davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-03-14
Senator Benjamin on Gold and Silver


In debate in the American Senate, Thursday
last, on Bank issues in the district of Columbia,
Senator Benjamin, in replying to Mason of
Virginia, spoke eloquently of the dangers of
banking systems. The following statement of
facts will interest our readers
And now, sir, as to the question about limi-
ting the extent or the minimum Of the notes
which may be allowed to be in circulation in
the District, | assure the Senator that the ex
pertinent has been made III my state with signal
success. have not, for long series of years,
seen a bank note in the State Of Louisiana Of
less than five dollars Our people are prepared
now, and probably within year or two will
extend the limit to ten dollars and we intend
so to 90 on, until our currency, such as is daily
used amongst the people for purposes OF trade
shall be exclusively gold and silver, and bank
notes shall be used only for that class of COM
merce in which they may fairly be considered
as circulation similar to that provided by bills
of exchange and checks. Large business, the
business of the wholesale merchant is conduc-
ted by these bank notes, which serve as checks
on the bank, and are, in point Of fact, checks,
lust as the merchant draws money deposited
there TO his own credit and the men who take
them. the men who deal in them, know what
they are. and understand what they are doing;
but the money that circulates in the hands OF
the people, the money that is in the hands Of
the hucksters in the market place, the money
that passes through the hands Of small and
poorfarnilies into the grocer's hands, the money
with which laborers are paid-that ought to be
beyond the possibility of doubt or suspicion.
It is so with US arie l know that, from my
beng habtuated to the use of gold and silver
alone in the smaller transactions oflte, there IS
nothing that annoys me more, when make an
occasional visit to northern city, than to find
the miserable, worthless rags that are handed to
me in change for five or ten dollar bill, if
happen to have occasion to change one. do
not know what they are; cannot tell wheth-
er they have any value; am obliged to take
them on trust / am obliged to pass them,
ignorant of whether | am giving to person
money or a rag. 1t is mere matter oil conf
dence between man and man. The system
must explode some day and when IT ex-
plodes, it will explode to the loss of that class
Of the community least able to bear the loss,
and best entitled to the protection of the Leg
islature.
The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-03-14
F'oha Leelta.
A New Presidential Progra1ane.

The critical problem before the SOL at this
moment is two fold Southern pol;skzans are
intensely engaged in trying to iHMk out a
programme bv which to effect the ssa.5le OBJ
ieet Of electiAg Democratic PresasApt and
preserving the Union. Thus FAR, usY hive
cast about in vain TO find the elenalzss Of as
suresI success in that connection. Hold re-
cipes for such emergencies have beemskhaust-
ed. They wouldn't do any long1sfa They
are as Ealueless rs oyster-s!:ells asser the
oyster has been eaten. Those who Wit fresh
oysters must seek fresh placer sters.
Politicians Who want to make q 5Aksident
must contriye a new Presidential praeInme ::
they must wisely and boldly actNs1n the
theory that the emergency IS pcdsslaE ana
calls for peculiar eXpedierts. 1tasIsht is
beginning TO dawn; and though neral
darkness of the hour iaaI pla2
from full cQsanisellassass s---sl
The gentleman whose letter on the presilen-
tial question we publish in another column,
has also caught glimpse Oh this light, and his
spcculations are luminous with its beams
From his own stand point his argument is ir-
refragabIe as impcnctrablc as AcfilIas's
arlnor, and as trenchant rs Saladin'S cinlter.
And that stand point is tie stand Point Of all
who subordinate every other political con-
sideration TO the election cf the Democratic
Presidential nominee and the preservation Of
the Union. The sole ching to consider in
selecting candidate Is, availability first
and last. That is the Iha and Omega of
the calculation. The process OF determining
the question is like sum in the Euc OF
Three. For instance: grant that Mr. Doug
las, a Democrat, sound on all points but one,
is WORTHY Of recommendation to Southern
preference in proportion as that unSoundness
recommends him to Northern support then,
if Governor Chase, also sound Democrat on
all points bat one. is by reason Ct his dis
uEsoundness in that particular. eX-
actly three times rs popular at the North as
Mr.. Douglas, it must follow that Governor
Chase has exactly three times the claims to
Southern preference as Mr. n"''Sies, No well
informed politician vii assert that Governor
Chase does not possess at least three times the
strength of Mr. Douglas at the North; ami
Is the Democratic nominee he would be certain
10 sweep the Northern States with scarcely
tie shadow OF opposition. The case Is, there
ore, IS clear as Il mathematical dsmonstra-
ion. If clccting the Democratic nominee and
2rcscrving the Union is the primary Object Of !
1atrio ic desire, the nOmnatOn Of Governor /
has would be one pre-eminently fit to be !
made, His Incompatible availability IS an
fact; his election would be an in /
,in6ib!o certainty. II Seward were only (
sound on free trade, internal improvements,
trict c instruction, and Sc forth, he would be /
till more available, indeed saperlativcly
ivalable and the Southern Democracy |
would not hesitate 10 run him for President /
Sat as Seward coull net dccently pass for a |
Democrat, he is out Of the question. Chase, /
hen, is the man by all sIds
The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-03-14
LAW SCHOOL OF HARVARD

