing to creditors, yi were of inestimable value to tho populatioi Time and opportunity given, industry woul recover from paralysis, despondency would I overcome hy fortitude, tho creditor would 1 ultiinatcly\paid, and tho and oonditio" of tl impoverished people ameliorated. To nroui and stimulate the energies of the people-' inspire tho husbandman with confidenoo tin ho. would resp tho fruits of his labour-to a Riiro him that ho might rescue himself nu family from wnnt-'ind to recall from hnun of distention and idleness thoso who had bet drivotf1 tborc by despair-would contribu muohi'to tho public penco, security mid ord thc -Commanding General is expected to mai tnin. Ip tho sueco?*of theso mensures no f teroflt'is moro concerned than the couinior of tlio, country. You have yourselves th. ?bed the com ti?h of affairs that oxisted. You observo th " nt the opening of tho courts ofter tho wti tho''-people in tho country commonood suii ouch other, -Tho debts aro nonrly nil local and you add (lint " tho Northorrt oitios ut Charleston wore scarcely represented, nor lia they sinoo to tiny extent pushed their olaii nt \aft ; rind.you; add ibo remarkable and si nlflbantithtemcnt ? thiit a. lar'30 portion of t debts sued-in this Jlilltnry Distri?t aro 1 sums not over t\j only, dollftrs. * T^u'-tpaintam1 that lind a fow cxoflpt/ic b?on pushed tho ?Aholo tlobt oo?ld h?vo bc paid with a.vory small sum of tnonoy. Tl ? A owed 13 twenty dollars ; V> owed ? twen ty dollars; nnd so on to tlie end of the alpha bet; but it is very evident thal' twenty dollars would have paid the whole of thc indebted ness." A better argument for the Stay law could not have been adduced ; for all that was required to realize the easy mode of liquida tion, you havo ol?'oidatod w?s timo, so that thdso iutorchangos might V .\0 plaoo. It is precisely this tho Stay law affords, leaving us the pleasing ussuraneo from so high an au thority, that within a brief period tho finan cial dilliculties of the State may bo solved with a sum of money insignificantly small. Let us eec on tho other hand wdiat would 'nave been the effect of refusing this allowance of time. When Genend Order U) was pro mulgated, there were pending in tho courts of the State forty thousand suits for debt. Hy the last census there were only forty thousand whito voters in tho State. Al lowing the sum of fifty dollars in each case, as the amount of costs, fees, expenses, lost time and depreciation of values by hurried liquidation, you have two millions of dollars as the loss in effecting, by litigation, a settle ment capable according to your statement of being effected with twenty dollars-through some peculiar process known to thc Board of Trade in Charleston. You proceed to ohservc that u if every ex ecution had beehi pressed, theuggi'c vealth of each District or County would ? have been les- -ned, thc property would merely have changed local owners." Surely rf h not a matter of small interest'to thc merchants of Charleston, that tho properly of tho far mers, mechanics and tradesmen should pass into the hands of lawyers, constables-and thc vultures that flock to judicial sales. So fur as relates to thc local transactions of Charleston, your statement that creditors re siding thore had not sought to enforce their claims, shows that the Stay law has not in jured the business of the city; nor is any in jury likely to bc produced worthy of compar ison with the manifest facilities afforded to agriculture, from which the trade of Charl eston derives all its thrift. You will not fail to observe that thc sus pension of remedies is confined to causes of notion arising between the 10th of December, I860, and tho 15th of Muy, ?S??j that ofter tho expiration of the temporary stay of pro ceedings for twelve mouths, executions' for debts contracted before tho war can bo'en _-^ . ..