davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-03-17
THE PUBLIC LANDS.

THE PUBLIC LANDS.
In disputes touching the disposition Of the public domain
originated those contentious which ultimately over,hew the
Roman Republic The divisions aud sedions. fomened
the guilty ambition of the Gracchi and provoked by the
agitation of the agrarian laws introduced the more terrible
convusons which preceded the establishment of the En-
pire
1t seems that this same question of the disposition OF The
public lands threatens our republic with ute not less
disastrous Than that which bee the great commonwealth oil
antiquity With US are found men with all the ambition
but withou, the gifts nd accomplishments OF the Gacch
who make of the public domain engine of popular aRa
ton aud sectional division Whether public lands
are sought TO be consecrned 10 eeo 10 the education OF
the INDECENT the support Of the insane in either the
object is the good of humanity but the aggrandzement
of pogate demasosues And every yet suggested
for distribution Of tho public lands with reference TO these
Indefinite schemes of philanthropy equally at war with
tho spirit of the Constitution and the welfare OF the coun-
try Especially do regurd the bill which rallies support
with the spccious and ngrnan of land to the land
ess the unprncpled and peuicous measure yet
bred 10 the prolific brain of demagoguism.
or less but scarcely less mlschievous tendency is the
proposition rquander the public lands schemes OF To-
oaI improvement We rejoice 10 find that the system OF
"grants rail-. ways" has recently sustained blow from
which II will not recover least during the present session
of Congress The miscarriage OF the minnesota bill deter
mines the fate of other schemes of like character.
In the discussion the Minnesota bl Messrs Letcher
and Bayy participated with characteristic ability, and with
an OBJECT which contributed much the defeat OF the moa
sure To-day publish tho bold and slahing speech OF
Mr. Letcher will present the reader with the
able constitutional argument Of Judge Bayly.
Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-03-17
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.

DY RITCHIEs PRYOR.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH Is, 1854.
Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-03-17
rur or aCR WARSIOR DIFFICULTY.

~ ,.aso. March l4-It Is now well understood mere
bs bs Cubsn authorities have made the most ample % hs
sy to our for The M for
naGn seIzure Of cargo &c The Presden. will there
III sIobsbiIty settle The difficulty without laying Inc
matter before Congress.
Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-03-17
THE STEAMER PRINCETON UNDER SAILINu
ORDERS FOR SPAIN.

New Yozx March 4.-The U. s. steamer Prlnce,on ass
received sailing orders and is now lying on the battery
with supplies aboard ready sail at moments
Her destination is supposed be Cadz to carry ou, ne he he
suit of the deliberations OF the Caonet 10 anhorss
sezpre of steamer Black Warrior by The CUBAN
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-12-20
Thirty-Third Congress.
SECOND SESSION.

WASHINGTON CITY, December lS-SEN-
ATE.-Mr. Sebastian presented the creden-
tials of Mr.. Johnston, who was elected to
fill the vacancy occasioned by the resigna-
tion of Mr.. Borand. He appeared, and
was sworn in.
Mr.. Shields reported bill to increase the
efficiency of the army, and notified that he
would call it up at an early day.
The House bill, for the relief Of the chill
dren and heirs of Baron de Kulb was Ia
ken up and debated. -. ....
Messrs. Badger and Clayton warmly eulo.
gised the virtues and noble deeds of De
Kalb, aid urged the passage of the BILL
1t was referred.
The bill establishing Department oil
Law in place of the Attorney Generals Of
flee was taken up .... .G
HoUsE.-Mr. Robbins offered resolu
ton, which was adopted, instructing the
Committee on Naval Affairs to inquire into
the expediency Of placing the officers, sea.
men and marines, who served during the
Mexican war on the same footing as te
bounty land. ezra pay, etc, as to those
who served in the Pacific during the same
period. tft ,,''
Mr.. Phillips introduced bill authorizing
the construction Of six sloops Of war. Re
ferred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr.. Clingman made an Intellectual effort
to introduce a joint resolution that it NIGH
be referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, requesting the President to tender
mediation to the Powers engaged in the
Eastern war.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-12-20
A SOldie rs Speech.

