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03 ^>XjiXT3Mn3XjgL. Tuosday Morr-?nar.' Juna 20, 1865. The State of the Country. The citizens of St. Matthews haye ra cc?tlv held a large meeting, at which a committee was appointed to express their views ns to the b*st means of preserving thc peace and <?ooA order of the country, under thc recent orders of the military authorities of the United States emanci? pating our slaves, and also to recommend j borne uniform rules, if practicable, by which fair compensation shall be allowed them under their iilt?red circumstances. The' report and resolutions which were prepared bj' the Committee, ?nd which we are informed, were adopted by the merl mg with great unanimity, have Oeen sent to u?, with a request for publication. But. ns the space in our paper is quite "limited, wc arc able to publish only brief extracts from the report and som? of thc resolutions, as indicating the general scope of ilieir views. The subject is e?rtainly one of profound importance to every citi? zen of thc South. Thc meeting, after talcing a rapid sur? vey of the condition of the country, some parts of which have become almost de- j populated, and most of the plantations ! nearly stripped of their most able bodied negroes, Jjwho, upon thc announcement of their freedom, flocked lo the seacoast or crowded iato the towns and villages,) rind alluding to thc work now done ou the plantations by the negroes which remain as "small in amount and executed in thc mo3t slovenly and imperfect manner," proceed ns follows: m N J This state of affairs cannot bc allowed to continue, without, thc most disastrous j consequences to all the parties concerned. An insufficiency of food for the wants of th? population will Le thai inevitable re? sult, with all the horrors of famine'for the next year. And the gathering, in various parts of the Slate, ot idle und dissolute negroes who have left the plantations, (and these wera generally thc worst characters I of the g:?ngs,) must as inevitably lead lo vires and crimes, dangerous to thc peace aud safety of th? community. The cause .if this threatened f.<-?.re-ty of food heir)'-! th?; insufficiency of labor on the planta tiens, owing to desertion; and its imper* j feeiion, amounting, ii? many c;ises, aiiuo.it ] to worthlessness, owing to the' want of j control and discipline .?which has been ! taken away from th? planters; the first | <ftfv ii to Inquire how this labor can he retained on thc plantations, or restored niter it. has been withdrawn. The most, obvious method ia to make it thc interest of the negroes to remain at their old homes; and thc most obvious means of accomplishing* this it* to provide and re tuiu on the plantation the lood necessary for their comfortable subsistence. If this be done, und no undue temptations are hfld out to allure them t? other places, they will remain, not onlv from the j promptings of interest, but, frSn their at- ! tachincnt to their old homes, for which they ure so remarkable. j After providing au abundance of food for them on tho plantations, the next duty is not'to permit it to be curried oil" and wasted, (as it will inevitably be wasted,) hy allowing an undue part of tho crop to . be given'to them in "compensation for their labor," as it is called. Ko matter how small or l.irge a portion of thc crop moy be given lo tn cm '"in kind, it will be (.ure to be wasted in a few months, (per? haps weeks,) in gewgaws and finery and 'expensive luxuries, which tickle the palate, or (which isidore pernicious still) in in? toxicating drinks, until, within a period of a few brief months, the stock of food which has beeVi given to them widl be exhausted, and they will become starving paupers upon the country and without homos to 6helter thom. Such a condition of things is most earnestly \o he depre? cated, not only from humanity to the negroes, but from considerations of pubiic policy, which admonishes us not-to throw upon society a houseless and sU-rving, and, therefore, thieving, Lazv.aroni, to prey upon the community. To prevent, this waste of food, at a crisis like this, when so little can be spared; to prevent, also, the idleness and dissipa? tion which must, occur, owing to tiie fre? quent vieil:; of the negroes to the towns ?nd little country shops whilst engaged in trafficking with 'heir "cro,-?iu kind,'! the meeting recommends that u commutation be made to them iu money, or that the food portion cf it bc purchased back from them .it the fair niatket value. They next, proceed to show that, in times like Ul ese, with the negroes so de? moralized spd labor so defective from want of proper