Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-03-07
Letter from Columbus.
Tho Irrepreasible Niggcr--1Iis Or
igin--the Cabinct--Mr. Chase--
his Probable ew
Penitentiary--Tbe Chronioie.

COLUMBUS, March 2, 1861.
DEAR CHRONICLE. The discussion on
the irresponsible" niger which alluded
to last week as raging SO fiercely, continued
with undated virulence until "Wednesday
evening, occupying just week Of the ses-
sion. The argument assumed an unprecc-
dentcd width Of range, extending from the
present time, back to some eight or nine
thousand years before the creation Of Adam,
according to the Mosaic record. One en-
thusiastic Hebrew Democrat, in his indus
trious efforts to disprovc the usually presum-
ed relationship which exists between the
black and white races, promulgated the Tai
mudic idea of the origin Of the Ethiopian
race. He argued that tho black race was in
existence some 5000 before Adam creation,
and that one Of this black race was the ''ser-
pent" which tempted Eve; that the fruit
Of that temptation was our fratricidal ances-
tor-Cain. This, now, may be taken as
the Democratic version Of the origin Of
"Sambo." Dating as it does, so long back
of the time when he is usually presumed to
have originated, namely, after Old Noah
had got over his first spree, and feeling rather
crusty with his next morning S headache, and
being unable to find his pantaloons. blamed
our uncle Ham for appropriating them, and
pronunced the celebrated curse which DOOM
ed the present African race to the tender
mercies of the peculiar Missionary institu-
ton of America; this last argument say
must of course supcrcede the other, and will
doubtless find place in the next Democrat
ic platform, should there ever be such a
thing again. A..
This week augmentation, to which l
alluded, was also rather laughable in its re-
suits, as comparison of the speeches and
votes will show. Not less than twenty Dom
ocrats made long and labored speeches in
favor of the bill under consideration (H. B.
No. $50; To prevent giving aid to fugitive
slaves) And on Wednesday last when the
vote was taken on its ongrossment, which
was made test question, every Democrat
on the floor poted against IL. 1t is hugely
amusing to see the Democratic speeches pub
lished in the Statesman, advocating the pas
sage of this bill as a means Of salvation to
the country, by conciiating the South, &C.,
and in the same paper to see that every
Democrat voted against the bill. Their
prolix and windy speeches seem to have failed
even to convince themselves of the proprie-
ty of the bill.
The Cabinet imbroglio seemed to tighten
up letter yesterday by the receipt of a dis
patch saying that it was definitely settled
that Chase would go into the Cabinet
This, while it rejoiced the friends of Mr..
Chase, reused the ire of those Republicans
known as ''nominals'' hereabouts, and their
curses were not loud but deep, long and bit
ter. The subscriber, however, as you are
well aware, entertains so high an opinion of
Mr. Chase as to rejoice at every advance
ment conferred upon him, feeling confident
that no better man, nor purer Is no,o eDtant
To all who have closely watched Mr. Chase's $
public career, and will remember how light
ly the bonds of party set on him when the
true interests of the country were at stake,
his appointment to Cabinet position will
be hailed with joy; but to those with whom
party is paramount to every other consider
alton, it will probably prove somewhat OBJ
noxious.
As an evidence that the dispatch relative
to Mr.. Chase and the Cabinet was generally
credit ed, the question of the election of his
successor to the Senate became instantly
very actively discussed, and the relative
claims of the various candidates were freely
canvassed. My own opinion is that Mr..
Sherman win be his successor. Gov. Den
nison's prospects are yerymuch on the wane,
and he is losing ground every day Horton,
Of the Athens district, is also spoken of in
connection with this office. Mr.. Horton has
the advantage of Sherman in geographi-
cal point of view, which in these latter days
has much to do with making and unmaking
not only small.fry officers, but Senators and
Presidents.
1t is useless, however, to conjecture any
thing about, the new Cabinet, as before this
letter will be in print Mr.. Lincoln will have
called about him his advisers, and started
the machine. Heaven send him more
honorable and prosperous voyage than MIR.
Old Buck has just brought to close.
The question of a new penitentiary has
been talked about a little in the Senate; moi
in relation to the location but the appropria.
ton. 1t is supposed that new prison, il
built, will cost about $e50,0OO. The only
conclusion arrived at was that no appropri
alton should be made until after November
1861, and then but $4,000. Some of tho
different points named for the location arr
actively pressing their claims in the '1obby
and their representatives make themselve
distressingly agreeable at every turn. 1
Belmont county doing any thing for her in
terests in this behalf2 Every point name,
in Belmont county, but more especially tn
Cummins' farm site in Pultney township
possess immensely more attractions in tn
| ,vo,, of local advantages than any other cit