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COLUMBIA. Friday Morning, March 23, 1866. Tlic Freedom of tile Pre**. Iii all civilized Governments and those claiming to bo free in their principles and practice, the liberty of thc press has been regarded as one of the brightest stars iu the coronet of tl int cherished goddess. Every jour- j nal in the land which is faithful and true to the principles of the Consti? tution, and maintains tho laws of the United States, has the privilege and right to express its vie^s on the po? li tical questions of the hour, and to criticise the official acts of jmblic men. It will bc a sad day for tho country when the press shall be ! muzzled -so that it cannot point out j the faults or misdoings of public officials, or freely express its opinion respecting^ all measures of public policy affecting the weal of the Com? monwealth or of the people of the United States. The editors of the South generally, we presume, as well as ourselves, have taken in good faith the oath of allegiance to the Government of the United States, and, as far as we liave observed, like ourselves, have coun? selled their readers and the people of the South to the faithf ni performance of all their obligations to that Go? vernment, and urged upon them a cordial support of the Administra? tion. They know tlrat their people have ?grounded their arms and sur? rendered to the authority and power ? of th J General Government in ho? nesty ?ind they know, further, that | the c^k^j^itweeu the two sections] '?.??iwm I H^l by such surrender, overthrow a l jk has proven its ie Union intact | jijfiJH^Btde, ?ut belittle laSnesstBid folly. Hence, have said, as far as our observa ^xtends, the general tone of the Tm jress, since the conclusion l?ties, has been temperate in itical t^me^loyal to the Govern? ed fa]P Jft in its teachings fcConsti. mm: and. laws j^^th?^ Ifideli adherence ?which the public founded their ^It is our intention to istration of Presi ) **o*long as it maintains es and r?olicy that dis tin r^ias enunciated. It is nnselthe people of rn' States to stand by y, and to maintain invio encwed allegiance and ob to the Unit?d States. We nipt wilfully say ur-writc anything Iciilated to keep up hostility of ng between thc different sections e country," (which is forbidden i f?oent order from Gen. Grant;) ad having done that, we feel we luve clone our duty in this respect as \f>l'?- journalists, whose wish, desire and aim it is, to promote the best in tejrests and prosperity of the people of? the whole country. ?But. growing out of this lino of net as journalists, and indeed, as nd parcel of tho obligations ed upon us as conservators of nee and well-being, .of society, iq porpetmty and stability of ions of the country, a duty to oppose any on whoso political course would be to overthrow and keep the coun iuch we I polity, he radi ki gross, frying policy Jera timi of r\of of her t of of ^^^^^^^^P^re feel B^''l! these HPW^<~ those ??fr^Bm- interests of l^iSfc^own p.olitical ^Vnl(7 keeil^ open the ?ned by former sec B. at the expense of ?estions, between all, ?e render us a united, laperons people. bm 'of tho press, how hoved from licentious tion or personal abuse, rs oT journals who pros g^h^v^e uses, are worthy to occupy such a position. The civil law yields its remedy, and personal responsibility deters men who thus fail to appreciate that dig? nity and courtesy which should ever characterize the press in a christian and civilized community. The pe? nalties of the law against libels, and the strict personal accountability to which their authors are usually held, have generally been found sufficient to secure a community in its social relations in this respect, in the pro? tection of private character, virtue and honor. Nor can it be denied that a Go? vernment, in the discharge of its du? ties under the Constitution, upon which it is founded, and in mainte? nance of tho laws frailed under that Constitution, has a right to protect itself from treasonable counsels and utterances ? And at the present junc? ture of our national political affairs, after four years of civil strife, every right-thinking man must admit that it is wrong, in the language of the order referred to, to put forth through the public press, either North or South, " articles calculated to keep up hos? tility between the different sections of the country;" and every press that counsels ' ' hostility to the Govern? ment," under the circumstances that now exist-when the Chief Magistrate of that Government and its other conservative members are using every effort to fully consummate the peace initiated by the surrender of the ar? mies of the South-is not only unwise and unpatriotic in its counsels, but transcends its legitimate functions under the true freedom of the press. The people of the United States are .sick of strife and bloodshed, and it is their province, as it is their highest duty, to frown down any attempt to revive them, and promptly withdraw their countenance and support from any journal making any such at? tempt But if the position we have taken be correct-and we think it is-seve? ral questions pertaining to its right? ful support have to be considered, j Disloyalty to the Government and counsels of hostility to it should be suppressed, and, if need be, punish? ed, and that is in the rightful pro? vince of. the Government; but the censorship of the press, when it