davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24
FATAL ACCIDENT.

'Sam. Brandon" a negro man, the pro-
perty of Col. H. l.. Robbards, was caught
under the wheels of the Eastern Train, Sun
day evening, at the depot in this place, and
so badly injured as to cause his death in
some 10 or II hours after the accident
Sam was a valuable boy, and extensively
known as waiter at the Rowan House.
Report says he was sin liquor and attempt
ed to leap across the track when the train
was within five or six feet of him. He was
tripped up by the 'cow- catcher" One leg
was crushed in most shocking manner,
and the foot of the other leg cut partly off.
We have heard it charged that the train
was running too fast. The accident was
witnessed by hundreds of persons then and
there present. By-the-way, there are al
ways such crowds at the depot on Sundays,
the wonder is that accidents have not fire.
quently occurred.-I Salisbury Watclman.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24
deserve, but shall achieve u noble victory
Respectfully yours,
GREENE G. BRONSON.
A. FRoMENT and J. Y. SAVAGE, Jr,
From the Albany Journal

But while Mr.. Buchanan is indebted to-
the madness and folly of Pierce. Doug!n,,
Gushing, &C., for his nomination., hc i.
scarcely less obnoxious to Republicans than
Gen. Pierce or Senator Douglas. 1t wNs<
simply his good fortune to be ont of this
embodiment. Had he been at homr, lac
would have been what he ever was, as rca-
dy and as plant a Kansas instrument as
was Gen. Cass. His whole public life hnS
been series of sacrifices to Party. He
was never true even to Pennsylvania, when
Party demanded the abandonment of her
interests. In Mr. Buchanan the South
would get just what Slavery had in Frank
lin Pierce. There is no difference or shade
Indifference in the DOughface tribe. Slave
ry, having used up Franklin Pierce, ia
passing Fugitive Slave Laws and Repeating
Missouri Compromises, requires a new maR
for its next aggressions. With Mr.. Buch-
anan, the past is a guaranty for the future
He would not disappoint them. They wiN
support him for reasons that impose upon
freemen the strongest and sternest obliga-
tions to oppose and defeat him.
james Buchanan, with his facile dispOSi-
ton, would be all that Franklin Pierce has
been on the subject of slavery. Even werc
he inclined otherwise, the predominant
power of the South in his party, would COM
pei him to take this character. His sup
port will come almost entirely from tho
slave holding States, and his whole public
existence will depend on submitting impli-
city to their demands. In accepting til
nomination, he accepts the sentiments of
the platform respecting treason and armed
resistance to the law in the territories" and
takes upon himself the work of carrying out
the persecution of the free State men, Just
as the task of prosecuting the christians de-
volved from one Roman emperor upon an
other. Franklin Pierce is to be in Office
only nine months more; and, dilgent as
may be the use made of him during that
time, it is hardly probable that will sufl c.
to consummate the business of making Kan
sas Slave State; even if it should, Nc
braska would still remain open to the same
system of operations. So far as regards
slavery, the succession under Mr.. Buchan-
an, would be just as truly a sequel of tho
present Presidential term, as would be u
second term of Franklin Pierce.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24
Total. $3.50, 900

An army of more than one million of men,
(adds that paper,) better soldiers than ever
paraded before the eyes of any European
monarch, would voluntarily buckle on their
armor for the defence of their country from
foreign aggression, onc-fourth of which
could sweep Canada like tornado, against
all the force England could concentrate to
oppose. Such force could not only be
raised. but it could be provisioned for any
length of time, so great are the resources of
this country. How idle then for the British
press to cajole their people with the idea
that the subjugation of America would be
but a kind of holiday work for their arms
We do not mean to speak disparagingly of
European soldiers, when we say that an
American army with military experience
would surpass any that Europe could pro-
duce.
They would carry into the conflict all the
courage and enthusiasm of the crusades,
and hardihood and power of endurance
peculiar to Americans, together with prac
teal sagacity and sound sense which would
soon make soldier fit for a General. Our
advice, then, to the noisy boosters of the
British press, would be Il cultivation of
spirit of Cancellation rather than hatred and
strife; and to our own people, to cultivate
the arts of peace, so lovely and congenial to
our institutions; but while so doing, never
to lose sight of our means of defence, that
that we may be always ready to resist aggres
sion from any quarter, and thus rerpetuate
the admiration of our Republican insttu-
tions, felt and expressed all over the civil
lied world Portland me- Argus.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
From the Charleston Evening News.
THE NOMINATION.