discipline, there will be very few plantations} which will do more than pay the expenses ot cultivation, thereby leaving no profit to the proprie? tor; nod if any considerable portion of the crop be deducted as compensation to the negroe?, much in that proportion will hi; have to turn on me negroes iconi his plantation, from want ot luod to support liiin for another crop. They give, with some fuiners, the causes ' (,f the present unprofitableness of agricul? tural capi'rl, which., although interesting he ' r-; t ni' v iew, we llave not the space Ito copy. But, in view of ?voiding the I numberless evils of having swarms of idle negree? roaming over the country in btaroa ol work, which they will not be over- desirous to find, the meeting strongly recommend that an ample supply of food for all the negroes on the plantation for the next year be reserved out ef thc crop before any division be made of the surplus. This will at least insure them a comfort? able home and the means of being useful to themselves and others while engaged in making another crop. There arc other topics, discussed in the report, of much importance to our people at this time, but which wo' huve no room for. \v*e gjve some of the resolutions which were adopted: Jitxolvcd, That, in order to prevent the disorders and calamities which are likely to grow out of the new order of things imposed upon our country, we will en? deavor to keep the negroes diligently em? ployed in useful labor upon our planta? tions; that wc will discourage their rambling away from the same and gather? ing into idle brtiuls elsewhere. And we hereby pledge ourselves that wc will give no employment to no?- negro who, from caprice or insubordination, shall leave the .Servicesof his employer, except upon the written consent ot such employer, nor p riait such negro to be harbored upon our premises. . Resolved, That, in consideration of thc greatscarcity of food which is likely to oc cur under the new system, and thejd er ange? niest and uncertainty of labor consequent therein, it becomes the duty of plan.ers to i part with as little as possible of ?he food of their plantations, but reserve as much j of it as may be necessary for thc comfort ! able support of the industrious and regu lar laborers '"whom they may have in futttfe to employ. They give it also at their opinion, after a cardful examination of the subject, that, while on many plan talions the whole crops have been ab sorbed in the expenses of the same and tilt support of tlie negroes employed thereon leaving no surplus as income to the pro prietor, there are but a very few cases it which one-fourth of the surplus of tin crup could be spared as compensation ti the negroes, after first deducting the ex penses of the plantation, grain enough fo tho usual subsistence of Hie negroes (now on the plantation) for the next crop, an< nlsi> the usual al.owance of seventy-fi v bushels of grain for each boree or niul engaged in the management and makin; of the crop. Unsolved, Af the opinion of the meeline thal in those eases in which compensatio to th? negroes for their labor may teem t be allowable, this eompeusaliuii be mad to them, if possible, not in kind, but i money, at ibu market value of snell poi thin of'the crop as it may be cousidete they are entitled to. public Meeting at Summerville. ~\Ve have received, but too late for ppl ??cation, copies of a correspondence U> tween E. J. Limehousc, Intendant of tl town of (summerville, und Col. Yan Wye commanding the military forces of tl United States at thatTplaee. The letter . intendant Lime-house simply usks pernii sion of thc commandant tu hulda nieelit of citizens, with thc view totheiunugur tion ol measures which may enable tl j State of South Carolina to resume h ( place in the Union. Thc commanda ! granta thc desired permissiou, iii a lol I letter, full of counsel. The meeting w held in Summerville on the 31st of Ila The committed consisted of the followi named gentlemen: Dr. Jos. Murra}-, Cha maD, Dr. J. A Harrold, John Gadsd< j Thomas Pelzer, T. B. Miles, B. C. Pressh I Charles Foster, L II. Dukes, J. H, W. Il I cbiuson, Dr. R. W. Burnham, Jos. Is; j Perry; Constantine Bailey, Thornas'Lir : house, Isaac Murray, J. T. Browning, 1 I II. S. Waring, A. R. Stilman, R G. Sto . Rev. J. A. Mood, Daniel Knight, J. I Rhodes, Dr. T. L. Pelzer, Charles G ra* j E. P. Lawrence and J. L. Gantt, j The report and resolutions submit j alfi lined the desire of the citizens to ? store themselves in -a civil govcrnm and to restore the State to ^the Union; commended as a "duty, to tho people, ;. forbear all acts of hostility to the'authi : ty of the latter power.