The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-13
OUR PORTLAND CORRESPONDENCE.

oi onodBh ior sny'hng that may Dc susmPeu ia INA
OUR PORTLAND CORRESPONDENCE.
PORTLAND, Me-, Dec 0, 1851.
Effects Of the War in MdineAotipity in Business Of Az
Kinds-Popularity Of the War--A6olitionssm at Dis
cosnt-The People Unit in Support Of the Adstniara
ti0a, dc. s NWN0s
He who imsgnes TINT the war has created depression
in the trade and prosperity Of Maine rsckons without
knowledge Of the facts So far have able dis
the contrary has been the casc the business Of
the State was never prosperous than at this time
The great demand for shipping has impaired degree Of
velness TO that highly important branch OF the industry
OF the State that has not been for years. There is
also general activity displayed other branches Of bns
ness Independent Of those whose prosperity may part
be incidental to the state or The cnsments for the
army have withdrawn from agricultural numbering and
mechanical pursuits many persona whose places have
been filed by those who have hitherto been Of employ
ment, while they have also carried on large proportion
Of the latter class The dry goods grocery clothing pro
vision boot and shoe and other city wholesale and retail
dealers have had complain OF q lack Of trade
while they acknowledge the business Of the past six
months has been conducted and better basis
than for years. being mostly for cash short credits
Cases Of present prospective insolvency rare and
the business streets OF Portland have seldom before
so animated an aspect they have lately. The ladies
we're never more busy shopping seemed flushed
with cash and excitement Indeed those who used TO
talk about Portland witing should soc the liVeness
prevailing here today. There is doubt much Of the
present prosperity of the city is owing tho large
amount of capital introduced within few years by tho
Grand Trunk Railway Company, who have now employed
in their various fine warehouses; depots, wharves &C.
between SEQ and 1900 men, with European steamers
arriving weekly A number OF English vessels are now
md tnaR
Myrcks United States Hotel the preble House SC shows
that the hotel business is much benefited by the
railway connection with their Canadian friends and
by the British line OF steamships. Tho subjects
Of her Majesty Queen Victoria seem, indeed, 70
be among the leading spirits Of tho place.
and to such extent have they appreciation q their
consequence that they begin about the an
nexation Of the city and State to Canada. "Porand
should either belong Canada or Canada TO Portland
dye seey' observed prominent British officer yesor.
| day. We didn't soc it.
One thing Portland needs very much and that is tho
introduction Of good supply Of pure fresh waller. 1t Is
wonder that this drawback ehon'd DC allowed so long
to exist in view of the splendid opportunity it has for
being supplied with necessary element in the
veniencee Of large and growing city learn tAat a
gentleman Of this city has IN open offer before tho
government and has had IL there some yea 20 III
oduce the water al his own expense and responsibility
from fountain heads IN his own possession, If the city
will either guarantee him per the cost within
vo years allow him to receive the income be 1t hat
all the water il requires for fountains aud purposes tho
Fire Department cry Of 'inonopolyn has however
drowned the voices Of thosc who favor this great work
| Of public utility.
| IS TIE WAR poPrIAaq
To be sure il is If one leve his own eyes BIT It
is popular only the and for tho pirpos for
which 10 was commemorative: the maintenance o,
the Union and the support of the government, its aors
to that end So far The universally popular and :
benefit rather than an injury to the State. But
+ HOW ABOUT ExANCpATosY
That is matt Of another color entirely and emplat
Gf rnpstn tnfir ahntst1
ize the government and make the arrnyaud sthoy hal
better let that army alone, said an Senator
daya machine to accomplish the purposes OF faction
fnatcisin, win not be tolerated in Maine some rspub.
cans who have heretofore bee stir in the faith will no,
~ -. 'nc they nave areaoy taken
measures 10 INFORM their representatives IN Congress that
they viii not endorse it, Senator Morrill, here only
few days ago, and ! do not know but may be around
somewhere still, feeling the pulse Of his friends
and no ascertaned the sentiment as thoroughly as
some others who have made it their business 10 so,
the honorable Senator has doubtless to the couc
that the republican party hold power at Au.
