davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-18
The Chief Riding in a Rail-Car.

"Would 10 God that the Maine law
could have passed fifty years ago We
turned to find an old lady on the seat hack
of us, yenturing her wish in the midst fan
earnest discussion between Maine-law
Yankee and red-nosed member of the bot
tie fraternity. s' Yes," continued the old
lady, " fifty years ago. A husband would
not then have gone down 20 n drunkards
grave. my daughters married drunkards and
lived lives Of sorrow, or M boys have died
in jail and the mad-hOuse. Look ut me,
and withsomething of fire kindlinS up in
her old eyes, she laid her bony hand upon
the arm of the liquor dealer, "and see a
wreck of your accursed business. L was
Young, had enough of this worlds goods,
and my heart was full Of happiness and
hope. Ms God Sir, how they have pour
cd desolation into this old heart. am Of
ten bitter, and do you wonder? such as
you robbed me of all my children, and ut
eighty years of age, | am alone-do you
hear-GloRe, And let me tell you, this
hand never wronged the least of Gods crca-
lures. But YOU, Sir, wronged me. You,
Sir, talk about the domicil, and say 1t u
sacrcd God forgive me, but l remember
the Jay when my home was entered by the
constables and skinned of all. remember
when the Bible my mother gave me was TAX
Tn away for drink. | remember the tune
when nv frst-born was laid in my arms
from a drunken husbands hands, and its
little life blood ran warm into my bosom
from it, wounds Why, Sir" and the old
woman half raised in her seat, "in Gods
holy name, did YOU come into my house to
rob and kill? Was that constitutional |
have one child liying-in the asylum-a
maniac. It's all the work of your hands
There IS blood there, Blood SIR! Better,
Sir. have milestone around yourneck than
sell rum. The curse Of the widow is upon
you. Ii will follow YOU. The serpents YOU
send out shall return to YOU and yours
Girs me that Bonle!" Inyolunurily, us it
almost seemed, the liquor dealer handed the
old lady the bottle which he held in his hand
She dashed it out OF tho car window, and
slowly resumed her seat. The people who
had crowded around while the tnlin was
stopping, to hear the conversation, slowly
and thOughtfully dispersed to their seats,
and the now covering liquor dealer looked
the very embodiment of humiliation and
shame. With deep sigh we turned away,
our own faith made stronger by the Maine
Iawsscrmon we had listened 10. All how
many in our land would have escaped the
bitterness Of life had rum been banished in
their day - Cdynyd Chig.
The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-18
The Veracity Of Franklin Pierce.

In speaking of the passage of the Missouri
Compromise, the President says: at was
reluctantly acquiesced in by the Southern
States rs a sacrifice to the cause Of peace and
Of the Union" The well known fact that
nearly every one, IL not all of the Southern
Representatives in Congress voted for 1t, and
all but three of those from the North who
voted gave their votes against it, is sufficient
to stamp the statement as untrue; but ~
further proof Of the light in which South
Carolina considered the passage Of that act,
we give an extract of letter of Hon. Charles
Pickncy Of South Carolina:
Congress Hall, March ID, lS2O-3o'cl'k
mt night. Dear Sir hasten To inform you
that this moment we have carried the ques-
ton to admit Missouri and all Louisiana to
the southwark of36d. 30m. free ofthe r6sirie-
hon Of sidrery, and give the South, in short
time an addition of sir and perhaps agM
members to the Senate Of the United States
IL is conadeed reby The siare-holding SAFES
as great triumph. The vote was close-90
TO S6-thc vote was ~ first declared-pro-
duced by the seeding and absence Of few
moderate men, from The North. To tho
North Of 80 deg. 80 min. there Is to be by
the present law restriction, which you will
see by the vote, voted against. But 1t is
al present OF no moment. IL IL vast tract,
uninhabited only by savages and wild beasts,
in which according to the ideas prevalent, no
land Office will be open for great length Of
time. With respect,
Your obedient servant,
CHARLES PIcKSEY.
The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-18
Nominations by the Governor.


