davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15
HOW TO REACH THE HEART.

We have found throughout not very
long career, but very extended experience,
that kindness is the surest way to reach the
human heart, and that harshness is a north
ern frost, laden blast, hardening current
that should flow as merrily as brook in
spring. Kindness ''makes sunshine" wher-
ever it goes-it finds its way into hidden
chambers of the heart and brings forth gol-
den treasures harshness, on the contrary,
seals them up for ever. What does kind
ness do at home? 1t makes the mothers
lullaby sweeter than the song of the lark,
the care-laden brows of the father and the
man of business, less severe in their express
sion, and the children joyous without being
riotOus. Abroad, it assists the fallen, en-
courages the virtuous, and looks with truo
charity on the extremely unfortunate, those
in the broad way who perhaps had never
been taught that the narrow one was the
best, or had turned from it at the solicita-
ton of temptation. Kindness is the real
law Of life, the link that connects earth with
heaven, the true philosophers stone, for all
it touches it turns to virgin gold-the true
gold wherewith we purchase contentmcnt,
peace, and love.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.

The following proceedings were had at
the Democratic caucus held in Washington
on Saturday night:
A democratic caucus was held in the hall
Of the House. Mr.. Taylor Of Louisiana
opened tn, b Iii. He took no distinct ground.
Col Richardson then withdrew his name as
a candidate for Speaker, but it was not ac-
cepted by the caucus. Mr.. Cobb of Georgia
followed, and took decided ground in favor
of continuing ballotting until Speaker was
chosen. Stephens of Georgia also took the
same ground. Shorter of Alabama favored
taking new man, and urged them to sup
port Fuller. Cadwallader of Pennsylvania
was opposed to all fusion. Orr of South
Carolina was for standing by their nominee
and platform, and not surrendering one iota.
After considerable discussion, the follow
ing resolution was unanimously adopted:
RcsoLced, That we viii adhere to our
platform and nominee, that we recommend
that no Democratic member offer any pro-
position with reference to Speaker without
previous consultation in caucus, and that
the Chairman be requested to call them
together. After this they adjourned,
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

them securely fastened till Speaker is
elected unless they are opened for the pur-
pose of letting in absent members We
had ecclesiastical precedent for this in the
election of Pope to succeed Clement ",
in 1866. The Cardinals were for nearly
three years unable to agree on the choice
of a successor, and were on the point of
breaking up, when the magistrates of Rome,
by the advice Of Saint Benjamin, shut the
gates of the city, thus locking up the Car
dinals till they agreed.
He was not so much of a Know othing
as not to acknowledge the binding authority
of this precedent. If the resolution was
adopted he ventured to say the calls of
nature would be such, either for refresh
ment or otherwise, as to force the election
of Speaker within ten hours.
On the motion of Mr.. Boyce, the resolu-
ton was tabled.
Mr.. Walker, with the view of uniting the
conservative elements of the House, offered
resolution declaring Mr.. Boyce Speaker
regarding him as eminently qualified, and
as having taken no part in the Democratic
caucus. The "American'' party could not
carry out their wishes; therefore he was
inclined to surrender Mr.. Fuller solely for
the purpose of organizing.
Mr.. Galloway moved to substitute Mr..
Banks, and defended the ''Republicans"
from Mr.. Walkers charge of sectionalism
On the contrary, they are national, seeking
to carry out the cardinal principles of free
dom.
Mr.. Dunn appealed to the friends of Mr..
Banks to accommodate themselves to Cir
cumstances to secure some degree of har-
mony in all quarters. He suggested the
name of Mr.. Pennington for Speaker.
MIR. Sage moved to lay the resolution on
the table. Before the question was put
several gentlemen took occasion to define
their positions. The resolution was tabled
by vote of 141 to Is.
Mr.. Covode offered q resolution that from
and after Saturday night no member be
entitled to receive pay till Speaker is
elected.
AO A1OUoo IlIcA NOIcu anu HU-
journed.
In the House, January 4, Mr.. Boyce
made personal explanation. He thought,
and has frequently expressed the opinion,
that circumstances are at work which are
hurrying us almost irresistibly to disrup-
ton. With the most profound regret, he
saw great party formed in the North,
based on the single idea of hostility to the
South. which party holds that freedom is
national, and slavery sectional.
The Constitution recognizing slavery, and
the formation of that instrument being the
result of harmony, Cancellation and COM
promise. if that party shall obtain posses
sion of the Government, and he thought it
would, disunion would be the result. He
did not desire this-God forbid!
Mr.. Allison replied, saying that he had
no disposition to war on slavery in the
States, but he opposed its further extension.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15
RESULTS OF THE wAKEMAN
FANATICISM.