gusta after The ls Of January next they adopt
dent is warmly commented that Of the emancipation-
lists is denonnced and by nearly every moderate repub
can in Maine. You would be surprised to hear the
hearty condemnation Of the Tos Of this attempt to
wheel them into the abolition line Some OF the old de.
mocrats who have acted with III republicans for come
years N this state beseech With tears in t i eyes, the
extremists not TO make the assertions OF the rascav
old hnnkers, before tfsy deserted the democracy that
they wero nothing bn "a set Of cursed aboltionisis
is really painful To witness the writings Of these unror-
tuate beings under the lash Of their abolition masters
and if emancipation should prevail they will come back
like prodgas. focks their old faith and once more
arouse and unite the and save the conr
rallying cry Of "Down with the emancipa,iousts
That's what an Old Maine bunker just told me- and You
may take 1t for what ii is worth.
THE CASE OF THE SLAVE sATuAslEL GoRDos-A
sSErcA or LitEr-FEsISG PORTLAND ABOUT Hs ExE.
CUToS, ETc.
Incidental TO the question Of slavery characterization
&C. the Of the slave captain Gordon now confined
your city under sentence Of death has
siderable attention here, where he born and well
known from childhood and herewith furnish you nth
| brief sketch of his history.
Capt Nathaniel Gordon the slave captain now under
sentence Of death in New York. native of this city.
He is about thirty four years old, and has relatives
Captain Gordon s known here very precocios youth
wild reckless and daring aping at the age Of eight or
ten tho habits q aduts having that early period
accomplished the refined and Enanly habits OF smoking
segars and chewing tobacco. ssFs r#p at5~
These youthful traits Of character, however did not
prevent his attention to school, where he received good
education, and subsequently studied navigation under
Captain Frank Clark, OF this city. His seaarDg life
an avocation which admirably suited his rowing disposi
ton After the death Of his father be repaired the
West where be engaged in the milling business which
turned out unproaabiy and he took esit water once
more and day turned up in Portland harbor as mas
ter of vessel loaded with brandies and other LIQUORS
There having been ilegaliiy in his method Of
ing earbor Of course ignorant Of Custom House regu
lationsthc small matter OF attempting to smugglc the
cargo paying Uncle Sam his tithes being the
chief diiicuty-tha whole cargo seized and confs.
Gated by the Custom House officials; and the smuggling
| operation, therefore, proved an utter failure. - =.
Earliest among those who became intoxicated with the
California fever, he started, Of small brig on
the then dangerous and almost untred experiment Of
making voyage 10 the land Of gold, in his little
craft among the pioneer navgators who entered the
harbor Of San Francisco. The enterprise the start
! was considered q reckless by all navi-
| gators who had the least knowledge OF tho
dangerous character OF the voyage and from the little
information then known Of the California coast the
soundings bearings &c., OF the shoals rocks quick
sands and particularly with regard 70 the channels in
the harbor OF san Francisco failure and shpwreck were
predicted tho inevitable result Of the daring young
captains enterprise Strange to say he not only
pshed this dangerous and then almost unknown voyage
In safety but reaped pretty handsome reward for his
| venture. Those who accompanied him this voyage
say that it miraculous exhibition OF skill good
luck and daring. The crew were wonderstruck at his
| ntrepdity. Captain Gordon was then about twenty
three years old After his arrival in California he en-
tered upon various expeditions, coaswise rverwise,
and otherwise and for time his shrouded
in mystery at least his Portland acquaatances Sud-
denly, day he turned up again in Portland slave
captain avowed that to be his occupation and defed tho
cruisers OF the world to catch or overhaul him.
At last however, his wild race was brought TO end,
as yonr readers have seen, and after all the efforts
which skful, ingenious and eminent legal talent could
bring to bear in his behalf had been exhausted he
lies awaiting the execution OF the final of tho
law. Truly short and adventurous career-if this be
the end Of 10.
There some speculation among the acquaintances Of
Captain Gordon in this city in reference 10 what the
thorites at Washington will do in the case Some think
that he will be repreved by the President while