Mr. V,lnooln*H Messane. WASHINGTON Fe>>. 10. To the Honorable tHe /louse of Rep : In response to a joint resolution of the Bth inst., requesting information in re lation to a conference recently held in Hampton Roads, I have the honor to state that on the day of the dates I gave Francis P. Blair, Sr.. a card written on as follows- Allow the bearer, F. P. Blair Sr., to pass our lines togo South and return. Signed, A. Lincoln;" that at tho time I was informed that Mr. Blair nought the card ai a means of getting to Richmond, Virginia, but he was given no authority to speak or act for the gov ernment, nor was I informed of anything he would say or do on his own account or otherwise. Mr. Blair told me that he had been to Richmond and had seen Da vis, and be (Blair) at the same time left with me a manuscript letter, as follows, to wit: RICHMOND, VA.. Jan. 12,1865. F. P. BLAIR, ESQ., Sir.—l liaxedeem ed it proper and probably desirable to you. to give you in this form the substance of the remarks, made by me, to be re ported by you to President Lincoln. I have no disposition to find obstacles in forms, and am willing now, as heretofore, to enter into negotiations for the restora tion of peace. 1 am ready to send a Commission when I have reason to sup pose it will be received, or to receive a Commission if the L nited States Govern ment shall choose to semi one. Not- I withstanding the rejection of our former j offer, I would, if you could promise that ; a Commissioner, Minister, or other agent j would be received, appoint one immedi ately, and renew the efforts to enter into a conference with a view to secure peace to the two countries. Yours, kc., JEFF. DAVIS. Afterwards with the view that it should bo shQwn to Davis, I wrote and delivered i to F. I*. Blair a letter as follows: WASHINGTON, Jan. 18. I To Francis P. Jilair, Esq : SIR: You have shown me Mr. Davis | letter to you on the 12th inst.. you may i say to him that I have constantly been, j am now, and shall continue ready tore- j reive any agent whom he or any other in- j lluential person now resisting the Nation al authority may informally send with a j view of securing peace to o»r common ; country. (Signed.) A. LINCOLN. | Afterwards Mr. Blair dictated far and ; authorized me to make an entry on the I back of my retained copy of the letter: last above recited, which is as fol- ! lows: JAN. 28, 1865.—T0-day Mr. Blair tells me that on the 21st instant he delivered to Mr. Davis, the original of which the within is a copy, and left it with him. That at the time of delivery Mr. Davis read it over twice in Mr. Blair's presence, at the close of which he remarked that the part about our one common country related to the part of Davis's letter about the two countries, to which Davis replied that he so understood it. [Signed] A. LINCOLN. Here follows a number of telegrams j relating to the admission of Stephens, Hunter, and Campbe 1 into our lines, there having deen since delayed, conse quent on the absence of General Grant. The President then says: Afterwards, by my directions, the Secretary of War telegraphed to Geucral Ord as fol lows : WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 1865, 10 A. M. Major Gliteral Oft I. Army if the James: By direction of the President, you are instructed to inform the three gentlemen, j Stephens, Hunter and Compbell. that a! messenger will be dispatched to them at or near where they now are, without un necessary delay. [Signed] E. M. STANTON, Sec'y of War. Afterwards 1 prepared and putin the hands of Major Thos. T. Eckert, the ' following instructions and message: EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 1865. Major T. T. Eekert: Silt —You will proceed with the docu ments in your bauds, and on reaching General Ord will deliver him the lrtterad- j dressed him by the Secretary of War; then by Gen. Ord's assistance, procure an interview with Stephens. Hunter and j Campbell or any of them, and deliver to j him or them the papers on which your own letter is written. Note iu the copy which you retain the time of delivery, and to whom delivered.. Receive their answer in writing, awaiting a reasonable timefor it, which if it contains their de cision to come through without further conditions will be your warrant to ask General Ord to pass them through as di rected in the lettor of the Secretary of War. If by their auswer they decline to come, or propose other i.erms, do not have them passed through, and this boiugyour whole duty, return aud report to me. Yours, truly, (Signed) A. LINCOLN. Messrs. Alex. 11. Stephens, J. A Campbell, R. M. T. Hunter: Gentle men —I am instructed by the President of the United States to place this paper in your hands, with information that if you go through the United States mili tary lir.es it will be understood that you do so for the purpose