Southern shield., 1856-02-23

may expect now, to be called upon to say whether they are sound on the sacraments-no whether they are in favor of high tariff or low tariff, a distribution of the proceeds of the public lands, internal improvements, Q United States Bank, a Pacific Rail- road, or any other of the ordinary po- litieal isms of the day.
 THE CIRCLE OF COLD. -The range of cold is wider this year than in any year on record. They are putting up ice four inches thick, formed in the river about Austin, Texas, in about latitude 300 30 minutes, or only about ' degrees north of the tropics. The effect on vegetation, south particularly, is bad. In Florida, the orange trees, it is feared, are ruined. In the neigh borhood of Louisville, Ky, the peach and other fruit trees have been killed by the frost. In North Carolina, thou sand of dollars, it is said, have been lost by the injury done to the pine trees of that region, though we supposed that that tree could stand cold. In Virginia the apricots have been almost entirely destroyed. In Boston, Mass. ,, the cold weather was so severe that the linden trees which adorn the side walks, split with the frost as if a wedge had been driven into them.-Buf. Pal.
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 A METHODIST PARsoN HUNTING FOR LOST SHEEP. A preacher of the Methodist Church was travelling in one of the back settlements, and stopped at cabin, where an old lady received him very kindly. After setting pro- visions before him, she began to ques- tion him: !" Stranger, where mought you be from?' !" Madam, I reside in Shelby county, Kentucky" Wall, stranger, hope no ofiense, but what thought you be doin' way up here?" Madam, I am searching for the lost sheep of the tribe of Israel" "John, John,'' shouted the old lady, come rite here, this minute: here's a stran- ger, all the way from Shelby county, Kentucky, hunting stock, and I just bet my life that tangle haired old black ram that's bin in our lot all last week is one of his'n."
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 g9g- Among the quaint and curious correspondence, says the Sandusky Register, almost daily received at the Cosmopolitan Office in this city, we have been shown the following from a genius 'out Vest To the inquiry propounded him by the circular of the Association, demanding-'how many papers published in your place-popu- latiOn, &c.' The reply was:
 No papers published here, because the peo- pie can read The population is as follows: HlSh................ ........................l6O
 Amsterdam Dutch.
 Other dam Dutch 80
 " iritv ffvn...... ............................
 There were formerly eight white men-your humble servant has vacated the rancho and pitched his tent in Mineral Point, where. if he can benefit the Cosmopolitan in a moral or religious way, command him. Yours.
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 WINTER ON LAKE SUPERIOR. season has been very severe at the copper mines of Lake Superior. A letter from Eagle River to the Cleveland Herald says that in the woods the snow lies from four to five feet deep, so that without snew-shoes the labor of getting through it prostrates the unfortunate traveller. Several cases have occurred of so- Der and stout men having become bewildered within sight of houses, and barely escaped a horrible death. A large quantity of provis- ions for Ontonagon having been left at Cop per Harbor by the steamboats, eighty miles from its destination, the people of Ontonaoon attempted to reach it but after four days and nights of hard work, the party had to give up the effort, without having made any sensible progress. The people of Ontonagon have also lost fine schooner, purchased by them to be sent for their supplies after the steamers had stopped running; she ran upon rock in snow sqnall. The present winter IS the severest ever known in that region.
 ~-~~~~-~~-~-~-~- CATHOLIC INTERFERENCE IN ELECTIONS The Hamilton Banner, in speaking of re- cent election in Peterborough, c. w., uses the following language concerning the inter- ference of the Catholic Bishop and Priests:
 The mighty engine of religious bigotry was brought into the field to arouse the nar- row minded prejudces of the people The Government appealed to Bishop Charbonnell to come to their assistance. They knew the potent influence which that functonary could wield over the Roman Catholics of Peterbo- rough, and hence they humbly besought his cooperation. Accordingly, Bishop Charbon- nell issued bull to the electors of Peterbo- rough, pronouncing an anathema upon the refractory son of the Church who should vote for Mir. Ferguson.
 By this edct, whoever voted against Mir. Conger. would have to do so at the peril of his souls salvation. The result of this in reference of the Italian Monk was the unani- nous support of the Roman Catholics to Mr. Conger, the champion of separate schools, monkeries and nunneries. The organs are in raptures at the defeat of Mr. Ferguson. IL II