be? comes necessary for the weal or safety of the State, should be kept within metes and bounds, and exercised with a wisc prudence and a sound judgment. The penalties of offences of this kind, provided by the Consti? tution and laws of the ?and, should be inflicted on all offenders. But as Robert Hall says in his celebratec "Apology for the Freedom of th? Press," "there is no injury whicr. m en will remember so long, or reseni so deeply, as that of being threatenec into silence. " Gen. Grant has justhj a high reputation as a brave soldiei and an honorable mau, and in hi date report on the condition of tin South, and in his support of the re storation policy of President John son, has shown himself to be a con servative statesman; therefore, wear? loath to believe that he meant by thi order to threaten the Southern paper into silence, but that ho thpugu.1 it : wise precaution against any tendenc; that might manifest itself to kee] alive hostility of feeling between th people of thc two sections of th country lately at war, or to provofc hostility to the Government of th United States. It may have been ai error to promulgate t his order; ye from what the people of the Unite* States have learned to know of hi character as a soldier and a man o conservative views, they will eosii conceive it was promulgated from pa triotie motives. But there was one error or omis sion in the partial application of tl? order; It is stated that it was to b applied to Southern papers only That there may have been somoparn graphs in ? -few Southern papers containing some ebullitions of pas sion, some lingering spark of sections feeling, there can be no doubt; bu tho keen provocative deserves consi deration. The action of the radical in Congress against the restoratioi policy of the President; the bitternes of sectional feeling against a peopl who had in good faith renewed thei ! allegiance to the Government; th exulting tone of the radical organ both towards the Executive and th people of thc South, all contribute to some recrimination from those wh stand by the Chief Magistrate in hi work ot' reconstruction. &Y And thia hostility to the A<LWMbs trat i on and its policy; this bitterness of sectional feeling against the South? ern people, is to this day rampant amongst the radical portion of Con? gress, and is still the offensive daily text of their newspaper organs. Is not this course calculated to keep up hostility of feeling between the dif? ferent sections of the country? Is it not evidence of "hostility" at least to one branch of the Government? Then why not apply the corrective to the newspapers of the North who are keeping up this spirit of sectional hostility, as well as those of the South who remonstrate or indulge in some recrimination? Fiat Jusiitia, rural colum-so will the ends of jus? tice, patriotism and right be effect? ually accomplished. If it is wrong, as it is, to revive the smouldering embers of strife and discord, let all efforts in that direction be squelched in every section of our common country. We have done. In anything we have said in the foregoing para? graphs, we must uot be construed as approving or sactioning any abridge? ment of the true freedom of the press; but at this time when the whole country needs repose and- rest from strife, the instrumentalities most effectual in restoring peace, unity and harmony, are those springing from the counsels of wisdom, patriot? ism and forbearance. CAPT. SEM MES.-We are pleased to learn from one of the New York pa? pers that the impression gains ground that, though Capt. Semmes will be tried by a mixed commission, com? posed of military and naval officers, his conviction and release will turn almost solely upon the question of whether or not he violated the usages of war in escaping from his vessel after striking his flag. It is conceded that tho laws of war justified his burning, sinking and destroying his prizes, and that he is protected hy the terms of Lee's surrender from acts of lawful warfare. UNFAIRNESS OF THE COMMITTEE. The telegraph furnishes the follow? ing, which, brief as the extract is, from the correspondence between Mr. Fessenden, Chairman of the Committee, and Senator Graham, shows the unfairness of the Commit? tee, and their unwillingness to admit impartial testimony. The following is the despatch : The Hon. W. A. Graham, United States Senator elect from North Ca? rolina, publishes a statement, from which it appears that in January he ."''dressed a letter to Senator Fessen d.^ ., suggesting that it would be lint justice to permit the delegation elect? ed from each State to be present at the reception of all ovideaco touoking the State or any of its members be? fore the Committee on Reconstruc? tion, with the privilege of cross examining witnesses and of intro? ducing evidence, if they shall deem it proper. To this letter, Mr. Fessenden re? plied as follows: "It is not necessaiy to allow a cross-examination of witnesses before a committee appointed to report on a subject not involving individuals. The .committee is supposed to be desirous of ascertaining the truth, and capable of making all the examination ne? cessary. "The committee is quite willing, I however, to examine any witnesses j who may be produced having know I ledge of the subject matter to any | j reasonable extent. j "The credentials of gentlemen ! claiming to be Senators have not been ! referred to this committee, and there is no probability that they will be." Mr. Graham subsequently replied as follows: "My sole purpose is to aid the j committee so far as this State (North Carolina) is concerned in the ascer? taining of truth, and to guard against ex parte testimony from unknown or irresponsible sources. 