davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-06-16
American Express Lines

The New York Herald has compiled IA histori-
cal notice of the American express lines, from
which we extract the following:
The express companies that have survived the
EXTENSIVE 1mpetition to which the profitable ma
tnre Of the business has yearly subjected them
since their first origin, are those of Adams q
Co, the American Express Company, Ilarnden,
the United States Express Company tan off
shoot of the Americana kinsley x Co., the Ma
tional Express Company Berford * Co.. Wells,
Fargo * Co., and Edwards, Sanford u co. The
two last are principally engaged in the Cafor-
mum, Australian and European trade.
Although tits impossible to- arrive with any
degree of exactncss at the amount of business
transacted by these firms, we think that we shall
be rather undertaking than oyerstatng the n
mount OF freight daily conveyed to and from this
city by them, 10 be 1ne hundred tons each way
the profits cleared by them, after all expenses
are paid, may be estimated at upwards of $1,000
per d ". For the amount of capital employed
Sl,5Oo, 00I-thcrc are few enterprises that can
be said to yield more profitable returns.
The statistics ofthe operations of these com
panle- present some curious facts. 1t has been
calculated, for instance, that the messengers of
six firms travel at the rate of about 81 03O miles a
day III the following proportions Adams &
Co.'S, 10000; the American Express CO. 10000
the United States Express Co.'S, 5000; Harm
deus, 1000; Kinsley's. 1000, and the Nation
ais, LOCO. The number of employees in the
service ofthesc six companies is fo.lows:-
Adams * Co., 500; American, 300; United States
Express Co., 80; Ilarnden, 100; kinsley, 100;
National, 100. This would give proportion of
twenty one and a half miles pen day to each
man.
To speak of the facilities afforded by this or
ganization, and the punetualty ahd certainty
impaired to commercial operations by its means;
would be to diute upon subject Of which almost
every one in the community has daily expert
ence As, however, is often the case in things
iemiliar, but few take the trouble to investigate
its origin or examine its results, we have thought
it right that facts SO creditable to American en-
terprise should at least receive from The press
the tribute of passing notice.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-11-16

: EXPLOSION OF SEVEN ToNs OF GuNPowDER.-'
a fire broke out in Dawson's (near Newcastle.
.upon-Tyne, EnglaI.d) on the 26th ult. destroy
ing an immense amount of property, and nvol-
wing an awful destruction of human life. Twenty
bodies hld been taken out Of the ruins, and
nearly one hundred SURVIVORS were so badly
injured that many more deaths were expected.
The destruction of property is estimated ut not
less than Ell 100000 An eyewitness deScrib-
ing the scene. says:
Suddenly, Il lit e after 8 o'clock in the morn
ing, there was a tremendous explosion from the
adjacent bounded warehouse of Mr.. Sissons,
stored with sulphur, sullpetre, naplha and gum
powder-common rumor reporting the quantity
of the latter explosive material to have been
seven tons. The two towns (for New Castle
wa, instantaneously involved in the calumity)
were more or less reduced, over large area, to
wreck. The church was Il wreck, its windows
b:nken, and the roof destroyed. AS the day
dawned the town was literally strcwed, almost
every street having fragments of ruins hurled
by the explosion; or caused by it. Wounded
persons were seen being Carried out upon shut
ters, and conveyed to the in6rmary children,
with their infant limbs cnveoped in their night
cloths, were crying for their parents; some were
crushed to death in their beds, anG others in
stanlly deprived of life on escaping from their
tottering houses"
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-11-16
ousHr oUg sLAvEs9s TAUGHT TO READ