^aad to promote I every possible way, the return of fr?en i feeling between thc citizens of the I S sections, North and South; concluding \t I ?tile, resolutions appointing meetings j the several Parishes of St. George's I I ?hester and St. Paul, to be held on j liitl^ay of June. As we received tl ! pioceediugs on the 16th-a day after time appointed-their publication is q ! needless; especially^is their results i I template uolhing?moro than other j j eeedings, when the? public action wouh j final. Thes*e we shall be pleased to j ! lisli wheu they reach us. The Courier s*ys, on tho muihorit old inhabitants, who approach the e ricuce of Metliusaleh, tiiatthere Will b yellow lever this aeasun in Charleston, what does Professor Hume ?:iy? We I ?till, non* verrons. Local Item m The offi*e of the Columbia Phoenix is on Gates street, second door from Plain. CASUALTY.--AVe are told that a negro man lost hie life, in the Congnree, OB Sun? day last, by drowning. His inexpertness in the management of a dug out is said to have led to the disaster. EXCHANGE PAI'KRS.- Wc are indebted to friendly correspondents for the use of Charleston and Northern papers-the first named to the 17th iust.; the latter, includ? ing the Jlcrald and Tribune, to the 10th June, Irom which we shall make extracts. The friendly counsels of VA. B. C." ex? hibit such a warm inteiest in the concerns of thc Phoenix, and indicate a perso? so experienced in the matters of which he writes, that a personal interview with him would be desirable. We beg "A. W. C." to Ottll upon us at the first convenient oppor? tunity. Tile anonymous is hardly the proper medium for conveying such infor? mation as he seeks to impart. LF.TTKIIS VOR CITIZENS.-Letters and packets are daily arriving foi citizens of Columbia, and as the .parties addressed are not always easy to be found, the packets ure usually leffc- at the store and auction house of Zealy, Scott ?? llrunp, who will cheerfully deliver them on application. It may be well for citizens expecting letters, papers or packets, to inquire occasionally at the oliice of these centlemen. There is'a rumor, which has reached us from Charleston, that Gov. Magrath lias been released from prison and arrest, It is at this moment a mere rumor, but the thing is not improbable. Gov. Watts, of Alabama, who was ar rested at Macon, ha.s been released from arrest and permitted to return home. Jf is thought that Governors Letcher ar 1 Vance, of Virginia and North Carolina, will also be released, and shortly. '4^ ALABAMA.-It is supposed by the quid unites at Washington that Judge. Porsoni?, of Talladega, will be "appointed Provi? sional Governor of Alabama; while James ti Smith, a loyal refugee has received the appointment of United States District Attorney for tho Northern District of Alabama. ' Burglus are busy in Charleston, nnd the house'of Mr. S. N. Uart, corner of Aiken's How and Meeting street, luis been rifled, and a negro soldier was the bur glar. And the worthy, Mrs. Meyers-of whom we know nothing-has be,-ti victim? ized in the same mauuer and possibly by the same parlies. ?G-t National Banks are now hi opera? tion. WANTED TO PJJRCHASE, A SM.A?.L LOT of SHEET COPPER, ./"Y. suitable for making stills. June 20 1* R. TOZER. Lost or Stolen, ASMALL PALMETTO WALKING i CANE..with gold head, marked "E. M. B., 18?S." A suitable reward will he paid for its recovery. Apply at this oliice. June 20 1* C. F- HARRISON, Auctioneer & Commission Merchant, OFFICE ut A. L. Solomon's store. Plain street, second door abeve the Shiver House. , June 20 For any Point. cp~m;v, A LIGHT Two-horse SPRING c*r?5E#- WAGON can be had, to convey j passengers or freight to any point, by applying at this office. June 21 2* EATING HOUSE.. MR. J. Q. ADAMS would inform the citizens cf Columbia that he has opened an EATING HOUSE on the cor? ner of Washington and Gates streets, ( where MEALS- will be served up at nil hours of the day. LUN5CH from ll to 2 o'clock. June 20 General Commission Agency. Jy B. GLASS respectfully advertises . . the public that he is prepared to do a GENERAL COMMISSION BUSINESS, and invites consignments of all kinds ot Merchandize, Manufactures, Produce, <tc. He will attend to purchase or sale of Real Estate, Stocks, <tc. Office ami mart on Plain sircet, between Lull and Pickens. juue 30 *>' ~3E?, 23. oii-A-SiS, BOOKSELLER AND STATIONER, ' [Plain Sired, between Bull and Pi-kcns.) HAS for sale LETTER, CAP and NOTE PAPER, EN VELO 1'ES, Steel Pens, Pen Holders, Sealing Wax, Mucilage, Red I Tape, Lead Pencils, ludia Rubber, Writing I Ink, Memorandum and Pass Hooks. 