davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-03-11
Tho Crisis in Mexico.

Our latest advices from Vera Cruz, says tho
Herald show .het on that line of operations
crisis Is approaching for the constitutional
government. Miramon is marching to attack
its stronghold and If he possesses the means for
Smelling the city for short time he may gain
possession Of Vera Cruz; for though the con-
stitutionalists are strong enough there to re-
sist an assault they have hardly force enough
to drive Miramon out Of the field. and if he
sets himself resolutely down with a few NOR
tara, it is doubtful how long the passive resis
tance ofthe garrison will last.
But the driving ofthe Junrez government
out OF Vera Cruz does not extinguish it any
more than the, driving it out Of Guadnlajnra
and Collma by Csollos. 1t can ccne to tue
north. and Joining vidaurri, organize the
whole Of the northern and north W ESTER n States,
and. with the. cooperation Of AlvureE in the
south, eventually drive out the priests and sol.
diers who are no" fighting for "reliGion and
privileges. 49,.
1t is stated that portion Of the ANGLO.
French fl, ct is to be sent from Vera Cruz to
Tnmpico, to exercise upon the subordinate cen.
| stitutional government there the same power
| of squeezing which it enforced on the supreme
government Of President Juarez =; and further
advices from Washington say that the admir-
| lstration seriously cOntemplates recogn izing
the government of Juarez, and receivin ing Senor
Alata rs Mexican Minister. In case of its be.
ing compelled to evacuato Vera Cruz, this
would be n valuable service to the constitu-
| ti"nal party in Mexico. The advent Of Ler.lo
de Tciada IN the Cabinet Of President Juarez
has given his government q m, re determined
political character than it before had, and
brings to a just and popular cause the aid of
known practical craftsmanship.
The very possibility of Miramon taking Vera
Cruz should induce our government to pre-
pare for action. He is the Legitimate success.
sor and representative of the government of
Zuloaga. which drove our Minister with insult
from Mexico, and plundered and outraged our
citizens resisted there. Hitherto we had no
wny of reaching it. because it held none of
the seaports of the republic. But the moment
hliramon takes Vera Cruz. if he succeeds in do
ing so. we should be prepared to act Spain,
England and France have brought their power
to bear adversely on the unrecognized and un
supported government of President JuareZ,
colnpalling it to atone in part, for sins com
mitted by others. With greater justice, we
should bring home to others the sins they
themselves have committed. The course pur-
sued by the European Powers betokens tos
tuous policy on their part. and one in nowise
friendly to the interests Of this country or the
e,tablislment of liberal principles in Mexico
Their action has been prompt and decisive in
its results. Ours st.ouTl Ee so, likewise.
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-03-11
Land Sales at the West

The new States are hardly prepared nt the
present tlnc to pay two millions Of dollars in
to the National Treasury for the government
lands about to be thrown into market. Poor
pre-emPtors have struggled TO keep soul and
body together during the past eighteen months
and many owners of farms more or less i'm.
proved, have mortgaged them to such al, ex.
tent that they are compelled to cell or give up
the land to the mortgnge,.
Rnt's of interest still rule very hirh-from
l5to "a per cent. per .annnm-and offer q
tempting bait to capital ist to loan money on
ample real estate security, or buy at very low
prices. Those Hre-eDptofs who cannot siproye
up, Will OF course be compelled to retire to
the frontiers. which, though ruinous to them.
will be advantageous to new coming emipraDts
provided the speeulators aforesaid do not an
ticipate them
Nothing can he more fuinous to the inter
ests and prosperity of new States than the hol-
ding of its best uninprove1 lands by this lat
ter class of persons: and it is fact, familiar
TO many. that often nearly whole counties are
held in this. manner. For the reason that the
sale of public lands at THIS time offers unusuaJ ]
facilities to these parasites, it would be desira
BILE that it should take place at time when
money is plenty. and the pre-cmptors ,able to
pay the cash for their claims.
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-03-11
Extra-Session of Coppress

Opinions are divided ns to the necessity for
an extra session of Congress-. All the appro-
priation bills have become laws excent the
postage and post route 5ills. The latter VIII
cause no Inconvenience to the public service
The miscellaneous bill passed contains secton
extending the treasury note law two years, and
enabling the treasury to meet the notes shortly
falling due. The section of the postage bill
aoolIshihg the frankng privilege. and inSreas-
ing the rates Of postage, was emphetically're-
Jected by the House. The appropriation Of
s34o.oo0 for existing mail contracts to Califor-
mia, via, Panama. Tehuantepec, etc., is to end
in September Butter6eld's steamer mil bill
from Mobile and New Orleans to Mexican Gulf
ports passed the Senate almost unanimously
but was stricken off with the rest by the House
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-03-11
The Recent Terrible Affair at Washington

