davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-04-06
From the Cincinnati. Commercial.
Indiana---Its Legislative Mistakes
and Corruptions.

The experiment Of self-governmcni
in Indiana, does not seem TO be-to
use a conglomerate simile of Mr.. JEFF.
ferson-in full tide Of success. That
want Of integrity which, in free States
always appears in its most aggravated
form in the Governmental function,
seems not only to have destroyed the
usefulness OF the last Legislature. but
in many Instances. to have made its
doings absolutely pernicious. Be-
tween wranglng for officers and plot.
ting for plunder. the public interests
and the welfare of the people have
been delivered over to a scramble as
unscrupulous as it is disgraceful.-
The most Of the members, ignorant
Of the rudiments Of Government. un.
advised in their duty. and ,enal, sur
rounded bya swarm Of sharks in the
lobby, by whom their manners were
debased. their habits degraded, and
their characters corrupted, appear TO
have lost all control over themselves,
forgotten the Importance of the inter-
ests reposed in their hands, and con-
Quoted themselves as the enemies OF
that State they were sworn TO protect
and defend.
The failure of the Legislature TO
elect Senator of the United States,
through the determination Of the mi
nority of that body not to comply with
the provisions of the constitution,
though not without precedent, is none
the less criminal on that recount, and
it has never been done without leav-
ing the imprint Of disgrace upon the
body by which it was committed. II
is acts like these which, more than
any other. lead rational men to doubt
whether the experiment Of selfgovern-
ment with us is not failure, and
whether our institutions are not, at
this moment, incurring the dilapida.
ton of premature senility. 1t is to
be hoped that these corrupticns are
rather to be attributed TO the rotten
ness of parties in state of dissolution,
than to so great defect in the popu-
lar character as, at first sight, they
would seem to indicate. Still they
cannot be looked upon without fear,
nor be remembered without appre-
hension. Their history travels far
and wide, and makes an impression
upon the public mind which years
are not sufficient TO eradicate. To
the distant, the State Of Indiana looks
as II tottering to her downfall. with
nothing Of government remaining be.
yond what is necessary TO testify how
little of good and how much Of evil il
can originate.
Those who were present at the seat
Of government during the discussion
Of the bank bills recently passed by the
Legislature. describe the aspect ol
things as calculated to do little credit,
either to the heads or hearts Of the
law. makers Of the State. Having be-
fore them the examples oftwo differ
cnt systems, one Of which had beer
eminentiy sound, successful. and bene,
fetal, and the other as remarkably th,
opposite. these prcccdents, so far from
serving as aids to their judgement il
Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-04-06

Correspondence Of tho American.

OTruMwA, Iowa.
Mr.. EDIroR:-By your permission Twill
give your readers my opinion Of the
State, cspc cially this portion Of 1t, and
they may profit by il II they choose
have travelled through some ten OF
twelve counties. and the land is of the
best quality so far as have scen.--
The soil is rich, black loan. and Il
is very loose. consequently well cal
culated to stand drouth, (thc drouth
last season was about as great here as
il was in Indiana, yet the corn crop
was very good, (full average for Your
best Indiana land.) There is not as
much timber here. rs some persons
might desire, but the natives here
say that there Is enough. There Is
enough coal here TO supply tha popu.
lation Of the State until Gabriel sounds
his trumpet, The rivers here are
rolling on beautifully. There Is more
emigration to this State than any 9th.
er State or County. Towns and cit
les are springing up like magic all
over tic country. Railroads are be.
ing constructed through various por.
tons OF the State. There arc but few
Old Fogies here.) We have q very
energetic and intelligent population
This town (0ttumwa. Is the Seat Of
Justice Of Weppelo county, Is situated
on the Des Moines river, contains a
population OF (perhaps) one thousand.
and il destined to be one Of the first
inland cities. | speak from the figures.
There Is now railroad under contract
from here to Burlington, and there it
connects with the Burlington and
Chicago Road. (which will be done in
one month. In addition to this, there
is n company of men who have taken
the interest Of Stacking the Des Moines
river, which will give US steamboat
navigation to this point, and that will
certainly make this very important
commercial point. Steamboats, run
up this far, now. when the river is up.
We want men Of capital here. A lit
tie more grape, Captain Brrgg, and
Ottumwa win be one Of the Cities Of
the West. | am not excited or in
toxicated or but | will venture
the prediction that Iowa, in fu-
future, will be the first State in the
west. Then my advice to my friends
and associates in old Franklin is. to
come here and secure u home. The
cause of Temperance is progressing
gloriously here. should think that
the ladies here were decidedly in
favor of the Maine Law. Cat any rate,
quite number Of them formed them
selves into Committee Of the Whole,
tho other day, and searched for. seized
and destroyed the liquor kept for sale
here, by n monster, politely called a
grog seller.) The ladies are hight
sure they are always right. Land is
rising in value fast, aud the sooner
persons secure farm now, the better
for them Persons immigrating to this
State, had better come in Wagon,
or walk. that is if they bring their
goods, for it takes from about two to
three months to freight through on
the railroad. Ii | was not rather pl-
Gus. would be tempted to curse rail-
roads, generally. I started my goods
about the lst OF November, and they
were more than two months CON-
ing. More another time.
NJ. S. WILLIAMS.
Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-04-06

