davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03
ARRIVAL FROM CALIFORNIA.

Ne,o York, March 27.-The steamer Illinois
from Aspinwal, with the California mails an
81, 100000 in treasure, arrived here this after
noon at 6 o'clock.
The missing account books of Adams Co.
were recently washed ashore near San Fran
sisco.
The first section of the Sacramento Valley
railroad, comprising twenty-five miles, has been
completed.
A bill has been introduced into the Leglsls
ture, erecting three new States out of tho tern
tory now comprised in California.
The Indians continue to commit depredatons
near the mouth of the Rogue river. On the
23d of February, twenty-four persons were mur
dered. A battle had taken place at Puget 5
Sound, between a party Of friendly Indians and
the Clickatats.
The steamer Columbia was 10 proceed IN 3
few days 10 Rogue river, with General Wool ana
his troops.
Eleven buildings had cen burnt at SOnor''
involving a loss of S33, 00h.
The markets were generally dull, and money
was stringent. The receipts of gold dust 81
pear to be diminishing. Flour was depreSSei
in price domestic and Oregon was selling ~
So (9 50; hams 10 cents; lard 49, cents; choRe
butter sc cents; whisky 10 cents.
Advices had reached Panama, TO the ehee'
that the Indians on the Atlantic coast of er'
guas had attacked Santiago, and burnt 1t PSF
TALLY down.
Valparaiso dates to the 18th of February anu
Callao dates of the Goth, have been received
The Gillian war steamer Cazado, from laeA
huano, foundered near Maule, on the BON :.
January. Out Of three hundred and fifty eigH'
persons on board, only forty were saved.
The sloop of war St. Mary's was detained .,
Callao, ON account of the disturbed state oil inc
country. u.,l,sr
Advices from Costa RIGA state that NaiAel
had threatened to attack and destroy PGnS
Arenas. The Government of that country h"1
sent troops to defend the place.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN EXECUTIVE COM
MITTEE

This Committee met in Washington last
Wednesday. Among the members in attend
ance were Z. d. Morgan of New York, Chair
man, Messrs. Washburne of Maine, Fogg and
Burleigh of New Hampshire, Banks of Massa-
chusetts, Chace of Rhode Island, Paulison of
New Jersey, Blair Of Maryland, Clephane of
the District of Columbia, Stone of Ohio, Wall
bridge of Michigan, Leland of Illinois, &c.
The session was harmonious. A strong deter
mination was evinced to unite all the elements
of opposition to the Administration through
out the country on the one issue, Of Freedom
to the Territories. A free interchange Of
opinion was had with members Of Congress,
some Of whom suggested change Of the date
of the National Nominating Convention. This
suggestion was declined, the time having been
full comparison Of views the Committee agreed
upon n call, liberal enough to embrace all the
honest Anti Nebraska voters of the country.
Some Of the States have already appointed
their delegates, so that the call, Of course, ap-
plies only to the States which have yet to act.
The Convention then adjourned, sine die. Mr..
Wilmot arrived in Washington just after its ad-
tournament. The call may be found at the head
of our columns.
We hope the People will take care to choose
delegates for themselves, and not suffer mere
politicians, soldiers of fortune, and campbell
lowers, to cheat them. The Republican move
ment, having become imposing, is beginning
to attract swarms of adventures, who follow its
footsteps, not for the doctrines it seeks to es
tablish, but for the loayes and fishes it may
| have to dispense.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03
ANTI-sLAvERY ADDRESS IN WASHINGTON.