-. .......IIIM , a nut t uni ns lu ?ii transactions since May 1,6th, 18C5, all thc remedies afforded by tho laws of the United States and of South Carolina not only remain intuct, but they aro invigorated and reinforced by military regulations and tribunals. It will therefore bo scon that persona" seek ing to invest capital and engage in business enterprises within this Military District arc entitled to all remedies and have free access to all tho tribunals that belong to a settled or der of society ; and that it is only t hose trans actions incident to the disorders (d'a long wat and to the old system of servitude, that arc affected by the military stay law. Since tho month of January, 1807, thc market price of the public stocks of the State of South Carolina shows that the credit ol thc State, far from recediug, has improved. Gentlemen ns familiar ns you are with tho op orations of finance, arc aware that thc credi of tho State cannot suffer by measures wbicl establish considerate nnd firm authority, pro mote thc industrial welfare of the population maintain order, and provide for thc pcrmn neut adjustment of the political relations o thc inhabitants. His Excellency the Governor of Soutl Carolina, in an official communication address ed to tho Commanding General, Ima bcei pleased to say, I have permed with grca satisfaction your General Order 10, datc( April ll, 1807, and beg leave to express nv hearty concurrence in all its provisions; Bi far as I havo boen ablo to ascertain publioscn liment, I think it meets with the unqualifiet approval of our cnt;re population. In conclusion, gentlemen, I am to inforr you that the Mnjor General Commnndin fails to discover in your suggestions any sufT oient ground for revoking or modifying the ot dors in question ; nnd bc iudulges thc hop that, tcmepornte counsels, acquiescence in th measures provided for tho present exigency and stronger tics of fraternity among thc pet plc of thc Commonwealth, may encourage th labours of those who desire and sec in the ft ture of South Carolina even more than he onciont prosperity and renown. Very respectfully, J. W. CLOUS. Captain 38th Infnntry, A. A. A. G. TftACti THE NEGROES.-The lion. O. G Porohor has written n lettor to tho "Abbcvi? Proes," on this subject, whioh ooncludes wit tho following sonsiblo paragraph : And now, sir, wo nro saying again-" It uscloss to talk-negroes will not believo you. As a faithful freedman said to mo tho otln day, Mnstcr, if tho negroes go wrong, ye must blamo the whito people. Why clou they do as tho Y ankees aro doing-go nroun and teach thom,? Whoncvorthey speak,yt speak, too, and bosidos you cnn find colon mon who understand the innttor. .Lot the speak and kill tho words ift tho Yankee mouths." As I said bofore, don't attempt nrguo tho innttor except upon tho high Sori tural ground, and thoo lot us provo that \ sympathizo with thom by helping thoir sehoo! ?fco. Sympathy is powerful ! I mn wcrkii boro-will you not stir up mon olsowhoro V SUPPRESSION OP A GEORGIA PAPKR. Wo learn from private source? that the Alba fGajj)1'" Newe was suspended by ordor Gen.-P?po, Commander of tho Third Milite' Distrloi, on Saturday, the 17th. Wo hn not learned the reason for this course, me than thc gonotral ohnrgo of disloyalty. Disorderly Conduct of Freedmen. On last Wednesday, registration was com menced in St. Thomas parish, at tho Brick Church, under thc supcrintcndnnco of Mr. L. P, Smith, white, and Jeronnah Yates and Aaron Logan, colored. Mr. Smith is o North erner, who has latoly settled in this State. "When tho polls wcro opened, about 1,000 freedmen were present, most o? them being armed with guns and muskets. Mr. Smith, thc chairman, addressed thom on their duties as citizens, explaining to them their rights, and urging them to keep thc pence. Somo of the freedmen requested to know tho rights of the planters, and if their wages could be de ducted while absent from their work nt tho polls. Mr! Smith was about to reply, when interrupted by hi? colleague, who made n vio lent harangue,-stating that the planters could not interfere Vf j th their movements, and that thia wa? the time to assert thoir rights over the Whites, who could not bo trusted. lie proceedod in this stylo of language for .some time, until Mr. Smith, seeing that tho passions of the crowd were becoming excited, exercised' his authority, nod adjourned thu Board. Pursuant to the adjournment, thc Hoard met at Mount Pleasant on Monday, nod when thc books were opcrtod, about 300 freedmen wore present, armed wfth various weapons.- - Mr. Smith again addressed the crowd, when he was interrupted a second time by Aaron Logan, who was moreviolcut than on thc for mer occasion. Ou his declining to desist, M r. Smith closed the poll, and came to the city aud reported thc facts to Gen. Glitz, thc com mandant of tho post. Logan oatne to tho city on thc ?amb boat, to present his statement of the case. On hearing thc circumstances, Gen Glitz promptly ordered the arrest of Logan, who was sent to Caatle' Pinckney, on a charge of impeding registration. . Mr. Smith returned to Mount Pleasant yes terday, accompanied1 by Maj. O'Brien, tho Provost Marshal' The poll was rc-oponed and thc freedmen invited tb register, but this they declined doing, unless Logan was released.-1 A number of the negroes were armed, as on the previous occasions, and Maj. O'Brien com manded them to deliver their weapons, and explained to thom their violation of law and order, but to no avail. Not boing supported by a sufficient force to ensure obedience, and being unwilling tb provoke a disturbance, ho !u?6^VY?U t$C Bb^???Hi^.?ifc?l.i?<iti ???tpui i'rt? i?'., ?tn mm Tho freedmen, finding that they were not permitted to enjoy tho'rights that Logau bad declared them entitled to exoroiso, slowly dis persed, with threats to burr thovillago if they were not granted; Wc understand that Gen. Glitz will visit Mov.nt Pleasant this morning, with a sufficient force to prevent any riotous assemblage; and' to eompcl thc freedmen to obey thc laws of thc land. The entiro diffi culty was caused by thc action of Logan, and wc trust that when the freedmen see thc fato of their adviser, they will refrain from any further disturbance.- Charleston News. SPEECH or SENATOR SHERMAN-His VIEWS ON RECONSTRUCTION,-Senator Sher man, of Ohio, spoke at Canton, Ohio, ou Tuesday last. We make tho following ex tracts frotiV his spceoh on questions of nation al import : At' the last session of Congress I took i J part in new propositions for reconstruction un til n?ar thc close of tho session. Even now, if thc South, with thc spirit that actuato? General Longstreet and others, would adopt tho amendment, and elect loyal Senators and members under it, their admission to repre sentation \io"'.d bc easy. I know what I say to you is true wheu I doolare that a majority of tho Republican Senators and members would havo admitted any rebel Stato upon its adopting tho amendment and complying with its terms. But duriug thc session it was said by many Southern men that tho South ern people would gladly accept thc amend ment, but tho machinery of Johnson's loyal legislatures was in disloyal hands. Thoy said they had no promise from Con gress, in so tunny words, that if they accep ted tho amendment they would bo admitted. It was to meet their difficulties, and sottlo definitely tho status of tho rebol Stato govern ments (ind of the colored pcoplo that tho Kc? construction Act of tho last regular session was passed. You will vomcmbor, fcllow-citizorts, that this Act include? nil that was passed on re construction nt that session. A gront mapy things were proposed. Somo mombors wcro in favor of limited confiscation of land ; somo in favor of military governments; some in fa vor of treating tho amendment as already adopted by three-fourths of tho loyal States; hut neither of theso measures met tho assent of Congress. As to confiscation, jt would be a proper and just monsure of punishment ia some cases to tako tho land of loading rebels, but n general system of confiscation asa mode of punishment is so unusual a measure in our country, and its evil effects op tho innooent ss well as tho guilty has been so lasting aud dis nstrons in Ireland and Fra noe, that I should hesitate long bclbvo I agree to it. Military governments ought to bo only tom !>or?ry scaffolding foi* civil governments^ P ley are so regarded, and their continuance should not bo an bohr longor than to obforos that object. LONDON, August 20.-The ihsurgonU have captured and hold Saragossa,-Spain, The official Journal of tho South Gorman . .<\> >s<> i.m vu ut liuwur. Prnstmrn prosa in dis cussing tho SalfibUr? conference causes S?x;4 ioty throughout Europe.