The following nominations were made by
Governor Wells, January 9th:
Hancock County John II. Redman,
Sheriff. Warren King, Register Of Pro-
bate.
Washington County James Nichols,
Sheriff. David G. Wilson, Register Of Pro-
bate.
Oxford County-Ezekicl w. Clark, sher'
III.
Waldo County-Joseph Wheeler, Regis,
ter of Probate.
Piscataquis County-Willard W. Harris,
Sheriff. Lyman Lee, Reg. of Probate:
Androscoggin County-lee Strickland,
Sheriff.
Pcnobscot-Nathaniel ii. Hunt, Demo-
crat, of Oldtown, Indian Agent; Prescott
p. Holden, Strait Wing, Of Bangor, Keeper
of the Arsenal; Thomas ii. Garnscy, Strait
Wing, of Bangor, Register of Probate.
Mr.. Abel Moore, Of Saltwater, Fishwar-
den.
Cumberland-Daniel C. Emery, Demo-
crat, of Gorham, Sheriff; Charles NJ. llar-
ris, Democrat, of Portland, Register of Pro-
bate.
Somcrset-Silas W. Turner, Strait Wing,
of Skowhegan, Sheriff; Oliver r. Bachel-
der, Democrat, Scion, Register of Probate.
As yet the executive axe has done nothing
for York. We learn from friend direct
from Augusta, that the Governor is bcset
with complication of evils in the matter
of appointments for this county. There
are more applicants than Offices, and the
delegation have not been able to settle among
themselves who shall have them, and they
have left the whole matter with the Cover
nor. The candidates for the Shcrificy are
our townsman T. X. lane, Wallingford, of
Berwick, Chase, Of Alfred, and Emery, of
Sanford. Our opinion is that Lane will
win in the end. If he does not, he will
have another occasion to mourn the ingrati-
tude of friends.
The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-18

made remarks after the gentleman had clos
cd. 1t is perhaps proper to say that the
facts respecting the wayer of the talked Of
tea party were not generally known, and the
reverend gentleman with that singularity Of
character, which he possesses, mistook street
talk for facts, and forgetting the proprieties
of time and occasion, related 1t. With re-
spect to the tea party referred to, We have It
in our power to say that 1t was not given up
either for want of food in the city Of Biddc-
ford, or hands to prepare it, or hearts to SYM
pathizc in the object for which II was pro-
posed, and that the matter may be more fully
understood, we are happy to have It also in
our power to say that its proposcrs in giving II
up, out of friendly feeling to the Baptist
society in Saco made other arrangements
which has secured all Of the objects which
was expected to be attained by the proposed
entertainment. II will hardly be contendcd
that those interested had not the right to
make choice Of the way in which they should
manifest a personal interest in one who has
great claims upon all true, earnest, liberty
loving hearts, and their sympathy for the
cause to which he has consccrated his life.
This is all that need be said about this
matter or tho ten party. The company sep
anted, their enjoyment not in the leastlcss-
ened by tho sad announcement made by the
reverend gentleman, or the peculiar pathetic
manner with which it was made.
The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-18
Tea Party. Baptist.

