davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The true Democrat., 1854-11-29
For the True Democrat. Swamp Lands. etc.

MIR. JOHNSON: By your permission, through your columns, propose to call the attention of our present General Assembly, to one or two points, In our swamp land laws.
 A good deal of confusion, arising under the administration of the laws upon this subject, has proceeded from our legislating and acting upon this donation, before it had been definite ly settled, as to what lands should we be entitled to, under the act of Congress making the dona- ton, or before the confamaatlon had been made by the authorities at Washington city. For in stance, 39th section of the act of our General Assembly, of January 18th, 1853, gives right of preemption to those who had purchased at the offices of the United States, swamp lands, after the date of the donation by Congress- This presumption right expired twelve months after the date of the law, and some who avail ed themselves of the right, were under the ne- cesslty of purchasing from the State before the combinations were reported and in doing so re- purchased some lands from the State, which have not been confirmed as swamp land, and therefore, the necessity for law authorizing the land agent, to refund the amount, so errone- ously paid in scrip, or the proper officer to re- issue the amount upon the surrendennS and re- linquishing the certificate for lands so errone- ousIy purchased. And, doubt not, that erro- neous purchases have been made from other causes besides this one.
 Another point, upon which l think better policy can be adopted than the one ln opera ton. By our present laws, all lands within six miles of 0ny nav gable stream, are estimated to be worth seventy,tive cents per acre. Now this is not the case, nor is 1t just, when those lands on the small rivers and tributaries are compar- ed with those on such streams as the Mississip- pi, Arkansas Red river, etc., etc. For we all know that the sa0omp h,,ads on those small streams are not comparable either in the qoto1a- My in body, quality or in value in any otherre- spect to those found on tha larger streams where the navigation is carried on by the best class of steamboats while the carrying on the other is done by keel-boats, and an occasional trip of an inferior class of steamboat. 1 have no doubt but that the reports of the agents will show that very little land has been sold on those small streams, and 1 predict that very little will sell until the price is rendered merely no- minal either by the depreciation of scrip or a re-classing and graduation of the value by the Legislature.
 1 think it already very evident that no sur plus will remain to the State after the reclama- ton of the swamp lands shall be completed, and that the levying of the larger rivers will absorb even what swamp land may be found on the smaller, and hence, the wiser. policy would be, for the Legislature to so graduate the prices of those lands, that they may be sold as rapid ly as possible, so that the States revenue may be increased by taxation.
 BRADLEY.
The true Democrat., 1854-11-29
Hogs.
Respectfully, etc.,
 J. B. GILMER.

The Russellville (ky.) Herald of the 18th, understands that some engagements for hogs have been made in that county at S4 net, to be slaughtered and delivered to purchasers, and remarks. that owing to the many failures in the commercial world, and the scarcity of money, there will not be as many buyers of hogs on d large scale as usual and consequently prices cannot range so high as they otherwise would have done.
 Recent sales in Lincoln county, (ky.) of hogs, have been made at S3 gross, and there ap- pears to be want of confidence on the part of buyers.
 Sales are also reported at Lincoln county at $3 25 gross. In Boyle county (Ky.l good fat hogs sell at $3 25.
 The Louisville Journal of the 14th says: But little was done in the way of killing until yes terday, when the weather became cold enough to commence active operations Besides the houses of Messrs. Hull Hunt & Co., Jarvis tA Co.,, A. $. White & Co., and Owsley, Kinniard & Co.,, mnetoned in our last weekly, Mir. R.. Atkinson commenced killing yesterday, and also one of the houses at New Albany. The total nnmber killed, up to last evening, may be set down at 15,OOO head.
 There is, we learn, a very great falling off in weight. A good proportion of the hogs killed do not weigh more than from 13O to 16O lbs. In the yield of lard there is even greater fal ling off, It falls short of last year thus far fully 3O per cent on heavy cornfed hogs.
 No sales of consequence have been made, and opinions as regards prices differ very widely.
 We understand that contracts have been made for heavy hogs at $3 25 gross, on time. The scarcity of money has most depressing effect on the market A sale or two of light hogs has been made at $3 75 net, and at Cincinnati sales have been made at $3 62 net. These prices do not hold good for heavy cornfed hogs, which we think will command $4 25 and perhaps s4 50 net on time. Wepresume, as we have here tofore remarked, that the killing will for the present be mostly on owners account.
The true Democrat., 1854-11-29
From the Telegraph. Orchard, La., Nov. l5, 1854.
NIr. ETTER:-

