davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-06-20
UNIVERSITY or MISSISSIPPI,

juno 4th, lS5U. J
DEAR SR:-I have received your note of the
30th ult, and avail myself of the earliest moment
of leisure to reply. In asking my opinion in re-
gard to the shower of stones reported to have
taken place recently in Ohio, I am little in
doubt as to whether you mean TO raise ques-
ton concerning the credibity of this statement,
or of such statements in general; or whether,
admitting the truth of the alleged facts, you
wish to know what theory, if any, science has to
offer to account for them? The latter question
is that which presume you intend.
Accounts of the occasional fall Of stones from
the heavens are to be found in writings of almost
every age; but, until about the beginning of the
present century, they were for the most part
rejected by all but the very credulous. Men Of
science very generally regarded them with some
thing more than distrust. On the 29th of April,
1903, there occurred however, phenomenon oi
this kind in the province of Normandy, in France,
so remarkable on account of the vast number Of
persons by whom it was witnessed, the extensive
area over which the attendant explosions were
heard, and the circumstance that careful inves-
tigation of all the facts was directly afterward
made by order of the French government, by NJ.
Blot, a member Of the Institute of France, and
enc of the most eminent professors of physics
which that country has ever produced, as to SET
at rest forever the question: till then unsettled as
to the reality of the fall, sometimes at least, o
meteoric stones from the atmosphere
1t is true that there had been earlier occur
rences Of a similar nature, of which the accounts
were too well authenticated to permit them tc
be classed with the questionable tales, often
mingled with circumstances manifestly fabulous
Of the Greek and Roman writers; butno vel
attested incident of the kind had attained any
thing like the notoriety which the action Of the
French government and the active interest taken
in the subject by the most distinguished body
Of scientific men in France (and It may be added
in the world Immediately gave to this The IA
nous Italian Mathematician, Cardan, indeed, had
detailed the circumstances attendant on the fal
Of more than a thO5ssand stonesin one shower, al
a place not far from Milan, in the year 1910
The largest of these weighed one hundred AMI
twenty pounds. Gassendi a scarcely less IA
nous Frgleh philosopher, about century later
The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-06-20
HseleOric Showers.

The reader will find on our first page this
morning, very interesting paper from the per
of Prof BARNARD, President of Oxford Universe
ty, on the subject of "NIeteoric Showers" We
published, recently, an account of phcnomnon
of this kind in Ohio and in answer to a letter
from a citizen of Memphis, Prof BARNARD fur.
nishcs an epitome of the history of observations
upon, and the theories which are supposed to
account for, the singular phenomena Of aerolites.
It will be found alike interesting to tho general
and the scientific rcader-.ippeal.
v The following is the letter Of Chancellor BAR
YARD, above referred to. Dir. b. informs us that
it was prepared in haste, with no view to its pub
cation, and, therefore, with less of care to make
the copy lcgible than would otherwise have been
bestowed upon it. Appearing in the APPEAL
without his supervision, it was there disfgurcd
by many errors of the press which he has cor
rcctcd for. the INTELLIGEScER.l v
The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-06-20
The GreaI EcIiDsc.

We have been for some time aware that DR.. Bar
nard, the Chancellor of the University of Missis.
sippi, had been invited to make one of the corps
of astronomers for whose transportation to Cape
Chidley-the extreme northern point Of Labra-
dor-fOr the purpose of observing the eclipse oi
the Sun which will there be total on the 18th Of
July, Congress has made provision, by joint res
0lution; andthat the Trustees Of the University,
while they naturally regret the absence of the
head ofthe Faculty during the interesting exerci-
ees Of the approaching Commencement, which is
necessarily involved in his acceptance Of the in
vitation, had almost unanimously signifed their
willingness in view Of the great scientific impor-
tancc Of the mission, that he should engage IA it.
Dispatches recently received from Washington
give notice that the steamer conveying the expe-
dition will saii from New York on Wednesday
next, (the 27th instantly end DIR. Barnard will
accordingly leave here on the 28rd, N
The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-06-20
From the Southern Herald.