1 june 20 6* AUCTI?lrN SAT.ES. Variety Sale. By Jacob Levin. THIS (Tuesday) MORNING, at 10 o'clock, will be ?old, ia iront of the Ration House, *^ 1 Feather Bed, 1 Mattress, 1 Round Tablei 1 Mahogany Tea Table, pair Brnsr. Dogs, Arra Chairs, <fcc. \ ALSO, A lot of Books, among which are His? torical Collections of South ('?nol?na. Life cf Napoleon, Dickens' Novels, Arabian Nights, ?-c., Ac. After the above, T will sell loo bushels Corn, in lots to suit purchasers; 20 bags new Flour, 15 bags Peas. Unlimited article's rcc-ived up to lime of sale. june 20 TOT iTOCK ! M. -A. SHELTON & CO., Bull Street, one doer from the Post Ojnce, ARE now offering a NEW STOCK OF GCODS, which they have lately pur? chased nt low rates, and are disposed io sell . At a Slight Advance for Cash, CONSISTING IN PA HT OH LADIF'.S' SHOES, cf all patterns-fine Gent's .' of superior qwnlity.? Misses " of all (lumbers. Boy's *' cheap and good. Gent's fine FELT HATS. good WOOL HATS. Ladies' fine H ATS.ladies' VEILS. " HOSIERY, PINS. TOOTH BRUSHES, PLAYING CARDS. Butter CRACKERS, Fanov do. "?. CH F. ESE. G REEN TEA. it AlSI N'S. WHITE SUGAR, BROWN SU'r.AR. JAVA COFFEE-1 pound packages. BROOMS, MATCHES, SIEVES. * M U.ST A RD. STA RC ll, Tl N W A RE. . MACKEREL, HERR1NG .'.CODFISH. CANDLES, Colgate's PALL SOAP. BOURBON WHISKEY, ALE. PORTER, CLARET, ?>t Julien. CUMBERLAND SAUCE. MOSS TOli \CCO, SMOKING d >. CHEWING TOBACCO, LEMONS. Country merchants ami others visiting the city wit!-, the intention of purchasing goods, ?ill find it to their interest to give ! us a call before purchasing elsewhere, ns ; we are e/iabled, from au extensive pur I chase, to sell at a V^rv LOW ADVANCE ON GUAI'.EE?T?N PlilCES. ?11LY FLOUR ! QI NT Y BAGS SUPERIOR FAMILY O FLOUR, nt $t.f>i) per bar;, for sale by Juue DJ 3 KENNETH <t GIBSON. j rpEN THOUSAND POUNDS HORSE ! JL SHOE and TI RE. I RON, for sal* low for cash by KENNETH & GIBSON June Ht 3 $200 Mow?rcl ? IN SPECIE. STOLEN from my stable?, on /'fi l the night of the 5th May. two fine BAY MARES-one a larce bay mare, will fold iii thefirstof the fall, teven years old, color a deep Day, black lees, main a:id tail, very small fore-top, too short to be kept or placed under the brow band-no while about her, unless saddle marks, a small sear on the right hind leg at the knee or book joint, outside of the leg, recently done by ploughing; a very heavy made animal, with great muscular power, fine action, gentle and kind rn harness or under saddle, gaits, walk, trot and lope. Also, one BAY FILLET, four years old, about 14 i hands high, dark bay color, black I ^gs, main and tail-a very hand? some animal, beautifully formed, with rather a heavy main and tail. No parti cu.'ar mark*, except a small scar on the left hip, near r.be root of the tail, in the shape of a half moon, caused by a kick. These two animals are very much attached to each other, and when separated, rest? less and uneasy. I will r>sy the above reward, in specie or its equivalent, for thc recovery of my marts, or ?100 for either of them.? Any information as to the thief will be duly appreciated, and any information as to the mares can He given to James B. Cureton, Esq., or Dr. R. B. Johnston, Camden, S. C., or k\oc. James A. Witherspoon, Lancaster C. H., Capt. Thos. Taylor. Columbia, S,^-, or myself. R. M. MILLER, "Pineville, C ?fc S. C. R. R.. No. Ca. June 17 _ 4 AMNESTY. THE TEEMS OF PARDON Proclamai iqn by the President of the United States of America. Whereas the President of the United States, on th?8th day of December. A. D. 1863, and on the 26th day of March, A. D. ISK4, with the objeet to suppress the ex? isting rebellion, to induce all persons to return to their loyalty and to restore the authority of the United States, issue pro? clamations offering amnesty and pardon to certain persons who bad, directly or by implication, participated ia the said rebel? lion; and whereas zr>?..r>r p?*-Ror.\ who hs' so engaged in said rebellion, have, since-' tlie issuance of said proclamation, faiUv or neglected to take thc benefits offered thereby; and whereas ninny persone, who have been justly deprived of ?ll claim to amnesty and pardon thereunder by reason of their participation, directly or by im? plication, in saut rebellion ?nd cont inned hostility to thc Government of the United States since the dule of said proclamation, now desire-to apply for and obtain amnes? ty Mild pardon; j To the ?nd, therefor*1, that tho sntlior?ty j of the Government of tho United States may he restored, ami timi peace, order and I freedom mar !