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Jjjnmuu & Minium. _ AUGUSTA. GAT WH»*KHnAV MOHMIMU, JINK 20. Amende Honorable. In our issue of a recent date, a paragraph occurred In our Washington letter in relation to the Senators from Florida, which we are as sured did them injustice. We learn that the letter referred to by our correspondent wae written to the “Central Directory’’ solely with the view of correcting serious misstatements which had been made on oath to the Commit tee by unreliable parties, of the condition of public sentiment in Florida. We have a slight acquaintance with one of these gentlemen, and have been familiar with his history and that of bis family for many years. We think him in capable of truculence, or of yielding any of the just rights of his constituents. We feel confi dent that our usually well-posted correspond ent intended no reflection upon the character of either of the gentlemen who sigQod the let ter. Tax on Cotton. Madness seems to rule the hour at Washing ton. The Destrudimiste appear determined not only to deprive the Southern States of their j ust political position in tfie Union, but they are also bent upon the destruction of our ma terial interests. Notwithstandingthey owe the places which they occupy at Washington to the application of the great fundamental prin ciple which underlies our whole system of Gov ernment, that of equal taxation and represent ation, they continue to ignore the rights of the Southern States to the application of the same wholesome provision of the Constitution.— Without a single representation. in either branch of the Congress from eleven States of the UnloD, these disfranchised States are re quired, not only to pay equal taxes with the States which have a voice in the enactment of the laws, but by a most unfair, anti-republi can and unconstitutional system of direct and specific taxes the disfranchised States are re quired to pay one-fourth of the gross products of their agricultural industry into the coffers of the general Government. We say that the industry of the South is taxed to the extent of one fourth of its gross receipts. It is known that cotton is the great Southern Staple, In the entire South, even before the war, it is doubtful if, in addition to the cotton crop, the agricultural products were more than sufficient to feed and. clothe the laborers. No one will deny that cotton is the main product of our fields. The average price of cotton for ten years before the war was less than ten cents per pound. Since the war, prices have ruled high from cables growing out of the prolonged struggle, and which are like other effects of the struggle—daily disap pearing. Ono full crop of cotton would doubt less cause the price to fall to or near the old standard, ten cents. Gut if we assume that the present crop will bring twenty cents per pound, then the Government takes just one fourth of its value—five cents on each pound raised. 'This enormous tax is levied upon us, too, ut a time when thp whole industry of the country is paralyzed, our wealth destroyed, and our trade broken down. The South is required to pay the same general taxes which are levied upon the people of the North and West; and, Id addition to these general taxes, we are required to pay Into the treasury about fifty millions of dollars as a tax on cotton.— None of the other great agricultural products of the country are subjected to this iniquitous taxation. Tho hay, potatoes, and onions of New England, and the corn, wheat, cattle and horses of the Middle and Western States are exempt. This Is the way in which the Radicals are at tempting to win back the people of the South ern States to their former love and veneration for tho Federal Government. It gives us pleas ure to know that although we are deprived of the presenoo in Washington of those who, by the terms of the Constitution itself, we are en titled to have there to guard our interests and protect our rights, we have au able, fearless and upright advocate in the National Intelli gencer, from whoso 'columns we clip the fol lowing on this subject of taxation : The proposition to levy a tax of five cents a pound on raw cotton is the most striking com mentary imaginable on the political status of the seceded States. It is pretended that this tax will not fall on the producers. If the producers of any article can so readily escape from the burthen of a tax, why not impose a similar tax on Northern produots ? Suppose a tax equal to the pro posed cotton tax, a tax of one-fourth of the entire value of the article, be imposed on wheat. Ah, then it will be a very different thing; it will be somebody’s bull goring our ox, which will alter the case entirely. Let it be proposed to levy a tax at this rate on the wheat-growers, and we would hear infinite curses, both loud and deep. Let us observe the effect of this cotton tax of five cents a pound. It is said that the tax can lie added to the price of cotton, and thus thrown on the consumers. This is anew dis covery in finance, and if it is so easy to collect taxes at the expense of foreigners, it is re markable that it has never been before dis covered. What fixes the price of cotton ? The total demand, and the total supply. These two principles meet at Liverpool as tho great cottou market of the world, and fix the price. This demand is the demand of the whole world, and this supply is the supply of the whole world, neither of which we can regulate by our legislation. The demand being a given quantity, the question is, wbat is the supply; and to ascertain that, the amount produced in every cotton country is taken into considera tion, and the price follows as the necessary consequence. In reaching this conclusion no inquiry is made ns to the expense of producing the cotton, the amount of tax pa and upon it, or anything of the kind. The problem in order to obtain the price is, what demand, what sup ply ? If the demand is large and the supply small the price goes up; if the demand is small and the supply large the price goes down. A tax of one-fourth the price wonld fall on the producers of cotton. Uur first objections to this is that it is unjust; no such unequal taxation should ire tolerated. If the purpose be to confiscate the property of the Southern people insist that it shall be dono in a manly way, aud not by this indirection. But apart from the late insurgents, is noth ing due to the loyal element South ? But, above all, i« uotbing due to the emancipated race South ? Deep interest is pt ofessed in their welfare. Yet this proposed tax is the most fatal blow that can be aimed at them. The wages of the freedmen depend more on the price of cottou than any other cause at tho South, and yet the effect of this law is to cut off the profits of their hard toil at least one-fourth. Genially their wages are either a share of the crop, or it is entirely dependent on the pvife of cotton. If there is no regard for the white race South, at least we wonld suppose some consideration would be had for the freed people. Congress is expending $12,- 000,000 a year to keep up the Freedmen’e Bureau for the benefit of the freedmeu, aud in the next moment they propose to deprive, by unequal taxation, these poor freedmen of the fruits of their labor. Where, oh where are the humanitarians 1 Now is the time for them to speak out for the negro, whose interest* are about to be sacrificed by those who assume to be his especial friends. We will revert to this subject again. Tb« N*PTBjH2Tt Law.—me sixth section of the neutrality law of the United States, passed in 1818, which it is alleged has been violated by the Fenians in their demonstration against Canada, contains the following provisions : That if any person shall, within the territory or jurisdiction of the United States, begin to set on foot, or provide or prepare the means for any military expedition or enterprise, to be carried on from thence against the territo ry or dominions of any foreign prince or State, or of any colony, district or people, with whom the United States are at peace, every person so offending, shall be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor, and shall be fined not exceeding three thousand dollars, aud imprisoned not more than three years The editOT of the Savannah Advertiser «>w waterciellons on the streets of that city on Monday last, which were selling at $3, asch. Os course be only mm them. tovariil) lucrative-. In r.itr sue of the Bth ultimo, we took occa siou lo animadvert Rome what upon the lan guage and conduct of certain Radical presses in the North and West, in relation to the peo ple of the South, for which wo were laken to task by the Editor of the “Cincinnati Gazette.’ In a private letter to* us from the Editor of that paper, we were Informed that the lan guage then imputed to the “Gazette,” was never used by it, and further, we were inform ed that such language could not be used by his paper. We made th u necessary amende honor able, and were right glad to find the Gazette so sensible upon'soch a subject. We indulged in the hope that as this Radical sheet had evinfEd an unexpected solicitude that its posi tion should not be misrepresented, that in future Us columns would not be disgraced and polluted by the appearance of similar articles. We confess that we have been disappointed. The Gazette is determined not to be eclipsed in its mean, low, cowardly and vulgar abuse of the South, and Southern men, even by the infamous ‘’Dead Dvuft” himself. We do not wish to be led into a war of .words. We are no adept in the art of Billingsgate—have no power in the use ot fish-mariiet slang and blackguard rhetoric. We design to cultivate friendly feelings towards our brethren of the Press generally, and more particularly are we anxious that no word or act of our own shall tend to widen the breach now existing between the two sections of country. We are for peace, quiet, harmony. We desire to respect the hon est people of the North, as we wish to be re spected by them. We have indulged in no abusive epithets towards their great military chieftains. God knows that if even half the truth was told of the act* of some of them, du ring the war, it would cause the cheeks of eveu the Editor of a the “Gazette” to mantle with shame. We respect their feelings of gratitude towards their military heroes. We know that they would feel highly indignant— nuy, hurt at any personal abuse which we might heap upon them. We have attempted no such thing. We shall not retaliate when they pour their vile slime upon the noble Christian hero facile primus, facile princeps— Ruur E. Lee. Wo do not envy the heart that dictated or the pen that traced the following lines which we clip from the GazeGe of a late date : Rom. E. Lee broke his oath o£ fidelity to the Government that gave him his education, and took command of the armies which killed tens of thousands of its defenders. He has not been punished. Daac Dprgan, a former slave of Lee’s, was arrested in Boston the other day for stealing clothing and jewelry from his em ployer in that city. He was very properly locked up. Yet it is hardly fair that the great villain should escape scott free, while hi3 humble imitator in rascality should be summarily dealt with. If Isaac deserves im prisonment, what should be done with Robert? The Cincinnati Commercial answers this carping of the Gazette very pointedly as fol lows : “There are, no doubt, a good many persona in the world with no more sense than to sup pose that tho above is a smart paragraph. •Robert E. Leo Burrendorod to Lieutenant Gen. Grant on tho condition that he was not to be disturbed by the United States authorities, pro vided he returned home aud obeyed the laws. He did return home aud has obeyed the laws, and therefore, according to his agreement with Grant, be has not been disturbed. People who are whiniug iiecause ho has not been punished, are simply displaying their own ignorance, or are reproaching General Grant. They were probably very gtad of it when Leo surrender ed, and uttered no complaint about the terms, aud recognizing the fact that the rebels had thrown down their arms and dispersed, as the matter of the pith of the moment. Since the conclusion of the war they have developed a violent propensity for shedding blood. Judge Underwood, who knows very little of law, and has not much sense, was quite anxious to have the distinction ot trying luading traitors, and had a large number of them indicted. He was stopped by the Government, whose honor had been pledged by Lieut. Gen. Grant that the men included in terms of surrender should not be disturbed. It may be unfortunate that many of the Southern military leaders have have not been hanged, but tho war elosed as it did on consideration that they were to be let alone, and that’s an end of it. Crop Prospects. Georgia.— The fine weather of the last week has materially improved the condition of crops in this section. Cotton, though small and in the grass, is growing well, and the corn crop is very promising. Wheat is harvested and the result is very satisfactory. The oat crop has been unusually good. The fruit crop is a failure. On a recent trip from here to Mont gomery we scarcely saw a peach. In Aiken, near this city, which is famous for fine peaches, the crop is cut off entirely. Apple and pear trees are bearing well, but unfortunately, but little attention ha3 been paid to their culture, and the supply will not be equal to the de mand. i;he grape crop is also a failure. The following letter has been received at this office from Emanuel county : Editors ofithe Chronicle and Sentinel : Gentlemen This county was visited on the Bth instant with a fearful tornado, which did immense damage to our crops. The trees in many fields were prostrated in such number as to render it impossible to plough the crops again. Many houses were blown down, and it is feared that many of the cattle have been killed. . < The storm, I learn, was very severe in John son county, particularly in the neighborhood of Wriahtsvilie. In the latter village several houses were blown down. I have not heard of any very serious injuries to the persons of the people of the effects of Ihe storm. The cotton crop in this region was not pro mising before the storm, aud it is much less so now. We do not employ many negroes in this section ot the State, but those who have are doing pretty well. Avery good feeling exists between them and the whites, and we hear of no disturbance s or collisions between the two races. G. Texas—Thk WhsXt Crop.—Dr. Cox, who has recently returned from an extensive trip in tho wheat growing regions of Texas, Informs us th it there never was a finer prospect in the world than at this time. He says that with out some accident, three times as much will be raised this year as was ever raised in one year before, la some county—Coiin, we believe the doctor says 500,000 bushels of wheat will be for 8 lie. At the mills near Dallas, he was offered tlour at $2 per huudred pounds. This is good news tor flour-lovers, as we hope that instead of it being worth $8 per huudred, wo can soon buy it at ss. Western Texan. Kentucky.—Tho Franktort (Ky.) Union of the 4th says : We bear of a good many persons replanting their corn. A great many fields have been fur« rowed and planted over. The cold weather has rotted the com. However, if the season is favorable from this on, there is yet time to raise a good cord crop.. Extensive prepara tions have been mads for a heavy crop. More than the usual amount of ground has been planted. A great many fields of wheat have been ploughed up aud planted in corn. The effects cf a failure of the corn crop can hardly be realized. There are a great many hogs in the country; their value depends on the corn to be raised dhis year. Alabama. A young friend who has just reached home coming through the country from South Alabama, reports the crops of wheat and corn hi Autauga, Shelby, and Jefferson counties as very promising indeed, but that there is a great scarcity of present subsistence, aud farmers are feeding stock on the growing wheat. — iUul. Mississippi —The Memphis Appeal publishes the following letter from Okalouu, Miss., dated June 7 : “The rains have been unprecedented. But little chance to plow—not mote on an average than two days in a week : the consequence is that the crops are very foul. The stands are had on account of bad seed, wet weather and crawfish. The latter have been very destruc tive this year on land that lay out during the war. The prospects for com and cotton are | worse than i have ever seen in this country. ; The cot: 'n is backward, and is gettiog very j lousy Toting everything into consideration, j 1 don't think there "can be more than a half j crop oi cotton made on the land planted in this county if it should quit raining now and the weather be favorable during the rest of the season. The freedmen are doing as well here per haps as anywhere. They have a good many feuds among them-eives on account of many of the meu wanting two wives, and to quit old wives to take new ones. This is the first summer day we have had. It is quite warm. JOTTKSI FROhThE lAPITIL. [paosi OCR OWS CO TIRES POND EXT ] Washington, Sunday, June 10. There was quite a stir around the Hotels and other centres of news and gossip, last night, in consequence of a report very generally preva lent that President Johnson had yielded to the solicitations of Mr. O'Connor, and had given or ders for the release of ex-President Davis on parole, or on bail, or both. There is, as yet, no confirmation of the rumor; and it is proba bly premature. I hid a conversation yesterday morning with Mr. O’Connor. Ho appears to he very sanguine, not only that his application to have bis client set at liberty will be granted, but that it will be