Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-03-12
Washington, Feb. 90.

W dSuIlStOns LOD- ZJ.
SENArE.-The President sent in the doeu-
ments relative to the offer of arbitration in
the construction of the Clayton Bulwer trea-
ty, by which it appears that no formal prop
osition had been made to AIF: Buchanan as
this gentleman had only to regret, but was
as a mere conversation with the Earl Clar-
endon. A debate that Showed thorough
knowledge ensued.
1t appears also from documents which have
been laid before the Senate, that MIR. Cramp-
ton had submitted to Mr.. Marcy on We'd
nesday evening last a proposition for arbri-
tration. This is alleged to have been in his
possession since Nov'r. The documents were
ordered to be printed and the Senate adj
journed.
WASHINGTON, March 6.-Mr. Brown in
trodueed a bill for the construction of a rail
way and telegraphic line from some point on
the Mississippi River south Of latitude 80
to the Pacific at San Francisco, and provi-
ding that Congress shall grant about forty
millions acres of land for which the company
shall pay fifty cents per acre before obtain
ing the title, and requiring them to deposite
half a million Of dollars for security that
they will faithfully carry OUT the work ac-
eorfing to provisions of the bill A hundred
miles ofroad must be completed within Is
months, the government to pay $500 per mile
for carrying the mail un1Asths fH<d is fin
lshcd and ten years thereafter, and such rea-
sonable sun as the Secretary of war may
determine for carrying troops, munitions of
war, &c, &c. The road shall be forfeited
II not built within ten years, all lads except
those paid for to revert to the United States.
The bill grants the right of way four hun
dred yards wide, gives no exclusive privilege,
but allows any Company to construct roads
when and where they please, and obtain such
favors from the Government as they can. 1t
was referred to committee on pacific Rail-
road. Mr. Weller said he will endeavor to
report next week. The Fertilization Bill
was considered and passed. The Senate then
adjourned.
IIoUsE.-The Speaker submitted n commu-
n~ieation from the Court of Claims enclosing
bills making appropriations for the payment
o certain private claims, together with the
evidence and judgment of the Court. This
being the first case Of the kind, a debate took
place as to whether 1t should be referred to
the Committee on Claims or not. No deci-
sion.
The Military Academy and Invalid Pen
sion bills wese passed.
The Kansas election case was discussed
which the House adjourned.
THE SOUTHAMPTON TRAGEDY.-The Peters
burg Express cont lins the testimony Of wit
nesses taking before Justices of the Peace,
atthe examination Of Calhoun Barrett, charged
with killing Capt. Newsom. According to
the evidence, Capt. Newsom provoked his
own doom. Mr.. Barrett pursued the only
course that was left him, as an honorable
man and in defence Of his own life.
s The Post Master writing from Blu
ena Vista, Duplin CO., says: There is not
a newspaper published North of Mason's
and Dixon's line that is taken at this office
Very good. If the south would generally
ADOPT that principle, the North would soon
get the wiser by it. But strange to say,
those very men that now most dolefully about
Northern Abolitionism are neglecting to en-
courage Southera literature. and giving their
patronage to Northern publishers.
Clinton L~2Gpendent.
Tho Louisville Gmm Axinx
business that will InsOfN TIfe,
the greatest amount Of leisure 80, there is
nothing more certain than farming. If he
has an independent turn Of mind. let him be
a farmer. Ii he wants to engage in a heal
thy occupation, let him till the soil. In short,
if be would be independent, let him get a
spot Of earth, keep within his means; be
temperate, to avoid the doctor be honest,
that he may have a clear conscience improve
the soil, so as to leave the world better than
be found it, and then if he can not live hap
ply and die contented, there is no hope for
him.
The DISTANCE OF THE Sun F~RoNTHEEARTH
INCREAsING.-The German journals have
given some tables which prove that the dis
lance between the earth and the sun is in
, creaslng annually, and argue from it thatth
| increasing humidity ofour summers and the
> loss offertility by the earth, are to be attri,
buted solely to this circumstance.
In the course of six thousand years from
the present time, they assume that the dis
: lance will be so great that only an eighth
| part Of the warmth we now enjoy from the
sun, will be communicated to the earth, and
1t will then be covered with ice In the sauna
manner us we now see the plains Of the North
: where the elephant formerly lived, and hav,
: neither spring nor autumn.
. No credit has heretofore been given to ira
: ditlons of the ancient Egyptians and Chinese
: according to which the people formerly sale
the suns disc was almost four times as larg
: as we now see it, for they estimated the ap
parent diameter OF the sun as double Of wha
;, it is seen in our day. If however, we pay
, attention to the continued diminuti0n of tht
, apparent diameter Of the sun, according Il
the best observation Of several centuries, W,
must suppose that the a~ncieats were not mis-
e taken in the estimates they have transmitted
h to US.
PHILADELPHIA, March The extensiy
Cotton mills of Mr.. Kelly, at Darby, Pa
n was destroyed by fire yesterday morning
k The loss is estimated at over $780, 900. TIL
insurance is abnut $50, 600. Nearly 40
: hands have been thrown out of employment
Il by this calamity.
DEsPRATE AND FATAL DUEL IN GkoRGIA.-
The Rene Geo. Courier has an account o
Y a duel lately fought near Dallas, Paudlin
county. The party were Wiley Jones an
VIM. Bane, relatives. They fought wit
: rifles and fired three times. At the first she
a part Of Jones' left ear was shot off. Tn
u parties not being satiffed, they reloaded an
fred, a part ofJones' right ear-lock being Gu
&c off with the ball Of his antagonist. The
were still not satisfed-loaded again and E
red, Bane's ball passing though Jones' ha
Just above his head. Jones then made at hi
antagonist with his rife, and attempted t
y knock him down with it, but Bane got tn
e, advantage, knocked him down and beat b
re brains out, and fled unhurt. Jones died in
IN mediately, and up to latest accounts Bane ha
!. not been arrested.
Hoilowav's Ointment and Pills have efe
ted another Wonderful Cure of Sore Legs
ne Anthony Harrison Scard, of Martinsbur,
Virginia, was a sufferer for twenty-eigE
voarS from sore ipoS so had aft times th.