On last Sunday afternoon, in the most aristo.
cratic sqnnre Of the federal capital, and under
the very droppings of the Executive mansion ;,
one of pie most distinguished members of the
lower louae of'Congress encountered and killed
the Law officer of the government for the Dis.
trict of Columbia. Both Mr.. Sickles and Mr..
Key were mon Of high attainments, good social
positlon and extended popularty-both in the
prime Of life-both in the outset Of distinguish
ed careero One deliberately violated the sane.
tity Of his friends fircside, nf,icting upon hs
honot the deepest possible stain. The young
wife Of Mr.. Sicklee had forgotten her marriage
vows her duty to her huspand and children
The proof was indubitabe: the outraged hus.
band obeyed the first impulse of injured human
nature: the polished. highly bred, iasouciant
man of the world was changed in moment 10
the savage seeking the life OF his enemy, who
was seat to his Maker unrepentant, unannealed
As . mattel OF course, such al affair, with
such circumstances and such surroundings. could
not fail to create the most intense excitement
wherever the swifttwings Of the telegraph con
fair 70 most lamentable one. Here are two
families desolated at one blow-one life sacri-
feed and others made forever miserable. Pub
lie opinion will. we pPprehend, he almost un-
animous in favor Of Nj. Sickles, He had ad-
rnitted Mr. Key TO his fireside and his table, to
the society of his wife and chldren-that
tnSgic circ!e where the man, wearied and hated
IN political discussions, could seek and find the
only rerose he might know on the face of the
earth. The circumstances go to show that this
peaceful and happy existence was deliberately
invaded and then desecratcd. by the seducer
1t cannot be denied that such cireumstanc
will go far to excuse the sudden vengeance
which Mr.. Sickles wreaked upon the head Of
Dir Key. answering his hand, offered in the
disguise of friendship at the muzzle of the pis.
toll Distinct, also, is the inference that the
punishment to be meted out to Mr.. Sicklcs.
who has deliberately violated the laws of his
country: which he was especially boundto sup
port. wi be mitigated by the feet that his sNif
ferings have already been more terrible than
any torture which the most ingenious inquisi-
tors could ever i,a"e invented. No jury in
Washington viii ever convict Mr.. Scklcs Of the
murder CT Mr:key. The punishment preceded
the crime, and so long as the assnlant shall
live. 80 long will the memory of that terrible
Sabbath be present in his waking hours and
disturb his deepest slumbcrs. If the aim of
the law is entirely exemplary. it's action is en-
tlreiy unnecessary in such cases as this. No
Judicial action could point moral with more
severity than do the circumstances attendant
upon the killing of Mr. Key by Dir. sickles.
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-03-11
Nj "A IL X ETS.

ABBEvILLE, March 9, 1859.
Cotton.-Our market the past week. in con-.
sequence of inclement weather, has been rather.
inactive. The late favorable news from Europe.
will doubtless give it more activity. We ouots
extremes IT to lOs cents.
HAMBURG, March 8, 1859.
-, Conon.-Our market advanced 4 cents during
the Week. We quote extremes 10. to III. :.
H q NJ Ess.
49," COLUMBIA. March, 8, 1859.
Cotton~-The sales of cotton I'd, daV. amount
to l62 bales at PRICES ranging from s to ll4c.
the demand active,
CHARLESTON, March 8. 1889.
Cotton.@Sales of cotton to-day 1000 bais,
Market advancing. ''
AUGUSTA, March 8, 1859
Cotton.-Sight checks on New York on.-
quarter cent premium.
\, C1ton:-sales of cotton today 1000 bsIe,.
..., New ORLEANS. March 8. T.. j
Cettc".-Sales of cotton on SATURDAY. onds
Monday 10000 bales. The steamers new.
caused greater firmness. 49,. A0""
Political news Of little interest.
Southern telegraph line down. .
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-03-11
Personal Liberty Bill.