ar fesTUOToRs IN THIS eHooL ARE:
Han. JOEL PARKER Lii. n. Royal ffatessor.
Hon. THz0PHILU5 PARSONS, Ii. D., Dane
ula PrqEsMlsoSRT:Y qEMoRY wAsHBURN, L. D, Unirersity
ra.uE Covrse Of Instruction embraces the various
hranebss of the Common Law; aHd Of Equty,
I5niralty, Commercial, International, and Gonsti-
t,.;onal Law; and the Jurisprndence OF the United
s.sas The Law Library consist Of about 1900
s1eIarnns and as new works appear they are added,
"a overy effort is made 70 render it complete.
Tt-uctiou is given BY oral lectures and expoEit-
@snd by recitations sad examinations in ccn-
.s,en with them,1 Of which there are ten evsry
.S nco A Moot Court IL holden IN each week at
S;eh a cause previously given out Is argued by
four students, and an opinion dehysred ey lhe
r. ,,royidei for Club Courts; and an Assembly Is
aI9 .nekIy for practice in debate, and for ae-
nn;r;nr knowledge Of psTiiamentary law and
nrnceediDgs. 8
- nrofessionl stsdies or mercantile pursuits,
- the commencement of either term, or IN the
E;55Is or other part Of the term.
Thsy are atIiberty to select what studies they
ii, ngrsue, according to their view Of their own
vants and attainnents.
Tha Academieal year, which commences on
ssTr-edav. gix weeks after the third "wednesday ~
1aiy. i divided into tIa terms Of twenty Weeks
ssea. With vacation OF SIX weeks at the ena Oh
the winter vacation the Library Is opened
xsrnssd and lighted, for the use Of the members oi
~ Tss Fxercisss of the Spring Term will commence
:. mnndav. March 5th those Of the Autumn
Tern "a Monday September I'd, 1880.
Applications for admission o. iOr !. ss,ss, \
.sv fnrther information, may be MADE 70 eishsi y
~ Professors st Cambridge.
eembridxe, Mass March 5. '6o-sl Friday s-M
ograv-Hage You seen that sick 4CHERo-
n Isp9AHp N another column.
1sna 60 -aAy =
The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-03-14

BLOODY AND FATAL AFFEAY IN 4 COURT
RooM.-THEEE RRoTHEEs KIILED-In the
Richmond Enquirer of the 29th ult we find
the following account of remarkably bloody
affray:
A suit was instituted, in the fall of 1859, by
Victoria Clements against her husband Jas
Clements, for divorce. Dispositions were ta-
ken, soon after the institution of the suit
which gave rise to n difficulty between the de-
fendant and VIM. p Gilbert in which both Of
these gentlemen, as well as brother of Mr.
Gilbert were severely wounded.
On Saturday last additional depositions
were taken at Brooks, in the county Of Frank
i'm and Ml,iLe Gaptalp- -Yiucsnt- -AYitchsr- as
engaged in examining witness, we are in
formed that brother of Nr. James Clements
drew pst0l and fired st Captain Witcher, the
ball passing through his clothing and inficting
a slight flesh wound; whereupon he returned
the fire, killing his antagonist almost imme-
diately. at this instant, another brother of
Mr. James Clements was in the act of firing
at Mr.. Witcher, when he fired upon him also,
the ball taking effect in the head and proving
fatal. Just then ldr. Smith, grandson of
Mr.. Witeher and brother Of the plaintiff,
hearing the firing, came in, and was fired up
on by Mr.. James Clements, and slightly
wounded on the shoulder, and drawing a
bowie knife, instantly killed Clements.
The three gentlemen killed were brothers,
and all young men. Capt. Witeher is about
10 years of age.
The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-03-14
From. the Me1o York Ne,c
Found his Tongue.