Mr.. Buchanan was not our choice for the
Presidency. We had other preferences
We had, we think, safe predictions. /
these had been gratifed, they would have
, better realized our standard for this high
office. But let this pass into oblivion with
other cherished and ungratifed aspirations
j We will acguicsce in the nomination as
member of the Democratic States Right.
party of which Mr.. Buchanan is certainly
an ornament. We shall be willing to judge
him ON his own merits, and not by his ante
, cedents or eur personal preferences. We
will endeavor TO give his measures the ben
eft of impartial consideration, and his mo-
tives that of charitable construction. AL
though chosen by mode which we never
have given and never can lend our sanction
that of political caucus-this shall not
disturb the rectitude of our Judgment.
Mr.. Buchanan in his career as legisla-
tor and administrator has been temperate
and cautious. He has had large exper-
ience. His mind has been sharpened by
the conflicts of debate. He has been train
ed in diplomacy. He has given proofs of
administrative ability. He therefore enters
on his functions with every favorable pre-
diliction on the score of moderation, saga
city, experience, all the endowment in short
that can confer practical statesmanship.-
But he assumes his lofty position in troub-
lous times. We are environed with diff
culsies and dangers, internal and external.
Democratic convulsion impends on one side.
Foreign complications appear to menace
our peace on the other. The Union seems
to hang by the slenderest of threads. Po-
litical passions threaten an extended border
war. Sectional strife is daily heaping fuel
on the already too combustibie materials.
European powers, England and Denmark.
These require more than common care and
skill for satisfactory settlement. Suppos-
ing all the pending unresolved questions
arranged, the web of public affairs is not
less tangled by the question of land appro-
priations for internal improvements, the
tariff, the naturalization laws, so that the
Chief Magistracy of the United States
seems surrounded with more peril to politi-
cal reputation and the cause of Republican
ism generally than has characterized that
position since the establishment of the gov
ernment. For not only are skill and deli
cacy, wisdom and moderation required in
arranging our international controversies,
but the rarest combination of frmness with
prudence within our domestic sphere. May
we not add that a comprehensive patriotism
which rejects alike sectional preferences
and party aims is demanded to arrest the
downward fortunes of the Republic.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24
From the New York Courier and Enquirer.

Mr.. Buchanan's endorsement of the Ne
braska-Kansas iniquity has met its reward,
and he is now the duly nominated candidate
of his party for the highest office in the gift
of the people. He stands purged of all re-
gret for the destruction of the Missouri
Compromise, and is the accepted champion
of the slavery propagandist. From the
start, he was the favorite of Virginia, the
most Jealous of the States for slavery-ex-
tension, and received it's unbroken vote in
every balloting. The same State which
four years ago had the honor of first pre-
senting Franklin Pierce in the Convention
and pressing him through to his final nomi-
nation, has now the honor of carrying James
Buchanan to the same position. Virginia
understands her man now quite as we'll as
she did then. Say what we may of the DO
liticians of that State in other respects, they
certainly have the faculty of discrimination.
they know the men who can and will serve
them, and you never hear of their being be-
trayed. Their selection of Franklin Pierce
excited no little surprise Mt first, both North
""N SoN'H' DuC "oS hoL his suDullSSlCH 10
Nirgnia's interests and sentiments justified
her sagacity in the choice of her instru-
ment! Who supposes that Virginia is not
now just as much devoted to the propaga-
ton of slavery she was then, or that she
considers it any the less necessary to have
a man in the Presidential Chair who shall
be subservient to her policy The tone
of her public press shows that she was never
more fanatical upon the subject of slavery
than at this very day. Can it be supposed
then that Virginia would have sent Frank
lin Pierce back to New Hampshire, had she
not known full well that another Franklin
Pierce was ready for her in Pennsylvania E?
Can it be imagined that she wishes to inau-
gurate different policy from that which
President Pierce has pursued? Wasitnot
a certainty that that policy would be con-
tinued which prompted her to give that aid
to Mr.. Buchanan which finally effected his
nomination? Mr.. Buchanan, in his speech.
es after his return from England, put him
self completely at the service of the South,
and his service is accepted. If elected
President, his task will simply be to follow
in the footsteps of his iilustrious predeces-
sor"
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24

