davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08
HOY VS. MASON.

This case, INVOLVING the title of a large tract
of territory, situated in Lee county, in the south
eastern corner of Iowa, formerly known as the
Half Breed tract, was last week argued in the
Supreme Court 1t comprehends all that part
of Lee county which lies between the Missis.
sippi and Des Moines rivers, extending from
their junction as far north as the extension Of
the northern line of Missouri to the Mississp.
pi river. The city of Keokuk j. within the dis.
trict, and the entire population is said TO nun.
Der fifteen or twenty thousand This tract was
by the treaty of 1924, with the Sacs and Foxes,
by which they ceded an immense territory to
the United States, lying between the Mississippi
and Missouri rivers, reserved for the use of the
half breeds of that tribe, to be held by the
usual Indian title, which is the right to occupy
in common by the whole tribe for the time
being In 1884, Congress vested the fee in
the use of the same. The District Court Of
Lee county, in l84l, rendered decree of par
tition of the tract among one hundred and one
half breeds, then known to exist, which was
afterwards confirmed by the Supreme Court
Marsh, Lee. and Delavan citizens Of New York,
claimed sixty shares, as assgnees of half breeds,
and received forty-one. The defendant, the
present Commissioner of Patents, holds under
them. The plaintiff claims under Julian Cardi-
nell, as the son Of half-breed mother, by a
white man. The mother died before TIE act of
1884, vesting the fee in the half breeds. Two
questions arose in the case: first, whether Julian
had any title in the tract, either by descent
from his mother, or in his own right, he being
quarter blood. The second was whether, If
he ever had any title, the whole matter had
been concluded by the proceedings in the Iowa
courts, 1t appeared that he was minor resi-
dent in Wisconsin at the time of the decree,
and received no actual notice of the pendeucy
of the suit; but the legal notice, by publication,
prescribed by the legislation of Iowa, in order
to bind unknown heirs, was given. The case
was ably argued by Plat Smith, Esq, of Iowa,
for the plaintiff, and Hon. S. p. Chase, of Ohio,
for the defendant.
In the argument of cause before the Supreme
Court, Mr. Chase appeared to the best adyan-
tage. His positions, and the principles appica-
BILE to them, were clearly and earnestly stated,
and the marked attention of the Judges was
compliment to his powers as an advocate.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08
RIGHT OF INSTRUCTION.

The Senators from Michigan treat the LIE
gisature of their State quite cavalierly Stick
lers for Squatter Sovereignty; State Sovereignty
is small matter to them. General Cass, when
the resolutions Of his Legislature were present
ed, avowed his purpose to disobey them, and
still retain his seat. His reason, so far as we
can gather it, is, that the Legislature is under
the control of majority of persons opposed to
his party. The reason why, when the Legisla
ture instructed him, some years ago, to vote for
the Wilmot Proviso, he signifed his purpose to
resign, when the question became practical, was
that his party then was in the majority. The
inference is, that in the Generals opinion, it
is not State, or State Legislature, that has
the right to instruct, but the particular party
to which Senator belongs!
As for Mr.. Stuart, he intimated his intention
to do just as he pleased, when the time came
for action.
So, Michigan, for the present. is turned out
of the United States Senate, by two gentlemen
who persist in retaining their seats there, to
thwart her will. Democracy is beautiful
thing!
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08
FROM MICHIGAN.
LANSING, MICH, Jan. &c, 1855.
TO tie Editor of the National Era.

