davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Gazette and sentinel., 1861-02-09
The State Convention.

This body re. assembled in New Orleans on
Monday, the 2sth ult. Since then il seems
70 De earnestly and actively engaged in those
duties consequent upon the new position in
which Louisiana has assumed as an Indepen
dent Republic. 1t is unnecessary, had we any
thing like the requisite space. TO give the pro
ceedings in detail, as it would be mainly unin
terssting to the general reader at q time when
We are momeniarily receiving such exciting
intelligence from almost every quarter of the
compass yet We are constrained to say that
We have been compelled, through indisposi
uon, TO overlook much up to the present time,
relative to the acts of the Convention ,h.,
required and demanded our attention As an
editorial caterer, and which was important to
be plsced on record.
Our Military affairs, and placing the defen.
ses OF Vie State on a war footing, together
with giving the attention necessary in the
new state OF things to our judicial and com
merc'ai affairs, are the chef topics that have
engaged the attention Of the Convention. A
biil,which we believe has become a law. calls for
a force OF thousand men and what is
most important and agreeable to know, the
State is able to maintain this army without
one cent additional taxes being imposed upon
the State; so says Richard Taylor, a son of
Old Zach, who is the originator of the bill.
Another important act is that defining what
constitutes citizenship in Louisians. Blu,
We viii not pretend to give q regular state.
mcnt Of what the Convention has done
Much Of ito time has been occupied on sub
lects Of minor importance, and . great deal
IF it-shaIl We say fruitlesely ?-lost in de-
bate. The whole Of last Wednesday, with a
light exception. wss,dsvoted to defining the
powers of the Montgomery delegates. We
'ay this not in c~ensure, but as matter Of in.
ormation. This is the latest that we have
rom the Convention. A resolution had been
'fsrsd to adjourn TIL the 4th of March, which
viii doubtless COM up this week and be de-
ided 10 the negative.
Gazette and sentinel., 1861-02-09

OUR New FLAG. There is a Commit
tee now appointed by the Convention, to take
into consideration the concocting of a flag for
our State. We are Indifferent as to what
klpd OF flag is decided upon, being satisfed
that our national area will have a wider field
than the boundaries of our State, and that our
present national condition will exist hut =
short time but for ths new COnfederacy, of
which Louisiana will form a part, let the flag,
by all means, be the Southern Cross" on n
red ground, as spoken of and recommended
In an article in our paper. 1t is beautiful,
expressive and appropriate.
Gazette and sentinel., 1861-02-09

CiRcus.-lt will be seen by advertise.
ment, that Dan Rice-the immortal Dan
will be here with his big show" on Friday
next. tits unnecessary to say what Dan can
or will do, as everybody knows what he does
do 10 bis great show. He carried New Or
leans BY storm the present winter, and nov
he is going back among the "~free" folks to let
them know what the South has done and is
going TO do. Hurrah for the big show!
Gazette and sentinel., 1861-02-09

A CURE FOB lLJ-rExPER.-Rose, private
secretary to Louis xiv, having married
bis daughter to N. Portal, President of
tne Parliament, was constantly receiv-
ing from his son-in-law the complaints
OF MS daughters ill-temper. To one of
these he at length answered that he
was fully convinced of her misconduct
q was resolved to punish her for it;
IN short, If heard any more of it he would
disinherit her. He heard no more
Gazette and sentinel., 1861-02-09
A NEW Sign IN THE Moon A man hav-

A NEW Sign IN TIE Moon A man hav-
ing gone to Carlton Hill Observatory,
near Edingburgh, to get a sight of the
moon, after having got . glance of it,
drew away his head to wipe his eyes.
and in the interval, the end of the tele.
scope noiselessly fell down. 10 as, in.
stead of pointing to the heavens, to
point down to the earth. The surprise
was u~nutterable when he again looked
through, and beheld the sign Of a pub
lie house at o short distance, with the
customary declaration -" Edingburgh
ale" &c. He started back, and ex.
claimed--"Edinsburgh ale in the moonI
preserve W, that beats az
Gazette and sentinel., 1861-02-09

