davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-06-07
THE CONVENTION.

The proceedings of the Convention will be
found in another column, and will be read with
interest. We have only room to say, that the
proceedings of the Convention were character
ised with the utmost harmony, and resulted in
the adoption of principles based upon the great
truths first promulgated in the declaration Of In
dependence. 1t will be, perhaps, gratifying to
all to learn, that there is now but two political
organizations in the State. Whatever may be
said as to the motives which has actuated men
in coming to this result, no one can doubt but the
issue is now distinctly made in the State Of Yer
mont between Liberty and Slavery-betweer
men who support slaveholding administration
and those who are opposed. rr,enqs a.
dopted was magnanimous, and is q sure guaran-
ty to us of their sincerity, however much theil
motives may be impugned by the Taylortes
The principles adopted as the basis of our future
action in opposing the encroachments Of the slave
power, and procuring the abolition of Slavery
wherever it can be constitutonalIy reached, will
meet the views Of the most ardent Liberty OF
Free Soil man, who has long been laboring for
the overthrow Of those political organizations
which sustained it. The last Presidential elec-
ton demonstrated to every man who was but a
careless observer, that slavery was the CONTROL.
ing power which settled the Presidential election
in favor of Slavery and the South Every days
experience, and the signs of the times in all the
Free States, as well as the indications which we
are daily receiving from the South, goes to show
the necessity of an organization which should
embrace every man who is determined to support
Freedom and resist oppression.
To our Taylor friends, who are carping so much
at the sudden conversion of the Democratic
masses, we have only to say, that the latter
are now exhonorated from any obligations to the
southern Democrats who have sacrificed their
principles and joined the Wings in the Free
States in the election of man who holds to
the ridiculous doctrine that enc man may o,0n
another, anu has the ight 10 sell him as he would
his holse or his OK.
1t will be seen, also, that the Convention has
presented an entire new Ticket for State officers.
There may be some, perhaps, who will be ready
to inquire, why this change? In justice to our
friends, and for the information of our opponents,
we would say, that Mr.. Shafter, our worthy can
dldato for Governor last year, percmptorily de-
cEnea another nomination. No man in the State
would we have supported more checrfully if he
had not declined. Judge Poland, our candidate
for Lieut.. Governor, has been placed in more
important position by the Legislature last fall.
and Mr.. Stansbury declined another nomination
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-06-07

We gather from the ST. Louis papers
the following particulars respecting the des-
tructive fire at that city on the 18th ult
Twenty.three steamboats, were DESTROYED
which with their cargoes are estimated at
$5lS,000.
The number of houses destroyed is as
sumed at four hundred-amoDg them many
warehouses and stores containing much
valuable merchandise of various kinds; in
some of them the articles in store are val
ued at 500, 0O0-that is, in one house.
All the Offices of the daily English press
ses were destroyed except that of the In
ion. But the propretors, not dismayed or
paraIysed by their misfortunes, went to
work to remedy it and they will, in an in.
credibIy short time after the fire, publish
their papers as usual.
The whole loss, sustained by the city in
consequence of the FIRE, is estimated to be
not less than five millions of dollars. The
Insurance companies will meet punctualIy
all their liabilities, or come very near doing
so. One or two it is thought will not be
able topay more than eighty per cent.
Of course there is much individual loss
and suffering. some are utterly ruined
and thousands have sustained great losses
This is one Of the most destructive fires
recorded in our annals, we believe, the most
80, probably that has ever occurred in the
West, including that at Pittsburg, four
years ago, and that which more than forty
years ago, laid the whole city of Detroit in
ashes.-GloJe.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-06-07
The Great Project of a Railroad
to San Francisco.

