davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-10-31
The Democratic Party.

Our position is With the graat conSerV-
ative party of the day. The party that
has ever stood true to its principles. The
party that never turns to the right or the
left to suit itself to circumstances. The
name of which is DEMOCRAT This party
stands as firmly to-day as it did in the
days of Jefferson, Madison and Jackson.
1t is a National party. 1t has not now,
never did have, nor ever can have any,
thing to do with sectionalism nor any
other ism. 1t stands upon the Constitu
tion that binds the Union together. 1t
is neither slave party nor an abolition
party 1t looks to the Constitution of
this glorious Union as an agreement be-
tween the States Of which it is composed,
whose climates and productions differ and
whose interests as far as labor is con-
cerned differ also, it takes the broad
ground that the right of both the North
and the South should be alike protected.
But to say that the Democratic party is
slavery party, is a libel upon its fair
name. Its constant aim has always been
to leave this Institution under the control
of the local laws of the States where it
exists, and to free the national govern
ment from all responsibility for it. 1t
would leave to all States, both North and
South, the full, free and unmolested rights
guaranteed to them by the Constitution
This instrument recognizes slavery, and
as it exists in some Of the States the
Democratic party opposes all schemes OF
hot-headed fanatics to excite, injure and
harass the people Of these States on ac-
count of it. This is as far as the slavery
proclivities of the Democratic party ex-
tend, and this far sound craftsmanship
and the Constitution compel it to go.
4 1t is also untrue that this party is amen
able for the outrageous scenes that have
been enacted in Kansas, as the Know
Nothing journalists throughout the coun.
; try would fain make YOU believe It ha
been ascertained to demonstration tha
those persons who left Missouri and inva
ded Kansas, and outraged the laws of tha
territory with Atchison at their head
were lawless band of Know Nothings
, and that in their midnight councils, thost
: infamous schemes were devised, that wer
t carried out and enforced within the bound
of the territory of Kansas. To the Know
f Nothing party belongs all the infamy AM
t odium, in consequence of these lawleS
5 procedures, and what they and all othe
r opponents Of the Democratic party charg
: upon it in reference to its slavery princi
v piles are untrue; but it is true that tn
= Democratic party now in existence, an
n the only one in which all alike can be Pre-
Y tected as guaranteed by the Constitution
if Let US then, fellow Democrats and Patr
3 OTIS, cling to it with that love and patriot
ism that it's tenets demand, and by so dc
II ing save this happy country from trai
n of evils, that would be destructive of on
l. liberty and prosperity, and subvert OF
government, and render this now happ
O country of ours, a pandemonium, whic
IS our opponents seek to cast upon it.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-10-31
aa The journal man affects to b,

ay The journal man affects to be
a little sceptical in regard to our state
ment of the illegal votes cast at the late
California election. Well, it is true that
we took the account from a Know Moth
ing paper, which is very questionable
authority, but we thought when giving
evidence against the order it might posi-
bly, be believed; the Journal man, who
knows the value of such testimony better
than we do, appears to doubt it even in
this case. Mr.. Journal, do you consider
it primo .facia evidence that statement
is false if it is found in Know Nothing
paper?
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-10-31
Capture Of Chinese Pirates by English
and American Boats.


The Hong-Kong (China) Mail gives an
interesting account of "a battle between
boat parties from the English ship of war
Rather and the U. S. naval steamer Pow.
haitian, near Kulan, in which eight seamen
or marines were killed, and fifteen or sir.
teen wounded:
The pirate junks were taken and de-,
stroyed, and seven prize vessels previously
captured by the pirates, were liberated.
The English ship Rattler, towed by the
steamer Eaglet, headed the attacking par
ty, followed by three boats and a hundred
mcr from the American steam frigate.
On arriving near the scene of action, the
Rather manned three of her own boats,
and these, with the American, attacked the
pirates Lieutenants Pegram and Rolan-
do, with the launches of the Powhatan.
attacked them with voleys of mnsketry.
clearing the decks of the two largest, then
boarding and driving the pirates over
board at the point of the bayonet. The
latter fought with great desperation. A
young American marine, named Adamson,
was shot through the groin.
Another accident was the blowing up Of
junk which for time had offered the
most determined resistance to the English
| gig. Either train had been laid before
the crew left, or some determined scoun-
drel fired the junk, for she blew up, with
tremendous explosion, and both officers
and men were hurled into the water
Three of the men were killed, and several
Others frightfully scorched, one of whom
died the same night, while another is not
expected to live. The survivors were.
however, all picked up by Mr., Craig,
masters mate of the Powhatan. In this
junk was an immense quantity of treasure,
said to amount to 5000, 200, and the des-
peration with which her crew fought may
be judged of from the fact that even after
the Americans gained the deck they were
encountered hand to hand. The officers
employed estimate the number of guns
taken at two hundred, large and small,
and the pirates at one thousand, five hum
dred of whom were killed SAB
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-10-31
The colored National Convention.