of an informal con ference on the basis of that letter, a copy of which is on the reverse side of th:s sheet, aud if you choose to pass in on such understanding, and so notify in writing, I will procure the Commanding General to pass you through the lines, and to Fortress Monroe, uuder such mili- j tary precautions as he may deem prudent and at which you will be met indue time by some person or persons for the purpose of such informal conference : and further, that you shall have protection, safe cou duct. and sale return iu all events. (Signed) THOS. T. ECKERT, Major and Aide-de-Camp. CITY POINT, VA . Feb. Ist, 1865. Afterwards, but bef re Major Eckert had departed, the following -dispatch was received from Gen. Grant: OFFICE OF THE U. S, MILITARY TEL EGRAPH, WAR DEPARTMENT. —The fol lowing telegram was received at Wash ington. January 31, from City Point,"Va. 10:30 a. ni. January 31, 1865 : j His Excellency A. Lincoln, President of the £/, H. J The following communication was re ceived here last evening: PUTERSAURU, VA., January 30, 1805. —Lieutenant General U. S. Grant, com ! manding the armies of the United States—Sii#We desire to pass your lines under safe conduct and to proceed to Washington to hold a conference with Presideut Liticoln upon the subject of the existing war with a view of ascertain ing upon what terms it may be termina ted. In pursuance of the course ted by him in his letter io Mr. Blair, of January 18th, 1865, of which, we pro sume, you have a copy, and, if nut, we wish to see you in person if convenient, and to confer with you on the subject. Very respectfully yours, ALF.X. 11. STEPHENS. •i. A. CAMPBELL, 11. M. T. HUNTER. I have sent directions to receive these gentlemen, aud expect to have them at my quarters this evening, awaiting your instructions. (Signed) U.S. GRANT, Lieutenant General Commanding the Ar mies of the United States. This it will be perceived, transferred Gen. Ord's agency in the matter to Gen. Grant. I resolved, however, to send Maj. Eck ert forward with his message, and accord ingly telegraphed Gen. Grant as tbl- j lows : EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON. 81st January, 1865. To Lieut. Gen. | Grant, City Point, Virginia,—A mes ! sage is coining to you on the business j contained in your dispatch. Detain the gentlemen in comfortable quarters until | lie arrives, aud then act upon themes- j sage he brings as far as possible, it hav ing been made up to pass through Gen. Ord's hands, and where the gentlemen I are supposed be beyoud our lines. [Signed] A. LINCOLN. When Major Eekert departed he took i with him a letter from the Secretary of j War to Gen. Grant, as follows: WAR DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 1865. Lieut. Cm. Grant, Comminuting, itr. .• GENERAL —The President directs that you will procure for the bearer Maj. T. T. Eekert an interview with Messrs. | Stephens, Hunter and Campbell, and if on liis return to you he requests it, pass them through our lines to Forties* Mon roe, by such route and under such milita ry precautions as you may deem prudent, giving them protection and comfortable quarters while there, aud that you let none of this have any effect upon your movements or plans, liy order of the President. (Signed) E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War. Supposing the proper point to be then reached 1 dispatched the Secretary of State with the following instruction, Maj. Eekert, however, going ahesW of him. EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 1865. To Hon. IV. 11. St ward, See' ofState.' You will proceed to Fortress Monroe, there to meet, and infornierly confer with j Messrs. Stephens, Hunter and Campbell, on the basis of my letter to F. P.- Blair, Esq., of January 18th 1805, a copy of which you have. You will make known j to them that these three things are indis pensible' to-wit: First. The restoration of the National authority throughout all of the States. Second—No aeceding by the executive i of the United States, on the slavery ques tion, from the position assumed thereon in the late annual message to Congress, and in the present document. Third—No cessation of hostilities short of our disabling of all the forces hostile to the Government. You will iuform them that all proposi tions of theirs not in accordance with the 1 above will be considered aud passed upon in a siucore liberality. You will hear all I they may have to say, and report it tome. Y r ou will not assume to definitely commu nicate anything yourself. A. LINCOLN. On the day of its delivery the follow ing telegram was sent to Gen. Grant: Lieut. (Jen Grant, City Point: . Let nothing which is transpiring now delay your movements or plans. (Signed) A. LINCOLN. Afterwards the following dispatch was received from Gen. Grant: CITY POINT, VA., Feb. 1 —12.20 a. m. Ilia Excel/eney A. Lincoln, President of the United States : Y our dispatch is received. There will be no armistice in consequence of the presence of Mr. Stephens andotherswith ln our lines. The troops are kept in rea diness if required. U. S. GRANT. To notify Major Eekert that the Secre tary of State would be at fortress Monroe ami to put them in commuuicatiou the fol lowing dispatch wan sent: WAR DEPPRRMENT, WASHINGTON, Feb. 1. 