At rejoicing of the democrats in Peters
burgh, IlinoisD over the result of the Con-
gressional election, after several speeches,
the crowd called upon Mr.. Cornelius Rourke,
the present county clerk of MeDard Mr.
Rourke is an Irishman, was sergeant in
the Menard company under Capt. Wright,
in the 4th regiment of Illinois volunteers,
commanded by Major Harris, at the battle
of Cerro Gordo, in which terrible conflict
Sergt. Rourke lost leg. Mr.. Rourke came
upon the stand in answer to the call, and
said:
."GENTLEMEN--l am no orator; | never
made speech in my life-and after listen
ing as you have to so many speeches to-
night, you can hardly expect one from me,
a man born in the land Of potatoes
[Cheers.] There is but half of me here at
that, the other half was torn off by the bul.
lets of the enemies Of America; and is left
in foreign land. The will Of what is left
to me is as good as the whole was when
together, and whenever the country wants
& desires the rest of my poor carcass, it is
ready for the sacrifice. [Cheers. I have
felt more than common interest in the late
election, not only because | desired thu
election of my old friend and commanding
officer, and the success of the political prn
ciples which he advocated, but because
combination Of men were opposed to him
which il successful would have been dec
laration that had fought for my adopte
country, suffered for her, and been mutilat
ed in her cause only from mercenory an
selfish motives. For if they concede tha
/ was compelled by patriotism and love 70
American liberty and American government
to volunteer in her armies, and endure an
suffer what have, they would be more tina
demons now to say that am to be cut ol
from political rights because didl not dra,
my first breath on American soil. [AI
plause. God knows that there is not on
, Of them that loves America better than | d
: The result Of this election shows that tt
! people approve no such doctrine. My me
9 lives are yindicated from such assault, an
D the district from entertaining any such pr
}, scriptive political dogma. My heart bea
! warmer and stronger for my country, on
9 ! rejoice in the victory--in the victory
! Harris--in the victory Of civil and religio,
Q liberty" l- ~. s~ ~ ar- T.
= Mr.. Rourke left the stand amid the mo
enthusiastic applause.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-12-20
The Committee invoke the Democracy Of

The Committee invoke the Democracy Of
Ohio to respond to this call, with the una
nimity and prompttude which the existing
political crisis demands of that patriot party.
We have been defeated, but we confidently
believe for temporary period only. Our
late overthrow was occasioned by agencies
which, with due vigilance, can never sue
cessfully confront US again. Neither an un-
principled coalition of inharmonious factions,
nor an unscrupulous secret political society,
in combination or otherwise, canventure into
the field against us, if we resolve to 60 be-
fore the world united in full array upon our
established principles, fully appreciating the
exigency of the times, and resolved to apply
such policy to public affairs as the known
sentiment of the people demand. The very
day upon which we meet in State Conven-
tion, is full Of victorious promise.
The Committee earnestly request that the
Democracy Of every county will hold their
delegate convention early, and send full re-
presentations of picked and chosen men,
whose wise counsels shall result in an old
fashioned victory, and thereby inure to
the public welfare.
WILLIAM PARR, chm pro tenn.
Jas. H. SMIMH, Secretary.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-12-20
The Know Nothing Troubles in
New York.