"PAY WHAT THOU 0wEsr. ."-Whcr
| see a husband spending his time in
Ttaverns, and forsaking his family,
say,--Pay what thou owest.
When | see wife intent solely up.
on dress, abandoning her domestic
concerns to destruction, while she is
parading the streets to exhibit her d..
vine person and elegant accomplish.
ments, | say--Pay what thou owest
Wien l see a father or mother neg
lecting the education Of their children,
and suffering them to run Wild in the
streets, in the high load to ruin, with.
out the smallest effort TO prevent
them By parental authority. | say
Pay what thou owest.
When | see child who was ten.
derly brought up by fond and doting
parents, treating them with disrespec,
and inattention, perhaps cruelty in
tl,cir old age. say in the most en-
phatic manner-Pay what thou ow'
est.
When l see u man reading news
paper who is in arrears for the las
volume, l say .feelingly &c., DC.
Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-04-06
The Great Railroad Bridge at Nj.
agara Falls.

The most stupendous bridge in the
world. and the greatest Of either an.
cient or modern times, is ut last com
pletcd. 1t is railroad suspension
bridge across the Niagara river. con.
Meeting the New York Central Rail.
road with the Great Western Railroad
in Canada, thereby forming a direct
communication between the East and
the great North West The Bridge
crosses the river at height of 245
feet, and commands full view Of the
great cataract. II is 822 feet in
length. and is supported by four wire
cables, ten inches in diameter. and
each containing 3.6l0 wires. The
weight OF the supestucture.is is 750
tons, and it is capable Of sustaining a
pressure Of l9. 400 tons. Sixteen feet
below the. platform Of the railroad
bridge is another platform. forming q
bridge for foot passengers and for vc-
hicles of all descriptions. The rail-
road bridge is crossed BY a single
track, on both sides OF which is
sufficient space for foot passengers to
pass. 1t is laid with four parallel
rails, so arranged as to form an equal
number Of guages. which is a novel
and valuable arrangement. as il is
thus made available to the locomotive
and cars Of roads having guages Of VA
rious widths.
This great work has been pronounc-
ed by many efficient engineers, an i'm
possibility, but science and energy
have overcome all obstacles, and open
ed an International Highway, whose
grandeur is only surpassed by the
mighty cataract from which II takes
its name.
Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-04-06

the premises. were. as itwould appear
totally disregarded. In fact, the OBJ
ject would seem TO have been TO con-
struct the new system as unlike as
possible. TO that whose services have
been. for many years. so beneficial 10
the people. To construct system
that should best meet the views OF
spectators In money, from other States
who throngcd the lobbics with their
coil Of palms." and their advice,
md secure TO themselvcsa handsome
bonus in the distribution Of the stock.
seem 10 have been the highest mo
tiyes OF which this band Of Republican
Legislators were capable.
Besides ncglecting many ether du'
ties which are necessary to the con-
tinuance Of the government, the legis.
lature adjourned without making pro-
vision for thu election Of is successor.
This arose from n disagreement be-
tween the two houses upon tho .iea.
lures Of the apportionment bin, which
the Senate neglected to take the ordi.
nary measures to reconcile. IN ex-
ira session will. therefore. be nec-
essary. or the government will be nj
an end. We do not now recollect the
history Of single Legislative body
where there has been so much tamper-
ing with interests. vital 10 the existence
of the State. as the one which has just
clsoed its Session in Indiana.
Nor are the mistakes confined entire
ly to The legislature. Something more
than charges Of pretty Wholesale
corruption have been made against
the Auditor Of State, who, 1t can hard
y be doubted, has employed his Off.
cial authority in a manner that hns
resulted in putting large sums Of mon-
ey in his pocket. without adding, in
the slightest degree, TO his reputation
for integrity.
Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-04-06
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF
MAILS.

