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Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, March 03, 1866, Image 1

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BY
?TO THINE OWN SELF BK TUUE, AND IT MUST FOLLOW, AS THE
IIOB'T. A. THOMPSON & CO.
iummMmnmt?i?fm*?m)?mm i m j '-_ ^ M I I - - rn Milli II I I I I i i n II irn?ri?. m.mi mniii
PICKENS COURT HOUSE, S. C. SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1801.
NIGHT THE DAY, THOU
NO. 5&
Home and Friends.
OI4 ! there's a power to make each hour
As sweet as heaven dcsign'd it ;
Nor need we roam to bring it Jiome,
Taough few there be that lind it.
We seek too high for things close by
And lose what nature found us;
And life hath hei'c no charms so dear
As home aitfl friends around us.
"We oft destroy thc present joy
N For future hopes-and praise them ;
"Whilst flowers as sweet bloom nt our feel,
If we'd but stoop to rai se Uh em !
For things afar ?till sweetest nrc *.
When youth's bright spell haili bound ns;
But soon we are taught the earth hath nought
Likediomcs and friends around us.
Tho friends that speed in time of need,
When hope's last reed is shaken.
Do show us still that come what will,
Wo aro not quite forsaken.
Though all we're night, if but the light
From friendship's altar crown'd us,
'Twould prove thc bliss of earth was this->
Our homo and friends around us.
MISCELLANY.
From thc Greenville Mountaineer.
From Washington
We had thc pleasure of receiving from Gov.
Perry a most interesting letter from Washing
ton of the 11th inst., for which we return him
<?ur sincere thanks. Wc learn from this, that
matters arc not so gloomy and dark, altogether,
as from the threatening of the Radicals wc
might suppose. Governor Perry heard tho
opinion expressed, and Com lng too, from very
hjgh authority not likely to be mist?ken,~that
'* there was au undercurrent at work which
was crumbling to pieces the IV di cal party,
??nd tk?y would separate-that thc pr.; ,peel
was decidedly hopeful, and that the Southern
members would soon be admitted."
lt is manifest that President Joh ?son is
coming up to the highest standard of patriot
ism. On all occasions his annunciations of
sentiments, principles and policy, are worthy
of a great man, and of ari American Statesman
before the. corruption of war and civil strife
had perverted the understandings und (frowned
the little patriotism of inferior natures tn a
8*a of passion. What a noble contrast to men
of the Stevena type. Governor Perry, in
comnany with Messrs. 'Prescott njid Burt, of
this State, called on the President first on thc
10th instant. "Wc found him (says Gov.
P.) engaged with the Christian Commission,
nnd heard Jiis address to them. Ile stated
that his policy bf Government included all the
States, and that he knew no North, no.South,
no East, no West; that his religion embraced
thc whole world, and that he recognized evory
honest man as his brother." Ile had, in the
morning of thc same day, addressed the Vir
ginia Del?gHttpn in the glowing language of a
patriot and statesman. After receiving the
premise of an interview the next day, the party
retired. Thc President is " looking remarka
bly ?veil and seemed in good spirits; his man
ners arc always kind and pleasant. The Pres
ident alluded to his interview with Fred.
Douglass and his. negro committee, the day be
fore; he knew, of course, thfct the committee
had been unit to him, and he was guarded in
his language. The ultra Radicals-these po
litical Pharisees--Ire evidently watching ev
erything thc President says and does with a
view tb find something upon which to perse
cute him,'but the President is aware of their
purposes, and is equally guarded and firm.
Thoy will make nothing of capital for them
selves out of euch men as Andrew Johnson
and General Grant, if wo are to judge by pre
cedents hitherto.
It is rumored that tho President will veto
tho Freedman's Bureau Bill, and that the At
torney General and Secretary of thc Treasury
will sustain him in it; thc other members of
tho Cabinet are said to bc opposed to the veto.
