davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-30
Mr.. BigHer's Proposition.

Senator Bigler, Of Pennsylvania, has
offered proposition in the Senate. that
Congress shall authorize the people of the
United States to vote, On the 18th OF
February. on the Constitutional amend.
ments of Mr.. Crittenden, of Kentucky
By all means, let us have the vote. 1t Will
show G ongress h5w the people feel. We
have no .doabs that .t1ur .ffas of the peo-
ple will vote for the Critteuden Amend
meats; SO that, after that, Congress can
nollhalt in the path Of duty. if it has any
respect for the popular wiI. Some o.
the Republicans objected to the vote upon
technical grounds, The real reason Is
they know the vote will develop thel'
weakness in the fight they are making
against compromise. Let US, we repeat
have chance to vote.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-30
What the Border States Congressman
Agreed On at Their Caucus,

Recommending repeal Of all Personal
Liberty Bills.
An efficient amendment of the Fugitive
Slave Law. preventing kidnapping, equal
izing The Commissioners fee, &c.
That the Constitution be so amended
as to prohibit any interference with slaves
in any Of the States.
That Congress shall not abolish slavery
in the dockyards, &C., or in the District
of Columbia, without the consent Of Ma
ryland and the consent of the inhabitants
of the District, nor without compensa-
tion.
That Congress shall not interfere with
the inter. State slave trade.
That there shall be perpetual prohib.
tion of the African slave trade.
That the line So degrees 80 minutes
shall be run through all the existing Ter
ritory of the United States, and in all
north of that line slavery shall be prohib-
tied, and south of that line neither Con-
gress nor the Territorial Legislature shall
hereafter pass any law abolishing, prchib'
iting, or in any manner interfering with
African slavery. ="
When any Territory containing suffi
cient population for one member of Con-
gress, in any area of 60,00Osquare miles,
shall apply for admission as a State, it
shall be admitted. with or without slavery,
as its Constitution may determine.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-30
Douglas Speech.


The Washington correspondent Of the
New York Herald, which has always been
opposed to the Little Giant, thus alludes
to his late speech in the Senate. He
says:
"The feature at the Capitol to-day was
the speech of Judge Douglas, who follow
ed Senator Baker, of Oregon. The "Lit-
tie Giant" was never in better voice
health or spirits. and his speech was al
most Websterian in its power. logic. and
eloquence. The Republicans do not like
it because he laid the present troubles at
the doors of the politicians of their party;
aud the SecessioRists do not speak favor
ably of it, because he denied the right OF
secession; but the great mass of the mid
die men-the center aud heart and main
dependence of the country in the hour OF
danger-applaud it as one of the great
est speeches delivered in the Senate since
the days of Henry Clay. The galleries
were again crowded to suffocation, al,
though the weather was stormy and diSa.
greeable." e
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-30
5NllU,MBERyyEssaa \

3 Z Z n
which the violence or rescue was made,
and the COUNTY shall have the right to
sue the individuals who committed the
wrong in the same manner as the owner
could sue. g&4 -@ -
.SsrtA: No further amendment or amend.
ments shall affect the preceding articles, !
and Congress shall never have power TO-
Interfere with Slavery in the States where
it is now permitted.
The last resolution declares that the
Southern States have right to the faith.
full execution of the Law for the recovery.
of Slaves. and such laws ought not to be-,
repealed or modified so as to impair their
efficiency. All laws in conflict with the
Fugitive Slave law it shall not be deemed
improper for Congress to ask the repeal
Of. The fugitive Slave law ought to be so
altered as to make the fee of the Com
missioners equal whether he decides for or
against the claimant, and the clause an.
thorizi-g the person holding the warrant
to summon posse comitat0s to be so as
to restrict it to cases where violsnce or
rescue is attempted. The laws for, tho
suppression of the African slaye.trade
ought to be effsctually executed. 5s''
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-30
Policy of the Admin iStratiOn.

