davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-02-03
HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Mr. j. H. White asked leave TO change his vote
and have it recorded in favor of the revenue bill,
he having voted under a misapprchcaSon.
MIR. Houston made like application, having
also voted under Il misrepresentation.
Mr. Martin wished to change his vote and record
his opposition to the bill, 1t not only provides Tor
the past but for future appropriations.
Mr.. Slngeitary opposed the Application as a ddii-
gerous precedent.
Mr.. Winston moved to lay Oh the table. Adopted
Mr.. Gorre!l, from the joint select committee a!,
pointed to report when the General Assembly cou!a
adjourn, being unable to agree, presented reSo!u
ton that the House hold night sessions and hereafter
take from 81 o'clock to 7, commencing with
this day Adopted
Mr.. Amis moved to suspend the rules and to take
up the Dan River and Yadllin Railroad bill.
This motion brought considerable discussion;
motion to lay on the table being rcjccted-aycs III
noes 40.
Mr.. Singeltary moved as amendment TO take
up all Senate bills requiring appropriations. Tho
motion to suspend the rules rejected-yeas 2u,
nays co.
Mr.. Jenkins introduced a bill concerning the du-
ties of the Literary Board, which on motion OF Mr.
j. g. Bynpm ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Phillips introduced bill to incorporate the
Chapel Hill and Durhamsvil!e Plank-road and Turn
pike Company. Read the first time.
Mr.. Cooke introduced bill to lay off pnblG;
road from Salisbury to the Virginia line. Read ana
referred to the committee Propositions and Ofle-
vances.
Mr.. L. Whitfield introduced a bill to incorporate
the town of Whitehall. Read and referred to INC
committee on Corporations
MIR. Humphrey presented resolution that evening
sessions be apart for bills their first reading
and private bills.
Mr.. Batlham introduced bill to amend the act
Incorporating the town of Edenton. Read the niS'
time.
Mr.. J. H. White introduced bill altering the
time of holding Courts in the 9th judicial circuit
Mr.. Whtlock moved to suspend the rules anu
have the bill read the second time Refused. ~
Mr. L. H. Williamspresenteaa resolution that th'
committee of the whole be discharged from the l a
Their consideration of the subject of Banking an
some discussion between MoSSrs Singeltary anu
Outlaw on point of ORDER .,f
Mr. T. H. Williams moved the House resolve itSg,i
into comIntte of the whole the subject Of ba'N
ing
Mr. j. G. Bynum thought Mr.. Williams course
was influenced by feeling of opposition to the Yves
tern extension, which was the order of the day -,
Mr.. L. H. Williams disclaimed the impuation a ana
stated he had voted for the eastern extension anu
was equally ready to support the western extension"
Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-02-03

Mr. BlGGs AND THE WESTERN EXTENSION. Just at
this time there is good deal of unnecessary cersure
being ndag ed in with regard to the Hon. Asa Bggs
vote against the western extension of the North Car
Dina Railroad. We do not know Mr.. Bisgs' reasons
for giving the vote he did, but presume he can and
will justify it. We in favor OF the western cx-
tension, (although it is calculated to do lis no good
in this section,) but we don't intend to dcnounce
any man because he entertanS different view of
the matter from The report of the FL
nance Committee shows that the present taxes are
not sufficient to pay the interest the State debt
and if Mr.. Bggs thinks the debt should not be
increased for the western extension the present
time, why we for do not blame him. He voted
for the appropriation the Cape Fear and Deep Ri
yer Improvement, and we do net think he is liable
to the charge of being 90 hi,ie bound " on the
subject of internal Improvement The talk about
Mr.. Riggs rcsigning his scat in the United States
Senate to which he has been recently elected is all
CANNON. Mr.. Biggs knows that the democratic
party are just we'll satisfied with him as their
representative in the [. S. Senate as they would be
with any other democrat.
Whatever may be the vic rs and wishes of letter
writers at Raleigh, assure them that their
attempts to injure Mr.. Biggs in the estimation of
democrats by accusations of inSinceritv and incnn-
sistency the subject OF internal improvements
will hardly be successful. At any rate Mr. Biegs
will scarcely bepr~ged by his true political fie.ds
before he has had an opportunity to be heard in
his own defence. The opposition NAV take that
course-not We Fay. Caro-.
Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-02-03