Gov. Perry, with Mr. Truscott, called again
the n.?xt day after their first interview with
tho President. Whilst on this visit, Mr. Se
ward and Mrs. Daniel Webster called, and
immediately afterwards, Gov. Dennison. Post
master General.' Both the Secretaries met
thom .very oordially. President Johnson re
quested them to call on the Attorney General
and.have the United States Court for South
(parolina organized. Thia Gov. Perry was to
attend to on Tuesday last. The organization
of a Civil Court of the United States will ho
a great security to our citizens io braving ev
ery matter tried according to thc strict forms
and rules of established law, with, the right
icidcnt of appeal to the Supreme Court of
the United States.
Gov. Perry alludes to tho novel condition
of the negroes in Washington. " In going to
the Capitol he was amused to see ragged, dir
ty, black, lazy negroes, sauntering over the
buildings, taking their seats in the galleries,
and diffusing through tho heated atmosphere
of the House and Senate all the odors of Af
rica's villainous compound." Having official
business with the Secretary of War, Gov.
Perry called on that officer, and it was satis
factorily arranged. " Ilefound the Secretary
very kind and obliging-particularly so."
" Since grim visaged war has smoothed his
wrinkled front," it is but meet, it seems to us,,
that his ireful agents should conform their
tempers to the more placid mood of that terri
ble god. The Secretary and great Generals
of the United States appear to bo adjusting
their features to correspond with the times,
and are beginning to speak smooth things, and
arc more civil than tho civilians " so-called,"
Stevens, Sumner, ct id omnc (/oms.
Thc speech of Reverdy Johnson, of Mary
land, delivered in thc United States Senate on
Friday', the 9th inst., Gov. P. characterizes as
a very admirable ono. The speaker "inquired
if the North was afraid to meet the South in
tellectually ?" Tho question was well put;
they oannot be afraid of the Smith numcrical
ly. There are too many Radicals, alas, capa
ble of defying renson and knowledge, and they
need not fear Intellect. Reverdy Johnson was
to present the credentials of Gov. Perry to the
United States on Tuesday last ; what action
may bc taken, will soon bc known.
The most interestinir information, immedi
ately to this State, is ibo statement made to
frcv. Perry hy thc President, that tho Slate
Works at Greenville, and the Gas Works in
Charleston, lately seized by the Treasury
Agents for the United States, would be given
up. This would, be a great relief and benefit
to the people of South Carolina, and the Treas
ury of tho General Government would realize
comparatively an insignificant sum by carrying
out their proceedings against thc property.
Wc have taken the liberty of giving the
substance of thc information contained in the
letter of Gov. P. to one of the Editors, adding
a few observations and comments of our own.
We know our readers will be graiiCcd at the
opportunity of hearing from the seat of Power
in this country through a source so intelligent,
and every way reliable.
Freedmen's Contracts.
Wc publish below for the information of
planters find the public generally the form of
contract as arranged and approved by General
H. IC. Scott, successor of General Saxton as
Assistant Commissioner in this Department
of the Freedmen's Bureau. The following is
a copy :
HEADQ'RS, ASSUST'T. COMMISSIONER '
BURKAU REFUGEES, FREEDMEN AND I
ABAN'ED LANDS, SOUTH CAROLINA, (
Charleston, S. C., Feb. 5, 18GG.
[CIRCULAR, NO. 3.]
The following form of Contract is published,
for the information of the public :
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, ) (
DISTRICT OE-. j .
Articles of Agreement made and cnterod
into this- day of-, 1866,
by and between-and the Freed
men and women whoso names are hereunto
attached :
I.1* The said Freedmen and Women agree to
hire their time and labor on thc plantation of
thc said-from tho date of signing
this agreement to the first day of January,
1867. They agree to conduct themselves
honestly and civilly, to perform, diligently
and faithfully, all such labor on said plantation
as may bc connected with, and necessary for,
thc raising, harvesting and protecting of the
crop. 'The 'said freedmen further agree to
bring no ardent spirits, at any time, upon tho
plantation ; also, not to invite visitors upon
the premises, or absent themselves from the
same, during working hours, without tho con
sent of tho employer or his agent.