Cincinnati mall arrives daily ats NJ. De-
parts daily at6 A NJ.
indianapolis mail arrives daily ats p NJ. De-
parts daily at O y NJ.
connersviiie mail arrives on Mondays, Wed.
nesdass and Fridays nj Q Y NJ. Departs Tues-
days, Thursdays and Saturdays at q AN.
centreviiie arrives Mondays, Wednesdays and
Friday atop NJ. Departs Tuesdays, Thursdays
aud Saturdays at A NJ.
Ross mall arrives Tuesdays aud Fridays nj Q
NJ. Departs Mondays and Thursdays at6 P NJ.
Oxford mall arrives Fridays at 10 NJ. De-
parts Frldaysat N A NJ.
Rushsllle mail arrives Tuesdays, Thursdays
and Saturdays at up NJ. Departs Mondays we'd
nesdays and Fridays at A NJ.
wintersvillc mall arrives Saturdays at p NJ
Departs Fridays at An.
Versailles mail arrives Tuesdays at o p NJ. De-
darts Mondays at o A NJ.
Lawrcneeburrh NATL arrives Saturdays at5P NJ.
Departs Fridays M6 A NJ.
Letters 10 DO mailed must bc In the Office before
o'clock = M, prsslous 10 tho departure of all
malls leaving In the morning.
Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-04-06
From tho Evening Post.
Our Differences with Spain Adjusted


From tho Evening Post.
Our Differences with Spain Adjusted.
We have received authentic and en-.
tirely reliable intelligence of the arri-
val Of dispatches from the Spanish
Government by the last steamer, in
which every demand made by the
President upon the Spanish Govern
ment, growing out of the Black War
rior difficulty, has been acceded to-
What these demands were, are set
forth at length in the letter Of Secre-
tary Of State to Mr.. Soule, dated
June 22, 1854, with the general tenor
Of which our readers are familiar. In
that paper Mr.. Marcy claimed:
First. That If the manifest Of the
Black Warrior was not in strict CON
formity oflaw, (and It was upon this
ground the siezure Of the Black War
rior was made, the fault was in the
Custom. House officers at Cuba, who
not only permitted. but directed the
form Of making it.
This fact is now understood TO te
admitted by Spain.
Secondly. Mr.. Marcy insisted that
the consignee Of the Black Warrior
was entitled to twelve hours, after the
arrival Of the vessel, to amend the
manifest; that he offered to do il in
this case, and that permission was re-
fused him.
This fact, also, wo are assured, is
conceded by the Spanish Government.
Thirdly. The Spanish Government
have also agreed te remove all persons
now IN office who were implicated in
the siezure, and have ordered the
revenue officers who participated i'm
properly therein, and who are not now
in Office, to be tried for their miscon-
duct.
Thus, il appears that, without any
Minister at Madrid. and with a simple
Secretary of Legation, to communi.
cate and transmit the dispatches Of
the respective Governments to eacl,
other. this whole war-brecding spec
tire has been laid, and Spain has
promptly and checrfully offered every
indemnification that was asked Of her
in the letter Of the Secretary Of State
to Mr.. Soulc. dated the 22d June,
1854.
In announcing this gratifying intel.
ligcncc. in the correctness Of which
We do not hc;itatc to bespcak absolute
confidence, We cannot pass in silence
the obvious question which every one
will ask, why this affair. which has
been the prctext for all the Cuban az.
itation for the last year or two. has no,
been settled before; why. in fact, il
was not settled Immediately upon The
receipt of Mr.. Marcy's letter of III,
e2nd June, stating the wrongs oul
government had sustained, and III,
redress she demanded. in both of whicl
Spain has finally and cheerfuly con
Cured.
Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-04-06
The following is about the large,

The following is about the largest
morsel that newspapers ever undertook
to force down the public 'gullet:'
I'm Albany snake fancier gave a
live mouse to an eight feet animal
His snakeship toyed sith the mouse.
then swallowed him whole. and coiled
up to digest him a leisure. But Mr..
Mouse would not give up so. He got
down most to the AL, and ate outl-
Snake swallowed him up again. and
mouse ate out again. and SO they kept
il a going till the process Of swallow
ing and eating out had been performed
~ timesl when both parties gave out
and died. Ii was drawn battle, both
conquered and both died. 1. is a
great story, but the Albany papers
give names and all the details.
Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-04-06
Yostrp. o
Selected for tho American.
TO A GENTLEMAN WHO ASKED ME TO
TAKE 60nrx BRANDY.