The festival, arranged by the ladies Of
Rev. Mr.. Kecley's, Baptist Society, held in
Calcf Hall on Wednesday evening, was one
of the most successful of the season. The
beauty and strength of both Saco and Bid
dcford, constituting brilliant array OF
smiling faces and happy hearts were there,
and the tables were laid with more than or
binary care, and loaded with the substantials
of life. The hall was completely filed. DR..
Bailey, of Saco, presided and tho company
were entertained not only by speeches and
with the cnlivening strains Of Hobbs band,
but with occasional songs from choir Of
the best singers in the places. The occasion
was one of real festive enjoyment. There
were many good speeches made by the clergy
men present, and Others, and one which was
so unique, yet Characteristic, that we repro
ducc it from memory, for the benefit of our
readers who were not present to hear it.
We regret that We are unable to give any
accurate idea Of the touching manner in
which it was delivered. Our readers will,
on its perusl agree with US, that 1t has the
merit of singularity if destitute of appropri.
ateness. 1t was delivered by Rev. Mr.. Gould
of Biddeford.
The reverend gentleman on taking the
stand remarked that he come before the
company with painful feelings-with sensa.
tions of deep sorrow. A great calamity had
occurred in the city of Biddeford, a calamity
calculated TO excite the liveliest feelings of
sorrow. and TO draw tears from all eyes, and
he was there to announce it, There had
been n death in that city, a sad, and sudden
death ola Tea Party, ofthat par
ty which had been arranged by sympathizing
hearts for tomorrow evenings tea party,
which, had II taken place, would probably
have thrown the present occasion far into
the shade, ut any rate would have been more
IjohIv oolored. Various reasons had been rs
signed for the death of this tea party-a
death which must have been doubtless very
affective to many persons, and especially to
Mr.. thompson lts Tcputcu iatncI. uc WIS
not fully Informed us to the cause Of its
sudden death but he thought the most plaus-
lille reason assigned was that given by an
old lady, to him since entering the hall, who
gave it as her opinion that it died for want
Of food.
We have given this speech very nearly in
the words Of the reverend gentleman, and as
he said little else it is fair to presume that
he took the platform for the purpose ofsneer-
ing Mt a movement in the behalf Of ono who
was " guilty Of having skin not colorcd
like hisown." The singularity ofthc speech
and its unsuihblencss on such an occasion,
not to mention other Objectionable features
L possessed, attracted much attention O.
pecially among the company present from
the city of Biddcford, in which 1t was said
his sad calamity had occurred, and it was
alluded to, in fitting terms, though with no
.sperity Of feeling by several gentlemen who
The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-18
Maine Evangelist.

This is the title of a new Congregational
paper, commenced in Portland, by Rev. s.
c. Fessenden, and published weekly on a
full sheet, at 80 per year. We intended to
have noticed the Evangelist when it first
came out, but overlooked it. 1t is not how
ever, too late to commend II to the favorable
notice of the public. We do not regard il
as antagonistic to the Mirror, but as a work,
er in the same vineyard, where there is room
for both. Its editor is fearless and talanted
man, outspoken in the cause of Christ, and
devoted to the work of Christian and social
reform. We bid him welcome to the cditori.
al fratcrnity, and are glad to hear that his
paper commences under favorable auspices
for success. The following expresses the
chiefdcsign of the " Evahgclist:"
"we believe that all permanent moral
Improvement and reform, whether in indi-
yiduals or communities, must come directly
or indirectly, from the faithful application Of
the principles of the gospel to human hearts
and human conduct. The first and great
commandment is. thou shalt love the Lord
thy God with all thy heart; and the second
is like unto il. thou shalt love thy neighbor
as tbyself. We intend, as far as in US lies,
to persuade men to obey both, by applying
the principles of the gospel, as we believe
our Savior intended they should be applied,
TO all the various relations Of life. Our con-
yiction Is that n morality which denies the
authority and despises the sanctions Of the
word of God, and a religion which pacti-
cally ignores the obligations of morality,
Justice and humanity, are alike powcrlcss to
reform the world or save the soul"
The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-18
The Footprints Of Slavery.