1865. To Major T. T. Eekert, Care of General Grant, City Point, Va: Call at seven to-morrow, and put your self uuderdirection of Mr. Sewaid, whom you will iiud there. A. LINCOLN. On the morning of the 20th iust., the following telegram was received by me: CITY POINT, VA., Feb. I —lo p. m. To His Excellency A. Lincoln, /'resident of the United States : i have the honor to report the delivery of your commuuicatiou aud my letter at 4:16 this afternoon, to which 1 leceiveda reply at 0 p. m., but not satisfactory. The fallowing addressed to Gen, Grant, was received: CITY POINT, Feb. 1,18G5. General Grant: SIR —We desire togo to Washington City, to confer iuformally with the Presi deut personally, in reference to the mat ter mentioned in his letter to" Mr. Blair, of the 18th of January,ult.. without any mauuer in the letter. We have permis sion to do so from the authorities IU Rich mond. Very respectfully, ALEX. 11. STEPHENS, 11. M. T. HUNTER, J. A. CAMPBELL. At 9;30 p. m. I notified them that they could uot proceed further, uuless they complied with the terms expressed iu tuy letter. The point of meeting designated iu the above note would uot, in opin ion, be iusistcd upou. I thiuk l'ortress , Moutoe would be ticoepUblo. Having . complied with my instructions, I will re turn to Washington to-morrow uuless oth erwise ordered. (Signed) THOS. T. ECKERT, Maj. &e. WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 1865. , Lieut. Cen. Grant City, Point: Say to the gentlemen that I wiil meet ■ them personally at Fortress Monroe as soon as 1 can get there. A. LINCOLN, (Sent in cypher at 9 a.m.) WAR DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 1865. To /Ton. IV. 11. Seward, Portress Mon roe : Induced by a dispatch from General Grant, I join you at Fortress Monroe as soon as I can come. A. LINCOLN. (Sent in cypher at 9 a. m. Before starting the following dispatch was shown me. but I proceeded, neverthe less : Office United States Military Telegraph War Department, cipher the following, telegraphed at Washington, Feb. 2, 1865, from City Point, Va., 9 r. m.. February 2, 1865, to Hon. W.II. Seward, Secreta ry of State: FORTRESS MONROE —(Copy)—To E M. Stanton, Secretary of War, at Wash ington—The gentlemen here have aceept j ed the proposed terms ; and will leave lor ! Fortress Monroe, at 9:30 p. m. (Signed) U. S. GBANT, Lieutenant General. | On the night of the 2d, 1 reached ] Hampton Roads, found the Secretary of State and Major Eckert on a steamer an [ chored off the shore, and learned of them j that the Richmond gentlemen were on another steamer, also anchored off the shore in the roads, and the Secretary of State had not yet seen or communicated I with them. I ascertained that Major Eekert had literally complied with his I instructions, and 1 saw for the ffrst time, I the answer of the Richmond geutleiucn to him which, in his dispatch to me of the Ist, he characterizes as no satisfactory. That answer is as follows, to-wit: CITY POINT, Feb 1.1865.. To Thos. J. Eekert Maj.and Adede C«<»p MAJOR: Your note is considered. IN | reply we have to say that we are furnish- I ed with a copy of the letter of President | Lincoln to F. I'. Blair, of the first of Jan. ult., another copy of which is appended to your note. Our intentions are con | mined in a letter of which the following is a .copy : RICHMOND, January 28, 1865. In conformity with the letter of Mr. I Lincoln, of which the foregoing is a copy. I you are to to proceed to Washington city for informal conference with him upon the issues involved in the existing war, 1 and for the purpose of securing peace to | the two countries. With great respect, your obedient ser vant, JEFFERSON DAVIS. The substantial object to be obtained be the informal conference is to be termi nated honorably. Our instructions con template a personal interview between i President Lincoln and ourselves, at Wash ! ington ; but, with this explanation, we I are ready to meet any person or persons | that President Lincoln may appoint, at such place as he may designate. Our j earnest desire is that a just, and honora ble peace may be agreed upon, and we are prepared to receive or to su! init propo sitioes which may possibly lead to the at tainment of that end. Very respectfully yours, ALEX. 11. STEPHENS, It. M. T. HUNTER, J. A. CAMPBELL. A note from these gentlemen eubse queuty addressed to General Grant, has already been given