SENATOR DOUGLAS AND THE Presidency. We copy
the following from the Washington Sentinel ofycster-
days issue:
From our intimate acquaintance and political as
sociations with Judge Douglas, however we feel
justified in stating that he neither desires no1~wouId
he receive the nomination for the term of the
presidency. We believe that, unlike many of our
statesmen he looks with eye single to the good
ofhs country, rather than to his personal adj
vancement-to the triumph the principles of which
he has been so able and distinguished an advocate
rather than to the reward for which so many con-
tend. His position in the Senate is such as to make
him the object Of confidence with the whole
country. From his geographical position, his defence
of the constitutional rights of the South is eff
fective than if he were himselfa representative of
southern State. In his distinguished he has
demonstrated that the stricest construction of the
constitution is not inconsistent with the highest de-
velopment of the power and interest of the country
"But to all who know us, our esteem for his tai
ents and admiration for his sterling honesty and en-
arged patriotism arc also known 1t is needless to
repeat them here. 1t is, therefore, with regret that
we again express our entire conviction that Judge
Douglas, under no circumstances will accept the
nomination for the presidency"
Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-02-03
The Senate then took q recess.
EVENING SESSION.

Mr.. Thomas, of Jackson, introduced several bills
which were read by their titles and appropriately
referred.
The bill to open the Uwharric river to the free
passage of fish, read the second and third times
and passed
The bill to establish Bank in the town Of VIII
mington was read a second time and laid on the
table.
The bill fer the protection of sheep was read the
third time and passed.
The remainder OF the evening occupied IN
considering and disposing Of privrte bills
Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-02-03

Legal rate OF
Interest, Penalty for Violation
per cent. of Usury Law
Maine G Excess not recoverable.
n. Hampshire Forfeit 3 times The interest.
Vermont 6 Excess may be recovered back
Massachusetts G Forfeit ; times whole interest.
II. Island 8 Excess recovered by payers
Connecticut 6 Forfeiture of all the interest.
New York C Forfeiture of contract.
New Jersey g Do. do.
Pc lnsylvana = Do do
Delaware e Do do.
Maryland 6 Excess recoverable by payer.*
Virginia e Contracts void.
y. Carolina e DO.
$. Carolina 7 Forfeit all the interest.
Georgia 7 DO. do
Alabama 8 Do. do.
Arkansas Il Contracts void.
Florida e Forfeit of all the interest
Illinois & Defendant RECEIVERS his costs
Indiana 6 Fine Of 5 times whole interest.
Iowa 6 Forfeit of excess of interest
Kentucky 6 Contract for interest void.
Louisiana 6 Forfeit of all the interest.
Michigan z No penalty.
Mississippi 6 Forfeit excess Of interest.
Missouri 6 Do. do
Ohio 6 Do do.
Tennessee 6 Liable TO indie. for misdemcanor.
Texas 8 Forfeit of all the interest.
Wisconsin z Special cOntracts-12.
California 10 No penalty.
There are various States that permit higher rate
of interest special contracts viz: In Vermont,
per cent may be charged upon railroad bonds.
In New jersey, seven per cent. may be charged IN
Jersey city ana IN the township OF fiOOOken. In
Maryland, the penalty is matter of some doubt, in
consequence of late decision Of Judge fancy,
which does not, however, meet the assent of the
bar of BALTIMORE In Arkansas ten per cent. may
be charged on special contracts In Illinois, the
banks may charge seven per cent and ten per cent.
may be charged between Individuals ON special con-
tracts. In Iowa, ten per cent special contracts.
In Louisiana, eight per cent may be charged. In
Michigan, contracts in writing legal to charge
ten per cent The in Mississippi and in Ohio.
In Texas, twelve per cent. may be charged on spc-
cial contracts.
-*TUnder the decision by Judge fancy
ferred to, the taking of any rate of interest exceed
ing per cant, renders the whole contract void
view of the Judge being based upon the new const-
tuition of the State
GEN. WILSON, MASSACHUSETTS. The New York
Tribune in noticing the result of the vote in the
Massachusetts House of Delegates for U. S. Senator
says:
We did not expect eter to rejoice over the cleo
ton of Know Nothing, but as on that head, it was
1Iobsons choice this time, we do rejoice that the
Senator elect from Massachusetts is who-as the
hatred and ineffective malice of slave catching Hun
kerism assures us-will never be found unfathfu to
the cause of human freedom ....,..... - -.,
The N. Y. Evening Post, another abolition print,
says:
eff Gen. Wilson should receive as is now proba-
ble the commission of United States Senator, we
have no fear of his proving unsound the slavery
question: under whatever circumstances may arise
in Congress"
Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-02-03