From the Southern Herald
Mr. EDIToR:-I see from your last paper that
in publishing the programme of the commence
ment exercises, to take place at Oxford the latter
part of this month, you state, ''this is the year
in which the class of 1855 agreed to meet and
bring their families" This is a mistake. Tho
class of 1865 promised to meet in ten years from
the time they graduated, and 1865 was the
year agreed upon. hope as many will assem-
ble, however, at the present commencement as
can conveniently do so, and expect to be there
myself but dislike to see the error 20 uncor.
rected have talked with several of the class
and they sll remember it as stated above. A
large number Of that class, who have been
laying ''the 1attering JUNCTION to their soulsr
that they have five more years to run at large.
have not yet paired OF, and 'twouid be hard 10
make these poor unlucky devils pay the expenses
Of the more fortunate % married ones. Besides
my old lady is rery complaining, and the chill.
dren are not wcll and knowing it is not the time
promised to bring en- out, shall leave EN- at
home where they belong. s'Yourn till detb in
great haste with bad PEN"
DE SOTO,
- our correspondent 'De Soto," seems to
oe very positive that the agreed meeting of the
Alumni Of Mississippi University of the class of
1893, does net take place until the year 1855.
several others Of the same graduating class arc
equally positive that the meeting is to be at tho
present commencement We fear that De Sota
'ias laeu to secure the prorequisites-wiie and
emldren-that were to accompany each member
u inc class Of ls55 70 Oxford IN lsoo.- Sost1.
erH Lthal7.
The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-06-20

enthraaed Italy even more mi ssrably than
before.
He is, we repeat, to-day the master of Eu-
rope. lie puts his foot upon the treaty Of
Vienna, and tinorous cabinets, bound fast
ia the trammels of red tape formality and di-
plomatic precedent, wiring their hands in i'm
beetle distress. He "rectifes the boundary"
of France upon the Alps, without consider
ing that it is not rulable for monarch 70
sneeze in Europe without the assent of his
brother potentates, and the startled powers
exclaim against the outrage, and submit
He says to the vagabond despots whom Italy
has spurned from her, "you may return to
your dominions, if The people rant yoa !" but
he says to their more fornidably hackers, you
shall not lift foot in their behalf, and they
swallow their chagrin and remain Inactive
More daring than all, he says to the pope,
"submit gracefully to a necessity which you
cannot overrue; abandon You claim to ter
ritery which is no longer yours and which
you cannot recover; eonfine yourself within
the limits of which you are still secure, and
you shall still enjoy the protection Of France !;
refuse these conditions, and my armies shall
leave you to take care Of yourself" And
though the holy father responds to the ap-
peal with querulous complaints aud angry
menaces, vet the unmoyed mSnarch turns not
to the right hand nor the left; but steadily
goes on preparing to be as good as his word.
The order has gone forth. The French bay
onets which, for twelve years, have proppcd
up the tottcring throne of the Vatican, are
about to be withdrawn; and it is by no means
beyond the limit of possibility, that in less
than another twelve months, the world may
once more see Mazzni in Rome.
For many years the political sky of En-
rope has never presented an aspect so darkly
lowering as at present. For many years
there have not seemed to accumulate at any
one time so many of the elements Of discord
or to gather and combine so many causes
ominously mcnacing the pernanence ofpcace.
But in all these complications, we can dis
cover only evidences of the growing strength
of Napoleon; and we entertain the fullest
conviction, that if he desires peace he can
certainly command, and will unquestionably
maintain it. If hc does not desire it, there
will most assurcdly be arenewal Of war (: and
if war be renewed, We have had too many
evidences of his far-seeng sagacity to doubt
that he will turn it to the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF
France and the accomplishment of his own
purposes and that he will come out of it
in the possession of those very advantages
for the sake of which he went in.
1t has been said, and in general we admit
the Justice of the remark, that it is not safe
to write the history of any man so long as
he is living; but if prudence, sagacty, clear
craftsmanship, and 4 diplomacy hitherto sue
cessful without example, may furnish any
guaranty of the character of yet uncertain
future, Napoleon III is not likely to belle, in
the cvoning of his reign, the promise Of its
nor is Europe lilSely 10 be with
out master, so long as he continues TO bear
the sceptrc of France.
The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-06-20
To Our Cotemporaries of the Press.

