davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-26
Department OF the sn.eri or.

Secretary Mcclellan reports large
inclcase in this Department, and gives n
detailed account of the operations nfihe
Government as regards tho Public
Lands, Indian Affairs Pensions, thg ac.
count Of Public Offices. the erection of
Public Buildings, &c.
With reference to public lands i, has
been The purpose to promote the inter
csts of the bona tide settler. The guam.
tlty of laud sold at graduated prices,
was $40 .l74 acres, bringing 50, 36S 90.
The quantity surveyed was l5,Sl5,283;
but no new land has been brough, into
market. The quantity of land sold for
cash was l5,729,52 acres; located with
military sci p aud land warrants, 1916.
$50 acres: swamp lands, selected for
States, 0,i70,747 acres; donations to
railroads, &c. selected, ii, 55S acres; to-
tai 2l'527.4l0. The land sold for cash
exceeds the quantity thus disposed of
last year, 8, 603,790 and brought Sill
4S5,3S5. Tbs quantity sold during two
qpa'te's oftho present exceeds, S27, 625
acres, the corresponding quarters 0flust
year. The largely Increased demand
for public lands is attributed by The So
cretary TO the general prosperity Of The
country. In lands located on scrip aud
waIrau', there Is n decrease IN compar.
ison with The previous year of 2,07l .222
acres. The quan'iiy If land covered by
land variants is 1858 4l2 acres.
The business Of the Pension Bureau
has largely increased. The Number on
the pension list was 1a,dSS to- whom
81 ,505,ll2 were disbnrsed during the
year. The whole work pertaining to
the issue oflaDd warrants will be- com.
pleted ipIess time than was anticipated.
The number ofapplicsiiops TO The goth
November was 225,S34; those examin.
cd numbered 0I,50U. of which 59,S02
have been allowed, 1907 suspended or
rejected, aud the number of warrants
issued, 65,917, covering 6,67s,32o q.
ores.
Nothing has been done towards the
erection Of buildings for tho u. S Courts
Of Now York Boston or Baltimore, and
American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-26

should foot be undivided into artillery
and infantry. Officers no longer cepa.
bio of performing active duty. should
be retired from service, bu, the rates of
compensation should he Increased. and
tho laws respecting allowances unde,go
revision. Tho PROVISIONS of the sAct.
OF Aug. 4, 1854. increasing. pas of
rank aud file, should be extended tn all
enlisted men. An increase ofthe Med.
ical Corps is recommended. Five more
military st"rekeepers. are needed in the
lSuaitermaster-Gener Department.
,rheprohibi,ion of the purchase OF lands
for military posts causes embarrassment
aud should be- removed. Useless mill.
tary sites require to be sold.
The military Asylum has no, realz-
ed anticipalions. The average cost of
maintaining each inmate is $500. Ii is
too much and reduction Is necessary.
The number of men received in four
yearsis 2S7; cost, SO far, S27l, 497-
The new buildings near Washington
will accommodate $50 men.
The camels aui dromedaries viii q,
were ordered from the East, will ar
rive in February. These animals have
been found useful in the Crimea, and
will be employed in military service
here.
Appropriations are asked for the o.
rection of arsenalsu Texas. New Mex
leo, and on the Mouth Pacific Cnast.-
New models for all smull aims have
been adopted. embracing the late i'm.
Pr"vemenIs. ~ new pistol with increas-
ed length of barrel, and capable of in
Simultaneous change into carbine, is
particularly noticed
The Pacific Railroad Expedition ha.
been successfully completed, it is deci-
ded that the most practicable and ecuu-
CYNICAL ronte Is that of the 81 parallel
The Colorado Desert is not unsuscept.
able OF culture. The Secretary is ia.
vorable 10 This Route.
The final portion of the report is an
elaborate consideration Of the military
defences of our Pacific territory. i, il
argued that railroad to the Pacific is
indispensable for the reason that il will
be the only means of throwing rcliefin.
To The Pacific country, in case of any
c"lliSonwiIh maratime power, and our
navy being inadequate to the conway of
the necessary number of store ships. -
a railroad communication is not only
likely tn be paying enterprise, but il
will have the effect of furtifiyiup the
Western coast against attacks from u,
broad.
American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-26

the subject remains for the ociion o,
Congress. Its consid alton is strong.
ly urged
The reorganization ofthe Patent Or
Ace has been perfected.
a large portion ofthe report relates
TO the Indian t,ihos. The Indian distur.
bances arc generally uacesbie To tEe
uggressions Of the whites. They arc
subjected To great trials and extremc
want. which impresses the necessity.of
kindness aud fofheurance. The good
effected by missionary enterprise, aud
their susceptibility To improvements,
renders 1t duty 10 pcrseve.e in tlumane
efforts To preserve them.
American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-26
Treasury Depnr.nent,