PRoY. WINsHrP 0UTDosE We learn
from the Chicago Tribune, that il that
city n evening recently, there was O
grand display OF muscular science by
resident and foreign talent. DR.. Win
ship who was present, lifted Q kegs of
nails, weighing 1000 lbs. Next with
harness on his shoulders, lie raised
l5lI lbs. Vim. Thompson, Of the Chi.
cagO Gymnasium, did the same. The
latter then went on adding weights and
lifting, with harness on shoulders and
hips, until the numbers stood succcss-
lively 1850, 1886, 1886, 1886, 1886, 2O3s,
2l06. A very remarkable lift, the lat
ter to be sure. Then Thompson swung
the 100 ID. dumb bell, aud Curtis cid
the same, and DR.. Wlnship lifted him
self with his little finger and Thomp-
son experimental with an I65 Id. dumb
bell ; and Winship~ shou!dered a 229 ID.
barrel OF -four; and put it down arc
fully ; and Curtis pushed $50 lbs. in
each hand with the pully, and then $50
lbs. in each hand, and then laying down
on his back, put up 100 lbs. in each
hand. But the feat Of the evening was
the great lift of Thompson, and the
judges so considered it in the award of
the 5000 prize to him.
Gazette and sentinel., 1861-02-09

A THOUGHT FOR YoUNo MEy.-Mor.
may be learned by dcvoting a few mo.
ments daily to reading than is common.
" supposed. Five pages may be learn
ed in fifteen minutes. at which ratio ons
may pcruse twcnty-six volumes, of two
thousand pages each. in a year. You
say You have ono to guide you. The
best scholars and mel of science will
tell you by far the most valuable part
OF their education is that which thew
have given themselves. Volumes hay.
been filed with the biography of sell.
taught men Think of Franklin the
printer; Of Linn, the shoemaker Of
HcrSchcl, the astronomer /; Of Donald.
the weaver ; Of Turner, the printer /:
Of Burritt, the blacksmith. Love learn
ing and you will be learned. Where
there Is a will there ia a way. Begin
a: once to take time by the forelock.
aud remember that it is only the first
step that costs, and, having begun, re.
solve 70 learn something every day.
Strike the blow ard avoid the weakness
OF those who spend half of their life in
thinking what they shall do next. Al.
ways have a volume with you which
you 4 catch up st such odd minutes
as are your own 1t is incredible, IN
I'll trial has been made, how real knowl-
edge can be acquired in these broken
fragments CT tine, which are Ike the
dust Of gold and diamonds.
Gazette and sentinel., 1861-02-09

MINT n Cusrox HousE.-These two
Federal Institutions in New Orleans, were ia.
ken possession Of on Saturday last, by order
OF the Convention. An inventory of all the
bullion. DC, in the former, and the affairs, &c,
Of the latter taken, the officers Of both (hav.
ing previously resigned). sworn in under In
dependent Louisiana, the routine Of duties
IN both went on as usual.
Gazette and sentinel., 1861-02-09
HIGHLY IMPORTANT
MO.N W.7SHZHGTON!
The Border State Contention.
WASHINGTON. Feb. ; IL,

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5, 1861.
The Virginia Commissioners assem-.
oied here in caucus last night, when it
was definitely determined that hereafter
The sessions of the Convention shonId
De heid In secret, and that the equal
rights OF the Southern States in the
territories hereafter acquired, were t,
De considered as a sine qua non. Little
or no hope is entertained here of any
beneficial result from the efforts Of this
Convention.
Gazette and sentinel., 1861-02-09


THIRTY Six THIRrY.-The line of 80
deg. 80 min, which is proposed by the
Crltten6en Compromise to be run
through the territories of the United
States, may be traced upon the map.
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, as fol-
lows 1t begins at the point on the
Atlantic coast, where the dividing Inc
between Virginia and North Carolina
commences; passes along the line diri-
ding those States ; along the line be-
tween Tennessee and Kentucky 4: along
the line between the States of Missouri
and Arkansas thence through the ter
ritory of the Cherokee Nation, through
New Mexico, striking the eastern bonn
dairy OF the State Of California, q short
distance south of the middle. striking
the Pacific a sh 'rt distance south of
Monterey Bay. North OF this line. the
territory Of the United States (outside
OF the States embraces 1900. eco sur.
miles /; while south of it there are but
800, 600 sqr. miles. North of this line
slavery would not so, though legalized |;
south of it, the Territory of New Mex.
leo, embraces 2l0, 600 sqr. miles. Should
this Territory be at once admitted as a
State, as Is proposed by Mr.. Corwin,
there would remain but 80, 900 sqr.
miles of territory in which the existence ]
OF slavery would be recognized, should
the CCittendeu Compromise be adopted;
while the North would, by the same
Compromise, have secured to it 1900
600 sqr. miles Of free territory. Rapa-
cious South lndulgent North
Gazette and sentinel., 1861-02-09