We have sent the " IxTELIIGExeEE' to num-
her 0fOur cOtemporaries and from many Of them
have Feeeived very flattering notices. But some
cfthem have forgotten to put our name upon
their excsasge lists. VIII they see TO this
We win return their favors AZ every opportunity,
ard wiz owe them dcAt of gratitude which
Ftall be partially paid IN large instalments, but
mfr ws5olly hquidatcd.
The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-06-20

But Napoleon III is not merely to-day the
ruler of France he is no less the master of
Europe. A single word addressed by him,
eighteen months ago, to the ambassador of
Austria, filed every court with alarm, and
made every inancier in England or on the
continent turn pale. And when Austria, dis
regarding thc'admonition, dared still to go on
in pursuit of her schemes of aggression, the
CELEBRITY with which he threw his legions into
the fields of Italy, and the consunmate skill
with which in person he led them there from
victory to victory, added the last element
that was wanting to complete the overshad-
owing prestige of his name, and to render
France in his hands the arbitress of the des-
tinies of Europe. The very peace of Villa
Franca, loudly as it was exclaimed against,
and greatly as it astonished the world, only
proves to-day how vastly more astute and
penetrating was his foresight than that of the
world which complained. He abandoned
venetia, it is true; but he restored all north
ern Italy, with that exception, to indePen-
denec and peace; and secured to southern
Italy that freedom for selfassertion which
she seems now likely successfully to improve: !:
whereas, had he carried the war into the IA
mons quadrangle, the necessity Of occupying
the Tyroi would inevitably have drawn Prns-
sia and the minor German powers into the
struggle, have extended the conflict to the
Rhine, have opened up a European war Of
colossal dimensions, and have hazarded at
last another peace Of 1915, which might have
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-07-06

eSg- The detection of the Boston Post has
created much surprise thIougho the country
The real secret of the Post is, that it's prin-
cipal proprietor and editor, O. G. Greene, is
Navy Agent Of the port of Boston, an Office
worth from IS 900 to 5000 ayear. His al
tentative was TO support Breckenridge and
Lane and help defeat Douglas or lose his of.
fee, Money triumphed over principle that's
all there Is OF that mystery Journal.
Exactly, and the Journal evidently regards
it as matter of course that money should
triumph over principle with leading Demo-
Gratis. The fact is, it would have been per-
feotly preposterous for spokesman to have
surrendered fat Office during the remnant
of Bachanan's Administration, when there
could not be the ghost of a chance of his
getting one under the next Administration
by supporting Douglas.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-07-06

1t seems that we are 20 have n Rreek;n.
ridge and Lane ticket In lows after all. The
Davenport Gazette reports meeting OF the
stumptails IN that place, Of which L. ID. Ea
gal, Esq, was Chairman, and Alfred Ed.
wards Secretary Acommistee OF five gen.
tlemen was moved TO report resolutions. and
the Chairman appointed Messrs. Corbin, Par.
ker, Burtis, Churchill and Pluinmer. 49,
Speeches were made on the occasion by sew
erai devoted friends OF the candidates and
committee was appointed to correspond
with other portions Of the State and make
arrangements for holding State Convention.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-07-06
liberty "a cure. 10 Labor.rs.

The Memphis Enquirer, the leading Bell
and Everett organ of Tenn essee, 10 very
much disc atisfed with the condition OF free
laborers at the North, which II represents as
most dependent and miserable. And that
journal seeks to excite the envy OF Northern
laborcrs by presenting the happy condition
of Southern slaves in contrast. Read an ex-
tract:
But let as now turn to the South, and see
how fare, those who are known as slaves
We may be able to teach our Northern friends
something, by contrasting their condition
tn that OF the Northern hireing. In the
South the slave 10 conf ortahly clothed, we'll
fed, and carefully housed, for be 10 valuable
to his owner, " o might suffer domestic a.
well az pecuniary inconvenience from any
evil Detailing bis property. But, apart from
the merely pecuniary nature Oh the tie exist
ing between muster and slave, there is an
other, and much stronger one, arising from
long years OF intimate association, which
originates in the heart OF the one feeling
of respect and esteem for the faithful and
willing servant, and in the breast Of the
othor, deep-seated love for the kind and
indulgent master. The patriarchal relation
exists throughout the Southern States in
full force; and here, where slavery is the
rule, there is more real liberty, because &C.
companied by o guarantee against penury
and death, than can be found in the whole
of the Northern States. Here, it lie no an
common occurrence for slave to choose his
own master, nor for the servant to refuse to
be sold unless to such person 40 be may Sc
lect but not ssoh 10 the condition of the
poor laboring white, who is compelled to put
up bis services ut auction, and cell them to
the highest bidder, whet her be be saint or
tyrant.
What great isy the Bell and Everett peo-
pie can't extend the blessings of the patri-
archal Institution for the benefit OF Northern
laborers, so that they could choose their own
massers, instead OF being compelled to work
for the men who will pay them the highest
wages
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-07-06