The affirmative is argued by the author Of the
Address before the Abbesilla Bible Society at
lis recent anniversary; we are on the negative
AZ far as our means of information extend
the advocate has entirely misnpprehrnded The
grounds Of that legislation which "cnacts that
slaves shall not be taught to read" lie has
moreover simply attempted to d>prove the mega
tive of his proposition forgetting that The atfir-
native j, without proof. We might here rest
our cause, and wait for the affirmative to be
argued; but We insist that the laws in question
are imperiously demanded BY Il regard TO public
safety, not BECAUSE slavery is most compatible
with state Of profound ignorance but because
instead of reading the Bible, slaves would have
placed in their hands those "ohrr documents,
books and papers" inculcating insnbordinntinn
and rebellion. aud thus placing the lives OF our
families in imminent peril. II with the ability
to read you could impart true religion, or even
Il desire or disposition 10 read the Bible, the
dange. would be largely diminished. But if Il
judgment may be formed the known conduct ot
white readers, We may reasonably conclude That
the great majority Of The blacks would prefer
other books than the Bible.
Is there any great moral reason why we should
incur the tremendous risk of having our wives
aud children slaughtered in consequence Of our
slaves being taught 10 read incrndiary puOe;-
tons? Religion is as important TO the slave rs to
The master The soul Of the one is as valuable as
that Of the olhpr-but is The ability TO read as
senlial 10 salvation? Is the reading of the Bible
so important u means OF grace, that To- kinder
person from being taught to read it, is equal 10
his exclusion from The religion of The Bible
Is their no other means of preaching the Gnspe!
except by the printed page! The only answers
which can be given TO these Questions Will at
once expuse the fallacy which under'ics hr whole
groundwork of The discourse referred 10 aud j;
is the same faacy which gave direction 10 the
action of the A. b. e. F. N. in relation tos the
Choclaw nation. Many very ptrns persons,
many persons in possession Of Iurge stores OF
Biblical truth, were never able.lo read single
line in the sacred volume. Millions of those
now in heaven never owned Billie. 10 read
is valuable accomplishment, 6nt it does not
save The soul But few persons, comparatively,
arc converted by their private reading; The word
preached is The usra mears of grace Which the
Holy Spirit bleases 10 The conversion Of sinners.
The press may aid The pulp but we nnst not
give it prc-ennrncr over the hcayen-apponted
Instrument for the salvation OF men.
The author, we fear, has not taken much pains
10 inform himself upon many collateral issnes
he has raised in his address. He seems 20 be
uuinlormed of the fact that the Scriptures are
read in our churches every Sabbath day, and
those very passages which inculcale The relative
duties of masters and servants in consequence
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-11-16
From the South Carolinian.
THE QUESTION BEFORE US.

MEssRs EDIToRs: am glad to see that the
press of The country is beginning to awake upon
The great question of The day. | thought in
1882 that il was our policy TO dissolve this
Umiun. thought so again in 1850. | still
think so in 1851. But the reasons for this "pn-
ion are very different now from those which
influenced Me lwenly-Iwo years ago. The pre-
serralion OF this Uaion is no longer a question.
The time for that discussion has long since PASS
ed. Saving The Union is us dust in the balance
when compared with the issue about being made
up for U.s. The matter for our present consd-
Grafton Is that momcntuus question Of self pre-
SercaLion
Not our prosperity, but our existence IS
people, depends upon our system of slavery.
Win Us slavery is Il question nothing short of
life and death. This is the great problem which
the nineteenth century has TO solve. In few
years This question is destined 10 absorb all
others, and upon its solution depends the fate
not only Of This country, but of the West India
islands and South America.
That man must be Il very superficial observer
Of hum n evenls-llaye read history 10 very
little purposc-who thinks that this question
eau Ge settled without an open is,uc--an issue
not ui words, but of acts. Some twenty-five
Years ago II few unknown aud de>pised ;.boli-
tonists, solitary and alone set in motion this
ball OF abolition. They came into Congress
with their petitions. They began the work of
agitation. They have continued TO agitalc with
oul giving sleep 10 their eyes, unlil they are
r"w firmly in their seat and lhe reins in their
bands.
This is an assertion which, if true, should
make every Southern man begin "put his
house in order" FOR when the abolition party
actually enters upon The administration Of this
government, all distinction will cease between
master and slave. Ifin that day Southern slave.
holders are still the subjects Of this Federal
Government, and alnrnabIe TO its laws, their
live and their property will pass away like the
morning cloud. There is IN iupurtance in this
view i'll our controversy with The abolilionisls
which has not yeI been duly considered. This
controversy, We may safely admit, had its origin
III an honest, but fanatical Zeal for liberly-a
morbid and mistaken sympathy for imagined
wrongs. But To what is this feeling growing?
Where is i, destined to end? elimination and
recrimination, repeated acts Of mperlinent inter-
ference and outrage on one side, of scorn aud
defiance on The other, is daily cmbllerihg feel
ing between the parties; and when the final
issue is made by an overt act, thry'will be found
;rraycd in fierce and mortal hatred, "envenomed
by irrevor Bile wrong" The conflict then will
Le not for the preservation Of The slave, but
determination vi Inc master; aud The m"r'.'l:--c
. trn'rr.n l'"'". t.'rt,..ri Gu 90. '.u....,.E.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-11-16