The citizens Of Trimble County, Ky., are
greatly excited on account OF recent decis-
ion made in the U. 5. district court for the
district of Indiana, to the effect that the
jurisdiction of Kentucky extends only to the
middle Of the Ohio river, and that on the
Indiana side Of the current the laws OF In
diana are in the ascendant. The people
have resolved themselves into high court OF
errors for the purpose of reversing this de-
cision, and have declared that the jurisdic-
ton of Kentucky extends 10 low water marx
ON the northern shore of the river, the I'm
tied States court 20 the contrary notwith-
standing. The reason cited by the citizens
of Trimble county for insisting ON their line
ia certainly a very forcible one, and can
hardly fail 10 induce the federal court 10 re
cede. They say that IL the middle of the
river is 10 BE- regarded as the line, il will no
longer be safe for the people Of the South to
transport their slaves ON the river, which is
certainly true unless the decision Of Judge
Kane is to preyail-that the slave holders
have a. constitutional right 10 carry their
slaves and their slave laws with them to all
parts Of the Union. Six slaves, three men,
three women and one child, while crossing
the Ohio from Bourbon County, Ky, with
the design Of emancipating themselves, had
the misfortune 10 be upset the women and
the child were drowned, while the men were
rescued and placed in the Maysyille Jail
Thirty-one emancipated slaves, emanciPated
bya widow lady in Tennessee, passed through
Atlantic, Ca, recently, on their way to
Baltimore, where they were to embark for
Liberia. The Legislature Of Missouri hav-
ing at its late session passed law prohibit
ing the emancipation of slaves, fifteen or
twenty citizens Of ST. Louis have executed
deeds Of emancipation in behalf OF hyoritc
slaves, 80 rs to invest them with the rights
of freemen before the law takes effect. \
bill has been introduced into the Georgia
legislature to allow colored man named
Daniel, formerly slave, to own himself and
wife and indulge in the Anglo-Saxon luxury
of a surname. When the California gold
fever broke out, Daniel took il in the natur-
al way, and went 10 California, his master
agreeing that he should have half he could
earn. At the end Of fourteen months he
returned with $500 half OF which he
handed over 20 the master and with the 9TH
or half bought himself and wife. Ii 1t Is
considered safe 10 trust such a man with the
care OF himselfthe bill will be likely to pass.
A Young man named Winslow was lately
killed by a slave belonging to John laker in
Lafayette County, No. Winslow had or
dercd the slave to make fire, threatening To
shoot him il he neglected to do il +; in a
short time Winslow was found murdered in
a hedge and the slave was missing Spring
field Republican.
The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-18

y In our remarks upon Gov. Wells
Message last week, we referred to his views
in favor Of u license law, and in order to
bring the practical working of law based
upon the views expressed in the message,
directly home to the common understand
ing, we made the following pertinent, as
we think, illustration -
According to the Governors theory, in
our city, for example, mine host of the Bid
dcford House should be one of the privilege
ell persons, together with perhaps some of
the respectable apothccaries, while all the
Ladd's, WoOdsum's, Knox's, and 0'Flanni-
gan's, would be left out in the cold"
Before proceeding to the main object for
which we have referred to this subject again,
we wish to say that Mr.. Nathan Noble has
notified us that we sighted him in prcpar-
ing our list, and that he desires to be added
thereto, saying that while he is slightly sus-
picious he shall "bc left out in the cold"
he wants it to be understood that Governor
Wells message on the liquor question is not
hardly the entertainment which he suppos-
ed he was assisting to get up when he work.
ell for him last fall. He docs not believe in
the idea of making rumsellinS a monopoly,
to be given to a few persons in the aristo-
cratic circles, who have made money out of
the business, but wants the law so arranged
as to give all who desire to sell, an equal
chance to make money out Of the business.
Nathan's notions are democntic-we COM
mend them to the attention of the Wells
men in the legislature.
Now, having attended to Mr.. Mobiles re-
quest, we proceed to say that the little SEN
tcnce given above, not designedly written to
give offence, but only used to give greater
force to the argument used to show the pre-
posterousness Of Governor Wells views with
respect to license law, has given mortal
offence to the keeper Of the Biddeford House,
who has ordered us to stop his paper, :" for
no won't have the damned thing in his house
longer" Henceforward there is to bcnoth
ing of the right kind Of papers in the ho-
tel, to save it from destruction, and to in
culcate proper morals and sound politics.
All is to be one dense black, putrid mass Of
rum and slavery reading. On this account
we have little reluctance to stopping the pa
per; but there is no help and we submit
By no possibility can we get hack the OBJ
jectionablc sentence for "what is writ is
WRIT" any more than it would be possible
for Mr.. l.. to get back the fine, imaginative
The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-18
The Storm.

