The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-04-09
War cossrIrurrs DEaoeaAcr?- -Thisques-

Wu.r lossr1TurEs DEMoeRAcY? 1hisques
,;on which has exercised the faculties OF the
hest intellects, north and south, ever since the
adoption of the Virginia resolutions of 1898 99,
| i about 10 be settled judically; and therefore
there will be no need, on the part of the faithful,
t. attempt to solve theriddle by wading through
/ the platform Of j 852, or the more recent ema-
i nations of political netaphysicians. the edl-
| tor referred to in the subjoined paragraph
i should succeed in recovering the subscription
/ claimed from his refractory patron, then the
| files Of the Alton Expounder will hereafter be
the text book for the democracy. and stereo-
tvned copies will be in great demand:
| ..The courts of Illinois have for decision the
most perplexing question that ever puzzled the
| brain Of i Judge. The question is: What con-
stitutes democracy The question origina-
ted thus: A democrat at Alton subscribed s25
| 10 sustain democratic paper, but afterwards
refused to pay his subscription because the edi-
tors views Of democracy did not coincide with
his own. The editor sued for his money. Sew
| eral prominent democrats were called to the
stand, but the testimony as to what democracy
lis was decidedly homogeneous and conflicting.
The Justice decided in favor of the editor, but
the subscriber took appeal to higher court,
and a rich time is expected in taking testimony
on the main question The only way to get at
Just decision of the difficult problem is to
summon Mr. John Van Buren, and some dis
tinguished southern politician II they are not
| competent to define democracy as it is in the
| year 1856, the courts will be obliged to give
| up the case as insolvable.'
WoS'T SUPPORT P1ERcE.-The st. Louis De-
mocrat of the 1st inst, has taken grounds in
advance against the reelection of gen. Pierce.
Being called upon by the Republican to define
his position, the editor after stating that if the
State and national conventions put forth sound
platforms, and If the men selected are worthy
to carry out the principles Of the party, he will
support them, goes on to say:
IF it shall turn out otherwise, however,
then we venture to say that neither the Demo
crat nor the democratic party, will repose any
confidence in the one or the other. But the
Republican asks if we will sustain Sterling
Price or gen. Pierce, if either of them become
candidates for the suffrage of the people. To
this we reply-No! Sterling Price has fore
sworn his party allegiance and joined the know
nothing order-he has played false to all who
have trusted him-he is even now Waging a
deadly war against our railroads, and every
scheme of internal improvement in the State.
President Pierce too has violated the very first
principle of the democratic platform of 1852,
the non-agtation of the slavery question-has
filed the Offices of government with the minions
of the plumber league at Westinghouse veto
ed the river and harbor bill for the improve
ment of western waters, and descended SO low
I.nkc
at our landing, to prevent future appropria-
TONS
A few days since we published an instance
of spontaneous combustion Of cotton seed and
consequent loss ofconsderable property BY fire.
A friendahas since handed us letter from col.
Groce, Wfitten from his plantation on the 10th
ult., in which he says, came near having my
gin, mill and thirty or forty bales of cotton
burntup, a few days since, by the pile Of cot
ton seed that had been thrown out, taking FIRE,
in consequence Of being over-heated. Fortu
nately, some hands, who were working near
by, discovered the smoke and gave the alarm.
Mr.. Lamotte FASTENED to the spot with all his
force; and with hoes and water they succeed
ed in putting out the fire, but not without the
greatest difficulty. They labored from A. NJ
till P. NJ. before the flames were subdued.-
Mr.. L. deserves much credit for his great exer-
tons. Would it not be well to have planters
put upon their guard against the great risk
they run, in permitting large heaps Of green
cotton seed to accumulate around their gins9
There is, indeed, no doubt that many of the
fires, by which cotton gins and large amounts
Of cotton are frequently consumed, originate
from the seed. Zeal News.
WINTER IN Kansas correspondent of
the St. Louis Republican writing from White
bead, Kansas, under date 18th Of February, de-
scrlbes the winter as having been very severe
throughout the territory. The whole face of |
the earth was covered with snow to the depth I
OF eighteen inches, and the thermometer for
several weeks had ranged from 10 to 80 de- I
grees below zero. In one instance the mercury I
concealed within and burst the bulb Several T
persons in the low lands have been frozen to
death. Three deaths occurred in Burr Oak bot
tom from the same cause. The prairies pre-
scented the appearance Of a frozen sea- A few
persons had arrived from the mountains with 1
reports of great suffering among the Indians,
many Of whom had been frozen. The Buffa- 1
loes had gathered by millions in the valley Of /
the Platte, and beavers and muskrats were
building their houses high up in the banks. "A
great flood was expected
NOVEL DEcIs1os.-Ju Judge Gould, at the late
session Of the Ulster county court, rendered
decision of some consequence to females in the
thieving line. In the case of John and Catha-
rine Joy, who were sentenced by police JUS
tee at Hurley to three months Imprisonment,
Of which the larger part had expired, for petit
larceny, the judge ruled that a married woman
committing theft or other crime. in the pre-
sence of her husband, is not to be considered
a party to the offence The husband having
authority over the actions Of his wife, is alone
and a magistrate committing a
woman under such circumstance is liable to an
action for false imprisonment. IF a woman so
outraged should bring an appeal before him .
for justice, he would instruct the jury that they
should accord her the fullest measure Of dam
ages. OsWego journal.
The downward eorse Of Mr. Wilmot, as a
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