A Hint OR Two-Never make use of an
onesfwomun's name in an improper place, at
an improper time. or in mixed company. Never
make assertions about her that you think are
untrue, or illusions that you think she herself
would blush 10 hear. When you meet with
men who do not scruple to make use of a wo-
mans name in reckless and unprincipicd man
ner. shun them, for they are the very worst men,
.bers Of the community, men lost TO every sense
Of honor, every feeling Of humanity. Many a
good and worthy woman's character has been
forever ruined, and her heart broken by lie,
manufactured by some villain, and repeated
where it should not have been, and in the pre-
scnce of those whose little judgment could
not deter them from circulating the foul and
Dragging report A slander is soon prnpagated,
and The smallest thing derogatory to a woman's
character, will fly on the wings OF the wind, and
magnify as it circulates until its monstrous
weight crushes the poor unconscious victim.
Respect the name of woman, for your mother,
your sister, are women ; and as you would have
their fair name un,arnished, and their lives un-
embittered by the slander's biting tongue, heed
the i'll that your own words may bring upon the
mother, the sister, or wife of some fellow.crea-
ture,
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-11-16
THE BALIC.
70 entire wilhdraw Of fhe Britis|, feet from

The entire Withdraw of The British feet from
the Baltic sea has dimmedihle martial prestige
of Great Britain 10 u degrees that the capture of
Scblslupul cannot repalrl5 lie navy Is The
rrhl arm of British pow eraand if, while France
is claiming the lions stnrp of the laurcls on
Land, England, instead of striking decided
blow at sea, is doing uothiRg, she will certainly
come out of this contest with no great increase
of military rcnown rhc9siiiing of the Baltic
squadron from England, tls smagnfccnt pageant
which distinguished ii, alsl HE high exulling
hopes when were everywhere expressed, as
ship after slip of That mighty feet. under the
eye of their sovereign, aili of mnlitudcs upon
the shore, departed 10 chasiise The Russians, are
sill! fresh in the memory Sof all. England en-
peeled To hear, in abont two weeks, that Revel.
lirlsingfors and Cronstadtalad Teen taken. and
that ST.. Petersburg bad :ahen into the hands
of the allies Not one 6f these s!rongholds
has been taken, or even so1aucaI q attacked. up
to the present hour, and he great Baltic squad
ron, the most magnificent and powerful of mod
ern times, GENES home without single achieve
men. except The capture OF the Aand forts. in
which twelve thousand French troops and seven
teen British slips OF warfronqucrcd two thou
sand Russians; and the damoli~hing of snniry
little Greylowns, and the3bruta treatment of
the female inhabitants. These are all the chap
lets that the brave old SitEharlcs Napier brings
back to England.
We do not know how,fo reconcile this most
q" lame and impolent resuE' of the Baltic expe-
d,ion with the acknowledged wisdom and sagaci-
ly of British counsels Was rot the strength
of the Russian defences on the Baltic known
to the military aud navahnen oi Great Britain
before The Baltic expedition sailed? 1t seems
impossible that such gralid preparation should
have been made by such a nation blindtoId: yet
We know not on what otiler theory 10 account
for The utter inadcquacy pt the means adapt ID
10 the ends proposed. Tie naval ineliiciency of
Great Britain, both OH the Baltic and The Black
SEAS, is one of the most Striking features of The
Eastern war. Admiral banda, has made him
self provcrbia as a "slow coach" land Sir
Charles Naples comes baek with his '~cullasscs
sharpellcd," but no bloodion them. =.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-11-16

