davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-12-18
Bold Piracy.
ST. JOHN, n. B., Dec. 9.

The steamer Chesapeake. Capt. Willetts,
which left New York on Saturday afternoon
for Portland, was seized at | so on Monday
morning, when twenty miles north n nth
east of Cape tod by sixteen of the passen-
gers, who represented themselves as belong
ing to the Confederate States. Capt. Wlleis
was fired at nine times but not hit, al d was
then collared and put in irons.
The second engineer, in attemnting to
throw hot water on the party WAS shot dead
The first engineer was wounded In the face
but was taken away by the confe ierates TO
manage the engines. The crew and eight
passengers arrived off here in a pilot beat
this morning.
The commander of the confederates was
Henry Braine. Lieut.. Parr, one of Morgan's
men, is second in command. The, said they
would attempt to run into Wilmington. They
robbed the captain and crew of ali they pos
sessed.
A st. John paper gives the fol wing -
" The scheme was matured here by cont d.
federate agents. Meetings were held and
the passage money of .'ar,ies who were 10
make the seizure. was paid through to Nv
York and they were promised five hundred
dollars each on the steamer being safely TAX
en- into Wilmington, y. c. l. was also ar
ranged that at a certain sloIe in New York,
each of the parties vas to Gail al different
times for parcel containing revolver. am
munltion and pair of handouts. 1t is
believed that the cargo Was shipped by con-
federate agents and Was such as would be
valuable to send South.
The Tribune says that the seizure of the
steamer Chesapeake is no cause Tor surprise
No more precautions are taken at ,tat D ri
than If the country were in Profound peace.
while it is known that New York is the de-
pot and rendezvous of rebel emssar es ana
spies Of every description. They carry on
the business of rebellion with no hindrance
from anybody. a great hotel on Broadway
Is their headquarters; its proprietor aai
nlne-tenths Of its guests perfectly we'll known
to be rebels. On the steamer Corsica. which
LETT New York for Nassau on Monday, were
twenty or thirty men who were notoriouslv
rebel agents and officers necessarily known
to be such by the officers OF the steamer.
who themselves are rebel sympathizers-
Among them was one CommaCk-tur the
last two years the general rebel agent at Ha-
wanna. who has done not less for the rebel
Cause than Lee or Davis: for he has been
the soul of all schemes for supplying the
confederacy by breach Of the blockade. This
man was pointed out on board the vessel To
United States revenue officer. hut the Off
Ger replied it was not his business TO make
arrests, and would take no step to stop him
so he went unmolested: he aad his COM
rades.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-12-18

CONGRESS Quite humber of bills have
already been introduced into Congress. Fer
nanGo Wood introduced resolution provid-
ing for the appointment Of commiss toner's to
Richmond,with view to arranging for the ter
miration of this bloody, destructive and in
human war, and Of securing peace under the
constitution on terms of justice and equality.
Mr.. Washburne of Illinois moved to Law the
resolution on the table, which was carried by
yeas 9S, nays SO.
Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont introduced Joint
resolution authorizing the President to give
the government of Great Britain the notice
required for the termination of the reciproc-
ity treaty of June 9TH, 1854, and moved its
reference to the committee on commerce.
The House very naturally got tired in tram
sactlng such an amount of business, and vo;-
ed Dec. II to adjourn till Jan. Ga pretty
little intermission of only four weeks.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-12-18
The Cavalry Prisoners.

The following members of the Vernon,
cavalry have been exchanged and were sent
to Brattleboro Dec. i :
Warren Gibbs, J. W. Erwin, Daniel J.
Hill. II. p. .AIdrich, Samuel Dawling. S. F.
Stearns. Fayette Dyer, Henry J. Smith John
Smith, NJ. Ii. Stone, Lewis DeForr-st, i.
Benson. W. W. Warner, Freeman Webster,
A. F. Hackett, E. NJ. Cook, A. K. Wheeler,
l.. Bollin, B. F. Brow, Chas. Fairbank $.
Benz. Gordon.
A lette. from Annapolis TO Waltop's Daily
says OF these men:
Words are Inadequate to describe their
condition on their arri, al Even the ghas,ly
scenes of the baitlei i'd are wholesome and
pleasant compan ed with the condition of these
prisoners. Their few old battered garments.
covered with filth, their skeleton forms and
wild eyes, tell the story of their treatment
Every spark of hope and courage seems to
be lost to these poor victims Of rebel barbar-
lty who come back 10 US broken down in
o'oy and mind consequent upon their vile
treatment, which has no parallel even in the
history of the world.
Two members. Augustus L. Newland and
Pierce St. George, died at Annapolis, after
their alphabetically starved to death.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-12-18
What Papers Shall I Take ?

