Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-03-20
SUMMARY OF NEWS.


was agreed upon quietly between the Texas
Commissioners and Capt. Hill on the 9th.
The NeUs says that Fort Brown will be given
up as soon as transportation can be found for
the Federal troops-the latter to take to their
port OF destination two light batteries of artil-
lery. The steamer Daniel Webster was still
off Brazos, waiting to take the Federal troops.
Other vessels will probably be dispatched to
take the remainder. The Texan troops at
Brazos represented 10 be fortifying the
island so to make it impregnable. Ben Nc
Culluch arrived at New Orleans, March IA,
from Texas en- route for Montgomery. He re-
ports that Gov. Houston left Austin to avoid
further communication with the Convention.
If Gov. Houston refuses to take oath TO
support the newConSttution he will be deposed.
THE NEW TARIFF.-Regulations for the new
tariff, which will take effect on the lst of
April, now engage the attention of the Treas
Hry. As the whole system is to be radically
changed, the instructions must be prepared
with care and precision. 1t is of great impor-
tance that all the appointments of Appraisers
at the principal ports should be made from
among men of experience, ability, and integ
rty, otherwise conflicts may occur which will
seriously embarrass the operation of the law.
Much of its success will depend upon the first
start. Union men VIII be selected for the
Southern offices, except where the Republ-
can element is distinctly established and rec
ognized. This was the case in the competi-
tion for the Louisville PoSt-Oaice, where Mr..
Speed was appointed over Mr.. Helm. Repub-
lican, who is Mr.. Lincoln's brother law.
U. S. SUPREME CoURT.-Two important ca
ses were decided by the United States Su-
preme Court on the 14th, one of which has
been pending in the Court for long series of
years, and has been sufficiently well known 10
the general public as the 'sGaines' case" A
decision has at last been rendered in favor Of
Mrs. GAINES, and the Court has given such
directions as will place her in possession of
all the property of DANIEL CLARK, in New
Orleans and Baltimore. The other case is
that of Kentucky against Ohio, which is de-
cided adversely to Kentucky. 1t was held
that while it was the duty of State to sur
render fugitive slaves proper proof, Con-
gress could not compel State officers to do
their duty. The mandamUs was, therefore,
refused. The Albany and New-J ersey Bridge
cases were postponed until the next term.
SOUTHERN ARMY.-Great exertions have
been made over the whole South, in the true
as well as in the truant States, to obtain re-
cruits. For the Southern army, four or five
weeks since ia men were enlisted at Mem
phis, Tennessee. The most absurd promises
were made to them. They TO be quar-
tered in the first hotels. and to live like prin-
ceS. During the journey the treatment they
received induced "A of them to desert, and
100 only were brought to Charleston. These,
then, with the rest of the irregular army
suffering, and complaining most bitterly
of the deception which has been practiced
toward them. They now on the island,
badly clad, with not even straw beds to sleep
upon, with scanty food served out to them in
very small rations, and, in all respects, are
treated more slaves than freemen.
By THE THOUSAND ToSs.-One hundred and
fifty men have been for a long time past, and
are yet, busily engaged at the Watervliet ar
senal as we learn from the Troy Times, ma
king gun carriages, preparing caps, carridg-
es, &c. Thousands of tons of war material
have been sent off from that station to Fort
Pickens, Jefferson, Tortugas, and other fort
ications. Shell, canister and grape shot are
being sent off to fabulous extent, and heavy
gun carriages to mount the forts have also
been quite plentifully sent away. The south
ern forts have never been fully mounted be-
fore, but they are now in fair way of receiv-
ing supply of ammunition sufficient to eXter-
inmate the country in the section to which the
material is sent.
SOUTHERN TARFF.-The tariff trouble of the
Rebel States bids fair to undermine their
sham Union. The correspondent of The Bal
tinOre finer lean says: ssThe tariff (and here
is bone of contention for the future of the
Confederacy as well as the presenD eXciteS no
little of public attention. Georgia must have
tarff-so must louisiana, and must Ala
bama. All these manufacturing States,
and must have protection. South Carolina,
Texas, Mississippi, and Florida will not agree
to it. The fight will be conducted on the
same broad principles as in the olden time.
1t will rack the new Confederacy as it did the
old-and there will come another Secession
VIRGIaIA.-The StGunton Spectator express
es the conviction, in which many of our
Southern exchanges concur, that if the people
of the Seceeding States had been allowed fair
| ly to vote upon the question of ratifying or
rejecting the ordinance of secession, they
would have been rejected in every State
cept South Carolina. Wherever the people
have bad a fair opportunity of being heard,
and of calmly considering their action, they
have declared strongly in favor OF the preser-
yation of the Union.
NEGROES RECOGNIZED AS PERsoNs.-The fol-
lowing is an extract from the Montgomery cor
respondence of The Charleston Mercury son
account of the small size of the future House
of Representatives. of the Confederate States
under the old apportionment, it is not unlike
ly that it will be altered so to afford larger
and more efficient body. 1t is to be hoped
that full representation tciU be giUen 10 negroes
as persons, which would partially remedy the
evil of too small house,
MRS. GAINEs's CLkIM.-The Supreme Court
decided unanimously on the 14th, in favor of
the claim of Mrs. Gaines to the large estate
which has been in controversy for many years
in Louisiana. Although the act of Secession
provided That the legal rights of parties to
suits pending before this tribunal should not
be affected by It, some mode will probably be
found for evading the decree, which involves
several millions OF dollars.
JOHN BRowN's GHosT.-A Charleston CORE
spondent of TIE Richmond Dispatch says
ssDr. Maddux of Richmond is here, and has
with him the skeletons of two of the martyrs
that that wicked man Wise, of your State, had