SII.
has reached this p.inful conclusion, that the
abolition party has, in point of fact, already
achiered It's purpose, and that it only requires
time 10 ripcn and execute its fe! decrces. Since.
however, 10 establish this fact is The chief pur-
pose Of The present writing, it must / OF be left
10 rest upou assertion or opinion. What then
are the 4acts which lead TO lhis painful conclu.
siun
First, then, would urge every Southern man
gravely 10 consider lhe unmistakeaGle evidence
afforded by the late Congressional elections III
the North. The Democratic party has been de-
tea!ed, horse. foot and dragoons, in three Of
the largest and most important non->Iavehodng
States. This is IL virtual iriusph of abolition
principles. They will understand it, and are
emboIdened 10y i; to reduuLle their Efforts
Does The "uilsee in this fact nothing to arouse
her apprchcn>ions7 To This extent have Garri-
son and Fred Douglass strengthened their
stakes and heightened their cords" in twenty
five Years. Had this evidence Of Northern hos
tilily been suddenly disclosed twenty-five years
ago, Il Calhoun or u McDuhe would have
thought of nohiug short Of calling conven-
ton Of the sovereign State Of Soath Carolina
to see that 'lhe Commonwealth suffered no
damage" remember well the day when South
Carolina, for less peril to her liberty, would
have stood by her arms. But now, few nur-
murs of discomfort from some desponding but
true-heartcd editors. is all that remains of The
telching of Calhoun and McDutiie. Men be-
come familiar with vice; they first contemplate,
then tolerate, then perish in its embrace. But
the coward, by closing his eyes. does not render
The impending blow less certain or less fatal.
The abolition torrent is still rolling" Lab!ur
st labeiur, &c."-while, like "the foolish fellow"
We sit mu>ing upon lis banks, wondering when
it will pass away. More al another time.
FALKLAND.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-11-16
ORIGINAL POETRY.
Written Expressly for tho Edgcheld Advertiser.
THE EARLY LOST.

THE EARLY LOST.
All. surely Those whom God best loves
Are hurried TO the grave;
The los, to earth are they, whom most
Our Father seeks 10 save.
Like the pure lilly called at morn
Ere vet the dew exhales,
Or crushed BY blight or passing storm:
Or torn by ruthless gales
Is broken from its graceful stem
And robbed Of all its bloom;
And now thing impure it lies
A prey for natures tomb
The guiltess child, al pure and fair,
Pride Of the p ace!ul home,
Whose dark eyes beam alone with love
For those wllu near her come.
Whose little tlrbbing. gu;lelcss heart,
Knows nau.ht hut that's pure;
Whose childish love FOR heavenly things
No gllt,rrine sna:ss can lure.
All. surely we who sorrow most,
When such as these have flown,
To that immoral Eden whrre
Erlh's choicest gems are gone,
Would not. il by a plying God
To us the power was given.
Reclaim for earth and all its woes,
The chrrubim from Heaven.
Oh mourncr pSnse thou knowcst not
But in this houhd!css 1--we,
That she. thy d"rl NJ first born here,
Should guide thee hence, above.
When rarih-born cares and troubles grieve
The tr,d ami fa nting head,
Pcrclance The spirit of the lost,
Thy way. ring steps may lead.
And shouist thou faltcr by the way,
1t w"ull not plume its wing,
Till at the'fotots,ooI.of Thy God
Thy sorrows.it @odlibring.
And then me thinks at Jesus feet,
With pinions dropping low,
The Pleading sgh> of thy sweet one
Would blessings for thee sue.
Then like the l,gh,ning's g'eam at eve,
Der the enamcllcd s,a
The scraph would resume its place,
And with her parents be.
Then mourn not, for The early desd,
For Heaven must claim its own;
And those who die without stain,
Must wear the brighter crown.
ROSE COTTAGE.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-11-16
EDGEFIEID, S. q. NOVEMBER 46 1854

