The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-05-27
southern Commercial Convention.

Southern Commercial Convention.
This body, which assembled in Montgomery
Ala, on the 10th inst, adjourned on the l4th
to reassemble in Vicksburg in May of mex
year. The resolutions in relation to reopenine
the slave trade were laid upon the table, as
were also resolutions calling upon the Govern.
ors OF the Southern States to appoint delegates
to Convention to take into consideration "the
present critical position of the South, and the
dangers that threaten her in the future, and TO
endeavor to devise, if possible, effectual safe.
guards ter her future security and equality in
the Union, or, failing in that, to go out of it."
The Convention, therefore, if it did nothing
very sensible or practical, refused to perpetrate
some uncalled for, if not foolish, acts.
POttsrille, Pa, My 22-For several DAYS
there has been much trouble among the miners
of the Ashland coal district, near this place.
The workmen struck for higher wages last
week, alleging that, at the rates received, they
could not support their families As their en-
ployers refused to make any concessions, the
miners went of in body to their collieries to
obtain higher wages, or compel the workmen
to make the strike general one. They visited
Vaudeville and the collieries in that vicinity,
and by threats and persuasions induced the
miners to join them. Yesterday, the mob, now
grown quite formidable, appeared at st. Clair,
and by their violent demonstrations stopped
operations at Mines, johns, Snyder's, and
other collieries. The sheriff's deputy was on
the ground, but was unable to make any arrests,
in consequence of the strength of the rioters.
A strong force was despatched from Pottsville
this morning, to suppress the disorder, arrest
the principals in the riot, and protect those
men who wish to 60 to work. The sheriff of
, Schuylkill comfy made requisition upon the
military, and the first regiment of volunteers,
under the command of Col. johnson, left for
st. Clair at an early hour this morning.
SECOND DISPATCH.
Pottsoille, May 22.-The military have re.
tarned, bringing with them the ringleaders of
the riot. Upon the appearance of the soldiers
at the scene of disturbance, the rioters saw
that resistance was hopeless, and submitted i'm.
mediately. Quiet has been restored.
Near Dover, Del, an ARRAY occurred be.
tween James Richards and his wife, (colored, !
which resulted in the death of the former. The
woman is sister to Wesley Anderson, who was
recently convicted of murder in the second de-
gree. This makes the third homicide commit
ted by members of that family. Three years
ago, brother to Wesley and this woman killed
q negro at Spring Branch camp, but made good
his escape.
Judge Blackstone, whose Commentaries are
the most popular law books ever written, left
behind him, in manuscript, work on archi
lecture. 1t was written when the Judge was
young, but has been described, by those who
have seen it, as worthy of his maturer years
A wish has been expressed to see this work in
type; the Lord Chancellor of England has Sc,
his name at the head of subscription list for
the purpose.
The telegraph brings the announcement Of
the death of the gallant Brevet Major General
Persifer +. Smith, United States army, at Fort
Leavenworth, on Sunday last. General Smith
had recently been appointed to the command Of
| the Utah expedition, and was en- route for Camp
Scott at the time of his death. He was over
sixty years of age, native of Pennsylvania
and one of the most accomplished officers of the
service, which he entered from the ranks of the
Louisiana volunteers, of whom he was Colonel
in 1886, during six months service in the Flor
ida war, and was the Brigadier General com
manding brigade of six Louisiana regiments
of volunteers, under Major General Taylor, on
the Rio Grande, 1916; appointed Colonel Of
the Mounted RiAemen, 9th May, 1916; com
manded the Sd Brigade and 7th Infantry from
September, 1916; was brsveted Brigadier Gen
gallant and meritorious conduct in several con
ficts at Monterey, Mexico" 23d September
1916; breveted Major General in August, l848
for gallant and meritorious conduct in the bat
ties of Contreras and Churubusco," 20th Au
gust, l847. He ranked next after General w COL
and fourth after General Scott. For long
time, he had been in very feeble health. Gen.
eral Harvey succeeds to the command of the
Utah expedition.
Matthias H. Nichols, the able Republican
member of Congress from the 4th district of
Ohio, declines a reelection next fall He en-.
tered Congress in 1853 as Pierce Democrat,
but sternly opposed the Nebraska swindle, and
came out of it all q true Republican.
The Investigations into the Bright and Fitch
case, in Indiana, have been concluded, and the
result forwarded to the U. s. Senate, which
had all the facts in it's possession before, bu.
chose to adopt this course, in order to keep the
bogus Senators in their seats long enough to
secure their votes for Lecompton.
Gen. Paez declines to 60 back to Venezuela
with the deputation sent to invite him, prefer.
ring to wait till affairs are permanently settled
Monagas, the conquered usurper, is to be kept
q short time in honorable confinement, and
then exhed to any foreign port he may select.
Col Fremont and family reached San Fran
cisco on the 18th of April. He intended to re
main several months in the State, looking after
his mining interests.
Judge Shaw, who gave the recent decision
in Massachusetts, deciding that spirituous
liquors could be destroyed by any one, ON the
ground that they were a common nuisance
is the same Judge who, in the outset of the
temperance reform, many years ago, held DIR.
Cheever guilty of libel for writing his satiricsl
dream about Deacon Giles's distiery, which
created so much excitement, and which every
Massachusetts, boy remembers so well.
Orders have been issued by General Scott,
with the sanction of the War Department, that
as appropriate military honors to the memory
of the late General Persifer F. Smith, thirteen
minute guns will be fired, commencing at
meridian, and the national flag will be displayed
at half staff from the same hour till sunset on
the day after the receipt of this order, at each
post within the Departments of the West and
Utah, and the officers serving therein will wear
the usual badge Of mourning for thirty days.
Mr.. Greenwood of Arkansas, declines re.
election to Congress, next fall, having served
since 1853.
At Petersburg, Co., last week, young man
was on trial for rape, and the victim of his lust
was brought on the stand to testify. But the
defence objected to her testimony, on the ground
that she was of African descent. Two physi.
clans and an expert in African compounds
were selected by the court to examine her, and
the physicians reported that they could not de.
eide the delicate question. The expert, how.
ever, gave it as bis opinion that she was at
least onefourth colored, and she was not allow.
ed to testify. Fortunately there was other and