This project seems everywhere to be in the
high tide Of public favor, and we begin to think
the next Congress will feel that national senti-
ment calls upon 1t at once to enter upon the
work in earnest. Every section Of the country
will be immeasurably benefited by such a road;
and we are happy to perceive that the North and
the South, the East and the West, are all alike
calling for the Accomplishment of the work.
In the'West the great matter of-fact man, T.
II. Benton, is taking the lead. In the South,
the Governor Of South Carolina, and the great
statesman j. c. Calhoun, and in the East, P. P.
F. Degrand, one of our Railroad kings, and his
associates, are urging the same great national
work on the most feasible plan, almost clamor-
ously demanding that the work be commenced
and carried on to completion with the greatest
possible expedition. From Ohio, Michigan and
New York; we hear the same cry. The Govern
or of South Carolina seems to have heartily en-
tered into the subject; and we see BY the Mer-
curry of the ODD ultimo, that at the request of
the friends of the project of the road in that
State, he has named 100 delegates to attend the
proposed National Convention on the subject at
Memphis, in Tennessee, on the ensuing 4th of
July. At the head Of this list of delegates,
stands the Hon. ]. C. Calhoun. We hope tho
Old Bay State and New England generally, will
be well represented in that Convention No
subject of equal importance since the adoption
of our National Constitution, has engaged the at.
tenlon Of the citizens of this country. 1t is
vastly important to ourselves and must act on
the social and commercial interests of the world.
Such road willb the thoroughfare of the trade
Of the nations Of Europe and the East Indies
The United States will be the central CONNER
cal depot of this great thoroughiare of the trade
Of the world. The road must and will be built.
Congress cannot trife with the wishes Of the ma
ton Olive Branch.
And why should not Vermont be represented
also in this great movement 3-ED,
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-06-07
Whig Coalitions----Monstrous

Our Wing contemporaries in the State of Yer.
mont will do well to publish the following ex.
tract of letter from Judge Lane of Alabama,
declining to run as a candidate for the office Of
Governor. 1t may possibly relieve them from
some of those dstracting feals which have fol-
lowed them for the last few weeks. Their read
ers will be surprised to learn the startling fact,
that Wings themselves propose to take DEM
OCRAT for their candidate, for the purpose of
carrying the State of Alabama. The Judge is
very careful to bring out one important reason
for this coalition, and that is the Wings have
been in minority and the Democrats have al
ways had a majority in the State"
The Judge says:
In selecting the man who is to represent the
Taylor Republican party in this State, we ought
not to overlook the fact that the Whigs have been
IN The minority, and that there GllOays has been d
Democratic majority IN The State. We should, in
confessedly Democratic Stale, or one that has
hitherto been SO, select moderate man from
the Democratic ranks-one Of those who have
been called Taylor Democrats, not because
right or wrong, but because they have acted IN
accordance with the principles which he pro-
fessed for the regulation of his Government.
"Wh0 is the man, then, best qualified to rep
resent the Taylor party? OF all men in the
State Of Alabama, suited to the present times
qualified to meet the present current in the pop
ular will, without disparaeing the claims of any
distinguished gentlemen of nv acquaintance,
believe the Hon. James E. Belser is the man."
These remarks have been endorsed by the
Wing papers In the State in the following man
ner:
ave have the pleasure of laying before our
readers to- day letter on public affairs, by dis
tngulshed citizen Of Alabama, in the Just ant
wise sentiments Of which there must be wide
concurrence among all who join to purposes o
real patriotism, such calm Effectiveness as car
guide to the true means by which those ptupO
SeS are to be pursued and can be accomplished
If the Taylor party can justify themselves ii
such coalition as this, for such purpose, wha
baseness for them to make an outcry against tn,
union OF men for the purpose of establshin!
correct principles.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-06-07
Meteorology for May, 1949.

