The officers and men are both very carefully picked. We have aimed at getting officers of high character, making careful selections out of many candidates. The men are selected just as regulars would be chosen by the most careful recruiting officer.

Out of 450 now in camp there are but two in hospital. One hundred more men are awaiting inspection by the surgeon, when they also will go to camp.

Captain Collins, Fourth U. S. Infantry, who is chief mustering and disbursing officer in Massachusetts, remarked this morning that these black troops are the best lot of men whom he has seen in any regiment during him nine months" experience in Massachusetts.

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas, in pursuance of the act of Congress, approved July 13, 1861, I did, by proclamation dated August 16, 1861, declare that the inhabitants of the States of Georgia, south Carolina, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Florida (except the inhabitants of that part of that State and the other States herein before named as might maintain a legal adhesion to the Union and the Constitution, or might be from time to time occupied and controlled by forces of the United States engaged in the dispersion of said insurgents) were in a state of insurrection against the United States, and that all commercial intercourse between the same and the inhabitants thereof, with the exceptions aforesaid, and the citizens of other States and other parts of the United States was unlawful, and would remain unlawful until such insurrection should cease or be suppressed, and that all goods and chattels, wares, and the citizens of other States and other parts of the United States was unlawful, and would remain unlawful until such insurrection should cease or be suppressed, and that all goods and chattels, warise coming form any of said States, with the exceptions aforesaid, would be forfeited to the United States;

And whereas, experience has shown that the exceptions made in and by sais proclamation embarrass the due enforcement of said act of July 13, 1861, and the proper regulation of the commercial intercourse authorized by said act with the loyal citizens of said States;

Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, dohe said exceptions, and declare that the inhabitants of the States of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Florida, and Virginia (except the forty-eight counties of Virginia designated as West Virginia, and except, also, the ports of New Orleans, Key West, Port Royal, and Beaufort in North Carolina) are in a state of insurrection against the United States, and that all commercial intercourse not licensed and conducted as provided in said act between the said States and the inhabitants thereof, with the exceptions aforesaid, and the citizens of other States and other parts of the United States, is unlawful, and will remain unlawful until such insurrection shall cease or has bene suppressed and notice thereof has been duly given by proclamation; and all cotton, tobacco,k and other products,a nd all other goods and chattels, wares and merchandise, coming from any of said