Mr.. George M. Weston, of Maine, author
of the South" delivered very interesting and
instructive address before the Republican AS
ISOLATION of this city, on the evening of the
18th ult. He proved, conclusively by statistics
and quotations from Southern writers and
statesmen, the blighting effect the institution
OF Slavery has upon the poorer class of whites
in the South, as also in the North, particularly
in those States bordering on the slaveholding
ones, by bringing their labor in competition
with slave labor, thereby preventing them from
obtaining fair equivalent for their daily toll,
while the wealthy STAKEHOLDER amasses large
pecuniary gain from the labor of his slaves,
for which he gives in return only food and
scanty clothing. The poor white man is also
degraded because, in some of the States, he is
deprived of vote, unless he possesses a GER
tain amount of property, whilst his neighbor,
the wealthy planter, often controls an entire
county by voting on his slaves.
Whilst we fully concur with Mr.. Weston as
to the effects of Slavery upon the poorer classes
of the whites, we must differ with him as to his
policy of concentrating Slavery in the far South,
as the best means of crushing out the detestable
institution.
This is the first public Anti-Slavery address
ever delivered in this city, outside of Congress,
and was listened TO with marked attention and
respect by the audience. We understand the
Association is having it stereotyped, and in
tends issuing it in pamphlet form. will be
found one of the most valuable nents for
the campaign that has yet be ylshed.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03
THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1856.
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.

The People OF the United States, without regard TO past
political differences divisions, who opposed to the
repeal OF the Missouri Compromise the policy of the
present Administration. the extension of Slavery
into the Territories in favor Of the admission of Kan
a free State, and of restoring the action of the
Federal Government the principles of Washington
and Jefferson, invited by the National Committee
appointed by the Pittsburgh Convention of the 22d OF
February 1856 send from each State three Delegates
from every Congressional district and six Delegates at
large, TO meet in PHILADELPHIA the Seventeenth
day Of June for the purpose of recommending can
ddaes be supported for the Offices OF President and
Vice President of the United States.
d MORGAN New York,
FRANCIS p. BLAIR Maryland,
JOHN NJ NILES, Connecticut,
DAVID wILMOT, Pennsylvania,
A. p STONE, Ohio,
WILLIAM NJ CHACE, Rhode Island
JOHN Il. GOODRICH, Massachusetts,
GEORGE RYE, Virginia,
ABNER r. HALLONvELL Maine,
Il. :. LELAND Illinois,
CHARLES DICKEY, Michigan,
GEORGE g. FOGG, New Hampshire,
A J. STEVENS, Iowa,
CORNELIUS COLE, California,
LAWRENCE BRAINERD, Vermont,
WILLIAM CROSSE, Indiana
wYMAN SPOONER, Wisconsin,
C NJ. X PAULISON, New Jersey,
T.. D. WILL IAMS Delaware,
JOHN G. FEE Kentucky,
JAMES REDPATH, Missouri,
LEWIS CIEPHANE, Dist. of Columbia,
NaiiOna! Commute
w
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03

Judge Conklin, late Minister of the United
States TO Mexico, and previously thereto Judge
of the United States for the Northern District
of New York, has concluded TO abandon the
desperate cause Of his old friend Fillmore, and
has embraced the cause of Republcanism. de
has addressed long and sensible letter upon.
the subject to the Hon. John A: King, OF
Queens county. He objects to Fillmore as
Presidential candidate, for that, though by the
act of others, and in his absence from the
country, he stands before the pupic as .ne
representative of principles and of policy
which the Judge abhors, bat to which, should
he be elected, be would feel bound to adhere.
Whether his personal friends have acted wise
IL or even Justly towards him, in permitting
this to be done, and whether, had he been
crescent. he would have consented 70 1t, the
I'D also ventures to entertain doubt.
There remains, therefore" says the Judge,
a only the Republican party to which can
look as q competent fundamentally for the
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03
QUEER INAUGURATION OF A GOVERNOR.

The following scenes, described in the edi-
torial correspondence Of the Milwaukee An'eri-
can, may be regarded, we suppose, as closing
the contest for the Office of Governor of the
State of Wisconsin
MADISON, March Is, 1856.
The Court took their seats upon the bench at
3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, at which time
the room was crowded almost to suffocation by
the most anxious crowd of spectators / ever
beheld. The silence of the grave was there, and
with breathless anxiety they awaited the final
decision Of the Court
The Chief Justice gave the opinion of the
Court in clear and distinct voice, which
neither exhibited excitement nor fear, in rela.
half an hour in its delivery.
Immediately after the rendition of this de-
cision by the Court, Governor Bashford walked
over to the consultation room of the Court and
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03
SLAYER CAPTURED.

