Newspaper Page Text
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&
POETRY.
Prayer.
Privyer is thc iuceuso of tlie soul,
The o?lor of the flower,
Aiul rises ns thc waters roll
To Ood's controlling power !
Witina the soul there would not he
This infinite desire
To whisper thoughts in prayer to T ce,
Hadn't thou uo lit tho lire.
Prayer is the spirit sponuing Irr?th
To Thee, whose love divine
Steals gently down like dew to soothe,
Or like tho sunbeams shine ;
For in tho humblest soul that lives,
As in the lowliest flower,
Tho dew drop back Mis imago gives.
The soul reflects his power!
At night, when all is hushed and still,
And e'en PO l echo bleeps,
A still small voice doth o'er me thrill,
And lo each hear? throb leaps ;
Il is the spirit pulse which bents.
Forever deep nnd true,
The atom with its Author meets,
As sunlight greets the dew !
jp o L ? T i ? IK lET !
THE FREEDMAN'S BUREAU BILL.
Section 1. That thc Act to establish a Bu
reau fur thc relief of freedmen and refugees,
approved March third, eighteen hundred and
sixty-five, shall continue ill force for the term
of two year? from and after the passage of this
Act.
Sec. 2. That the supervision ao l care of
a*id Bureau shall extend to all loytil refugees
and freedmen, so far as the same bhall bc neces
sary to enable them as speedily as practicable
to become self-supporting citizens of the Uni
ted States, and to aid them in making thc
freedom conferred by proclamation of thc
Commander-in-Chief, by emancipation under
the laws of tho States, sud by constitutional
amendment, available to them and beneficial
to the Republic.
Sec. JV. That the President shall, by and
with tho advice and consent of thc Senate,
appoint two Assistant Commissioners, in addi
tion to those authorized by the. Act to which
this is an amendment, who shall give like
bonds and receive thc same annual salaries
provided iu said Act, and each of the Assist
ant Commisioners of the Bureau shall have
charge of one district containing such refugees
or freed moil, to be assigned him by thc Coin
missioner, with thc approval of tho President.
And thc Commissioner shall, under thc direc
tion of thc President, and so far tis the same
shall be. in his judgment, necessary for the
efficient and economical administration td' thc
affairs of the Bureau, appoint such agents,
elbrks, and assistants as may be reqi '""d for
the proper conduct of the Bureau, .a, .. ry
officers or enlisted men may bc detailed for
service and assigned to duty under this Act ;
and the President may, if in his judgment
safe and judicious so to do, detail from the
army all the officers and agents of this Hu
reau ; but no officer so assigned shall have in
crease of pay or allowances. Knell agent or
clerk, not heretofore authorized by law, not
being a military officer, shall have an annual
salary of not less than five hundred dollars nor
more than twelve hundred dollars, according
to the service required of him. And it shall
be thc duty of the Commissioner, when it can
be done' consistently with public interest, to
appoint, as assistant commissioners, agents
and clerks, such men as have proved their
loyalty by faithful service in thc. armies of the
Union during the rebellion. Anti all persons
appointed to service under this Act, and the
Act to wdiich this is nu amendment, shall be
so far deemed in tho military service of the
United States ns to be under the military ju
risdiction and entitled to the military protec
tion of thc Government while in thc discharge
of thc duties of their office.
Sec. 4. That officers of tho Veteran Re
serve Corps or of thc volunteer service, now
on duty in the Freedmen's Bureau ns Assist
ant Commissioners, Agents, Medical Officers,
or in other capacities, whose regiments or corps
have been or may hereafter bc mustered but
of sorvice, may be retained upon snob duty ns
officers of said Rurcnu, with tho same compen
sation as is now provided by law for their rc
spcotivo grades ; and tho Secretary of War
shall havo power to fill vacancies until other
ofiioers can bc detailed in their places without
detriment to the public service.
