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COLUMBIA. Tuesday Morning, March 26, 1867. Coniis? ?it ion. It luis been noticed already that the confiscation bill of Stevens in Con? gress has been postponed until next December, which, we thi:<k, menus its final .shelving for the fortieth Congress. During the war, we were rery imperfectly posted ou the legis? lation of Congress, and of course many of tis were ignorant of the laws enacted by that body. On this subject, the Montgomery Mail states that Congress has already passed au Act of confiscation us sweeping in its terms as any that eould be passed by the present or any succeeding Con? gress. It is the Act of 1SC2, which has never becu repealed. This Act freed thc slaves and confiscated all the property of persons assisting, engaged with or giving aid or com? fort to the rel tell ion. Xiii"-- law being in force, the Matt says it is asked "why may not Con? gress put it into eltect thc moment Alabama (or any ether State) rejects the constitutional amendment ami univeral suffrage. The answer ii plain and direct-because he Su? preme Court has passed ?pon thc law and declared how far the Presi? dent shall execute it, because th( President will execute it so far as tin Supreme Court has declared it to bi good law; and because the Congres: has not dared to declare itself hostili to the Constitution, which is tin supreme law of the land. Congres; has violated what a large majority o ihe people of the United States be lieve to be the just construction o the Constitution, but Congress ha not dared, and probably will no dare, to violate a plain and palpabl construction of the Constitution b the Supreme Court. The Mail says that the Suprem Court has laid down the law of coi fiscation, under the ?Vet erf 18G2, s plainly that there need be no doul on the subject. The points estai fished by that court are: "1. Confiscation can only follow i the laws of war acting upon belligi rent enemies-or "2. From some statute of tl United States punishing individu insurgents or traitors." On these points, our cotempora: says: "1. It cannot follow from the Lr. of war, because the law of natio docs not permit the confiscation destruction of private property, was adjudged by the Supreme Con of tho United States, in the case Brown vs. the United States, (Crane 8th) that enemy's property found i lam! was uot liable to confiscation 1 thc mere fact of the hostile charact of thc owner, and without an Act Congress expressly subjecting it confiscation. "But tho Act of Congress exor rates from confiscation all who ha taken the prescribed oath ol' al giancc and received the pardon of t President, li Congress should : tempt to set aside :!ie- oaths and p: don.-,, in order to reach our peoj with a new Aet more stringent th that of 1862, it would be an ex p facto law, which the Constitution ? clares, and the Supreme Court 1 repeatedly declared to be no law." As an explanation of the law as t Supreme Court decided it, the f lowing circular was issued to 1 United States District Attorneys, order of President Lincoln: "WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 1SC-1 "SIR: Many persons against wh property proceedings, under thee fiscation laws, are pending in courts of thc United States, grow out of tito participation of such j sons in tho existing rebellion, hav< good faith taken the oath proser! by the proclamation of the Presid of December S, lsc>:j, and hi therefore, entitled themselves to full pardon and restoration of rights of property, except as slaves, and whore the rights of tl parties have intervened, which 1 proclamation oilers and secures. ' President's pardon of a person gu of acts ot* rebellion will of cot relieve that person from the penal incurred by his crime. * * * "VOM respectfully, ?fee., "TITIAN J. COFFEE, ' 'Acting Attorney-General We think, from the above show that all apprehension from the y age of such a bill as that of Mr. vens' -a brief abstract of which give elsewhere-may be allayed, that no further "punishment" in line may be dreaded by the "rob - The editor of the New Or? P icayune, while cramming his m with strawberries, exults at thc preach of blackberries, cantel and peaches. . Ijlstj ii t Xo. 2-General Or?i>rs 1.1 ! Tho following general orders have boon issued by Gen. Sickles, on as ! suming command ?d' this department, ! for r. copy of which" we are indebted ! to Gen. Green: HEAJDQ'RS 2D TVTTT.TTAKY DISTEICT, (NORTH AXDSOTTTH CAKOIIIXA,) I COLUMBIA., S, C., March 21, 1SG7. j I General Orders 2Yo. 1. I. In compliance with General 'Orders No. 10, Headquarters ol' thc j Army. March ll, 1807, thc undjr i signed hereby assumes command of i thc Second Military District