The leading points.nf Secretary Gu,b.
rie's Report have been pub!ished some
weeks ago. He recommends the nd.
mission, duty free of wool as u raw ma.
telial, together with chemicals aud dye.
stuifs, bu, no interference with The ar
ticle Of iron. %
The increase Of imports over tho pro+
vious year Sld4.02S,306. Tho foreign
import, for the fiscal year, ending Juno
3O,h. 1855. were S2Gl 1892, 800. agnin.t
S305.7s0,253 for the preceding year
showing decliue oi $ii 397, 203, Tho
total exports were $275, 1876, SAG, against
S27S.24l 074 for the preceding wear.
showing decline of only S3.O94 2I..
1t will be seen fiom this, that whiT,
For the year lS54 the impnrts exceeded
the exports S27539, l69, fot ths las,
year the exports exceeded the imports
$l3.773, $50.
The tables further show an Increase
during the last year, OF Sl0,l02, S64 in
the imports Of free goods, but filling
off of SOL ,253S07 in duiiablo merchaI:.
die. and Of So, 2l6 $50 in specie.
Ofthe total exports OF specie for tho
last year, S53,o57 4lS were of domestic
prediction, and $3.50 o25 nf foreign.
The shipment of domestic produce, OK.
elusive ufspecie, were S22, 406, 800 less
than for the preceding year, while there
is al Increase of $l,497. 23l in the ex.
pn'ts of foreign produce. aud Sl2 565,.
0lu lnthe exports at specie.
American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-26

BG55~ The New York Times, a paper
which cannot be accused of sympathis-
ing with the American party, thus
renders them no doubt a deserved trib-
ute Of praise:
eff the Know Nothings do nothing
better, they will receive the thanks Of
postcrity for having at last broken up
the system of employing foreign and
native bulles in our elections. For
the last few years the abandoned char
acters who live at the bottom Of New
York seem to have frightfully increas-
ed. Pools murder served to show poo
pie first what numerous and terrible
class of worthless men lay hidden
there"
American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-26
Bravery Of the Administration.

Democratic Iestimony.-Thc Rich
mond (Virginia) Examiner, in discuss
ing the Presidents message, says:
We confess we are surprised at the
disclosures of the message in respect to
the British recruiting operations in
this country. We are surprised that
we heard nothing of British recruits
being noosed out and put in jail, and
British officers being warned off or. az
rested, while it was all going Oh
There was no buster and ferocious en-
crgy displayed while Britain was doing
these things in our midst; but when
poor Nicaragua was charged with the
like practices, forthwith great steamers
were fired into BY brave clippers, and
unarmcd passengers promptly arrested
and put into the New York .jails by
the score. We are sorry for these
things. We are provoked at the atti-
tudc in which the message places our
republic before the world in these mat
tcrs. We are humilatcd at the rc1cc-
ton that at the very time we should be
debating and enforcing an American
policy for the American continent, We
are acEing ingloliously ont of all our
former positions, and allowing our
selves to be bullicd by hcctoring pow
CT that never fails to dominccr over
cowardicc and pusillanimity.
American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-26
Wnr Department.

The Report "i the Secretary nf War,
Jefferson Davis, is quite long. il states
that The authorised stiengih Of the Army
IL 1857 men, and the actual strength
1876. The recruiting service is ex.
pccIed to overcome the disparity IN u
few months. The pnlistmouts last wear
numbered l0,54G, bon upwards of go. 900
offered themselves aud were refused. in
consequence Of their minniiiy or unfit.
nes He speaks "f tho discharge of mi.
nors ms growing evil, aud recommends
That the contract he binding whenever
deception has been employed, &c. The
troops retain The snme general dis,ribu.
lion, and four additional regiments
have been organized.
Intercourse with the Florida Semi
noles has been prohibited, aud efforts
are making to remove them.
The gallani'y Of the troops il the IN.
dian campaigns ofhe year is spoken of
IL terms Of high piaisc but the unnsu.
al extent of operations has caused large
expenditures, which have exceeded the
appropriations.
Several suggestions are made topte.
setvo the efficiency Of the Army, viz
The tight Of command should follow
rack by one certain rule; officers hold.
ing general commissions should not be
placed at once upon the staff, but have
opportunity to acquire practical militia.
~ knowledge; troops equipped for the
same service should not DO divided, nor
American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-26
Elk. PRESIDENT FIJI MORE IN Italy