Sec. 6. That tho second Rection of thc Act
to whioh this is an amendment shall bs deemed
to authorize tho Secretury of War to issue
suoh medical stores or other supplies and trans
portation, und of?ordsuoh medical or other aid
ss may bo needful for' the purposes named in
t?aid section : Provided, Tnnt no person shall
he deomod " doslituto," " suffering,'1 or de
pendent up the Government for support,"
within tho moaning of this Act, who is able to
find employment, and could, by proper indus
try or exertion, ?void suoh destitution, suffer
ing, or dependeooo.
.Sue. G. Whereas by the provisions of an
Act approved February sixth, eighteen hun
dred and sixty-three, entitled "ob Aot to
Hiiiend nu Act entitled ' an Act for the collec
tion of direct taxes in insurrectionary districts
within tho U.iitcd Stntcs, und for other pur
pose?,' approved June seventh, eighteen hun
dred and sixty-two," certain lands in the Par
ishes of Saint Helena and Saint Luke, South
Carolina, were bid in by thc United States at
public tux sales, and by thc limitation of said
Act the time of redemption of said lauds hus
expired ; and, whorens, in accordance with
instructions issued by Pr?sident Lincoln on
the 16th day of September, eighteen hundred
and sixty-three, to the United States Direct
Tax Commissioners fur South Carolina, cer
tain lands bid in by the United States in thc
Parish of Saint Helena in said State, were, in
part, sold by the said Tax Com missioners to
" heads of families of the African race" in
parcels of not more than twenty acres to each
purchaser; and, whereas, under thc said in
structions the said Tax Commissioners did
also set apart as "school-farms" certain par
cels of land in said Parish, numbered on their
plats from one to thirty three, inclusive, ma
king an aggregate of six thousand acres, HW
or less : Therefore, be it further enacted,
That thc sales made to " heads of families of
thc African race," under the instructions of
President Lincoln to thc United States Direct
Tax Commissioners for South Carolina, of date
of September sixteenth, eighteen hundred and
sixty-three, are hereby confirmed and estab
lished ; and all leases which have been made
to sueh " heads of families" by said Direct
Tux Commissioners shall bc changed into cer
tificates of sale in all cases w herein the lease
provides for such substitution ; and all thc
lands now remaining unsold which conic with
in the said designation, being eight thousand
acres, more or loss, shall bc disposed of accord
ing to said instiuctions.
Seo. 7. That all other lands bid in by thc
United States nt tax sales, being thirty-eight
thousand acres, more or less, and now in the
hands of thc said Tax Commissioners ns the
property of tho United States, in thc Parishes
of St. Helena nnd St. Luke, excepting tho
"school farms," as s peel fled in the preceding
section, and so much as may bc necessary for
military and naval purposes at Hilton Head,
Day Point, and Land's lind, and excepting
also the city of Port Royal, on St. Helena
Island, and thc town of Beaufort, shall bc dis
posed of in parcels of twenty acres, at ono dol
lar and fifty cents per acre, to such persons,
and to such only, us have acquired and are
now occupying lands under and agreeably to
tho provisions of General Sherman's special
Held order, dated at Savannah, Georgia, Jan
uary sixteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty
five, and the remaining lands, if any, shall bc
disposed of in like manner to such persons as
had acquired lands agreeably to the said order
of General Sherman, but who have been dis
possessed by the restoration of the. same to
former owners: Provided, That the lands
?old in compliance with thc provisions of this
and thc preceding section shall not be a)inha
led bj .heir purchasers within six years from
and after thc passage of this Act.
See. S. That thc "school farms" in thc Par
ish of St. Helena, South (.la roi i na, shall bo
sold, subject to any leases of the same, by the
said Tax Commissioners, at public auction, on
or before thc first day of January, eighteen
hundred and sixty seven, nt not less than ten
dollars per acre; and the lots in thc city of
Port Hoynl, as laid down by thc said Tax
Commissioners, and thc lots and houses in thc
town of Boliufort, which arc still held in like
manner, shall be sold at publicauction ; and thc
proceeds of said sales, after paying oxpenses
of the surveys and sales shall bo in vested in
United States bonds, thc interest of which
shall be appropriated, under thc direction of
the Commissioner, to tho support of Behool."
without distinction of color or race, on thc
islands in the Parishes of Saint Helena nnd
Saint Luke.
