Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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An Independent Family Journal---Devotcd to Politics, Literature and General Intelligence. ANDERSON, S. 0., THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 1869. NO. 28. BY HCY?! & WAITERS. TERM S> TWO BOLLABS AND A HALF FSB ANNUM, IN UNIXKD STATES Cftt&KNCT. RATES OF ADVERTISING. Advertisements inserted at th j rates of One Dol? lar per square of twelve lines for the first insertion xml Fifj^, Cent? for .each subsequent insertion, tiiberal deductions made to those who advertise by the year. 4fca5T For announcing a candidate, Five Dollars jn advance. BLUE RIDGE RAILROAD. MESTING OF THE STOCKHOLDERS?REPORT OP TOE PRE8IDENT AND SUPERINTEN? DENT. . t?, rjx. The stockholder* of the Blue Eidge ftailroad met in Charloston on Friday, December 18th, 1868. On motion, Gov. R K. Scott was called to the Chair, and "W. H. D. Gaillard, Esq., requested to act as Secretary. A majority of the stock being repre? sented, the Convention proceeded to bus? iness, when the reports of the President andSuperintcndont were submitted. On motion, the said reports were referred to a committee of five, consisting of Gov. 11. K. Scott, Hon. J. L. Orr, Mayor G. W. Clark aud Ex-Gov. Wm. Aiken. The Convention then adjourned. SECOND DAY. , The stockholders met pursuant to ad? journment on Saturdaj*,xl9th of Decem? ber. . The Committee ic whom was referred ^hVr-eporte of the President and Super uiteritlent] submitted the following report: The"Committee, having carefully con? sidered the matters embraced in the report .referred to, do recommend that the report rbe accepted and approved by tho stock? holders, as a faithful exposition of the merits and prospects of tly> great work, in the construction of which the company ,is engaged. -n*(Thej also recommend tho adoption of 'ttte following resolutions, in relation to the several matters embraced in the re j)ort,.on which the action of this meeting appears to be necessary or proper. " Touching so much of the report as re? lates to tho death of the Hon. Edward f"tost,..your Committee ask leave to sub ? mft-a wprttrftc report. R. K. SCOTT, Chm'n. Charleston, Dec. 19,1868. **?' ? " ? RESOLUTIONS RECOMMENDED BT THE COM? MITTEE OF STOCKHOLDERS IN THEIR RE? TORT or DECEMBER 19, 1868. * , 1. Resolved, That the Act' of tho Leg ialaturo passed the 15th day of Septem? ber^ 1868, giving additional aid to this Company, and making also, several alter? ations in the charter, bo, and tho same is hereby, accepted by the stockholders. 2. That tho stockholders approve the determination of tho Board of Directors .tO&avo new estimates made of the work to be done on the road, in order that the said' estimates may correspond to the present price of labor, materials, &c. 3. That the stockholders concur in the recommendation to memorialize Congress and invoke their aid in tho construction of the road; and thai: a committee of five be appointed to carry this resolution into ?effeet, and thal tho Board of Directors be '?jAftTionzed and instructed to co-operate .yrith said committee. "4. That the expediency of an appeal to tho City of Charleston lor further aid be referred to the consideration of the Board, and that such application bo made by ? thetn whenever the same shall appear to thorn expedient. 5. That when tho now estimates pro? posed to be made shall be completed, proposals for building the several sections of tho road shall be called for by the Board of Directors by public advertise? ment. That bidders shall be required to state tho prices at which the work will oo.Uonc, on'each of tho following differ? ent terms, namely : ?ju 1st. Payment to be made by the Com? pany in cash. 2d. Pajrnsnt to bo made one-half in cash, and one-half in the bonds of tho Company, guaranteed by the State. 3d. One-halt in cash, one-fourth in bonds as aforosaid, and one-fourth in stock of the Company. 4th. One-half in cash and one-half in tho stock of the Company. 5th. That the Directors bo authorized and directed to call for tho payment of the remaining instalments on the sub? scriptions to the capital stock of the s'Com.pany. That ninety days' notice be given fortbe first instalment, and such notico for the others as may be required by the charter, or if not so required, as may be deemed expedient by the Board; and in all cases where the said calls shall not4>e complied with, and the instalments not be paid, the shares shall be declared forfeited to the Company, and the forfei? ture enforced. Tho resolutions were, on motion, unan? imously adopted. On motion, it was also resolved that the blank in the resolutions providing for the appointment of a Committee to me? morialize Congress for aid, be filled with the number five, and that the Chairman of the meeting be authorized to appoint