1t is now the season of the year when
people should be deciding on their paper.
and periodicals for 1861 The first of Jan
uary is the best time TO have all such things
date from. We will give our readers the
benefit of our observa and experience in
this matter, and perhaps it will help some
of them to decide.
We suppose of course every one will want
local and state paper, SO We shall put first
on the list The CALIFORNIAN, price 30 in
advance.
In these times many people want a CITY
daily, or weekly at any rate. Among the
MANY valuable d lilies now published we think
the Boston Journal stands pre-eminen,Iy a,
the head of the list, especially in New Eng
land. Among As many good qualities W.
reckon It's answering 10y ally II the govern
meHt GROWING virtue. While many o;
is contemporaries feel called upon to Grill
else and carp at the government, thereby
ael,raliZlns 'neir influence, the Journal
has al"a ys stood by the flag through good
and evil report. Price of daily SS-weekly 50
Every family ought to have a religion,
paper, and there are few hut what can afford
one, as newspapers have not advanced in IA.
ito with other articles. Among the hat-doz-
en- which we see We value the Congregation
aisi the highest, and can commend it to our
readers as a moral and religious newspaper.
Printed at Boston at 81 Year
The man who has farm, of even a ward
and garden, will be profted by reading a
good agricultural paper. The American 4 =
ricuturlst is the best we krow of as well a.
the cheapest. 1t is splendid paper to have
in family OF children, being iull Of usefu
! as well entertaining reading for both
adults and the little folks Printed at fl
Park Row, New York, at 81 year.
We had intended to speak of other paper.
and ENTHUSIASTICALLY Lad,'s Book for tn.
uife-the Student and Schoolma,e fer the
children-.he Atlantic or Harper's Magazin,
for yourself-but We have already exceeded
I our limits.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-12-18
Reception of the Presidents Plan,

The Tribures Washington correspondent
says the Presidents message has given gen
eral satisfaction. In the Republican party.
not only those usual, cla>sed as radicals. but
such conservatives as Dixon of Connection,
and Morgan f New York join hands in lis
praise. Congressman james S. Rollins of
Missouri. hitherto ciassed Us one of the
strongest opponents Of the administration
declared to-day that he accepted the platform
Ct that message, AID that his State could be
carried upon ii. Even Kiddeli, the h gu>
governor OF Louisiana. who is fere. indoTs.s
afi heartily approves thu message. and s-yS
I Is the doctrine for Louisiana. He SAYS that
DR.. Cottman and his assoc tes. VINO pre sent
ed themselves here under his certificates
claiming 10 b. congressman exec, f-,rN Lon
is!ana. and who are now waltz . in T., room
of the committee on elections. arr airn HIM
IN this. TIE language Of the oppc siiion Is
no less significant. The bi,'ere>r, wh,le cali
ing 1t atrocious, declare that il is tie most
cunningly devised plan f,r It's purpose ever
framed. The friends of President Lfncol
welcome TIE message, as giving them an ex-
cellent positive platform on. which To fc7t
the next campaign. and the general belief Is
that the standard bearer in ina, campsSyn
will be the author Of that message. Tn
President. who is in much in.prpvrd heal, h
to-day. is greatly gratitei a, the reception
gwen 20 his message and the NEGOTIATIONS
which pour in upon him
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-12-18

The whole of jeff Davis message to the
rebel Congress, fills seven columns of small
type. and is third longer than Mr.. Lincoln
message. He discusses the difficulties OF
rebel finance at length, ard comes to this
conclusion
g" 1t may be added that, in considering this
subject, the people ought steadily to keep in
view that the government, in contracting
debt. is bu, their agent; and its debt is their
debt As tine currency is held exclusively by
ourselves. it is obvious that. if each person
held treasury notes in exact proportion TO
valuation OF his whole means, each would in
fact owe himself the amount of the notes
held by him, and, were it possible to distrib-
ute the currency among the people in this
exact proportion. tax levied on the rurren-
cy alone. to an amount sufficient to reduce it
to proper limits, would afford the best OF all
remedies. Under such circumstances, the
notes remaining in the hands Of each holder.
after the payment Of his lax, would De wort .
quite as much as the whole sum previously
held, for 1t would purchase at least an EQUAL
amount of Commodities. Tn. result Can OF
be perfectly attained by any device Of l-gis-
ton, but it can be Appropriated by taxation.
A tax on all values has for its effect, not only
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-12-18
The Presidents Message.

