davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-15
The Kansas Sufferers.

Thaddeus Hyatt continues to telegraph
east for more money, food, and clothing for
the Kansas sufferers The destituiion and
suffering are alarming, and If the people at
the east should slack at all in their efforts,
starvation and death will then begin: and it
is quite probable if more strenuous efforts
are not made Immediately that starvation
may actually occur in many instances. In
one of his appeals Mr. Hyatt complains that
nothing has been received from the Boston
committee. This is mistake; special a
gent has already gone to Kansas with over
$4,000, and the treasurer appeals for $780,
900 more within the next fortnight not that
the immediate necessities of the people re-
qnire such an effort on the part of one COM
mi:tee, but these Kansas people must have
wheat for spring sowing or they will raise no
more this year than they did last.
We are glad to notice that tie New York
legislature has appropriated 100000 to aid
these sufferers, and that in some of the large
cities and towns, meetings have been held
and committees appointed to canvass the CITY
tor subscriptions. Have We in St Johnsburv
done ali We can for Kansas? There is no
time to be lost, the call is imperative.
Many instances of severe suffering are re-.
lated by the agents at Atch;son. Mr. c. II.
Brainard, who is employed in the distribu-
ton of supplies at Atchison, writes in a re-
cent letter to William c. Bryant of New
York:
YESTERDAY afternoon a young woman by
the name Of Harriet Harris arrived from OF
tawa county. one hundred and eighty miles
distant, with female infant only eleven
months old. She was on the road no less
than twenty-four days, having been detained
fourteen days at South Forks by severe
storm and the illness of her child. She was
most scantily cad, having no garment suita-
bile tor winter save an old shawl, badly worn.
She was only saved from freezing bv some
bed clothing brought by the driver of the
team. Her husband left her two months
ago to look for work, and has not since re-
turned. She has friends in Wisconsin, and
Tomorrow she will be sent forward by Gen
eTal Pomeroy, after receiving supply of
needed clothing. This poor woman, who is
not twenty-one years old, and quite attract
i've In her personal appearance, informs me
that there are about twenty-five families in
the neighborhood she has just left, and that
starvation stares them in the face. 1t was
reported that one woman and two children
had actually persisted with hunger. Before
the Kansas relief committees had begun to
make their labors felt in the distant counties,
tins unfortunate woman and her neighbors
had exhausted every particle of food, and
were only saved from starvation and death
by some buffalo hunters, who generously
supplied them with a sack of tiou-."
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-15
Temperance Convention.

The convention called by the committee
appointed by the Caledonia County Young
Mems Temperance Society, assembled in the
Town Hall, in St Johnsbury, Feb IL, 1861,
and proceeded to elect Rev p. Merrill presi-
dent, and iona. Ross secretary. The COM
mittee reported that they had failed to induce
Hon J. d. Bell to accept the nomination of
county commissioner, and the forenoon was
occupied in general consultation in refer
ence to the course best to pursue, to secure
the best interest of the temperance cause.
AFTERNooN.-A motion was made that
committee of three delegates from each town
represented be appointed to present the name
Of some suitable person for a candidate for
the office of county commissioner. Pending
this motion the names of several persons
were suggested in connection with the office
OF commissioner, when Hon B. n. Davis and
also Judge Dana withdrew the name of Hon
j. ID. Bell, and Geo. W. Cahoon, esq, with
drew the name Of J. W. Colby, esq.
The motion prevailed and the committees
were appointed. The committee, after hav-
ing retired for the purpose, came into the
convention and through their chairman re-
ported that they had unanimously agreed to
present the name of Hon Thomas J. Cree of
Wheelock, as candidate for county commits
sioner.
The convention, by rising vote, unani-
mously accepted and adopted the report of
the committee, voted that the secretary cause
the proceedings of this convention to be pub
lished in the county papers, and that he also
procure and circulate in the several towns
in the county, printed votes for commissioner
J. ROSS. Secretary.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-15
Severe Weather.