in Major Eckert's I dispatch of the first inst., who also saw here for the first time the following note addressed by the Richmond gentlemen ! to Major Eckert: CITY POINT, VA., February 2. T. ./. Eckert, Maj. and.l. I). C. In reply to your verbal statement that your instructions did not allow you to al ter the conditions upou which a passport could be given to us, we say that we are willing to proceed to Fortress Monroe, and there to have au informal conference with any person or personsthat President Lincoln may appoint on the basis of his letter to F. f*. Blair, of the 18th of Jan. ultimo, or upon any other terms or con ditions that he may hereafter propose, not consistent with the essential princi ples of self-government aud popular rights upon which our institutions arc founded, it is our further wish to ascertain, after a free interchange of ideas and informa tion, upon what principles and terms, if any, ajust and honorable peace can be established, without the further effusion of blood, and to contribute our utmost efforts to produce sufih a result. We thiuk it better to add that in accepting pour passport we are not to be understood as committing ourselves to anything but to carry on this informal conference above represented. Very respectfully, yours &c. A. H. STEPHENS, # R. M T. HUNTER, J.A. CAMPCELL. The above communication was deliv ered to me at Fortress Monroe, on Febru ary 2d at 4:30 p. m., by Lieutenant Col. Babcock of Gen. Graut's staff. T. T. ECKERT, Major and Aide-de-Camp. On the morning of the 3d, the three gentlemen, Stephens, Hunter aud Camp bell came aboard of the our steamer aud had au interview with the Secretary of State and uiyself of several hours dura tion. Noquestion of preliminaries to the meetiug was then aud there made or men tioned. aud no other person was present. No papers were exchanged or produced audit was in advauce agreed that the con versation was to be informal aud verbal merely on our part. The whole substance of the instructions to the Secretary of State herein before recited, was stated and iucisted upon, aud nothtng was said inconsistent therewith. While by the other party it was not said that iu auy event, or ou any condition they ever would consent to re-union, yet they equally ouunitted to declare that they would uot so consent. They seemed to desire a postponement of that question aud the adoption of some other course first, which, as some of theui seemed to argue, might or might not lead to re-union, but which course we thought would amount to an indefinite postpone ment. The conference ended without result. The foregoing, containing as is believed, all the information sought, is respectfully submitted. (Signed,) A. LINCOLN. American tfitisrn. THOMAS ROBINSON. - - Editor, n. W. SPEAK, Publisher. BUTLER PA. WEIWESDAI FE8.15, 18«S. 9v" " Liberty and Union. Now and Forever, One end 'nseparable."—D. Webster. BSW"* There has at last been a general evchangeof prisoners agreed upon, which will take placa at once. WW e were Eorry to see the plans and consumated arrangements of the peo ple of Centre Township so suddenly ex ploded as fhey were on Tuesday. They had been consulting and arranging as to how to fill their quota, llad finally rais ed a goodly sum by subscription,, and agreed that the rest should be raised by a tax under our local bounty law. But on coming to Butler, they found that a bill repealing that law had been passed— they at once becanfß considerably excited and of course felt quite disappointed. We had understood tint such a bill had passed in reference to Butler Tp., fpr this we felt sorry, but as we had been active in getting the law passed last winter, we did not feel it to be our duty to say any thinguow. The more so because we were informed that a majority of the township wore in favoi of the change. This, how ever, is denied by some. The case is said to be quite different in Centre—some say there is not twelve taxables in the town ship opposed to a bounty tax —if this is so Mr. Haslet' must have been imposed upon by some parties', or he would not have move to attach Centre to the bill that came over from the Senate for But ler Tp.,and will, we have no doubt, make the amend honorable, when he learns the true state of the case. tw" David Brackenridge, brother of Sheriff Brackenridge, of this county, and formerly a member of Co. K, 10U Ke;z;t, Roundheads, died on Friday morning the 15th inst. Mr. Brackcuridge had qprved his full term in the regiment to which he belonged, and had reinlisted. About (he middle of September, however, ho receiv ed a severe wound on the head, and was soon discharged. On Jlonday of last week he started on a trip through the northern part of the country, (we suppose on business connected with the Sheriff's •Office.) reached Murrinsville on that evening, where he ate supper, at