the Committee at his leisure. The Committee then submitted the following additional report: Tho Committee of the Stockholders of the Blue llidge Bailroad Company ap? pointed to consider the report of the President and Directors to the Stock? holders, ask leave to submit tho following additional report: Tho sentiments of regret and grief for the loss of our late distinguished associ? ate, Judge Edward Frost, contained in tho report of the President and Directors, meet with tha cordial sympathy and ap? pro?! of the committoo. In his death the Companj* have sustained, in common wfih the whole community of which he was a member, a loss that may justly be doemed irreparable. His great ability, energy and perseverance, combined with j the purity and elevation of Iiis char? acter, gave dignity to the offices he filled, and secured for the cause he advocated the confidence and suppori; of the public. To lm zeal in their service, to hi* great labors ai Prceident, and to the dignity and weight of his character, this Compa? ny are largely indebted for the public confidence their great enterprise has always commanded. The committeo re? spectfully recommend to the stockholders the adoption of the following resolutions, as expressive of their appreciation of his character, and of his services to theCom | pany, and of their sincere sorrew for his death. E. K. SCOTT, Chm'n. Charleston, Dec. 19,1668. Jiesolvcd, That the Stockholders of the Blue Kidge Railroad Company hold in grateful recollection the eminent services I rendered to the Company by the late Hon. Edward Frost, and that they sin? cerely deplore his death as a great calam? ity to his family, and to the community of which ho was so distinguished a mem? ber. Resolved, That this report and the ac companj'ing resolutions be published in the Charleston newspapers, and. that a copy thereof be sent by the Chairman of the meeting to the family. This report was also unanimously adop? ted. Upon motion of Judge Orr it was Jiesoived. That a Committee of Five be appointed to go to Louisville and Cincin? nati to present the claims of this road to the consideration of those cities, and that the City Council of Charleston bo re? quested to send a Committee to co-operate with the above Committee. No further business appearing, the Convention adjourned. Wo append the reports of tho Presi? dent and Superintendent reforred to in tho proceedings: REPORT. The President and Directors respect? fully submit to the Stockholders of the Blue HiclgeRailroad Company in South Carolina the following report of tho ope? rations of last year, and the present con? dition of the Company. The persistent and zealous efforts of the Board for the last eighteen months in calling the attention of capitalists, at home and abroad, to this great connecting railway between the West and the At? lantic seaboard, has at last aivmsod that interest and investigation which will, rloublless, soon secure its completion. The Stockholders and Board of Direction are under many obligations to the lion. James L. Orr, lato Governor, and Iiis Excellency R. K. Scott, present Governor of the State, for the ablo expositions of the importance and value of this railroad to the people of this State, contained in their Messages to the Legislature. Such testimonials oi tho necessity for the com? pletion of this railroad had great weight with tho Legislature, and doubtless en? couraged that, body to inaugurate and adopt a scheme for additional aid to the enterprise Tin Bill passed by the Legislature in September last, a certified copy of which is herewith furnished, after reciting a part of the Act of 1854, directs iu the first section that tho Comptroller General shall endorse the guarantee of tho State cm one million of dollars ot the first mort? gage bonds of the Company, with the tingle proviso that the present bonded lebt of the Company, not to exceed three iwndred thousand dollars, shall be retirod, \>y such issue. The second section, provides for the guaranty of the State on threo millions >f dollars additional of the bonds of the Ljompany, upon the condition that those ast mentioned bonds shall not be used for less than par in currency, &c. The third section provides for an inr crease of tho Boards of Direction to fif? teen members; of which the Governor of tho State shall be ex-officio a member, for the creation of an additional officer, viz : a Vico President, and for the representa? tion of the Slate 6tock, &e. Section four authorizes the Governor of tho Btate to advance to the Company twenty thousand dolla-.i from the Treasury of the State, to repair and keep in working condition the road, &c. This Bill is liberal, and the amendments of the charter of the Company should be at once accepted, and the changes made whenever the necessities and interests of the Company wdl warrant