The RATE INTEREST PENALTY FOR UsURY.
As the subject of repeal of the Usury Laws is at
tracing good deal of attention throughout the
country, the following summary, from the Bankers
Magazine, will be fpund to he of interest 1t may
be considered reliable and differs from the state
ments heretofore published and in circulation:
Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-06
IMPORTANT FROM CENTRAL AME-

BY the arrival Of the Star of the West, we
have interesting news from that part of the
continent. The following is a synopsis of the
more important items of intelligence.
The war in Central America is assuming a
serious aspect. Col. Walker attacked Grenada
on the 18th ult, which, having been previously
almost deserted, by its inhabitants he took
without much resistance. On the 22d, Gen
Corral, commander of the forces of the late
government, surrendered to Walker, and a
treaty of peace was formally ratified between
them. Don Frielo Mayargu, the late Secretary
of State, having been detected in correspon-
dence with the enemy outside the city, was
shot on the 22d at Grenada.
The Transit Companys steamer San Carlos,
with the passengers which left New York in
the Star of the West on the 9th nit, was fired
into by thetgovernment forces from the fort at
the junction Of the San Juan river and Lake
Nicaragua, and lady and child were killed
and the boat damaged. The passengers SUBJ
sequently reached the Pacific without further
molestation.
On the evening of the 10Th the government
forces from Rivas made murderous attack
on the returning Californians at Virgin Bay,
killing four and severely wounding eight. Both
the above acts appear to have been dictated by
spirit OF revenge at the success of Walker.
Further accounts state that, possession hav-
ing been taken of the capital, committee OF
citizens called on the American Minister (Col.
Wheeler,) and invited him to proceed to Rivas,
where, it was said, he would find Gen. Corral
with propositions of peace. He repaired
thither, mot, however, wishing in any way to
compromise his government,) but, not finding
General Corral he was on the eve of leaving;
when be was not only prevented from SO doing,
but arrested and cast into prison by the gov.
ornor and project Of Rivas. Having been thus
detained for two days, he was restored to liberty.
Of course, our Government will be officially in
formed Of these facts.
Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-06
The Case of Passmore Williamson.

On Saturday morning Passmore Williamson
appeared in the United States district court in
Philadelphia, accompanied by Messrs. Mere
dith, Gilpin, and Hopper, his counsel, and Of
fered petition, in which he expresses his will
lingness to purge himself of the contempt in
the Wheeler slave case, for which he was inn
prisoned in July last Judge Kane received
the petition, granted the prayer, and required
Williamson to affirm to what he had to say in
reply to the interregatories of the Court. Ger
tain interrogatories we're then propounded to
him by Mr.. Vandyke, the district attorney, to
which he replied
:" did not seek to obey the writ by produc.
ing the persons therein mentioned before the
court, because had not, at the time Of the ser.
vice OF the writ the power over the custody, or
control Of them, and therefore it was impossi.
BILE for me to do so. | first heard Of the writ
Of habeas corpus on Friday, July 20, between
one and two o'clock, a. m. on my return from
Harrisburg After breakfast, about Q o'clock.
| went from my house to Mr.. Hopper's Office,
when and where the return was prepared.
At 10 o'clock, as ! came into court by the
writ, | sought to obey the writ by answering il
truly; the parties not being in my possession
or control, It was impossible for me TO obey the
writ by producing them. Since the service Of
the writ ] have not had the custody, possession,
or power over them; nor have known where
they we're except from common rumor or the
newspaper reports in regard to their public ap.
pearance in the city or elsewhere"
Some discussion arose between the District
Attorney and the counsel Of Mr. Williamson.
Mr.. Vandyke contended that the reply Of the
defendant was evasive and contradictory. The
Judge said the difficulty, he thought, could be
easily overcome by amending the answer, and
Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-06
rnsa Hon a IL Stnuens &c