'Tf, therefore, the committee will at any time furnish notice of the points on which evidence is desired, or of prejudicial testimony which it is necessary to meet, my colleagues and myself will gladly avail ourselves of its permission to offer such rele? vant proofs as may be in our power." Mi:. DAVIS BESIEGED ny VISITORS. The following statement, attributed by a Mississippi paper to Bui-ton N. Harrison, Esq., rather surprises us. We doubt its truth : "He gives favorable accounts of the present and growing sympathy of the Northern people for Mr. Davis. At times, he says Mr. Davis' quarters are thronged with visitors. So great is the crowd that they stand for hon i's about the doors', and when they can't get in themselves, send in their com? pliments and assurances of regard and sympathy. This is especially the case with the officer* of the army." -? ^ ?, There has been a ?aistom house Universal Suffrage and General Am? nesty. We have published a biief tele? graphic summary of Senator Stew? art's universal suffrage and general amnesty preamble and resolutions, offered in tho United States Senate on Friday, and referred to the Recon? struction Committee. The resolution involving the, to the South, vital question of the day, we give it in full, together with Mr. Stewart's and Mr. Sumner's remarks thereon. Mr. Stewart, though a Republican, has hitherto voted with the conservatives, and has advocated what is known as the President's policy : Whereas, in the present distracted condition of the country, it is emi? nently proper and necessary that all just and constitutional means should be employed for the quieting of popular excitement, the removal of unreasonable prejudice, and the ob? literation of all hostile feeling grow? ing out of the Inte unhappy civil war: and whereas one of the most prolific sources of unfriendly sentiment is th? conflict of opinion existing on thc subject of negro suffrage; and where? as it is now most evident that there is no probability whatever that Senators and Representatives in Congress fron the States whose people were lately ir insurrection will be allowed to occupy the seats to which they have beer elected, until said States shall have complied with certain fundamenta conditions, a portion of which ar< hereinafter recited ; and whereas it ii unreasonable to expect the establish ment of harmony and good feeling a long as the eleven Southern State: whose people were recently in insur rection are prevented from resuinin? their ancient relations to this Govern ment; therefore, be it Resolved, &c., 1st. That each o said States whose people were latel; in insurrection, as aforesaid, shall b recognized a*-- having fully and validl; resumed its former relations with thi Government, and its chosen repre sentatives shall be admitted into th two houses of the National Legislo ture, whenever said State shall hav so amended its Constitution as, Isl To do away with all existing distinc tions as to civil rights and disability among thc various classes of itspopt lation, by reason either of race c ?olor, or previous condition of sci v: tude; 2d. To repudiate all pecuniar indebtedness which said State ma have heretofore contracted, incurre or assumed in connection with th late unnatural and treasonable wa: 3d. To yield all claim to eompf>n?; tion on account of the liberation i its slaves; and, 4th. To provide fe the extensioh of the elective franchi to all persons upon the same tern and conditions, making no discrim nation on account of race, color ( previous condition of servitude: Pr ruled. That those who were qualifie to vote in the year 18G0 by the la\ of the respective States shall not 1 disfranchised by reason of any ne tests or conditions which have bet or may be prescribed since that yen Resolred, That after the aforesa conditions have been complied wit and the same shall have been ratifi? by a majority of the present votii population of the State, including i those qualified to vote under the iai thereof as they existed in 1860, general amnesty shall be proclaim* in regard to all persons in such Sta who were in any way connected wi arm? 1 opposition to the Governme of the United States, wholly exon rating them from all pains, penalti or disabilities to which they may ha become liable by reason of connect? with the rebellion. Resolred, That in view of the ii portanee of the thorough assimilati of the basis of suffrage in the vario States of the Union, all other Stat not above specified shall be respe fully requested to incorporate amendment in their State Constil lions respectively, corresponding wi the one specified. Resolved, That in the adoption the aforesaid resolutions, it is not tended to assert a coercive power the part of Congress in regard to t regulation of the right of suffrage the different States of the Union, I only to make a respectful and earn appeal to their own good sense a love of country, with a view to 1 prevention of serious evils now thre ened, and to the peaceful perpet tion of the repose, the happiness a fTi?