Selected for tho American.
TO A GENTLEMAN WHO ASKED ME T
TAKBson1 BRANDY.
LINES ~ fne Nityoup nAhp,
oner mo not the blasting bowl.
Ny tougne may not lls horrors ioll
curse IL In la dark control,
tits tho harbinser ofsher.
The rosy apple Adam ate,
which arst the subtitle serpent gave;
Contained tho spirr of mans i'ic,
Which gives rs millions 70 ,ho grave.
The gifted and the gloriou, fail,
When they shas'spIri,'s power once own,
And reason deaf 10 dusys call.
Tumbles from hor shattered throne.
Ascrpenrs charm Is In ihs bowl,
rha, may a moment's peace impari,
Hut tis damnalion 10 the soul,
A deadly dagger 10 The heart.
Say no, 4, sIves 10 frIend<hip. birth,
forif on that may rols,
OH lot me have no friends on earth,
Alone, unloyed, ohi lot mo die.
Art Ihoa my generous friends Then swim
Apply The vampire 10 my vein,
hut never, nevur dare 10 iift.
The wine cup 10 my lips again.
Place on my heart tho Egyptian asp,
bring hemloek 10 my dying lip;
And In deaths dusky angels grasp,
OH le, mo then The upas sip.
Hut Offer no, Tho mad'ning bowl,
That kills or curses all who taste;
Plumbers the purse, and sinks the soul,
Into wild and fearful waste.
Young man beware' Thou dosrnot know,
In thy oonvivial moments free;
What anguish, and what.wondrsus WOO,
Tho future treasures up for thee.
I've seena youth, Of fortune, fame,
Beloved aud honored by tho world;
ny thisono wee sent down 10 shame,
Andfrom his envled height soon hurled.
I've soon proud Genuls' noble heir,
Chained in dark aud dreary cell;
Howllng tho horrors ofdespalr,
Amid tho faneIed nends Of hell.
Rotraes Thy steps Gro manhood's noon,
Taste, touch not the poisonous wave
or thou wilt fall. aud minglc soon,
With moldering millions, In tho grave,
Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-04-06

LAND TrrLEs.-Many years ago a
man named VIM. Bennett entered n
half quarter section of land in South
Chicago. He was afterwards COM
PEELED to leave the State for some
crime. Rumor said he was in the
Missouri penitcntiary, and many ef.
fonts have been made to find him by
those who desired TO purchase the
land. Meantime il has been improy.
ed. and passed through various hands,
and is now worth a million and a
halfof dollars. The Chicago Press
says well known gentleman Of lhat
city has been down South somewhere,
and found Bennett and obtained the
entire tract. lie viii commence ac-
tons Of cjcctment against those who
are on the land.
Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-04-06
LINES.


ny nARRy eoRswALL.
How beautiful, how wonderful
Thou art, swcotAir'
And yei, albeit, thine odors Ito
On every gust that moeks the eye;
We pass thy gentle blessings by
withou, n care:
How beautiful, how wonderful
Thou art sweet Earlhy
Thy scasons changing with the sun
Thy beauty cut OF darkness won.
AID yet, whose tongue twhcn all 10 donel
williell thy worihs
The poot's.-Iie alone doth attn
Uphold at WORTH
Then love tho poct-iovo his themes.
Ills thoughts half hid ip golden dreams,
Which makes thrice fair the songs and stream
or Air and Earth.
Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-04-06

CONGRESSIONAL MORALITY. I'VE were
infinitely amused three or four weeks
ago by a practical joke in Washington
City upon number of the nice men
Of Congress. 1t was too good to be
left unpublished.
A couple Of merry fellows, one Of
them distinguished member of Con !.
gress from a Southern State. and the
other a distinguished ex.editor from
Kentucky, concocted letter pnrport-
ing to be addressed by a young lady
to very fine looking gentleman. 1t
was got up in 6rst-rate style. The
pretended young lady set forth therein
that she had several times seen the
gentleman she was addressing, that
she was captivated by his fine face
and manly form, that her heart was
deeply touched by all she saw and
heard Of him, that she must make his
acquaintance before his departure from
the city, that she hoped and pra, ed
he would forgive her seeming bold.
ness as it was the first imprudent act
Of her life, that she had always moved
and was still moving in the highest
circles Of the Capitol. that she would
be upon certain square Of certain
street at precisely twelve o'clock on
the following day in dress which
she described with great particularly,
and that she hoped and trusted he
would meet her and thus afford her
an opportunity Of brief personal in.
tercourse with the idol of her heart
The two wags had between thirty and
and forty copies Of this letter written
by female friend Of theirs. and they
sent those copies to between thirty and
forty members Of Congress. selecting
those Of course who were known 10
entertain very exalted opinion Of
their own personal fascnations.
Everything being thus arranged,
the two jokcrs called upon us and an.
other young gentleman. explained
what they had done. and invited us to
get into their carriage. ride with them
to the point Of assignation, and see
the sights. We unhesitatingly con.
sented, and we saw sights sure
enough. Riding upon the designated
square. we behcld the whole of the
thirty or forty members. Northern
men and Southern men, Wings, Dem
ocrats. aud Know Nothings. walking
/. to and fro, all gazing earnestly in every
direction and at every female figure
to discover the object Of their anxious
search.
We concluded, that. il few NOR,
copies Of the letter had been sent tc
members Of the House Of Representa-.
tivcs. the House would have had (.
adjourn for the want Of quorum
!, Lou. Jour.
Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-04-06
JustIcc eS the Peace,

