The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-04-30

The following article appears in the London
Shipping and Mercantile Gazette:-I have now
made the tour Of the States of North America,
and think it probable can give your readers
some useful information. l landed at New
York city some ten months ago, and have spent
my time in studying the character and customs
of those people, and must confess that II re-
manned ten years the result would be the same;
and know very little about them. But upon
one point-natonal pride-men, women and
children, are all alike; and the idea of any ma
ton of Europe, or the whole of them put to-
gether, conquering this country, is perfectly
absurd to them. Every body reads the pa
pers, and good humored urchln OF twelve
wears used to rate me soundly at Philadelphia
for our failures at Sebastopol. The best ver-
sion of American sympathy was given me
few days since. ''When the war commenced
the Turks were the weaker power, and our
sympathies were with her. After the alliance
was three against one, and our sympathies
went for Russia; but, should France JOIN Rus-
sia tomorrow against England, our govern
ment could not prevent its citizens from not
only sympathising with England, but assisting
her with material aid.' This l heard from
very intelligent man, who, do not think, sus-
pected my nationality; and firmly believe It,
In the south spent some time upon the plan
tations, and many times had long conversa-
tions with the slaves; and always with the same
result. They are much better satisfied than
suspected, and when Ispoke of the probability
of war. | was answered, that white folks
wouldn't let nigga fight" But" said l, "the
blacks from the West Indies will come here and
help you to gain your freedom ""hat!,
black soger come here; let 'em cum, den massa;
let's us fight de nigga, know, and gar almighty
we give en- gosh!'' If not in the same Ian
guage, the same feeling was ever expressed:
[ have visited all their national armorles,
and although the country is at peace, the great
est activity prevails; all the old arms are con.
demned, and by next spring nearly l,5oO,ooe
Mimic rifles will be ready for distribution, be-
sides Colts, Clarks, and others. MIR. Aiger.
at Boston, is now engaged on new kind OF
gun for the navy. The range, with solid shot,
is nearly five miles; with shell, somewhat
shorter, and the explosion of the shell renders
conhagration certain to great distance
Those are called, by those at work on them,
the secret gun But whatthe secret is lcould
not ascertain. Since the war rumors have
been observant of all and every thing that
could give me clue to the feelings OF the peo-
nle. This is not difficult to come at, for the
feeling is general and their confidence is so
great In their own strength that the most diff
dent speak only of the consequence and result.
In company with party of merchants, most
of whom were engaged in trade with England
I broached the war subject, and was astonish--
ed to find them so Indifferent about the con-
sequences. One of them, largely interested in
CLIPPER ships, in answer to remark OF NINE,
that he would have to lay up his clippers
s.Not a bit of it, said he, 'they will make
capital privateers; the government will furnish
guns of long range; no British man -of-war can
catch them except steamer, and they cannot
in a good breeze, SO we must take chances.
"But where will you get your men?" "Where!
! We have $4,000 enrolled fishermen who will
flood our seaports, and I will tell you candidly
that less than six months after war is declared
there will be 500 of the fastest vessels in the
world afloat as privateers, and an English mer-
chairman will not be able to show herself at
sea. What if we lose few, we will make it
IN in the end? Two steamers were launched
a few DAYS since, each about 1000 tons, built
in eight months, and it is just as easy to build
fifty in nearly the same time or less "But
your coasts are rot defended. Remember you
have no Sebastopol nor Cronstadt" "Nor do
we want any. We have few pretty forts, but
should any nation attempt an invasion, he will
meet them with hands and hearts equal to any,
superior to most; and we can concentrate at
least SOC, 900 men at any point on our coast
in a few days. Let the alarm be sounded at
this moment, and in few hours near sc, 900
men will make their appearance, armed and
equipped" This sounds like Dragging, but
it is fact. New York has near that number
enrolled and equipped; every man keeps his
rifle at home. l have frequently met with boys
of 12, with gun and game-bag starting at early
dawn for the woods, for here they can shoot
game wherever found. War is argued against
by every body as something to be avoided, but
the idea of backing out to avoid it does not ap~
pear to enter the mind of any body.
A THRILLING INc1DENr-The Pougbkeep
sic New York; Eagle gives an account of a
nights adventure of Mr.. Arvine Clark in a
wildernessin Potter county, Pennsylvania, dur
ing the past winter. 1t appears he lost his
way, travelled fdr hours, when, AS night set in.
he found himself eight miles from any settle
ment, surrounded by bears and wolves. One
of the former he shot dead in the Ozark as the
animal was about to spring upon him. His next
! SoISSeSd
dry materials, and loading his gun with pow
der, fred the charge into dry cotton hand
kerchief. 1t was failure. AS the gun was
discharged, another bear, apparently within
twenty feet of him, gave hideous and awful
roar that made Clark's hair stand on an end.
Bruin was terribly frightened by the discharge
of the gun, and hastily scampered, much to the
relief Clark, who now began to fully realize
the danger Of bis position.
Here he remained, not daring to fall asleep.
About O'Clock in the morning, to add to the
horrors of his situation, the yell of panther
was heard. The beast approached he came
nearer every few minutes-uttered screech
that froze the blood in his veins. AS last re-
sort to defend himself from the attack of the
savage animal, he reloaded his gun, puttingin
some three cent pieces and some stee pens (for
he had nothing else which he hoped might do
some execution The animal came SO near that
the glare of His eyes resembled two balls of
fro Clark every moment expected to receive