Boston. March 27.-The schooner Maria L
Smith. which was seized in our harbor las
summer. on suspicion of being SLAYER, finally
released, and sailed for Montevideo, has beer
captured and carried into Bahia, having beer
taken in an attempt to land three hundred anG
twenty negroes. She embarked four hundreo
on the African coast, but eighty died on 'O'
passage.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03

ton, and that, the Interpretation of the Courts
partisan Commissioners. The safeguards sug-
gested by the Mayor and the Attorney of the
Corporation, (both Know Nothings,) were in
corporated in the bill. 1t was considered, ma
tured, and unanimously reported by commit
tee consisting of six Anti-Administration three
Administration men, and four Of the six are
Know Nothings. Humphrey Marshalls amend
ment, if carried, would have subjected the Dis
trict virtually to new naturalization law. 1t
could meet no evil of any kind. If foreign
voters were to be imported from other cities,
his amendment proposed no plan for proven
ton or correction. The purpose and tendency
of it were purely political. And yet, to avoid
the responsibility of voting on this mischievous
amendment, Know Nothings and Republicans
wasted the whole week in extraordinary parlia-
mentary expedients, never to be resorted to
except in cases requiring next to revolutionary
measures. AS for the pretence that the bill is
an Administration measure, we know better.
The Administration men supported 1t, OF course,
for the only issue ON which they can run with
hope of success, against the vast opposition OF
the country, is Anti Know Nothingism. OPP
position to the proscriptive policy of this Order
is their breath of life. Did the Republicans
expect them to lose so favorable an opportu-
nifty TO vindicate their devotion to the rights of
naturalized citizens? What should have been
the course of our friends? To make no issue
with them on the subject-to prevent them
from appearing as the sole advocates of equal
rights.
Again: There is a discrimination in the bill
implied in the word white" Strange, that
some champion of equality did not move as an
amendment to Marshall's amendment the era
sure of that word The section would then
have secured the right of voting to every +" citi
zen of the United States"
But all considerations were swallowed up in
the one idea of conciliating the Know Nothings
We have spoken plainly. Let the People
examine the record. If they are, just as their
Representatives are, they will sustain them: il
| they are in advance of them, we hope they will
take measures to show it. Let them admonish
their agents. We are not afraid Of Know
Nothingism-we do not believe it has taken a
deep hold on the public mind--we are willing
to cooperate with men called by that NAME as
individuals, in union of the People on the
issue between Freedom and Slavery, but not
at the expense of a single concession to their
dogmas. Let every honest measure in Congress
be voted for or against, on its own merits-let
those who are in favor of such amendments as
that of Marshall, vote for it--let those who are
in faver of our bill vote for it-let every man
vote as he honestly believes. This would be
manly-this the People expect-but, we ear,
nestly pray that we may never again see such
efforts made by the protested friends of Free
dom, to smother a sound measure, on preimi-
nary votes, for the sake of avoiding the respon-
sibility of putting their names on record against
an unwise and mischievous amendment
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03

sssS" We have received from sound Anti
Slavery men, and noticed in various newspa-
pers, criticisms on the action of the Pittsburgh
Convention, and the Republican movement
generally. 1t is right that the People should
be on the alert that they should regard with
displeasure every indication Of a purpose to
construct u platform or procure nominations on
the policy of mere availability. Our cores
pondents shall receive due attention.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03
THE NATIONAL ERA FOR THE CAMPAIGN

We propose to issue the National Era for the
Campaign, from the 4th April, ensuing, to the
9Th December, inclusive, comprising thirty-six
numbers of the Era, covering the whole period
of the Presidential canvass. election, and re-
turns, for 81 copy, in clubs of five or more.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03

attainment of what regard as incomparably
the most interesting and important object de-
pendent on the choice to be made at the next
Presidential election"
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03

BeE~ Having devoted so much space this
week to an examination of the state of things
in the House of Representatives, we are obliged
to lay over some interesting matter till our
next ISSUE 1t is time for the People to under
stand how they are represented.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03
WASHINGTON, d. c..

office, No. sol Seventh street, 6et,ceen d and E,
one square south Of City Post Office.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03

The last number of the first volume of Facts
for the People appears this week. We shall
continue its publication another year. Sub
scrbers must renew at once, that we may know
how large an edition to issue ON the hrst oil
next month. Now is the time for clubs to
subscribe. 1t is the document they need for
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03

Ray- We are still able to supply subscribers
present volume.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03
EUROPEAN AGENCY FOR THE ERA.