granted speedily. Yet, it must b 8 admitted that this is A CASE SURROUNDED BY COMPLICATIONS • la spite of all that has been said and done in Judge Underwood’s Court, it is by no means dear, so far, what Mr. Davis’ present status really is. Inasmuch as a tribunal, claiming to be a legally constituted District Court of the United States, has taken cognizance of his case and has promised (“unless Jt be otherwise disposed of in the meantime,’’) to try it in October. H 8 is said to be an ordinary civil prisoner ; but the fact that he 1? not in civil, hut in military custo dy, and subject to the power, not of the judicial but of tho executive branch of the Government, completely upsets this theory,and shows that he is now quite as much as he was on the morning of his capture, a military pris oner. If a military prisoner, he is not,entitled to bail; if a civil prisoner, his release upon pa role would be an unusual and extraordinary proceeding, borne say that he is a State pris oner, but that is a term only recognized in monarchical countries, and, under our laws and Constitution, absolutely meaningless. Mr. O’Connor seems to think that the Governmemt will release him on bail, as the simplest mode of transferring his case to the exclusive juris diction of the civil courts Altogether, it i6 one of the most puzzling politico-legal questions upon record, and the Cabinet nro in a precious stew about it. £ THE THEORY OF THE DEFENCE will be based upon the general principle of State sovereignty; and it will be contended that the right of secession, if not implied by the Constitution, was at least left an open question by that instrument. The counsel of Mr. Davis are of opinion that, if they can show that there is no express or implied denial of the right of secession in the Constitution, tho organic law of the land, then the whole charge of treason against their client necessa rily fulls to the ground. This lino of argu ment is, of course, no new ono. It has been very fully discussed, pro aud con, in every pos sible form, in the press, on the hustings, in the forum, and even from tho pulpit—before, during and since the war; but, on the occasion ot Mr. Davis’ trial, if that trial should ever take place, the profo. nd ability and acuteness of his counsel justify the expectation that it will be presented with a clearness, precision, fullness and force that will bring out all the intrinsic strength of tho dofenco. THE DECISION TO 1!B FINAL. There is a very general impression preva lent at the Soutti—especially amongst non professional people, that in case Mr. Davis should be convicted before the court by which he is to be tried at Richmond, an appeal could and would be taken to tho Supreme Court of the United States. This is a mistake. Under tho provisions of the judiciary act, a writ of error cannot he sued out in a criminal case of this character. The finding of the court at Richmond, whether it be presided overby Chase or Underwood, will be absolutely final* I* unfortunate for the dignity of the judicial ermine In America, that the statute law pre vents a case of vast interest and importance like this from being brought within either the director the appelate jurisdiction of the Su preme Court. But whatever the verdict may be, THE FATE OF THE FRIS ONER is no longer regarded hero as a debatable question. If convicted, it is almost certain he will bo unconditionally pardoned. I say this because it is well knowu that tho bitterness of those who control public opinion at the North, Including many of the leading radicals—to wards Jefferson Davis, has been very materially lessened within the last three months. This is due partly to the manly and dignified bearing of the great captive, and partly to the thun dering popular remonstrance that comes from all portions of the late Confederacy, testifying with true Southern generosity, that the guilt of the “rebel” President was that of the great people whose destinies he swayed for four long years, and who would disdain an amaesty from which their chosen chief and instrument Should be excluded. RADICAL ADVOCATES OF MERCr. It is truly marvelo us to note the complete revulsion of feeling that seems to have taken plaoe in the breasts of some of the great Radical lights, especially those who were hearty and sincere io their frantic zeal. I have already telegraphed you that Horace Greeley aud Commodore Vanderbilt have offered themselves as sureties for the appear ance of Mr. Davis whenever he may be sum moned hereafter, if the President will consont to his release. Beecher and Gerritt Smith profess also to be full of love and forgiveness for their “erring Southern brethren,” and the latter has even come out in a strong letter, advocating the immediate pardon and release of Mr. Davis, without the formality of a trial. These, however, it must be remembered, are shiuing exceptions—indue ntial, perhaps—still exceptions. The mass of the Radical poll ticians, and especially those in Washington, have lost nothing of their rooted hatred of the South. Greeley is certainly the most logical and consistent, as well as the most sensible and independent of the chiefs of his party. The gentry at the South who now put in their modest claims to have been “loyal to the old flag throughout the war” can’t fool the white coated philosopher of the Tribune. He told a friend of mine a few day3 ago that, for his own part, he was perfectly satisfied with the sinceri ty and loyalty of any brave and blood-stained rebel who had taken the oath of allegiance to the Union, since the war, but that as for the ‘‘original Southern Unionists,” he knew what their Unionism amounted to: that (using a phrase more expressive man polite) M he would not trnst one of Hum any further than he could throw a bull by the tail.” Bctterkct . Florida. At the Festival last week in Tailahassee, the Editor of the Sentinel notteed two very fine watermelons, contributed by a gentleman of Leon county. These are the earliest melons of the season. Col. Samuel Buffington, well known for his connection with a hotel bearing his name at Jacksonville, died at St. Augustine on the Ist inst, aud was bnried by the Masonic frater nity. The Lake City Press states that an alterca tion took place at Lake Butler, Bradford co., on the 2d inst., between Jacob Wells and Jessie Johnson, and during the row the latter’s father came up and stabbed Wells in th» left side, causing his immediate death. Several other persons then got mixed up in the fracas, and some five or sis were more or Jess injured. The Ocala Banner of the 6th mention- hav ing seen the first load of watermelons in that town on the day previous. REPORT OF GENERAL £T£ED3A.Si The Freedmen'- Bureau in South, Carolina, Georgia and Florida. How the Freedmen are Robbed by Bureau Agents. Difficulties in Edgefield District. Bad Conduct of the Bar can Agent at Columbia Highly Interesting Document. Augusta, Ga , Friday, June 1, 1866. Eon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of IFar.' Sir: —We have the honor to submit the following report of our inspection of the ope rations of the Freedmen’s Bureau ia the mili tary departments of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and of the condition of the freed - men’s settlements, the Sea Islands and the sea-coast, under Gen. Sherman’s order. SOUTH CAROLINA. Wo did not visit many of tho Bureau agents in this State, owing to the inaccessibility of their stations; but confined our inspections mainly to districts the headquarters of which are at Columbia, Charleston and Hamburg. The number of officers and persons employed by or attached to the Bureau in South Carolina are ; One Brigadier-General, Assistant Commis sioner of Bureau. Staff of the Assistant Commissioner.—One lieutenant'* colonel, one major, six captains, one lieutenant, one chaplain and Bureau mis sionary. On duty as Sub Assistant Commissioners of the Bureau.—One colonel, two lieutenant col onels, four majors, seven captains, six first lieutenants, one second lieutenant. On Staff Duty elsewhere than at Bureau Headquarters.—Three lieutenants. Medical Department.—Three surgeons United States volunteers, thirteen assistant surgeons. CITIZENS EMPLOYEES. Nine clerks, at average pay each per month, SIOB 33 One rental agent, at monthly pay of 75 00 One clerk, at monthly pay ot 50 00 One storekeeper, at monthly pay of 85 00 One oounseior, at monthly pay of 125 00 One Superintendent of Education, at monthly pay of 150 00 One printer, at monthly pay -of 100 00 One contract Surgeon, at monthly pay of 100 00 Twenty-five laborors, at average pay per month, 19 2 In the above list of olfican in the military service, on duty in tho Bureau in South Caro lina, brevet rank is omitted, it order that the pay of each may be determined by the rank as there 6tated. The number of freedmea to whom rations have been issued in the Department of South Carolina during each month since the Ist of December, 1805, are : ' Men. Women. Children. Total. December, 2,430 3,012 • 2,325 8,307 January. ...2,560 3,841 625 7,020 February.. 