There was more severe weather experienced
in Massachusetts last week than here, if pos
sible. In and around Boston, on Thursday
night and Friday the wind blew gale, and
the mercury indicated from - to 2Oo below
zero. Business ~as entirely suspended out
of doors on Friday, from necessity. Very
many persons were badly frost-bitten, and
We regret to learn that several were frozen
to death. The Journal of Saturday gives
several instances of accident occurring from
the severe wind.
\ coach proceeding from Chelsea to North
Chelsea was blown over. Fortunately there
were no passengers, and the driver escaped
unhurt. One of the Mechanical Bakery
bread wagons was overturned Friday morn
ing. 1t had just been loaded when gust
upset it. scattering the bread in all directions.
\ female named Ellen Donovan belonging
in Quincy,was passing along kneeand street
when she was taken up from her feet by the
wind and carried across the street, distance
of some twenty feet, and fell upon the curb
stone, striking upon her forehead and receiv-
ing very severe cash. nearly three inches in
length. As DIR John Jeffries was driving a
long Beacon street, his carriage vas over
turned by the force of the wind, and the doc.
tor was thrown violently out upon the frozen
ground and ice, dislocating one of his arms.
4 man walking on the track of the Lowell
railroad, near Somerville Centre station,
Thursday night. was thrown down by the
gale, and was badly wounded by striking his
face upon one Of the rails on the track. A
large poo. Of blood was found frozen on the
spot next morning
The gale extended to Baltimore Southwark
to Canada Northward and considerably fur
Their, probably. At the former city, the walls
and chimneys of 80 houses were demolished,
trees were uprooted, and the tide lowered
three feet. AT Philadelphia and New York
/. was famous but not SO destructive signs,
awnings, chimneys. etc, suffered Through
cut New York state, in addition to the blow,
there was heavy snow-storm, and tempera-
ture of to l6 below zero. At Toronto
the snowstOrm was severer than ever before
known. Railroad trains are hindered by
drifts, and on the Grand Trunk road are en-
tirely stopped
Franklin Wilmington of Dorchester, and a
man named Smith of Newton Corner, were
both frozen to death. They were both riding,
and were either thrown out of their sleighs,
or got out of their own accord.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-15
YAZoo CITY, Jan. 90, 1861

nv Dear Brother Next week l leave
slave states. Mississippi thinks she is out OF
the Union, and that all the slave states will
be soon. May be, may not be. | choose to
be in the Union. GAS to the political difficult
ties" there are none except such as the wire
workers South have wanted for years as cap
ital to induce the people mere to revolt from
the United States. The split in the demo-
cratic party was effected for no other purpose
than to secure the election of Lincoln. His
election is capital enough. The people are
befooled, both here and at the North, by GER
tain ones behind the curtain. The common
run of politicians, and the newspapers are
the "cat's-paw." You Northerners now ought
to drop all other questions and sustain the
administration in maintaining the L. S. gov
eminent over the seeding states. Nothing
will do but the most determined resistance to
the North. No matter what is said or pro-
fessed, depend upon it, the South, in this
movement, aims at nothing else than the o.
verthrow of the popular government, and to
put all the power into the hands of slavehol-
t ders. You can theorize while at distance
on either side of the question, and make it
seem fair. But facts are stubborn. Slavery
is an evil every way-political, pecuniary and
moral. There is already more than enough
of it. Abide by the constitution. Have no
more slave states. There is already too much
slave interest in Congress. Three-ttths of
the slaves are reckoned in forming Congress
ional districts. What has the North to bal
ance that? You may as we'll reckon your
horses or sheep. Though abolitionism is
wrong; yet ant-savery is not wrong. Slavery
extension will drench this land in blood 1t
is only question of time. Keep slavery
where it now is and the evil will be less, and
it will die out in some way in progress of
time In the main, the republicans are ri sht.
the South can have her constitutional right
in the Union, even as to slavery but not
one groat more to save the sky from falling
Be influenced by the constitution. and not BY
newspapers, party issues, party hopes, and
party fears. Var is iueritabls. 1t may
be short, yet most likely otherwise. The
leaders South want it it is their only hope
Of final success in changing the governments
into slave aristocracy. Remember that this
is the key to everything here. If the peopl.
here should see this before it is too tate. the,
will react with a tremendous rctribution.
Atfcctionatey. &c.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-15
Ypfal aud State Aews.
Brief Locals.