The mean, or average temperature for the
month of May, as ascertained by four daily OBJ
seryations on the thermometer, in each of the
81 days Of the month, was but fraction over
AZ degrees. The depth Of water which el du-
ring the same time, was three and one fourth
inches. This is, probably, more than monthly
proportion of our yearly average, which, with
out having had as yet, any certain means of
knowing, we judge must be, in this section of
the State, full thirty-six inches. The average
fall Of water at Burlington has been ascertained
to be over thirty-two inches; and we have be-
come satisfied that here among the mountains,
we have several inches more. But though we
have had, in May, our full share of rain, and
more than half as much water as fell during the
five preceding months, yet it has been widely
different in regard to warmth. 1t hos been The
coolest May since 1897 if not since 1917. The
register of the late Hon. Elijah Paine kept at
Williamstown ID years, from 1888 to 184l, the
last inclusive, shows a temperature for May,
1887, of $50 degrees or nearly 46 degrees.
We formerly used to compare notes with
the Judge, and found that, with the exception of
still, cold mornings, his thermometer usually
stood two degrees or more, lower than ours at
Montpelier; while ours was about the same
number of degrees lower than the thermometer
kept at Burlington AMI other towns west of the
mountain. The advance of vegetation this
String has been, owing to the unusual proper
ton of cloudy weather, probably, even slower
than The difference of temperature, compared
with other springs, would seem to warrant
Last year, the shadwood, our best test of the
progress Of the season, was in blossom at least
fifteen days earlier than this season. The plum
bossomed last year by the 10th and the apple
tree by the goth of May. This year the plum
was not in blossom till the 24th, and the APPLE
tree is not yet fairly blossomed, this 9Th day of
June. On the whole, we think there cannot
have been colder, more backward and dsa-
greeabe spring for the last thirty years.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-06-07
Alligator Fight-An Incident of
the CreVasse.

The quarters of our friend, Co.. Cla.
borne, near Saves crevasse, arc some four
feet under waiter. Night before last vet,
eran alligator from St, Tammany, concluded
to pay the colonel a visit in friendly way,
and congratulate him as brother democrat,
on the nomination of Walker and Planche
Taking his course quietly through the corn
field and pastures he thought it would be
polite to call at the cabin Of the "drver,"
or head man, and inquire if the colonel was
at home.
Finding the door closed, he walked under
the house, and beloved halIoo at the top
of his voice. Getting 10 answer, he COM
menced a tremendous laundering and
humping, lifting up the flooring, and scat
tering the little "niggers" in every direction.
The hubbub aeon reused the sIeepers.-
They Jumped out Of bed in terrible stew,
raked up light, and at the same moment
were seen bouncing among the ratters, the
Vlster underneath lifting up one plank, and
then another, llnglng the whole crowd off
their legs as fast as they could straighten
them out.
SuCh a scene OF confusion was never wit
messed. The darkies were completely be-
wildered, and their oulcries soon drew the
whole establishment together The planks
were drawn up, and there was-not old
Nick, but a fellow much ugier-a tremend-
Gus alligator, with expanded jaws, shaking
his monstrous tail in defiance, aud sweeping
it round in rapid semicirces. The instant
he was discovered, two huge dogs leaped
upon him, but the contest didnot last loI a
moment.
One he struck dead with his sweeping
taif, the other he cranched between his
bloody jaws. But by this time the negroes
got their dander up. They rushed upou
him with axes, mauls, and budgeons. The
monster stood his ground, and "never said
die" until one of them thrust a burning
brand down his (etd throat. He is of enor-
nous girth, and measures over fifteen feet.
New-Orleans Delta.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-06-07
Indian War in Texas.