Mr. ETTER:-
 I have waited impatiently for the moment to come when l could drop you and the people of South-W Arkansas, a satisfactory line in relation to the improvement of the raft region of Red river
 That time has arrived. Col. C. FULLER of the U. $. typographical corps, is now encamped on the banks of that important stream with all the requisite instruments, and with able and eff clent managers of the same, to solve the vari- ous problems that have, ior years, been suggest ed by actual observation.
 Connected or unconnected with his impor- tant improvement, can say to your people and to you that my labors for the past ten years have been heavy, and my interest great and that l am satisfied with the present arrange ment of the government It has sent us an able and efficient head, ill the person of Col FULLER, and his aids Messrs. BARRY NoRvEI and lioBT. MOORE, are unexceptionable.
 It has been my pleasure to have been in the field of reconnaissance and actual survey for the past two weeks with the party, and I take great pleasure in informing you that the secret of the Instructions is bound to be solved by ti,- ures. The transit level and chain will correct all the errors into which the naked observations of our minds have led the whole country for years past.
 In Col. FULLER we have a gentleman, . scholar and hard working man, practical as well as scientific, whose observations and sur veys will insure to upper Red river what she must have navigation and regular water dis charge. l an sure that the channels water outlets, and level, will govern the plan of this improvement, in which case uo fear of success may be apprehended. The Col. exhausted the first week ot his labors in observations on the raft and bayous. The past week has been spent in surveying, leveling and sounding the raft channel of the river, from Red bayou to a distance of F miles below On monday. which will be tomorrow, the survey will be continued by Messrs. NoRvEL and MOORE to a point several miles below the raft; while Col FULLER, Capt. THOMAS MOORE of Red river and your humble servant will make a thorough reconnaissance of Red, Elmers, and Dooleys bay ouS, and all the lakes on the western s4e of the valley.
 Captain MOORE and myself are well acquant- ed with all the outlets in the raft region, and as guides, we can direct the observations of Col. FULLER to any point of water transit in the valley.
 As soon as the surveys and observations are completed you will hear from me again; in the mean while 1 shall continue to use my utmost energies for Red river
 Respectfully, etc.,
 J. B. GILMER.
The true Democrat., 1854-11-29

them hither, and surely our money can agam bring us as good if not better teachers.
 01+I In reference to the Territorial Bill, now pending before Congress, MT. Harkins says:
 The Choctaws ought, in my opinion, at this Council to give notice to the Government ot the United States, that they are willing to adopt JohnSon's Territorial BaH, and wish to see 1t pass Congress in its present shape. That bill certainly gives the Choctaws all they can ask fort secures them in their homes, and places them on stronger footing than ever; and not only that, it makes them free people-citi- zens oft the United States-gives them the same protection that an American would have at home, or in a foreign country. It places the Choctaws on a level with the white man. It gives them delegate in Congress, to represent them on all questions involving the interest of the people. We have sustained great losses by not having delegate
 And now when the United States holds out her arms to us, and are willing to receive us as one of the Territories of the Union, without in- terfering with any "Treaty Stpulations''-bu securing more strongly our rights to the coun- try we now hold, giving us the right to dispose of it as we please. We can either retain the lands as a national property, or can divide them among our citizens.
 Is it right, or wise in the Choctaws to reject kind and liberal offers, and follow the fate of the Nebraska Lpdaans?
 l ask, what is to become of the Choctaws if they reject this bill? Can they expect to re- main distinct people always? It cannot be; but it will eventually, and that before many years, be swallowed up, and perhaps, regardless of their just rights.
 We may depend upon it as being fixed fact, that our Indian days of peace are forever de- parted from us, and that no opposition from us can stay the onward march of the people of the United States, in their career to greatness and the full occupancy of the American continent. We have no power, or influence to bear upon any movement of the government for we are looked upon as children--as wards under her care and protection, and that she has the power to do as she pleases with us. There is nothing the Choctaws can do to change the course of things.
 Their only chance to live, and exist as peo- pie will be to educate, and clvlllze as fast as possible, the rising generation. And surely now is the time for us to stand together unitedly We should consider we'll our situation, and the course we are about to take at this time, for one misstep may prove disastrous and fatal to our people. l recommend, that the council take this matter into consideration, and appoint a committee to report, and point out the advan- tages and disadvantages of the bill to the Choc- taws.
 (SIGNED) GEO. W. HARkINS,
 C1iief Apuch District Choc ~.
 Nov. 2d, 1854.
The true Democrat., 1854-11-29
10 tue members oT' tue
Gener0I Council OfHe ChOctn2U Nati0n.