NEv 0RLEASs ILIuNNArEp-We see
BY the Dslso, that New Orleans was grsndiy
~i)iunlhssed % Wednesday night lsu
Gazette and sentinel., 1861-02-09

much for the drainage Of that part OF
the state.
Millions of acres of land, now sub.
merged aud unfit for cultivation, on the
Red, Black, Ouachita, TenSas, and Lit.
tie rivers, aud their numerous branches,
and on the Atchafalaya and i'll the At
takpapas, can Immediately be reclaimed
and brought under culture, inducing
immigration and increasing the wealth
and population Of Louisiana.
The very fact of closing the mouths
Of Old river and Bayou Plaquemine, re-
duces at once the dimensions of all the
levces on the Red, Black, Tensas,
Ouchita, Little river, A~tchafalaya Cour-
tableau, F~ourdocie, Crosse Tete, Grand
river, and many others, if, indeed, We
do not 10y these works obviate the ne
ccSsity of constructing them at all on
many of these streams and their bran
ches. This embraces a very large part
of the entire state. The problem is of
easy solution to thoroughly perfect the
levees in the western and southwestern
portions of the state and in the Florida
parishes. The southern parishes can be
reclaimed by the judiciouS location of a
few main drainage canals, after which
the leveeing required will be very sim
pie Of construction.
The problem is then narrowed down
to %perfecting the levee upon tine MiSsis-
sippi. This science, skill and in,clli-
gcncc can accomplish. and VIC then shall
have made Louisiana what she ought To
be-the richest and most productive
agricultural territory Of all the cotton
growing states.
Gazette and sentinel., 1861-02-09

- Into the city of Canton, China,
there are, on an average, about 5000
suicider-every year
Gazette and sentinel., 1861-02-09
a Chinese CITY.

Ery-bOats piled as briskly and were
fviiy loaded as ~omnibuses; heavy
g6-boats numbered along and got in
everybody's way, just as brewers draws
do. Light tanka-boats, with one or two
passengers, and, deity worked by a
single oar a%stern, cut IN and out like
Hansoms. And there were large pas
sage boats, with accommodations for
travellers Oh long Journeys, that piled
regularly between ~Soo-chow, Hang
chow-Chang-chow, and other distant
cities, and that created the same sort Of
a SENSATIONS as they passed as did Bright
on Age or Portsmouth Telegraph in
days gone by. Gentlemen's private
carriages are here REPRESENTED by
gorgeous mandarin junks, with the huge
umbrella on the top, and a gong at the
entrance to the cabin, beaten at inter-
walls by calfess funkeys. Other iunks
there were, more gaudily painted even
than these, from whence issued shrill
voices and sounds of noisy laughter and
music. There was the costermonger in
h1s humble substitute for a ~donkey-cart,
aSsmall covered canoe, which looked
Ike a coffin, and in which he set alone,
forcing it speedily through the water
with aspair of oars, one of which he,
worked astern with his hand, the other
at the side with his feet. The race of sea
engers lived in fiat punts, and scooping
up the mud and rubbish from the bottom
OF the canal, discharged it into them.
where it was Immediately examined by
a number of ducks kept ON board for the
purpose, who picked out all that was
worth eating, and what they rejected
was then inspected by their owners, for
waits and strays that had been lost from
Junks, and then taken to fatten the land.
But the most curious appearance was
presented by the boats which carried
the fishing cOrmoran.s, solemnly perch
ed in successive rows on stages project
ing from the sides. They looked like a
number of gentlemen in black on the
platform, at a meeting of a grave and
serious character.
-O
WANTED, A GREAT MAN THE Toron-
to Globe, in the course of an article up
on secession, has tine following para
t"lf America has got any great man,
now is the time to appear. The curtain
is up ; the orchestra is grinding through
the last stave of the overture already
thrice played I; the "house" is full from
pit to topmost gallery I; all is expecta-
tion-nothing is wanting save the chief
actor, the star" the hero of the piece.
If he comes not soon, there will be a
The benches will be torn up,
the big drum will be burst, the gilded
chandeliers and winged cupids will be
smashed to atoms-the Union will be
dissolved
Gazette and sentinel., 1861-02-09
Total cost of Loci.