The Colored National Convention. -
On Tuesday evening, this convention,
which has been in session in Philadelphia
several days adjourned sine die. Previ-,
Gus to the adjournment letter from Mr.
Handy, of Baltimore, eulogising the Re-
public of Liberia, was read, and created
much excitement. The Philadelphia Sun
thus reports the scene that followed: (;
Several members expressed themselves
as determined to have their rights on this
soil on which they were born, and never
would they aid the cause of colonization.i
Mr.. Downing, of Connecticut, spoke
against the cause of colonization, conclu-.
ding his remarks by motion to treat the
letter with degree of contempt never
perhaps heard of before, viz: to burn III;
and on this motion he demanded the pre-
vious question. The motion to burn was
agreed to by large majority. 81,
Several voices were heard at this point:
Burn it on stake;" Here are match
es; Burn the letter and singe the writer.n'
Among those who voted against the
resolution was Fred Douglas. ssas 81 90
Mr.. Dell said those who had voted to
burn the letter would lynch him if they
could; yes, they would cut his throat. ~.
Rev. Stephen Smith thought that the
disposition of the letter was unchristian.
like and unprecedented. lie had hoped
that the members of the Convention would
have been guided by better spirit than
to have passed such resolution. s,{Tn
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-10-31
Balloon Ascension at Cincinnati.

A Lare Horse carried through the 4lr.-
Monsieur GODDARD made his third ascension
from this city yesterday afternoon. The
announcement that he would take live
horse with him, served to increase the
anxiety to witness the ascension At
o'clock the immense inclosure recently
used by the Horticultural Society, on
Vine street, above Fourth, and the ad-
joining streets and surrounding houses for
great distance, were crowded with peo-
pie Full twenty thousand people must
have been assembled in the vicinity, pre-
senting, of itself, a magnificent spectacle.
At 5 o'clock the monster balloon was full
ly inflated, when the car was attached and
the horse suspended, by means of-heits,
below the car The weather was delight
fully clear and calm, and Monsieur Go
dard and his daring lady being seated in
the car, the balloon was cut loose and
glided beautifully upward and northward,
amid the cheers of the thousands below.
The horse kept his legs perfectly still, but
kept constantly throwing his head first to
one side and then to the other, as if con-
sidcraaly astonished at his predicament
II had been previously arranged that
Mons GODDARD should be followed by the
gentlemen who had engaged passage in a
carriage, and he would descend as soon
as possible, cut loose the horse and take
them on board. lie commenced descend
ing while over the 10th ward, and finally
very gently and without the least trouble,
landed on the hill side, north of Hamilton
Road and near Vine street. AS soon as
the horse touched the earth he commenced
eating grass as unconcernedly as if he had
been wandering in pasture. Within two
minutes the balloon was surrounded by
several thousand people, among whom
were the Rover Dragons who had gal
loped to the spot.
The horse was unbuckled, and Messrs
Rockey Thompson, mail agent, Johr
Sharp, Councilman one of the Editors o
the Enquirer and Bellman, of the Gazette
seated themselves in the Car, with Mons
and Mad. GODDARD, and the balloon agair
glided beautifully upward, and sailed di
rectly North.
The horse was returned to the city, sur
rounded by large crowd of men anc
boys. He is small animal. rather OF
the mulish order as a number of persons
who crowded too closely upon him, ant
received his heels into their stomachs, car
testify. He was quite "lion'' during
the evening.
We learn this morning that the aero
nauts, after proceeding in their voyage
until about eight O'Clock, arrived in th'
vicinity of Winchester, about sixteen mile
from the city. There, as they were hov
ering in mid air, they were asked if the.
would not stop and take tea-taking th'
lady who had the kindness to extend tn
invitation at her word, they descended t.
terra frna, and enjoyed pleasant repas
after their aerial voyage. Gin. 1snaes.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-10-31
1subITiiiiity SubIirllated.