it. The aid afforded, if judiciously used, will go very far to complete the road, and is, perhaps, all that ought to bo expected from tho Stale in tho present condition of her finances. But much remains to be done by the Company and the friends of "the enterprise to secure the full benofit of this wise and generous policy of tho State. The credit of the State must not only bo sustained, but tho real value of her securities must be made known abroad by the confidence of her own citizens in them. When such confidence is manifest? ed, then tho bonds of this Company, endorsed by the State, will command near their par value, and can be used in con? struction without loss to the Company or the State. Upon a recent visit to New York the President, accompanied by His Excellen? cy Governor Scott, and an able delegation from the city of Charleston, brought the condition and prospects of this railroad, and the securities offered by the company, prominently before several of the capital : ists of that city, and after investigation, ! assurances were given that, at an earl}' I day, these securities would bo sought I after, and that no difficulty would be ex ? periencod by the company in negotiating j them at proper rates. In connection with ' this it was suggested, however, that a now estimate of the work to be done should be made, and such changes adopted as would conform to the present price of iron, labor, materials, &c. This it it pro? posed to do as early as practicable. Tho action of the Legislature contem? plates that the Congress of ths United States should be nppsuled to for aid, and certainly no good reasons exist why a great military and postal road crossing latitudes as this does, should not commend itself to the Government as potently as the great Pacific Railway. Tho Board would recommend that a committoe be appointed to memorialize Congress upon this subject, and tho differ? ent members of Congress and Senators of the several States directly interested bo invoked to lend their influence. Tihe city of Cincinnati, moro largely interested in this Southern conntclion than any other Western city, is at last manifesting an intention to meet us at Knoxville, and also to connect directly with Nashville and Chattanooga. The opinion so long entertained, that, by the new Constitution of the State of Ohio, no city could incur debt for the construction of railways, is now question? ed, and a Bill has recently been intro? duced in tho Legislature to allow first class cities in that Stalo to lend their credit to such enterprises. Hope? are ex? pressed that this difficult}' will thus be be removed, and that this great and pow? erful city will be enabled t<*> add to her wealth by this, to her, most important work. Tho city of Louisville has her Southern Road far advanced, and will doubtless reach the Tennessee line, and thus secure a through road to Knoxville in twelve or eighteen months. That these cities and the great railway corpo? rations directly interested in this louth ern Road, arc abundantly able and should perhaps extend somo material aid to us, is a proposition long advocated and press? ed upon them, and we are still not with? out hope that they will oventually come to our assistance. But the road is now a vital necessity to us, and we should no longer delay in evincing to our Western friends our determination to cross tho mountain barrier and join iron bands with them. The great value of this Road to the people of our own State, and especially to the City of Charleston, has been so often and ho fully urged, that a word more would seem to be supcrflous; but the Board are impressed with the belief that the importance of tho *arly and prompt completion of the work is not sufficiently felt and appreciated. The earnest efforts of the cities on the East and West to secure the Western trade, the rapid progress of railroads intended to divert this trade from our seaboard, should excite the attention and arouse the energies of our people, ami especially those of the City of Charleston. Although we may congratulate ourselves on new lines of trade and travel being opened, and through connections made by enter? prising companies so that freights may pass through our seaboard city as rapidly and as cheap as by any other route, yet this should not satisfy the people of the State nor the City ot Charleston. Char? leston is worthy of a better fortune by location than a mere waj*-station for the transit of ft eights. Justice to her loca? tion ; to the energy, enterprise and ability of her merchants and business; to the pride ot the citizens of the whole State, demands that she shall become a great depot and market for the sale and ex? change ot the productions of many lati? tudes. To prosper she must put forth all her strongth to divide with New York and-Baltimore, not only the