Senator Seward has spoken at last. Ever
since his reception in the AldermeRs
Chamber of the City Hall, which visit we are
told, ominously cracked the ceiling of the
room by sort of Mason & Dixon's line on
the plaster, the Senator has sat mute, suffer-
ing as it were, seIfimposed pein fort ct ds
for his recent precipitation on Us of the theo.
ry of the .'irrepressible confIict'-frst broach-
ed by the Free Soil adherents of Van BureE
in the infamous Buffalo Platform. The wy
andotte (Kansas) Constitution was presented
yesterday in the Senate, and the word Kansas
was potent enough to dissolve the spell of ST.
lence.
Senator Seward took ground substantially
to nulIify the English bill andremove the con-
dition that the Territory should show Ger.
tain population as a precedent to admission as
a State. While Seward and his Republican
associates took exception to every matter o.
form which they could rake up against the
Lecompton Constitution, he now is ready tc
push aside even the requirements Of an act o
Congress, in order to expedite the admission
of Kansas under Constitution agreeable t.
his taste The boot is now on the right lee
since the Southern institution is excluded by
the new Constitution, and Seward is so wei
satisfied that he finds the use of his tongue
The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-03-14
The Sectional Issue IN the Senate

The following speculations are from a late
New York Herald
TIE Char2cstoa P7aito,aa in tie L. S. Sen
ate-To-day, as we learn from our Washing
ton news, the resolutions agreed upon in the
Democratic creed upon the slavery question
will be reported in the Senate This will
probably be The beginning Of grand row, and
some think it will end in the final bolt of Mr.
Douglas from the Democratic party. 1t will
be seen that our correspondent states that
Mr.. Douglas and his friends opposed the reso-
lutions in caucus, which Is very likely, for if
they are sound on the slavery question, and
cover the whole ground, they must necessari-
ly cut at his sguatter sovereignty: and this
is just the disadyantagcous ground on which
Mr.. Douglas is placed by the issue which is
now forced on the country by the Republican
party. and must he accepted and met slulrely
and broadly, and without epivocation or
mental reservation, or quirk of any kind. No
patched up compromise viii answer ang lon
ger. The time is gone BY for taat. The anti
slavery parties, whether lurk ing in the De
nocracy, or out oG ii, must be completely
overthrown, or they will overthrow the Con-
siituiion and disso-Fe tbs mon Hence the
position of Mr.. Douglas as a candidate for the
Presidency, becomes ole Of extreme difficulty
in this election, and he does not want to wait
on Providence till 1864. He thinks bird in
the hand worth two in the bush. His position
is to be assailed indirectly, if not directly, by
the resolutions in the Senate, and he is pre-
pared to give battle, defending his position to
the last, or fighting his way out Of it to safer
ground. We are informed, indeed, by his or
gan at Chicago, quoted by our correspondent,
that $50 odious is the proposed platform to
Senator Douglas that he will feel in honor
bound to denounce it in advance or, at least,
not to go before the Charleston Convention as
candidate This looks exceedingly like
bolt, and like the role of Martin Van Buren
in 1913, playid over again hy another actor in
1860. A lively time may be expected in the
Senate this week, and perhaps every week up
to the time Of the meeting Of the Convention.
With the Southern States. "to be or not to be
that is the question" To reconcile his as
pirations with their interests is a task which
the Senator will find it very hard to accom-
plish. Even if his ambitious rivals were out
of the way it would be labor Of Hercules.
But with every one of them ready to cut his
throat what can the champion of sguatter
sovereignty do against such odds? We shall
The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-03-14
Fons the Uajon Democrat, Manchester, " II
Inconvenience Of Treason.