consti i lided by tho Act of Congress, Public I Ne. 68, 2d March, 18C7, entitled "Au Act for the more efficient government of the rebel States." I [. In the execution of tlivi duty rf the Commanding General to main? tain the security ol" the inhabitants in their persons and properly, to suppress insurrection, disorder and violence, und to punish, or cause to bc punished, all disturbers of the public peace and criminals, the h eal civil tribunals will be permitted lo take jurisdiction of and try offenders, excepting only such cases as may, by tbeorderof the Commanding Gene? ral, 1)0 referred to a commission or other military tribunal for trial. III. The civil Government now ex? isting in XorJ.h Carolina and South Carolina is provisional only, and in ail respects subject to tho paramount authority of the United States, at any time to abolish, modify, control or supersede the same. Local laws and municipal regulations not inconsis? tent with the Constitution and laws of the United States, or the proclama? tions of the President, or with such regulations as are or may be pre? scribed in the orders of the Com? manding General, are hereby declared to be in force; and, in conformity therewith, civil officers are hereby authorized to continue thc exercise of their proper functions, and will be respected and obeyed by the inhabit? ants. IV. Whenever any civil officer, ma? gistrate or court neglects or refuses to perform an official act properly required of such tribunal or officer, whereby due and rightful security to person or property shall be denied, the case will be reported by thc Post Commander to these Headquarters. V. Post commanders will cause to be arrested persons charged with the commission of crimes and offences, w hen the civil authorities fail to ar? rest and bring such offenders to trial, and will hold the accused in custody fe- trial by military commission, pro vost court or other tribunal organize*] pursuant to orders from these head quarters. Arrests by militai} au thority will be reported promptly The charges preferred will be accom panied by the evidence on which thej are founded. VI. The Commanding General, dc siring to preserve tranquility am order by menus and agencies mos congenial to the people, solicits tin zealous and cordial co-operation <> civil officers iu the discharge ol' thei duties, ami the aid of all good ci ti zens in preventing conduct tendin? to disturb the peace; and to the en< that occasion may seldom arise fo the exercise of military authority ii matters of ordinary civil administra tion, the Commanding General ve spectfully und earnestly commends ti the people ami authorities ol' Nortl and South Carolina unreserved obc dieiice to the authority now estab iished, a:; 1 the diligent, consid?r?t and impartial execution of the law enacted for their government. VII. All orders heretofore pub lished iu tiie Department of th South are hereby continued in fore? VIII. The following-mimed officer are announced as the staff of th Major-general Commanding: Capt. J. W. Clous, 3Sth U. S. Ir fantry, Act. Ass't. Adjt. Gen. au Aid-de-Camp. Capt. Alexander Moore, 38th U. S I ti fantry, Aid-de-Camp. Brevet Maj. J. lt. My ri ck. 1st Lieu! 3d Art., Aid-de-Camp and Act. Jndg Advocate. Maj. .Tames P. Boy, Gth ll. S. Inft Act. Ass't Inspect. Gen. Brevet Maj. Gen. B. O. Tyler, Di puty Quartermaster Gen. C. S. A Chief Quartermaster. Brevet Brig. Gen. W. W. Barm Major ami C. S., U. S. A., Chief Con missaiy of Subsistence. Brevet Lieut. Col. Chas. Pugi Sure;. LT. s. A., Med. Director. D. E. SICKLES, Mnjor-General Commanding. Il will Lc seen from this order tin no change whatever will take pla< in thc administration of the laws I tlie civil authorities, unless some ox gency arises which may demand tl interference of the military anthea ties. "We hope and trust that no sue exigency will occur, and that tl desire of the Commanding Genen expressed in tho si:*th paragraph the order, "to preserve tranquili and Order by means and agenci most congenial to the people," w be faithfully co-operated with, bo Ly the civil authorities and all go< I citizens, and that they will rend i that "universal obedience" to t laws which is so highly desirable j the present condition of our politic I affairs. i m, ~,-. j The doctor's motto-Be patient. Thc Kxiimnle of WiuU Hampton. Under this caption the Richmond Times comments: Light upon the intricate problem of lihow to deal io Uh the freedmen?" has broken in upon us from a most un? expected quarter. Wade Hampton, of .South Carolina, that Chevalier Bayard of the late civil war, is destined to become as distinguished as a eagacious, practi? cal statesman, as he was os a hero when a member of i hat intrepid band of groat warriors, wh.