The most transcendantly beautiful and
magnifcently grand specimen of poetic
genius that the l9thcentury has produced,
is the following from the last Guernsey
I'aniss. The sweetness of the cadence
and the smoothness of the versifcation
are enough to set all the dogs in the whole
country to ;howling. The author should
be seen to before he makes another at
tempt. Wei, venture to say he tore his
pen all to slivers in the frenzy that pro-
..We thought as we followed their narrow bed
And gladly sent them "away down Salt river
How the siape nnd. stranger wonlda tread o'ei
.,,fftheir head,
And we, at home, still cxul6ng ever.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-10-31
Fusion Celebration.
The Fusionists are to have a grand b

The Fusionists are to have grand bar
becue, at Columbus on the 18th of Nov.
in honor of the late election. We pre-
sumo that niggerdom will be fully repre-
sented as the "culled individuals are the
only ones who have anything to rejoice
about. A few more such victories and
they will cease to say that "a well-behav-
ed whiteman is as good as Niger" Any
one desiring cheap perfumery, composed
of the fumes of darkies and corn whiskey
can be gratifed.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-10-31
letter from Kansas.
LEAvENwoRTH, Sept.2 .25, 1856;

"Politics have taken new turn in the
Territory within the last few weeks. |
think mentioned in one of my previous
letters that the project of forming State
Government had Eeen broached in some
parts of the Territory This notion once
mentioned spread like ld-Gre-consul-
tation among the Delegates at the recent
Congressional Convention at Big Springs
has given this project such an impetus as
lis likely very speedily to result in success,
so far, at least, as success can be brought
about by the citizens of the Territory. A
convention on this subject has just closed
it's deliberations. Itconvented at Topeka
on the 10Th ult. Delegates were in atten-
dance from every county in the Territory.
This county was represented by twelve
Delegates, and your correspondent had the
honor of being one of the number. We
appointed an Executed Committee as also
Committee to address the citizens of the
Territory Speakers were also appointed
to canvass the entire Territory, to discuss
the propriety and advantages Of such d
movement. This project is entered into
warmly and cordially by the whole Free
State party, and it has many friends among
the conservative portion OF the pro-slaTe-
ry party.
"It is proposed to hold the election on
the End Tuesday of october, (the day fix
ed by the Free State party for holding the
Congressional Delegate Election,) for the
election of delegates to form state consti-
tution--the place of meeting to be at To-
peka, and the time the 4th Tuesday of
October. After the Constitution is form
ed, provision is made for submitting it to
vote Of the people as soon as practica-
ble
"Ths is the present position of affairs
in reference to this project. The men OF
enterprise, talent and energy all over the
Territory are deeply interested in carry
ing it through-and they ao'N carry 1t
through--you may rely upon that. We
hope to be admitted into the union this
winter, as State We have the assur-
ance of many public men of high position
in the two Houses of Congress, that they
this object. We hope to make it the IN
terest of Statesmen and politicians to set
tie tie Kansas trouble before the nert Pres'-
Dental Election 1t is the only course to
prevent that election from assuming sec
tional aspect, which no well wisher OF the
Harmony of the Union could possibly de-
sire.
"As soon as the proceedings OF the
I. Convention are published, l will send you
a copy from which you will see that the
best men of the Territory have embarked
in this measure.
'In case Congress should refuse to ad
nit our State into the Union, it has beer
, suggested that then VIC would only be II
9 the condition California was for two o
three years before she was admitted as
State. We propose to follow her exam
pie in, that event-that is, elect our Stat
t officers, and put into operation a Stat
Government, aud abide the action OF Con
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-10-31
A MIsrAKE CoRREcTEp.-The Pepsa