The Administration, it is said, has
agreed upon the following policy to bt
pursued on the secession question. How
wise it may be time will determine:
First-It is believed that in the present
critical contingencies the Government car
only be preserved by inactivity, and moi
by arms. Upon this policy the President
and all the members of the Cabinet are
perfectly agreed--having reason to be
lieve that there will be reaction in the
South against secession, if the secession
lists are let alone. Coercion, or any ster
towards coercion. it is admitted, mus,
lead to bloodshed and civil war, and ut.
terly destroy not only the few remaining
chances of reconciliation. but place re.
construction of the Government entirely
out of the question.
Second--Entertaining these views, the
Cabinet have come to the conclusion that
the occupation of the forts, arsenals, &C.,
in the Southern States, is in itself unim-
portant, and no attempts, therefore, soiN be
made to recOver them. This will make
the Northern coercionists und Northern
disunionists howl; but as peace cannot be
preserved without bowling, it is deemed
better that the howl go on than that the
last chance of saving the country from
destruction should be thrown away.
Third The Star Of the Vest. sOith her
troops, is not to return to Charleston; NOR
HAS THE sLooP oF-wAR BROOKLYN BEEN
ORDERED THIrHER. There was at one
time o disposition to send her there, but
cooler counsels have led to different de-
termination. .uaos sGf t.a-lr
Fourth-in regard to Fort Sumter
AS Major Armstrong reports that Major
Anderson has provision enough there to
last six months, and with men enough to
enable him to resist an attack. should
such be made, instructions will be for>
warded to him to adhere to a strict de.
fensive policy. If the Administration
had learned these facts before the Star of
the Vest had sailed. the vessel would never
have been sent Hence the dispatch OF
The brooklyn was not to carry her into
Charleston ha-bor, as some reports have
it.-but TO bring back her troops, the
steamer herself being left to keep on her
regular trip to Havana.
5th. There has undoubtedly been for.
midahle conspir .cy o break up; h Govern.
ment at Washington, by force, between
now aud the 4th of March-but the Ad
ministration are satisfied now that it is
qnelled, aud that peace will be preserved
in the Federal District, no matter what
may happen elsewhere If there are mis-
chief makers in Office, they will be decap.
tated. .-
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-30
Distances of the Forts.

An officer of the U. S. Coast Survey
writes that Fort Sumter is three and,
three-eighths miles from Charleston. one
and one eighth miles from Fort Moultrie,
three quarters Of mile to the nearest
land. one and three eighths miles to Fort
johnson, and two and i've cighths miles
to Castle Pinckney. The last named
fort is one mile from town. These meas.
urements are correct. being taken from
the latest surveys made BY tho y. 4.
Coast Survey.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-30
Our State Disgraced.

The Republicans have suAk the credit
of our noble State SO low that we cannot
borrow money to redeem the State bonds
which fall due on the lst of January.
Black Republicsnism has at last stained
the hitherto fair name of Ohio with the
foul stigma of repudiation 1t has been
the boast and the pride Of the citizens of
Ohio that, in all the past financial difficult
ties, even in lS4l-42, when stocks were
worth only fifty cents on the dollar, the
faith and credit of the State was presery-
ed untarnished. She has hitherto dis,
charged all her liabilities, foreign aud do
lnestic, but Black Republicanism has
ruined her reputation, destroyed her credit,
robbed her of her good name, and placed
her in the category with Mississippi.
The New York Herald relates the ILL.,
success that has attained Ohio in negotia-
ting new loan authorized by the Legis.
lature of the State with which to pay of
her bonds falling due on the first of Jan
uary: #
'.The holders of Ohio bonds which
were to be paid on the lst of January
next, will be somewhat surprised to learn
that the State was virtually repudiated.
The General Assembly of Ohio passed an
act (6th March 1860 authorizing a new
loan, wherewith to pay of liabilities due
after December 3lst. On the seth of
November proposals for the new loan we're
invited by advertisement and othe-wi
and an agen, was sent to this city to at
tend to the matter. No tenders being
made, the advertisement was Withdrawn,
and subsequently, renewed. but without
success. The project has now been aban-
doned, and therefore the creditors of the
great State of Ohio must wait for their
money" l ''@
This is unfortunate for Ohio-unfortu-
nate that her credit should be reduced to
so low an ebb that she cannot borrow
meney upon her plighted faith, aud that,
too, when she is In reality one Of the most
substantial and reliable States 10 the
Union. But the same misfortune that at
tends her would probably be experienced
by every other State that gave large
majority for Lincoln were they under the
necessity of resorting to the money mar
ket for loan at the present time Ota,0a
Democrat.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-30
% oettgs..s
ROCK ME TO SLEEP.