We published on Sunday says an exchange,
the despotic, tyrannical Il unprecedented re-
solutions of the Know Nothing Grand Coun-
Gil Of N. Y, expelling from the order all who
did not vote the Know Nothing ticket at the
late election, or refused to tell how they cast
their ballots. This outrageous exercise of
despotic power has led to stern resistance
among the members of the order. In Brook
lyn the councils have passed, among others,
the following resolutions:
"AND WHEREAS, The said Grand Council,
at their recent session, adopted resolution
originally suggested by H. A. T. Granbu-
ry, requiring the members of this order, un-
der certain pains and penalties, to confess,
under oath, how they voted at the recent
election, in palpable violation Of the rights
and privileges secured to and so highly priced
by every true American; therefore. .; .s,.
"Resolved, That we repudiate and con-
denim the afore- action ofthe Grand
Council, as anti American, anti-republcan,
and the most unwarrantable, abominable, and
dangerous assumption of despotic power ev-
er attempted in this Republic; in its confess
sional, penance, and threats of excommun-
cation only equaled by the Holy Inquisition
of Spain, and only worthy of imitation by
the Grand Council of Cardinals at Rome.
"Resolued, That any American asserting
or yielding obedience 10 such degrading and
inquisatorial requsitions, inherits not the
spirit of his Revolutionary sires, and is un-
worthy the name of son of'76 and descends
to the level Of an ignorant Papist."
The True American, the organ of the
Know Nothings, denounces the action of the
Grand Council in the following energetic and
manly terms: -s .. >..
"This resolution, should its provisions be
carried into effect, may be justly regarded as
the death blow to Know Nothingism. as i,
is at present organized in the State. Is there
an American, aspiring to the title Of freeman,
willing to surrender his dearest prerogative
that of free ballot-into the keeping of q
band of Office. hunters, elected and defeated
for such are the worthless whose signatures
are appended to the edict-to be dictated un.
to, as to whom he shall cast his inheren,
preference; and in. case Of nOn-comp plance
to be ignominiously expelled from the com.
panionship of his fellows for the exercise o.
that judgment bestowed upon him by his
Creator! Again: are Americans, cons o.
freemen, to be driven to the polls like hero
of cattle, there to deposit ballots for hypo
critics, knaves, or scoundrels, to them known
to be such-men they individually deridt
and despise-under the pain of imperial dis
pleasure!
"We, who oppose Romanism upon The
ground of its absoluteism in political mat
ters, and condemn foreignism for its section
al intolerance, are probably among the las
to succumb to an imperialism which exceeds
the broadest despotism of Russia or Aus
tria,"
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-12-20

The result of the war in Europe, is still
doubtful. The seige of Sevastopol contin-
ues with but very little prospect of success,
on the part Of. the allies. In the last two or
three battles, the French and English claim
the victory, but their loss has been very
great, and it is evident that few more such
victories, would destroy the whole army.
Tbirty-two transports and ships of wal
belonging to the allies, are in the bottom o.
the sea. Two or three English and French
armies have been destroyed already, ant
many millions of money expended. Win
ter is coming on. New endorsements, ant
larger amount of provisions are needed t.
carry on the war. The fall Of Sevastopo
is apparently no nearer at hand, than wher
the allies first turned their artillery ugains
"a
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-12-20
WE PUBLISH THIS DAY, DEC. II. 1884,
FAN NY FER Ms
RUTH HALL;
A TALE OF DOMESTIC LIFE.
400 pp. l2mo, Cloth. Price, $I,25.

Evory body knows FANNY FERN; every body has
laughed and cried her sparkling dashing, truthful
genial writings; every body will wish to read this her
first novel, and every one who does read il will pro-
nounce it her greatest work. Says able critic who
has read therroof Sheets "RUTH HALL isa work which
not only exceeds unyt thing which FANNY EERN has be-
fore written, but which in many rcspccts surpnsses any
other work whatever. For intense and sustained In
terest Of narrative, for originality Of conception and
treatment for scorchng and wthcring rebuke
of pretensons and hypocrisy for elevation of moral
tone and winsomeness Of religious nculcations, for
vigor, freshness, simplicity, drectnoss aud fascination
of style, wehavc never seen its equal. ~
The story tkes possession of heart at ones; we
follow 'uh" through her trials with as much interest
though she our sister, she breathes not o.
sigh, she suffers not sorrow, which the reader docs
not feel as acuely though the first from his
own heart andhc second were one of his own sad ex-
periences. The characters such we are con-
stanty meeting in every day life, and how boldly and
skillfully they drawn how powerfully the story Is
told, how touching Is its pathos, how sparkling its wit
how irresistible its humor, how its satire, and
how true its moral, adequate idea can be gained
except by reading it,"
RUTu HALL will be for sale by book sellers generally
To any one sending us the retail price, will send
copy Of the work by mail, post paid. Published By
MASON BROTHERS.,
% Park Row, New York,
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-12-20
Congress.