Elk PREstDENT FLMeRE IN lTAr.Y.-
a correspondent of the Phia dclphil
Ledger, writing from LeGhurn, says:
Nothing indeed can exceed the unns.
'entati"us carriage aud simplicity of the
American eX President on his whole
jnurney through Europe. He goes aud
sees everything, yet nobody finds out
who no is aud whal elevated station 10
occupied ill he is gone. In Puris Will,
ut the Hotel du Luvre. the landlord ne
yer knew his guest until some Ampti.
can had inquired Tor Elk. President FIJI.
more, and the same thing occurred in
Marseiirs, Nlzza Genoa and LoRhoru.
When the people learned who he was
there was considerable c8lsEeSsNs a.qt 10
serve him, bat he allnrded them no on.
p"ituni'y. LiSa,g III the Simplest man.
nor. aud eXacting nothing that is nuI u.
sual with the most uuprctending and
unassuming gentleman, no only leaves
people with regret that they cahuo.
show him some proof of their respect,
or some attention corresponding with
his station. Mr. Fillmore has now
been in England France, Prussia, Aus.
tria. and Italy, and will have soon all
Europe before he returns TO the Uuiroa
States. He has everywhere been the
unnbsorved observer Of tise people auj
their institutions, aud will return to the
United States better judge of Euro
pean governments than the whole BODY
of unhedged dip'omatcS we are in the
habit of sending abroad that we NAV
become acquainted with court gossip
aud court mauners, much 10 the de,r;-
ment of their knowledge aud Usefulness
III foreign parts. The manner in which
Mr.: Fillmore travels is the only way by
which an American can really become
acquainted with Europe, aud learn 20
love aud cherish his own country.
American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-26

B@y" The rapid process by which
foreigners are converted into American
citizens, is illustrated by the following
from the New York Express, in regard
to what has been done in this way in
only two courts the past year in the
sidgle city Of New York:
Uakin9 Americans.---Tho statistics
we publish to-day show that, in but two
of our courts, we have made this year:
Citizcns--5,9G5. Intentions declar-
cd to be 1914.
Whether this country belongs to A.
merican8, or everybody else, ia a mat
ter of some doubt from such statistics.
American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-26
-
PoooEJ 1r tyo ~ ~

Repeal IF tie Uaw'y Laws. There
has been bill in,idSuGcd into our Lee.
isIature to repeal tho nsnry laws. Wo
are 6 al To see this project set on foot.
for 1t has always appeared unjust to Us
that wo should have laws regulating lhc
price "i money, any more than any oih.
er species Of property, for money is az
leg,tlmateiy mans property as hi,
horse, aud as such we contond TINT q
man has right To make The hes, bar.
gain be eau with it, as he has with his
horse or mule.
This cxmact from Tennessee papcr
Is another speclmen Of The popular ct.
r"r III regard to moaey, and It's uualitic5
and attributes. Moaey, whether il ho
metallic or paper money, is no man'O
property; IL is the property OF The loy
Gold aud silver (as buIiipn) are proper.
ty; but do not pOssess any inherit or
natural power or right to become the
exclusive dehtpoyiug agents thai rich;
Is derived from the law Of tho land
: Wheat, corn, iron, lead, tobacco, or any
other articles might be mata money Nv
The law; therefore tho meney uronerty
of the precious metals is the creature If
law. And being made so by the law
1t should DO. regulated by it. As tho
law establishes the first value of money
ny prescribing how many grains Of gold
or silver shall compose a dollar or an
eagle. so ought il to regulate the rate of
interest to be paid for The use of it,.
The law docs not undertake to regulate
The value OF hotses, neither does il make
them loyal tender IN tho payment Of
debts. and therefore HOSES and money
are no, placed on All equal footing as
property. lfhorses are property, mon.
ey is something more than property.
LouisOiiie Joayaak.
American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-26
SENATE.
Monday, january IA.

MONDAY, january ii.
Mr.. Thompson, from the Committee
on Agriculture. &C., reported Senate
bill amending and re-enncting the AID
section of chapter SO of the Code of
Virginia, so as to authorize and compel
the inspection of salt in the counties of
Kanawha and Mason.
Resolutions of enquiry were proposed !:
BY Mr.. Armstrong-of incorpora-
ting the Preston Coal and Iron Compa-
ny, for the purpose of mining coal and
manufacturing iron in the counties of
Hampshire, Hardy and Preston.
BY Mr.. Turner-of authorizing the
North Western Railroad Company to
acquire additional land for its purposes.
BILLS PASSED.
To incorporate the Preston Lumber
and Iron Company, in the county of
Preston.
TO incorporate the Scottsvillc Fac
tory, for the purpose of manufacturing
cotton, wool, iron and lumber.
Providing for the voluntary enslavc-
ment of the free negroes of the Com
monwealth.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
The following resolutions were Of
fercd and adopted:
By Mr.. Lundy-of authorizing coun-
ty courts to let publicly, to the lowest
undertaken, the building and repairing
Of bridges, &c.
By Mr.. Lang6tt-of repeating so
much of the act Incorporating Bethany
College, as interdicts the establishment
Of Chair or Professorship of Theology.
American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-26