Don't forget the Promenade Concer. q.
the Town Hall, Friday evening.
An adjourned meeting Of the executive
committee of the Agricultural Society VI. f.-
held the 10Th. See advertisement.
Several ladies pins Of greater Or les,
value, have been lost the past week, viii.
only one that we are aware Of, land tia. q
the lesser value) has been found the ovn.r
of which can have it by calling at this ofiic.
and proving property. Also. any person ha,
ing found any other of the above articles
can probably find an owner fer the same ty
making suitable enquiries at the same place
The terrible cold, blow and SLOW CT las.
week was followed by good generous thax
on Monday and Tuesday. The snow We.
settled over foot in this section, and IL,
tops of fence posts are now plainly vi.a..e
peep:ng out through the snow. Spcakin, {
snow, man told US that up to the 81 II
Goshen Gore) the snow was five feet deep
on level so that man of the average
hight, five feet and nine inches, would PIE
sent only his head visible above the snow =
One more good storm would cover him z,
entirely.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-15
A Prophecy.

1t is we'll known by his intimate friends,
that Hon George P. Marsh Of this state has
entertained fears for the safety of our gov
eminent for several years past, and that he
has on many occasions freely expressed those
forebodings. A person who was passing in
the cars from Montpelier to White River
Junction just after the October elections of
1856, communicates the following to the Con-
cord Statesman
Among the passengers in the same car
with myself, was Hon George p. Marsh, our
minister to Turkey during the administration
of MIR Fillmore. Beside several other gen.
tlemen, there was the Rev John Circuit, agent
of the American Colonization Society. We
were seated near Mr. Marsh. The topic of
conversation was the pending presidential e.
lection. Mr. Marsh remarked, "There is no
doubt of Mr. Buchanan's election. But" he
added, "he ,riU be the last President Of the
United States," laying special emphasis on
the word United. "What makes you think
so, Mr. Marsh ?" asked. "Why," says he
"Mr Buchanan has no qualifications, either
mental or moral, to prepare him for the Of.
flee. He is mere politician and demagogue
and he will be the mere tool OF Southern
shareholders. His antecedents are all bad
and his principal advisers and cronies are
unprincipled men, such as Daniel Sickles ant
George B. Sanders. Besides, the South vii
demand of the free states things which the,
will never consent to grant" He then refer
red to the suit pending before the supreme
court, since known as the bred Scott case
He distinctly foreshadowed the decision of
the court in that action, and said, "On thu
strength of that decision, the South vii
claim that slave property is legalized in al
the states and territories the same as othe
property. Slaveowners will demand tn
right Of carrying their slaves, not only int
ali the territories, but also the right of tran
sit, with their human chattels, through al
the states together with the right to TAX
them wherever they have occasion to travel
or soiourn temporarily, i'll any part of tn
country. This monstrous claim will be resis
ted, and then some Of the slaveholding state
will secede. and our glorious Union be bro
ken up. Yes, gentlemen, l think James Bu
chanan uW be the last President of these Tn,
ted States" Will Mr. Marsh prove tru
prophet !? Alas . thick coming events seer
to cast such shadows before.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-15
Fatal Effects of the Cold.

Samuel Smell of this town. was So chi.-.
by being out in the cold last week on Thurs
day that he died on Tuesday of this week
1t appeared from his own account th.t lie
started from this place 10 go TO Shethell o.
Thursday forenoon, and when he got to w.
don he was so cold that he stopped TO wan
himself and thought ne would tarn hack al.
not try to go further, but for some reason l.
changed his mind and pushed on to Shtttie.
Here he stopped TO warm at d. p. kenda.,
but still determined to 60 some miles far.he.
to his mothers that night. After leaving NJ
kendalls he encountered drifts of snow Of -
formidable a character that he was Obliged :.
get out of his sleigh and make a path for rs
horse. In this work he got so Thoroughly
chilled that it did not seem as though he
could live to reach his mothers house hu:
he drove on till be came TO the cross roa.
which led TO his expected destination. wLc-
he found that the drifts had completely blocA-
ed up the road. even covering the fences, a.
to get through would be utterly impossible,
What should he do9 All this time the wiz.
was blowing gale and the snow was Drift
ing higher and higher. He espied house
about a mile distant, and to this he turned
his horse. After much toll he reached tie
house. benumbed and almost frozen to I'm
it closed and deserted. There was but one
alternative. lie retraced his steps through
the terrible drifts he had just encountered.
nearly three miles to d. 7. Kendall's house.
which he finally reached, more dead than a
live. Here he was cared for and medica.
skill obtained, but he gradually sunk unit
Tuesday. when he died His remains were
brought TO this place for intermen: and SOM,
idea can be had of the storm. and what he
encountered on that terrible day. when i !,
known that his remains had to be bruush:
three miles on a hand-sled before they
reached place where at cam could he driver.
There were many other cases of severe freez-
ing in this vicinity, but tie above is the only
very serious one that We know of.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-15
Letter from Mississippi.
To the Editor of The CaiedOn,dn.