The Flag says, on Thursday last, our town
was thrown into great excitement by all arrival
from Palo Alto, announcing the startling intelli.
gence that numerous formidable bands of Indl-
ans had Just made descent upon that place
and committed many acts of savage barbanty.--
The destruction of property is immense. Sew,
enty horses, owned by one gentleman, were cap
tured and killed. Women and children were
carried off into captivity Gen. Abalos the mil
itary commandant at Matamoras, had been APP
| piled to by the civil Authorities of Brownsville,
for the assistance of a force of mounted drag
oons. His answer was, that he was ready to
furnish all the force and dispose of il as author
lied, by the conmandant of the Texan Depart
ment, to pass the frontier, The later refuses
! The Mexican cavalry, in few hours, were well
equipped, and facing the bank of the river, wait
ing for sanction to cross. The whole American
population in the valley Of the Rio Grande were
in state of the most extreme agitation.
Accounts from San Fernando, Western Texas,
state that Major Berry's party were cut to pieces
by the Indians. They were attacked one hun
drcd and fifty miles beyond the Hacienda Of San
Juan de Zendas, and all murdered but one pris-
oner and five others, the Major and a command
| er.
The stage from Point Isabel had been inter-
rupted, and the proprietor, Mr. Bangs, and Mr..
Lombards, passenger, was taken prisoners
A train Of transport wagons, containing much
valuable merchandise, has been captured be-
tween Brownsville and Point Isabel. Such Of
the citizens as were able to procure horses spec
Oily repaired thither, but their number were toe
small to do any thing more than defend the set
Elements. Major Taylor thought the pursuit inn
practicable. Colonel Morsis, the commandanl
at Fort Brown, also despatched in wagons some
thirty infantry, all his disposable force, leaving
only guard at the fort; bnt their progress was
ton tardy to avail anything against foe so willy
and well mounted. There were no mounted
men in the garrison before the arrival of this
force.
They retired not, however, before they hat
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-06-07
Seven days Later from Europe by
the Niagara.

The elections in France had taken place, and
all passed off quietly.
The French had not yet effected an entrance
into Rome. Angry debates had occurred in
the National Assembly in regard to this expedi-
ton; but the ministry, after previous vote of
censure, finally obtained, by various explana-
tions Of the objects of the measure, and by
bringing 10 bear other influences, perhaps, a
Sigh, majority for sustaining them.
The Italians are still determined the Pope
shall not be reinstuted in his temporal authority
and the priests among them who are found ad.
vocating it, are severely handled and some of
them, it is said, have been put to death.
All eyes are turned on Hungary. Russia is
pouring down upon her powerful army of in
fantry, with $50 pieces Of cannon and $4,000
cavalry and, though the reused Hungarans are
still successful against the Austrans, and, in
high spirits, nervng themselves to meet the
shock of the combined armies of their despotic
invaders, yet the friends of freedom are tremb-
ling for the result.
In England, Parliament had approved of the
just and liberal course Of Lord Elgin in Canada
and resolved to sustain him, so that tho Allen
McNabbs, who have gone to England to get him
removed will find they have gone on FOOLS er.
rand.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-06-07
Republican freedom
June 5, 1849.

Elder Dudley, under sentence of death for
the murder of his wife, was executed at Haver-
hill, N. II. on the ODD of May. He protested
his innocence to the last. A short time before
his execution he seems to have received new
light respecting the manner in which his wife
came to her death, which he could not before &C
count for it will be recoected. He said it had
been recently revealed to him that when she fell
from the sleigh she hit her head against stone
Washington Goode the dissolute wretch who
murdered the colored sailor, Harding, in Boston,
was also hung about the same time.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-06-07
ST. LOUIS MAY %. 1874


There were IlS deaths from cholera dur
ing the week ending yesterday. From 9TH.
er diseases there were 6S deaths.
Col. Benton's speech to his constituents
creates good deal of excitement among
the democracy. The part of it already
published fills thirteen columns of the JEFF.
ferson City Enquirer of Saturday last.
Its principal topic is the resolution sub
mitted by Mr.. Calhoun to the Southern con-
vention, and the vote of instructions passed
by tile Legislature of Missouri. Col Ben
ton says that he sees little difference be-
tween them, except that the former would
dissolve the Union immediately,-the latter
ultimately.
He asserts the right of Congress to leg
islate for the the territories, and refers to
the course Of Mr. Calhoun in 1920, on the
admission of Missouri.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-06-07