733 1.87 G 004 3,273 March 816 2,120 1,012 3.948 April 894 1,742 1,141 3^77 The number of refugees to whom rations have been issued, are : Men. Women. Children. Total. December.. 7 42 65 114 January.... 7 102 192 301 February... 30 189 247 466 Maroh 24 107 340 531 Apri1...,...48 367 431 746 It will be seen that by reference to tho abovo that Brevet Major General Scott, the present Commissioner of tho Bureau, upon entering upon the discharge of his duties, great ly re duced the issue of rations to freedmen. The supplies furnished consisted of pork or bacon, fresh beef, flour or soft bread, hard bread, corn meal, beans, peas and hominv, sugar, vinegar, candles, soap, salt and popper. The reduction of the issue of rations by Gen. Scott since taking charge of the affairs of the Bureau in South Carolina, clearly indicates in our judgment that his predecessor, Gen. Saxon, ies sued a much larger number of rations than would have been required had he pursued tho wise policy since inaugurated by Gen. Scott, of employing propier means to induce the free d men to labor, instead of encouraging them to depend on the Government for support. We think there will b 0 no necessity for the issue after the present season, if the policy of Gen. Scott is carried out. Faithful and efficient agents of the Bureau, who have confined themselves to their legiti mate functions, have been aided in the dis charge of their duties by tho citizens of South Carolina, while incompetent and meddlesome agent**, wherever located, have aroused bitter feelings and encountered opposition from the white, preople. Avery wholesome and acceptable reform in the administration of the Bureau in this depart ment, and one that will result in a considerable reduction cf its expenses, would be to discon tinue the citizen agents and instruct the miii*s tary officers ou duty in the State to perform such offices as may be required by the Bureau during its existence. It is very apparent that such employees as “Bureau Missionary,” “Bureau Counselor,’’ “Bureau Printer’’ and “Bureau Storekeeper,” can be dispensed with without detriment to either the Government or freedmen. COLUMBIA DISTRICT. The first point in South Carolina where we commenced our investigation was at Columbia. There we found Brevet Brigadier General Ely, Sub Assistant Commissioner of tho Bureau, who has charge of a district which embraces an indefinite number of counties. We were unable to obtain from him a statement of the extent of territory over which he presided, for the reason that he himself did not know the ’limits of his jurisdiction. This officer is quite ex tensively engaged in the cultivation of planta tions. His planting interest in the vicinity of Columbia required .0 much of his time that, in one instance at least, he found that ho had seriously neglected the proper duties of his office. Gen Ely stated that he was cultivating two plantations on Government account, leased by himself as Bureau Agent at a cash rent of $5,000 a year. On three other plantations he stated that he had put freedmen to work and furnished them with Government rations, which were paid for out of their crops. One of these plantations, he afterwards said, hid been rented by Wm. B. Shepley, of jbe 25th Infantry, who had beau a clerk in his office. He [Gen. Ely] had put the freedmen to work on the plantation while Shepley was away at his home, and had promised to give them one half of the crop. A delegation of freedmen subsequently call ed on us and stated that iu addition to the two plantations which Gen. Ely was cultivating on Government account, he was also planting on his own account the farms of Robert J. iner and A. M. Hunt. This detemitiou further stated that twenty-nine colored persona, men, wo men and children, suffering from the small pox, were crowded into one room, about twenty feet by. twenty-four in size, and placed on tho bare floor, with no bedding, white their only covering was the blankets they hid brought with them. These poor creatures were left in this condition several days, some of them delirious, with only one black woman to attend them, and without any nourishment but meat and bread. A number of respectable old colored people, attacked with the small pox, were thus taken from their comfortable homes and placed in this rooa to die of negiect. Oao of this delegation assured us that he called to see Gen. Ely on several different days to inform him of the suffering condition of the freedmen in tho small pox hospital, and was told on each occasion that the General could not be seen as he was absent attending to his plan tations. This negieet of duty by Gen. Ely was complained of in a letter written by Beverly Nash, a colored man, and published in a Charleston paper devoted to the interests of the freedmen. After the publication of this let ter, Gen. Ely told Nash he did not like to have such statements made about him, and wished the freedmen to get up some resolutions deny ing the truth of the allegations preferred, wtiich they refused to do. We examined a contract between a planter and freedman, which is on file in Gen. Ely’s office and herewilh forwarded. If this contract is to be regarded as evidence of the condition of the freedmen under charge of Gen. Ely, they are certainly very little better off than they were while in slavery. The system of labor established in this contract is at best 3 systom of peonage. CHARLESTON DISTRICT. From Columbia we proceeded to Charleston, the headquarters of the Bureau for South Car olina, where we met Brig. Gen. R. K. Scott, the Assistant Commissioner. We found him to beau energetic and competent officer, la boring to correct the mistakes and blunders of his predecessors, although he has been on dory but a short time, he has produced a marked change for the better in the administration of affairs of the Bureau. We called at his office for the purpose of examining the records of the Bureau,but we were informed that all the books, papers, records and documents pertain ing to the affairs of the freedmen from the es tablishment of the Bureau, and all records re lating to me administration of the Bureau in j sonth Carolina from its organization" to the J ''.me of Gen. Scott’s assuming charge of affairs, j had been carried off by Gen. Saxton, and that | be had left only a file of his own genpral orders in the oflije. Gen. Saxton gave as a reason for this proceeding that it was necessity for him to have the books and records “to make him all right at Washington.’’ In the ab sence of official documents, we were unable to institute any close examination into the conduct of the officers of the Bureau who had been on duty in South Carolina previous to Gen. Scott’s administration, and we oonld only judge ot their conduct by the condition in which we found the freedmen in those places where the policy of Gen. Saxton had been fully carried out, and where its effects were still ap parent. Reasoning from these data we are convinced that the effects of the operation of the Bureau on the. freedmen in respect to their habits and disposition to labor and support themselves, under the administration of Gen. Saxton, was exceedingly pernicious, especially on the Sea Isjands. to which we will allude fur ther in our account of the freeumen’s settle ments thereon, on the seaboard. Chaplain M. French, United States Colored Troops, Bureau Missionary and Superintendent of Marriage Relations, and Lieut. L. J. Lott, Sub-Assistant Commissioner, having charge of a freedmen’s camp at Charleston, are iu part nership with Wm. Hanchan, of Charleston, in cultivating a plantation on Edisto Island.— They furnished $1,500 in money to carry on the plantation, and are to receive half the not profit of the undertaking. They purchase supplies in Charleston, and forward them to the olantation. Chaplain French explained tu ns that in making the agreement with Wm Hanehan, he was actuated solely by a desire to assist him to furnish labor for the poor freei men; but with evep an ordinary crop, he wili not receive leas than 250 or 300 per cent, on the money advanced. When we called the attention of Gen. Scott to the planting operations of Gen: Eiy, Chap lain French and Lieut. Lott, he eviueed his disapproval of this action bf these officers. Under the guidance of Gen. Scott, the con dition of the freedmen in Charleston has been very much improved, and t§e bad feding which had grown up between the whites and blacks under the former administration is gradually wearing away. Most of the freed men are now at work and receive good wages. We visited Edgefield Court House, now the centre of the district of which Lieut. Col. Dave reaux has charge, the headquarters ot which are at Hamburg, on the Savannah river, op posite the city of Augusta, Ga. There have been a number of brutal outrages committed in this district on the freedmen, by a band of outlaws, who, through the apparent neglect cf the agent of the Bureau, or the Inability or the unwillingness of the citizens to bring them to justice, have escaped punishment, and are still at large. A number of intelligent and influential citizens in Edgefield, in conversation with us, strongly oondemned the conduct of the viilians who had murdered unoffending freedmen.