L. A. Chamerovzow, ESQ.,, q New Broad
street, London, England, has kindly consented
to act as agent for the National Era in Great
Britain and Europe.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03

Mr.. FoRNEY has retired from the Washington
Union, and will henceforth, through the Penn
sylpanian, we presume, devote himself to the
interests of Mr.. Buchanan.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03
TERMS.

The postage irihe-ony hall cent a number, or
year, paid advance The Office ,chere the pa
per reoersd
To address" whenever POSSIBLE where subscribers
be obtained in this way, waive The rule and
send o individuals.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03

HIP. WHITNEY IL our auihonzed canvassng agent for
New York city and vicny and will receive and forward
Advertisements for the Ere at our lowest rates.
Adverseuer,s can be len hi. Office, No ~ Spruce
strest
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03

A UNIoS STATE CONVENTION was held at
Harrisburgh, Pa, last week, which put in nom-
nation the following ticket:
For Canal COmnaissioner-Thomas E. Coch-
ran, of York.
For auditor observation-disclosures La
porte, of Bradford.
For Surveyor General-Darwin Phelps, of
Armstrong.
The first, en- old line Wing, the second,
Democrat and Republican, the third, Ameri-
can, all agreeing in opposition to Slavery, as
the paramount issue. The Republican State
Convention will meet at Philadelphia on the
10th Of June.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03

THE KANSAS COMMITTEE has left Washing
ton for Kansas. Mr.. Fogg, editor of the New
Hampshire Independent Democrat, was its chief
clerk; Mr.. Hanscomb, of Massachusetts, Sec
ond clerk; Mr.. Lord, of Baltimore, phonogra-
pher. 1t made no request for military protec-
ton, and, we presume, will need none.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03

lance to the People of the District-tactics
never before resorted to, except by Slavehold-
ers to carry some of their peculiar interests, or
by Free State Men, to restrain some enormous
aggression of the Slave Power. In this case,
they were resorted to by Southern and North.
ern Know Nothings and certain Republicans,
to prevent fair expression of the opinion of
the House on a wanton proposition to intro
duce Native Americanism in an honest Election
Bill. To such an extent was this discreditable
opposition carried, that the House was left
without quorum, and on the motion to ad-
journ, at ST o'clock, only "a names were
recorded, out of 234 members!
Friday, the motion to lay the reconsidera-
ton of the recommitment vote on the table
was lost-yeas IS, nays IS.
On the motion to reconsider the vote by
which the House had refused to recommit, the
vote stood-yeas SO, nays S3-a tie--but the
Speaker, as he had done before, helped the oppo-
sition to the Bill, by giving his casting vote for
reconsideration. The House, then, which the
day before had refused to recommit the bill,
now, without any new light on the subject,
voted to recommit-yeas 81, nays 75-the con-
sistent sixteen Republicans still voting nav,
while six who had voted with them the day
before, deserted them
The record is before our readers. The one
controlling element that led to all these pro-
ceedings is Know Nothingism.
The measure was simple, clear, and fair
one. 1t proposed no discrimination between
native-born and naturalized citizens. 1t intro.
duced no new rule in regard to the rights of vo'
tiers. ltsimply reafdrmed the existing law, so
far as it defined the qualifications of suffrage,
but in terms admitting Of but one interpreta
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03
LETTER FROM HON. T. H. BENTON

The following letter from Hon. Thomas Il.
Benton, written to gentleman in st. Louis, sp.
pears in the Missouri Democrat of the 25th
instant
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03