LANSING, MICH, Jan. &c, 1850
TO tie Editor Of the National Era:
have not seen in the Era any notice of the
message of our new Governor, Hon. X. s. Bing.
ham, You, who reside in Washington, will we'll
remember him rs formerly Democratic Rep
resentative from this State and as one who was
at all times and under all circumstances true
TO the interests of Freedom. For thus cons;s-
fentiy and honestly unfolding the principles of
true Democracy, and refusing to follow the
course marked out by the leaders of the party.
he was unceremoniously told that the " Democ.
racy would have nothing more to do with him. +"
and recommended to "go over to the Free
Soilers''
Since the issuing of this bulletin-disrepard.
ing their threats, and turning deaf ear to their
anathemas, he has pursued the same firm and
manly course, refusing and spurning all com
promises with the Slave Power and the support
ers of Slavery.
Hence, when the people of Michigan, in
common with those of the whole North, were
by the repeal of the prohibitory clause of the
Missouri Compromise Act, thoroughly aroused
to the encroachments of the peculiar institution,
there was no one to whom they so naturally and
unanimously turned, a fit person to give ex-
precision TO their views, and lead them on to
victory, as to him whom Slavery had never been
able to bride or browbeat into silence. And to
victory, a most signal and complete victory, he
. did lead them.
In his message, copy of which | send YOU.
the whole subject of the Nebraska Kansas bill
is reviewed in a most mastery manner. The
Governor recommends that "the position of
the State may be clearly expressed and every
man in Michigan knows full well that the Leg
islature, in the passage of the following resol6
tons, has done nothing more than to give an
honest expression of the real sentiments of the
people of Michigan. They are as follows ::
Printed last week.
These resolutions passed the Senate by a
vote of % to 5, and the House by vote of
48 to 23-Senate majority Is, House majority
25-and are now, | suppose, on their way to
Congress.
A Prohibitory Liquor Law, stringent in its
provisions, and at the same time so framed as
to avoid the constitutional objections urged
against our former law, has passed the House
by large majority, and is certain of meeting
q favorable reception in the Senate. Michigan
Legislation, for once at least is against Rum
and Slavery.
From what information / can gather, be-
leve Know Nothingism is every day becoming
unpopular and powerless; and am confident
the good sense and ibersl spirit of the people
of Michigan viii NOT, to any great extent, sane
ton 90 exclusive and liberal q creed.
Yours, &c., ANTRIM.
We shall be pleased to be kept advised by
our correspondent of the state of things in
Nichigsn.-M. Era.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08
GENERAL HOUSTON AND THE PRESIDENCY

In the Senate, last week, when the bill to in
crease the military force was under discussion,
Senator Houston alluded to the Know Nothing
question.
"Mr. Mallory. Will the Senator from Texas
allow me to ask him one question?
"Mr. Houston. With pleasure.
"Mr. Mallory. AS the subject of Know Moth
ingism, as it is called has been brought here
"Mr. Houston. / have not introduced it, and
/ am not going to comment on it.
"Mr. Mallory. Precisely so; the Senator has
not introduced the subject, and perhaps he is
not responsible for its introduction; but he is
undertaking to say what he himself thinks upon
it. Now, as he is speaking on the subject,
should like to understand distinctly whether he
approves or does not approve of so much of the
creed attributed to the Know Nothings as would
make those who profess the Roman Catholic
religion ineligible to office?
"Mr. Houston. would vote for no such law.
"Mr. Mallory. 1 asked the gentleman wheth-
er he approved that or not--not whether he
would vote for it.
"Mr. Houston. No, sir; / could not approve
of such law. But the prescription which is
charged on those to whom allusion has been
made, is no more than formerly existed between
Wings and Democrats. When party discipline
was kept up, if Wing voted for Democrat
he was ruled out of his party and branded as a
deserter; and if Democrat voted for Wing
he was disowned by his party. That species Of
political prescription will exist everywhere,
according to the notions of people. l do not
set up my opinion as the doctrine by which
others are to be governed l am governed by
my own principles, and my own sentiments
and have right 10 vindicate them, and am
responsible for them to thuworld. When the
Senator from Iowa supposes that would cater
for the Presidency of the United States, he does
me great injustice. / would not cater for any
office beneath Heaven. But, sir, know one
thing; if it were to be thrust upon me, should
make great many changes in some small mat
tiers. Laughter
The General is too cunning for Mr. Mallory.
OF course he would not approve of law or
resolution excluding from Office any man on
account of his religious opinion. None of his
brethren would. But ask them whether they
do not hold that the Catholic Church is Do
litical body, owing allegiance to the Pope, and
that its members, therefore, ought to be exclu-
ded from office, and they must answer in the
| affirmative, if they answer. honestly. Why
have they not the manliness to avow their
policy?
From the context of the passage above, it is
evident that the General expects to have the
Presidency thrust upon him. He is oracular,
but full of faith.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08
BRYANTs POEMS.