— These citizens stated that the murders were committed by a band of men from the States of Texas, Kentucky and Tennessee, who had been in the rebel army, and were prevented by their crimes from returning to their respective homes, and who had taken to the road for a livelihood, and were stealing horses from white people, and robbing and murdering colored men because they were defenceless We asked the citizens why they were not ar rested by the civil authorities. Their reply was that they were in doubt as to their author ity to act—that the Freedmen’s Bureau,, with the military support, was the superior power, claiming exclusive authority to arrest and punish persons committing outrages ou freed men, and that as long as this state of things existed they were powerless to punish crimes of this character. They evinced much indig nation at what they termed the injustice of a portion of the Press in holding them account, able tor crimes aud barbarities, which they said were aa revolting to them as to any other portion of the American people, while the power to punish the perpetrators was wilhheld from them. They alßo assured us with unani mity that hereafter, although their civil Gov ernment was still partially paralyzed, every ef fort would be made to punish all persons guil ty of committing outrages on freedmen. We learned that six or seven freedmen had been murdered by the band ci outlaws referred to during the months of March and April, and although a month had eiapsed since the last of those crimes was committed, and action had been taken by Gen. Sickles, the investigation of the same was commenced by the Bureau agent only a few days since, and is now progressing at Hamburg, thirty mile3 from tho scene of the murders. We earnestly hope these murderers may be brought to justice. SEA ISLANDS. On the 13th of May we left Charleston by Bteamer, and visited first the Sea Islands on the coast of South Carolina, which have been and still are, with the islands ou the coast of Georgia, under the exclusive control of the Bureau. There are on these islands one hun dred and forty one valid possessory titles to land held by freedmen, under the order of Gen. Shermau. They encumber thirty two planta tions, situated on Jamc3, Johns, Wadmalan, and Edisto Islands. The number of freedmen now on ail the South Carolina islands is about 30,000. They form, however, but a small pro portion of the aggregate number who have occupied the islands since Gen. Sherman’s or der was issued; many of those who first came here remained on the island but a short time, and then returned to their homes on. the main land. Others who made small crops gathered them in, and left to seek more profitable em ployment. A large majority of the freedmen who still remain on the islands are in destitute circumstances. On Wadmalan and Edisto is lands, many who are cultivating lands for themselves would be compelled to abandon their crops, were it not for tho provisions furn ished by the planters. Last .»..son Govern ment rations and clothing were furnished to moat of the freedmen, who were working on their own account, with the agreement that they should afterward pay for these supplies furnished out of the proceeds of their crops, but none of the outlays thus incurred have been repaid. We found, on inquiry, that some of the freedmen raised good crops, and could easily have reimbursed the Government for the Euppties provided for them, but most of them were swindled out of ali they made by a gang of white sharpers who, pretending to he their friends, gained permission to come upon the islands and set up store!?, provided with sweetmeats, cheap jewelry aud worthless ar ticles of dress, with which they plundered these poor creatures of their hard earnings The same ciass of persons who thus defrauded the freedmen last year, have made extensive prepa rations to secure this season’s crop by the same means. We found a number of their stores on Edisto and Wadmalaw Islands, and will men tion one case where one of them is connected with a plantation as an example. This store is on a farm rented aqd cultivated by a Mr Un derwood, of Boston, Mass. Accompanied by Geu. Scott wq stopped on the plantation and investigated the condition of the freedmen thereon, working by the “task,” which is pre cisely the same manner in which their former owners worked them. The mice per task is fifty cents, which, if paid in money or its equiv alent, would be fair wages; but, in lieu of money, tickets were given them, on which was printed “Good for in provisions at our store ” These tickets were taken up by the storekeeper, with corn at $3 per bushel, and other articles at similarly oxerbitant prices There was no meat in the shop. The freed people gathered round us while we were there, an i complained bitterty of their treatment, stating that' with the wages paid them they were unable to earn enough to buy, at the prices charged, their necessary subsistence. If these freedmen were paid in money for their labor they conld escape the extortions of the shopkeeper, but with the tickets issued to them they are compelled to pay the prices charged and take whatever the shopkeeper sees fii to give them. Competition, which would great ly reduce the price of provisions, is prevented, at least on this plantation, by military orders. Mr. Tolls, on an adjacent plantation, was sell ing corn to these people at $2 per bushel, and taking Underwood tickets in payment, but he was compelled to deai3t by special order. Maj. J. E. Edwards, Sub-A:«istant Commis sioner for the Islands, stated that his atten tion had been called to some difficulty among the freedmen on Underwood’s plantation, which he had investigated and found the freednr nin fault. He therefore requited the freedmen to resume work,and notified them that if they did not do so he would arrest them. Au examination led us to a different conclusion from that arrived at by Major Cornelius. In our opinion the condition and treatment of the freedmen on Underwood’s plantation fully ju-tified them in refusing to work. Nea* the plantation rented and worked by Mr. Underwood, is one owned by Mr Jenkins, on which an opposite mode of treatment is pursued. The freed people here were work ing three days out of the week for wages fifty cents a task paid in corn at two dollars per bushel, and bacon at twenty-five cents per Jb. —and during the remainder of the week, they were allowed to cultivate for themselves as much as they could manage, the land being given them by Mr. Jenkins free of rent. On the Baynard plantation on Eaisto Island, the following circumstances were brought to cur knowledge. This farm was being culti vated by freedmen on their own account, part ly under land graDts, and partly without. On the 12th of May last, when the crops hid ail been planted and the cotton was being hoed, a man from New York named Holton, came on the farm with a squad of colored soldiers under charge af a sergeant and compelled t’ao freedmen to contract with him to cultivate the land for his benefit. What the exact terms of this contract were, none of the neodmen kuew. Some believed they were to gat a third of the crop, while others stated they wore to receive only one-fourth, aud were to pay $5 each month for the rent of their cabins Mr. Hol ton was not on the plantation at the time of our visit, and we were consequently unable to ascertain the true nature of the contract, no copy of it hiving been left with the freedmen. We called attention of the Assistant Commis sioner to tho complaints of the freedmen on this plantation, ' Chaplain. French, Bureau Missionary, and Rev. C L. Brodwali, (colored,) of Edisto Is land, stated to us that a similar occurrence had taken place on the plantation rented by a gentleman recently mustered out of the Uni ted States service, when the freedmen, after planting their crops, had been dispossessed and forcibly compelled to sign a contract, a squad of colored soidiers having been used for that purpose. Whila.on Edisto Island wo visited Mr. Ed* ding’s plantation, which is "being cultivated by freedmen exclusively, working under tho direction of one of their own number, a super intendent chosen by themselves. Here the people are apparently doing well, aud have a fair prospect of a good crop. This, however, is almost the only instance we met with on any of the Islands where the freedmen, cultivating exclusively for themselves, without the direc tion of whites, were doing even tolerably,well. We visited the plantations besides those named above on Eiisto and Wadmelaw, but mention these only as a fair index of the eou di’.ion of thiugs generally on those islands. There are no lund grants under Gen. Sher man’s order ou Port Royai Island, but the freed people ho‘d and are cultivating a consi derable portion of this island under 'ax titles. Some of them made their third crop last soar, son on these lands; but notwithstanding tho advantage thus enjoyed, they are nearly all of them now hi destitute circumstances. Their present impovished condition is attributable to the fact that their crops were purchased by Beaufort storekeeps and others at merely nominal rates, in most instances at less than a fourth oi their real value. These thrifty traders, many of whom made their advent in Beaufort with the army, purchased the Sea Island cot ton of the freedmen at ten cent3 a pound iu the seed, and have this season already secured mortgages to a large proportion of tho freed.