IT is GOOD TO BE HERE.--lt is good to be any
where with Christ. His presence makes pari'-
disc, and the heart in uns"n with his rcjoces 10
br where he i. But io be with him ana his
disciples, with Moses and Elias also and all OH
the mount, must have been beyond expression
good.
In the house Of G"d, the saints may find the
Saviour ami his disciples, and the prophets; ann
as, lie huirs The word of life and feels The glow
of love in his soul, he may, and he VIII, with a
full heart say, 1t is good for us to be here.
Like thuse who would buiid tabrrnacIcs and ln-
ger with Jesus on The mount. The SAINT Is ready
lu Say" Ny willing soul would stay in such Il
place this
Ii is rood to be in the closet. Alone with
Chlist Is Il luxury That nuIIe but he who feels IL
knows. John MAS Il favored brother when he
SAT next to the Saviour and leaned upon his
breast al table The saint may at any lime hnd
Jesus alone in hi, closet, waiiing 10 hear him,
10 commune with him rs Jesus did with john,
lis FREUD with friend aud tiry who oliencst
seek and find Tie misier There are readlcst 10
say" 1t Is Tn"d for lis In br here.
if the COMPANY of Moses and Elias of James
aud Juln, and Jesus Christ makes it so good
for The saint 10 he where they are, how good Il
will Ee To bc with them in our Fathers house
where there are many m.nsiOnS! q sill down
with Abraham, Isaac aud Jacob in the kingdom
of Go!! 70 be above The mount and beyond
lhe CROSS even 1T The iuut of The throne! Not
10 see TIN ough yi:;s, dIrkly, but fnce 10 face !
II" ,rc lis We are seen. and knnw "s We arc
knowu! 10 br with Jesus and those like Jesus !!
TO 90 no lllurc oul for ever Il" lie down i'll
the green pastures and by the still waters; 10
look upward OH lhe smiling face of our Redeem
cr and >av, :" Lord it is good for us 10 be here" )"
-Lltleluu Patriot.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-11-16
TIE AFRICAN RACE.

Many people are rackhg their brains TO pro-
vide for the end of African servitudc in, the Uni
ted States. Many Of these are wcll-mraning
but mistaken men. They take no account Of
facts, but adopt and pursue theory, which,
however applicable it may be 10 other. races, is
contradic,cd by all the facts relative TO the
African race They seem 10 forget the fact
that the class of Alricana;wlo are slaves in The
United States, are superior in all respects TO any
other class of their race who are Free either
here or elsewhere. They ere more civilized.
more moral - ~eli..
useful ...-..f:4 .,.E fE...
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-11-16

T, PARENTS Il, is said that when the moth
er of Washington was asked how she had f"rnl-
ed The character Of her son, she replied that she
had early erdeavorcd to teach him three things:
obedience, diligence and lruth-No better ad-
vice can be given by any parent.
Teach YOU children to obey. Let it be the
first lesson. You can hardly begin too soon
], requires constant care 70 keep up the habit
of obcdicnce, and especially TO do it in such Il
way as not to break down the strength OF the
child's character.
Teach your child TO be dligent. The habit
of being always employed iSa great safeguard
through life, us we'll as essential to the culture
of almost every virtue. Nothing can be more
folish than an idea which parents have that II
is not respectable 10 set their children to work.
PLAY is good thing, innocent recreation is an
employment, and a child may learn to be dill
gent III that MS in other thugs. But let them
learn 10 be useful.
AS 10 truth it is the one essential thing
Let every thing else be sacrificed rather than that
Without it. what dependence can you place IN
your child? And be sure to do nothing your
self 10 give the lie to your own precepts
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-11-16

THE NEXT CoNGREss-The National lnlel-
pencer of thu Sd ins. says" The arrival in this
civ of several members Of the National Ley
isIa,urr reminds us that The second session of
the Thirly-lhird Congress is near at hand. -Four
weeks from next Monday is the time Of meeting.
May we not hope that lhe time spent al home,
in the exercise of the gentle amenities ny well
as The stern realities of life, may have disposed
them to meet rs brothers, Tolerant of each others
opinions and prejudices, and resolved to unite
l!ieir efforts for the common good Of the coun-
trv ~
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-11-16

ACCIDENT TO A MAIL AGrST-We regret 10
learn that Mr. o. H. Wells, one of the Mail
Agents on the Grernville and Columbia railroad,
was badly hurt on Yesterday, by ciher jumping
or falling from the cars. His collar bone, it is
thought, was broken, and his shoulder disloc; ted
I, appears that an alarm had been given by the
engineer, and Mr.. Wells, on looking out and
seeing piece of timber on the track, became
frightened. and thinking that The cars would be-
upset. jumped off The cars, however, PASSED
over The obstacle without any difficulty. There
being no one present qualified to ussort the
mails, the Columbia n,ai laiied 10 reach Us on
yssterdrv.-Soulhern Rights Advocate.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-11-16

THE Alabama papers state that the Hon
James Abprcrombir, i Representative III Con-
gress from that Stale, recently killed man IN
Florida The particulars are mol given, but 1t
appears That Mr. Abercrombe was discharged
after a judicial investigation; thus implying
that the homicide wa jusliiabe.