SENSIBLE TO rnE LAsr.--NIiss Smith
says she will never marry a widower
with family. for this reason. she is
down on second hand children
Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-04-06

lessons well. Now go and take run
in the yard for exercise
The little girls leave the chamber
and soon their happy voices came ring
ing up from the yard. The sound i
loud. the children in their merry mooc
unconscious Of the noise they make.
This is too loud. II will max,
your head ACHE we say making mo
iion to rise. rs il going to check th,
exuberance Of their spirits.
oh. no, Is answered with smile
The happy voices Of my children new
er disturb me. Were II the sound o
wrangling, my weak head would throl
instantly with pain. But this comes
to mo like music. They have beer
confined for hours in school, and hoaltl
needs a reaction, Every buoyan
laugh or glad exclamation expands
their lungs, quickens the blood In thcil
veins, and gives n measure of healtl
to mind as well rs body. The knowl
edge Of this brings TO me sense o
pleasure; and II Is better for mo, there
fore, that they should be gay and noisy
for time, after coming out Of school
than il would be ifthey sat down qui
etly in the house. or moved about
stealthily, speaking to each other in
low tones lest that ! should be dis.
turbed.'
We could not say nay TO this. II
was true, because unseldsb, philoso'
ply.
Doesn't that hammering annoy YOU
we ask.
What hammering?'
In the new building over the way
She listens moment. and then an.
swcrs-
oh, no. did not remark il unit
you spoke. Such things never dis,
turb me, for the reason that my mind
is usually too much occupied to think
of them. Though an invalid, and SC
weak that my hands are almsst use
less, l never.let my thoughts lie idle
A mother, with three children, has
enough to occupy her mind usefully-
and useful thoughts. you know. ARE
antidotcs to brooding melancholy, and
not unfrcquently to bodily pain. II
wore to give away to weaknes ses-and
l am not without temptations-I would
soon b. an unhappy, nervous. helpless
creature. a burden TO myself and to all
around me.
You need sympathy and strength
from Others we remark.
And l receive il in full MEASURE,
is instantly replied Not because
demand il. IL comes, the heart offer
ing Of true affection. Poorly would
| repay my husband, children, and
friends, for the thousand kindnesscss |
receive at their hands, by making
home the gloomiest place on all the
earth. Would il be any the brighter
for me, that threw clouds over their
spirits? Would they more truly SYM
pathize with me, because was forev-
er pouring complaints in their ears'
On, TO. l try to make them forget
that suffer, and, in their forgelful-
ness, | often find sweet oblivion. |
love them all too well to wish them n
ents:sadness.'
What beautiful glow was on her
pale countenance as she thus spoke!
We turn from the home Of this
cheerful invalid. with lesson in our
hearts not soon to be forgotten. III
health need not always bring gloom to
our duellings. Suffering need not al
ways bend the thoughts painfully to
self. The body may waste, the hands
fall nerveless to the side; yet the heart
retain its greenness, and the mind its
Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-04-06
UNION COUNTY DIRECTORY

ctRcrrr cornr meets tho eth Mondays In Feb
ruary and Angust-may sittwo weeks each time.
coxxoS PLEAs CocRr meets III Mondays In Fob
ruary. May, August. and November exeep, when
then ist Monday. May sit 2 weeks each time.
CoxxIsNoSrR's CouRf meets let Mondays In
June, September, December and March--may cit
six days each time.
Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-04-06

HAn old lady possessed Of
large fortune, and noted 70, her pen
chant for the use of fgurative ex-
pressions, one day assembled her
grandchildren. when tho following
conversation took place:
MY children, said the old lady, i
am the root and you are the branch
es."
Grandma, said one,
What. my child
4 was thinking bow much better
the branches would flourish, il the
roots were under the ground