davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-04-12
Three Cheers for the Old Guard

An important fact was revealed on Monday
last throughout the various Townships of our
county and especially here in this TOWN.
The end of the reign of Fusion draweth nigh.
The sceptre of power is rapidly departing
from the hands of the midnight Thugs.
III October last, the Know Nothings had a
majority in this precinct of seventy four votes
With still more perfect organization, but
with their schemes of villainy somewhat ex-
posed, they are now beaten in this township
hity-eigh yotes. A change of one hundred
and tirelre in six months in one precinct will
do.
The issue was direct, and the Know Moth
ings worked with the energy of despair
Democrats worked like men not afraid for
their faces to I've seen by daylight
The "Den,osaF' of this week saws that
both candidates were Nebraska Democrats.
This won't do, Doctor. What induced the
leading Know Nothngs, yourself among the
number, to nominate, and vote for, and work
for a Nebraska Democrat ? What business
has Democrat TO place his name at the
head of ticket composed of such illustrious
Thugs as John ii. johnson and A. r. Heath.
1t won't go down. Your tricks may deceive
the honest masses once, hut not twice. The
day is dawning, and the owls and bats and
Know Nothings can all hide away together.
The whole ticket for the Democracy is
elected in Wabash and Cain; tie in Rich
land, and nearly one hundred of gain in
Shawnee. Gains in every Township as far as
heard from.
Report from Charlottesville also says that
the Thugs have been utterly overwhelmed.
Roll on the ball Glory enough for one
day Very full votes were pclled in all the
townships. In some instances as large as in
October.
Democrats Go to work, organize with
zeal, and your old fashioned victories await
you.-Covirgton (Ind.) Friend
Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-04-12
Interesting Post Office Statistics.

From paper read before the American
Geographical Society by PLINY MILES, we
extract the following:
Thus, while our population has increased
in sixty years seven fold, letter correspondence
by mail has increased 40 fold, or sixty-three
times as fast as our population. In the year
1890 TIN GAyere sent by mail, in the United
States, 100000 letters, and during the
year 1S59Sver 100000 After all these
gratifying evidences of the increased> value
and use of our postal system, how will you be
prepared for the Iact that during the last foul
years (since 1850 the inhabitants of Great
Britain wrote and sent by mail 2OO,OOO,O0C
more letters than we have sent through oul
mails since the organization of our govern
ment-more than sixty-five years ago? l.
this good comparison between our govern
ment and that of Great Britain-between om
population, where the benefits of education
are extended to all, and the population of the
British Isles, where at least one-half of all
that marry cannot sign their names to the
marriage register, but are obliged to make
their mark ? According to the official postal
statistics of 1851, 1852 and 1853. the popula-
ton of Great Britain write and send by mail
four letters while our people write one. Each
thousand persons in Great Britain write on the
average 14,760 letters annually, while each
thousand of the population of the United
States write A, Isl, or only four letters to each
man, woman and child in the country. In
London there are forty lone letters written to
each Individual, while in New York there are
but twenty-three. This is according to the
report of 1852.
New York has just one Post Office. Lon
don, with about three times the population,
has 498' Post Offices Manchester, with about
half the population of New York, has 107
Liverpool has So, Bristol 80, and Glasgow,
II.
Mr.. Miles argued strongly and forcibly in
favor of the delivery of all letters by carriers,
as giving local circulation to letters.
The drop letters in London in 1851 num-
bered 40585,9 52, while the number in the
United States, according to the official report
of the same year, was 7l5,428-less than g
ffty-sixth part Of those in London alone. The
entire number of letters mailed in London
during 1851, for both local and general circu-
lation, was 8S,405, 46l-while in the whole
United States, during the same year, there
were but 95,.790,524
Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-04-12
Terrible Tragedy in Wytheville. Va
Four Men Shot-One Killed.