The subjoined poem-we know not who
wrote its one of the most beautiful of its
kind we have ever seen. We do not envy the
heart which does not thrill to,its mild and
tender music ssa -zA zct esE q
Backward turn backward, oh, Time in your
fight, ~.
Make me child again, just for tonight
Mother, come back from the echoless shore
Take me to your heart as of yore--
Kiss from my forehead the burrows of care,
Smooth the few silver threads out of my hair.
Over my slumbers your loving watch keep
Rock me to sleep, mother-rock me to sleep.
Backward, flow backward, oh, tide of years
am SO weary of tolls and tears s-
Toll without recompense--tears all in vain
Take them and give me my childhood again
| have grown weary of dust and decay,
Weary of finging my soul-wealth away
Weary of sowing for Others to reap; fs 81
Rock me to sleep, mother-rock me to sleep
Tired of the hollew, the base, the untrue; s.
Mother, oh, mother my heart calls on you
Many a summer the grass has grown green,
Blossomed and faded-our faces between
Yet with strong, yearning and passionate pain
Long to night for your presence again;
Come from the silence so long and 50 deep
Rock me to sleep, mother--roek me to sleep !!
Over my heart, in days that have aown,
No fove like mother-iove ever was known =
No other worship abides and endures, goi aio
Fai,hfuls ansslish, AMI patient like yours.
None like mother can charm away pain
From the sick soul and the world-weary BRAIN:
Slurnbers soft calm DER my heavy lids creep
Rock me to sleep, mother-rock me to sleep |!
Come let your brown hair, just lighted with
gold,
Fall on your shoulders again as of old
Let it fall over my forehead Tonight,
Shielding my faint eyes away from the light;
For with it's sunAy-edged shadows once more,
Happily will throng the sweet visions of yore
Lovingly, s,itly, It's bright billows sweep
Rock me to sleep nother-rock me to Sleep
Mother, dear mother. the years have been long
Since last hushed TO y our lullaby song
Sing, then and unto my soul it shall seem
Wonanhood's years have been but dream:
Claspto yonr arms in loving emhsace,
With your light lashrs just sweeping my face,
Never hereafter to wake, or TO weep
Rock me to sleep, mother rock me to sleep!
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-30
Missouri Moving .for Secession.

The State Senate Of Missouri has passed
bill, by an almost unanimous vote. call
ing a Convention in that State to deter
mine whether she will remain in the
Union. The Convention is to meet on
the SSth of February, and delegates are
to be elected on the 18th. There is great
danger, if q compromise is not made, that
even Missouri will secede. Es-
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-30
The Crittenden Proposition.

The following is the much talked of
Crittenden Amendment:
WHEREAS, The Union is in danger, and
it is difficult, if not impossible. for Con-
gress to concur by the requisite majority
so as to enable it to take such measures to
recommend the States such amendments
to the Constitution as are necessary to
avert the danger. .V7es-.8sH "a Il
WHEREAS. In so great an emergency
the opinion and judgment of the people
ought to be heard. Therefore, IL
Resolved, That provisions be made BY
law without delay, for taking the sense of
the people and submitting to them the
following resolutions: A-e
WHEREAS, Alarming dissensions have
arisen between the Northern and South.
ern States, as to the rights of the COM
mon territory of the United States and it
is eminently desirable aud proper that the
dissensions be settled by the Constitution
al provisions which give equal justice to
all sections, and thereby restore peace;
therefore,
Resolrcd, That by the Senate and House
of Representatives, the following article
be proposed and submitted as on amend.
ment to the Constitution, when ratified by
the Convention of three. .fourths Of the
people of the States:
First: In all the territories now or here
after acquired north Of latitude SO deg
80 min. Slavery or involuntary servi-
tude, except for the punishment of crime.
is prohibited, while ail-the Territory south
of that latitude Slavery is htrsby receg
nized as existing. and shal not be utter.
fered with by Congress. but shall be pro-
tected as property by all departments of
the Territorial Government during its con.
tinuance. All the territory north or south
of said l.n., within such boundaries as
Congress prescribes when it contains
population necessary for member OF
Congress, with republican form of gov.
ernment, shall be admitted into the Union
on an equality with the original States,
with or without Slavery, as the Consti.
tutor of the States shall prescribe. s,
Second: Congress shall have no power
to abolish Slavery in the States permit.
ting Slavery. ar- gssa sTr ~, s.f :.
Third: Congress shall have no power
to abolish Slavery in the District of Co
lumbia while it exists in Virginia and
Maryland. or either; nor shall Congress
at any time prohibit the officers of the
Government or members of Congress,
whose duties require them to live in the
District of Columbia, from bringing slaves
there, or holding them as such
Fourth: Congress shall have no power
to hinder the transportation of slaves
from one State to another, whether by
land. navigable rivers or sea. aa
Fifth: Congress shall have power by
law to pay an owner who shall apply the
full value for fugitive slave in all cases
when the Marshall is prevented from dis.
charging his duty by force, or rescue made
after arrests. In all such cases. the owner
shall have power to sue the county in
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-30
An Example.