. II. The said freedmen agree to perform rea
sonable dnily tasks on said plantation, and, in
all cases, when such tasks canngt be assigned,
they* ogroc to labor diligently ten hours per
day, unless the weather be such as to actually
forbid labor, or the employer or bia agent ex
cuse tlyjtn from work. In either case, no de
duction for loss of time shall bc made.
III. For every day's labor lost by absence,
except for reasons stated above, tho laborer
shall forfeit fifty cents. If absent more than
three days without leave, unless it bc on ac
count of sickness or ottyer unavoidable cause,
to be subject to dismissal from the plantation,
and forfeiture of his or her share of the crop,
such forfeiture to inure to the benefit of the
employer and employees, in proportion to their
relative shares of the crop. The employer,
howovor, shall, in all such cases, pay the party
dismissed, five dollars per mouth for full hands,
and others in proportion, for such time as said
party may have worked on the plantation, de
ducting therefrom any advance that may have
been made by the employer, cither in money,
or provisions which were to have been ac
counted for. If the party so dismissed have
a family on the same plantation, the wages
due him or her shall be paid by the employer
to tho family?
IV. ?Said freedmen agree to take good care
of all utensils, tools and implements used on
the plantation ; also, to bc kind and gentle to
all work animals used for raising thc qrpp j
also, to pay for any injury done to either the
animals or farming tools w1 ile in their bauds,
and by rensou of their own carelessness or
neglect.
V. ?They agree to keep their houses and
garden'plats in a neat and orderly manner,
and subject to tho inspection of the employer
or his agent at any time.
VJ. In case of sickness among any of thc
families of the employees, a nurse shall be
furnished from their own number; also, a
stock-uiindcr, if necessary, for til? working
animals ; and no labors so performed shall im
pair their iuterest in the crop.
VII. .Thc employees agree to furnish, from
their own, number, a foreman to be selected
'by thc Wu>poyer br lils agent, who sholl direct
their labors, and shall make report, to the em
ployer or his agent, of all absences, refusal to J
work, or disorderly conduct of the employees.
Thc report of t]>e foreman shall bc read over,
at the end of each week, in thc hearing of the
people.
VIII. Tho employer agrees toTurnish each
laborer and his family, if he have one, with
comfortable quarters on the plantation; also
half an aero of ground to each head of a fami
ly, and a quarter of an acre to all others, for
their own use, and the privilege of getting
fire wood, and animals to haul the same, from
some portion of the premises to be indicated
by thc employer or his agent; and each labor
er shall be permitted to raise such an amount
of poultry/and hogs as he can keep upon the
premises assigned to him, without injury or
annoyance to others.
IX. The employer agrees to furnish a suf
ficient number of working animals, aud to feed
them ot fois own expense, and all necessary
wagons, carts, ploughs and such other farming
implements as cannot bc made by the laborers.
X. Neither party shall sell or usc any por-'
tion of the crop Until after the division of the
same, without the consent of thc other party.
XI. Thc crops shall be divided as follows :
To thc employees, one-third of thc corn, pota
tocs,*poas, rice, and nil other produces gath
ered and prepared for market; also, one-third
o? thc cotton when ginned, and seed from the
same.
'XII. Thc employees shall not be compelled
.to work upon, nor shall there be any deduction
of wages made for the following holidays :
Fourth of Jilly, Christmas, New Years, Na
tioiral and State Thanksgiving and Fast Days,
unless thc work desired to be done is a work
of necessity or mercy. Only half a day's work
on Saturdays will be required of female em
ployees who arc heads of families.
XIII. The employer or his agent will keep
a book, in which bc shall enter all advances
in money made by him to the laborers, and all
forfeitures of lost time, which book shall be
received as evidenco in.the same manner as
merchants' books are now received in courts
of justice. Each employee ashall bc entitled
to a pass-book, in which thc employer, or his
agent, shall make nn entry of all advances of
money or rations, and all absences or delin
quencies,
Witness our hands, &o.
The foregoing is- recommended for general
adoption, and will be approved by all Officers
and Agents of this Bureau.
By order of Brig. Gen. II. K. ?CQTT,
Assistant Commissioner.
W. H. SMITH, A. A. General.
HUMILITY is the high road to honor.
?
Reasons for Looking Pretty.