Since the invasion Of Virginia by old Brown
and his gang, great many Northern people
have been invited to leavs the sunny South
sometimes under crcircumstances Of consider
aAe hardship. The Republicans whine dole
fully over such cases but We are surprised
they are rot more frequent. 1t is very we'll
known that large numbers of our people are
turning their attention to the South, as q
hopeful field for money making. Manysgo
there as teachers, and get good pay. More go
as agents for mercantile and manufacturing
houses and as travelling salesmen for various
kinds of EMOTIONS" in which the North is so
fruitful. Many of these men at home are
rank Abolitionists. 4 man voted the Repub-
lican ticket in this city last year, who de-
clared that he had come all the way from
Richmond to do it. He left a profitable busi-
ness and returned to it-devoting brief in
terval, at considerable trouble and expense,
to the abuse ofhis customers, implied by every
Republ can vote.
All these men, we have no doubt, affect TO
be sound National Democrats" when at the
South; but our friends there have been
cheated by so many, that we are not surprised
they are jealous Of all. We may thank our.
selves for whatever Inconvenience and loss
the people Of our section may suffer. When
we learn to let our neighbors alone, we shall
have right to complain if they modest It's.
But so long as we manufacture John Browns,
our Southern friends will naturally be on the
watch for them, and innocent parties are liable
to suffer.
The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-03-14

FRoM JAM,IcA-From Jamaica We learn
that new effort is making in that Island to
promote cotton cultivation. 1t had been set
on foot by capitalists in Manchester, England;
but very little confidence seemed to be felt
in its success as the planters lacked the re-
quisite energy. An earthquake, and few
days ofcold weather-when the thermometer
recorded 50 were among the prominent
events of the fortnight proceeding the date
of the correspondents letter. The Esugar
crop in Jamaica bade fair to exceed that of last
year by 5000 or 5000 hhds., while that of
Guiana, it was feared, in consequence of heavy
rains, would fall short of the usual quantity
The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-03-14

PRAc1IcAL Results OF THE ABOLITION
DocrRINE-The amalgamation institutions
have had a hard time of it lately, the police
having madea regular business of descend
ing" upon them On every occasion that pre-
sented itself. The extent to which the prac
tice is carried in the city is little known, and
many would be astonshed if the real truth in
regard to it were revealed in all its beauties.
There arc probably hundred couples living
in what they deem lawful wedlocll, a connec--
ton which is, however, illegal and void, and
productive only Of illegitimacy; while double
or treble that number are living IN open con-
cubinage. nall of these cases the males are
negroes and the females whites. There is not
an instance on record where the contrary IS
known, white men invariably holding them
selves above such a connection in any stage OF
Of degradation. OF these numbers, most Of
whom are known to the police, many have
been arrested and properly dealt with--De-
troit (Hich) Free Press.
The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-03-14
Massachusetts, to Virginia.

,.r ....---r. .,..-....
- - ~ -, 49, r ,r- - - "S'
". pi, ~: "
80 % ~ e'..i' .'.''' W. 'i'' ''''i -
IN. - nI1S "''n Il ''l '1'' '''5 y, ,, 'i'l
.o ~. .i,i'l -No'' ~ '''' - -'','I '''i','
+ata :. '', 't',,, ~, ',s9'
- s. -. 49,
-, t5 o'5 - ~ T,1i,
"i. = ~ '',''
,;',,, ,.;r D '..>',,,-. -, - s.. 90
+io.,, ,.,',r'I;, ;,t;t,,, - -
I -, ri,''t'2 ',r,'
- =, ',,,, ,'. " 80; ,., ~ ",
,a.. -
-, - - -.
zye h...ioye even i,nnris1n he IN ~,
daros to =, ~ MA a,s, a., -
th,,s
" MessrS. 'rSna1s anu MarEianirS, we
invite you to come 70 Boston; do come. We
viii show you Faneui iiaH-we viii show
ynn Bunker Hi!l mcnGmcnt-we will show
you all over 'Eastin-, bus you must not dare
to poliute our s1cred sol with one cf your
negro slaves, II yog do we will lock on up
in the town Jail But do co1lr nevertheless
We love you very sincerely. True we steal
all YOUR negroes We can. but then, that YOU
The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-03-14
University of the South.

