The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-10
rhe Late peplorable Railroad accident.

Vne Late Deplorabie Railroad Accldenr.
The Manchester Mirror of Thursday evening
contains letter from Rev Mr. Fuller, OF Lawren ce
who was passenger in the cars, from which we
quote the following:
aTwo incidents among the many terrible ones
are especially present to my memory. On the
bank sat mother, MRS. Stokes, of this city,)
cIaspng her little boy of some three or four years
of age He had been rescued from the ruin which
had strewn the rock with spntered fragments,
and her own person was considerably burned by
the fire, but she shedding tears of gratitude over
her rescued child, and rejoicing in his safety, un-
mindful of her own pain.
But a few steps from her saw the most appal-
ling scene of all. There another mother,
. whose agony passed beyond any description. She
could shed no tears, but, overwhelmed with grief,
uttered such affecting words as never for get
1t was Mrs Pierce, the lady of the President elect
and near her, in that ruin of shivered wood and
IRON lay more terrible ruin, her only son, one
minute before so beautiful, full of life and hope
She was supported by her husband and Professor
Packard. G
General Pierce was himself bruised in the back,
but not severely, and the wounds of the spirit far
exceeded any bodily suffering; yet, while deeply
affected, he showed all the self possession and
nerve which only characterzes great hearted and
noble men, and which few would manifest under
similar circumstances. He gave all needful direc-
ions about the recovery of his little boy, still
tangled In the wreck about him, and then afforded
all that comfort and sympathy to his partner in
sorrow which was appropriate to the time. She
was conveyed to a house near, and there she gave
vent to the grief which rent her heart, while he
consoled and comforted.s may not draw the veil
from that picture. Sacred is the holy privacy of
sorrow, and the hearts of those who have suffered
can feel what my pen must describe.
"Soon we were able to convey the wounded and
the dead to the nearest house, which happened to
be that connected with the poor farm in Andover,
where every possible kindness and attention were
rendered Go with me to that house, and look
with me while that scene of suffering and sor-
In we and ladv
in the opposite apartment lay the mortal remains
of their little boy-and Oh so sad sight! The
blow by which he was instantly killed struck his
forehead, and was so violent to remove the up
per portion of the head, leaving part of the brain
exposed. The face, with the exception of a bruise
about the right eye, still remained uninjured, but
bathed in blood. Gen. Pierce and lady, mean
while, retired to the house of Mr.. Akin.
"After the head of the little boy had been ten
derby cared for by the physicians and all possible
done to restore the look of life, he was carried by
Us to the house where his parents were. shall
forget the look of extreme pain that Child's
face wore; and yet there was something resigned
and tender impressed by the awful hand of death.
He was not yet cold when he was in the room of
Mr. Atkins house, dressed just as he had been at
the moment of the calamity. The form which had
left the house but little more than hour before,
full of life and happiness with heart full of hope
and bright aspirations, was borne back to those
who had parted from him-that heart now hushed
and STILL that form motionless, and the limbs fast
growing rigid under the icy touch of death"
The N. Y. Mirror says, on the authority of
private letter from Andover " Gen. Pierce bears
his terrible bereavement with Christian resig-
nation; but the anguish of the poor mother
is greater than che can bear. Friends kneel
around her bedside repeating words of prayer
and consolation, but she exclaims go, my
son, my only son-taken from me in a mo-
ment o, if could only have spoken to him
Was God with me there ?' She cannot weep.
Gen. Pierce complains little of pain in his back,
and stoops when he walks; but no permanent in
jury is apprehended. The car was smashed in
thousand pieces; and the escape of single pas.
senger unhurt is regarded as almost miraculous
MISSISSIPPI BoNDs-Righly Important Decision
We understand that the high court of errors and
appeals has just made decision which virtually
sets at rest the question the legality of the Plant
ers' Bank bonds. -s
An act was passed by the Legislature, March
A. l848, appropriating to the payment of the cou-
pons for interest the bonds issued by the State
on account of the Planters Bank, according to
their priority, the sinking fund then in the State
treasury, and which might thereafter come into
the treasury ...- ..
A mandamus was applied for some two years
ago, before the circuit court of Warren county to
compel the State Treasurer to pay such coupon
for interest. That court refused the application,
and on appeal to the high court, the latter body
decided that the treasurer was not authorized to
pay the coupon without the auditors warrant.
A second mandamus was in the mean time ap-
piled, for before the circuit court of Kinds county
TO compel the auditor to issue his warrant to the
treasurer for the amount of the coupon, which ap-
plication granted. The auditor appealed to
the high COURT and this tribunal noo decides that
the auditor shall issue his tDarrant for the coupons
of interest that are attached to the bond and falling
due March ], 184l or, that all coupons of that date
outstanding and unpaid shall have privilege of
payment over those due September l, lS4I.
The judgment of the high court is, we under
stand, final and the auditor is obliged on presenta-
ton of certified copy of it and the bonds to issue
his warrants for the coupons of interest due March
l, l84l. These coupons amount to S45 900. The
State 10 now using this sinking fund to pay its
governmental expenses. The principle of this de-
cision, should suppose, will also compel the
payment ofthe September 1S4l coupons after those
of March paid
The decision has its greatest interest in the fact
that it settles, by solemn decision of our hi CHEST
court, the legality and constitutionaity of these
bonds. Had they not been constitutionally issued,
and legally binding on the State, the high court
would have dismissed the application.
The first half million of these bonds have no cou-
pons attached. The decision, therefore, only ap-
half.-NGtehez Courier, Dec. 81.
Governor BRowN, of Florida, in his annual mes
sage, having reiterated the opinion that his term
of Office expired in October last, the matter was
referred in the Seante to select committee who
have reported that the Governors term will not