The most horrible murders that ever took
place in the State of Connecticut or per-
haps in the civilized world, was pcrpetrated
on Monday, in the town of Woodbridge, in
that State, about eight miles from the city
of New Haven. About l04 o'clock on
Monday, Mr.. Enoch Sperry, of Woodbridge,
left his home, and was proceeding through
a piece of woods near his house, with his
horse and sleigh, and, when near a little
brook, in a solitary part of the woods, was
attacked by a man named Charles Sanford,
and knocked down and most brutally mur-
dercd.
Sanford had an axe in his hand with which
he struck Mr.. Sperry over the right eye,
inhicting a fearful gash, and prostrating
him beside the road. He then struck him
again with the head of the axe upon the
back of his head, and then deliberately at
tempted to chop off his head, nearly sever
ing it from his body. The horse of Mr..
Sperry was allowed to pass on the road, and
after proceeding by the honse of Mr..
Samuel f. Perkins, halted at a shed near
by. Mr.. Perkins, thinking all was not
right, went in search of Mr.. Spcrry, and
found his body lying beside the road, with
every indication that he had been waylaid
and murdered.
In the evening the murderer was arrested
and taken to Jail, and confessed that he had
not only murdered Mr.. Sperry, but that he
had also murdered Mr.. IchabOd Umberfeld
who lived about mile east of Mr.. Sperry's
house.
1t seems that after numbering Mr.. Sperry,
he went to the house of Mr.. Umberfeld and
entered it, and while he (Mr. Umberfeld)
was sitting by the stove in the kitchen, he
struck him with the same axe with which he
murdered Mr.. Sperry, and after breaking
his skull, nearly severed his head from his
body. The family set up the cry of MUIR
der" but he told them to stop their noise,
or he would chop their heads off also. He
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

A GREAT SHIP.-The following arc some
particulars about the enormous iron steam
ship now in course of construction on the
Thames. Her whole length is ga feet
breadth of beam sc feet; diameter of pad
die wheele 12l feet depth of hold 20 feet
depth of paddle wheels So feet; diameter of
screw Al feet There will be 5 tunnels and
Z masts-two of the latter being square-rig-
ged. The nominal horsepower will be g.,
600, but it will work up to from 5000 to 10 =
600. Her measurement will be 23,64O tons.
1t is expected that her crew will number
from $50 to 800 men, including II officers.
She will have accommodations for 10000
persons, including 1000 first-class passen-
gers; or, if used as a transport, she can
carry $4,000 troops and 5000 horses. She
is expected to run at the rate of 16 miles
an hour.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

Do GooD.-Thousands of men breathe,
move and ive--pass off the stage of life,
and are heard of no more. Why! They
did not a particle of good in the world and
none were blessed by them none could
point to them as the instruments of their
redemption; not a word they spoke to be re-
called, and so they perished; their light
went out in darkness, and they were not
remembered more than the insects of yes
terday. VIII You thus live and die, o man
immortal! Live for something. Do good,
and leave behind you a monument of virtue
that the storm Of time can never destroy.
Write your name in kindness, love and
mercy, on the hearts of thousands you come
in contact with year by year, and you will
never be forgotten. No, your name, your
deeds, will be as legible on the hearts you
leave behind, as the stars on the brow of
evening. Good deeds will shine as the stars
of Heaven.-Dr. Chalmers.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15
GENTLE WORDS.
BY LYDIA y. WHITE.

s&ns BY LYDIA T.. WHITE.
They fall upon the weary ear,
Like dew-drops on the flower,
And chase away the rising fear,
And cheer the lonely hour,
They waken hopes in blighted hearts,
And bid them live again, -
And ward away the cruel dart
OF deep designing men.
They fall upon the wanderers ear;
Like music rom on high,
And wipe away the bitter tear,
And stay the choking sigh;
They strew the darksome ways of lifo
With flowers that never fade,
And smooth the rugged paths of strife,
And light its drcary shade.
Their value greater is by far
Than oceans rarest gem,
And richer than the richest star
In Monarch's diadcm.
They bring to mind the days of yore,
When we We're young and gay,
Ere we the badge of sorrow wore.
Or felt our strength decay.
They cheer us as we journey on
Through this strange world of blight,
And gild with hope the rising dawn,
And light the shades of night.
They point us to a land of love,
Where we shall droop no more.
Where we, like ancient Noah's dove,
Shall find peaceful shore
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

