Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-03-25

late with regard to the Territories until they shall
apply for admission into the Union States. The
laws must be ''neediu" and are left to legislative
discretion. There are two classes of acts; and 10
eight distinct instances, beginning with the First
Congress and coming down to 1648, Congress has
excluded slavery from the Territories and there are
six distinct instances in which Congress has organ
lied governments for Territories, and recognised
slavery, and continued it therein also, beginning
with the First Congress and coming down to 1922
These acts signed by seven Presidents, coming
Adams, thus including all those who were in public
life when the constitution was adopted. This should
have much weight on the question of construction,
and it would be difficult to resist the force OF the
acts to which reference made. His opinion
was the decision of the circuit court for Missouri
should be reversed, and the cause remanded ior
new trial.
Messrs Wayne, Daniel Grer, and Campbell had
also prepared papers cx pressive Of their views on
particular points, but they were not read
The court adjourned to the day fixed by law.
How Dporru BENEFITS THE So1L.-That a season
of extreme drouth-so often occurring and so nJu-
rious to our summer crops-should still prove bene-
fetal to the SOIL seems strange, but chemical science
shows us that drouths one OF the material causes
restore the constituents OF crops and renovate cu
tvated soils Prof. Higgins remarks upon this sub
iect to some extent in the Maryland State Transac-
tons; we condense therefrom the main portions Of
this article.
Mineral matter is taken from the soil by the crops
grown upon it, and also carried away by the sur
face water flowing into streams, and thence carried
to the sea. These two causes, always in operation,
unless counteracted by other influences, would in
time render the earth barren waste. The dimi.
mutton which arises from the first cause is in part
restored by manures. but not in all cases. and Prov
idence has provided way of its own to supply lost
IF Dls
At intervals drouths occur to bring up from the deep
parts of tine earth food for the of plants when
the rains shall again fall.
The manner in which drouths exercise their bene-
fetal influence is as follows: During dry weather,
continual evaporation of water takes place from the
surface of the earth, which is not supplied by any
from the clouds The evaporation from the surface
creates vacuum, las far the water is concerned)
which is at filled by water rising up from the
substitute water from the subsoil is replaced Fl ON
the next below-and in this manner the circulation
of water in the earth is the reverse of that which
takes place in wet weather. This progress to the
surface of the water in the earth manifests itself
strikingy in the drying up Of springs and wells and
streams which are supported by springs.
1t is not, however, only the water which is brought
to the surface Of the Garth, but also all the
holds in solution. These substances salts of
lime and magnesa, of potash and soda, and indeed
whatever the subsoil or top strata of the earth may
contain. The water, on reaching the surface, is
evaporated and leaves behind, in the SOIL its min
eral salts-the chief Of which are: lime magnesia,
phosphate Of lime, su!phae Of lime. carbonate and
silicate of potash and soda, and also common salt
all indispensable to the growth of the vegetable pro-
ducts of the farm Pure rain-water, it falls will
dissolve but very small portion of some Of these
substances; but when it sinks into the earth it then
becomes strongly imbued with carbonic acid from
the decomposition Of vegetable matter in the soil,
and thus acquires the property of readily dSsolvng
minerals, on which it before could have very little
influence.
Several experiments tried by Prof II. 60 to show
this action of drouth in bringing matters to the
face Of the soil. In he placed solution of
chlorine of barium in the bottom Of glass cylinder,
and then filled it with dry soil. After long exposure
to the rays Of the the surface Of the soil was
tested with sulphurc acid and gave copious plccip.
itate of suphate of baryta. Chlorine Of lime, SUI
plate of soda and carbonate of potash expert
mented upon in like manner, and upon the appllca-
ton of proper tests the surface Of the soil showed
their presence in large quantities, drawn up by the
rising Of water from underneath, as in the case of
drouth
The parched earth-every green thing dwarfed in
growth withered by long continued heat-seems
suffering under affective dispcnsation of Prov
dcnce; yet we should not murrnur; it is blessing
in disguise. The early and the latter rain may pro-
duce at once abundant crops but dry weather is
needed to bring to the surface food for future harv-
ests from the depth Of the EARTH where else it would
be forever unemployed. 1t is needed means of
keeping up the fertility of the cultivated soil.
Moor's Rural Ne,c Yorker