special committee of the Legislature cf
New York, has reported a personal liberty
oil'' nullIfying the Fugitive Slave law, and
providing that no person in the State shall be
considered property, or subject TO sale, or be
d'priTed of liberty without due process Of
common law and trial by jury. The penalties
Tor infringing the law are he of from 81 600
70 $4,000 aud twenty years imprisonment. 1t
'ec'"res t'at every slave coming into the State
by consent OF the owner shall bc free.
IL IS difficult says the Journal of Commerce,
charncterIzc such n movement in fitting terms
but as its effect, If passed into n law. must bc
TO bring on, sooner or later, n conflict betwe.n
the States and the United States authorities il
may doubtless be taken part of the sys-
TEN OF antagonism between the Free and the
Slave States, of which Senator Seward is the
promoter and exponent. There can be little
question that it is introduced at this time AZ a
means and if enacted into n law will bc used
for the purpose of bringing on that 'irreprcssibe
conflict" which we have been told is irnpcnd.
ing between the North and the South. The
following article, from the Albany Atlas and
Argus, is quite to the polnt:-
a NuLLIrIcATIoN EiLL-It will he seen that
bill has been reported in the Assembly with the
Speci"us object Of Protecting the rights and
liberties OF tie citizens Of the State of New
1"rE. 1t Is otherwise termed Personal Lib.
er'y blll, hut IT was more correctly described
by Mr. Ion:;'nSon Of New York as n sham
II measure to waste time--nnd IL device t. en-
courage idle dcclama,i"n To this tharact.ri
zatIon might be added the remark, that bv this
bill the Black Republican Legislature OF New
YORK propose TO nullify the Constitution and
laws OF the United States. and to subject per-
sons coming here from other States, in rur-
sn't OF RIGHTS guaranteed by them, to the pen.
altlcs adjudge,l to malcfaclors
There has been demand for sucl, n mems
ure as thIs among the rank and file even of tie
lfePubi1cans, except such as was stimulated bv
"rucr OF The gettcrs, up of this tl who have
circulated printed blanks for signatures, i'm
ccriaiil PORTIONS or She State. 1t was concocted
I" gam no'"ri.iy for certain ambitious p.n,Ir-
men IN tue Assembly, whom we will not crafty
10y naming. The bill has been crowded uh.n1
OF the practical measures of the session. by he.
ing made special order for Wednesday, when
the names OF the gentlemen who are d.sircus
OF getting themselves mooted, " i'll duly arpenr
III the Legislature reports as "delivers" of in.
Hailed harangnes filled with the pathos Of Black
Rcpublcanisrn.
In The mcantime the debts Of the State. un-
conslutionully incurred, will 90 I'm prov drd for.
the Black Republicans evidently hoping bv
uniting in grand shrek for free.iom" to
drown the just complaints of the people IN re-
gard 10 violated Constitution and nm EMMY
Treasury.
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-03-11
Clubbing with Magazines.

The example of several of our conterpora-
r'es OF the press, suggests the propriety Of re-
minding our readers. that we are prepared to
lar monthlies Of the Season at reduced rates
We will frrnish the PRESS and either LIAR
PER-" "GODEY ;" "GRAHAM ;" or the
"KNICkERBOCKER, )" for FOUR DOLLARS
and PETERSON" or "Arthur" with the
PRESS for S'.50-whch is only 81 in advance
upon the curfent rates Of tho Sc Sagazinea
Such magazines rs HARPER, GODEY and
OTHERS: with their attractions literary and tic
torlal are Invaluable to the family circle, anil
with the local Incidents and general miscel.
lany Of the country paper. constitute fund of
entertainment, which vel repays the pecuni-
ary outlay.
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-03-11
Birth Place of Andrew jackson.

In reply to paragraph from the National
h;tsllige':eer, which has been frequently copied
recently, to the effect that General Walkup
has established that Gen. jackson was born in
Mecklenburg County, N. c., at the house of
George McCamie, and near the South Carolina
line, the Lancaster Ledger conclnsively says
The traditional testimony upon the point, as
we have before had OCCASION to state is contra
d'c'ory. Gen. "a'knp, of course, published
hut such ns favored the claims of North
Carolina. Previous to the pub fieation of thes.
certificates, we knd eisrn,n snccnct statement
Of the clniTa of this District to the disputed
honor. This was based upon the highest a,,-
,hort,y nov liviug-the belief and traditional
knowledge of the relatives Of Gen. jackson,
now residing in this District.
Did the nutter rest here, the question might
still seem TO be in doubt: hut it does not res,
here: We have in our favor the direct and un
qualified testimony Of Gen. jackson himself
w. published an original letter from him in
answer tn IN enquiry upon the very point in
question: this, to every candid mind, should
he conclusive for although the evidence of
Gen. Jackson. coming direct, as it must have
done from his mother and these present at
his birth. might. by a mere possibility, be in
correct, yet IL is certainly entitled To prefer
ence over mere hearsny and this hearsay,
based mainly upon the recollectinns Of oil wu-
men, having no direct interest in the question.
such as Gen Jackson and his mol her are sup
posed to have Eaj: ard whose ideas Of local.
ty and boundary are in general rhost vague
and Unsatisfactory:
Opce Or twice before the death of the old
Hero, this question of birth place was raised
between South and North Carolina, and each
tirie !. "as settled. or seem to Le so. in favor
of,he former by an appeal to the Genera him
SELF He never entertained shadow Of doubt
to the place Of his birth.
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-03-11
The Democracy.-Its Extravaganza and
Corruption.