PoEsas. BY William Cullen Bryant New York ID. Apple
Co For sale by r.. Farnham Washington d 4
Were we required to choose motto for the
works of this peculiarly American poet. We
should select from the opening passage of his
own unrivalled " Thanatopsis these lines
ITO him who in the love of Nature holds
Communion with her visible forms, she speaks
various language
Bryant is pre-eminently the poet of Nature
the master of her mysteries He has listened TO
her various voices through no secondary medi
UNI; has calmly listened, as to mothers tones
and has given us clear, truthful echoes, that
sink into our souls. A glance at the subjects
of his poems shows the bent of his genius.
"To the Fringed Gentan," Autumn Woods
"a Forest Hymn" and that most popular and
touching of all pastoral lyrics, "The Death Of
the Flowers" are but samples of the themes in
which his imagination has chiefly revealed.
There are those who deny to a poet the first
rank among the sons of genius, unless his pen
has been dipped in the torrent Of passion. The
baptism Transportation, to their view, is a tumult-
uous outpouring of power to dazzle, to seattle,
and to sweep mems souls before it; never q
calm, dew-like influence, that leaves the heart
open to the softest voice Of nature or of man.
They would sheer at the gentle Cowper, denounce
Wordsworth as a prosaic babbler, and even tear
half the laurels from the immortal crown Of
Milton. BY such judges-thank Heaven that
they are few!-Bryant can never be appreci-
ated. The calm force and unfaltering energy
that sweep through the stanzas Of "The Air
Chief" Hymn to the Woods" and The Future
Life" have no power to stir the pulses of their
souls. Let them pass. His true audience IS
"the Ages" whose passing tribute has BEEN
is, and shall be paid to him, as the most truth
full interpreter of Natures great heart among
the sons of the New World.
True to humanity no less than to Nature, he
has not feared to throw the weight of his tai
ents into the scale of mercy and of justice,
even when the weight Of popular opinion was
thrown into the opposing scale. Who could be
a poet without the breath of Freedom?
As evidence that " the eye" of our long hon
ored friend is not yet dimmed to the beauti-
full and the true, "nor his natural force abated,
we have at the close of these volumes strain
worthy to conclude the chorus of Natures
voices, "The Conqueror's Grave" Who can
read the concluding lines without feeling his
soul freshly nerved to the hourly, unwitnessed'
mysterious warfare of the human soul WITH
Life?
"Brefis the time know.
The warfare begun;
Yet all may win the iriumphs thou hast won
SILL flows The foun whose waters strengthened ihss
The vic,ors names yet too few to hill
Heavens mighty roll; the glorious arnory
That ministered TO thee is open snl'"
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08

Territories south of the Missouri Compromise
line. Should the bill pass, and see nothing
to prevent it we will have .tow Stare States
asking for admission into the Union before the
close of the next Congress. Should the same
state OF things exist then that existed last Con-
gress, even to more limited extent, all four of
the Territories will come in as slave States"
"The South never surrenders that is true,
and he might have added the North always
surrenders." The Slave Power, having gained
position, uses it at once for securing another
in advance. Its opponents, broken by defeat,
feebly indicate purpose to recover what they
have lost, and then-one goes to his farm, an
other to his merchandise, another darts off in
hue and cry after the Pope.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08
VOL. TX.

Wisconsin could select, no man more tru.,
worthy than Charles Durkee.
The Illinois Legislature is slow in expressing
the Peoples will in regard to the course Of Ii.
Representatives and Senators of that State IN
Congress on the Nebraska question. Intelli.
gence, however, has at last reached us, that
resolutions approving the Compromise of 1850
have been rejected, and that resolution repre-.
hending the course of Senators Douglas and
Shields has passed the House-37 TO 81 These
gentlemen, we believe. have been wondern,
why they had received no earlier notice of the,
conduct
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08
WASHINGTON, d. c..
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1855.