On Saturday evening last, about Q O'Clock,
our village was the scene of the most terrible
and heart-rending tragedy that has..ever fallen
to our lot to record Mr.. William II Spiller,
one of our Oldest and most respected citizens.
was brutality murdered by j. Austin Graham,
of this county. The circumstances, as we
learn, were these Mr. Spiller. in company
with five or six friends, was sitting in the bar
room of Boyd's Hotel, engaged in converse
ton, and not dreaming of an attack from any
quarter, when Graham, who was sitting near
them, suddenly arose, drew revolver, and
commenced firing at Spiller. At the first ere
the conclusion extinguished the lamp, and
the utmost confusion prevailed; but Ora
ham continued TO fire until his revolver was
exhausted. By this time the room was clear
ed, and Mr.. Spiller had reached the pave
ment in front of the hotel and fallen, whether
from accident or o wound is not known.
Graham pursued him, and, while he was
PROSTATE upon the pavement placed the
muzzle of his second pistol at his head and
fired several times, killing him instantly, and
then made his escape. The firing in the bar
room resulted in wounding three other gen
tlemen, Mr.. j. Oscar Cox, seriously, but il is
thought not dangerously, and Mr.. Connally
E. Tngg, of Abingdon, and Mr.. Terry, Of
this place, slightly. As soon as the conster-
nation and confusion occasioned by the horid
deed had somewhat subsidized, parties ofauned
men started in pursuit of the niffian, and AT
this time several hundred men prosecu-
ting the search for him, but We are sorry 10
have TO say tina. all efforts 10 capture him have
so far been fruitless. Ii was reported this
morning that he had been s.en about eight
miles from town, and party Of twenty-five
or thirty started Immediately for the neigh
borhood where he had been seen, and we
hope be may be taken to-day.
For fear that he should escape beyond the
limits of the county, we give description Of
his person Heis man Of about forty wears
Of age, large frame, about six feet two or three
inches high, with black hair. slightly sprinkled
with gray, short and rather sandy-colored
moustaches, good set of teeth with laugh
ing, but not pleasant countenance, when in
conversation, and a scar upon either side of the
neck, a little below the angle Of the Jaw
Graham usually dresses genteely, and when
he fed had on Hack cloth suit and black
satin vest reward of one thousand dollars
is offered for his apprehension.
1t appears that for some time past a man
named Graham has been paying his attentions
TO the daughter of Mr. Spiller, who is reported
TO be worth about $4,000 Graham was
unsuccessful in his suit from the fact that the
young lady was engaged TO he married to a
physician named Dr. Hamet Graham, on
account of this state of things, has been very
violent and threatened to take the life of his
rival the first opportunity that offered
IVytheURe (Ia.) Telegraph, Apyl 2.
Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-04-12

o. The Herald thus writes of Mayor
WOoD:
The MAYOR AND HIS REFORMs-Mayor
Wood continues the good work. He has sur
mounted the obstacles which, at the outset
of his career, seemed to prevent his assailing
the weather. temples of vice, and to restrict
him to the obscure dens of iniquity. Now,
the luxurious gambler of Broadway and Fifth
avenue has as much to fear as the wretched
rcprobate of Water street. A wonderful con-
summation, truly
When Fernando Wood was proposed for
Mayor, all the rich, all the religious, all the
respectable people-at least all the class
which passes for such in New York-voted
against him. We believe there was not a
journal in the city that did not oppose him.
On the other hand, il is fair to suppose that all
the drunkards, all the rowdies, all the gam
blers, all free and-easy owners of vote, be-
slowed it on him. People said he was to be
the rowdy's man, the rum Mayor, the black
guards friend, and many other such things.
What blunder was here 1t is actually
fact, so ably and thoroughly has he perform
ed his duties, that in the churches frequented
by some of the most energetic of his religious
opponents, prayers are offered for him every
Sunday, and Almighty Providence is beseech-
ed to spare him to continue his career of use
fulness. There is even talk of putting him in
the liturgy On the other hand, the rum
party and the rowdies are free to confess that
they are disappointed in their man, and that
Fernando Wood is failure
Let him persevere. A short while hence a
Governor will be wanted for this State The
man who was so good a Mayor would not
prove a very bad Governor. Nor could he on
occasion, fail to serve the country well if he
were sent to Washington. Men have their
ewes on Fernando Wood.
Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-04-12
THE SLAVE AND THE ABoLrrrosrsr :