In 1852, James Buchanan wrote letter on
Economy in Government Expenditures, in
which he said:
"These expenditures have not now reached
the enormous sums of $4,000. 900 per annum,
and unless arrested in their advance by the
strong arm of the Democracy, may in q few
years, reach slOo.O0oOOO."
Let us see how Mr. Buchanan's practice
tailies with his theory. So far from a check
being put upon such extravaganza hy his pnrty.
the expenditures during the second year of his
administration come within three million Of
the last named amount. But hear what Hon.
A. II. Stephens of Georgia says about the Gov
ernment expenses. IIeis reported to have en-.
Ployed the following language in recent
caucus OF Democratic Representatives
'Mr Stephens Of Georgia, said when he rot
entered Cohgress IN 1843, the expenses of the
government We're only ss0ooo.oO per ahnum
The country had gone through the expensi. e
IN the field. for thirty three millions, and now,
IN time OF peace, the estimates were seventy.
three milions. Many expenditures were
wholly unnecessary, and reform was indspcn-
SADLY needed. He believed forty millions ar
abundance for the national expense lie was
therefore opposed to An increase of duties, and
said the expenditures should be brought within
the persent receipts"
Hon. Andrew johnson, of Tennessce-also
good Democratic notwithstanding to the
same subject, said in recent speech in the
Senate:
ut is in the powers of Congress to*prevent
these enormous expenditures; and if we do not
Interpose. we are responsible for them. This
Government. sixtynine years of age. scarcely
out of its swaddling-clothes, is making more
corrupt uses OF money in proportion to the
amount collected from the people. ns honestly
believe than any other government now on the
habitable' globe"
Gen. Shields. one of the Democratic Senators
from Minnesota. in the course of debate in the
Senate, few days ago, also took occasion to
sny:
II think it is not saying too much to declare
that this country has gone faster and further,
IN ten years in extravaganza, than most other
countries have done in centuries"
atlanta (Ga:) american.
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-03-11
The Mexican Sketches

We commend to the attention Of our readers
the continuation Of the Incidents ofthe Mexican
war to be found on our first page, The wri-
ter with h's heroic comrades in arms has sur
mounted the burning sands and pesliential va
pors of the uomito region--the terra caiicutc,
and his graphic pen finls full scope in sketch
ing the lovely scenery of the terra tenp!aa,-
the orange groves of Jalapn. AMI the thousand
Objects OF attraction which refreshed the spir-
Its OF the volunteer on that memorable march.
We have found the sketches very interesting
and i'll this opinion our readers GENERALLY con.
cur. They are chasto, simple and picturesque
in style, and have that fidelity to nature which
constitutes the charm of narrative and descrip
tion.
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-03-11
Speculation at the West.

Western forwarding merchant who has
come down to the sen coast to inform himself
OF the prospects for produce this spring sends
back n word Of caution to the Detroit Tribune
as follows:
On arriving at New York. fnun,l ou.
thing or two that will hc o interest 10 man- ut
the West found that wheat an,l flour nre
henrrr at Detroit than in New vorI-' chd
can W ith full faith inform your mercantile rca.
ders mat 'uIn l5 sure to follow the insane at
tempts being made ut the West to furcc' ri TIE
price OF produce. have aeen and watched
just such proceedings for the past I3 wears,
ana destruction certain aud surely has been
the result in every case 80 will il be rext
spring. Receipts ofall kinds Of produce are
moderate, 50 also is the demand no large
amount of wheat, corn -four could be sold ut
present rates Here are the fucis White
M'rhIgnntwheat is quoted Mt Sl.5O-nnw and
then 800 to 1000 bushels could be worked off
at :iiat 5000 or 10000 bushels in one lot
cohld mol be sold-no one would touch it, So
with red winter Western, 81. .35 to &l.37 is the
quoted price, but no man cnn sell 5000 bushels
IN one lot at these figures. So with corn-mix-l
cd Western is held Mt s7c, but there are no
sales. l ordered 5000, ln,DOD or l5OuO BUSH
els, sold ut S4c.. and no sales could be effected.
These facts should show our produce dealing
friends th't the present excitement at the West
ls without foundation. reason Or Judgment.
lherc Is now in New York and Boston all
the hour, wheat aud corn thnt will be needed
uh''i next harvest. without m increase in the
present receipts. And in regard to corn, will
Stale one fact-the crop of the State of New
man. and she will nuke up the entire defcien-
cy OF the, exports from Illinois during the conf
ing season. So, whatever fools may do, wise
Men will stand from under.
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-03-11
Railroad Meeting at AshevilIe. N. @.