SN' NN ioSh CouIpctc [Il.o10 0U
Appropriation required, s5OO,GOO 90
The estimated cost Of this plan of
operations may seem large at the first
special glance, but it will be found in
reality TO be very economical when we
come to investigate the Importance and
general character of the works them
selves, and the many benefits and adj
vantages resulting from their construc-
ton. In their general character. thew
are essentially works Of drainage AN
reclamation, and in consequence thd
should be constructed out of the swamp
land fund for the same amount of
money can be expended III no other pos
slbIe manner to be productive of such
vast beneficial results. What is half a
million of dollars 10 the state of Louisi-
nj ? Oh the insignificant cost Of these
works compared with the great inter
ests at stake, and the general good
growing ont of their execution ? Why,
the sales of something less than half a
million Of acres of the swamp lands
will more than suffice to construct them
perfectly whereas they will be the di-
rect canse Of retaining many millions
of acres, besides producing other adj
vantages equally'desirable to the gen.
eral prosperity and wealth of the state.
These sales are totally unnecessary,
however, as there is in the treasury at
present about six hundred thousand dol
lars to the credit Of the swamp land ,
fund, which, if not judiciousIN appro-
priated for some ~eAtensive> woEk, for
the general good of>the whole State,
like the n proposed, will only>invite
the cupidity of sections, and induce a
general scramble for the petty purpo-
ses Of special Legislation.
Let me briefly sum up a few of the
general benefits arising from the adop-
ton of this proposed plan /:
We secure, jplt6es aIst~place, by ats
adoption thslste view per-
sons to thestfaa5. e9~kafnerce and pro-
ducts of tHasE5dGiSsf, Atchafalaya and
Attakapas. Which desideratum we can
"ts"'h III NV ObhcI pobSlblC way lOI IL
must be distinctly understood that moth
else can be done to afford perma-
nent low water navigation between the
Red and the Atchaialaya, and the Mis-
sissirpi, and also that, from the present
condition of things at Old river, we
must in addition suffer all the evil con-
sequences of annual inundation on the
former, without any corresponding ben
eft of any kind whatsoever.
The Red river will cut away and re-
the deposits af its present mouth,
and will float quietly down the Atchafa-
laya at al increased velocity and with
,ut back-waters, preparing. the way for
The reclamation of all of the low lands
lpon their borders and upon those of
heir branches. The high water marks
all these streams will be reduced
several feet.
The great network of bayous, Tensas
Ind shallow lakes, in and near the
mouth of the Atchafalaya, now subject
annual rafting from the drift through
he Plaquemine, a all be permanently
'pened out and rendered navigable in
very direction, which in itself will do
Gazette and sentinel., 1861-02-09
Closing the Mouths Of Bayou Pla-
quemine and Red River.

The following is an extract of a late
report Of that eminent engineer, Col.
Duncan:
The two outlets are only navigable
for a few months in the year, during
the continuance of high water and
hence, no one could reasonably desire
to keep them open for that purpose a.
lone, provided a more perfect water
communication be substituted for them,
and which will furnish navigation at
every stage of water. Neither can
there be. any wish to keep hem open
as outlets per Sc, provided that it Il be
proven that their closure will not inju-
riouSly effect the plantations on the
Mississippi below them.
1t has been made evident to every one
not completely stultiied 10y prejudice,
that every outlet to the Mississippi is
to be regarded as an injury, instead OF
a benefit, as they do not senSibly reduce
the surface of the water below them.
Notwithstanding the immense amount
discharged 10y them upon the parallel
back valley.
We give below Mr.. Duncan's estima-
ted cost of the Plaquemine canal and
lick, and To close the mouth of Red
river and also his concluding remarks
upon the subject
COST OF PLAQUEMINE CANAL AND LOCK.
Cubic Yards.
Dam across Oh River, crown so feet,
slope OF eigh, 10 one 3O6 $50
Wing Ievres1 70 courrct with Mississippi
lrvees above aud below, $4,000
Gazette and sentinel., 1861-02-09
Total cub c wards

Total cube wards 1872 666
Which, al p cts. amounts TO 500 l66 so
Canning al the bottom OF la
qn' niue 10 Bayou Jacob,
width 50 ieet at top. slnprs,
one TO one. with a drpth SUI
felent 10 give Q Ieet of wafer
between the low water Of
The Mississippi and the tide
plaue al tn former point 100000
" Inch At 81 cts. amounts TO lS5, 900 90
Add cost oi dam and wing le-
wees as above 93.I66 so
Total cost Of excavation and
ievees s27s, 666 so
COST Of LOCK.
6s9H,000 brick at sl2 per 1000 s3.es0 90
Laying same IN cement al IS per 1000 So 100 90
6OOO plies, II ieei long. al 81 20 each 10 200 90
Driving same al 81 80 each $500 OF
500, 900 IT. B.N. grillage&lumber aIs20 I6.OnO Us
Framing same al 75c per sluare 5000 90
Iron gates and machinery complete 1900 90
Corer-dam, contingencies, superiuied-
ance, nc. 1883 90
Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-12-07