reS~ Hon. A. II. Stevens, Of Georgia, in a re.
cent address at a meeting in Alexandria, for
the benefit Of the Orphan Asylum and Free
School Of that city, related the following an
ecdote:
"A poor little boy in a cold night, with no
home or roof to shelter his head, no paternal or
or maternal guardian TO guide, to protect
tect or direct him on his way, reached at myth.
fall the house Of a rich planter who took him
in, fed, lodged, and sent him on his way. Thesed
kind attentions cheered his heart and inspired
him with fresh courage to battle with the OBJ.
stacles of life. Years rolled round Providence
led him on, and he reached the legal profes.
sion; his host had died the cormorants that
prey on the substance of man, had formed a
conspiracy to get from the widow her estate.
She sent for the nearest counsel to commit her
cause to him, and that counsel proved to be
the orphan boy, years before welcomed by her
deceased husband. The stimulus of warm and
tenacious gratitude, was now added to the ordi.
nary motive connected with the profession. He
undertook her cause with will not easily 10
be resisted he gained it; the widows estates
were secured to her in perpetuity-and, Mr..
Stephens added, with an emphis of emotion
that sent an electric thrill through the house,
that orphan boy stands before you"
Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-06

upon the eve Of an election suits Republican
France, but not America. The statue of the
Stale forbids it from now until Wednesday
next, unless called for by authority. No con
tingency like the latter is expected by me. But
deem it my duty to advise officers and com.
mandants Of all companies that the law for
bids appearance and exercise Of their men
within the time above mentioned. A heavy
penalty is imposed for violation. The law is
excellent in spirit. Everything savoring of ex-
element is to be carefully avoided during the
next five days. Ny fellow citizens will remem-
Der that last year target company, on the
evening before the election, promoted dis
turbance in marching by political sssemblage.
IL will become the duty Of all police men to
notify me of any parade between this date and
the day succeeding election, that | may take
measures to enforce the law. If engagements
for parade have been made in ignorance of the
law, commandants will Immediately postpone
them. FERNANDO WOOD.
Mayor ~
Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-06
A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT

Occurred on the Pacific railroad, between St.
Louis and Jefferson city, on Thursday last. 1t
was occasioned by bridge giving way, carry
ing with it an excursion train of cars. The
number Of killed and wounded is variously
estimated, and one despatch says that, out of
seven hundred passengers, not more than two
hundred escaped uninjured. Wehope, in com
mon with our contemporaries, that this is an
exaggeration.
Since writing the above, we learn, by tele-
graph, that the number thus far ascertained to
have been killed is twenty-five, while that of
those suffering from broken limbs and severe
Commissions will probably reach fifty.
Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-06
rs We have sent bills to such Of our subscri

H. We have sent bills to such of our subscri-
bers as are indebted to the Sentinel newspaper,
rendering their accounts to the oath September,
at which time the second volume Of the Tri-
weekly edition will close
While returning our thanks TO those who have,
from the beginning, sustained enterprise, we
desire to say that all who wish to continue their
subscriptions will be required to remit PAYMENT
IN ADVANCE for the next volume, commencing on
the 25th instant, as, otherwise, no paper will be
sent from this office. The terms, it is known,
are FIVE DOLLARS YEAR.
We are compelled to this course owing to the
difficulty of collecting subscriptions, scattered
they are over wide surface of country Our
friends will, therefore, the necessity of COM
plying with our terms No offence is intended to
any, since friends and strangers are embraced in
the same category.
Subscribers not renewing by the first Of October,
their names will be stricken from the list.
Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-06
SENATOR MASON AND THE BOSTON
COMMITTEE.