--.se sabres once flashed in the van of the Army ol' Northern Virginia. Comprehending- at a glance his linty to the whites of South Carolina, lie lias sought to resent- iii-.' freedmen of thai State from th? greedy clutches of that base class ot' white men wdio arc intent upon degrading and dis? franchising their own race. With that promptness and sagacity, which were his distinguished characteristics as a soldier, he has recognized thc vital importance of thc negro bein? advised, taught and guided by those wdio are still his only sincere and true friends. Calling to his aid tho gen? tlemen of thc highesi social position near Columbia, he is reported te have addressed the freedmen ol' thai section with great effect, and has forestalled that class ol wretches whe are giving us so much trouble in thu State. In consequence of lue prompt action of Wade Hampton and of tia respectable planters of South Caro lina, the most friendly relations an said to exist between the whites ant blacks, and the latter have d?clar?e their determination not only to sup port for ofiice thc. most respectabli candidates, but also to petition Cou gress for the restoration to the dis franchised classes of all their civi rights. This happy result does not at al surprise us. Whenever the men o character and substance at the Sont! have acted as Gen. Hampton ha done, they have routed th?; "meal whites" who are now corrupting th negroes. As early as tho loth of July, 1865 this paper commeuded the exampl of Mr. J. L. Marve, of Fredericks burg, who pursued the course wine Hampton has just taken. Th influence of his timely address an example is still felt brits conservativ effects upon the blacks ol' that plact They are said to have recent] rejected thc advances of the di: franchising white renegades. Let us hope that tl ie most di tinguished und effective speakers i this Stato will at once imitate tl: timely example of Hampton. Tho disenthralment of the neg] from the pernicious influence of tl depraved men who are now endeavo ing to array his prejudices against u should be tho special task of 01 most gifted and respected leaders tu statesmen. What greater and mo important service could men like 1 M. T. Hunter, ll. A. Wise, Willia Smith. Thomas S. Bocock, Jol Letcher, Thomas S. Flournoy, Jam Seddon, William L. Goggin, Walt Staples and a host of other eft'ecti and able speakers, render the whi race in Virginia, than to enlighti the poor blacks as to their duties ai true interests? The time has ? rived when tho example of Wa Hampton should bc universally in tated. - "A Looker On," a highly respect ble and intelligent colored resident Charleston, wdio is a far better ext nen I of the feelings ol' the class which he belongs limn any one of t speakers at the late meeting of t colored people in that eily, writes the Charleston pap< rs, uenounci the speeches made by Northern col ed men at thu meeting on the 21 These speech-make.\s are support by Northern societies, and must co ply with their requisitions. He ? vises the freed men to enjoy their o opinions at the coming elections. MISSISSIPPI MOVES vor. AX Ix.rc TI ox.-The 3fL<tsissippian learns fr undoubted authority that Jut Sharkey telegraphed to Gov. Hr phrcys for permission to file a bill, the name of the State of Mississij to enjoin all proceedings to sub; the people of that State to milit rule, under the recent Act of C gross, and that the Governor inn diately replied, giving the desi authority. Since then, ihe Cover has received a telegram from Ju Sharkey upon the subject, stat that the "prospects ure good." -1 ?? > MEETTXC OF THE RABBIS.-It announced that the Rabbis of Eur aro to ass? .ble in council, in Pa this year, in order that tho great ? hedrim may take placo in conjunct with the Universal Exhibition. ' Central Jewish Committee of P has taken the initiative of the m ing, which will bo especially calle? to decide the following questi The abolition of the prohibitioi certain articles of food; thc supp sion of polygamy, that exists am the Jews in Algeria, and the reco tion of female children as c?pi qualified to inherit with males. Pennsylvania.'