OUR MEANS OF DEFENCE.

The question sometimes arises, whether,
in case of collision between England and
the United States, (Which we are gratifed
to see is not likely to occur,) America
could stand her hand" with her old moth
er, with whom she has twice already had u
quarrel which resulted in blows. The Lon
don Post states, in boastful strain, tha
in the event of war between the two coun-
tries, 1.-THE English Government could
throw fifty or even a hundred thousand men
into Canada" and one would suppose, who
credited the boast of this announcement,
that 1.-The British Navy could lay every town
and city on our coast under contribution in
forty eight hours; while sweeping from the
ocean our little navy, would be but the work
of day!'
Let us see how the matter stands on our
side of the line-what our means of defence
against this colossus, who could span the
earth with his huge legs. The number of
fighting men in this nation, or rather the
number who would fight in a just cause,
and for the honor and freedom of their coun-
try, between the ages of twenty and forty
five, all of whom are more or less accustom-
ed to the use of war-like implements. and
know something of military tactics, may be
seen by the following table, which we copy
from the Hallowell Gazette, and which, the
editor says, has been prepared with great
care by those familiar with accurate sta
tistics:
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24
ANOTHER DISCOVERY,

The London Morning Chronicle announ-
ces an important discovery. 1t is stated
that a great experiment twas recently tried
at Vincennes, in presence of Gen. Lahittee
and the officers of the fort. The secret of
compressing and governing electricity is at
length discovered, and that power may
therefore now be considered as the sole
motive henceforward to be used. A small
mortar was fired by the inventor at the rate
of one hundred shots minute-without
flash, smoke or noise. The same power
can, it seems. tie adapted to every system
of mechanical invention, and is destined to
supersede steam, requiring neither machi-
merry nor combustion. vessel propelled
by this power, is said to skim the water like
a bird and to fear neither storm nor hurri
cane. The inventor has already petitioned
for the line of steamers from L'Orient to
Norfolk, in the United States, which pas
sage he promises to accomplish in eight
and forty hours! Some may be disposed
to smile at the idea of a passage from Eu-
rope to this country :" in forty eight hours. :"
But such feat would not be near so won
derful as the triumphs of the Telegraph
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24
HON. DANIEL S. DICKINSON

At the great Democratic mass ratification
meeting held in Philadelphia on Tuesday
evening. the following telcgraphic dispatch,
received from Hon. Daniel S. Dickinson,
was read and received with great applause :
BINGHAMPTON, n. V, June 10, 1856.
Invitation too late for me to attend or
write. commend the Cincinnati nomina-
ton to the country as one fit to be made.
The Democracy and the whole conservative
element of the country will rejoice in the
selection of Mr.. Buchanan because he is a
statesman and not a political spokesman =
because he has capacity, learning and ex-
perience becoming the station; because his
name will guarantee respect and justice from
abroad, and insure domestic repose because
he has wisdom and integrity to maintain
inviolate the rights of sovereign States, and
preserve the constitutional Union. Mr..
breckenridge is a type of his glorious State
generous and powerful. In early maturi-
ty imbibed with the spirit of the times and
rcplete with promise. The success of this
ticket is what the country needs-what it is
destined TO enjoy, and what will restore it
to its true position at home and abroad
over sea and land.
DANIEL S. DICKINSON,
JOHN A. MARSHALL,
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24