the pub lie house kept by Patrick M'Bride, seem ed in pood health; but when geing to wake him'for breckfast the next morning, they found him apparently insensible. His the Sheriff was sent for. who in company with Dr. Xeyman, reached him on the next evening; I?ut. alas! his case seems to have been one for which there was no relief. All that was possible for medical skill, and the attention of friends to do for him, was done but in vain; he died as above stated. We have no doubt his death was caused by the injuries his constitution had received while serving his country. May his grave be ever green. Uof On the first page of our paper this issue, will be found a speech delivered by Gen. butler which treats mainly of the status of the negro. We publish it, not for the purpose of indor sing it, but for the purpose of letting our readers see how inen— wll as times— change. Gen. butler is a lifelong Dem ocrat —was a delegate to the Charleston Convention in 1860, and there voted steadily for Jefferson Davis, as the Dem ocratic nominee for President. When that Convention adjourned without mak ing a nomination, he again met with the same delegates at baltimore and voted for brackenridge for the same position ! Da vis having been withdrawn. It is but just to remark that none of these men had taken open grounds agjinst the Union, and many therefore, doubtless, suppoited them honestly as friends of the country. We have no doubt Gen. butler was one of this class. For ourself. we have no disposition now to stop to inquire what shall be the exact future status of the negro. We believe slavery to be t"he great national sin for which we are now being; so severely pun ished. We believe it, therefore, to be the duty of the nation to get rid of it at once —this done we are willing to let the fu ture take care of itself. Wo have no fear of the white race suffering by being putin competition with any inferior race —our faith in its destiny is too strong for that. If people will but "be just and fear not," we will have little troublo in the future, a proper cquilibrum will ad just all things well. I lu> Dral't ia poßtpuied lor the present. John Ralston, a notorious charac acter, belonging to the northern part of this county, who had deserted from the army a great ■while ago, was at last caught by Sheriff Braekenridge, on Monday of this week, in Centreville, and was.on yes terday, sent forward. Last week three similarly notorious characters—Magee. M'Laferty atd Cyph er—belonging to Winfield tp.. who were, we believe, bounty jumpers, and who, by their desperate conduct—by threats and by the knowledge that they carried pri vate arms—had intimidated the whole neighborhood; were caught on Tuesday evening of hist weeV. by Capt. Tiiubliu and a squad of returned soldiers, iu com pany with ohe or two others. They were found at the house of a Mrs. M'Bride, where they were enjoyiug themselves at a social dance. The room iu which they were, it seems, had only one window; at that the Captain left a guard; another guard was left at the outside door, while he pushed in tc the inner door, as he was noticed by some inside, the danee, for a moment seemed to flag, but soon they as sumed their wanted mirth again. One individual, perhaps feeling a little unea sy at the appearance of the stranger, made an eft'o.rt to passout, but was inform ed by the Capt. that he was door-keeper! this gave the alarm. M'Gee rushed for the window, and finding it guarded draw ed his pistol on the guard who gave way ; but as M'Gee got about half out of the window they sprang forward, caught him by the hair and brought him uncer emoniously to the ground, took his pistol from him, and it is said struck him with the but of it, thus overcoming all resis tance on the part of M'Gee. The re mainder of the squad plaid their part equally well, and the arests were made good. It is said while Capt. Timbliti struggling with on COMMCXICITIOXS. i For th» Aranrltfcn Cltlzt-o, MR. EDITOR:—As the subject never exhausts itself, I again take up my pen, which is mightier than the sword if well wielded, and still hold out to public view this most attroelous evil of Inteuiperence, and allow me here to introduce a charac ter in the form of a moderate drinker, and I would sav, that this evil did not burst upon us like the raiu torrents of our mountains, it commenced a placid rill, gliding sileutly along, it became deep er and broader and more impetuous with each sueoossive year, until it rolled a del uge through our land ; destroying prop erty, character, health and life. In its coin-so our prisons and our grave yards have been filled with its miserable vic tims. And who amongst us is to be chief ly blamed for these evils '! I answer, the moderate drinker, he originates drunkeu ness, he uerpetuates it. The demonstra tion of this position is clear, no