The seyerest storm we have had this season
and perhaps for many years, occurred on
Sunday last. Il began to snow fariously
about daylight Sabbath morning, and con-
tinued without CESSATION during the day
and nearly all the next night, accompanied
with strong n. E. wind. Some eighteen
or twenty inches Of snow must have fallen.
Everybody had plenty, and in most cases
great deal more than they had room for.
The streets, dooryards, and other places
were full to overaowing. For several days
our people have done little else, but oshovel
snow and break roads, and the work Of re
moval is hardly yet fully performed. Hap
PLY the weather has not been immodentely
cold, and the work Of treading the snow has
been lively business, especially among the
boys.
The trains running on the various rail.
roads in different parts Of the country, even
extending to Virginia and Maryland, have
been delayed very much in consequence Of
the great quantities Of snow which has ac-
cumulatcd on the tracks. The storm COM
menced in Washington ON the afternoon Of
Saturday, reached New York at nine o'clock
in the evening.
= Some Of the opposition newspapers in
New Hampshire do not publish the Presi-
dents Message in their columns. Probable
reasOn-they are afraid to trust their readers
with its patriotic and convincing arguments.
Democrat.
We know not what reason the opposition
newspapers in New Hampshire may have for
not publishing the Presidents Message, but
cannot be for the reason alleged, by the
Democrat. The reason that has suggested
itself to our mind is this-Prcsident Pierce
is New Hampshire man, and being 50, his
fellow citizens would feel pardonable pride
in conccaling that which so much disgnccs
him. This unwillingness to trumpet the
shame of member Of the family Il certain.
ly cxcusablc.
The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-18
Congress.

We do not regard it important to give q
record Of the doings Of Congress day by
day. The House is not organized, and the
Senate docs nothing of importance. The
monotony Of voting for Speaker in the
House, is occasionally relieved by a spicy
debate, and q defining Of the positions Of
the candidates, which seem to DO gencmlly
satisfactory to their friends, excepting from
this remark, an opinion given by Mr.. Rich.
ardson the other day, that he thought the
wilmot Proviso constitutional which caused
a few hours excitement in the breasts of the
South Carolina and Mississippi chivalry,
but which has subsidized. On the last ballot
for speaker, Of which VIC have report,
Banks wanted 10 votes Of anclection. All
parties appear to be firm, not excepting those
who hold on to the trcacherous Fuller.
The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-18

The WoRKs or Moan WEsrER.-It is
supposed that with the exception of the BIZ
BILE, the photographic works Of Noah Web
ster have the largest circulation Of any books
in the English language. Nearly twelve
hundred thousand copies of Webstcr'sSpell-
ing Book were sold by one firm in this city
last year, and it is estimated that more than
ten times as many are sold of Webster's
Dictionaries as of any other series in this
country. Four-ffths of all the school books
published in the United States are said to
own Webster us their standard. The State
of New York has placed 10000 copies Of
webster's Unabridged in rs many of her
public schools. Massachusetts, has, in like
manner supplied 32iS of her schools, nearly
all and Wisconsin and New Jersey have
provided for all their schools.-Commereidi
Advertiser.
The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-18

subjcct-The Dignity of Abor-isa fne
one, and viii doubtless interest all. or
course the ladies will all turn out en- masse
to the lecture, and the gentlemen will ac-
company them. From the reputation Of
Mrs. Smith Us lecturer, we can congmtu-
late the committee on their happy selection,
and have no doubt but that Central Hall
will be filed. So, look out, and be there
ealry to secure your scat!
The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-18

CONGRESSIONAL REroRr. The keenest re-
tort Of the present session Of Congress was
made the other day, by Mr.. Galloway Of
Ohio, upon DIR. a. II. Marshall Of Ky. Mr..
G. was referring to the clause Of the Decla-
ration of Independence, that speaks Of secur-
ing liberty to US and our posterity
Mr.. Marshall. Docs the gentleman from
Ohio mean to say that negroes are our pos
terity?"
Mr.. Gdilardy-" have no posterity Of
that description myself, but should not
dare to say the same ofsome other gentlemen.
The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-18
Lecture in Central Hall.

We are pleased to call the attention Of our
readers to the advertisement Of the Lyceum
Committee, found in another column. They
will there perceive that wc are to have
rich treat in the shape of q Lecture, by Mrs.
E. Oakcs Smith Of Brookline n. j. Her