the main corridor were twenty or thirty male
negroes, Of all ages, from six 10 sixty. We
should not have recognized the son Of the
woman below, bnt for the help OF the ialler,
be was 50 much whittier than bis mother,
These negroes had, committed no crime,
except Of being born. The army came among
them, their rebel masters hed, and we put
them in the third story Of the Washington
iail, where we fed them in trOughs, on Fourie-
rite principles, where no one has any better
chance than his nslghbors, unless he gets in
10 It lengthwise. Four OF them were playing
a game Of old sledge with q mutilated pack
of cards, and a dozen others looking on one
was dancing the dOuble-shufie and the re-
mainder were singing or talking and laugh
ing.
We went into the quarters Of the free
blacks Most Of them are confined for petty
offences, such IS theiying and vagraney One
bright-eyed intelligent looking fellow, about
twenty years OF age being asked why he
was there, replied; "For walking in the
street with q slave girl" The hardened
rufianl
1t was true. The lawsof this district pro-
hibit such laxity of walking. The theory OF
philosophy, Of the case is, that the girl might
fall in love with him and externally run
away for bis sake.
We came doWn and went out. We
must have new jail" remarked senator
G.
"Whai," asked, would yOI do with
the old one2"
"Put barrel of powder into it and blow
it up, be replied.
Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-12-07
Bishop POln BueGsrldtns.
correspondent writes i:

A correspondent writes:
I think the Right Reverend Bishop Cen
eral Polk, if some one had not slandered
him, sent flag Of truce to the devil, when
he laid aside the sword of the spirit and took
mp the earnal weapons Of Jef Davis, and
hss since fallen into the habit of the army in
Flanders. 1t is stated, on the authority of q
gentleman who was present, that when note
Of Inquiry was sent down to Columbus by
Gen. Grant, after the fight at Belmont, in
which the action was mentioned as a 'skir.
mish, the Bishop General, on reading it, ex-
claimed, TSkirmish, hell and damnation I'd
like to know what he calls battle" But this
is all natural enough. When Peter denied
his Lord, you remember, he soon began to
curse and swear.
Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-12-07
An Exciting Incident.

The correspondent of the st. Louis Re-
publican, writing from Cairo, under date
of Nov. 27, tells this incident:
For some days the steamer Maria Dem
ming has been lying in the middle Of the
Ohio as 3 receiving ship, having on board
the I've hundred marines lately arrived
from the East, and large number Of can
non that she brought down from st. Louis.
Last night the anchor chain parted, and
sleeping middies and cannon started tow
ards Columbus. The eonsternGtion Of the
former when they discovered their invol-
untary ride, was extreme, and for the mo-
ment ludIcrous. What the Confederates
would have done with such q shipment Of
marines and cannon, is q mystery. The
steamer Montgomery happened to be lying
at the landing, with steam up and, pursu-
ing the Dsnning, brought her back to her
moorings.
Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-12-07
FROM FORTRESS MONROE.
FORTRESS MONROE, DEC. s.

Via Baltimore 6.
A flag of truce come down from Norfolk
Carrying several Charleston prisoners, but no
news of any kind. Gen. Wool also dispatch-
ed flag of truce to Norfolk with number
of letters and clothing for the prisoners at
Richmond.
The steamer Illinois leaves for Port Royal
with troops for Gen. Sherman, this evening.
The Norfolk Day Book of to-day contains
a message from Gov. Letcher. the main points
of which is his regret that Fortress Monroe
is not in possession of the Confederate States,
The rebel Congress, at its session on the
Sd inst, passed 9 resolution Of thanks TO
Gen. Sterling Price for his active service
in Missouri. 3tsv' NA"
Gov. Leteher urges 8 forward movement.
he Saws the banks Of Che Potomac ere. not
the place to fight but the banks Of thesus-
auehannah.
Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-12-07

Several months ago naval officer Sta
toned near Fortress Monroe was much
alarmed by the appearance Of number of
black fugitives from the enemy on board
his ship. BE sent messenger post haste
to Washington to inform the Secretary Of
the Navy Of the fact and ask what he
should do, The reply given BY Mr.. Welles
was in substance, this; of you succeed in
capturing any Of the enemy, send your
prisoners to Washington. If Hfrisndly per-
sons escape to your ship from the enemy's
lines, you will either employ them on board
your ship, if you need their services,Or send
them ashore within our lines. No differ
enoe is 70 be recognized between white men
and black men in the effort to suppress the
rebellion"