There are good reasons why wo should al
ways appear as well as possible. " Taking into
consideration tho strong cfFcct exterior things
produce upon thc mind, it becomes a necessi- #
ty, if we desire happiness. That is generally
conceded to be the chief object of life ; thpro
forc, it is well to obserYe thc things most cal
culated to produce such a result.
A consciousness of looking well, being
dressed in good taste, and consequently pleas
ing to the eyes of those by whom wc are sur
rounded, produces an effect for ourselves as
pleasant. We feel nice-iee that others ap- .
preciate us, and our hearts warm with a glow
of satisfaction which sends light to the eye and
lip in genial smiles. The atmosphere about
us is pervaded with a presence of joy. It is
the thrill of "angels breathing upon human
lips," which purify us from discontent and
?lie weariness which arises out of dis?ontont
mcnt.
Tho effect upon thc spirits of a dark or
bright dsry is unmistakable. As unmistakable
is the effect of our surroundings where ever
wo chance to be. Our sensitiveness to exte
rior influences renders us happy, depressed or
miserable, according to the degree of beauty
about us. In a pleasant, airy, well furnished
room, we grow cheerful. In a dark gloomy
one, we arc depressed. A smiling face charms
us to forgetfulness of many ills, while a sober
one makes us remember them so vividly, wo
are opt to grow morbid and exaggerate them.
In the tout ensemble of a man or woman
dress, features and expression-we instantly
infer either for or against-pleasant or un
pleasant. The surroundings speak for tho
taste and habits of a person almost alwajs un
erringly. Tho dress is . a part of these, and
tho most important wo moy say- v Expensivo
dress is not essential. It is the color and fit
ness that gives it character. Elegance and
beauty consist in its tasteful arrangements, by
contrasts or harmonies; and in accordance
with ourselves and those by whom we are sur
rounded.
Let us, thon, try to look-well-dress with
taste; surround ourselves with pleasing ob
jects-bo happy ourselves; and make others
as happy as we can.
HIGH PRICES AND THEIR CAUSE.-Prices
will never again be as low as they once were.
We say never, for, if the National debt were
paid to-morrow, if all the war taxes were abol
ished, and thc currency reduced so as to de
stroy the premium on gold, still prices would
bc higher than they were ten years ago. Gold
itself is inflated. Since the discovery of gold
in California and Australia, about seventeen
hundred million dollars worth of gold has been
added to the world's stock of that metal, to
say nothing of thc product of the silver mine?
of Ncveda, which is immense. This mart of
n?w gold and silver is now sufficient to affect
prices all over the world ; and accordingly we
hear complaints from London, Paris, Berlin,
and Petersburg, that it costs more to live in
those capitols thanwever before. All the labor
and capital expended in getting that gold and
B?vcr froni thc bowels pf the earth we regard
i ns mere waste ; the only effect of it being to
oblige us to pay an ounce and a quarter of
gold for what could be formerly purchased for
an ounoe-which is no advantage, but a dis
advantage. Gold being only a representative
of value, a small quantity would answer the
purpose of commerce as woll ns a large. That
ifs past praying for, however. Gold is inflated;
let us not aggravate this evil, which we can
not help, by an inflation of thc currency, which
we can. The superabundance of gold in the
world will make it easier for us to return tu
the gold standard.-Louisville Journal.
MURRELL REDIVIVUS.-It is stated that
a regular organized.band of thieves has been
formed between Tupelo, Miss., and Fort Pil
low, on the plan of John A. Murrell's gang,
which bxisted all through the Southern coun- .
try several years ago. They have relay posts
every twelvo miles, and when a horse is stolon
at either terminus of thc linc, he is ridden
rapidly to tho first post by one rider, who pro
cures another horse and returns, rind is there
fore never absent long enough to create sus
picion as to himself in the neighborhood from
which the horse is stolen. One of tho gang at
tho next post takes tho stolon horse on to tho
stand beyond, and so to the end of the line,
where he is-sold, being sufficiently removed
by this time. from' the vicinity where he iv
known to avoid discovery.
? y . ... ? \ /. -f.

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