person comes into the world a drunkard. No child is born with an appetite for Ardent Spirits, the appetite in all -cases is acqui red. and most persons require long prac tice, slipping a glass to-day and another to-morrow. and thus on gradually till the drunkard is formed ; not indeed that any one sets out with the intention of becom ing a drunkard ; ah, no ! tho very thought of it shocks him, and if the probability of such a termination to his course, he only hinted unpleasant or angry thoughts are enkindled. The design is always to drink moderately ; always to hold tho reins of appetite with a firm and unyielding grasp, and such is the strange infatuation at tending the use of ardent spirits; that this purpose is kept in view even to the verge of an untimely grave. Even, while evidently to all others, it is carrying him to sure destruction. Of all drunkards who have lived and died, not ono but commenced a moderate drinker. The same is true of all who now live, a dis grace to their country and a scourge to Iheir friends, all aimed to drink moderate ly. Where are they today? Lost and ruined. Since then the only pathway to intemperance is through moderate drink ing—let this be abandoned and wo place between ourselves and intemperance a bridgcless and impassable gulf, to think how easily, at how slight a sacrifice of shortlived and hurtful gratification you may heal tho sorest affliction of your country, and your race, then say, who amongst you will bo moderate drinkers? Will the christian, will the patriot, will rhe I'hilantropist, will even lie who rationaly loves himself. l ' 1 could not well close this article, with out saying, were it not for the moderate •drinker very few landlords would be wil ling to keep the poisonous drug about their house. It is clear that tho drun kard after all, is a very poor customer not always having tho money to pay for his grog, and just to think of the land lord setting down amongst a pack of in ebriates, it is too much for human nature toenduro. Landlords have told mo them selves, were it not forgeutlemen that call ed occasionally for their drink, they would not keep it one hour to accommodate the drunkard. Look moderate drinker where you stand, and I hope you may see that you arc perpetuating ii traffic which is fast robbing this land of all that is noble, and fast peopling the dungeons of Dark Despair. I>. 51. HAUBAUGH, BUTLER Tl>. , February 1.!, 1865. Mr. Editor : —I disclaim being ono of the citizens of Butler Tp., who met in Butler, on Saturday, and I would ask what was this meeting for? I under stand our township has eleven men to fur nish, on the present draft, about fifty men met on Saturday,, they did not levy a tax; they raised nothing by subscription.— They did not determine who should go. They made no draft, They did not enlist. They did not volunteer. They didn't declare a cessation of hos tilities. They met and adjourned and did nothing, and now 1 would ask, what did they want to do 1 For my part I pre ferred to stay at home, because I could sec nothing to be accomplished by the meeting which ought to be dono. If 1 am not misinformed, the Provost Marshal makes the draft, and not tho citizens of Butler township, and 1 would not be found in a meeting attempting to tamper with the lottery wheel of the I'ryvost Marshal. The purpose could be nothing else—elev en men must goout of fifty. Forty-nine of these meet together, and suppose you were successful in raising money, secu ring substitute!, or volunteors, would it not be merely shifting the draft upon some person else. Shall this be tho record of liutler Tp. Eleven men have togo for Butler Tp., shall it become part of our history, that we hail to get men from oth er townships or other counties to repre sent us. Shall it be our brave record, that we gave SSOO for men togo in our place, or #5500 for eleven years service- Bet other distr.cts do this if they will, but let it be the honor of our township that we did not seek either by wealth or poverty or any other means, to evado our share of the burden, in the hour ot ourcountric's peril. What would you think of tne soldier detailed togo out on the scrimish line, or to charge a breast work, going round offering some of his follow soldiers 8500 to take his place such a soldier would bo shot for cowardice, and yet it is practiced here as a sharp game. 1 think it mora honorable to attend to onr busi ness as good eitizeus, and whoever our country details togo out to the front, let him answer tu his name like a man, fall in and forward march—.let such bo the l'OOvild of &UTI,EU3.'OWNsmi'. . US" The following letter we publish because it comes from the army. While we thus publish it by reqOWt, we are free to say that we think there must be sorao misunderstanding about this matter. \Ve arc not advised as to who all the board are. One of them, however, called upon us not long since, and, if our memory is not defective, iuquired, among other things, as to the law on exoneration, and on examination, we were surprised to find no positive provision exonerating those in the service. The Directors, however, have general exonerating power, and if the agreement was, as stated in the following, the board we think, should make good the understanding, and surely no oue would object. The following is the let ter : Co. A,BTII PA. II: ART, FT. MARCY, VA., February 2, 1805. EDITOR CITIZEN : Sir .