* liejily to Ol'tll Ca? rol ina. At the recent session of the North Carolina Legislature, a series of reso? lutions were adopted, inviting all the States-North, South, East and West-to meet in national conven? tion, for the purpose of "proposing;, in exact conformity with the Consti? tution of the United States, sud amendments to the Constitution thal the result will ba such mutual con? cessions as will ie.nl to a restoration of our former happy relations:" Gov. (roary, of I'enusylvania, in : recent message to the Legislature o that State, acknowledges the receip of these resolutions, and says th;; under ordinary circumstances lo would l>c- satisfied simply to submi the commanicat ion without comment but, says he. when "we reflect tba the people of North Carolina inviting ; this assembly are not in full coin run uiou with tho loyal States-that the; have been for many years in. the hain ? of looking with great indifl'ereuc upon the national interests, and o tolerating disloyalty-that through out tlie thrilling aud sanguinary \va of tin- rebellion tiny used their ut most efforts to destroy the Constitn tion and the Union, and to establis; a hostile Government of their own that they recently refused to ratif the mild and wholesome amendment to tin; Constitution-that Congres i by the passage of the reconstruct io Act, has made a salutary provisio I for their future military governmen and for that of the other refractor ! districts lately engaged in rebellion is not the presumption with whic these unrepentant rebels and subji j gated traitors now ask for mutm j concessions surprising? The people of Pennsylvania hn\ I always been loyal io tho Governmen I true to thc Constitution and laws < the nation, and have stood in tl j foremost ranks of the defenders i the Union. They have no conce sions to make-certainly none ; those who have waged a troubleson war, and who have been conquered the point of the bayonet. The do trine is certainly abhorrent that d feated treason should ask the loy men of this country to meet the upon equal terms in convention amend the Constitution they rep dialed and attempted to destro The guilty failure of those men h assigned them toa far diff?rent task submission to the terms of the co querors and obedience to that 1: ?which we all obey. "While Pennsylvania has no cone, sions to make, her people, desiring speedy, just and properre-adjustnie of all the Slides in the Union, et nestly beseech the citizens of Noi Carolina, and of all the Southe States, to return without, delay to t benign influences of the Gove) mont, while yet the terms cif such return arc easy, and not to wait : more severe conditions, and perla for more serious punishment. ----? ? Tin- TriWujic on tin- Sleeting. The New York Tribune, under t head of "New South Carolina," sa; The tidings wo publish this mo ing from the capital of South Cai Lina are calculated to astonish I Hip Van Winkles of the North, great meeting of the people has lu held, preliminary to the reeonstr tion of tl-.e State under the recs Act of Congress, and such emin? chiefs id' the late oligarchy tis Gi Wada Hampton have fraterni: I heartily with tin; most capable : i trusted negroes; thc leading whi j ami blacks vicing with each other expressions of mutual confidence ? good will, 'i'la: whites conceded the blacks every right which ti clair', for themselves; while the bia take rho 1 ad in asking Congl.es^ repeal all disabling and disfranc] ing acts, so tis to allow tho Statt command the services of her ab' ami most trusted citizens. lu sin Sonta Carolina has already ta her stand on tin; true, broad, gr rous national platform of unive: amnesty with impartial suffrage, ; will soon be in Cox,gross, sham the obstinate owls of the Middle Western States out of their lingei prejudices ami alu ?tions of preju< against ti recognition o? the ina! able rights of man. Such is the natural, benificent c rations of the; reconstruction ac Congress, so fiercely denounced the President and by tho cop; head Congressmen ami journals a' act "to organize hell" ia the Soi to destroy liberty and to whelm winde land in anarchy and mill! despotism. So far as we now see, ?'very ex-rebel State but T will promptly ami cordially rc ganize on the basis proposed by ( gross, and have its delegations re to take seats in Congress before close of this year. What patriota does not swell with joy and gratil at the prospect? The etb'tor of the Newbern Jou of Commerce, who has been rai it, thus reports : We never remen to have witnessed such an univ? efl'ort to secure the blessings oi abundant crop, as we have recei All on the line of the A. k N. C H., over which we passed yester and the day before, the planters evidently alive to the great inij ance of vigorous, well directed et! I to place their plantations in oi and manure thom. LETTER FROM SENATOR SHERMAN. "We notice ia thc Macon Journal and Messenger, of the 16th, the following letter to Col. W. K. DeGraifenreid, of tl lat city: j UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER, WASHINGTON, March 12, 1867. DEAR SI::: Your letter of the 8th instant is received. The hill yon re- : ferret! to was passed in the earnest j hope that it would tend to the full restoration