General Council ofHhe Cboctaw Mutton:
 It seems that the American Board at a recent meeting held at Hartford Connecticut, had un- der consideration the School Act of the last ses- sion of the Choctaw General Council, and were so offended at it that they at once passed reso- lutions to dissolve their connection with the Choctaw schools. What are we to infer from thiS-but that they have had their secret de- signs, and greater feeling for the welfare of the slaves among us, than for the Indians.- There is no State in the south that would be willing for the abolitionists to teach their slaves and in fact, they dare not attempt it; and is it because we are hadtans, that they suppose they can have this privilege among LIS? If the abo- litlonists are not satisfied to teach our children alone, then say for one let the connection be- tween us and the American Board be dissolved and every abolltlonlst be driven out of the Na- tion at once. We have treated the missiona- res, sent out to us, by the American Board. as well as ever missionaries were treated bv any unenlightened people. We placed our chii dren in their hands. We gave them lands to cultivate-and placed under their management our school funds, thus showing on our part not only reliance upon their fabors, but an open and confding spirit, and never once have we persecuted them, or attempted to drive out of the country, even those whom we knew not to be good men. We have not prevented them from preaching to our slaves. This has been the course pursued by the Choctaws towards the missionaries sent out among us; but we had rlghtto pass laws prohibiting them from teach Ing our slaves because we know them to be a dangerous people, who neither regard the law ot God, or that of man as binding upon their conduct or conscience. Because we have done this, the Board looks upon 1t as an outrage, and declares her intention to withdraw her teachers from our schools. Let it be done, and the sooner the better. And now let ms look for missionaries and teachers from such as we can live in peace and unity with, from whom we will have no fears that they will not teach any thing beyond what the Apostles of Jesus Christ taught in their day.
 If to please the abolitonists the council should repeal the act, which has given so much offence to the Board, you will see party spirit arise among us, which will not be put down until every abolitionist is made to leave the Nation.
 Repeal that act, and you may at once agree upon your Council being dictated to by the abo- litionist of the north
 Our people need not fear that the schools will cease on account of the threatened with drawal of the present teachers by the Amer- can Board, for it was our money. that brought
The true Democrat., 1854-11-29
One hundred consecutive hours match.

Hughes, the pedestrian, lately acquired con- siderable notorlety by having accomplished the extraordinary feat of walking eighty consecu- tive hours, at saloon on kearny- street, and at that time he suffered 50 much before the feat was accomplished that doubts of his recovery were entertained. A pedestrian mania shortly after sprung up, and an enterprisng genius in Sonora undertook to walk ninety hours, but af- ter some thirty hours exercise, he concluded that the best thing he could do would be to yield, and he accordingly did So. On Wednes- day last, Hughes commenced to walk for one hundred consecutive hours on plank, in a sa- loon opposite the Peoples Theatre, twenty feet long and three feet wide, and at the time it was thought that this undertaking would finish him. 1t almost appears incredible that any man could keep in motion for the space of four days and four hours, and if the feat is bonn ytde one, 1t Is one of the most extraordinary eX- amples of human endurance that ever transpir- ed. Hughes on Saturday night staggered a good deal, particularly at the tunings He car ried a stick in his hand, and friend kept by his side continually, and tried to keep him in conversation. As the night advanced Hughes became very drowsy, but by the application of stimulants and slight whipping, he was kept in motion. On Sunday morning he looked very much jaded. As the time for the completion of the task approached great crowds Hooked to the place, and a considerable amount of money was taken at the door, the price of admission having been fixed at one dollar The extreme heat of the weather and crowded state of the room bore upon him considerably, and it wns generally expected that he would have to give up. He bore up, however, manfulIy, and con- tlnued to pace up and down the plank A bet of S3COO was made by Hughes that he would perform the feat, and this was his reason for undertaking it.
 The one hundred hours his allotted time ex- pired at F o'clock last night. At 10 o'clock. he presented a ptiable spectacle His mind seemed to be completely gonc and he would occasionally speak to the crowd, who were en- deavoring to arouse him and keep him to his task by every possible means, and ask what they were doing there and such other questions. So far gone was he then that some of them claimed that he had lost the bet He still maintained his position on the plank, however, until twenty minutes before II o'clock, when his friends gave up the task of keeping him to his work as hopeless one, and allowed him to come down. He was walked off by them and properly cared for. Though failing to ac- complish all that he had undertaken, he has, nevertheless, performed the ninety eight hours and forty -minuteS-,Snn Frnnclsr0 Alb,
The true Democrat., 1854-11-29
River News. eta.