Our EXTRA, containing "Sherwoed Forest"
embraces only that portion of the story publish
ed up to December so that all subscribers
who desire the story complete must begin their
subscriptions with the first number issued in
December, and will receive the Extra gratis.
To those subscribers who begin with the first
number in January, the Extra will be of no
use. We make this explanation because some
of the subscribers who began with the first
number in January, complain that they have
received no Extra.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08
MIR. DuRKEE, ELECTED SENATOR.

The Tribune has information, indirectly, that
Charles Durkee has been elected United States
Senator from Wisconsin, to succeed Mr.. Walker.
We hope the news will be confirmed. Mr..
Durkee is an old Liberty Man, an advocate of
Land Reform, Free Trader, and man of
progressive ideas generally. His friends here
will give him warm welcome back to Wash
ington
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08
COLONIZATION IN TEXAS.

M. Victor Considetant the head of the Euro,
pean Fourerists, has arrived in this country, in
tending to proceed to Texas, and superintend
the establishment of a colony there, of some
hundreds of agriculturists, from Germany, Bel
GUM, and France, the lands having already
been purchased. Such colonization in the
slave States is pregnant with important re-
sults
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08
For the National Era.
FLOWERS IN WINTER,
PAINTED UPON A PORTE LIvRE.


How strange 10 greet this frosty morn,
In graceful counterfeit of flowers,
These children of the meadows, born
OF sunshine and of showers.
For well the conscious wood retains
The pictures oil its flower sown home
The lights aud shades the purple stains
And golden hnes of bloom.
IL was happy thought to bring
90 the dark seasons frost and rime
This painted memory OF spring,
This dream of summer time
Our hearts are lighter for It's sake,
Our Fancy's age renews its youth,
And dim-remembered 6cions take
The suise OF present truth.
A wizard of the Merrimac
$50 old ancestral legends say)
Could call green leaf and blossom back
To frosted stem and spray.
The dry logs of the cottage wall
Beneath his touch put out their leaves;
The clay bound swallow, al his call,
Played round the icy caves.
The settler saw his oaken fail
Take bud and bloom before his eyes;
From from frozen pools he the pale,
Sweet summer lilies rise
To their old homes, by man profaned,
Came the sad dryads, exiled long,
And through their leafy tongues complained
OF household use and wrong
The beechen platter sprouted Wild
The pipkin wore its old-time green;
The cradle DER the sleeping child
Became leafy screen.
HAPPY our gentle friend hath met,
While wandering in her sylvan quest,
Haunting his native woodlands yet,
That Druid of the West
And, while the dew on leaf and flower
Glistened in moonlight clear and still,
Learned the dusk wizards spell of power,
And caught his trick OF skill
But welcome, be it new or old,
The gift which makes the day more bright,
And paints upon the ground of cold
And darkness, warmth and light
Without neither gold nor green,
Within, for birds the birch logs sing,
Yet, summer-like, we sit between
The autumn and the spring.
The one, with bridal blush of rose,
And sweetest breath of woodland balm,
And her whose matron lips unclose
In smiles of sanity calm.
Fill soft and deep, oh winter snow,
The sweet azalia oaken dels,
And hide the banks where roses blow,
And swing the azure bells.
O'erlay the amber violet's leaves,
The purple asters brook side home;
Guard all the flowers her pencil gives,
life beyond their bloom.
And she, when spring comes round again,
BY greening slope and singing food,
Shall wander seeking not in vain,
Her darlingA OF the wood
j. G., "
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08
TO ADVERTISERS.

II p WHITNEY is our authorized canvsssing agent for
New York city and vicinity and VIII receive and forward
q ivertisements for the Era at our lowest rates
Advertisements can be left a, his Office, No. 50 Mas
sau street,
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08

DEATH OF FOREIGN MINIsrER.-It is our
painful duty to announce the decease yesterday,
the lst inst, at his residence in this city, after
lingering illness, Of Senior Don Felipe Molina,
Minister Plenipotentiary of Costa Rica, Guate-
mala, and San Salvador.-Nat. Int.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08