We willingly give up good deal Of space
this week to the Presidents Message and
Proclamation of Amnesty to the Re,els.-
These are documents that will be universally
read and generally approved. Mr.. Lincoln's
plan Of reconstruction is entirely his own,
but none the worse for that. His position
demands of him more attention, greater
thought on these vital points and questions
than ordinary persons are supposed to give
them, and as We said before, We believe his
new plan of reconstruction cahnot fail of
being popular. The Boston Journal says
of this paper:
"This is a message Of truly national i'm
port, Of vast consequence, and probably of
unexpected development at this time. 1t is
a step in advance in that policy which the
country has proposed to itself for the extinc-
ton of the rebellion. And yet now that it
is announced, the steps by which it hes grad
ually been reached are apparent. and its tit
ness and propriety will probably con mend
themselves, sooner or later, to the Judgment
of the people. TIE time has clearly come
when many are ready to desert the rebellion
and resume their allegiance to the Federal
Government, and if there are enough such
in any given state to revive their state as a
part of the Union, it is plainly for the inter-
est of the cause, as we'll as for their own
benefit, that they should have the privilege
of doing so, for this will actually signaize
the winding up of the rebellion. The Pres
ident, therefore. may have we'll looked around
to Sc. how he could meet this great want.
He finds that the constitution gives him the
power of granting pardon in the premises
and the confscation act passed by the last
Congress gave him special directions as to
the exercise of this pardoning power. There
: fore, taking his stand on this authority, he
issues this proclamation of amnesty. with
/ only such terms and conditions as the lesis
la,ure of the country has rendered inevitable
This is the logical origin of the proclama
ton. We believe that the more it is exam
ined, the more its constituti2nality. Justice
and fairness will become apparent, and iii.
more firmly it will become established in the
public support. The legislative measure:
taken against slavery, that great prop of The
rebellion and its sole inspirer, are as fixed a.
fate. The Gead On all the battle fields have
not more clearly passed away than this one,
mighty and always pestlferous Institution.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-12-18
| ). ENCISE TANES.
COLL ECTOR'S MOTTO

co l. l. T. T u RS NOTICE..
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Taxes
f the Sd Collection District Of Vermont. * a.
ses>ed upon Incomes. Licenses. Carriages. Plate.
&c, 'inder the provisions OF the Law Of Congress
approved July 1t. 1852. and the amendments
theret .. have become due and payable; and
will attend myself OF by Deputy n the following
times and places TO receive the same, viz:
CHITTENpES COUNTY.
At my o-iiee in Burlington. IN Monday Nov
Shth- iueS law Dee Isl, and "Wednesday. Dec
ID iS'3
Al : wad's Hotel, Milton, OF THURSDAY. Dec.
3d.
At Ransom's Hotel Richmond. on Friday. Dec.
ith.
At the Bostwick House. Jericho. on SATURDAY.
Dec. 9Th.
FEANKLIN COUNTY.
At the American Hotel. ST. Adams. on TUESDAY
Wednesday and Thursday, Dec Sth, 9th, and
10th, 1863
A. Randali's Hotel, Fairfax, on FRIDAY, Dec
llih
At lsha:n Hotel Bakersfield, on Tuesday. Dec.
9Th.
At TnompSan's II ptel. East Berkshire. Oh
Wednesday Dee 10th
A. Wright's Hotel, sheldon. on Thursday Dec
18th.
GLAND ISLE COUNTY.
At II. :. Adams Office. East Alburgh. on Sat
urdav Dee. i9:h, l>63.
At kice'> Hotel. South Hero, on Tuesday Dee.
2ld
Al Joel Aliens House, North Hero. on We'd
nesdty. Dee. 25I.
ESSEN COUNTY
At the West Concord House. West Concord. On
Tuesday, i'm. ., lSoi-
At Norris Woods Hotel. u lildhail, on Thurs
day, Jan. 9Th.
At the Island Pond House, Island Pond, on
Saturday, Jan. 9th.
ORLEANS COUNTY.
At Cuttings Hotel. Greensboro on Monday.
Jan. san, iSii.
At the lrasburg House, Irasburg. on wednes-
day. Jan. 9Th.
AT flint's Hotel. Troy, on Thursday. Jan. 9Th.
Al pefoy 'entre Aote,, Derby, on Friday, Ian.
AZ the Barton House, Barton. on Monday. Jan.
llta.
LANoILLE COUNTY.
At Seegar's Hotel, Cambridge, on Tuesday.
Jan. 18th, 1864.
AT Daniels Hotel, johnson. on "wednesday,
Jan. a0rh
At the American House. Hydep,rk,on Thurs
d., Jan 2lst
Al the Morrisville House, Mouisyillc, on Fri
day, Jan. 22d
A, the Mansfield House, Stowe, On Saturday.
Jan. I'D.
by the provision OF the Excise Laws. all per-
sons neelecting to par said Taxes within the time
above specified MUST pay 10 per cent. additional
upon the amount thereof.
Taxes on Monthly Returns not previously pad
VIII B. received al the above stated times and
places
ANY person can remit his tax by another as his
eeeip'> wall OF returned Bills of Panks outside
he state WILL NOT be received. Cnited states
preferred.
CARLOS BANTER.
Collector 81 Third Collection Distract. n.
Burlington, Nov. Is, 1853. aS
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-12-18

