Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1860-12-14


the Uuion, tend greatly to this result, ans
confidence IN the government is growing less
IL ir believed that the speedy assembling o
the COMMITTEES of Thirty three of the U6us,
viii contribute much to allav the presen
feeling and revive confidence in the business
community.
From the correspondence Of the New Yorh
Tribune
- The speaker changed his mind At lat.
hour last night in regard 70 the time OF an
nouncing the Special Committee on Mr.. Bot
elcr's resolution under appeals Of conserya-
tive Southern men, who desired their expert
ments Immediately started. in the hope Of ar
resting the secession movement.
The War Department distributed $500 600
stand of arms in the slave States during the
last year; but less liberal proportion in the
free States. One hundred thousand dollars
worth of muskets of old pattern, which cost
$l4 were recently sold for 81 So each, when
they might have been easily supplied with
modern improvements. Perhaps they will
be sold to government again at full price, af-
tel being altered at slight expense.
The following extract from 4 letter written
by a lady in South Carolina. to relative in
New York has been made public:
=" You may imagine, dear uncle, our stu
alton, but you never can realize it in its full
nesss. Already we tremble in our own
homes in anticipation and expectancy Of
what is liable to burst forth at any moment.
negro instruction. Could you see the care
and precaution displayed here by the propri-
etors OF the negroes, not only planters, but
others, you would not for moment envy us
our possessions. Not night passes that we
do not securely lock our field servants in
their quarters; but our most loved and val
ued house servants who in ordinary times we
would trust to any extent, are watched and
guarded against with all the scrutiny aai
care that we possess.
Our planters and owners Of slave property
do not allow their servants to have any IN
tercoase with each other, and the negroes
are confined strictly 10 the premises where
they belong. We are obliged to increase
our force of oyerseers to prevent too free in
tereOursc even among our own servants
The negroes feel and notice these new re
strants, and naturally ask " Why is this?"
But 1t is unnecessary for them to ask the
question, for they all comprehend the cause
as well as we who own them. They have al
ready learned enough to give them an idea
OF what is going on in the State and nation,
and this knowledge they have not gained
from abolitionists, rs some suppose but from
the conversation OF their owners, indirectly
held IN their presence. They have already
heard of Lincoln's election. and have heard
also that he is for giving them their liberty,
and yon may imagine the result.
You have heard that our servants all love
their masters, and their masters families, and
would lay down their lives Tor them-that
the colored race in the South prefers slavery
to trcedom-that they would not be free If
they could. &c, &c. That is but the poetry
of the case the realty consists tn Sleeping
upon our arms at night-in doublv boiling
and barring our doors-in establishing and
maintain ~ an efficient patrol forc2-in buy
ing watch-dogs and in taking turns in watch
ing oar sleeping children. to guard them and
ourselves from the vengeance Of these same
flowing servants. vengeance which though
now sInoulderng, is liable to burst out at
any moment, to oyerwhclm the State in spite
OF the Palmetto flags or State precautions
You at the North are not the only ones
who are suffering financially by this n ew pan.
ic. The planters among US are really stuff
ering from the depreciation in their pr per
ty. Already negroes are not worth nalf
price. No one dares to buy a servant, fear
ing lest he, in doing so, should be introdnc-
ing upon his plantation ne tinctured with
the idea Of freedom
My husband has a few servants-I believe
but thirty-one. all told-stll feel, and 50
does he, that they are thirty-9ne to many in
such times as these. lie wonld sell them im-
mediately II it were possible; but the truth
il, he could realize nothing for them NJ pres
ent, or at most not over half their real value
Slaves are drug in the market, my husband
says, aad you know him we'll enough u Judge
OF his judgment in such matters.
Now, one word as to the military force Of
the State to protect us against an nsurrect-
ion. ! presume, with the exception of
Charleston and derhaps few large towns
that the remainder of the State is situated
very much as we are here and will give
you an idea OF how well prepared we are to
resist mob. Upon our place Of about 1900
acres We have: of whites, males-husband
two overseers, and my son Of Is years total
four self and cousin, little Lucy, and one
OF the oyerseers' wite-four; of whom only
four at the most are capable of bearing arms
TO Offset which We have at least seventeen
field h4nds-stardy young negroes-besides
the female servants. And this is a fair rep
resentation of the force upon our plantation.
SoHsiueFinS sucn state OF lactS, do you
blame me for desiring to absent myself, my
husband and children from the State?
A letter from Charleston says:
g At present the United States Arsenal
here is guarded by Charleston volunteer
company, whose services the Government (be-
ing without troops fits own) accepted. /,
is presumed that when secession shall have
been declared, the Charleston Volunteers will
consider their term of service under the Gen
eral Government up and it is not unlikely
that the ord.r Of things will then be revere
ed, and the Arsenal, with 80 ,000 stand OF
arms, delivered over to the State OF South
Carolina. Certainly South Carolina may well
assure Mr. Buchanan that she has no quarrel
with him. Why should she quarrel with au
Administration that thus makes rebellion
easy ?''
PoLrIcAL.-The House Committee on the
State of the Union consist of sixteen Repub
hcans. fourteen Democrats, and three South
ern Opposition.
There are but six Douglas men in the Nir-
ginia Legislature-two in the Senate and foul
in the House of Delegates.
The Southern United States Senators meet
in caucus this evening to discuss the great
topic. Senator Crittendcn will attend and
press his proposition for the safety of tht
Union.
The Washington correspondent Of the New