- man’s crop—in.eoma instances even ou their lands. SAVANNAH, GA-, AND TUB ISLANDS. After visiting the South Carolina islands ws proceeded to Savannah, Ga., where we were joined by Brevet Mij Gen David Til Ison As sistant Commissioner of the Bureau for Geor gia. He aceompained us on our visit to the sea islands under his charge. Our first in vestigation was oa St. Catherine’s Island. There has been much confusion aud disorder here, occasioned by Rev. Tunis 'J. Campbell, a colored m m from Nova Scotia, who was located on ihe island by Gen. Saxton as an agent of ths Bureau. This man abolished all the sim ple rules and regulations adopted by the freed men for their own guidance, and established instead a parody of the United States Govern ment, putting himself in the position of Pres ident, and assuming in addition dictatorial powers. Under his adminstration the freed men were armed, no white man was allowed to land on the isiand, and every effort was made So stir up feelings of animosity against the white race. Among other powers assumed by Campbell he issued land grants, claiming to do so “by virtue of the authority vested in him by the President of the United States and Geu, Saxton,” and took especial care to bestow the best allotments on himeolf and relations, The conduct of this man had a most prejudi ced influence on the freedmen, and placed them for a time entirety beyond the eontiol of the Assistant Commissioner for Georgia. On his first visit to the island Gen. Tillson dis covered that prompt intervention was neces sary ’ for the interest of the freedmen thom seives, as their lands were being uncultivated, and they were not far removed from absolute want. With much difficulty he obtained a hearing from them, and succeeded in restoring order and getting them to work, and abolish* iog the absurd form of Government established by Campbell. Gen. Tillson ascertained that of the whole number of land grants on tea island, seveteen only were vaiid. These grants covered 515 acres, and were scattered all over the island. He consolidated them so as to ac* cupy one Toetiion of the island only, leaving the remainder for cultivation by the proper owners. There ate at present 625 freedmen ou this island ; of these 147 are working for Messrs. Wincherter & Schuyler of New York, who have rented a part of the Ordbury planta tion, and the remainder are cultivating land on their own account. The 147 freedmen work ing for Winchester & Schuyler have planted 531) acres of cotton and 115 of com ; the 475 freedmen working for themselves have planted only 200 acres oi cotton and 200«cres of corn. From St. Catherine's we went to Sipelo Island, which is cultivated exclusively by Messrs. Dickson is Mcßride. Thu freedmen cere are working the land for two-thirds of the crop, and, so far as we could perceive, were weii treated and cared for, and will make money if they cau be protected from the bad influences Os a bad man named , who C’.me among them last year with a permit from Cant. Ketchum, Bureau Agent, under General Saxton, bought their cotton at 10 ceuta pur pound in the seed, aud paid them mainly in whiskey. This vicious man has exerted such an evil influence over these freedmen as to make them dissatisfied with an excedingly liberal contract. On Si. Simon’s Island there are eighteen valid laud grants encumbering four plantations. There is between five and six hundred freed men on the island. Most ot whom are work ing for wages, are well led, and appear to be perfectly contented. On two of the plantations they were working without formal contracts, but we were assured by the Bureau agent that these freedmen retted confidently on being fairly dealt with by their employers. Our visit to this isiand satisfied us that the freed men there were doing exceedingly well. OUEECIiEE KIVEK SETTLEMENT. This settierneat, embracing originally several hundred freed people, the largest colony on the coast, under General Sherman’s order, was last year under tbo control of Rev Mr. Tiffany, an ageut ot the Bureau, appointed to that po sition by General Saxton. If the records kept by General Saxton were in our reach we conld, without doubt, obtain official information as to the workings of this settlement ; but in the absence oi the records we can only report such facts as are within the knowledge of General Tillson, and other officers on duty in the De partment. On taking charge of this settlement, Mr. Tiff'ioy hired twenty-five freedmen as a guard, armed witn United States muskets, and used them to prevent any white men entering the settlement. Seven United States officers who had not Mr. Tiffany's pass were halted and refused the use of the Government boat to cross the Ogeechee River. This guard ot twenty-five men, who served the entire season, were to be paid out oi the proceeds oi the rice crop, rebec! by freedmen of the settlement. Mr, Tiffany gave them certificates for the amount due them, which certificates they still hold, but are unable to get either rice or money. Ah the freed people of this colony wore eun« piled through the season with Government rations, which were to be paid for out of their crops We were informed by the Bureau offi cers of the department that none of these .ra tions have ever ueen ripaid. A very consid erable crop oi rice was made by the freedmun, and Mr. Tiffany, the agent, advertised sixty thousand bushels of it for sale. General Till son, who had in the interim assumed charge of *he Bureau in Georgia, seeing the advertise - ment, ordered the sale to be suspended, and notified Tiffany that only bonded officers were authriz’d to sell Government properlty. What disposition was eventually made of the rice crop, or who received the profils of it, we were unable to ascertain Mr. 'tiffany shortly after this retired, whether voluntarily or otherwise can only be determined by tho re cords, which are not within our reach. Most of the freed people (A the settlement bocame di:beartened, and voluntarily abandoning their land grants, are now working under contract for the former owners of the iand, or the per sons who have rented plantations from land owners. • We have mentioned these particular cases as indicating the condition of the freedmen oc cupying the Sea Islands aud tho coaeT under General Sherman’s order. Our personal ob servations, the evidence we have taken, and the inquiries we have been obliged to make to supply the place of records, have convinced us that the condition of the freedmen of these settlements, while in charge of General Sax ton, was such as so give but little hop? that, under the policy pursued by that officer, they would ever have become self-supporting, even with the fertile lands on whieh they were located, placed at their disposal, free from rent or taxes. The failure of General Saxton’s admininktration resulted from a variety of causes, among which may be ianumerated : The unnecessary continuance ot Govern m at sap pot t to the freedmen, which tended to increase their natural improvidence, and to encourage habits of idleness. Keeping them under such guardianship and tutelage that they were disinclined to make prbper exertions for their own support or im provement. Teaching them to distrust all white men but those who had immediate authority over them, or who came among them with passes from the Bureau, thus preparing them to fall an easy prey to the sharpers who afterwards ob tained access to them under the guise of friendship, taking advantage of their credulity, and fraudulently appropriating their crops. Their inexperience in providing for their own support, and in managing business for themselves. It is not iu the power of Gena. jTilison or Scott, until a crop has baeu raised under their respective administrations, to materialy im prove the condition of the freedmen ou the sea islands. Although these officers have effected salutary reforms in