trade of the West, but that rich commerce of the Islands and ?outh American States. To accomplish this she must have a direct railroad communication with the great West,untrammelled by restrictions against her. and the nearer under her own con? trol, or that of hor own great railroad, the better. This may bo the propitious timo for htr to move by again joining the State, in additional aid to this only link for hor, to the great West, and by com? mencing now to secure such interest and control in the railways of the State, as to make the most important of them tribu? taries to her wealth. It may be that an additional subscrip? tion to the stock of tho company would be the most profitablo irtvestment tho city could make, but if this is net now practicable, then tho city might join the Slate in lending tho company the credit of the city for a limited amount. But these are considerations which the city authorities and tho intelligent and enter? prising citizens of tho city must doter mine for themselves. The Board can only hope that they may realize the impor? tance and necessity lor prompt and effici? ent action. Tho South Carolina Railroad Company, a great and powerful corporation, with credit and influence almost unimpaired, by the results of t.'io war, should come to our assistance, and aid in the speedy com? pletion ot this road, which would pour in and upon her and the City of Charleston the rich treasures ot tho great West. If lhe?e, our just and reasonable hopes of aid from such sources, are disappointed, it behooves our Company and those of us in charge of its interests, to inaugurate, at tho earliest day practicable, measures for resuming the work, at least, upon that part of tho lino between Walhalla and Clayton. Tho tunneling grading, mason? ry, &c, are far advanced, and it will re? quire but little over one million of dollars to completo this section of the line. When wc reach this point the difficul? ties are surmounted, the mountains are scaled, and we may confidently expect that the road will commenco to remuner? ate the State for the heavy expenditure. At Clayton we will command the trade end travel of twelve or fourteen counties of Georgia and North Carolina, now al most entirely diverted from us. We will encourage the large and powerful inter? ests now concentrated in the Uucktown copper mines to attempt to unite with us at that point. We will excite the hopes of our friends along the line to Knoxville, down the Tennessee River, and force them to come to us with material aid, to ensure the speedy completion of that part of the line. If we are in earnest we must build our road to Clayton in the next twelve or eighteen months, and the Board call upon the Stockholders to support and encourage us in this endeavor. It can be done, and it must be, if we intend to keep pace with our enterprising neighbors of North Carolina. Before commencing new operations, however, it would be well to adjust all old matters, if possible. Thero appears on the books of the Company large amounts of subscriptions of stock not paid in and not called for since the late war commenced. This should be arran? ged in some satisfactory war, and the Board would recommend that the remain? ing instalments unpaid, should be prompt? ly called for, and if unpaid should be forfeited in whole or in part, as the Stockholders may deem equitable and just. The report of the Superintendent, Mr. Gaillard, will exhibit the condition of tho road, rolling stock, and - !.*t steps have been taken for repaiis, of locomotives, &c, &c. The lease to the Greenville and Colum? bia Railroad Company expired on the first day of Juno last, but has been ex? tended from month to month by agree? ment between the parties upon tho same terms as ascertained in the lease. The trains have been running daily on our road with great regularity, and the business has increased beyond our expec? tations. The Greenvilie and Columbia Railr?ad has kept our road in as good order as could be justly hoped for under the circumstances, and will be ready to surrender tho operations of tho road whenever the Company is prepared to resume it. The bonded debt of the Company re? mains in the same condition as before re? ported, except the accumulated interest. This debt is to bo extinguished, however, out of the proceeds of the first million of bonds, guaranteed by the State, so that the mortgage shall enure to the State. The floating debt should be provided tor as soon as the financial condition of the Company will justify it. Tho appropriation of twenty thousand dollars from the State Treasury, will be used in material and repairs of the loco? motives, road bed and contingent expen? ses necessarily incurred in the interest of the Company. The Board cannot conclude this report without an expression of their profound sorrow for the great