of all the States to all their i rights in the Union. The sixth sec- \ tiou 1 think too harsh, but it was put in in the House as the result of oppo? sition from both extremes. At the request of large numbers from thc South, wc ure passing a supplement? ary act to provide machinery of re? construction. The original ??ill left ] all this to each State, but then: was \ danger of double organizations and' Conventions, ami, therefore, to avoid further st vile or difference, this new act will bo passed. It is merely a : scaffolding. My earnest conviction is. that the South should not forego this oppor? tunity to be restored to representa? tion; and you may rely upon it. that) a majority in both Houses will ad? here to this otter, and execute it in ge,,,! faith and to the letter, ii your people will do likewise. Neither sec? tion can ii" prosperous while the pre? sent condition of militarysurveilancc prevails. You can do as voa please with this. Very truly yours, JOHN SHERMAN. - . ? ? ?. - THE PRESIDENT.-Thc New York Times pays the following compliment to President Johnson: Tia ro is an impression, which is carefully nursed in certain quarters, that President Johnson is shaking in his shoes at the prospect of being impeached. "What the President most dreads," says a Boston paper, "is impeachment." There never was a greater mistake. Not many days ago, the President remarked that he considered it a matter of much more importance to Congress than to him whether he was impeached or not. He has not the slightest apprehension of being convicted of any misde? meanor or misconduct of any kind, upon any testimony that any honest man could deem fair and reliable; and if lie is convicted otherwise, the oilium that will follow such action will, in his opinion, far outweigh any punishment that can bc indicted. President Johnson may be a very unwise man, and may have donc a great many unwise things; but his confidence in his own integrity, like his reliance upon his own convictions and opinions, is perfectly impreg? nable. FROM MEXICO.-The New York Herald, of Monday, says: Advices from the Rio Orando con? tain the intelligence that detach? ments of the opposing forces at Catahualpua had come together. Max? imilian taking part in the altair. lt was of little importance, however, and accounts vary ns to its results. It wns suid that Santa Anna had pro 1 posed to join Maximilian. Juarez ; was about to order thc Trench resi ! dents oat of the country, unless they j took out naturalization papers. Oar San Luis Potosi (Mexico) correspond ! eut gives an account of tho journey of Juarez and his Cabinet from Zaca? tecas to that point, with a descrip? tion of tho old town of Gaudaloupe, its convent and line works of art. From Zacatecas, our correspondents furnish graphic accounts of the chain of events since Miramon's defeat which have transpired in the vicinity of the Juarez headquarters. PROVISIONS ron THE SOUTH. -The I evidences ave unmistakable that there should be no delay in forwarding j provisions to the destitute portions of J the South, and from no point can ; any of the greatest sufferers be more : readily reached than from Baltimore. I What it is stated in tho following : that one railroad has determined to : do in bringing forward supplies, we j have no doubt that all the other ! roads leading into Baltimore will ! also be equally ready to undertake, I and if these provisions can bo sont I forward free of freight also, as inti? mated, there is every inducement for farmers and others having anything to spare to hurry their contributions to this city: BALTIMORE, March 16, 1S67. j T" the Editors of Hie Ballimore Sun: Efforts are being made to send pro? visions to the South. TheBaltimore and Philadelphia Railroad Company will receive provisions along its line of railroad and furnish cars, if duly I notified, and bring the corn and meat her - without charge. Arrangements will bo made here to send these pro? visions South without charge, lt is believed that similar arrangements I can be made along all thc lines ol' ! railroads. If all tho people of our j State will promptly collect food and J send it forward, great relief will be ! given. Many who cannot give mont y j may send bread and meat. We know : that many are suffering, and no time should be lost, lest some should perish before food can reach them. Provi ' sions forwarded io Baltimore may be sent to any of thc undersigned: (leo. j M. Gill, P. P. Pendleton, Ira Can in ld, .1. Harman Brown, J. (bigie, Robert Hall, R. M. Spiller, Henry ! C. Kirk, W. R. Sec vers, James F. : Pentland and Alexander Rieman. i Logical exercises for ladies-Jump i ing to conclusions. His Excellency Governor Orr ar? rived in Columbia Saturday afternoon Tm: FKTJ?T UNINJURED.