Sec. I). That thc Assistant Commissioncrf
for South Carolina and Georgia arc hereby au
thorized to examine all claims to land in theil
respective States, which arc claimed under tin
provisions of General Sherman's Special Fielt!
Order, and to givo each person having a valid
claim a warrant upon tho Direct Tax Com
missioner for South Carolina for twenty acm
of land, and thc said Direct Tax Commission
crs shall issue to every person, or to his 01
her heirs, but in no case to any assigns prc
scnting such wnrrnnt, a lease of twenty acrei
of land, as provided for in Section 7, for tin
term of six years; but nt any time thereafter
upon the payment of a sum not exceeding om
dollar and fifty cents per acre, tho person hold
i og such lease shall bo entitled to certificat
of sale of said tract of twenty acres from th?
Direct Tax Commissioner or such officer n
may bo authorized to issue thc same; but ni
warrant shnll be hold valid longer than tw
years after tho issue of tho same.
Sec.10. That tho direct Tax Commissioner
for South Carolina are hereby authorized an?
required, at tho oarliest day praofioablo, t
survey tho lands designated in sootion 7 int
I lots of twenty acres cooli, with proper mete
1 and bounds distinctly marked, 60 that th
severa] tracts shnll be convenient, iu form, !
nod as uear as practicable bave un average of
fertility and woodland ; and thc expense of
such surveys shall be paid from thc proceeds
of sales of saids land, or, if sooner required, ;
out of any moucys received for otho hindson ?
these islands, sold by tho United States for
taxes, and now in the bonds of thc direct Tax
Commissioners.
Sec. ll. That restoration of the lands now
occupied by persons under General Sherman's
I special field order dated ut Savannah, Georgia,
January sixteenth, eighteen hundred and six
] ty-fivc, shall not bc made until thc crops of
the present year shall hayo been gathered by
thc occupants of suid lands, nor until a fair
compensation shall have been mude to them
by tue former owners of said linds, or their
tegul representatives, for all improvemuts or
betterments erected or constructed thereon,
and after due notice of the same being done
shall have been given hy thc Assistant Com
missioner,
Sec. 12. That the Commissioner shall have
power to seize, bold, uso, lease or sell all
buildings and tenements, and any i lids ap
pertaining to thc same, or otherwise, held un
der claim of title by thc lutoso called Confede
rate States, and any buildings or lands held in
trust for thc same by any person or persons,
and to use thc same or appropriate thc pro
ceeds derived therefrom to the education of
the freed people ; and whenever the Bureau
shall cense to exist, such of thc late so called
Confed?rate States as shall have made pro
vision for thc education of their citizens with
out distinction of color shall receive the sum
remaining unexpended of such sales or ren
tals, which sholl bc distributed among said
Slates for educational purposes iii proportion to
their population.
Sec. 13. That thc Commissioner of this
Bureau shall at all times co-operate with pri
vate benevolent associations of citizens in aid
of freedmen, and with agents and touchers duly
accredited and appointed by them, and .shall
biro or provide by lease buildings for.purposes
of education whenever such association shnll,
without cost to the Govcrn<tK.ut, provide suita
ble teachers and moans tit instruction } and
be ?ball furnish such protection as may bc re
quired for the safe conduct of such.schools.