loss the Company has sustained in the death of the late Judgo Edward Frost, which occurred since our last annual meeting. From the inception of this great enterprise down to tho time of bin death Judge Frost was pre-eminently its friend and ardent de? fender and advocate. For man}' years, as President of the Company, he dischar? ged the duties of that office with singular zeal, ability and firmness, and retired from its arduous duties to the great re? gret of all connected with the Company. His able reports and lucid arguments in behalf of the Company will long remain as testimonials of his great ability. Yet it would be a pleasing duty if the Stock? holders could, at some propitious moment, evince their ?dminition and respect by some fitting memoria I. J. W. HARRISON, President B. R. R. B. Company. report of the superintendent. To J. IF". Harrison, Esq., President Blue Ridge Railroad Company : The duties of the undersigned Superin? tendent has been confined principally to the condition of the property of the Com? pany \ included in the lease to tho Green? ville and Columbia Railroad. That Company received the Road on tho first June, lSb7, and a portion of the rolling stock, and have continued to operate the Road with great regularity and safely up to the present time, connecting daily with the Greenville and Columbia Jtail road Tho condition of the Road is in the main about the Rame as it was when it was turned over to them The rolling stock used by thorn has been properly cared for and repaired. A large quantity of cross-tics has been put into the road, but there still exists a necessity for as many more. The ditch? ing has not progressed as rapidly as we had hoped. The business of tho road between Anderson and Walhalla, accor? ding to statement herewith exhibited, has averaged about one thousand dollars per month, and is steadily increasing. The locomotive, Fort Hill, is now in the shops of the South Carolina Railroad Company undergoing repairs, that com? pany having kindly offered to furnish material and do tho work at fair prices and on short time. The material for the Chatuga has been ordered, and wo hope to have both of the locomotives for work by the first of Februarv. \V. H. D. GAILLARD, Sup't, The Bankrupt Act.?Tho Washing? ton correspondent of the Now York Tri fntne has the following. We suppose it has reference to the clause which enables a debtor to take tho benefit of the act without paying anything: "Mr Jen ekes, of Rhode Island, intends to present a bill extending the limitof tho operations of the bankrupt act, after the holiday recess. He feels confident that the Senate will agree to pass it, and that with the aid of the Southern mombers bo will get it through tho House.'* ?rm. m?i ,i .? i .hi,,.. .... .. .?- -? .. Htmestaad Law to be Amended. The able and vigilant editor of the 'eenville Enterprise makes the following comments upon this subject. While we do not endorse all the views of our re? spected coteniporary in regard lo the homestead law, we think that this article deserves careful attention from the law? makers and the people: Wo are glad to see that a bill has been introduced to amend the Homestead Act. It is certainly very deieclive. We would cite the Legislature to the Georgia act on the same subject. Parties claiming a homestead ought to be allowed to have it laid off, it so disposed, without wailing for a levy. And all improvements by the owner or his family on the homestead, made after ilsassignment, should likewise be protected from levy and sale. Previ? sion should also be made to allow a sale and investment of the proceeds in a differ? ent tract of land or residence Tho pie sent act most assuredly provides tor the final surrender of the homestead lo cred? itors after tho youngest child is of age, the parents being dead, whereas, itshould be secured to the heirs, or allowed to be disposed of by will. If a time is fixed at which the homestead must go out of the family, however remote that time maybe, it effectually destroys one of its greatest I benefits. The great object of a homeeteed law?one at least?is to encourage the | permanent improvement of the country, j No family will feel an interest to improve and adorn the place they live at, when the law tells them it must be surrendered to creditors after a while, with all tho im? provements the}' may put upon it. No one will plant an orchard, build houses, or do the hundred other acts of improvement on a homestead, whe*n they know it must inevitably go to some remorseless calcula? ting creditor, who will sue and keep alive his judgment against the fatal day. We would most earnestly urge upon tho Leg? islature to incorporate in our Homestead law the peculiar features of the Georgia act on the same subject. True, they are limited by the Constitution to ono thou? sand dollars as the