CosoRRsstoNAL NcHNATIoss.-E Edward w.
CAN'T has been nominated for Congress by
the Democracy in the Second District Of Ar
kansas. The place Is now filed by Col Rust,
whose afhliation with squatterism has laid
him out dead, dead, dead.
James A. Jones announces himself az can
didate for Congress, ia the Second Distric,
OF Arkansas, on the Bell and Everett plat
fern.
Hon. Samuel n. Curtis, who 10 certainly
one OF the smartess men in the anti slavery
ranks, bias been re-nominated for Congress
in the First District of lowa.-TCorrespo
dent N. Y. Day Book.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-07-06

WAeHrEoroN, July 2.-F. w. Williams
Secretary of Legation to Chinn, arrived hers
direct from the Emperor, bearing the rati.
fed treaty with this government and IN an.
tograph letter from bis Highness to the
President, and presented both OF these doc
uments to the Department OF State to- day.
He brings no political news OF Importance.
The aspect OF affairs were not altogether en-
oouraging. Considerable depression pre-
vailed ia commercial and other circles, grow
ing out of the troubles with England and
France.
No practical progress whatever has been
made toward the settlement of the San joan
affair. Both governments still insist upon q
perfect title, and neither is likely to surren-
der. An arbitration to some neutral power
was suggested, months ago, but was not
pressed owing to other engagements OF the
administration.
SYRACUSE, July 3.--The National Demo-
cratic Committee met here day and issued
. call for State Convention to nominate
Presidential Electors pledged to vote for
Breckinridge and Lano. Resolutions were
adopted recognizing Breckinridge and Lane
as the regular nominees of the Demo cra,ic
party and pledging themselves to sustain
them in the present campaign.
PHILADELPHIA, July 8.
Forney's Press bitterly opposes the action
Of the State Central Committee, and calls
Tor mass meeting OF the Democrats 10 purge
the electoral ticket, and out loose from the
disunionists forever. 1t also favors union
OF Douglas, Bell and Lincoln men, to keep
she election out Of Congress, where Lane
will certainly be successful.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-07-06

The Statesman says the 'apostacy Of Brock.
inridge and Lane does not surprise us
Learning as we did, some months ago, that
they were both dead in the Six Million Ore.
gon and Washington War Debt, nothing that
they could now do would assenish us in the
least Both were before the Charleston
Convention for the Presidential nomina-
tion," 30.
The question is, what would have been the
language OF the Statesman, had they and. mot
Douglas and shat other fellown been nom
mated at Baltimore Another question.
Would the Statesman in that case, have said
anything about s'the Sir Million Oregon and
Washington War Debt ?"-[ Ohio State
Journal.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-07-06

II wasn't for Mr.. Douglas, but for princi
pis--ta. pi,asip.s os SS4u.s;ot Sovereignty
and non protec that the Doug lasitss per-
sisted in course which divided the Demo
cratic party. Oh, mol They are honest.
self-saorifcinE mer, willing to die, il need be.
on the altar Of principle! Yet, after they
had accomplished the work projected, they
showed how sincere they were in nominatin o
for Vice President Mr.. Fitzpatrick, who with.
in the last six weeks, voted for the Senate
Caucus resolu'ons, which repudiated Squat.
ter Sovereignty, and declared for protection.
- louisville Courier.
Aud in nominating johnson, they showed
most tender and patriotic regard for the
Union, by taking an avowed Disunioniss for
the Vice Presidency. These Douelasites,
verify, are great sticklers for princple. The
eloqueat Goulieu OF Georgia, who sup
ports Douglas as he declares, because his
non-iptervention humbug is specially favor
able TO the African slave trade and TO slave
breeding, has more consistency than all the
Northern Douslasises put togsthsr.--[Cin-
oinnsti Gasstte.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-07-06
GOV. seward Coming To michigan .
From the Detroit Tribune, j uue 30l