Seo. l-l. That in every State or district
whore t he ordinary course of judicial proceed
ings bus been interrupted by thc rebellion,
and until thc same shall bc fully restored, and
in every State or district whose constitutional
relations to the Government have been prac
tically discontinued by the rebellion, and un
til such State shall have been restored in such
relations, and shall be duly represented in tilt
Congress of thc United States, the right tr
make und enforce contracts, to sue, be parties,
and give evidence, to inherit, purchase, lease,
sell, hold, and convey real und personal prop
orly, and to have full and equal benefit of all
laws and proceedings concerning personal lib
ci ty, personal security, and acquisition, enjoy
mont and disposition of estate real ?md per
sonal, including the constitutional right t(
bear arms,.shall bc secured to and enjoyed bi
all tho citizens of such State or district with
out respect to race or color, or previous eondi
tion of slavery. And whenever in cither o
said States or districts the ordinary course o
judicial proceedings has been interrupted b;
the rebellion, and until thc same shall bc fui
ly restored, and until such State shall huv
been restored in its constitutional relations t
thc Government, and shall be duly represente
in the Congress of thc United Stnles, thc Presi
dei)' shnll, through tho,Commissioner und th
officers of the Bureau, and other such rule
and regulations as thc President, through th
Secretary of War, shall prescribe, extend mi
itnry protection and havo military jurisdiot'o
over all cases and questions concerning
free enjoyment of such immunities and rig
und no penalty or punishment for any vioh
tion of law shall bc imposed or permitted bi
cause of race or color, or previous conditio
of slavery, other or greater than thc ponnlt
or punishment to which whito persons mn
be liable by law for thc liko offence. But tl
jurisdiction conferred by this section upo
the. officers of thc Bureau shall not exist i
any State where thc ordinary course of jud
cir?l proceedings has not boen interrupted I
rebellion, and shall cease in every State who
tho Courts of thc State and thc United Stat
are not disturbed in the peaceable course <
justice, and ofter snob State shall be fully r
stored in its constitutional relations to tl
Government, and shall ho duly represented
the Congress of tho United States.
Soo. If). That all officers, ugo nts, emplo
eos of this Bureau, boforo entering upon tl
duties of their omeo, shall tako thc oath pf
soribed in tho first section of the Act
which this is an amendment ; and all Ac
or parts of Acts inconsistent with thc provi
ions of this Act aro hereby ropcoled.
Letter from Seoretary Seward on the Phi
adelphia Convention.
Tho following important lettor has jv
been made publ?o ? . '
DEPAUTMENT om STATE, )
Washington, July ll, 1866. j
Sir: Excuse tn? for esprmiug eufpri
.
timi you ask mc whether I approve of the call
of a proposed National Union Convention at
Philadelphia. After more than live years of
dislocation hy civil war, I regard a restoration
of the unity of thc country its most immedi
ate as well as its most vital interest. That
restoration will he complete when loyal men
arc admitted as Representatives of thc loyal
people of the eleven States so long unrepre
sented in Congress. Nothing but this can
complete it. Nothing more remains to be
done, nnd nothing more is necessary. Kvory
day's delny is attended by multiplying and in
creasing inconveniences, embarrassments, and
dangers, at home and abroad. Congress pos
sesses the power exclusively. Congress, after
a session of seven months still omits to exer
cise that power. What can be done to in
duce Congress to act ? This is tho question
of the day. Whatever is done must bo done
in accordance with the Constitution and laws.
It is in perfect accordance with the Constitu
tion and laws that thc people of thc United
States shall assemble by delegates in Conven
tion, and that when so assembled they shall
..uldress Congress by remonstrance; in d that
the people in their several States, Districts
and Territorios shall approve, sanction and
unite in such respectful representations to
Congress.
No ono party could do this effectually or
even seems willing to do it, alone No local
or popular organization could do it effectually.