assess-eJ value of the homestead when laid off, whilst Georgia has two thousand five hundred. But there is still greater necessity in this State, for carefully guarding the little we havo against the wiles of calculating cred? itors. Another feature of the Georgia law should be incorporated; that is, an ex? press provision that the thousand dollar means a thousand dollars in specie value, otherwise, it may happen that one man has his homestead laid off when green? backs are at a discount of fifty per cent, and will get about $500, another whilst currency is at 25 discount, he will get 8750, but none will really get the 81,000, unless the act defines it to be specie value, provided the courts do not otherwise con struc it; but the law in this icspecl should not be left to construction. Judges are usually made of old lawyers, and they usually go in for the most rigid construe tions against debtors. We are, however, in hopos of liberal and enlightened views prevailing, both with the Legislature and the Judges. Under the old regime, the Legislature in this State was the most illiberal and merciless towards debtors of any other in the Union. No homestead was allowed, and tho most miserable pit? tance of personal property exempted from levy. It did look as if the reproach of our enemies was justified in some respects. There was no regard in our laws for poor unfortunate families. The laws seem to have been made for the benefit of sharp? ers and speculators, wholly and solely. Everybody now sees how stupid, as weil as heartless, were our old laws in not al? lowing a liberal homestead. What im? mense suffering would have been preven? ted, if the laws had been different before the war. We should also hare hud a far larger population, more education, and a far better condition of society. The old law, likewise, that confiscated all a wo? man's property to pay the husband's debts, was an abomination sternly adhered to b\- the old fogy legislators. This haa added immensely to the curse of general ruin that has inflicted this State. The General Amnesty.?Speaking of :,!vs. ent Johnson's Christinas proclama? tion of general amnesty, tho New York Herald says: "This present proclamation restores to Davis and company all their rights, priv? ileges and immunities under the Constitu? tion and laws of tho United States, but this does not restore these men to their status as citizens in full communion. The constitutional amendment fourteen, sec? tion three, debars from any civil or mili? tary office under the United States; or any State, any man who, after having ta? ken an oath as a civil or military officer of the United States, or as a civil officer of any State, to support the United States Constitution, shall have participated in rebellion against the same, or given aid and comfort to tho enemy; but Congress may, by a voto of two-thirds of each house, remove such disability.' Tho Pre? sident's full and unconditional pardon, therefore, only restores the leaders of the rebellion to their rights as private citizens; tor they can only bt restored to tho right to hold an office of any sort, civil or miii tarv, State or national, by a two-thirds vote of each house of Congress. And sec? tion five of said amendment says that j Congress shall have power to enforce its I provisions by appropriate legislation. Not j even the Union Leagues, theo, can rea I sonably object to this sweeping amnesty j proclamation, and wo doubt not that the I general public judgment concerning it will bo that it is a good thing." ? A bachelor, according lo the latest j definition, is a man who has lost the op portunity of making woman miserable. The Intelligencer Job OIBce. ITa7 in g recently med j considerable additions to this department, we are prepared to execute ?3m TORE (DIP JORKS In the neatest style atid on tho moslt reasonable terras. Legal Blanks, Bill Heads, Posters, Card?, Handbills. Pamphlets, Labels, and in fact ?t?ry style of work usually done in a country Printing Office. ggf In all enses, the money will be required upon delivery of the work. Orders, accompaaitJ with the cash, will receive prompt attention. Ministers, Teaohers and Editors. The people of this section it appears to us, believe that Ministers, School Teach? ers and Editors are chameleons, and can live on air. Although their lives art ex? clusively devoted to the spiritual, moral, intellectual and material interests of their fellow-men, upen which the prosperity and honor of the whole nation rests, there is not one out of fifty of them who receives sufficient support to maintian a family in comfort and respectability. Men will pay their grog, tobacco, cigar and circus bills willingly, and twenty dollars spent on a party or any other lux? ury is never grumbled at, but money paid to a Minister, a School Teacher or an Ed? itor is