The SLAVE AND THE ABoLITIoNIsT. "A
lady writing from Augusta, Georgia, pres .nts
somcfaets, and suggests contrasts not altogeth.
err pleasing. She says:
The most interesting sight here on Sunday.
y to watch the black population going to
church. Many of them are the most extrav-
agantly dressed people you see in the street.
The plainly dressed ones wear black silk
dresses, white muslin shawls, and straw bon
nets, or have their heads turbaned in hand
kerchiefs, tastefully arranged. The men are
habited in broadcloth, with bright buttons,
(they seem to have penchant for bright but
tons,) fine hats and gloves, cane, and usually
a watch and breastpin. Smiling faces which
betray good display of ivory, and they look
on the whole, very little as if humanity is
crushed out of theIn,'' as the abolitionists are
wont to say. They have here two large Afri-
can churches, Sunday schools every Sabbath.
taught orally, although many of them can
read-taught by their young masters and
mistresses, when growing up 1t is not un-
usual to see slaves reading newspapers and
familiar with the current news of tho dav.-
Shareholders feel they have duty to perform
towards their slaves, and in most cases dis
charge the duty like Christian people-train-
ing them for civilized life, and teaching them
Christianity.
Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-04-12
Indiana Journal at Outs with the Sec.
retarv of State

The Indiana journal, which has for some
time been laboring zealOusly in defense of
the Fusion Secretary of State, has, at last,
given oUer in dispair II comes out on that
dignitary, in its issue of Saturday last, in the
following article
The SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE BANK
LAw.-We must confess that the recent mani
festo Of the Secretary OF State has astonished
us little. 1t is not usual for officers of State
to proclaim what they will, and what they
wont do, through the newspapers, and it is
still less usual for them to ask an expression
of public opinion as a guide in the discharge
of their official duties. Moreover, his is the
first case we have encountered, in which an
officer of State objected to publishing law,
on the ground that his private opinion was,
that it was very bad law.
So far as we have been able to gather the
drift of his justification, it presents three
points lst. He objects to publishing the law
in the newspapers, at the expense of the
State, because no provision to that effect is
embraced in it, and because it is provided that
all the expenses of putting the law in force
shall be paid by the Bank I'd. He objects
to publishing it with the other laws" be-
cause he don't like it, thinks it a bad law
passed by bribery, and should have pocket
ed !" it, had he been Governor. Sd. He will
publish it with the otherlaws of the session
or not, as the public may decide
As to the publication at the States expense
the Secretary may be right. But does this
provision intend that he shall not publish the
law at all 1t is clearly provided that pub
lication shall be made at the expense o.
somebody, and that at the earliest possible
moment. An emergency is declared anC
publication required in some paper in this city
The Bank cannot act till it is organized, anC
it cannot be organized till the law is publish
ed. Upon whom does the duty of attending
to the publication fall then ? We wish tn,
Secretary had sail more on this point and les
as TO the hostility ne feels towards the law.
On the I'd point, we may observe, that how
ever good reasons the Secretary may have fo
refusing to publish the Bank law with tn,
other laws, the one he gives is about as poo
one as he could give. If the law, in hi
judgment, does not require publication will
the other laws of the session, he could hav
said so, and whether a sufficient reason O
not, it would not have been absurd. But t
refuse to publish it, because he don't like il
or to urge that as one of the reasons, or an
part of a reason, is, to us, a new wrinkle il
constituting official duties.
On the Sd point it is hardly necessary t
remark at all. There is no provision of on
laws which allows public officers, in doubt q
to their duty, to ascertain what the publ
think about it, and act accordingly.
Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-04-12
Another Bill Poole.