Wegave Saturday. says the Guardian ac-
connts of meetings in Spartanburg and in Co
lumhus, North Carolina, upon the subject If
the French Broad Railroad We learn from
the Ashville FeiOs, of the 81, that at the meet.
ing held in that place on the 24d ult., "for gen
eral consultation concerning works ofinrernaI
Improvement, N. w, Woodfn, ESQ. detailed
atlength the causes which produced the failure
OF our Railroad schemes in the late Leg pislature
+ MY W: sad. in view of tile 'faets, that it was
useless TO lament over that which was lost
that we must. now turn our eyes TO the erection
of the French Broad Railroad ijy' Cotsnty sub
scriptions. which the amended charter proyides
for. and proposed that we commence work sim
ultaneou-lt at'the South Carolina line in the
direction Of Spartanhnrg. and gratle the road
tn Columbus IN the county of Polk, and at the
Tcnncssee line in the direction Of Mo-ristowu
aud grade to Marshall in the country of Mndi
son. with view finally to connect both ends
Of the Road at Ashtille and that, he had no
doubt, this work once began. that allrestric.
tIons on the charter would at once be removed.
Marcns Erwin. Esq. Rev T. ". Atkin, Da.
ing, a. $. Merrimon, Esq, spoke in approval Of
the plan Of Mr.. Woodein.
The following resolution was offered ahd
passed unanimously to wit:
Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting
that Tie Presideht'and Directors Of the French
Broad kaliroad Company be requested to take
immaculate action in bringing the subject of
County subscriptions before the people, and
for vigorous prosecution of the work CON.
meneIng at both ends of the Road simultan.
eously.
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-03-11
The Report Of the Grand Jurv.

We will publish in our next Issue the Re-
port OF the Grand Jury. made at the present
term.
Ths Jail. Courthouse and Public Offices
they find in good condition generally. vari.
:ousimprovements are ded-the erec.
ton of-'a new kitchen on the Jail lot: and
sonnesrnaRshres for adding TO the security of she
prisons.:=- "a ss
The public roads Of the District are made
the subject Of deserved esasurs. Whilst their
bad condition. is attributsd. in part to the late
incessant rains it is stated to be in q great mea
sure owingto the remissnsss Of, Commissions rs
ID not calling out the i,spds sufficient number
ofdsys. ,s,, sSs. 80 q, ..ss,ss .-z...
The Grand jury resommsnd the IMPOSITION
o'fisse.pitati0n 'is tag 81 50 esnts; upoa non tax.
payera u Z,
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-03-11

HEALTH OF TIE POSTMASTER GENERAI.-Du-
ling last night. Postmaster General Brown was
in an exceedingly critical condition. This
morning. however, there is marked improve
nent in his case, although not sufficient to al.
lay apPrehensi"ns The attending physician
would not allow any one to visit his apart
meht except the members OF his own family.
He is represented as manifestng great deal
of anxiety about the business Of the Depart
ment. and requested to see his assist ants, Mes
srs. King and Marion bat il was not deemed
prudent to permit the interview.
Washington Star, Sd.
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-03-11

THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.-The Speaker.
onthe day before yesterday, submitted to the
House of, Representatives.. communication
from the President. responding resolution re.
ia1iye to the African squadron. The Presi-
dent states that since the ratification of the
August, 1858: the entire number of vessels Sc can
tured on suspicion, ofbeing slavers was twen-
ty. and ofthat number, six were "condemned ;"
No new Instructions appear to have been is-
su5d since 1914 in Connection with the Afri-
can squadron Washington Star, 3d. =. y,
The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-03-11
W1sJuScroS hIor.I, @

The Senate ratified the Cass. Heron Treaty.
with amendments. Those who have not vet
presented claims against New Grenada, may
have time'to do co Lofore Granada should act
finally on the subject.
L. Q. p. Branch. of North Carolina. is spok en-
OF as the probable successor CT fPostmaster-Ge en-
eral Prowa: