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vol. n. . THEJFREE SOUTHBEAUFORT, S. C., MAY 21, 1864. THE MASS CONTENTION. Whatever differences of opinion, if any, may have been entertained in regard to, the policy or wisdom of calling and holding the Convention which assembled on the 17th inst. the disrnitv, order and de coram which characterized its proceedings fnllv justified the experiment. It was indeed an experiment?a novelty in the progress of civilization. It was the gathering together of loyal and free, peopie, who, by the incidents of the war, or by the direct suggestions of the Government in pursuance of its regenerative policy, had been gathered together in this Department pf the South, and who could not forget or forgo their rights, privileges and duties as American citizens. The approach of the quarternal election of the Chief Magistrate of this great Nation cannot fail to enlist the deepest interest of the truly loyal, whether at | home or abopad. More especially might the approaching occasion be natorally apposed to excite the peculiar interest in the hearts of those whom the Government j had invited here to act as the pioneers in I the great work of re-construction. We have Attended many Conventions, primary meetings, and other political as* * * " - *.U V Ik. semDiages at me norui, wucrc mc pupc from childhood to old age had been thoroughly schooled in the discipline of party or political tactics, and we can confidently assert that we never attended a political convention wherein interests of such magnitude were involved, that was | conducted with more order, dignity, and deoornm, than the convention of Tuesday last. The President of the convention, after stating the objects of the convention, frankly stated that we did not pretend to demand as an absolute right, the full representation in the Baltimore convention by sixteen votes, to which the State of South Caroltop would have been entitled bad site remained loyal, but thai this department constituting pnly recognised loyal portion of thb Stale, ^and being 00 1 - ? ' y 'v. cupiea ana. reaaj sv uwenucu u* -?> name and behalf er ihe Union, to .bear and- sustain the flag of ^thejiafcior had a right at least to some voire in the nomination and election of the Chisf Magistrate, upon whom their future welfard, nay, even their local habitation might depend. Of course it is for the Baltimore Convention to say whether or not the pioneers* of South Carolina, in the course of the 4e-m velopment of free society, free institutions and self-government, are worthy of consideration or not. At all events they have demonstrated, at least to themselves, that they are competent to the emergencies which have thrown them together, and we may hope will continue to shp^ themselves equal to the ioSkne which may await them. Again we say, in conclusion, that we regard this Convention in its conduct and its results as a decided surahs. T~~ Personal. ?We are pleased to announce the arrival to tins Department of Captain T. Barney, Assist Adjutant General, after an absence of slx mont^ls' 6 m the North Captain *** lively engaged in recruitng 4 6 * Army Corps under Maj.-Gen. filling the position of Chief of tIirn8 specting Bureau. Capt Barney re. , in the full enjoyment of his health, thoi^ his daties have been extremely ardaoc* 'We understand that he holds an appoint' ^ ment as Colonel in the One Hundred and Eightieth Regiment of New York Volunteers, and congratulate him on his sue- 8 cess, and hopes that he will not stop at j the eagles. s . "t i'I J \ '! " :< X THE FREE SOUTH?BEAU Tke Fire Department; A special meeting of the Fire Department was held on Wednesday evening, | May 11,1861, for the purpose of hearing j the: reports of the committees on sub| scriptious and organization, and also to I take action in reference to buying an engine and truck for the new companies, i viz : Union Engine Company No. 1 and Beaufort Hook and Ladder Company hXo.l. Mr. Pond, from Committee on Subscriptions, reported that he had collected to the amount of SI. 150. and expected to j collect $200 more here and perhaps $500 or $600 in New York from insurance companies doing business in Beaufort. The 1 report was accepted. There was a report presented by Mr. filanchard, of the Hook : nd Ladder Company, that they had organized and elected , their officers, and were now ready for duty. Mr. Bogert, of New York Hose No. 1, ! moved that a committee of one from each ! company be appointed for the purpose of going to New York to purchase the necessary apparatus for the Department, but ' subsequently withdrew his motion on it being stated by Chief Engineer Hyatt ! that a gentleman named Mr. Trembly was about to proceed to New York on the i Fulton this trip, who had volunteered his jWvices, and inasmuch as he is well acquainted with fire department matters in New York his services were accepted. Mr. Pond being also about to proceed to New York on business, volunteered his services gratuitously, when it was moved that he be appointed a committee of one . * xi? u rm ii._ ; to purcnase uxe macumes. xur muuuu i wis carried. It was thought by those present that gentlemen volunteering would save all the expense attending the sending of a committee far the especial purpose of purchasing. Mr. Pond also stated that his hopes were sanguine in regard to raising the amount of $600 in New York. The Chairmah spoke in reference to the companies adopting a badge that they might be recognized by the sentinels in case of fire, when it was stated by Mr. , Butterfield that the-Engine Company had adopted as their style one somewhat similar to the New York engine bodge, only larger- It was also stated by Mr. Hyatt that houses would immediately be built for the companies use, as General Saxton desires to help the Department in every way. Mr. Jenkins spoke in reference to the supply Q? water, ana tnougni it wonia oe feasible to construct large wells or cisterns, so fixed +-W the sand would not rise up in them, and with a depth of water enough for any ordinary fire. It was moved by Mr. Jenkins that a committee to consist of the Foreman and Assistant Foreman of each Company be appointed to choose eligible locations for cisterns, and to ascertain the most feasible method of construction. On motion the meeting adjourned. wm. h. hyatt. chairman* j Robt. A. JiMcisfi* festretary. r The Ring.?Joe Cob urn has accepted Jem Mace's challenge to fight him for five hundred pounds a side, and has forwarded to England thef sum of forty pounds ($250) as the first deposit. So high was the rate of exchange that Coburn's fifty pounds amounted in reality to four hundred and thirteen dollars. Coburn is the best fighter of his weight in this country?one of his fights lasted three hours and twenty minutes, and was then called a draw. Mace allowB Cobura one hundred pounds for his travelling expenses. The fight is to take place in Ireland. . Rebel Newspaper Says That Ge*. t ?? is Wounded and in Richmond. ^ Petersburg Express of the 11th The "General Lee is in Richmond * " The telegraph lines between founded. ^nd Richmond have beek cut etersburg ^ wej] ^ ra^road. everal days, >. vJ ?iVi 4 FORT, S. C., MAY 21, 1864. Freedmen's Aid Commission?Firsi Anniversary fleeting. The first anniversary meeting* of the North-Western Freeamen s Aid Commission was held 011 the lsth of April in the Second Presbyterian Church, Chicago. There was a full attendance; and the audience manifested great interest in the i proceedings. The Chair was occupied by the Hon. J. M. Wilson. The exercises were opened with .singing and prayer. The Rev. J. R. Shipherd, Corresponding Secretary, then read the I Annual Report which was replete with 1 Acts valuable as showing what has been I obne during the three months since it wds organized, and exceedingly interestj inj to the friends of humanity. The folI losing is the only extract for which we c*n tind room. "In quietude of apprehensions upon j tke score of expense, it is only necessary ' to a9friPate financial exhibit with the j remtR that the total expense of all salaried employees of the Commission for ' tke one hundred days from January 1st td April 9th inclusive, is less than six per cJnt. upon the business done. The summary of accounts on the books of the Commiision, brought^down to the nfcarcst convenient date, and covering the business of precisely one hundred days, r?ads thns: M BBCHR* Stores, 294 packages, valued at $12,499 S9 Cash . ft, 762 79 me the Treasury v 2,503 19 Making a total of. $30,745 OS . DISBCTSniKNTB. Stores, 279 packages, valued at $11,730 00 Cash 8,265 OS Goods on hand 700 00 | i >4 ____ t . Making a total of T. ..$20,745 96 Hereafter the Treasury will not be overdrawn, nor will any liabilities be incurred which cannot be promptly met. It is a gratifying fact that the checks of this Commission pass regularly at the city banks without enulry. This credit will be jealously maintained. The cash items of expenffiture are classified in the report of the Committal onFinance as follows: For teachers, their outfit, travelling expenses, and two months advanced pay $4,974 91 Transportation, including freight, postage, and travel (other than of teachers) 887 <4 Printing and stationery 587 38 Office rent and fixtures 620 10 Agencies Including salaried employeea of all ldnds (others than teachers) 1,195 75 | ' In all...; $8,266 9* The'assembly was then addressed by the Rev. W. H. Cooper, a General Agent of the Commission, just returned from the Lower Mississippi, and by the Rev. H. D. Fisher, late of the 5th Kansas Cavalry, after which Chaplain McCabe sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic. \ A good collection Was taken in aid of the funds, and spirit-stirring addresses wer* delivered by Rev. Wm. Deloss Love, of ! Milwaukee, and by Hon. Charles S. May, Lieut. Governor of Michigan. "The Doxology was then sung, and the congregation dismissed with the benediction.'' W The principal oS*c? of this Commission, which is the Northwestern Branch of the United States Freedmen's Commission, is at 86 Washington street, Chicago, Illinois. Communications shonld be addressed to Rev. J. R. Shipherd, Post Office box 4,617, Chicago, 111. Monies should be sent to J. V. Farwell, Esq. Boxes of-clothing, Ac., shonld be marked " Northwestern Freedmen's Aid Commission, care of CoL R. B. Mason, Chicago, 111." The residence of the donors should also be plainly marked upon the box, and duplicate invoices of contents made, one to be placed in the. box, and the other wnf hv mail +n th#? flnirrf'snondinff' Seere tary, as above. J@"The death of the stallion Geo. M. Patchen closes the career , of the fastest trotting horse in America. On Long IslandThe raptured himself and died on the same ground that he had so many times contested for and won the superiority of. He was a son of the noted horse Cassias M. Clay, and full half brother to the celebrated NonperieL He cost his last owner twenty-one thousand dollars. J&- We are indebted to the Parser of the Arago for files of Northern Papers. A Loaf, (says a distinguished Cockney) "like the sun, rises in the Yeast, and 'sets in the Vest" Doesn't the reader feel a sort of "rising" under his waistcoat, after reading that? f NO. 19. v - - ? p : j GENERAL HI TLER'S ARItfY. Bermuda IIcwnrKii, 3I:iy 10. i Nothing definite has yet been accom. plished by our forces in the way of captures, but everything looks favorable. Beauregard, with about 25,000 men, is . r\ .A t ... t * 1 -11 J.l_ - *1 I in refersourgn, ana we nave au me raui'1 roads leading to that city, and forces i enough to keep Beauregard there until { he surrenders. "We shall, it is reported, soon commence a siege of that place. | . There are four monitors and several gunboats within four miles of Fortl)ar, ling, ready to co-operate with our land | forces,?(a* part of them,) abreast of the ! monitors. Our forces occupy a strong position, and are strong enough to hold it It is supposed that Gen. Kaute is now ! to the south of Petersburgh, aiming at thfeflestraction of railroads leading south from Brchmond. Correspondents have ; probably announced his defeat, many ol his troops captured, Arc. It is not believed here. Beauregard lias no cavalry. Fortrv** Monroe, May 11. The latest advices from the front state that the gunboat Breioster was blown op on the Appotatiax yesterday by a rebel i battery. No statement in regard to the ! loss of life. Fighting was going on all day yesterday. The main portion appeared to be on our .right. The troops were under command of Gen. Smith. The turnpike between Richmond and Petersburgh was the bone of contention. Up to 3 P. M. to-day nothing later has been received. We receive but few papers from the North here, most all of them having been stopped ; most of oiyr dispatches are suppressed. Petersburgh has not been abandoned, burned, nor yet besieged. Beauregard is I there in command. Fort Darling is still in the hands of the rebels. The bark Dame Durdaty ashore near Cape Henrv, with A cargo of iron, steel, block tin, dec., will prove a total loss. A report just received states that Col. Spear has burrted the long bridge near Walden, and two fathers ; that he made three charges, and the third time succeeded. I give this for what it is worth. My informant heard Col. Spear tell it. W??ukv'?tos, May 13?5X P. M, TtMaj.-Gm.Dix-:' Wl A dispatch has been received from Gen. Butler dated " In the Field, near Chester ! Station, Va., May 12, 3.30 P. M." * " ' It states that he is now pressing the enemy near Fort Drrling, and has before him all the troops from North Carolina and South Carolina that have got up. Beauregard's courier was captured this morning going to Gen. Hope, in command oi Drury's Bluff; he had a dispatch stating that Beauregard would join them, as soon as the troops came up. Gen; Gilimore holds the intrenchments, I SmVch demonstrates upon Druyy and the ' enemy's lines. 7. :> Gen. Kautz, with his cavalry, has been sent to cut the Danville Railroad near Appomattox Station, and can, perhaps, advance on James River. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of Wae. s \ w^itfwoto* may 13-3.30p.m. , > Gen. Butler has removed th<2 obstrue -tipns from the James River, and our gun-. boats are going toward Richmond. A chfl^ showing Die location of torpedoed was fonnd on the man who was shot while attempting to explode torpedoes a few nights ago. Butler has used it for an excellent purpose. The English Language.?The English language must appear fearfully and wonderfully made to a foreigner. 6ne of them, looking at a picture on a number of vessels, said: * 'fcjee what a flock of ships." He was told that a flock of ships was called a fleet, and that a fleet of sheep w%callI ed a flock. And it was added for his | guidance, in mastering the intricacies of our language, that a flock of girls is called a bevy, that a bevy of wolves is called a pack, and a pack of thieves is called a gang, and a gang of^angels is called a host, and a host of porpoises is called a shoal, and a shoal of buffaloes is called a herd, and a herd of chrildren is called a troop, and a troop of partridges is called a covey, and a covey of beauties is called a galaxy, j and a galaxy of ruffians is called a horde, I and a horde of rubbish is called a heap, j and a heap of oxen is called a drove, and , a drove of blackguards is called a mob, and a mob of whales is called a school, . and a school of worshippers is called a congregation, and a congregation of en-., gjneers is called a corps, and a corps of robbers is called a band, and a band of locusts is called a swarm, and a swarm of people is called a crowd. - * A countryman being a witness in acouri of justice, was asked by the counsel if he was born in wedlock. "No, sir," answered the man, 'I was bom in Lincolnshire.'* > >*i.5, i'