<ir ir glory of the whole Amern people. Dan Duncan, a landlord in Inc napolis, called on a poor tenant collect his rent. He found the pi woman toiling at tho wash tub, w the evidences of destitution all aron her. Duncan took a look aroui and concluded he didn't want collect rent as bad as he thought did. He gave the woman a rece for the two months due, and i months in advance, and then call on some friends sent her a load provisions to see her through winter. There has been a report going rounds of the press, says the P? Kentuckian, that General J. ii. H< was to be married to a daughter (?en. William Preston, of Louisvi We remarked to bim, recently, t he had to suffer for his notorit '.Yes,'" said he, "and it must be ceedingly annoying to the lady, a< hiiVehadno acquaintance whatc frs^uif- never even oneanotlH From Waalilngtoii. Though it is felt that the worst fea? tures of the original civil rights bill are destroyed, there is enough leit for a keen constitutional lawyer to drive through, four in hand; but it is urged that the thing will be imprac I ticable and ineffectual, and therefore not dangerous. There is much anxiety among Congressmen as to its fate with the President. It is understood in Republican circles that Senator Foster inspired .the resolutions which were introduced by Mr. Stewart, of Nevada. The latter proposes points for the action of the Southern people, but does not endorse the proposition. Gen. Steadman is expected to re? turn to this city to-night from New ?ork, where he has been for a few days. Certain of his friends still persist in the belief that he will suc? ceed Mr. Stanton as Secretary of War, whilst others assert that his mission is only in regard to military matters in the South-west, it being understood that he will succeed Gen. Canby in Louisiana. The following internal revenue de? cisions have been recently rendered : All bills of lading contain an agree? ment or contract. Domestic and in? land bills of lading, being neither otherwise charged, nor expressly ex? empted from all stamp duty, fall under the general provisions of the law, and are to be taxed not as "bills of lading," with ten cents each, but with two cents or five cent?, accord? ing to whether they are receipts sim? ply or agreements. If they are exe? cuted in sets of two or three, or more, each one should be stamped. Each has the same legal effect as the other, and the holder of either of them may find it necessary to use his copy iu evidence. Wlien receipts are made and issued in duplicate, both require to be stamped as originals. An agreement to lease should not be stamped as a simple agreement. It requires to be stamped as a lease. As each copy has a legal value, each requires a stamp. The assignment of a lease requires the same stamp as the original, increased by a stamp duty on the consideration or value ol the assignment equal to that imposed upon tho conveyance of land for simi? lor consideration or value. The depot Quartermaster of thc Department of Washington is rapid? ly reducing the nnmber of clerks, messengers and teamsters, under his supervision. Maj. A. H. Andrews, United State; army, has been assigned to the com maud of the military district o: Ouachita, Department of Arkansas. Lieut. Gen. Grant has instructet commanders of military department to reduce the number of voluntee! organizations in their respectivt commands. It is said that the project offerer by Senator Stewart, of Nevada, hftv ing the partial extension of the righ of suffrage to the black populatioi connected with and in consideration of a declaration of universal amnesty to all persons concerned in the rebel lion, has been the subject of consulta tion among some conservative Re publicans, as well as radicals, but i is not likely to meet with any sue cess. A letter received from the Dry Tor tugas, on the Florida coast, datec the 25th of last month, states tba Edward Spangler, ?id Arnold, am O'Laughhn, have been all that coule be desired as regards correct deport ment since their incarceration. A special despatch to the New Yorl Ckmimercial says: "The Republicai Senators on the Reconstruction Com mittee, to whom were referred th; various propositions for a Constitu tional amendment, which have beer presented in the Senate, met Satur clay morning. After a careful consi deration of the different amendments it was voted to report that presentee by Mr. Grimes, of Iowa, with sonn slight verbal alterations. It is be lieved that this will receive the requi site two-thirds vote in the Senate ant in the House." Secretary McCulloch has writ ten a letter to several leading Re publican Congressmen, in whicl he says he feels much anxietj about the political situation, an< very much desires that somethiu) shall be done to restore harmony bc tween the Government and the peo pie of the Southern States. He think that one step in that direction wonk result from a full and free conference between loading Northern men am leading Southern men now in th city. He suggests that the person ti whom his note is addressed invite ; call from Governor Parsons, amonj others. Large numbers of cotton-grower from the Southern States are arrivinj here, for the purpose of conferrinj with the Secretary of the Treasur relative to a legal adjustment of thei matters growing out of the un lawf a seizure, detention, and, in many in stances, loss, of their crops, by th interference of Treasury Agents an military men, whose conduct in mau cases is not sustained by law, reguln tious or precedent. Their seven cases receive due and prompt atter tion at the hands of the Secretan and wherever injustice has been prac ticed, reparation is mr.de. - The Confederate dead at and aronn Franklin, Tennessee, are being r< motetL^^g|i^beautifnl lot near tl) : .V^TT. mm Mr. John MeGavoc for ?Hbn^M' he adorne witlr^^^^^^-i^Breens. "^fljtf 1 Local Itor?LE;. CASH.