that it is necessary that steps be taken
by them to prevent the transportation
back of their ship-loads of paupers.
The admonition of Jackson recurs
with force. But aside from the inposi-
ton we suffer from this source in hav-
ing our insane, sick and poor asylums
crowded with this retuse mass of Euro
pean population, there is another con-
sidcration. Foreign felons, highway
men, and criminals Of all castles, are
imported hisher and disgorged upon
our shores by the same process. We
receive them all. We bind up the
wounds of the maimcd-ministcr to tho
slek--feed the hungry poor-employ
the starving MISUNDERSTANDING the
fclon, for III his disguise we know him
not--warm them all into lifo--and in
year or two, they are found at the
polls, glorious American citizens, lab
boring in foreign jorgon about our
elections, bought up by the most profit
gate politicians, and aiding to sway
Amerlcan aestinies by their suffrage.
Is there nothing in all this array of
facts to call for q cure? There surely
Is. Americans, certainly, have enough
OF the spirit of '76 animating them
yet, to refuse, positively, to be thus
insulted and imposed upon by foreign
governments. Such as have will find
place for efficient action in the ranks
of the American party, for we are bat
Ting to redress the grievances of for
eign imposition and interference and
rule in the affairs of our country
And it is high time that something was
done. These evils are growing evils.
These impositions are increasing in
number and magnitude annually
Who shall redress them? Not the old
Democratic party, for it tramplcs un-
der foot the warning of Jackson-has
become the fast friend Of the Foreign.
Grand it declares the American par
ty an " Unconstitutional oligarthy"
for attempting to defend our native
land from the abominablc evils of UNI
controlled foreign emigration There S
where the old Democratic party stands,
and that's what it has come to-deny
it who may, OF disprovc it who can.
Which party IS right! The Ameri,
can party in opposing these impositions
and wrongs, and standing fast to our
American interests and institutions, -
or, the Democratic party in defending
Foreignism in its wrong doing, and
knuckling to such base impositions by
opposing andprescribing the American
party?
American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-26
PETITIONS PRESENTED.

BY Mr.. Newlon-of citizens Of Ma
rion county, for change of the divid-
ing line between Marion and Taylor
counties.
BY Mr. Ifolliaay--of citizens of Mar
shall county, for renewal of charters
to the North Western and Merchants
and Mechanics Bank at Wheeling.
BY Mr., Holdcn--of citizens of Har-
rison and Lewis for turnpike from
Jane Lew to the head of Grccnbrier.
BY Mr.. Barnes-of William Kerr.
sheriff of Marion county, for the re-
funding of Sol improperly paid into
the treasury.
American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-26

1t Is told Of an freshman tina, he used
to sweep his chimney Wy letting rope
down which VAS fastened round III.
leg Of goose, aud then pulling the
goose after H..
A writer in one of The northern pa.
pers or School Discipline says, -" With.
out liberal use of the rod, it IL ilDpos.
IDLE To make boys smart"
Pleasures come like oxen and 60
away like post.horses
American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-26
ADVERSE REPORT.

The Committee on Courts of Justice
presented reports adverse to the prop
osltlons to require county and corpo-
rate Courts to grant licenses to retail
ardent spirits; to the proposition for
the more speedy settlement of western
land title; and to the proposition for
amending the law allowing pay to grand
and petit jurors.
On motion of Mr.. Hoge, it was
Rcsolred, That the Committee on
Finance inquire into the expediency
OF providing by law for the sale of the
Bank stocks now held by the Common
wealth.
American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-26
Hills PASSED.

A bill providing for the ro-asscss-
mcnt Of the lands throughout the Com
monwcalth--with an amendment, (by
way of ryder proposed by Mr.. Stccn-
rod-aycs 81, noes 0. The attention
of magistrates is called to the amend
ment of Mr.. Stecnrod, providing that
the county or corporation courts at
their March terms make an order sum-
moning all the magistrates in their sew.
cral counties or corporations to attend
at either the succeeding April or May
terms Of said courts, for the purpose of
making the appointments Of assessors.
The magistrates having been summon
cd, the appointments shall be made il
majority do not attend.
BILLS REPORTED.
Bills were reported from the stand
ing committees:
Amending the 18th section Of an
act concerning the registration of
births, marriages and deaths.
Concerning tho Virginis State Ag-
ricultural Society, appropriating mo
ncy thereto, and establishing system
for managing the finance thereof.
American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-26
Words Of Wisdom and Warning.