THE STATE OF THE UNION, being a Com
plete Documentary history of the United States,
Foreign and Domestic, for the Year 1884, is
the title of large, well printed octave volume,
just issued by Messrs. Taylor & Maury, of
Washington.
In this volume, the Presidents Message and
the more important Executive documents are
presented at length, while the substance of 9TH
ers is given in brief; and well-arranged index
to the subjects is appended.
To the politician, the legislator, and the d.
plomatist, this book will prove matter of great
convenience and utility, supplying want long
felt by the many who have hitherto been obi
ged to grope their way through the labyrinth
of voluminous and undigested documents, or
altogether to dispense with resort to the
greater portion of them. The plan has been
alike well conceived and we'll executed
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08
THE NEW SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS

To show the opinion of those of our friends
in Massachusetts who rejoice in the election of
General Wilson as Senator, we insert two
communications, from men whose fidelity to
our cause is unquestionable. They have right
to be heard, and their opinions are entitled to
respect, whether we agree with them or not.
On our part, we must dissent decidedly from
the suggestion thrown out by one of the writer's.
The election of General Wilson does not prove
that the Order in Massachusetts will not unite
with the National Party, on its basis of ignor-
ing the Slavery Question, nor will it affect seri-
ously the advancement of the Know Nothings
in the South. The advocates of the Order in
this section will excuse it on the ground of
necessity, regard it as exceptional, and point to
the election of Mayor Smith and the message
of Governor Gardner, as the true opponents of
the normal state of Know Nothingism in Mas
sachusetts. Already, as we have seen, Ben
nett's Herald finds, in the correspondence be-
tween Mr.. Hall and General Wilson, on the
strength of which the latter was elected, evil
dence of his purpose to make the new issues
Slavery men of Massachusetts, be satisfied
If he should not do it, will the Know Nothings
Of Massachusetts, be satisfied
NOTHING Done IN CoNGREss.-Some people
are wondering why no strenuous movement is
made in Congress, which shall represent the
will of the People of the North and West, as
expressed in the elections last year, after the
passage Of the Nebraska bill. If they were
here, they would see that mutual confidence
among the former opponents of the Nebraska
bill has gone-some are engrossed with other
objects, some bound by new associations.
Know Nothingism has much to do with the
disorganization of the forces which operated
together last winter SO effectively. Represent
atives do not trust each other-there is an in
visible partition wall between them.
About twenty working days of the session re-
main, and yet no movement at all in relation to
Slavery, or its aggressions, has been commenced
in the Senate-while in the House, the bill in-
troduced by Mr.. Mace has slipped out of sight.
Mr.. Mace, in letter to the Clerk of the House
Of Representatives, Indiana, says:
ave have not as much strength in the House,
or on my bill, as we had against Nebraska last
session. You will see that Benton has left us,
and others could be named, both in the slave
and free States. You will remember that ]
predicted the South would ask for a restoration
Of the Compromise line, in view of the triumph
| ant success of Anti Nebraska in the North
East, and West. In this prediction have sig
nally failed, because the South never surren
ders an inch while Slavery is to be benefited
J kansas, has introduced bill organizing three
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08

The AMERICAN ORGAN of Know Nothing.
ism is greatly scandalized at the nomination Of
MIR. Seward for the United States Senate. 1t
hopes the South will not take it too much to
heart. 1t does not, indeed it does not, prove
anything against the soundness of the Know
Nothing Order
The American party in New York are
sound, conservative, national, Union men, but
they have been cheated and betrayed by the
false-hearted bogus Know Nothings, who. under
the lead of Clark, 1.-THE tool of Seward,) have
falsiied their promises and sacrificed their
honor in the service of this higher law Sen
ator."
The american Organ asserts that fifty mem.
bers of the Legislature, chosen as Know
Nothings, and pledged solemnly to vote against
Mr.. Seward, are now going to vote for him
and by such treachery is his election to be Sc
cured.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08
dunn of the Census /:

We give these averages for what they are
worth, on the authority of the Compendium of
the Census.
MFR. Campbell, in his speech to which we
have alluded, estimates the agricultural pro
ducts of Ohio at S145,S3s,242
Those of Georgia at 65,4sS,267