10 the Editor OF Inc CdtedONt0h.
am permitted to communicate for publ
cation the following letter from an old and
respectable citizen from Yazoo City, Mississ-
ippi, to his brother in this county, who was a
needed supporter of Mr. Douglas for the
presidency.
The letter goes to confirm the evidence
which is daily accumulating that the South
ern revolution is not tie result Of Lincoln's
election, and was not, in any degree, depend
ent upon the issue of the presidential can
vass. The scheme was matured previously,
and with the full purpose of carrying it into
execution at the present time, regardless of
the presidential election.
No concessions-no offers of compromise
no peaceful overtures from the states Car
avail to stay the revolution. The secession
leaders will hasten the conflict, fearful that i
delayed, the sober second thought ofthe peo
pie will oblige them to retrace their steps,
Hence the refusal in all the cotton states t
submit the ordinance of secession to the pop
ular vote. Z. F..
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-15
Mr.. LincOln's journey.
IMPORTANT SPEECH At INDIANAPOLI

On his route yesterday from Springfield to In
dianapolis, Mr. Lincoln spoke briefly to crowds
of people at the depots. in Decatur. Tolono, Dan
Vile and State Line. He was welcomed to In
dianapclis with salute of "a guns and grand
pageant, including the governor and both houses
of the legislature, public officers, the military
and fremen. He rode in carriage drawn by
four white horses, amid great enthusiasm and a
vast crowd =,
Mr. Lincoln acknowledged the honors paid
him, and smoke from the balcony OF the bates
House. He thanked the people for the support
given by Indiana to the true and Just cause Co.
ercon and invasion are terms much used now
with temper and hot blood. Let us not misun-
der stand their meaning, nor the meaning OF those
who use them. Let us get their meaning from
men who deprecate the things they would repre-
sent BY their use. What is the meaning OF these
words: Would marching an army into South
Carolina with hostile attempt be invasion 4:
think it would. and would be coercion, if the
! South CarOiinians are forced to submit.
But if the United States should merely hold
and retake its own forts, collect duties or with
hold mail facilities where habitually violated
would any or all these things be invasion oil
coercion Do professional Union lovers. rcsolv
ed to resist coercion, understand such things
If they do. their idea is light and airy.
| In their view the Union, family relation
would seem no regular marriage. but sort o
J free love arrangement, to be maintained by per
sonal attraction.
In what consists the special sacredness of
state: speak not of the position assigned
state in the Union by the constitution. for by tn
bond all recognize that position. however
state cannot carry II out.
If state and county possess equal rights i,
territory and inhabitants. in what. matter O
principle, is a state better than county: Woul,
an exchange of names be exchange of rights =
By what rightful principle may a state, being no
more than tifticth part of nation in soil O
population, break up the nation and then coerc
the larger division Of itself.
What mysterious power is conferred on dis
trict of country with its people. by merely calln
it state
Mr.. Lincoln. in conclusion, said he was no, a.
sertinS anything. but asking questions for then
to consider and decide in their own minds, wha
is right and what is wrong.
J Governor Morton. being loudly called for. spok
iii brief cOngratulatOry terms to the immens
multitude, which seemed to forget all etiquette
At in the evening, Mr., Lincoln held recep,io
a: the Bates House. He leaves Wednesday
10 a. m. for Cincinnati.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-15

ing her to all the evils of a slaveholding COM
munity, while she vill be compelled to be-
come gradually free state without its ad-
vantages. The great controversy which now
impends in Virginia and the other border
states will be watched with intense interest
by both sections. The election in Virginia
authorizes hope and invites to effort, but it is
not to be disguised that the issue is far from
certain. and therefore the action of the peace
convention and of the Virginia state conven-
ton involve most important and decisive con-
sequences. Whatever the North can honor.
ably do to induce right decision must not
be left undone.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-15
Temperance Commissioner.