-Om- tom?n fur subscription, ad? vertising and job work aro cash. Wo hope j all parties will bear this in mind. j THE WEEKLY GLEANEI:.-Thc reguluj I publication of this paper will be post pom .1 j J. lew weeks. Persons desirous of sui.. I scribing, will please forward the money :ii I unce. Terms $4 u year. THE BURNING or COLUMBIA. An inter, estillar account of the "Sack and Destruc? tion of the ('itv of Columbia. S. C.," has just been issued, in pamphlet tomi, from the Phoenix steam power press. Orders can be lilied to any extent. Mr. J. K. Hays, agent for the Sotvtliwr?' States for the sale of steel engravings ,,r Gen. Lee and Gen. Stonewall Jackson, is now in this city. Having soon the engrav? ings, we can with truth pronounce them excellent. A per cent, of the sales, he in? forms us, is to contribute to the uss^tanee j of Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Jackson. (L>]1 to? day, aa he leaves to-morrow. C:?Eti the store of M. L. Kinard. pT"" NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. -Attention s call? ed to the following advertisements,wliich are published this morning for tie first time: Lost-Apply to Clarkson ,t Talley Levin Si Peixotto-Matting and fiats. Fisher &, Lowrance -Flour. Rooms to rent--Apply on premise*. Kenneth & Gibson-Bolting Clot!. \ A tendertete-a-teto loses half its charms, if thc sweet words of either party *ro not mated with a fragrant breath. Sozidont is the only article that will assure his de? sideratum by keeping the teeth Backless, the gums healthy, thc whole mouth pure and undefiled. It literally embalms the dental substance, preserving it fron decay, through life. Use it daily. Will .ind it a pleasure. t GREELEY'S LAST WABBLE.-As a single illustration of the amended thought which is now pervading all classes of the people at the pre? time, inducing them to revise orj nions adopted under the prompting of revenge, mistaken for the instigt^ tions of patriotism, we cite the signi? ficant, fact that the New York Tribune, within the last two or three weeks, has formerly renounced the policy of confiscation, to which it once looked as a thunder-bolt of war. In his cele? brated "Prayer of twenty millions," addressed to the President, Mr. Greeley wrote: "We think you are strangely and | disastrously remiss in the discharge * of your official and imperative duty with regard to the emancipating pro- . ^ visions of the new confiscation act. " "We complain that the confiscation act which you approved is habitually disregarded by your generals, and that no wprd or rebuke for them from you has yet reached the public ear." "We require of you, as the first ser? vant of the republic, charged, espe? cially and pre-eminently with this duty, that you execute the laws. | Most emphatic that such laws l?Thave enacted, which, therefore, may fairly* be presumed to embody the present will and to be dictated by the present needs of the republic, shall be carried into full effect, and that you shall publicly and decisively instruct youri subordinate? that such laws exist ; that ' they are binding on all functionaries and citizens, and that they are to be obeyed to the letter." This "demand" we thought mis? placed and inapplicable at the time, but every reader will perceive the higher and wiser aspirations under which the Tribune now writes, when it holds the following language: "The zanies in the loyal States, who talk as though a broad empire Avould be subjected to military execu? tion, supply the venomous, desperate traitors in Dixie with the very ali? ment they need; and we deeply regret that one of tho resolves of the late Baltimore Convention seems calcu? lated to give them a lift. Gem Fre? mont did a wise, generous, manly act, in stamping, instead of standing, the wholesale confiscation plank oj the Cievelanil platform, thereby ing to smooth the path to peace [National Intelligencer. RETICENT AND SENSIBLE.-^Col. A. M. Paxton having been invited, amongst others, to address a mass meeting of the people at Vicksburg to endorse President Johnson's veto of the Freedmen's Bureau bill, and general policy, declines. He says: "By law, the President and the people of the North settle our status, and any action on our part, in my opinion, would weaken instead of strengthen the President. Our duty to ourselves and our neighbors re? quires that we, strictly abiding by the law and terms of our paroles, devote our time and talent to reviving and restoring all the interests of our be? loved country, agricultural, mechani? cal, educational, religions mid social. In the restoration of these, our entire physical and mental resources may be used to their utmost capacity, and tho less the Southern people think, act or talk, about political affairs, thc sooner will the order suspending the writ of habeos corpus be revoked, our members be admitted to seats in Congress, and a full restoration take place of all our rights as States in the Union. I must, therefore, de? cline attending or taking any part in the proposed meeting." Mr. Seward's reply to the French despa^ph of February 9, states that (ates will remain neutral