perpetrated acts of savage barbarity. Dorets
Zamora, the most estimable citizen, we regrt'
to learn, is among the slain. Mr.. Zamora hal
Just decided, under the treaty, to become an Al
merlcan citizen. One of Mr.. Zamora's SOM
was killed at the same time another bsdl /
wounded, and his daughter, girl about IA yeasl
of age, was carried Off At Rancho Santiago
two men were killed, woman and two chidrei
taken captives. From Rancho De Los Indias
Mrs. Wilsey, the wife Of Captain Wilsey, he
brother and sister-in law, were carried off cap
tives.
Tho aged mother, Mrs Wilsey, her sister, fol
lowed her children for some distance, regardless
of savage menace, when the Indians seized hel
tied her hands behind her, pierced her with thei
lances and arrows, and left her on the groun
weltering in her blood, as they supposed dead
After this, however, this poor woman succeede
in reaching the neighboring rancho in shock
ingiy mutilated condition. She is now a mani
&C. The destruction of property on this river j
immense. There has been loss of sevenl
houses by fire. Mr.. Bangs and his company es
capped. They were, however, reduced 10 stal
of mutiny. The foregoing is but faint outlin
OF facts.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-06-07

o. Washington County Court adjourned on
Tuesday, after session of two weeks. Fifteen
jury cases only were tried. But the Grand Jury
have shown themselves capable of greater dis
play of business, having found twenty seven
bills of indictment against sundry persons, for
various offences, but mostly for violation of the
license laws. Kendrick Trow, a former resident
of our State palace at Windsor, was directed to
repair there again for three years, in company Of
Sheriff McCloud, in consequence Of having bor-
rowed a horse to ride few miles, as he says.
He thanked the Judge profoundly on receiving
the sentence, having anticipated doubtless that
he would have been debaned the pleasure Of
borrowing horses for much longer period.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-06-07

merism on account of its supposed confirmation
of Phrenology. And what Mr. Editor snail we
think of the facts of Mesmerism? l reason d
hort them lust as you reason about prophetic
a,..r,s The facts are undeniable. To uttrib-
ute them to chance, "is too much like attrlbutlng
the machinery of the Universe to the same
source" To account for them on natural prin-
ciDles, is more than either you or can do How
then, shall we account for them? 10 those who
think it probable that evil spirits may still exhi-
bit themselves in operations Of wltchcraft, sorce-
nv, or dlvination, the matter IS explained. You
believe in things supernatural, so do and you
see perfect parallel between your own reason
ing and mine. By what rule of judgment, then,
will you convict me of superstition and acquit
yourself?
The facts of mesmerism are not only unintel-
ligible on any known principles Of nature, but
they arc such that they did not actually exist,
philosophy would pronounce them utterly impos-
sible and treat the belief Of them as child
ish weakness. Ought such facts to be regarded
as confirmation of system, which, phiosophc-
ally examined by itself, is capable of nothing
but refutationf
Our fathers entertained extravagant and per-
picious notions of witchcrah, and it is not sur
prisng that we incline to the opposite extreme
OF rejecting the beliefof the supernatural alto
gether. 1t was their weakness to ascrlbe nat
ural phenomena to supernatural sn@G0 nitur-
al causes. know not which is the greater
weakness; but i'll my apprehension there is a
sort of mental narowness in the notion thai
there are no facts in the universe beyond the
cognizance of philosophy, and that we have ar
rived at the end of all truth, when we have ex
plored the whole world oil nature S.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-06-07

NJ As we expected, the wings have already
commenced their misrepresentation and SANDER
of those men who have been nominated by the
Free Democracy. A baser falsehood never was
uttered, than that Messrs. Needham and Rob-
erts voted for the annexation of Texas" Some
Of the Taylor presses have commenced an UNI
lust attack upon the character and qualifications
of the nominees. They had better institute
some inquiry for the purpose aScertaining their
qualifications, before adopting this wholesale de-
nunciation. Perhaps these men will render an
excuse for their want of qualifications, "that
thew have been engaged in the camp and had moi
time to inform themselves upon the great queS-
tons of National and Stale policy" This
would be perfectly satisfactory to the Wings, II
thew we're candidates for the Presidency.
We now appeal to the people of Vermont. to
sustain the principles adopted by the convention
They are the principles which cost the blood
and treasure of our forefathers, and on which
this Government was founded. No matter whaI
the Tavlorites may profess with regard to these
"princples and opinions which divide the free
democracy from them," it is enough that they arr
now sustaining slave.holding President wh'
threatens to use his executive power to silence
the free expression of opinoin upon the system