Corn MEAL PUDDING WITHOUT EGGS.
Take six tablespoonful of meal, and stir
molasses enough in it to have the meal all
wet, and no more; that will sweeten it
enough; then take one quart o. milk and
boil it; pour it OH the meal boiling hot; STIR
the meal while pouring the milk on it, so as
not to have it lumpy; stir III three table
spoonsful of wheat flour; wet with little
cold milk; salt it, and bake two hours; add
spices, if you like. This viii make an ex-
cel,ent pudding - Rural New Yorker,
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

DREADFUL RAILROAD ACCIDENT.-On
the 31st ult., a passenger train on the Penn
sylvania and Ohio Rail Road, near Pittsburg,
came in collision with freight train coming
east, at Darlington Summit. The freight
train was out of time, and the conductor
was probably endeavoring to reach switch
within short distance. The collision oc-
CURED on heavy curve, and both trains
were under full headway, consequently the
locomotives and some of the cars were
smashed to atoms. Four persons were
killed, namely, Mr.. Stokes, agent of the
Newcastle and Erie Stage Company man
named Johnston, brother of the Enon VAL
ley Hotel, an Irishman and another, whose
names have not been ascertained. About
sixteen were more Or less injured. The en-
gineer of the passenger train was badly hurt
in the back, and the fireman had one arm
shattered. The accident was caused by the
watch of the conductor of the freight train
being three-quarters of an hour too slow.
A BLOW-UP.-At Columbus, Ohio, q
party of Germans were throwing fire crack
ers about in sport in a grocery on Friend
street, on Christmas day, when one of the
crackers fell into keg of powder standing
near the counter. The explosion of the
powder blew the house apart, letting the up
per floor down upon the inmates in the gro
Gerry. The barrels in the room, however,
supported it, and the men, singular to relate,
escaped with but slight injuries.
Destructive FIRE.-We learn from the
Charleston Courier, that a fire occurred
about A. NJ, on Sunday morning, in a
large warehouse on Commercial Wharf,
which contained about 600 bales of long
cotton, as we learn from the wharhngers
and book keeper of the wharf, and some of
the best grades. The cotton was chiefly
stored on the second floor, and about 100
were saved. 80 or 40 barrels of rice were
also consumed. The loss is variously esti-
mated at $4,000 a $4,000, and by some
at still larger sum.
A COLLEGE BURNT.--The Cherokee
Baptist College, at Cassville, (Ga.) was en-
tirely destroyed by fire on the 4th instant.
The building was new one, not quite fin
ished, and had cost the subscribers about
$4,000.
TAKING TINE BY THE FORELOCK.--Jacob
Mercer, under sentence of death at Colum
bus, Ga, committed suicide on Thursday,
by taking landanum. furnished by his wife.
He was to have been hung on Friday.
Loss OF AN ELEPHANT.-The steamship
Robert Swan, which arrived at Charleston,
from Baltimore, on Monday the 9TH instant,
experienced heavy gales on the passage,
and was compelled to put into Norfolk to
reft. She left Norfolk on Friday, and a.
gain encountered q gale which continued
up to Saturday evening. She had on board
four or five elephants, belonging to the Man
agerie of Robson and Eldred which were
greatly distressed by the rough weather,
and the rolling of the ship; and one of them,
a celebrated animal, known as Montezuma,
on Saturday became very violent and un-
and about midnight fell over
board, when thirty miles from land, and
was lost. He was valued at $4,000, and we
believe was insured.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

BEAUTIFUL PHENOMENoN.-Yes Yesterday
morning, says the Council Bluffs Bugle ofthe
18th, whilst the mercury in the thermometer
was down to zero, a most beautiful phenom-
enon might have been seen in the heavens.
The sun rose bright, bringing with it two
beautiful cOunterparts, or mock suns, with
a bright inverted bow extended above. One
could scarcely tell only from their position
which was the true sun; not cloud was to
be seen through the day so cold, howev-
er, that the snow was not affected by the
same
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