seven o'clock. Commissioners of election are
sworn to receive and return the votes, faithful
ly, and to reject fraudulent votes, but we are
not aware that any penalties are provided for a
violation of duty.
Until the advent of Know Nothingism, there
was no trouble, except from the shortness of
time allowed for voting and the fact that there
was but one place for voting in ward. As to
the qualifications of voters, we never heard a
question raised. Native-born and naturalized
citizens stood upon an equality. An adult,
foreign-born, resident in Washington for one
year, being citizen of the United States on
the day of election, voted under the plain pro.
vision of the law, emitting every free white
citizen of the United States, of twentyone years,
to suffrage, provided he had been entered on
the books of the Corporation, and had paid his
schooltax and all taxes on personal property
The Election Law was in harmony with the
Naturalization Law of the United States, and
the practice under it was what it ia in nearly all
the States.
| Last year, however, Know Nothineism dis
cerned new Interpretation, and ayerred that
a naturalized citizen must reside whole year
in the District after he has become naturalized,
even although he may have been a resident
here during the whole term of his naturaliza.
ton, before he can votel This was an attempt,
by construction, virtually to prolong the period
OF naturalization from FIVE to six years. The
opinion of the Court of the District was obtain.
ed, against this Interpretation, and affirming
the legality of the established practice under
the law. But the Commissioners of Elections
being Know Nothings, disregarded the opinion
OF the Court, and refused to receive the votes
OF neturalized citizens who had not resided in
Washington one year previous to the electior
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03
FACTS FOR THE PEOPLE.

WASHINGTON, March -, $50.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03

w
Woodruff, Woodwork, and Zollicofer--82.r
1t will be observed that of the men who had
voted for Banks, only sixteen voted to order
the main question-Bliss, Day, Dodd, Grow,
Harlan of N. Y, Knowlton, Mace, Mattason,
Meacham, Mott, Nichols, Spinner, E. B. Wash
burne, I. Washburn, Watson.
The subject went over, and the next Gay
Thursday was more than wasted, in factious
opposition to the bill at every stage of the pro-
ceedings. Gentlemen, who approved of the
measure, and who were opposed to the amend
ment of Humphrey Marshall, voted sometimes
one way, sometimes, another, but almost al
ways with view to prevent direct vote ION
the amendment-and they did so, merely out
of Difference to their Know Nothing associates,
who either wished to kill the bill, or to avoid
the responsibility of putting their names son
record on Mr.. MarshalPs amendment. This
factious opposition-we thus characterize it, be-
cause it was an opposition carried on by revo.
lutionary tactics by minority to prevent the
action of known majority in favor of a meas
ure, constitutional and reasonable was led
on by Southern Know Nothings, aided by Mr..
Campbell of Ohio, Mr.. Sage of New York, and
other gentlemen who had supported Mr.. Banks.
We present brief sketch of proceedings.
!. MIR. Chafee, TX. NJ of Massachusetts,
moved reconsideration of the vote seconding
the previous question and Mr.. Letcher, of Vir.
ginia, moved to lay that motion on the table,
so as to prevent the House from taking the
back track-yeas 50, nays sl-but the Speak
| or, coming to the help of the minority, gave
his casting vote against Letchers motion, and
it was lost.
The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03

ness, met not only with Anti-SIavery, but Pro-
Slavery Know Nothings, chiefly, we fear, for
the purpose of securing, for their candidate, the
public printing. Subsequently, a large portion
of the Americans refused to ratify this part of
the arrangement. Mr.. Follett was defeated. and.
to cut the matter short, the public printing was
continued in the hands of the Administration
printer
1t will be seen that the Anti Nebraska force
was disorganized and demoralized after the
election of Speaker, and so it continued for
weeks, its two sections, bound by diverse obi.
cations, owing allegiance to different organi.
cations, being unable to act together. People
have wondered why, from day to day, from
week to week, nothing was done, when so
much ought to have been done. Not indeed
till six weeks, we believe, after the organization
of the House, were they able to unite so far
as to carry the resolve for the appointment,
of Committee to investigate the troubles in
Kansasl Kansas, crushed by fraud and VIC
lence, Kansas, driven in selfdefence to form g
State Constitution and ask admission into the
Union--and yet three months and half of the
session suffered to go by, before even an invest
igation is ordered of the outrages to which it,
People have been subjectedIl
The reason Of all this miserable delay ant
waste of time is before our readers. Will,
men slept, the enemy came and sowed tares
The People thought they were sending tru
Anti Nebraska Representatives to Congress
they now see that some whom they though
= true, have proved false, while others, emba,
rassed by obligations to the American Order
e deem it their duty to carry forward American
ism, so called, pari passu with Anti Nebrssks