This great undertaking is now established
upon SO firm basis, that even the most skep-
| teal have ceased to doubt the final accom-
plishment of scheme fraught with so much
| interest to the entire South, and which espe-
cially at this crisis in our national affairs, ap-
peals with strong voice TO every citizen OF
the South We know full wen that the foun-
ders of this great undertakips. stand aloot
from all political influences, only to
the future glory and honor 6fttieT common
country, in founding a Uniysfsi Fhich can
not E,il to challenge the admHafNand appro-
baton of men when complete in all its ap-
pointments. That this result will be attained
we will not permit ourselves to doubt.
We have before us pamphlet containing
the proceedings Of the last meeting of the
Board of Trustees il New Orleans, containing
also the constitution and statutes proposed,
synopsis Of which we will give to our readers
in future issue.
BY motion of Hon. George S. Yerger, of
Mississippi, the constitution and statutes as
amended were spread upon the minutes and
the same were referred to the next general
meeting of the Board of Trustees, to be held
in Tennessee fer final consideration and adop-
ton.
Messrs. Geo. S. Yerger, Francis B. Fogg,
and G. n. Fairbanks, the committee on the
subject Of the donation of lands, recommend
ed that the President appoint the Rt Rever-
end Bishops Polk and Elliot as commissioners
to receive any donations for the use and bene-
fit of the University, in lands or money.
On motion of Mr.. Fairbanks, the original
titles of the articles Of the Constitution were
Rt. Rev. James H. Otey, of Tennessee, pre-
sided.
There were present of the Episcopal order,
Rt Rev. Lconidas Polk, 1t. Rev. Stephen El- |
lott, Rt. Rev. VIM. NJ. Green, Rt Rev. F. H. |
and Ri. Rev. II. C. Lay.
Of the Clerical and Lay Trustees, Rev. N.
4. Curtis, n. c.; Rev. W. T. LacoclI, n. O.; |
Rev. David Pise, Tenn; Hons. G.. r. Fair
'anks, Ga; L. II. Anderson, NJ D., Ala
ieo. S. Yerger, of Miss; G. S. Gnion, of La;
!. B. Fogg, and John Armfeld, Tenn.
We learn that more than half million in
money has already been subscribed, and but
me or two Southern States canvassed.
The distinguished character of the gentle
men who are the prime movers in this great
the great need and Importance of
ust such an institution at the South, and tie
liberality of donations already
received, insure permanent and brilliant
success.
The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-03-14
Later From Washington.

WA~HrNGToN, March G.-In the House,
/ Yesterday, MIR. Reagan, Of Texas, offered a
! JOINT resolution that five million dollars be
( p"ced at the disposal Of the President, to de-
/ Tray the expenses Of volunteer forces for the
I suppression Of the hostilites on the Rio
Grande, which was referred to the committee
on military affairs
Mr. Sherman's BILL reducing the rate of
mileage of members to twenty cents per mile,
on a geographical line passed by vote Of 154
to 2l.
The official report says the old capitol is
sufficiently strong to bear the new iron dome,
which weighs thirty-seyen hun lred tons, and
cost $904,O0
The Presidential Convention Of the Consti-
tutional Union party is to meet at Baltimore
on the 9th Of May.
INSTRUCTIONS OF THE MExIcAS MINISTER.
WAsHrNGToN, March 6.-The instructions
gwen TO Mr.. Mclanc, on his departure for
Vera Cruz, authorize him. in terms, to land ma
rineS therein, from the Brooklyn, Savannah
or Saratoga, for the protection of American
citizens and property, unless Miramon gives
adequate guarantees for their safety, in case he
attacks or bombards the city
AENISG THE TEXAS MILITIA.
WAsHNGToY, March Cit is generally un-
dcrstood in military and political circles here,
that the A3jutant General disapproves Of the
proposition to arm and equip the Texas mill
Tia, for tie protection Of the Rio GIande FROM
tier, and the bill approoriating S1,5000OO
there:cr. He thinks the U. S. troops adequate
to the emergency.
A resolution was offered by Mr. Hoard, of
New York, providing for the appointment of
select committee to inquire into the state
ments recently made by Messrs. Adrain, Has
kins and Hickman, charging the President
with having endeavored to bribe them from
what they deemed their proper course of due
ty. After some discussion the resolution was
ahnntel