-—Will you be so kind as to allow me spaco in your val uable columns, to say a few words as to> the course pursued by a majority of the School Directors of Clinton tp., in regard to levying the tax, to pay the local boun ty. of those wliogave their credits to said Township at tho time of the last draft. After holding several meetings, they con cluded they \yOuld pay tho sum of SIOO to each recruit who would credit himself to the Township, issuing bonds and bor rowing money to pay the same, until such time as they could levy and collect the necessary tax. But this was less than many neighboring townships and coonties were paying at the same time, so of course they could not get their quota filled from abroad. Still enough of her citizens, to fill her quota, volunteered, and agreed to accept that amount, (although every one of them was offered 1525 to give their credits to Allegheny county,) and give their credits to their native township.— But with the distinct and exp ess, nltlio' only verbal agreement, that their proper ty would be exempt from taxation for the purpose of raisingsaid bounty—or for the purpose of raising bounty—to fill their quota of any draft ordered during their term ot service. But now tho time has come when "tho " bonds" must be redeem ed and the borrowed money refunded, hence tho tax must be assessed and col lected. Do they live up to their agree ment? No, sir !• The property of these men who are out in the service of their country, is taxed the same as those who are enjoying all tho comforts of home, and whose property is yielding them a handsome income, notwithstanding their agreement to the contrary, and notwith standing the fact that these men did ac cept 8125 less than they could have ob tained elsewhere, in order that they might give their credits to their native town ship: thus virtually taking a portion of the bounty off each properly holder who so enlisted, or in other words, making them pay a portion of their bounty out of their own pockets. Now Mr. Editor I appeal to your candid readers, Is this right? Is it law? Is it justice? It may law, (although we doubt it very much) but it rit vml be justice. Oue thing sure is those Directors knew, whut these men, whom'they have thus treated,think of their conduct, they would never dare to show them their faces again for very shames sake. It meets with the utter condemn ation of every one of them, both property holders and others, and I think it will meet the same at the hands of every lov er of right an justice. By publishing this and thus let the public see how they have acted in the matter, you will much oblige " THE CLINTON BOYS." CAMP NEAR PARK. STATION Va. Jan. 80 1805. Mr, Editor —Tll looking over a late is sue of the CITIZEN. T was glad to fi.id a communication on the subject of Inteni- I perance, and one which is worthy of no j tice. Intemperance is not only on the increase in l'i' f|uiol peaceful walks j of civil life, but also in the army, especU'' | ally among officers of high rank, and this has a bad influence upon the private sol ■ Jier . N>w 1 have no new method to | suggest, by which to work a reformation, j Even if I bad, it coming from a poorpri , rate soldier, would not bo looked upon as worthy of notice by men of influence | and afluencc; but I think if all lovers of j Temperance and would go band in hand ! with new and fresh vigor, something might be done to influence many of those : that are given to the intoxicating cup, to | retrace their steps, and become good sober men. Many examples might be given, ; of the most heart rending character, to show the evils of Intemperance, but who has not seen enough to convince every j candid, honest, reflecting mind, of a need of a reformation, but I will leave the subject to those that are more able to do justice to so great a theme. I am as evey Yours &c, W** —A rebel gang, said to be led by Quantrell, Magruder and' Sue Mun day entered Midway, Ky., from Georgetown, on the 2d, and destroy ed considerable property. Midway is in Woodford county, on the Lex ington and Frankfort railway, four teen miles from either city. It is a town of small size. Which is ut oucc the easiest and har dest of occupations ? Tbo musician's; for he plays when ho works, and works* . ulieu Lu plays.