considered as so much thrown aw*y, hence such bills are usually liquidated in "chips and whetstones." And that is not all; many think, by listening attentively every week to a sermon which htm cost the Minister days of toilsome study to prepare, or by sending a child to ? Teach? er who daily strives to impart to him knowledge that will fit him or ier for honorable and useful positions in life, or takes a Newspaper, which costs tho Edi? tor, daily or weekly, large outlays of cash and incessant labor to compile and send forth as a valuable and interesting medi? um of general information, upon all sub jects conducive to tho welfare of tho peo? ple, that they thereby confer a great fa? vor, and any other payment should be considered more in the light of charitable contributions than the performance ot le? gal and moral dutieB. It is this insensibility to tire high claims of education and intellect that keeps this beautiful portion of earth so far in the back ground ot improvement, thrift, and even hope. The fountains of intelligence are completely clogged by the indifference of those who, being "wise in their own conceit," and suppose they can learn nothing more, should keep them open and flowing freely for the good of generations who are to come after them. Our pulpits, schools and newspapers-? the three great fountains from whence flow our nation's power and virtue?must fail in their grand mission, unless the peo? ple whom they are intended to benefit, take them to their hearts and nurture and cherish them art heir importancodoraands. Dam up these fountains, and let not a ripple of virtuous intelligence flow from them, and where, we ask, would our peo? ple drift to ? And yet we And intelligent men and women, who profess a deep and earnest zeal for the future of out country, sit silently by and see these Very pillars upon which the weal of tho country rests, weakened and falling, without exerting ihe slightest effort or even raising a voice to save them; but rather calmly looking on, in total indifference as to the utter ruin of all that is good and great that must ensue. We leave the thought of the "blackness and darkness" that would fol? low their fall for our readers to ponder on.-1-Ashcville (N.^ C.) Nev& -?? Amnesty Proclamation. Tho following has been issued from.the Executivo Department: By the President of the United States of America : Whereas, the President of the United States has heretofore set forth .several proclamations, offering amnesty and par? don to persons who had been or were concerned in the late rebellion again6t the lawful authority of the Government of the United States, which proclamations were severally issued on the 8th of De? cember, 18G3. on the 215th day of March, 1S64, on the 29th day of May, 1865, on ti e 7th day of September, 1867, and on the 4th day of July, 1868. And whereas the authority of the Fed? eral Government having been re-estab? lished in ail the States and Territories within the jurisdiction of the United States, it is believed that such prudential reservations and exceptions as attheduto of said several proclamations were deem? ed necessary and proper, may now be wisely and justlj- relinquished, and that an universal amnesty and pardon for par? ticipation in said rebellion extended to all w ho have borne any part therein, will tend to secure permanent peace, order and prosperity throughout the land, and to renew and fully restore confidence and fraternal feeling among the whole people, and their respect for and attachment to the National Government, designed by its patriotic founders for general good. Now, therefore, be it known that 7, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, by virtue ef the power and au? thority in ni3 vested by the Constitution, and in the name ot the sovereign people of the United States, do hereby proclaim and declare unconditionally and without leservation, to all and to every person who, directly or indirectly, participated in the late insurrection or rebellion, a full pardon and amnesty for the offence ot treason against tho United States, or of adhering to their enemies during the late civil war, with restoration of all rights, privileges and immunities, under the Constitution and the laws which have boon made in pursuar.ee thereof. In testimony whereof I have signed those presents'with my hand, and have caused the seal of tho United States to be herewith affixed. Dono at the City of Washington the twenty-fifth day of December, in tho year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, and of the independence of the United States of America the ninety third. ANDREW JOHNSON. B}" tho President: F. W. Seward, Acting Sec. of State. ? Although Jenkins only eats once a day, still he says he has three meals? rye meal, indian meal, and meally pouitqca. Jenkins is becoming a philosopher.