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THE COUNTRYMAN.
From Savannah.—A large number of
refugees have arrived in our city, from
Savannah. From them, we gather the
annexed news :
Sherman has taken no slaves from their
masters. Those who wish to leave, do so.
Those who wish to remain, do so. Those
who remain, are taken in hand, at
once, by the military authorities, and
put to hard work, cutting wood, or dig
ging upon the fortifications.
Sherman has, several times, we are told,
openly said that neither he, nor his army,
are fighting to abolish slavery. His lead
ing officers have expressed the same opin
ion. The soldiers, also, qpenly say, tnat
if they thought they were fighting for the
negroes, they would lay down their arms,
at once. From the tone of their conver
sation, our informant was led to infer,
that, if the war should cease at once,
those who held negro property, would re
main in undisturbed possession of the
same. 4
After the city was occupied, owners of
negroes, who wished to take them from
the place, were allowed to do so. The
leading federal officers openly assert that
they wish every negro in Savannah, was
in some other locality.
Gen. Sherman continues his kind treat
ment towards the inhabitants. The rights
of the citizen are respected, and protected.
Every outrage of the soldiers, or infringe
ment of good order, is promptly, and se
verely punished.
A meeting of the negroes was held, a
few days since. They were addressed by
Mr. French, from Port Royal—one of the
men sent out from the north, to take care
of ‘ freemen.’ He plainly told them if
they had kind masters, that they would
be better off to stay with them; that
while they were in that position, they had
no troubles nor cares; but, if they left
their good homes, they would have to pro
vide for themselves—a matter which they
would find very difficult to do, under the
most favorable circumstances.
Gen. Sherman has told several of the
prominent citizens of Savannah, that he
does not wish to march his army into any
portion of Georgia, again, and that he
will not do so, unless compelled by cir
cumstances. The general further says,
that he regrets that he was compelled to
march "through Georgia ; that when At
lanta was captured, it was his intention to
advance no further into the state.
One corps of Sherman’s army has been
sent to Hilton Head, in transports. Large
bodies of troops have moved from Savan
nah, into Carolina, within the past few
days. Our informant thinks a movement
on Brarichville is intended, and, if success
ful, from thence to Columbia.
Gen. Sherman regrets being obliged to
advance into Carolina—as he fears that he
will be unable to control his troops.
The negro women, and children, who
have left their masters, are huddled to
gether in a pen, outside the town, in
want of both clothing, and food, and suf
fering from cold, and exposure. The sol
diers appear to have little, if any, sympa
thy for them, and tell them they would be
better off, if they would return where j
they came from.
Four citizens, only, have been arrested, j
on the charge of complicity with the con
federate government, but have since been
released.
No person, either white, or black, is al
lowed to pass out of the city, without be
ing examined closely.
Provost guards are stationed in every
section of the city, about a hundred yards
apart.
Only one corps of Sherman’s army is
quartered in the city. The balance are
on the outskirts.
Quite a number of the citizens have ta
ken the. oath of allegiance. Numerous
others have been registered, preparatory
to being sworn in.
The churches, on Sunday, have been
well filled.
The ‘Loyal Georgian’ has been dis
continued, ^for want of patronage. The
Republican is now the only paper is
sued.
But few people have, as yet,arrived from
the north. Quite a number of the resi
dents have left for New York.
The oath of allegiance is only request
ed of those persons who wish to go into
business. We are told the substance of
it is this: ‘I solemnly swear, and affirm,
that I will obey all laws passed by the
congress of the United States, and will,
also, obey all proclamations issued by the
president of the United States, which are
legalized by a decision of the Supreme
Court.’—Chronicle & Sentinel.
Good Night.—To Inez.
Good night, my love, good night,
May soft repose thy couch attend:
May fairy beings, hovering there,
When midnight’s holy hour is near,
With thy sweet spirit blend.
Good night, my love, good night;
The stars shall watch thee as they shiDe,
And if thy happy soul should roam,
During its visions, may it come
And stay awhile with mine.
J. A. C.
Gen. Lee’s Body Guard.
Camp near Orange C. H., Va.,
Dec. 22nd, 1864.
„ Cheek Up.—“ The Columbia Guardian
says: We read a dispatch, two days ago,
from President Davis to a gentleman of
this city, in which he .says^ that he will
use every effort to defend, and protect
South Carolina, and that he loves her as
much as the yankees hate her. We are
much encouraged by these declarations of
the president, as we believe them to be
sincere, and lo signify a great deal. We
beg our down-hearted readers (if we have
any) to remember % that the safety of South
Carolina is now the safety of Richmond,
and the government itself. We are thus
identified with all that claims the protec
tion of Gen. Lee’s army. Surely, that is
a tower of strength upon which to rely.
Meanwhile, every hand to its work, every
man to his post. We live not for our
selves, but for country, and duty, for truth,
and God.”
Response to Seward.—The Times pub
lishes a letter from Lord Wharncliffe, in
response to Mr. Seward’s refusal to allow
the Liverpool Bazaar Fund, to be distri
buted to southern prisoners. Wharn»
cliffe quotes northern papers to disprove
Mr, Seward’s statement, that the prison
ers were not suffering unusual privations.
He denies that the funds were mainly con
tributed by those trading with the south,
saying the movement was almost entirely
carried out by southern ladies in England,
and that the refusal will n ot practically
affect the distribution of the fund. The
letter of Mr. Adams, communicating,
briefly, Mr. Seward’s refusal, is publish
ed. In it, Mr. Adams expresses regret
that he has to close the correspondence.
The Times has an editorial compliment
ary to Messrs. Wharncliffe, and Adams,
and, by inference, the reverse to Mr. Sew
ard.—Charleston Courier.
Important.—“We learn, from the. Bran
don Republican, that the government has
decided, in the case of Mr. Augustus
Spann, deceased, who was an exempted
agriculturist, that where a detail, or ex
emption was revoked, or the detailed, or
exempted party died, only a payment pro
rata, for the time the party enjoyed the
detail, or exemption, would be exacted!
This decision was elicited from the secre
tary of war, by a letter from A. G. Mayers,
Esq., on the subject of the liability of the
estate of Mr. Spann, he having died a few
months after he was exempted. We pub
lish this Act, as an important decision to
detailed and exempted agriculturists.”
A large and enthusiastic meeeting has
been held in Newnan, Ga., and adopted
resolutions condemnatory of the peace
meeting in Savannah, convened by May
or Arnold. Several speeches were made,
by prominent attendants, all endorsing
the resolutions, which were unanimously
passed. We expect to receive these reso
lutions, by the next mail, and will publish
them for the benefit, and improvement of
the public. We say improvement, from
the fact that we see so many croakers,
and disaff'ectionists to our cause. The
citizens of Newnan have given us an ex
ample, which, we sincerely hope, will be
adopted by all the true, and loyal citizens
of Georgia, and other sister states.— West
Point Bulletin.
“The New York News printed the
confederate constitution, in full, on
New Year’s day, and declared it bet
ter than the constitution of the Uni
ted States, because of its ‘clearer and
more explicit enunciation of the doc
trine of state rights.’
“They never fall who die
In a great cause: the block may soak their gorfc^
Their heads may sodden in the sun : their limbs
Be strung to city gates, and castle walls—
But still their spirits walk abroad. Tho’ years
Elapse, and others show as dark a doom,
They but augment the deep and sweeping
thoughts
Which overpower all others, and conduct
The world, at last, to freedom.”