SIGNIFICANT FACT.-We deem it worthy
of especial notice the fact that William Ell
liSOn, a colored man, and a resident of
Stateburg, in this district, contributed, the
other day, the sum of ore hundred dollars to
the funds of the Kansas association. Eli
son, once slave, but now a STAKEHOLDER,
has, entirely by his own industry, attained
his present state of prosperity, and, we
might say, wealth, he being the possessor
of large and productive cotton plantation.
We arc pleased to see such a manifestation,
from such an one, for such cause. The
example too, even from such source, is
worthy the imitation of those whose supe-
rior means and intellect render them not
only more able to give, but to discern more
clearly the necessity of giving literally to
this cause.-[ SmmpterriUe IS. CO. Watch-
mn
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24
NEW YORK, June II, 1856.

NEW YORK, June II, 1856.
GENTLEMEN:-Nothing could be bette r
than the action of the Cincinnati Conven-
ton, and my heart will be with the grea,
company which will assemble in the Park
this evening to respond to the nomination
of James Buchanan of Pennsylvania, and
John c. Breckenridge of Kentucky. We
have a platform as broad as the Union, and
candidates who are not only above reproach.
but eminently qualified for the stations
which they are to occupy. And besides,
the foundation has been laid for the cordial
re- union of all that is sound in the Demo-
cratic party, and the places of the few who
have gone over to the enemy will be much
more than filled by good citizens from other
quarters, who see nothing but danger to the
country in the movements of their former
associates, and are resolved to stand fast
by the Constitution. Let us hear no more
by way of reproach about ''Hards" and
''Softs,'' and former dissensions, but buckle
on our armour and contend 'nanfully for the
principles which lie at the foundation of the
national compact. We shall then not only
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24
ABOLITION

ABOLITION PHILANTHROPY.-Acc cording
to the Charleston Courier, Albert Sumner,
brother of the distinguished Senator fell
heir by the loss of relative on the ship
Pulaski, TO a considerable number of slaves
in South Carolina. They were set up for
sale-a likely man and his family were
among them. He purchased the man Sc
parate from the family because he sold
cheap, and then declined selling him to go
ed a handsome advance on what he had paid
for him.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24

A FREE-SoIL GovERNoR.-On the 5th
inst, Gov. Metcalf (Know Nothing) was
reelected Governor of New Hampshire
The next day he sent his annual message
to the Legislature. About one-third of
the document is devoted to the slavery
question. The Governor denounces the
repeal of the Missouri Compromise, the
Kansas outrage and the assault on Senator
Sumner, and attributes the uniform success
of the slave power to their unanimity on
that subject their constant threats of with
drawing from the Union, as well as to the
conpactness of their party ties.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24

THE Last LINK BROKEN.-Wo regret to
have to state, that the last link that bound the
present with the past history of this coun-
ty, is broken. Mrs. Susan Alexander, of
revolutionary memory, departed this life on
Thursday last, aged about 81 years. She
was, we believe, the only remaining relict of
the ''times that tried mems souls" and she
was always ready to converse on those stir
ring times; and at the close of life she ex-
hibitcd that the ''ruling passion was strong
in death, for her physician informed us that
she would frequently rouse up during her
last illness and commence relating some
exciting scene of those times. Knowing
that we all have to die, she had prepared for
the awful occasion and met her last enemy
with perfect composure. ReqnieScat IN
pace.-[ Charlotte (N CO. Wig.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24
Uetus of the Dan.
GETTING IN A BOX"