- -We are highly gratified at being able to state that, notwithstanding the recent very unfavorable weather, the fruit ero]) iu this vicinity is uninjured. A kiss on the forehead denotes re? spect and admiration; on the cheek, friendship; on the eyelids, teudei sentiments; on thc lips, ! ?ve. The young men of oar acquaintance haven't much respect for young ladies. Our readers are ref? i red to the ad? vertisement of S. ?i. Myers c.... which appears in another column These gentlemen have just received a v< ?ry fine and well-selected assort meut of the latest spring goods. whi< li th??v proposc to s-dl at the lowest po.-sibh figures. The ladies are invited io examine t heir stock. Carleton has now iu press, and wiiS I soon publish, two other Southern ? books, which vvill be like.y t > have a good sale. The titles are. "Mosby laud His Men," by S. M. Crawford, one of "his men," and "The Cruise of the Shenandoah." by C. E. Hunt. Wc understand thc books will be illus? trate.! and presented to the public in Carleston's best style. Ora MEETING.-The meeting of the colored people lu id i:: this city, ? and the speeches and proceedings ! thereat, are attracting general atten ? tion in all sections of the country, j We give the following pithy para ! graph from thc New York Express: "These meetings are quite signifi? cant, ami the first one ought to put to shame the malign legislation of Congress. Imagine Wade Hampton's ex-slaves, and we believe there were 1,700 of them at one time, sending a petition to Congress asking the Senate and House to repeal the law which disfranchise* their old masters'. We expect to sec that sight yet, and to read of the Stevenses and Sumners moving to out it upon the table. The negroes have it in their power to put to shame those who, while claiming I to be their exclusive friends, think it becoming to degrade men of their ! own color. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. -Attention id call? ed to tho following advertisements, whicL aro published this morning for the ?rst . i < u e : S. Ii. Myers & Co.-Spring Stoch. C. P. Jackson-Spring Goods. II. 1). Hanahan-Corn. Oats. &c. C.,II. baldwin A Co.-Fresh Goods. Applv at this Office- Cow tor Sate. \V. T. Walter-Kcal lis?ate at Aue;:, ;. .Tas. L. Rosborough- Hay. H. E. Nichols A Co.-Nurse Wanted. Duffie & Chapman-New Dooks. Jar-. Douglas -Mule Stolen. .To\ nor's Stables-Mules ?or Sale, .r. A T. R. Agnerr-Ginger Sn;..,.-,. Merchants-To A. Wallace. -"-<>.<?- ..-- - - STEVENS' CONFISCATION BILE. -A a matter of curious information, we give to our readers the following abstract of the leading features of this bill: "It confiscates all the public lauds I belonging to the ten rebel States, ', and all the lands and other property forfeited by the Act of Congress ol July 17, 1862-all which is to be I seized, condemned and sold. ( hit o? I the proceeds each adult male freed I slave is to receive forty acres, and I each one who is head of a family j forty more. Out of the balance a I sum of fifty dollars for each liouse j hold is to be appropriated to the : erection of buildings for the use oi ! the late slaves-8200,000,000 is to be j invested in United States six per I cent, bonds and tho interest added i to the pensions of Union soldiers, i and $300,000,000is to be appropriated to pay damages done to loyal citizens by the civil or military government of the rebel confederacy, under which clause Mr. Stevens would be reimbursed for his property destroy ed hythe rebel invasion of Chambers ' lairg, Pennsylvania. The remaining sections of the bill prescribe the rae f thods and machinery by which Lt is t I bo carried into effect." j STRICT CONSTRUCTION.-Thc New York Times gives us tho following good hit : j Some members of Congress are so I sensitive about tho rights granted j and secured by the constitution, that j their delicacy compels them to turn a j deaf ear to the voice of charity. ? Strict constructionists of this class object to the appropriation of a j million dollars to save the Southern j people, white and black, loyalists and i disloyalists, from starvation, because i they cannot find a warrant for it in j the constitution. This opposition would bc absurd if it were not cruel j and inhuman. There seems to be a fear on the part of these gentlemen j that tho appropriation will not bo j fairly divided between thewhites and Hie negroes; but it is well known that a large amount of relief was extended to poor whito people by the Freed? men's Bureau, and certainly there was nothing in thc constitution to prevent food being sent to Ireland by Congress in a Government shir, during the famine of 1S47. I