>e established, I, Andrew I Johnson. .President ol the United Staten, I do proclaim* and declare that 1 hereby I gi ant to nil persons who have directly or indirectly participated in the existing rebellion, except as hereinafter excepted, j amnesty and pardon, with restoration of I ni! rights of property, except as to slaven, I u:,d except, in c:.scs. where legal proceed I ings, undt-r the laws of the United Staten providing for ihe confiscation of property of per>on* engatred in rebellion, have been instituted, but on tlie condition, rieverthe le?-;, that every euell person shall take and subscribe tl.e following oath or affirma? tion, nnd thencefo:ward keep and nmin tain said oath inviolate, and which oath fluill be registered tor permanent preser? vation, and shall be of the teuor and-effect fwilow mg, to wit: I,-, dp solemnly swear or affirm, in preseti'-e of Almighty G?>d, that I will henceforth faithfully support and defend tlie Constitution o; the United States and the Unio:- of the Slates tbero under, n:nJ Clint I will in like- manner abide by and faithfully support, all law* and proclam?t ,.'ns which have be-n made during ihr exit ting rebellion^with refer? ence lo the (.mancipation of slaves. So help loe God. The fallowing class . of person? are ex? empted from the benefits of thia procla? mation: 1st. All who are. or shall have been, pretended civil of diplomatic officers, or otherwise, deni' stilt or forei;*u .n^eiils of the prefended Confederate Government. 2<1. All who left judicial stations under thc Ur.itpd Slatts to ?id in the rebellion. Md. All who shall hat e been military or naval officers of paid pretended Confede? rate Government above the rank of colonel in li.e ?noy or lieutenant in tlie navy. .1th. All who b;it seat? ii the Congress of the United Stales to aid the rebellion. 5th. All who resigned or tendered resig? nations of theil- commissions in the armv or navy of the Unit* d States lo evade dury :n resisting the rebellion. Otb. All who have engaged in any wny in treating otherwise than lawfully a* pri? soners ef war parsons found in the United rtiate< service, ns officers, soldiers, seamen or in o'her capacities. . 7th. Ail persons who have been or are absentees fioin'the United states for the purpose of aiding the rebellion. 8th. All military and 'unval officer* in . the rebel service who v ' aled by the Government in the . v .-.cadeniy nt \h .', I Vin: or thu Uniter? ites Naval Academy. ?Uh. All persons who hrd 1 the pretended ..fil?es of Governor of^fetatei! in insurrec tion against, the United States. loth. All piersons who left their hornea within th?t jurisdiction- and protection nf the United Stutes, nnd passed beyond the Fixerai military lin>e8 inti) the so-e.allet? Confederate States for the purpose of aid? ing tl.e rebellion. * 11th. All persons who have leen en? gaged in the destruction of the.commerce of the United States ii;.on the high sens, and who have mad.; raids into the United States from Cunada, or been engaged in destroying the commerce of the United States upon.the lakes and rivers tint sepa? rate the British proi inccs lroiu the United Slate?. ? . 12th.' All persans who, at the time when they ?eel: to obtain the tn nefits hereof by taking the oath herein prescribe.;, :u?n military, naval or civil confinement or custody, or under bonds of the civil, n.ili- - tary or naval authorities ol agents nf th.? United States, as prisoners of war or pe? sons detained for offence.-* of uny kind, either before or aller conviction. ICth. AU persons who have voluntarily partidiptted in said rebellion, and tile esti? mated value of whose taxable property is over twenty thousand dollars. 14th. All persona who have falcon the onth oLamnesty as prescribed in the Pre? sident's proclamation of December S. A. D. 1S05, or nn oath of allegiance ?to the Government of the United Slates since the date of raul proclamation, and who have not thenceforward kept and maintained tho same inviolate. Provided, that special application may be made to the President for pardon by any person belonging to the excepted classes, a.nd such clemency will be libe? ral! v extended as may be consistent with the facts of the case and the peace and dignity of the United States. The Secretary of State will establish ruies ard regulations for administering and recording the said amnesty oath, so as to insure il* benefit to the people and guard the Government against, fraud. In testimony whereof. I hav?. hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of tho United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington, the 29th day of Hay, in the year of our Lord 1805, and of the independence of tito United States the eighty-ninth. ANDREW JOHNSON. By the President: Wit. H. SEWAM?, Secretary of State. June 9 .