The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-01-28
CONGRESS-MoyDAY.

SENATE.-Aftef the usual morning business,
the homestead bill was taken up and made the
order of the day for Thursday, Feb. 3D..
The Senate then proceed ID TO the considera-
ton of the joint resolution declaratorv OF the
views of the United States respecting coloni-
cation on the North American continent by
European powers, and respecting the island
of Cuba; which was debated at length by
Messrs. Seward, Cass, Mallory, Gwin, Hale,
Mason, Underwood, Shields, Butler and others.
Without disposing of the subject, the Senate
adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPREsESTATIyKs.-Att
speech from Mr.. Brooks in favor of the m int
bill, various questions upon it were put by
yeas and nays, and it was finally rejected
The House then went into Committee OF the
Whole on the state of the Union, MIR. Brown,
of Miss ssippi, in the chair i wherein the de-
fciency bill was again taken up, and the bal
ance of the days session was devoted to the
further consideration of various amendments
to that bill. The committee then rose, and the
House adjourned.
HoRRIBLE.-0n Thursday morning last,
James Clark. well-known citizen of Clsrk
county, made an assault upon negro woman
for cause which we have not heard stated.
He then ordered her into the corner, and COM
menced pitching his knife at her point fore
most. AS the knife would enter her flesh, he
would compel the victim 10 dfaw il out, and
return il to him. This demOniacal, amusement
was continued until the slave was cover.
ed with about fifty bleeding gashes! The
same day. he whipped his wife, CUT her all
over the head with mis- knife, not dangerously,
we understand, but in mass of cruel and
painful punctures He also cut off her eyes
lids!
This strange drama wound up on Friday last
by the commission of murder. Clark, on that
day, ordered his wife to go and call Lewis, Ia
negro belonging to the family.) She obeyed,
but the slave refused to come, through drecd
of his enraged master, we suppose. Mrs. Z.
returned, and was whipped by her husband for
not bringing the negro. Five times was she
sent upon this caprlclous mission, i've times
was it fruitless, and each time was shs whipped
for her failure. Clark then called to the slave
informing him that he would shoot him the
next morning. The negro, it seems, did net
heed the warning, for while splitting rails the
pext day, he was deliberately shot by his mas
ter. The wound was fatal /; the negro ran
about three hundred yards, and fell in mortal
agony. Thus terminated one of the most bar
barous transactions that il has ever been our
painful and repugnant duty TO record.
Clark was arrested on Saturday last by de-
putaton of citizens, who, indignant at the hor-
rible crimes attributed to him, deemed it their
duty to uid in bringing him to ondig1 punish
ment.
The verdict OF the jury ofinquest was MUIR
der, and the Justice committed Clark to Jail
without bail.
We cannot conceive of any motive that could
induce Clark to commit crimes OF so peculiarly
aggravated an atrocty. We have heard of no
domestic infelicities or engagements which
would render a man so desperate.
The only ground upon which his conduct
can be accounted for, is that of insanity. 1t is
charitable to suppose that none but lunatc
would commit crimes so heinous as those we
have recorded. Certainly, sane and sober hu.
man nature never could be so debased.
(Paukdinp (Miss.J Clarion.