On Thursday morning last, our town was
the theatre of quite an amusing Incident
Early in the morning, respectable and ell
derly gentleman, who passed under the cog
nOmen of Coon FISHERMAN, arrived in town
with covered wagon in which were depo-
sited two boxes of rather suspicious appear
ance. After summoning several of the
town citizens to attend the display of his
merchandise, Coon drove down opposite the
Jail, stopped his horses, rolled out his box
es, and took out of one a live negro man.,
who had absconded from Mr.. Horah, of this
place, some weeks before. Out of the 9TH
er he took negro woman, the property of
Gen. Means, of Cabarrus, also a runaway.
In each box was deposited the staff of
life-bread, meat and water. Then came
the explanation. On the night previous,
while patrolling, FISHERMAN came across
these two negroes. They were engaged in
conversation, when discovered, relative to
their flight to free State. The negro man
was well armed and we'll provided with the
cash. Festerman came upon them and
proposed to aid them in their escape. To
this, both readily assented, and plans were
Immediately devised for the purpose of car
rying the agreement into execution. They
both were to be carefully boxed in the first
place, then be put into the wagon and con-
veyed to Salisbury in time to meet the train
going North; where they were to be put on
the cars and be transported with speed into
a land of freedom. True to his promise,
Festerman reached town before the train
but instead of going to the depot, he, unfor-
tunately for those who were in box al
ready, concluded that he would leave his
merchandise in the safe keeping of the
Sheriff of Rowan Salisbury Herald.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24

NORTH-CAROLINA IN THE NATIONAL
CoNvENTION.-We learn, from the Cinci-
natl Enquirer, that the following delegates
were in attendance from North Carolina -
w. s. Ashe, r. r. Heath, Bedford Brown
w. w. Avery, W. Sloan, j: T. Cranberry,
Milton Selby, WI. Yates. T. d. M'Dowell,
Burton Craige. T. L. Clingman. Fl. G. Will
liams, F. A Thornton, John Morrison, A.
J. Stafford, Jos. w. Neal, J. B. Gordon,
and Ivy F. Lewis. The Hon. Bedford
Brown was one of the Vice Presidents, and
Henry G.. Williams. Esq, of Nash, one OF
the Secretaries.-[R Raleigh Standard.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24

A NEGRO SUMNER MEETING.-A meet
ing of the negroes of the city of Williams
burg, New-Yo ork, was held on Monday even
ing, the 9th instant, to express their disap-
probation of the fogging recently given
Senator Sumner by Col. 2. S. Brooks.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24

ly The youngest member OF the present
Congress is the Hon: VIM. Cumoack' OF
Indiana, being only % years of age
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24

- Texas is said to have increased in
population during the last ten years at the
rate of about four hundred per cent.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24

E Col Preston Brooks, of ). C., served
gallantly in the Mexican war; where he had
a brother killed.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24

RECEPTION OF Ex-PREsIDENT FILL
MoRE.-The City Council of Philadelphia
on Thursday, granted the use of Indepen-
dence Hall for the reception of Ex-Presi-
dent Fillmore. The Democrats favored
the measure whilst the Know Nothings op-
posed it. 1t will be recollected that the
Know Nothings refused the hall to Mr.. Bu-
chanan.
The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24
FROM THE HON. G. c. BRONSON
JOHN A. MARSHALL,

Chairman Of Erecutire Committee.
Butte record., 1856-12-27

YANKEE "CHEEK."-The Sacramento
Times of Friday, contains the following ac-
count of the g last break" of Hiram Pear
son who has recently been on European
tour:
This renowned San Franciscan, who. the
last news tells US, squatted on the Pope's
Throne and paid handsomely therefor, forced
himself into the European Scientific Con-
gress, recently held at Vienna. He accom-
plished it thus, which on its face shows fraud,
for the reason that he never had such d.
ploma as is spoken of; but his fighting quail
tiles secured him admission. At Vienna he
applied to the proper authorities for permis-
sion to inspect the government buildings
He was refused on the ground that no one
but member of the European Congress of
then IN session in Vienna, could be
Thereupon he applied to be re-
ceived in the Congress as member, stating
that his diploma had been destroyed in the
great confagration in San Francisco. This
demand was complied with and he was treat
ed with the greatest consideration by all the
of the body, except the Archduke
Charles who took exception to his admission,
as he had no diploma Col Pearson. feeling
himself aggrieved at the manner in which
the Archdukes objections were made, chal-
lenged him whereupon the Archdukc de-
scended from his dignity. apologized, ex-
planned, and all was satisfactorily settled.
Col. Pearson was admitted to the chair Of
Surgery, and named Vice President of the
Congress.