A MISTAKE CORRECTED. The Pensa-
cola Gazette says: We find a statement
going the rounds of the papers that Prince
Lucian Murat, heir slightly apparent to
the throne of Naples, was formerly res
ident planter of this State-but this is all
a mistake. 1t was Prince Achille Murat
who married the daughter of Colonel Boyd
Willis, of Virginia, and settled an plan
tation somewhere near Tallahassee. =
Prince Murat was well known, and high
ly esteemed, as courteous and courtly
gentleman in this city, where the father
and family of his lady resided-it is now
many years since his demise-his widow
still resides on the plantation, and is bles-
sed with fortune, health, and troops of
friends, all of which she is most deserving.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-10-31
Democratic Natlonal Conventio,

Democratic National Convention.
AS matter of general information in /,
regard to the constitution of the next
Democratic National Convention, we pub /
lished the subjoined resolutions adopted
by the last Democratic National Conyen-
ton held in Baltimore a. IA
"Resolved, That the next Democratic
National Convention be held at Cincin-
natl, in the State of Ohio. ST u }9aiq
"Resolved, That in constituting future
National Conventions of the Democratic
party, in order to secure the respective
rights of the States to their relative rep
resentation in such Conventions, zach
State will be entitled to twice the number
of delegates that has votes in the electoral
college, and no more; and that the DEM
ocratic National Committee, in making
arrangements for the next National Con,
vention, provide such number of seats
therein for each State, and secure the
same for delegates elect. a q
"Resolred, That the time of holding
the next Convention be designated by the
Democratic National COMMITTEES; and that
| in their call, the above resolution be in
serted as the rule for choosing dele
gates" .4a r.s a~as. vt;sss s4e
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-10-31

~ The great Comet of 1868, which
was expected in 1S48, and on account of
whose non appearance Sir John Herschei
put Grape on his telescope, NJ. Bomme,
a distinguished German astronomer, finds
not to be due till 1853. With immense
labor he has gone over all the intricate
calculations, and estimates that the Comet
will be retarded to that extent by the in
fuence of the planets. The periods of
its return have ranged from 2S9 to 293
years, and if it shall not return before
1858, its present period will be longer by
nine years than ever before.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-10-31

sg~ A private letter from Kansas in
forms us that John /. Moore, Esq, for
merly of New Martinsville, Va, has been
appointed solicitor for the city of Leay-
enworth. Good.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-10-31
Within the last two weeks there hav,

Within the last two weeks there have
been numerous contracts made for new
corn, amounting in the aggregate to 150,-
900 bushels at prices varying from 3 1 to
35 cents, all to be delivered in this city
before the first of next January. Hold
ers, under the influence of the excited state
of the market for breadstuffs, and antioi-
pating large foreign demand for corn,
are now very firm and contracts could not
be made below 80 cents, and many are
asking higher rates.-Csa. Price Cas.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-10-31
Know Nothinglsm VS.. Foreigners.

For some months previous to the late
election, in this State, the Know Nothing
papers were mute upon the changers of
foreigng influence (" Their cry of Amer
leans must rule America" and their clamor
about foreign criminals and foreign pau
psrs, were entirely sileneed. The alarms
that twere sounding from one end of the
Union to the other, died without an echo.
Foreigners, appeared, had suddenly been
metamophosed from traitors to the coun-
try, to q very respectable class Of citizens.
What was all this for, and why this re-
matkable quiet? During this time the
pFopagators of Know Nothingism were
busily engaged in seducing foreigners into
the order; not hesitating to proclaim that
their war. was confined to Catholicism.
Salmon 2. Chase was writing his celebra-
ted osandusky letter to obtain foreign
Votes IA our own county, a number of
forsigners were led, astray by this artifce,
they. firmly believing that Catholics alone
were to suffer, if this proscripti5c order
triumphed. The contributors who got up
the salmagundi of the Journal, during the
campaign. aud who took every other snb-
jeet high and low, into their dirty hands,
ceased to harp about the "Dntch and
Irish;" aye, even advocated the cause Of
a foreigner for Office. The undcrstrappers
of the clique were boasting they had got
dutch" into the order. and pointed to
their organs to prove that at hat time
they, were not opposed to foreigners vo-
ting and holding Office.
But the election came of, and the great
bodssof thefaraigners voted against them.
Anothef change. is miraculous as the for
mer came over them. Again have for
eigners become enemies to the country;
again have the Know Nothing papers felt
if tosbe their duty to pour out their abuse
and hatch up miserable stories. Even
the 3oNr7adl heretofore SO quiet and un.
obtrpsiye, except in it's communications
hssinew Joined in the clamor. Itis pub.
lisllihg the old stereotype abuse Of the
Boston Crusader and the more recent pro.
dqftions Of the iH-directed genius of Geo
D Prentice. It keeps as standing mat
teBsa something purporting to be an ex
position of society called Sag NIGHTS
AdS Intelligent man would see at one,
that the exposition was simply ridiculous
bqt.it saves typersettipg, and might gul
sonaeiunsopiiistieated voter.
1Theisame hypocritical pretensions wer
made ID other States, and were in tn
same same way nnpasked by the election
Know Nothingism is the same proscrip
tive. narrow-minded party that it was
year ago; If it has appeared to abate an
of its rigor, it was only temporary, an
for the sake of carrying an election.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-10-31
yyhsstsns to Keep his Spirits up