CS,acimnati, Nov. 18-River low and falling. Flour $6 65 to !S7 75 per barrel and dull.- Whisky 3O1s to 311ac
 Pjttsburg, Noxember IS, night Thirty-seven inches in the channel and river falling.
 Louisville Nov 20.-Rivor falling slowly Fifty thousand hogs have been slaughtered up to this date
 Cincinnati, Nov 2O.-The river has risen two inches. Flour $7 65 to $7 75. Green meats shoulders Sc, sides 4c, hams 6c. Money market improving
 Ps1sbury, Nov 20-Two feet seven inches in the channel and river falling.
The true Democrat., 1854-11-29
Gov. Conways Message-The )S5OO,OOO Eypothecated Bonds.

Among the numerous complimentary notices of Gov. Conway's message that reach us-that of the Des Arc Citizen, a most excellent paper published at Des Arc, on White river is dcserv- ing of notice. After aluding to the message as decidedly an able State paper" and 'worthy of being carefully perused," the Citizen puts this pithy question:
 lVho are Me men and 1clat are tAeir nonaes Hat hYoothecated to lie " No,th Amey7can Trust ond Banking Company cf Ne0 York" oo the 7A day 9f September, 1840, .Ji0e Auodred $1,0OO bo1ads, and only oJtained S122, ,379 Y? And ac1o are he men Mat Aave been 80 WegaHy transactjng tie G6ajrs Gf dle Rea1 Estate Bunk os toplace hlese Jo11ds JeyolM He control Qt tue State"
 We would leave these questions to be an- swered by the Gazette, but as the answer in- culpates the master of its editor, it is perhaps necessary for LIS to state the facts in the case- We know full well that the Gazette is blind whenever the mislecds of one of its confede- rates are in question.
 Shortly before the Wega} hypothecaton of these 500 bonds CAPT COLLINS, Iy vote of the Board of Directors of the R. E. Bank, was displaced from the Presidents chair of the Bank, and WM. E. WOODRUFF was elected to fill the vacancy.
 Upon his installment into office steps were immediately taken to hypothecate these 500 bonds for the amount of S122, 370 v, contrary to all law and justice. The following IS quota ton from WI. E. WooDRUFFs instructions to the agent, c. A. Harris, authorizing him to dis pose of these bonds:
 That c. 4. Xarr1s, Casljey and .Secyetary c dtis Board, Je, and js AereDy appointed ogem of this instltution, aoih tuN potccr ond authority to make arrangements, negotiations, ond contracts q. and on account Qf he same to HYPoTHEcATE. PLEDGE a1M naahe CONDITIONS ant POSITIVE sale cf STATE BONDS Je1onging thereto, and to use and p2edge tue naeans, credit and assets cf Me Bank, a any a0ay or manner which he may Minh proper. and necessary for tue cre1d anu aoe!tare cf tue in- stitutlo, and to secure tue interests of ats creditors and of tue State;' etc.
 Such are the powers and instructions signed by Wm. <. Woodruf for the hypothecation iz- legally of these bonds. Was ever such iniuuitv perpetrated? And don't it look as if COLLINS was displaced and Wool,uf put in for the &C., complishment of it. As soon as the hypothe- cation was effected, MT. Woodruff resigned the Presidency of the Bank Don't this look like his mission to. the Bank was special one?
 We would call on the Gazette to denounce this whole transaction, but we are not in the ha- bit of doing vain things. We are aware that Woodruff is the master of the concern vet and that it dare not open its columns to his expo- sure and shame.
The true Democrat., 1854-11-29
TRUE DEMOCRAT. RINHARD H. JOHNSON, EDITOR.
 LI1SLE ROCK, NOV. 29, 1854.

