Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-12-03

the Mobile Register Under the above caption. which
written with the accustomed good taste and abiliz
of its editor The article win repay an attentive
perusal:
- Now that the State elections are over in New
York, the war of the shells will become nine days
wonder and crustaceous politicians OF different spec
les will settle down into their respective places of
support or opposition to the administration. We
have all along regarded it an absurty that los
cal squabbe, so purely factous and deeply tainted
with oice-seeking, should have been permitted to
extend and find partisans, pro and con, beyond the
borders of New York. 1t is the matter of the least
possible moment to the democracy of the Union
whether Mr. Bronson or Mr.. anybody else happens
to be the individual to collect the government duties
in the city of New York. and the idea of making an
issue with the President of the United States elected
he was, pledged he was and far, most faith
fully redeeming all his pledges of official and const
tutlonal duty, upon paltry local eud and scramble
for spoils, is simply ridiculous. We at the South
southern rights democrats and Union democrats and
very just minded wings too-are satisfied with the
administration. We believe the choice and election
of Gen. Pierce was happy termination to contro-
versy in which there really no further ground of
contention for it had been settled by law for veal
for VICE. according different opinions were held
but at all events settled, and it was but waste of
time and temper to keep up a war of words and of
feeling, when the field had been lost and won 1t
was in this spirit that the democratic party of the
Union met at Baltimore and laid down a platform,
upon which General Pierce had no difficulty from
his political antecedents, firmly to plant himself In
General Pierce the South had to congratulate
itself in finding State-rights politician and strict
conStructionst of the straitest scct and the whole
Union recognised in him national man who had
placed the integrity of the Union where it belongs
on the broad and ony-enduring basis of the rights
of the States. The shells may wage what they
please to the bltterest end among themselves-they
may initiate and emulate the Kilkenny CATS and
leave never bit of fur behind-we take no part or
lot in it it is to alien question.
But when the war is ended, it is important to US
to know where the surviving combatants take up
their political quarters. If either march into the
camp of the enemies of the administration, then, no
matter what their antecedents we staLd opposed to
them. Nor will we refuse the aid of any of them,
though it be Prince John himself who manfully
supports administration that is far the Zenith
ON the Nadir from the political opinions the said
Prince Whom maintained at Buffalo. We stand by
the President so long he stands on the Baltimore
platform His friends are our friends, his enemies
our enemies, and we don't care button who is
collector of New York.
Some people are raising the silly cry of ingrat-
tude' because southern presses refuse to abandon
the administration account of this quarrel in New
York The CANNON of this note is perceived when
we discover whence it comes 1t comes from such
whig presses as the New York Express and Day
Book, and these papers have the impudence to call
the steady friends of the administration at the South
softs We would be soft, indeed, if did not APP
prcciatc at their worth both the attempt and the OBJ
ject of these papers, Their purpose is to break down
the administration, and their mode of doing is to
try to make the southern people believe that because
the hards have quarrel with the cabinet and the
South at the North therefore the President coaesc-
ing with free-soilism. We have single sufficient
and a ready answer to all these false pretences.
When any of the leaders of the New York hards-
aye, the very best of them-can show as clean re-
cord the slavery question Franklin Pierce then
it will be time enough to debate the question of a
hardening him to side with them. Mems antecc-
dents cannot them from the Just conclusions of
right minded men on their present conduct. tree
is known by its fruits and all trees that bear wing
fruit but cumbcr democratic ground
The DEAD SEA AND THE CITIES OF THE PLAIN. In
the Old Testament scriptures there is account of
the utter overthrow and destruction of certain Cities
the inhabitants of which aroused the Divine ven
geance. 1t has always been favorite theory with
many modernS, that the Dead Sea covered the
site of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and,
unless err in recolections, Lieut. Lynch gave
that opinion and emphatic endorsation. Indeed, our
gallant officer had doubt that he had found Mrs.
Lot, who, told, was transformed into pillar
of salt, for looking back as she ram
a book has just been published in England, and
we presume will soon appear in this country, which
will give the quietus to the popular ideas the sub
ject. 1t seems that Monsieur de Sauley, member
of the French Institute, could not coincide in opin-
ion with the popular notions of the overthrow of the
cities of the plain regarding them unauthorized
by the scriptural history of that event His desire
vinCicate the correctness of his views induced him
to visit the Holy Land. Accordingly, he left for the
scene of his labors in 1850, being accompanied by
his son. by the Able de st. Michcn, and several in
eiligent friends. In that and the following ear he
pursued his archaeological explorations with the hap
OieSt results.
He abundantly supplied with means and hav-
ng secured strong body guard ofinlantry a nd cal
'ary he was enabled to proceed with his mission,
Without danger, from the nomadic tribes of Arabs
lie directed his attention, first to careful examina
ion of the Dead Sea. Beneath the sinking waters
# this remarkable sea, popular tradition had located
'odom and Gomorrah, but he convinced,
hat like the apples which were once believed to
row upon its borders, the popular idea had foun-
atiOn in fact.
But he found the cities of the plain and rode among
heir ruins. His eyes looked upon their widely
ended remains, bearing even now, the marks of that
errible visitation-"f fire from Heaven'-which con-
umed and destroyed them Upon the shores and in
he valles where they originally stood, this French
avant discovered their blackened ruins
1t is surprising that they have not been sooner
discovered. The Holy Land has been point of in
crest with all travellers and explorers in all times
rom the crusades until the present hour men have
ocked thither and trodden the land more full of
ubme memories than any other portion of this bab
ling earth.
But easily account for the failure to discover
hese relics of the olden times. Men have always
isited the Dead Sea, and as they looked upon its i
uggish, salt waters, have regarded them shutting
p in darkness the cities accursed of Heaven Hence
traveller has sought after the cities of the plain
nd it has been reserved for the French savant of
ne present day to bring to light this strong confr-
nation of the old Testament record.
Ne trust that American booksellers will soon
i've to the American public the results of Monsieur
e Sauley's researches. RichmOnd Enquirer
q