-S,N esNat tue insiious wilcs Of Foreign Influence
eOnurc you believe me, Fellow citizens the Jealousy
of Free People ought to 10 constantly owGiet is
of the most bnme:G foes Of Republican 'vernmcnt-
WASHINGTON
~ Il is tune that should become little moro
Aucrcauircd AMI instead Of feeding the P0upers AMI
j.aborers OF Engoud feed our own ~ clSc N short
time, By OUR PRESENT POLICY, We shall be- Paupers
oUrsClv a..
S-iy-i hope may find some means in future Of
shfeiing ourselves from Foreign lnnucnccP Political
CoInn ercial or In Whatever form may be attempted
wish there Of Fire between this and the
oh world. ii III T ERSON
10. II eve: tho Liberties Of this country are destroyed
Nwil he through the Vaccinations Of Ronsh Pr.css.-
LA FAYETrE.
s>F9' Foreign Influence 10 Grccan horse to tic Re.
publ!css cannot be too cerctto exclude It's entrance
MADISON.
- There IS an imperative necessity for reforming
the NATURALIZATION Laws OF tbs o. s;tatcs.-W BsTEIt,
American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-26
EoRNlaM pAWPARraNr.

paper published in New York, contains
the following proceedings as having
been adopted recently by the Govern
ment of Wurtemborg. Read it Amer
leans, and see how you relish the idea
Of feeding and clothing Foreign pau
pers in obedience to Wurtembcrg leg
islation. Here is a sample of the pol
icy supported and defendcdby the anti
American party Of our country:
Whereas, 1t has repeatedly oc-
Cured that German cmigrants to Amer
lea, and among them natives of Wur-
temberg, who desired to return home
on account Of sickness or incapacity to
labor, having been forwarded to this
country by the German Emigration So
ciety Of New York, and
Whereas, 1t is desirable that those
who have once emgrated to America,
and especially those who have been
transported thither at the expense Of
the State of the Communes, and are
unable whether or not it be any fault
Of their own, to earn their subsistence,
should not return here to be II burden
to the State or the Commune (,Vhich IN
that case egW haze betrayed the expense
Of their Journey IN ra|1) and
Whereas, The American authorities
are scarcely authorized to send back
those who, having once been admitted
to the country, cannot earn their sub
sistencc in America; and
Whereas, 1t is much less the bust
ness of the German Emigration So
ciety Of New York to promote the re-
turn Of such individuals therefore,
Resolyc0, That necessary steps be
taken to prevent their transportation
back to this country"
Now, this action of the Wurtcmburg
Government is decidedly the coolest
specimen Of downright impudencc that
we have encountered. But it exhibits
some facts We ought candidly to con-
slider. Gen. Jackson once said, in his
time, when paupcr emigration was not
shadow compared to ITS present pro-
portions, 1T ID h'Gh time that we
should become a little more American
Ned, and instead OF feeding the pau
pors and iaborcr5 OF Europe, feed our
own, or else IN a short time, by our
present policy we Will become pauperS
ourselves II such was the opinion
OF Jackson, when paupers came across
the ocean oy hundreds instead OF as
now by thousands, we ask any reader,
American or anti-Amerlcan, how that
sentiment OF jackson reads IN contrast
with the ""rtem0ur8 "hesoIvc, -
how that sentiment Of "oid Hickory
looks IN contrast with the actions OF
the hocotoco party IN encouraging the
emigration OF torc'&n Pa"perS' tcIons,
ana J2"-oird3 as the plaht matcrlalto
WORK up INTO y D1"'c|"t'c FoEeTS'
Inc proceedings q inc W uftemourg
Government olscIo'c INC important tact
olteh oehle" " '"c foreign party that
pauPerS arc 9C'V "e'o'o u.s. 70 DC sup
ported ~ or 'a"c8' ny the Shlp'oa",
American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-26
Tuesday, January 8.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
On motion Of Mr.. Johnson.

On motion Of Mr.. Johnson,
ReSolvcd, That the Committee for
Courts Of Justice inquire into the ex-
pcdiency of providing by law that ex-
ecutions of capital punishment shall
take place in the presence only Of a
limited number of persons, to be ap-
pointed by the Court pronouncing SEN
tcnce Of death.