Joseph h. Monroe, of Covington, Ken
lucky, whose remains are to be paraded thro'
our streets tomorrow, with all the pomp and
circumstance Of public woe, was shot down
in the streets of this city in the progress of a
riot, in which he and his party were the ag-
gressors. Whether he was invited here to
participate in the doings on that occasion, is
only known to those who are in the secret
counsels of the party in whose behalf he had
enlisted. Whether he had been if6sttendance
upon the proceedings of the election of the
previous day, and came over to aid in putting
finishing touch TO the outrages of that time,
is, so far as We are aware, not known. He
lost his life in an act against the peace of the
city, and contrary to the laws of civilized So
ciety in every part of the world. twas an
act not demanded by the circumstances of the
case, nor iustifiable by any rule, human or di-
vine. Under the influence of a most insane
fanaticism, he and those with whom he was
associated, attempted warlike invasion into
part of the city which, in consequence of
threats was armed for their reception, and
paid the penalty of his madness and his folly.
He died as a fool dieth !
This man is called martyr-a martyr to
American principles! He is represented as
having fallen in defense of his country-as
having shed his blood to sustain principles
vital to the safety of our republic and repe-
tition is to be attempted here of the hideous
farce recently enacted in the city of New
York, wherein an essay was made to place
Bill Poole by the side of Warren and Parker,
and the patriots of the Revolution, who fell
gloriously, fighting for American liberty
With that august band ofdeifed humanity,
it is now proposed to seat Joseph B. Monroe,
and the people of Cincinnati are called upon
to aid in the process. There are those among
us, doubtless, who will respond, and it is not
improbable that there will be found among
our journalists such as will discover that
I" from this day forth, Monroe's name, in the
hearts of thousands here, will be associated
with all that is patriotic in love of country,
and all that is horoic in the defense of ones
native land Gin. Com.
Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-04-12
TIM KANE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of the light

The KANE ExPEDIT1oN.-One of the light
ships now building at our Navy Yard, is to be
fitted out as one of the vessels to compose the
expedition in search of DR.. Kane She will
be heightened about twenty-five feet, and fit
ted up with a propeller. Captain Hartstein,
formerly of the steamship Illinois, is named
as the commander of the expedition, which,
it is thought, will be ready to sail in June
Mr.. Lenthal, Chief of the Burea of Construc-
ton, Chief Engineer Martin, and other officials
of the Navy Department are now here, in
connection with the equipment of vessels for
this expedition. The purchase money for
the steamship City of Boston, 1851, OOO,) has
been paid for her. and she will be at once
fitted out for the cruise. A sailing vessel of
about 300 tons will accompany the expedi-
ton
Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-04-12
CERTIFICATES OF ELECTION GIVEN
all the
Democratic Candidates,
Faran and others sworn into
Office.

The Judges Of elections in the 18th and
18th wards made out certificates stating
the number of votes cast for each candidate,
and the Clerk, on receiving the certified re-
turns from the Eleventh and Twelfth Wards,
as given above, ISSUED CERTIFICATES
OF ELECTION TO ALL THE DEMO
CRATIC CANDIDATES Mr.. FARAN
was duly sworn in this morning, and enters
upon his duty as Mayor of the city, on Mon
day next.
Messrs FRIES, Brown, MCDOWELL, WEST
SNYDER, CRAVEN, McGIBBoNs and ToDHUN-
TFR were also sworn in.-Cin. Commercial.
Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-04-12
GREENvILLE TowNsHrP-DEMocRAT1c VI,

GREENvILLE TowNsHIP-DEMocRATIc VIC
ToRT.-At the election in Greenville town.
ship yesterday, the entire Democratic ticket
was elected over the KIN ticket by an aver
age majority of ITO votes. In October, the
Democratic majority was 76, thus showing a
large Democratic gain. At the Galena pre-
cinct the Democratic majority is AZ; in Octo-
Der it was only 8. Enoch Ferguson and
James Taylor were elected Justices of the
Peace; VIM Hopper, Trustee; R, Smallwood,
G. Mallory, and B. Campbell. Constables;
T. ]. Allen, Treasurer; and j. w. Akers,
Clerk.-Meao albany LEDGER
Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-04-12

JAPAN.-Commodore Perry, having been
INTERCEPTED by some merchants as to the arti-
cles likely to find maket in Japan, says the
temperature of japan, corresponding in many
respects with that of our Atlantic States, from
Maine to South Carolina inclusive, requires
that, for comfort, the inhabitants should be
clad in warmer vestments than cotton-there-
fore, woollen clothes, of assorted qualities,
would be to the japanese more acceptable
than the cottons, and these should be chiefly
of the darker colors. But, with regard to the
colors, selections may be made by reference
to the drawings of costumes which are to ap-
pear in the report Of the Japan Expedition, to
be published during the present year. Spec
linens of the various fabrics of japan and Lew
Chew have been brought to this country by
the squadron, most Of which are in the hands
of the officers ofthe government, and are to lie
placed in the Patent Office for public inspec-
finn
Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-04-12

batting Of wild animals, and the. I'D b.. bee
popul ar, and received as a grand olSli s. + a.
that the born-nghts of men areuedu.,. md
inalienable, will become an abstraction. and
the mockery which some have already made
it,
And who are TO blame for all this ? The
Sig NIelts They, if at all, are the Justice
gotten of Know Nothingism and know
nothing fathers will be held responsible TO the
world, and to the hopes of the world, thus
mutilated, for whatever evils may arise, from
the thousand and one nonstrosities that are
sure TO be born of their medling with the
prolific mother of all error. Ignorance
Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-04-12

