The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-03-04
CONGRESS

any FORMER one ior several years past, vet they
have had before them but few subjects, which
have produced much interest abroad The
question OF the mutilation of certain public doc
uInents, whichwere ordered to be printed occa-
stoned more animated debate than any other
subject; ami it was owing to its involving the
character of one of the candidates for the Presi-
dency. The Tariff bill was warmly discussed
and finally rejected The subject for appropria-
ting money for internal Improvements has occu-
pied considerable attention, and to which con-
stitutional objection is continued to be pressed:
$4,000 however, have been applied to repair
the National road across tie Allegheny chain.
A great deal of private business and other of
local nature relating to the District of Columbia
have consumed much time of the session. The
number of days of meeting have been about is
they have usually met at twelve o'clock and ad.
journed at a, being together hours this gives
for the time actually employed in business, du-
ring the session, 300 hours, or IL 10 DAYS. 1t
would not be expected that many important
questions of pubic nature could be matured in
that period.
The Court of Common Pleas commences a
session in town this day. Judge Smith will hold
the term. {. J. Whitman is at Washington
paign in n. II. is opened with unusual spirit
That state has been SO long accustomed to sub
nit to the annual DEGREES Of the diyan at Con-
cord, it seemed, as if the people had almost for
gotten TO exercise the right of private judg-
Inent," in regard to the men who should preside
in their councils But this year strong opposi-
ton has been organized, supported by the prin-
cipal journals in the state, which has placed in
nomination for Gov. the Hon. Lew Woodbury.,
Of Portsmouth, one of the judges Of the Supreme
Court.
The other candidate is the Hon. Samuel Djns-
more. a lawyer in Keene, who was nominated
by Legislative c caucus in the spring; thev are
both of the same political party. Mr.. Hill Of
the y. II. Patriot, is the champion Of the latter
candidate, and contends boldly and obstinately
and almost single-handed, against fearful ODDS.
The election thkes place on the 18th inst what
will be the res lt, we are unable to predict.
4 violent snow storm commenced here about
10 o'clock in the morning of Monday last week,
which continued through that and the following
day. The wind blew very fresh from ~ f. and
N. n. E. piling the snow in heaps and rendering
the roads impossible. The southern mail which
was due at o'clock on Monday evening, did not
arrive until "Wednesday noon-a delay which is
not reCoIlected ever To have taken place or that
route before. On Tuesday morning two at
tempts were made to transport the mail from
this town, outward, in the mail coach, and af-
forwards in single sleigh but both attempts
faiIed-;he drivers being unable to get further
than Bramhall's hill The contractor then en-
ployed two men TO take the letter mail, who pro-
ceeded on foot. These circumstances show the
extreme severity of the storm, which reminded
US of those described BY old people as being COM
mon years ago in the early settlement of the
country, which buried men. their habitations &
cattle. The thermometer during the storm, ram
gel from 10 to II degrees above zero.
The late severe snow storm commenced in
New York on Sunday, and continued "a hours,
providing them with abundance Of our great
northern staple
We have heard that an unusual quantity of
snow has fallen in South and North Carolina,
and the other southern states this winter and
we are sure we have had more oft with US, than
at any previous season for several years.
The following anecdote, taken from the +" Ros-
ton Evening Post" of March 3lst, 1866, thor
ough administration paper, shows how great was
the excitement hmong the people at that period,
against every one who offered any countenance
to tho odious stamp act.
We hear that person in a neighbouring
government, lately refused 10 pay a debt for
which he was attached, because the writ was not
stamped. The pppulace Immediately on hearing
thereof, assembled, and having the fellow before
them, passed the three following votes and re-
solve, VIII. That this man is not christian.
2. That he ought TO be Of some religion. There
fore--3. Voted, That he be a Jew. Whereup-
on Resolved. that he be circumcised This res
0lution SO terrified the poor creature, that he
begged forgiveness for his imprudence, & prom
ised to behave better for the future. He was
then permitted tp make confession of his faith,
upon which lis sentence was RENTED, and he
discharged"
The same papdr contains scurrious attack
upon the character Of James Otis, the patriot Of
that day, and which is alluded to, by Mr.. Tudor,
IL his biography Of that gentleman.
MIR. Tudor in this interesting work, has OPEN
ed very useful and agreeable field Of study.
Although the ma erials relating to the principal
subject Of the VIC rk, appear TO have been unac-
countably =" few and far between" yet the no
tees Of the fearless and high spirited men of that
day, render the book valuable acquisition 10
the reading public.
We have desired, and shall take an early op-
portunity, to select some of the portraits from
this collection for the benefit of those who may
not be able to examine the repository itself.
The Pioneers.--Mr. Coopers- last novel, has
given us some Disappointment We hoped to
find in this American tale. traces of improvement
upon the former works Of the same author; but
we are constrained TO say. that as regards style,
invention and interest, (" the Pioneers is infcr-
or to the" Spy" The leading faults as it appears