Il is thc interest of all parties alike, of *all
the Stales, and of all sections-a national in
terest-the interest of thc whole people. The
Convention, indeed, may not succeed in indu
cing Congress to act : but if they fail thc at
tempt can make matters no worse. It will bo
a lawful and patriotic attempt made in the
right direction-an effort to be remembered
with pi ide and satisfaction whether it succeed
or fail. The original union of thc States was
brought about by movements of the snmc char
acter. The. citizen who objects to the conven
tion is bound to propose a bi tter plan of pro
ceeding to effect the desired end. No other
plan is offered, or even thought of. Those
who should oppose it would seem to me to
manifest?t best unconcorn, if not opposition,
to all reconstruction, reorganization and re
conciliation between thc alienated masses of
thc American people.
To admit that thc convention will fail, would
be to admit that the peaplc of the United
States are deficient in either wisdom or the
virtue necessary to continue thc existence of
tho Republic. I believe no such thing. A
great political writer soys that government is
a secular religion, and that the people of every
country are divided into two classes, each
maintaining a distinct political faith. Thc
one class always fearing the very worst that
can possibly happen, and the other hopes, un
der every circumstance, the very bcht that can
possibly happen. Without accepting this
theory as absolutely true, I think that all men
do generally act from a motive to guard against
public danger, or else from a positive desiri
to do good. Doth classes may, therefore, favoi
the present attempt to restore the unity of thc
nation. I am, sir, your ob't. t orv't.
WM. II. SBW?HD.
lion. J. R. Doolittlo, Chairman Kxcoutivi
Committee.
Relief to Debtors.
We observe that meetings have recently
been held in several Districts of tho State, ti
give expression to public sentiment on tin
subject of tho late Stay Law and thc decisiot
of its unconstitutionality by the highest judi
cial tribunal in tho State, and to inaugurati
some system of relief to debtors under th
perilous circumstances by which they are sm
rounded.
If relief is within thc power of tho people
cither through the State Legislature or a Stat
Convention, these public demonstrations ar
perhaps proper and should be encouraged.
If, on tho other hand, tho people of Sout!
Carolina arc absolutely powerless in tho pren)
iscs and have no control over the subject mal
ter under consideration, then these publi
moetings will doubtless do harm, by cncoui
ing a belief that relief is at hand, when no ri
lief is possible For it is obvious that if i
be not possible to relieve tho debtor from th
terms of the contract by which bc voluntaril
bound himself, thc sooner this uuplcasat
truth is realized tho better, so that debtor un
creditor may make such arrangements as wi
subsorvc thc interest of both.
Now, the true, and the only practical que
tion ia, whether relief is within tho power <
thc people of thc State ?
More than six months ngo, when " repud
ntion" was tho all-absorbing publio topio, w
endeavored to show, in nn nrtiolo prepart
with somo care, that a certain provision in tl
Constitution of tho United States was an i
superable barrier to tho wild project, so gc
orally entertained, of a repudiation of all pi
vate contracts. That instrument, which bo
remembered, is tho supremo law of tho lan
says that no Stato shall pass a law impairit
tho obligation of contraots. This provisii
was no doubt maturely oonsidered ?Dd wit
ly inserted by our forefathers, with a view
romov o from the reach of the Ptut* ? teni
tation, which, under extraordinary circum
stances, (like the present) they might be in
duced to fall into, bv interfering with tho
sanctity cf contracts between man and man.
! Thc Court of Errors, thc highest judicial Tri
bunal in thc State, has decided that thc late
i Stay Law belongs to thc class of laws inter
dieted by the Constitution of tho United
States, and upon that ground, and that alone,
! they have declared it to be inoperative and
j void.
I Now with this experience and these ftiets be
I fore us, seeing that we are the dependents of a
j Government, one of thc constitutional rcquirc
I incuts of which, is that no State shall pass a
j law to change or impair thc obligation of con
I tracts, is it not. sheer nonsense to talk of the
j State Legislature, or Convention, affording u
I remedy, cither by " repudiation" by " sca
S ling debts," or by extending thc time for their
j collection ?
Let those who are clamorous fora meeting
of the Legislature, seriously reflect whether
that body can devise a law that would bc con
stitutional. The measures which wc have
heard suggested, such as closing thc Circuit
Courts, abolishing the office of Sheriff, &o,
nre revolutionary in their character and can
not commend themselves to the mind of any
sane or prudent in.li vidual.