SOMETHING NEw.-A late number of the
Collegiate Mirror, published at Holly
Springs, Miss, announces that the honora-
" degree of mistress of Arts" has been
conferred upon Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Sigour-
ney, and publishes the letters of acknow-
iedgement written by these ladies.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

DEATH OF ROTHsCHILD.-A letter from
Vienna announces the death of the eldest
brother of the house of Rothschild, on the
9th ult. Of the five brothers, there remains
now only james, the chief of the house in
Paris Baron Anselm, the one lately de-
ceased, was looked upon as the great fnan-
cial Rothschild power, and, though possess
ed of less cultivation and education than
his brothers, was decided genius in money
matters he died childless and has left to
the house a fortune of 30,OOO,OO0 guilders,
(Sl2, ,OOO,OOG.)
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

ODD-FELLOw SOLEMNITIES.--On Sunday
last, the members of Old Dominion Lodge,
No. 5, I. O. O. F., and Wilde Encampment,
No. 3, Portsmouth, Va, assisted by Wash
ignton, Lafayette and Harmony Lodges,
and Jerusalem and Social Encampments, of
Norfolk, Va, paid the last sad tribute of
respect to twenty-scven members of Old
Dominion Lodge, who fell victims to the
late yellow fever epidemic, by apublic pro-
cession and funeral address. The cere-
monies were all highly appropriate, and con-
Quoted with due sOlemnity.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

went out of the house to wipe the blood off
his axe upon the snow, and while he was
out the family fastened the door and pre-
vented his getting in again.
He then went into the woods; but was
soon pursued by several neighbors, who sue
ceeded in arresting him after bloody fight,
in which Mr.. Lucius Doolittle came near
getting killed.
This Charles Sanford is fanatic, who
has formerly attended the meetings of the
Wakemanites in Hampden.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

The WAKEMANITEs.-T tribe of de-
luded fanatics, now in Jail, spend much of
their time in the worship peculiar to them
selves, and seem to regard the whole affair
of imprisonment as persecution for righ-
teousness sake-and the old woman keeps
up her pretended revelations from Heaven.
1t seems she has been for many years car
rying Oh her nonsense. A gentleman writes
us from Fairfield, that as long ago as 1882,
when living in that town, she pretended TO
be 'sa prophecies" and went from house to
house preaching and proselyting. At that
time she charged her husband with being
the man of sin, and with ''bewitching" all
the invalids in that region! and under this
delusiOn, she mustered company of fana-
tics, who seized and bound him, when she
made an unnatural and highly criminal as
sault upon him with knife, inflicting dan
gerous wounds. The assault might have
proved fatal, had not some of her disciples
become alamed, and put stop to the pro-
ceedings. 1t is probable that her mission
for mischief is about fulfilled NeaO Havem
Register.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

TIE TABLES TURNED ON SpIRITUALIsM.
A Columbus (OhiO) paper states that
Professor Spencer has recently excited a
great sensation in Cincinnati, with his Won
derful developments of the phenomena con-
nected with this mystery. He claims that
all this can be accounted for on scientific
and philosophical principles, without refer
ence to spirits at all. Professor Spencer
performs all his experiments with persons
from the audience, who are sceptics, as well
as himself.
He makes the tables tip and dance about
answer questions, spell the names of the
spirits invoked, and in short, do all that any
medium can do. He denies that tables
ever move without contact, and offered
$1,000 in Cincinnati to any one who could
move n table. The nffer was accepted. and
the medium failed before an audience of
two thousand persons.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15
QUARTERLY AND HALF-YEARLY ADVERTISING
Inserted according 10 agrecment.