tho conditions of the blacks, and in their disposition to labor, and have been tastiumeata 1 in removing from their minds many of the absurd ideas which had been in stilled among them, idleness, discord and bit ter prejudices against the white people still exist. The extent to which they were deluded by the few white men who had intercourse with them's almost incredible. Among the evideuoi taken in reference to their condition, and which bears directly on this point is the statement of a distinguished general officer,who was in command of a district embraeiDg’ part of the islands, as follows: ‘ J assumed command in January, 18C5, of a district iu which the South Carolina sea islands were included. They were then in a state oi turmoil aud coufnsiou, amounting to almost open rebellion. Armed patrols were maintained on the islands to prevent any white mau trom landing. Several gentle men from Pennsylvania who attempted to laud, (improperly I must say,) wore arrested by the freedmen. I had placed a guard on each wharf to prevent their reing molested, but they choose to make a landing on a part of the island where no guard was stationed. The negroes had been told and believed that a large force of rebel cavalry still occupied the woods on tho mainland. Utter lawless ness prevailed, and cattle stealing raids on the mainland by the negroes on the mainland wore of frequent occurrence. I went over and broke up their military bauds and told them the war was over. I then set to work to organize a system of labor. I found forty acre allotments under Geu. Sherman’s order, of most elastic dimensions. The largest I saw was 350 acres and the smallest 312 acres, Many freedmen who had land orders for John’s Is land had settled ou James Island; and certifi cates for Edisto Island were plentiful oq Wad malan Island. Scarcely any attempt had beon made to cul tivate iand. There were not more than two acres ‘listed out’ in any one patch on Edisto Island. I had to discontinue the is#ie of ra tions before 1 could get them to work at all. I had nearly succeeded iu getting them to work whon the bill securing their land titles passed Congress and every filing was again thrown into confusion. Matters are now, however, gett ; ng straight again.” An impartial comparison of the comparative condition of tho freedmen on the South Caro lina Is'ands and those in Florida and South west Georgia, clearly demonstrates that the freed people who have remained on tho plan tations and have been aided by tho advice of sensible and practical military aud Bureau officers, are infinitely better off than those who have been assisted with rations and clothing by tho Government. fn our option the most equitable solution of the question of tho occupation of the Sea Is lands and tho coast under Geu. Sherman’s or der, will be to surrender the lands to the for mer owners, on the (list day of January next, requiring the land owners to pay to tho freed men the value in monoy of all improvements made by them while occupying the land—this to bo determined by a commission appointed liy the Government. Oi course we do not mean by this to interfere with any of the freed men who may desire to surrender the lands they are now occupying at any time before that date, by arrangement between themselves and tho owners cf tho iand. Gens. Tillson and Scott both concur with ns that this arrange ment will give genera! satisfaction to both tho freedmen aud iand owners. Should the re commendation ba adoptod by the Government we respectfully suggest that the order bo issued before tho last of September next, so as to give both parties ample time to make arrange ments for the next Beacon’s planting. FLORIDA. After completing our investigations of the Sea Islands, we wont to Fernandina, Fla. Here we found Capt. Leddy, of the Volunteer Re serve Corps, on duty as agent of the Bureau, having charge of a district embracing two coun ties, containing 1,000 freedmen. These arc generally at work lumbering, and get from S2O to $26 per month as wages. Capt. Leddy is as sisted by Maj. Schreaber, formerly an officer of the Seventh Ohio Infantry, who acts as agent without pay, but is partially compensated by re ceiving $5 Ice for each contract drawn up and approved. Capt. Leddy is a good, judicious man, who by friendly interference and good ad vice, has settled most of the difficulties which have arisen in his district between the freedmen themselves and between the whites and freed men, without litigation. We next visited Jacksonville, the headquar ters of Capt. Webster, who has charge of sev eral counties, in which freed-people are general ly at work and are liberally compensated. There had teen at this place a few days before our visit much bad feeling betwoen the white and colored people, produced by irritating, false reports, circulated by vicious persons, but through tiie efforts of the Governor of the State, the De partment Commandant and the officers of the Bureau, harmony and mutual confidence had been restored. We next visted Tallahassee, the Headquar ters of the Department Commander anil the As sistant Commissioner of the Bureau for the State, from whom we obtained the following statistics; 1 Major, Brevet Colonel, Assistant Com missioner. 1 Major, staff duty. 3 Captains, staff duty. 5 Captains, tfub.-Assistant Commissioners. 3 First Lieutenants, Sub-Assistant Commis sioners. 5 Second Lieutenants, Sub-Assistant Com missioners. 0 Citizens, agents and subordinate Commis sioners, at average pay per month, $125. 1 Assistant Superintendent oi Education; pay per month, $ 100. I Contract Surgeon; pay per month, SIOO. 4 Clerks; average pay per month, SBB 50. 8 Nurses for hospital and ono messenger; average pay per month, sl4 30. In giving tho rank of the officers on duty in the Bureau, the brevet rank is omitted, in or der that tho rank may indicate the amount of pay drawn by each. The number of rations issued by the officers of the Bureau, or by Post Commander on re quest oi the Assistant Commissioner of the Bureau, in the State of Florida, since the Ist of Dec., 1865, to the Ist of May, 1866, were 12,716, valued at $2,023 25. The average monthly issue amounted to 2,543. Among the number who have been receiving rations, were the inmates of the Orphan Asylum, lo cated at Fernandina, which is under the charge of the National Freedmen’s Aid Association, and the «imates of the Freedmen’s Hospital at Magnolia, which is controlled by the Bureau. The Assistant Commissioner stated that ra tions have been issued only to the inmates of the Asylum and Hospital, and in some isolated cases where the circumstances of the freedmen show actual destitution and inability to provide for themselves and families. Some of the ra tions have been issued upon returns signed by roe, by post commanders not connected with the Bureau, consequently I have not the data from which to report the number, age, and the sex of those who have received rations. * Brevet Col. T. W. Osborne, the Assistant' Commissioner of the Bureau lor Florida, is an intelligent and just man, and an energetic and impartial officer. The most favorable accounts were given us by citizens, by the military and bureau officers, and by the irecd-people, of the good condition of the freedmen in this Depart ment, as well as Gs the encouraging prospects of the crops which they are cultivating. After leaving Tallahassee, the next point at which we stopped was Monticeilo, where there are several plantations, on which a large number ol freedmen are employed working for one-third of the crops. Both planters and freedmen are satisfied, and all besr testimony to the wisdom and justice of the administration of the Bureau by Col. Osborne. Throughout the entire State the military, the Bureau, and the civil authorities, are generally acting in harmony, which in our opinion is the main reason why the freedmen are more quiet, orderly and thrifty here than they are in locali ties in which there is antagonism between these powers. The only exception to thi states of things in Florida is at Jacksonville, the cause of which has already been stated.- Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES B. STEEDMAN, Major-General. J. S Fullerton, Brevet Brigadier-General. A lad, Willie Ott, eon of C<H. Ott, of Eu* faula, and a pupil of Mr. Isham’a school in Columbus, was drowned in the Chattahoocbie river at the latter place Sunday last, whilst swimming in oompany with playfellows. Latest Aspect of the European War Question. Ihe news from England to the Ist of Juno ».r ro£n • t * l9 Continent of Europe to the 30th ot May, gives but little more information of a decisive character than wo had before. The notes of invitation for a congress or conference of the great Powers which had been sent by trance, Eugland. and Russia to the other gov ernments concarned, had been receivod and responses given by Austria and Italy, and it was reported, also by Prussia. If tho report be correct as to tho latter, aud it probably is, the six great powers have agreed to confer wita a view to lab; over the difficulties, it not *° adjasUfiem. The Diet of the Germanic Confederation also had been invited to send a representative, and had agreed to do so. Tho Paris Conference would thus be composed of tho represetatives of France. England. Russia Austria, Prussia, Italy and the Germanic Con federation. The lesser States and Spain, which is not so directly concerned, appear to be left out. The day for the assemblage of the Con gress had not been named at the latest mo ment. It was asserted, in well informed quar ters in Paris, that the Emperor Napoleon would preside ever the deliberations of the bo iy in person, Hardiy ever did an European Congress meet under more difficult circumstances ; and there does not appear to ho much hope of a peaceful solution. The British Government, through its Minister, and the British press express their fears, at tho same time they are using all their influence to avert war. Italy has promised not to commenco hostilities at present, but will not suspend her armaments. The people of Germany, particularly of the smaller States are anxious to avoid war. Still two millions of armed men are held ready; with their hands on the instruments death, to strike at any moment. A little spark would set this tre mendous magazine in a blaze. The greater part if not the whole of Europe rests on a vol cano of war and revolution, the locus of which is in Italy. It is true, as the Paris Consiitn tionnel remarks, that the three Courts which have made a movement for peace are support ed by tho unanimous voice aud general inter ests of Europe which they represent; but this support may not be able to withstand the revo lutionary fervor invoked in Italy and which is spreading over the Continent. Between the ambition of the reigning families and the deep revolutionary undersweii of the masses there does not seem to be much chance for peace. We see trom what has occurred since tho combined movement of Prussia and Austria on Schleswig Holstein that the political con dition and international relations of Europe • are such that one stop cannot be taken in war without producing difficulties in other por tions oi the Continent. The urtiucißl system of the balance of power, which was constructed ot the conclusion of tho wars with tho first Napoleon, and which has beon patched up sev eral times since, c annot be disturbed without placing Europe in imminent danger. The war in a corner of Northern Europe about the possesion of a small territory commenced the trouble. Tho two great. Gcrmau Powers com- ’ blued to wrest from a feeble neighboring State a part of its aucient possessions, professedly because the majority ot the population wete German, but really because one of them, Prus sian, wanted to increase her dominions and her weight in the Confederation. The quarrel of Austria and Prussia over this led to the war- like movement in Italy. Now the question of the Elbe duchies is overshadowed by that of Italy. llow many others are involved in tho Italian ono ? How many revolutionary move ments may grow out of this ? Or what change may it produce in the map oi Europe. The Italian monarchy is not more ambitious to enlarge its dominions than the people are to unite the Italians under ono government Garibaldi and tho masses are as much in earnest as tho King and the Court to wrest Venelia from Austria and annex it to tho kingdom oh Italy. Austria is determined to defend her possessions against war, from without or revo lution within, and has an army of eight or nine hundred thousand men for that purpose. Tho voice of the Paris Conference may be powerful enough if the representatives should agree to hold young Italy iu check; but that is doubt ful. Tho Powers of Europe may see that so long as Austria possesses that part of Italy there wi'l be danger ot war, if even it ba avoided just now, and may proposo the cession of it to Italy. But will Austria consent to this under any circumstances? If not, how can war be avoided? 'territorial compensations have been intimated as a possible solution of the difficulty. Who is to bo despoiled to com pensate Austria for tho loss of Venetia ? Tur key ? We think the “sick man of the East” will become very sick if these proposed com pensations are made. Tho Dauubian Princi palities already begin to loom up again amidst the smoko of European troubles. It is not at all improbable that the ancient friendship of Russia and Austria may return under present complications aud that an alliance to check Russia in the East will not be possible again. Every way the state of Europe just now is hill of interest. The prospect is that there will be a war on a gigantic scale and that revolutions and re-arrangement of the map of Europe will foltow as a consequence. The reports from Paris, Vienna and Flor ence, written immediately previous to the sail ing of tho last steamer from Londonderry, on the Ist of June, indicate that very little faith was entertained in either city as to the ability of the diplomatists in the Congress to maintain peace. Italy remained in a blaze of war fever, tho King and Garibaldi wore masters of the situation, and it was anticipated that tho united people of the kingdom would soon strike the first blow. It is stated from Kiel, however, that blows had been already ex changed between some Austrian and Prussian soldiers, but as no “deaths occurred” aa “of ficial inquiry had been instituted.” The Old World continued in a dangerous crisis. DIVORCES IK 0810. Upward* cf Eight Hundred Last Year, The Cincinnati Gazette has an interesting con densation of that portion of the report oi the Ohio Commissioner of Statistics for 1865, which relates to the number and character of divorces. It says: The whole number of divorces iu this State reach the number of eight hundred and thirty seven in one year. This, at the present popu lation of the State, is one to three thousand per sons, and one divorce to twenty-six of the an nual number of marriages. It is not a very pleasant thought, that when we look upon twenty-six couples of young married people, we know that one of those couples must be divorced, Yet such is the state of facts. The causes of divorce are described in revised statutes of this State to be : Ist. “Another wife or husband living.” 2. “Wilful absence for three years.” 3d. “Adultery.” 4th. “Impotcncy,” which is put under the general head of fraud. sth. “Extreme cruelty,” whieh, with the 7tb, “Gross neglect of.duty,” is put under the same head. Bth. “Habitual drukenness-” The di vorces of other States are like recognized, which oftentimes give rise to frauds. To divorce parties for “three years’ wilful ab sence” is, in many cases, to legalize fraud. It may be said that neither the wife nor society are benefitted by kcej. ing a vicious or vagabond husband. But if a husband or wife, especially the former, chooses to take that inode of divorce in this immense extent of country and various States, he can do it any time. By residing in any of four-fifths of the American States for two or three years, a divorce can bo obtained on the part of the vagrant husband, at the request of the husband or wife, while the other party is, perhaps, lamenting his absence, and utterly in nocent of any offence. The statistics of the county court are as foD lows : Adultery 276 Absence ’ 256 Cruelty and neglect 220 Drunkenness 55 Fraud 20 £ This table in one particular fails of giving the true result. Only fifty-five cases are put down as caused directly by was the true cause in double that number, be cause the trial of the cases in court shows that drunkenness has been a main cause of cruelty and neglect. It is a little curious that while the crime of adultery is very difficult lo prove, there should be no less than two hundred and eighty-six cases of open adultery proved in court. It shows great abandonment of character on the part of some of the community. It is not less curious that the majority of these are in counties where there are no large towns. Specie Payment —The New York Tribune is distressed because the Secretary of the Treasury is, in the editor’s estimation, doing nothing to hasten the resumption of specie payments. On this, the Cincinnati Gazette remarks, that he is doing the very thing, and the only thing, that can prepare the way for, that important consummation—be is reducing the public debt. When the latter shall be brought down below two thousand millions, then the contraction ox the currency will be possible,and specie payments wiP "follow in due time. Tbo Tribune may not be able to see it in this light, because it believes it pos sible to resume specie payments whether (ho currency shall be controlled or not; but peo ple who have any practical knowledge of fi nances do oof -xt e wjth our New York CO temporary,