IF we wonld wish to krow the effect Of
trying to settle domestic differences by
the sword, without trying the experiment
ourselves, let us look at Mexico. Her
history Is q mere succession of military
chieflains, each driving his predecessor
from power, The government is looked
upon with contempt by the meanest ma
ton of Europe. 4ol oor O. 2a.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-30
A CASE OF SusrEsDED lANrMAT1os,-A

A CASE OF SUSPENDED lANIMAT1oN,- "A
lady in Wheeling. who had beer, quite i'll
for some time. died, to all appearances.
on Saturday night, 5th inst, snd while
the preparations for burial were being
made it was discovered shat the body rs1
tanned Its natural warmth. Every effort
was made 10 restore animation, but With.
out success, and the body still lies In q
trance, decomposition not having set 10.
The case excites good deal Of interest.
and nearly ah the physicians of Wheehbg
have examined the body. i@oa sais b
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-30

The New Orleans Delta, in its summary
of the city mortality for one week, classi-
fed sixty. five of the deceased as natives
of the United States, and one as o native
of South Caroline.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-30
p p sHH ?.
Arkansas.

The Legislature Of Arkansas has unan-
:moasly passed a bill submitting the ques-
tion of holding State Convention to the
people on the 18th of February. If a
msjofity favor the holding of the Con-
venaion, sthe Governor is to appoint the
day Of its meeting. lsAsg 80 Zig eos -ial
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-30
SPECIAL Message of President Buchanan

The following is synopsis Of the spe. !,
cial Message of Mr. Buchanan to Con.
grexs, upon the condition Of the country.
He says at the opening Of the session
he called attention 10 the dangers Of the =
Union, and recomm ended srch measures of
relief as be believed would have the effect
of tranquilizing tho country, and save il
from the perils 10 which it is neediessly
and unfortunately placed. His opinions
then expressed remain unchanged. He !:
regrets to say that matters, instead of :
becoming better. are still worse. and hope
is diminished. re, = esq ss prs,s.f~.s..vs -
Abiding to the condition Of Sonth
Carolina, he says;s There 10 no other ,alsr
ternstivs but to collect the revenue and
protect the public property as far as prac.
tIcabIe under existing laws. His duty il
to execute and not make the laws. The
right and duty to use the military aud
naval force against those who Illegally ss- ).
sail the Federal Government, are clear
and indisputabls, hul the present state Of
things is beyond the Executive control;
we are 10 tho midst of great revolution,
and he recommended to Congress to act
in the present emergency. To Congress
is reserved the powe: to declare war, aud
remove the grievance that might lead to
war, and restore peace to the country; on
them rests the responsibility. stiE
After eulogizing the blessings conferred
| by the Union, he says: Should it perish.
the calamity viii be as severe In the
Southern as in the Northern States. The
secession movement is made on an appre-
hension as to the sentiments of the ma
jority of several Northern Ststes.s Lsto
the question be transferred to the Spoliti-
cal assembly; to the ballot box; the peo-
fple will redress the, grievance. 10 Hesv-
ems name let the trial be made before We
plunge into the assumption that there 10 g
no other alternative Let us have reilec. 6
tion Would that South Carolina had
reflected!
He appeals to Congress to say, in. their
might. the Union must and shall be pre-.
served by all constitutional means ) He
recommends Congress to devote them
selves to prompt action, With view to
peace.
| A division on the line Of S6 degrees
80 minutes is suggested as calculated to
produce, an adjustment It was an impu. :
tatioa on members to say they will hest
tate moment. The danger is on us; in
several of the States forts and arsenaIs
have been seized BY aggressive acts. sil
| Congress should endesyor to give the 8
difficulties peace solution. g lsisn aisd.
He states the reasons why be had re-
Trained from sending troopst to Charleston .
Notwithstanding this would have fur
nished the prs,ext, if not the provocation I
on the part Of South Carolina, ofos ag.
gression. ~. ee5 s'sssi' sa' A5iss7lqss sia
| Referring to Major Anderson, he says
that officer could not, before he lefs Fort
Moultrie, have held that fort forty .eight
hours He Rad warned his countrymeu
of its danger. He felt that the duty WAS
faithfully but imr esfectly performed He
was conscious be meant we'll for his conp- !,
tIJ.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-30