OIThe Election Board adopted a rule on
Monday that no foreign-born voter could exer-
else the elective franchise without he produ-
ced his papers A gentleman who has voted
here for the past three years offered his vote
and it was refused. Indignant at such an out
rage, he informed the board that he would
have them indicted if they refused his vote
and showed them the law on the subject
The voter was leaving, when the fear of in
dictment constrained them, and the vote was
received The voter is the sole Judge of his
right to vote, but is liable to the penalty of
illegal voting. The Board has no discretion
but to receive vote, although they can re-
quire the voter to make oath as to his residence
and right to vote.
In another case voter did not have his
papers, but the Clerk of the Court produced
the official record showing that the voter had
declared his intention to become citizen be-
fore the Presidential election. The Board said
they had nothing to do with that book, and
if he wanted to vote he must produce his pa
pers.
such "Know- Nothingism' is decidedly
charming Pig
Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-04-12

The first two numbers of the Weekly Indiana
Sate SEtiael were sent to the subscribers of
the LaPorte Republican Times, to fill up the
interim between the cessation of the publica-
ton Of the latter and its recommencement
under DR.. EvERTS.
Those of our northern friends who desire
TO receive the Sentinel regularly will please
forward us their names, as we, of course,
would not feel at liberty to send them our
paper unless ordered to do So
Times nlease cODv
Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-04-12
DrFFERAscE BETWEEN THEo

DrFFERANcE BETWEEN THEORY AND PRAc-
TIcE.-The Gazette, speaking of recent outra-
ges says
The American party is strong in numbers;
it is strong in the essential elements of Its
creed; but it's particularly strong and always
will be, in presenting to the people unexcep-
tionable candidates for popular suffrages, and
in the practice Of high and honorable senti-
ment. IL isa party that should not aua7 Itself
Of nePi'lage Of ballot bores, and the destruction
Of votes, 10 achieve victory 1t should feel a
stain like wound, and do that only which
will conduce to the elevation of the American
character and the American name.
But what did the American party do !? ''By
their fruits shall We know theml'
Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-04-12

GREAT OUTRAGE.-On Sunday night Mr.
Lang, an artist Of this city, was approached,
On Upper Market street, by man who cried
out, =" here is a Sag Nicht," and Immediately
struck him in the face, knocking him down,
when the assailant was joined by several 9TH
ers, who beat and kicked Mr. L. in most
shameful manner Mr.. L. does not know who
his assailants were and can divine no cause
for the assault other than that he is a Ger
man. Mr.. Lang is a quiet unobtrusive man,
who pursues his profession as portrait paint
er without mingling in or caring about poll
tics. He assures us he is not a member of any
secret political society. This is but one of a
number of similar outrages that have occur
red Of late. What are we coming to ?-Meso
-Al5any Ledger.
The Ledger should have also told how, at
the election in that city on Monday, the Know
Nothings Kissed and hootea Messrs. WEIR,
PEARcE, MoFFETT and others of the Oldest,
most respected. order loving and law abiding
citizens OF the place, when they went to the
polls to cast their ballots, as all American cit
liens may Of right do And it should have
told that these outrages were perpetrated by
the Know Nothings, upon american born ciiti-
Gems, because they refused to affiliate with A
conclave sworn to strike at the foundation of
our Religious liberties and Civil rights 1t
should have told that the lives of men acting
in opposition to this secret osbal were threatS
ened and endangered, On account oftheir hos
tility to anarchy and mob rule. How that
the ballot box has been taken charge of by
black-guard DULLES, and hired vagabonds and
adopted Germans, Irshmen and other foreign
born citizens have been driven from the polls,
or deferred, for fear of personal violence, from
offering their votes. The Ledger should have
published these statements of facts, then its
readers could have the more easily determin-
ed its query" Whatare i0s coming to9