The temperance convention in this place
on Wednesday, nominated T. J. Cree, Esq,
Of Wheelock, for county commissioner We
can see two reasons why this is an eIcelleE;
nomination, aside from the fitness o. Judge
Cree for the office. First, as the comn.:ss!o!.-
ers of late years have all been taken from
the Southern or Western part Of the county
it is proper that the next commissioner should
be chosen from the Northern section art
secondly, Judge Cree is member Of -
democratic party, and it is well known tia:
commissioner has never been chosen from
that organization, which fact of its,..t LIS
been the occasion Of much feeling ard CO..
siderable talk. We hope that the Temperance
republicans will now show their pol,ica. ~
ponents that they can vote for and work IL
a democratic nominee for commissioner,Hhtr
he is the right kind of man in principe
just as heartily as they would for ore :aata
from their own ranks. We believe they ".
do it.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-15
By Telegraph.
Counting of the Votes for President
LINCOLN AND HAMLIN
Declared Elected.
no DISTURBANCE ANTICIPATED.
Later from Sumter and the Peace Congress-
" ASHINGToN. Feb. l..

ASIIINGToN. Feb. Is.
The long agony is over. Breckenridge has
Just declared Abraham Lincoln, President of
the United States, and Hannibal Hamlin
Vice President, for the next four years.
There is considerable excitement, but eyery-
thing 81 quiet. Statutes will be fired soon.
Several southcrners here look chagrired and
disappointed.
At the close of the ceremony of counting
the presidential votes the L. S. troops were
reviewed by Gen Scott.
Ex-secretary Guthrie's proposition, which
comes next to that of Mr. Adams in the
minds OF northern men, and which is far pre-
ferable to the Crittenden amendments, will
probably be adopted by the peace conven-
ton.
Before The House adjourned to-day, Mr.
Hlndman of Ark. moved that Gen Scott he
notified that the armed mercenaries are now
10 longer needed for the defense of the capi-
tai.
Gov Hicks testified to-day before the spe-
clal committee of Congress that he knew of
no plan to invade Washington.
Distinguished southerners seem to think
that the Montgomery Congress was some
what has,y, and assert that if England calls
Georgia to account for outrages on the sea
captain, that they will be glad to come back
to the Union.
II is reported that secret attempt was
made by the mob to start the great floating
battery at Charleston for Fort Sumter last
night, but were frustrated by the city au-
thorities.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-15
4 Terrible Night.

Thursday nighttime eth inst, was the worst
night within the memory of the "oldest il
habitant." The wind blew a gale all might
and though no houses were demolished il
this vicinity, the fact can be accounted f..
only on the superstition that they were fro
zen so solid to terra frmd that no powc.
could move them. The mercury fell below
30 which was very unusual if not W.
heard of circumstance for windy night
The wind did not abate till towards night on
Friday, and the mercury ranged several d.
grees lower than it did on the "cold FRIDAY
which our grandfathcrs delight to tell about,
The storm extended as far South as Philadr.-
phia and Baltimore where it did much dam
age,aS it also did at Boston and vicinity.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-15

u If anybody is anxious as to Mr. Lin
coins backbone perhaps the following pas
sage from letter of Chicago lawyer to a
friend in Boston will give some reinsurance
lie has as much back bone as any man in
America. know him we'll. A better man
does not live. He is kind-bearted, but a
man of principle and a man OF courage. Per-
sonally he has the strength of two ordinary
men, being all bone ard muscle, and mis- will
is in proportion to his strength when he be-
lleves himself 10 the right"
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-15
The Musical Convention.

The musical convention held in this place
last week, closed its interesting exercises hv
grand concert on Friday evening. We
repeat what we heard remarked many times,
when We say it was a complete success. 1,
was acknowledged by all that Mr. Root wa>
just the man for the place he occupied, or
as \. Ward would say, he has found lis
fort" The concert was said to be one a
the best musical entertainments ever heayt
in this place. We hope We may meet Tx
same company with the same teacher her a
gain sometime.