80 Marriage and Obituary notices not cX-
cccdimg 10 lines in length, inserted gratis.
- Tributes of Respect, and Benevolent
Societies, charged half the advertising rates
80 For announcing Candidates for office,
@3 in advance
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

DEATH OF AN EDITOR.-Wm. NJ. Over
ton, Esq, formerly connected with the
Washington Union, and more recently one
of the editors of the Washington Sentinel,
died on Tuesday morning, in Williamsburg,
at the residence of Col. Robt. McCandlish,
his father-in-law. Mr.. 0. had been, for
some time, in a declining state of health,
and the sad event of his death was not un-
expected.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15
THE
40 O.
S8estern G9emoerat
Published every Tuesday
Containing the latest News, full and accu-
rate Report of the Markets, &c.
TERMS

For the year, if paid in advance 50 90
If paid within six months, ,---- 30
If paid after the expiration of the year, OO
!-g-Any person sending US five "eV sub
scribcrS, accompanied by the advance sub
scription (SI0) will receive a sixth copy gra-
til for one year.
a Subscribers and others who may wish
To send mopcy to Us, can do 50 by mail, at
our risk.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

Quick SALEs.-Mrs.A Anna Cora Ritchie's
(wife of the Editor of the Richmond Enquir-
er) new work, ''Nlimic Life it is stated,
has sold at the rate of thousand copies q
day, for the ten days it has been in the
market.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

D1sTREssING.-Dr VIM. A. Harding, a
member of the Legislature of Virginia, from
Northumberland and Lancaster counties,
died suddenly on the 4th instant, from the
effects of dose of morphine, taken through
mistake for citrate of magncsia. He occu-
pied rooms at the Powhatan House.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

DRUNKENNESS IN New YoRK.-The sta
tistics of the New York city prisons show
vember Both. the total number of commit
ments for intoxication was 12,418, of which
1928 were made under the prohibitory act,
and $500 under the old law.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

A RICH FARMER.-A large portion of
the rich valley of Gentsee, in New York
State, is owned by James Wordsworth. He
owns 5000 acres in one own, as many more
in Genesee, about 6,OOOmore in the adjoin-
ing town of Rush, 5,O00or 5000 in the town
of Caledonia, and a great many thousands
in other towns and counties. His landed
possessions exceed $1,000 acres; it is near
ly all good land-the best in the State, and
constantly increases il value.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

NORTH CAROLINA BANKs.-The Will
mingtor Herald says: The Banks of this
town refuse to receive at their counters, the
notes of other Banks, in or out of the State,
of less denomination than Three Dollars.
This is in compliance with the law on the
subject as contained in the new Revised
Code, which went into effect on the 1st in
Stant.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

CALIFORNIA GoLD.-The total amount
of treasure landed at New York during the
past year from California, has been upwards
of forty -one and half millions of dollars,
of which nearly twentynine millions was
brought by the mail steamers via Panama,
and nearly thirteen millions came by the
Nicaragua route.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

TAKING TINE BY THE FoRELOCK.--Jacob
Mercer, under sentence Of death at Column
bus, Ca, committed suicide on Thursday,
by taking landannm. furnished by his wife
He was to have been hung on Friday.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

SALE OF NEGRoEs.-Messrs. Pulliam &
Davis of Richmond, Va, on the 18th day of
January, sold 33 negroes, amounting to
$27,733, being an average of fraction
over $840 each. This sale consisted of
men, women and children.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

OPPOSED TO IT.-The subject of closing
the coffee houses and theatres on Sunday
has for some time been before the City
Council of New Orleans. The committee
to whom the memorial was referred have at
length reported adverse to the measure.
There are in New Orleans $500 grog-
shops to population of 9O0O0-that is, one
grogshop to every twenty-nine persons.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

A GRAND HORSE SIoW.-There is to be
a grand horse show al Louisville, KY, next
spring, under the auspices of the Southwes-
tern Agricultural and Mechanical Associa-
ton. The exhibitionis to begin on Tues
day, the 18th of May, and will continue
ulrre1 days. On friday following the close
of the fair, the first regular auction sale of
stock, &c, is to take place at the fair
grounds.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

Professional and business Cards, not ! : M
exceeding six lines-pcr annum,
Similar Cards of ~ lines, per year, 9 90
One square, renewable cvcry:3 weeks, Is 90
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

A COLLEGE BURNT.--The Cherokee
Baptist College, at Cassville, (Ga.) was en-
tirely destroyed by fire on the 4th instant.
The building was a new one, not quite fin
ished, and had cost the subscribers about
$4,000.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15

SOMETHING NEw.-A gentleman by the
name of Lucas, in Demopolis, Alabama, has
recently obtained verdict of $1,000 against
Miss Lucinda Meiggs, for breach of promise
of marriage.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-15
ADVERTISING.

One square or less, first insertion, --- 81 OO
Each additional week, ---.-.- -