or 7he aree circulation ef the TRUE DEMO- GRAF makes st the most desiruble advertssing me. diun in the State H has more readers 60 Ar- kansas thom amy other paper-ats number of sub scrdbers being almost equal to Hlat cf Joth ae oe, Little Rock papers combined.
 s-sy- We are authorized to announce A. J. Smith as candidate for reelection to the office of Civ Recorder at the ensuing January election.*
 s5y~ We arc authorized to announce H. Gr;i,;fhs a candidate for reelection to the office of City Constable at the ensuing January election.
 .sy~ We are authorized to announce Joseph O. Ashley candidate for City Constable at the en- suing January election.
 .sg@ We are authorized to announce W. R, Nor- man a candidate before the ensuing Legislature for Lard Agent of the Jacksonport District.
 sey~ We are authorized to announce J. H. Quis- senberry, of Dcs Are, Prairie county as candidate before the next Legislature for the office of State Land Agent for the Jacksonport District,
 ssyN arc authorized to announce gc. f. Hemp- stead as candidate before the ensuing Legislature, for reelection as Land Agent for the Washington District.
 .5y@ We are authorized to announce Col. R. IS. Purdom, of Hampstead county, as candidate before the Legislature for Land AgcuJ of the Washington District,
The true Democrat., 1854-11-29

OFThe Washington Union announces off, cially that the British Colonial Postage on all letters conveyed direct between the United Kingdom and Hong Kong, whether by packet or private ship is reduced from twenty-four to twelve cents the single rate. To this postage of twelve cents French transit rate of ten cents the quarter ounce will be added in the case of letters which may be forwarded via Mar seilles
The true Democrat., 1854-11-29
AN ACT to Prevent the Advertising and Withhold from Sale certain swamp and OverhoWed Lands.

AN ACT to Prevent the Advertising and Withhold from Sale certain swamp and OVerhoWed Lands.
 SEC. l. Be a enacted by tue GeneyM Assembly cf te State cf Arhamsas, That so much of the oth section of the law, approved the 18th of January, 1853, requiring advertisement of the swamp and overflowed lands, be and the same is hereby repealed and that instead of the pub- lcatlon now required by law, the Land Agents Ill the several Land Districts shall be and they are hereby required to give notice of the addi- tional confirmation in the following manner, viz Said Land Agents shall give notice in two newspapers published in the State, by two n- sertlons ln the same, and by putting up adver- tlsements at the court house door in each coun- ty in his district that additional confirmation of swamp and overfowed lands have been made Tn the several counties, giving the aggregate amount of land in each county, and requiring all persons claiming the right of preemption upon any of said lands to come forward within 60 days from and after the date of the last nub- l1cation and prove their; preemption after the expiration of which time said land shall be sub- ject to private entry as by existing laws.
 SEC. 2. Be it furt1aer enacted, That this act take effect and be in force from and after its passage, and that the Secretary of State inform the Land Agents hereof
 Approved, 27th November, 1854.
 A true copy from the original deposited in my office. D. B. GREER,
 Secretary of State
The true Democrat., 1854-11-29
INFORMATION WANTED.-The Warrento

INFORMATION WANTED.-The Warrenton, N. c. News, says: OfO Hancock, a Journey man Printer, who left Warrenton, N. C., in July 1853. He is about five feet six inches high medium size, has a scar on his face, and has but one eye. Any information concern Ing him will be thankfully received at this office
 Papers throughout the south will confer a lavor on distressed mother by copying the
The true Democrat., 1854-11-29

EFA writer in the Cincinnati Gazette says he has been over the States of Indiana Ken lucky, Illinois, Missori, etc., and he finds the number of hogs at least twenty per cent larg- CT than last year, that there is an increase of a million and half, and in view of these facts he thinks a packers cannot afford to pay over $3 per 100 lb. for pork.
The true Democrat., 1854-11-29
The Coulo A fair

Washington, Nov. Is, night-The Union an- nounces positively that the French Emperor has withdrawn the decree prohibiting Soule from passing through France. It is presumed the matter will be satisfactorily settled.