Nothing Of very great Importance or in
terest, has yet transpired in Congress. The
subject of the meeting Of American Minis
ters at Ostend has occupied some attention.
The discussion especially on the part of
those who oppose the administration, has
been of bitter and partizan character. The
Nebraska and slavery agitation is again
opened, and two or three honorable men,
bers" have succeeded in dieting off, their
pent up wrath upon this subject. We pre-
sumo they breathe more freely now, that the
world and "the rest of mankind'' has been
witness of their patrioric efforts.
The subject of the naturalization of for.
eigners is also attracting some attention, and
bills have been introduced making residence
Of twenty.one years necessary in order to
become citizen Of the United States
Several southern members have come out in
favor of this measure, and assign as theil
reason for so doing, that it will be means of
advancing the interests of slaue owners. "Ex-
tremes meet" they say, and it is peculiarly
the case at present The Know Nothing
abolitionists of the North, and the fire-eating
shareholders of the South, are standing on
the same platform and both laboring for the
same object-the advancement of social
physical and religious tyranny.
A bill has also been introduced to increase
the pay of the Judges Of the Supreme Court
OF the United States, and of the members
of Congress.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-12-20

Know NethlngisEn una sIayery.
The Know Noshing parry Is evidently be-
coming the strongest prorslavey party in
the eOuulFy. 1 Every prominent movement
for a number Of weeks past, has demonstra-
ted the truth Of this assertion. Leading
Southern papers huvs come out boldly in its
defense. Know Nothing victories are grow
ing frequent all over the South, and the
Free Soilers ul the North, who joined this
party hoping to promote their own interest,"
now find themselves fighting shoulder to
shoulder, with the slavery Propagandists and
nuIIifers OF Caroline.
The South has an object 10 accomplish in
this. The Territories OF Nebraska and Kan
sas, are about being settled. A large pro-
portion Of those who settle there, are for
eigners whose votes would be cast in favor
of freedom. If these can be disfranchised,
then the introduction OF slavery into these
territories is rendered possible, and even
probable. For this reason therefore, the pol
itici5ns Of the South, are joining the ranks OF
this invisible organization. In this manner
the Know Nothing party becomes not only
an engine of religious tyranny, but pow
erful agent for the spread of slavery! Can
any one doubt this! Already has southern
STAKEHOLDER introduced bill requiring for
eigners to reside in this country twenty-one
years before they can be naturalized. The
object OF such an act is evident. By its
passage large share Of the freemen of the
territories would be disfranchised, and as a
consequence slavery be permitted to become
one of the domestic institutions Of Nebraska
and Kansas.
That large proportion of those compos-
ing this secret order in the North, are free
soilers, there can be but little doubt; and it is
equally clear from present indications, thai
the Freesoil party, as such, must either part
company with the Know Nothings, or its
members become instrumental in spreading
an evil which they have long denounced as the
"sum fall villianies." The Editors Of the N
Y. Tribune, the National Era, and one or two
other leading Freesoil journals, have per
ceived this, and are now turning their artil-
lery against the Know Nothings. Other
freesoil papers however, have abandoned
their old positions, and gone over to the side
of religious prescription. They seem anx-
ious to forget their former professions. The
Pittsburgh platform with it its anti-know
Nothing doctrines is discarded. Papers tina,
were full of rejoicing last winter because
the Nebraska bill allowed foreigners to vote
are now willing to disfranchite every for
eigner in the land, and some Of their editors
seem to feel exceedingly indignant because
the National Era will be consistent with its
former principles.
Know Nothingism and freedom are an
tagonistic, but Know Nothingism and sla-
very are congenial. The spirit of despotism
is part and parcel Of them both. Each OF
itself, is to be dreaded, but united they be-
come instruments of terrible social and po-
litical wrong.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-12-20
Eighth OF January Democratic
.,,,;,.- state Convention.

q AT a meeting of the Democratic State
ecentral Committee, held at the Attorney
Generals Office, on Tuesday, December IL,
,ls5l, ii was ordered,
81 That a Democratic State Convention be
called, to meet in the city of Columbus, on
Monday, the 9Th day of January, 1866, for
the purpose Of nominating the following de-
mocratic candidates For Governor, Lieu
tenant Governor, Auditor of State, Trsasur.
er Of State, Secretary of State, Attorney
General, two Judges of the Supreme Court,
and one Member of the Board of Public
Works.
g II was also ordered that the ratio of rep
resentation in the convention should be, one
delegate for every five hundred Democratic
votes cast in each county for Governor at the
election of 1858, and also one additional del.
gate for every fractional vote SO east exceed
ing two hundred and fifty, as follows:
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-12-20
The Carnage at Alma.