t. Hon. VIM. Aiken, of South Car
olina, has been forced to contribute forty
thousand dollars to the revolutionary
government, under threat of :onfiscs-
ting bis property, in case of refusal.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-30
ieAn Ohio Nulnhcation Bill Killed.

We are happy to state that the Repub-
Iican Legislature of Ohio, by large ma
jority, has i'sdefnitely postponed the Per,
sopal- Liberty Bill of Mr.. Monroe. This
isaa move yin the right direction by our
Republican friends and will have whole
some eff b in other States.
Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-10-09
nnltlmnrn q ntIn Rnilrond.

Great hopes are bling entertained that
Government will speedily reopen the Bald-
more 4 Ohio Railroad between Harper's
Ferry and Cumb rland, a distance of ninety
eight miles. This is the only portion held |
by the rebels, and from all accounts received |
their ierce is small, consisting Of detaehments
of from two hundred TO fifteen hundred. The
importance of the work to Government, to
say nothing Of the interests of all Western
Virginia. demand that this great highway Of
traffic should be put in active operation as
soon as possible. The Pennsylvania Central
is now the only road by which troops and
goods are transported from Southern Ohio,
Indiana and Kentucky to Washington or
back. In case of sudden necessity for
transporting fifty thousand troops from Wash
ingtOn to Kentucky or Missouri, the facilities
would not be equal TO tho occasion. Even
now, the Pennsylvania Road has given no.
| tice to all interested that it can take no more
freight for Baltimore or the East until fur
ther notice is given, Government work en-
ploying all its energies. The Baltimore
American says of this:
Without pretending to too much military
knowledge, or undertaking to decide too far
questions of Governmental policy, we cannot
iorbear saying that it is about time this great
thoroughfare, in which the city of Baltimore
and State OF Maryland are so deeply inter.
ested, without reference TO the loyal people
of Western Virginia, the cities of ParkeIs-
burg and Wheeling, and large portions OF the
great West should be entirely re-opened
and restored to full use, We believe it is q
we'll ascertained fact that since Johnston's
army left the Valley Of Virginia, on the 18th
and 10th of July last, to join the army al
Manassas, there has not been, at any time, 6
considerable or even respectable force OF the
enemy at any point between Harper's Ferry
{ and Cumberland, Ia distance OF ninety eigh
miles by the railroad line, and the points
between which the road has been imperative
: since May last-R period of more than foul
, months. We are informed that at this time
and for several weeks past, the only Coniei
, crate forces near the road, besides from TIVE
to tour thousand very imperfect militia a
Winches er, were bands of from one to sil
: hundred men each, numbering in all perhap
t not over fifteen hundred to two thousand
That such a meagre force as this should b,
I allowed, almost within sight of the Govern
ment lines, with the armies of Gen. Bank
, and the forces at Willismsport, Cumberland
&c, so near, not only to keep this importan
railroad etfectuallY closed from the use of tn
Government and the public for military, com
mercial, or other purposes; but that the!
I should be allowed at the same time to furthe
despOil the road OF its property by carrying
off It's locomotives, tearing up and removing
its rails, telegraph wires, shop machinery
1 &c.-tbHs supplying much needed materia
for offensive use against the Government
itself-is something that our people are be
: ginning to feel at loss to understand