We find in the Richmond Enquirer of Satur-
day last, the following letter Of Senator Mason,
Of Virginia, in reply to a letter of invitation,
written to him by the Boston committee. This
committee has become quite famous Of late.
II has scattered its cards Of invitation all over
the country, and in one or two instances has
gotten pretty hot denunciations for its pains.
In some instances its invitations have not been
honored with replies, in others they have en-
countered severe rebuke, in others they have
been courteously answered, but declined, and
in others they have been accepted. How this
committee and its invitations should be treated
by Southern men, cannot well be determined
by any rule. Each person can best determine
for himself General Houston judged for him.
sell, and he lectured in Boston. Judge Butler
judged for himself and he partially agreed to
lecture, as also did Senator Toombs. Mr..
Wise judged for himself, and he poured upon
the committee a torrent Of invective. Senator
Mason judged for himself, and in courteous
letter which contains a protest against their
right to interfere with the rights Of the South,
he declined. We are clear for each gentleman
pursuing his own mode. Aboltionists have
no right to interfere with Southern property.
II is presumptuous in them to invite US to dis
cuss our title to that property. They may do
so either politely or rudely. But the style Of
the invitation is nothing.
The polite thief who quietly picks your poe.
ket, has no more right to the money than the
brutal highwayman, who, with pistol in han
cries, "Stand and deliver" We incline TO the
opinion that the Abolition Boston Committee
can properly complain Of no mode Of treat
ment they may receive from Southern men.
Yet we confess that the manner in which
Senator Mason answers them is exactly to our
taste. He chides them for their officiousness.
and politely declines their invitation. His ex.
cellent letter will be found below
SELMA, FREDERICK, Co.. Va.
October g. 1855.
To Messrs. Sam. g. Howe and others, Boston
Gentlemen | have had the honor 10 receive
your letter Of the 9Th inst, inviting me to /" de-
Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-06
singular Suicide.

The Frankfort (Ia.) Crescent furnishes an ac-
count of one Of the most singular of the many
cases of suicide we have ever heard Of
During the last term of our Circuit Court, a
Dutchman by the name of Samuel Where,
living in Madison township, was called by the
Sheriff to take his seat as a juror, the regular
panel not being present. At the time, he re-
marked to the Sheriff that he was "too Dutch
to sit upon the jury" but not being excused,
he accordingly took his seat The case of the
Lafayette Plank Road Company VS.. The New
Albany and Salem Railroad Company was then
proceeded with, which occupied the remainder
of the week. On Saturday the jury was dis.
charged until the following Monday, and Mr..
Where notified to be in attendance at that time,
as the evidence and argument in the above
named case were not yet concluded. Accord
ingly Mr.. Where appeared in the jury-box on
the following Monday, and acted as compe-
tent juror throughout the remainder Of the
trial.
After the case was concluded and O verdict
brought in by the jury, motion for new
trial was made; and one of the allegations to
sustain the motion, was that of Mr.. Where, as
a juryman, had not a sufficient knowledge of
the English language to understand the nature
of the evidence in the case, and consequently
could arrive at no just conclusion in reference
to it. To ascertain how far Mr.. Where's
knowledge of the English language extended,
the Court required that he be brought forward
and questioned, to settle the point Mr.. w.
came forward and was thoroughly Intercepted
by the attorneys; he finally made affidavit that
he could understand but little of what the wit
nesses said, word now and then he could
understand, but not enough to comprehend the
weight Of the testimony. Whereupon new
trial was granted.
During his examination, Mr.. Where became
very much alarmed, and in spite of the assu-
rance of the Court the Bar, and his friends,
that he had done no wrong, he still thought
he was Oh his trial for some crime he had COM
mitted. He inquired, in his own language,
what would become of his family and burst
into tears. Not being able to reconcile him he
was discharged, and Immediately proceeded
homeward On arriving at home, he remark
ed to his family that the lawyers here had
"scared him almost to death, and that he
didn't know that he could get over it," He
remained thoughtful and melancholy until
Sunday the 10th ult, when his family were
horribly shocked by finding him a corpse, sus-
pended by the neck in his own barn. Not nm
Outstanding the nature of the examination he
was subjected to, and supposing he had com
mltted some great wrong, so wrought upon his
mind as to induce him to commit suicide.
Mr.. Where was respected farmer, had ac-
CURED considerable of fortune, and was an
honest, worthy citizen. His untimely and
tragical death will be lamented by large
circle of friends.
Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-06
type Distrlbu,ine m.ob,n,

We yesterday witnessed the operation Of this
machine, and after pretty through examina.
ton of its working, are convinced Of its prac-
teal utility in large printing establishments.
Each machine will distribute but one size OF
type but the inventor informs us that they
may be SO constructed as to be easily adapted
to the different sizes of small type. If worked
by hand, one man or boy can distribute 10000
ems per hour, and with scarcely possibility
OF an error of a single type; whereas by the
usual process Of hand distribution, 1900 ems
are about the average. The machine can be
worked BY steam, and one man can then at.
tend to three Of them, making the total distri-
button in one hour $4,000 ems.
Journal OF Commerce