The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-30
LETTER FROM CINCINNATI.
Western Arts Union-The Mysterious Rappings-
Ohio Constitutional COnven,iOn-Indiana United
States Senator.


was the principal prize. This fell to the lot of
j. darcy of New Orleans brother-in-law, it
is understood, Of Mr.. Robb, of whom the statue
is procured Much disappointment was mani
tested that some Cincinnatian did not get this
prize 1t is the wish of the directors of this in
stitution that the Greek Slave may remain in
their gallery as a permanent attraction, and
sum of money had already been reserved, to pur
chase it, should the holder be willing to part with
| it for this purpose. From the Annual Report of
the Arts Union, read on the same evening il sp
pears that the number of subscribers was 4, 1874.
The amount of money received (s3 for each sub
scribes) WAS s23, 67O The amount psid fSr paint
ings and works of art for distribution, Sl7,720.
The number of prizes distributed was $50. Be-
si6es the Greek Slave, there weae' Is paintings,
and 300 copies of the " Allston Outlines" There
were also 80 prizes of S75 and 500, remaining
out of the surplus funds of the Union, which had
not been laid out for paintings, on account of the
late day at which these funds had been received
The drawers of these will be entitled to paint
ings to the value Of the amounts respectively
drawn.
The number of the ticket which drew the
Greek Slave was 1926 The next prize in value
was the painting of " Cromwell and Hitch in Ely
Cathedral No a 3l6, drawn by H. II. Goodman,
of this city was not little surprised to learn
that two-thirds of the subscribers to the Union
this year were non-residents Of Cincinnati. |
find names in every of the principal cities of
our Union, and from every State from Maine to
Texas Many are from the interior towns in
Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and others of
the Western States-a most gratifying evidence
of the spreading reputation Of the institution,
and the interest it is awakening in behalf of the
fine arts.
The mysterious rappings" and the subjects
of clairvoysnce and spiritual manifestations have
been making no small stir in our city for some
time past. Certain of our papers and public lee
turers seem determined the interest or "excite-
mentn on these topics shall not die away and we
have had discussions and lectures in abundance,
which are on the increase, and attract crowded
audiences, in despite of the opposition or rdcule
of skeptics. A series of lectures is to be given
in few days by Mrs. Bushnell, the renowned
clairvoyant; another by Dr. Buchanan; another
by Fowler of New York, on Phrenoogy and its
cognate topics; and the promised book, detailing
all manner of wonderful manifestations, by Cog
geshall, of the Daily Tunes, is soon to make its
appearance. Rev. MIR. Stuart, of the Swedenbor-
gan faith, has been giving series of discourses
on the same subjects, at which the crowds have
been so great, that many have gone away, unable
to gain admittance. In these, perceive from the
reports, he is careful to make every theory bear
at last in favor of the peculiar views of his own
church. Not being one of the 5elieuers in these
new sciences, and Of course wholly uninitiated
into their mysteries, cannot speak of them in
more than doubtful terms; but as indications of
the ever-restless spirit of inquiry, and the ten
| dency Of cur age to seek after things new and
strange, they are worthy Of notice and record, at
least, as part of the history Of our times.
The Constitutional Convention is progressing
with its duties with reasonable rapidity 1t is
true there is vast amount of speaking-chiefiy
| by few members, some Of whom, enter the Hall
when you may, you are sure to find on their feet
but thorough investigate and full deliberation
is much more desirable in framing constitution
for more than two millions of freemen, than any
thing like undue haste. Every proposition seems
to be thoroughly Gifted, and every sort of amend
ment attempted by men of the various classes Of
mind composing the Convention. There APP
pears to be enough Of Conservative Democrats,
when united with the Wings, to prevent any uery
radical or destructive changes in the Constitution
being made A vote was taken on inserting
provision, giving the General Assembly power
to repeal or revoke the charters of any incorpo-
rated companies, such as banks, railroad comps-
mics, &c, on "just and equitable terms" and it
was ost--every Wing and elsvea Democrats voting
in the negative This was considered by many
as test question between the parties, and the
Enquirer, the Democratic organ in this city, in
dignant at such faithlessness on the part Of any
protesting to be Of that faith, exclaims "God
help such Democracyw The constituents of
Judge Vance, Of "Old Butler" have made such
an cutlery at his "treachery,n that he has re-
signed his seat and the Governor has appointed
O day for an election to fill the vacancy. Mr.
Vance is again a candidate, and as the Wings
have determined TO support him, his reelection is
highly probable, which will he held by his per-
sonal friends and the Wings as q rebuke to the
Destructives. Among the alterations made in
our Constitution is one providing for the election
of the Judges Of the Supreme Court by the peo-
PIE Of the State, and another, fixing the meetings
of the Legislature at once in two years. These
were both voted for by members Of all parties.
You will have seen that Hon. J. d. Bright has
been reelected to the United States Senate for
six years by the Legislature Of Indiana. The
Democratic party, having the power in their hands,
chose whom they would, and Mr. Petit and X.
d. Owen, the competitors Of Mr.. Bright before
the caucus men Of superior talents, being liable
to the charge of infdelty, the latter was the
chosen representative Of the State. The stand
taken by Mr. Bright on the Slavery question is
we'll known. He is avowedly the friend and ally
of the South and doubt II there has been one
in the Senate whose votes have more uniformly |
sustained the interests of Slavery. His professed
views have led the Slave Ex tensionists to oo1nt
upon his aid and his votes, when the hour Of trial
came, have never betrayed them. And this Is the |
man 10 represent State formed out Of the free |
territory Of the Northwest. Some Of the ortho-
dor religious journals are rejoicing at the defeat
of Owen and Petit.
The Indiana correspondent Of the Christian
Herald the organ Of the New School Presbyte-
risn Church, ia the West has been much trou-
bled about the movements Of Mr.. Oliver, in the
Indiana Constitutional Convention. The efforts
of Mr. 0. to incorporate some Of his peculiar
views, relative TO the rights Of married women, in
the new constitution, seems 10 be the great ground
of complaint. The course Of Mr.. Owen, where
ever the interests of Human Freedom are con-
cerned, has been not whit better that that OF
his successful competitor, and completely falsihes
auy hopes which the friends Of slavery restriction
may have entertained OF his assistance But this
as well as Mr.. Brighps pro-slsveryism, seems TO
have escaped the notice Of these vigilant guardi-
ans of religion. The truth IL, the opinions or
course Of public man 10 regard to the greatest
question which agitates tho nation, 10 never taken
into the account by the leaders in Church or
T. - E.ss f..I IA 4