The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-16

from all the pensioned advocates of Slavery In
the country. u.
PUBLIC LANDs-The exposition of public
lands sold within the past fiscal year presents
some surprising results, and yet such as are
characteristic of the working of our Govern
ment. The following recapitulation of the table
embraces the most important items:
Total quantity of lands for cash 14,869,368
Total quantity sold in the free
States and Territories 1851, 200
Total quantity sold in the slave
States and Territories 1867 900
Total amount of cash receipts Sl0,549, 100000
Received from sales in free States 7,9l5,000.00
Received from sales in slave States 1864, 100000
Average price per acre for all the
States II cents.
Average price per acre for free
States lUZ.y cents.
Average price per acre for slave
States SO cents
The greatest quantity of land sold in any
State, and at the highest price, was in Iowa,
where 3.276,000 acres were sold at $l.24 per
acre. The next greatest quantity was disposed
of in Missouri, where 2,896,000 acres were SOLD,
at an average of 43 cents per acre. The lowest
average price was in Indiana, where the small
remnants of half century's traffic in Covert
ment real estate brought only III cents per
acre. The next lowest average was in Ala
bama, where nearly 100000 acres sold for \
trife over half million of dollars, equal TO %
cents per acre.
The people of Ohio should bear in mind, that
when Gov. Medill was in Congress he voted IN
favor of paying certain shareholders the Jnar
ket value of slaves who enancipated themselves
on board the brig Creole; thus recognising the
nationality of Slavery, and setting a most
dangerous and unworthy precedent. Is such a
man fit to be Governor of Ohio? Cleveland
Leader.
LOUISA WAY GoLD.-The american says,
we were shown lump of gold on Wednesday,
worth $3.50, the product of a months labor in
the Slate Hill Gold Mines, in the above county.
We are informed by Capt. R. r. Towser, the
superintendent, that sixteen negroes and four
white hands are required to carry on the opera
tions at the mines, involving an expense of about
$500 per month. The amount obtained this
month is not an average one. The county of
Louisa is full of auriferous land. Most of the
gold from that county is shipped to the United
States Mint at Philadelphia.
EXTRAORDINARY LEAP. As the steamer
Alice G. Price was coming out of Cone river
on her trip up On Wednesday, horse mackere
leaped from the water and fell on the hurricane
deck of the steamer, distance of sixteen feet
above the water The fish was taken and
brought up. This is one of the most extraor
binary leaps that we have heard of.
THR KANSAS Chicago, 4uo.
1.-The proceedings of the Kansas Legislature
up to the 18th ult. have been received here, but
they are entirely local, and devoid of general
interest.
Ho BIBLE ArFRAY IN FArHKR
KILL BY HIS SoN.-We learn that horrible
case Occurred in Dinwiddie on Saturday last.
The circumstances appear to be the following
Mr.. Tucker Jones, residing about six or
eight miles from Dinwiddie Court House, had
sent his negro boy to Petersburgh, on the day
before, with load of oats.
The boy not having returned, the old man
became, very angry, and reproached his son,
Benjamin Jones, as the cause of the negro's
delay, remarking that had he accompanied him
with the OATS as he had been directed, the boy
would have been back.
The son made some insolent remark in reply,
which so provoked the father that he seized a
gun and pointed it towards him. AS he was
about firing it, the mother turned the gun with
her arm, and the load was discharged through
an adjoining window.
AS she was rushing out of the house to call
in help, she heard noise behind her, and, on
looking back perceived her husband stretched
lfeess on the floor, felled by the hand of his son.
These were the facts elected yesterday, from
the mothers testimony at Jones's examining
trial. He was admitted to bail, and is now at
large.-Southside Va.) Democrat.
BATHING AND SwIMMING.-Every one should
learn to swim. That is a truism. DR.. Franklin
said it long while ago. But how few there are,
even in our seaport towns, who obey Poor
Richards injunction There is no excuse for
such negligence, when we remember that the
requirement of the art Of swimming gives
health and pleasure to the pupil. All that is
required is little faith, some acquaintance
with the laws of specific gravity, and con-
siderable practice. Faith, as in all important
matters, is the chief requisite. We have seen
an excellent method for learning youths to
swim. We do not think it is patented, and give
it for the benefit of parents and guardians.
The teacher is supplied with a stout rod, some
what shorter and stronger than fishing rod, a
cord, hook, and strap-the latter should be
three or four inches in width. The strap is
placed about the body of the pupil, half way
between the arm pits and the hips, the hook or
ring affixed to the strap, and fastened to the
cord. The latter being made fast to the end
of the rope, the pupil is placed in the water
like fish. He will soon learn to strike out,
and the rest will come of ITSELF This plan Is
better than that of supporting the body on
corks or life-preservers, because by the latter
method the pupil must eventually use his sup
port all at once, while with the hook and line
it is taken away from him gradually. Swimming
by this process may be taught in about six easy
lessons.-Ne,o Haren Palladium.
THE PLAGUE OF THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY
| There was one disease.called the black death,
| the black plague, or the great mortality. The
| most dreadful visitation of it was one that be-
| gan in China spread over Asia, and in the year
thirteen hundred and forty-eght entered Eu-
| rope. Europe was then, however, not unused
to plaques. Six others had made themselves
famous during the preceding eightandforty
years. The black plague spread from the south
of Europe to the north, occupying about three
years in its passage. In two years it had reach
ed Sweden; in three years it had conquered
Russia. The fatal influence came among men
| ripe to receive it. Europe was full of petty
war citizens were immured in cities, in un-
wholesome houses overlooking filthy streets,
as in beleaguered fortresses for robbers, if not
armies, occupied the roads beyond their gates
husbandmen were starving feudal slaves re-
| ligion was mainly superstition; ignorance was
| dense, and morals were debased little control
| was set upon the passions. To such men the
pestilence came, which was said to have slain
| thirteen millions of Chinese, to have depopu-
J lated India, to have destroyed in Cairo fifteen
| thousand lives day. Those we're exaggerated