In our judgment there is but one way-ono
hope of escape from the difficulties by which
we arc surrounded, and that is, to face our
troubles with manliness and hope, practice for
bearance, toward each other, deal honestly with
those whom wc owe, and trust thc futuro to
Providence.
The popular clamor, the harangues of pub
lic speakers and newspaper editors, on tho
subject of referring this grave question to tho
people, can only result in mischief. It has al
ready had tho effect to unsettle credit, and, if
persevered in, will drive out capitalists und
money from the country. No man will feel safe
in lending money, even to bis nearest neigh
bor, while public sentiment manifests a want
of appreciation of moral obligation. Hones
ty of purpose is far thc best policy in the end,
and if all arc actuated by this feeling, much
! of the trouble nud difficulty which tho futuro
promises, will be obviated.
Let a good feeling bc engendered between
debtor and creditor. It is tho interest of
both to ask and grant concessions, and if left
to themselves, untrammeled by the devices of
demagogues, they will no doubt make arrange
ments, more satisfactory to themselves, nud
advantageous to thc country at large than it
is possible for tho Legislature of the State to
make for them.-Lancaster Ledger.
THE AIR LINK RAILROAD.-Somo years
ago our Legislature granted a charter for tho
"Air Line Railroad," and the cnterpjisc was
characterized, in a humorous way, as " begin
ning and ending nowhere." Wc have posi
tive information to thc effect that the capital
has been subscribed, and thc road is to bo
built without delny, lt is entirely a Now
York onterpriso, intended to shorten the travel
between New Orleans and that city. Tho
route is from Atlanta, Georgia, to Charlotte,
North Carolina, in an "air line," via Ander
son Court House nnd Yorkville, S. C.
A glance nt the map will show the great
distance that will be saved ; passengers nt
Charlotte, North Carolina, instead of coming
down to Branchville, up to Augusta,' and
thence West, will save nil this travel by tho
short cut above described.
We mention this as interesting information,
and as showing what effort.? arc being made to
shorten linos of travel. Verily the days of
crooked railroads aro at an cud. Again, wo
see in this scheme thc business forethought of
New Yorkers, who ooolly put down ?5,000,.
000 to bring thc great Southwest ono day
nearer to thom.- Columbia Carolinian.
THE TRUCK I.NCI BUSINESS.-On Saturday
' last tho stoamcr George AppoM carried to
Boston from Norfolk 565 barrel, of vegeta
j hies and fruits, 745 boxes tomatoes and 4
crates of melons. In Florida a company of
1 Pennsylvania ./armers have bought lands and
aro cultivating them for thc sole purpose of
raising carly vegetables and fruit for thc North
ern markets. There is no reason why tho
planters of South Carolina may not do tho
same. Properly packed, these nrticlcs can bo
shipped and sold to immense profit in Balti
more, Philadelphia, and New York. Whilo
waiting on a crop of cotton some of our pro
ducers might with a little enterprise realizo
twice its valno, by these shipments. Wo aro
not behind tho Wost, and an idea of the im
menso productive power of the West may bo
inferred from tho products of one township.
Auburn, Gcnugn county, Ohio : Wheat, 15?
ncrcR, 2,236 bushels ; corn, 325 acres, 13,
623 bushels; oats, 265 nores, 10,810 bush
els; potatoes, 53 sores, 8,861 bushels; flax,
6 acres, 40 bushels ; 01 aores of olover yield
ed 150 tons of hay, and 2,562 acres of mead
ow produced 8,800 tons of hay. Pounds of
wool, 6,450 ; pounds of butter, 80,774 ; and
over 400,000 pounds of ohoeso. There wore
mado 65,350 pounds of sugar, and 446'gal
lons bf ayrnp.^Z'rt^frtirttfi