An English surgeon, writing from the
field Of battle, says: s...
"These last tive days, have, literally,
been in a blood bath. No description can
realize the horrors Of this battle-feld; the
dead, the dying horses, muskets equipments,
headless trunks, bodies without arms and
legs, mingled together pell-mell, formed a
scene the thought Of which chills my very
blood. The most miserable huts had been
changed into hospitals, and we had to per-
form, as best we could, the most cruel ope.
rations. You may Judge OF the rapidity
with which we worked when tell you that,
in three hours, / extracted tweny-three bull
lets. Our surgical bivouacs were readily
recognized by the quantity Of arms and legs
that strewed the ground around them. II
fact, the field of battle, in these two days
was more like slaughter house than any
thing else. In the redoubts, the Russiani
were piled up one on another. .Almost al
the balls ] have extracted were from th'
MIME rife. The Russians wonaded wer'
immense.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-12-20

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN AKRoN.-A destruc-
tive fire occurred in Akron, between 8 and
4 O'Clock ON the morning of Friday, 9Th inst.
The fire originated in the rear of Watkins
agricultural implement and hardware store,
and before it was checked it had consumed
the entire square. The principal sufferers
are, Walker, store and goods, total loss be-
tween $4,000 and $5OOO-insurance $4,000;
Peterson & Wetmore, stoves and tinware
$30O-insured both on stock and buildings;
Chrsty g. Co., leather dealers, loss $1,000
covered by insurance.; Cook g. Russell, gro.
GERS, $20OO-covered by insurance.; Swan.
ner & Pardee, clothing, loss not known
insured $1,000. Sundry other small estab
lishments were injured more or less. Totu
loss over $4,000. T
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-12-20

FIVE NEW WESTERN STATEs.-Col. Ben
ton, in recent lecture, shows that the
country between Missouri and California,
in the latitude, or nearly in the latitude of
Marylun is well adapted to settlement and
cultivation, and capable OF forming FIVE great
States. Kansas be would divide into two
States, Eastern and Western Kansas
These two States will each have terrific
ry Of fifty thousand square miles, and, ac-
cording to Mr.. Benton, they will probably
be ready for admission into the Union with
in the next two years. For the third State.
Mr.. Benton takesaa section Of the Rocky
Mountains from the 37th degree of North
latitude to the 4lst, making an area Of six
ty thousand square miles. For the fourth
State he takes the valley Of the Upper Col.
orado. This region forms part Of the ter.
ritory of Utah, and the process of setting I
with inhabitants is already begun The fiitf
State comprises the remainder Of Utah
| 4 0Sks s4 s...y sg. ks.sf.-.s4f-a
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-12-20

SAY - --s----..
We are reluctantly compelled to believe
that in this attempt to trace this dreadful dis
aster to its real cause, the authorities and
the public will encounter the decided oppos.
ition Of the owners and managers Of the line
to which the Arctic belonged. We have
reason to know that the managers were anx-
ious at the outset to prevent the publication
of the details of the catastrophe. And we
have been informed, upon good authority,
that Mr.. Collins himself has dismissed the
gallant Dorian from the service, aud denied
him the usual certificate of good conduc,
and character-not upon any charge Of ne.
giectof duty, but because he stated facts
about the wreck which the owners of the
line did not wish to have made public.
Two days after-on Sunday last, he met
Capt. Luce, and asked him to give him a
certificate, apd why he was treated thus
Captain Luce replied that; "You should no,
have told that about the breaking of the bar,
and liquors flowing down the scuppers; il
makes the public think that the ship was IN
the hands of the passengers, and the press
has taken it up, and sermons have been prea-
ched upon it, too." Mr.. Dorian replied thai
he had told nothing but the truth. He has
since written to Mr.. Collins, asking for o
statement Of his offence, but has received no
reply TO his letter. ,,iow "ri ,7,tFe
Since the wreck it has come to light that
the crew of the Arctic purposely lowered
one end Of the boat containing the ladies'
and deliberately tumbled them into ocean
in order to save their own cowardly carca.
ses. If this can be established in court, ev'
cry one Of the miscreants should hang.