The Journal man is still laboring to
convince himself that his party will not
be beat in this county next year.
"You can't do that again." as the bull
said when the locomotive knocked all his
brains out.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-10-31
KEowars the Mighty Fallen.

The Washington Sentinel says: But
eight months have passed away since the
piebald opposition were almost mad with
joy. With pen aud voice, in the pulpit
aud on the stump, they We're boasting
that Democracy was dead. Their preach
ers blasphemed, and their orators shout
ed over the imagined corpse of Dcmoc-
racy.
1t had committed suicide, so said the
frantic conquerers, by swallowing that
political strychnine known as the Nebras-
ka-Kansas bill.
Elections were held in many of the
northern States. Ali the elements of
opposition fused themselves into solid
conglomerate mass Antagonisms were
cemented into loving brotherhood, and
opposites harmonized with more than
lover-like tenderness. This formidable
host, animated by but one common feel
iug-hatred of DemocIacy-s ter
ror to the hearts of patriots. They car
ried State after State, and seemed never
to tire of victory. They clapped THEN
hands and sounded their brazen trumpets.
The great war-cry they raised was-sre-
peal of the Nebraska iniquity."
| The Abolitionists thought that TIE
good time so long looked for by them
had come at last. They thought that the
day of their redemption was at hand
The Know Nothings and the Wings, glad
of the Success of any party over the De
mocracy, were almost as profrSs theil
demonstrations of joy. So =
But asfew months have rolled away
and how changed the face of aifairs!-
The elections came on in the South, anC
Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina
Alabama, Texas, Georgia, in rapid sue
cession declared themselves for the De
mocracy The Democratic fires kindle6
in the South spread onward to the North
and the very States that had but latel!
been swept by the fusionists have givel
us splendid triumphs. In Maine, Penn
sylvania and Indiana, all reproach ha
been swept out, and the Democratic part,
stands redeemed, regenerated and Olsen
| thralled."
1t is fortunate circumstance that th
discontents and divisions by which th,
Democratic party was distracted, occur
red at the time they did. 1t is a fortu
nate thing that the success of the Oppo
sition took place so far in advance of tn
Presidential election 1t is also mos
fortunate that the excesses, the revolt
ing excuses. of the late triumphant op
position had time to react They shock
ed the whole country. They produces
a signal and thorough revulsion of feel
ing. iao
| With the causes that produced thos
4 diseontents and divisions and brough
temporary disaster to the Democracy, W
do not now propose to deal. They wer
all resolved into one--the passage of tn
Nebraska bill, which in our humble judg
ment had nothing to do with the matter
In the commencement of our newspape
enterprise we pointed out those cause
time after time, and predicted the result
which sure enough did follow. p
We hope that all discontents and div
slams will pass away, and that the unite
9 Democracy will set about securing an oil
|, fashioned triumph in the coming contes
h~5Fs Tho orroot Gomat of JSGS Whic
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-10-31

We omit the returns of the elec-
tion in to-day's paper hoping that i'll our
next we will be able to give the official
vote in full