From the Detroit Tribune, Juue 30.l
II will be gratifying to the many friends
of Gov. Seward in Michigan--and that en-
braces the Republican party in the State--to
be informed that he will at nm early day in the
present campaign, visit Michigan, and address
the people on the political Issues Of the day.
We give below a letter received from him on
the eghiect and invite the attention of every
Republican 10 the State to lite contents. Ii
hreathes that uniform personal magnanimity
which characterize his life, and will be read
with pleasure and profit by oil who respect
him. Let it's admonitions be responded to
by every Republican heart. Due notic 90 of
the time and place where Gov. Seward will
address the people OF Michigan will be given
hereafter:
AuBuRN, June 80, 1860.
My DEAR SiR.-Your kind letter awakens
sentiments which will not undertake TO ex-
press. My heart overaows with affection
and gratitude TO my friends and the whole
Republican people of Michigan. To the full
extent of my ,ility, their wishes shall al.
ways be to me as effective as a command
| Ry .and-by after some respite al home-from
which have teen absent, except ia q few
stolen visits eigteen months-I will meet YOU
as you propose. But in the meantime, do
not let your Committee wait for me. Let
them proceed TO organize and concentrate
the energies of tho Republicans under the
leadership Of the worthy and distinguished
candidate approved by the Convention at
Chicago, assured that would feel it . ca
lamity. and slmost o reproach to myself
throughout my remaining life. II any one OF
tho loyal patriots with whom have acted 40
long, should fail back from his advanced 20.
sition 10 the coming engagement, the frst
one ain sure, ia long series OF national
triumphs Of our righteous cause.
Very faithfully yours,
WILLIAM II. SEWARD.
j. w. TIiLxAS, Chairman, DC.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-07-06

| from the line OF the Republic of Mexico, not
only up to SO deg. 80 min, but up to>28 deg.
GIVING roc DgoREE AND 4<kr MORE
sLAvE TERRITORY TRAN ROT EVER CLAIMED. -.-
In lSaS and lS49 and 1850, you only asked
TO have the line of SO deg. 30 min. The
Nashville Convention fixed that as it's ulti.
matum. offered il in the Senate In August,
ls4S, and il was adopted here but rejected
in the House of Representatives. You asked
only up to &c deg. 80 min, and non inter-
vention has given you slave territory up to
SO deg, degree and half more than You
asked; and yet say that this is sacrifice OF
Southern rightsp
THESE ARE THE FRUITS OF THIS
PRINCIPLE which the Senator from Missis-
sippi regards as hostile to the rights of the
South. Where Old you ever get any other
fruits that were more palatahie 10 your taste
or more refreshing to your strength2 What
other inch of free territory has been con-
verified into slave territory on the American
continent, since the Revolution, except in
New Mexico and Arizona, under the princi-
pie of non-intervention affirmed at Charles
ton. III 1t be true that this principle OF non
Intervention has conferred upon you all that
immense territory; has protected slavery in
that comparatively northern and cold region
where you did not expect il to go, cannot
You trust the same principle further South
when you come to acquire additional terri
tory from Mexico, which Was surrounded ON
nearly every side by free territory2 Will not
the same principle protect you in the north
ern States of Mexico when they are acquired,
since they are now surrounded by slave ter
ritory are several hundred miles further
South have many degrees of greater heat;
and have a climate and soil adapted TO South
ern products Are you not satisfied with
thesepractical results? Do you desire to
| appeal from the people of the Territories to
the Congress of the United States TO settle
this question in the Terrisoriesp When you
distrust the people and appeal to Congress,
with both Houses largely against you on this
question, what sort of protection will you
get? Whenever you ask q slave code from
Congress to protect your institutions in a
Territory where the people do not want il,
you will get that sort Of protection which the
wolf gives to the lamb; you will get that
sort OF friendly hug that the grizzly bear
gives to the infant. Appealing to an anti
slavery Congress TO pass laws OF protection,
with view OF forcing slavery upon an I'M
willing and hostile people!
Thus have we shown that popular eover-
eighty has been surrendered to the slavery
propagandist DEGREES of the Supreme Court,
and that the only thing which Douglas boasts
OF having accomplished by bis principle of
non-snteYcentioa is very wide extension OF
the area of slavery.