MURDER AND RoBBERY.-The Maiden
tMass.t B nix was entered between IL and
- O'Clock Tuesday. and Frank f. Converse,
son of the president and assistant cashier.
aged about / was shot dead al his desk. and
the bank robbed of 5000. Il was altogether
one of the boldest and most cold-booded
murder Of which We remember. The st,ang.
est thing about it is that such deed could
be committed at midday. in the midst of a
business community, and no one hear the
report of the pistol or see any suspicious
party about. At haf-past II a well.known
business man of the place procured a check
Of young Converse in the bank and imue-
diately left. Before II be was found living
upon the floor Just breathing his last. A
reward Of $1,000 is offered for the apprehen-
SION of the murderer and restoration of the
money.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-12-18

Jefferson Davis allns,ol TO the ha,.ls Of
Gettysburg where he represents the Uninn
troops as being so severely p.nished nv Lee
as to prevent them from renewing the cam
palgn as intended, is very much ike John
PhPnlXs account Of "lhe sixth and LAST
round with Judge Ames where he Says.
81 We held the Judge down over The press hy
our nose, which We had inserted between MS
teeth tof that purpose, and while our hair
was employed in holding one of his hands
We held the other in our left
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-12-18
Cambridge Cattle Market.
3Y TEhEGHA
WEDNESDAY, Dee. l6. 1868.

WEDNESDAY, Dee. l6. 1863
At market 1872 Cattle. about 1900 Beeres ans
az Srcres consisting of Working Oxen Cows
anu one. TWO and three years olds.
RIcEs-Market Beef-Extra $3.50 a : Ok
first quality $500 SS.25; second de- sou q
S1Ol.t third do. $3.50 $500; ordinary
Working 0xen-sa5. l65. loo.
Cows and Calyes-eS0. 30. 60. 90.
Yeariing>-.o0-00 On,c0.
Two Years Uld-SlS ..
Three Years 0ld-S25 -.
Sheen and LambS-i201 At market. Extra anu
selections. 500 q 7.2j coo. in lots, SS,5e
~ coo.
Spring Lambs-S0.cO 900 0,e0-
Swine-0 al market.
Hides q DC per 10.
Calf Slins-l2 lie per ID
Pelts-S2.2j 30 each.
Tallew-9 uc per 10
Veal Calves-from 80 20 5000.
RENARKS Prices for best beef rather lower.
as butchers have good supply on hand sheep
rather higher.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-12-18

hut remain inactive. apparently for the want
of FaliyDg point or plan OF action, Tor
why shall \ adopt the plan OF b rather than
3 that Of "A aud if A and B should agree,
how can they know but that the general goV
eminent here will reject their plan? BY the
proclamation, plan is presented which may
he accepted by them as j rallying point, anu
which they are assured in advance Will ho'
be rejected here. This may bring them TO
act sooner than they otherwise would. 1he
objections to premature presentation OF
plan by the national executive consist IN the
danger Of committoli on points which could
be more safely left to future Developments
Care has been taken to so shape the docu-
ment as t. avoid embarrassment from this
source. Saying that, on certain terms, Ger
tain classes will be pardoned. with rights re-
stored, it is not said that other classes or
other terms will never be included ard say
ing also that reconstruction will be accepted
if presented in a specified way. The move
ments by state action tor emancipation Ii
seyera! Of the States, not included in the
emancipation proclamation, are matters OF
profound graduation, ard. while do not re-
peat in detail what have heretofore SO ear
nesily urged upon this subject. my genera!
views and feelings remain unchanged, and
trust Congress will omit no fair opportunity
Of aiding these important steps TO the grea
consummation.
IMPORTANCE OF THE WAR POWER.
In the midst of other cares, however in
portant, We must not loose sight that the wal
power is still our main reliance, and to thai
power alone can we look yet for a time, to
give confidence to the people in the contest
ed regions that the nsurgent power vii
not again overrun them. Until that conf
dence shall be established, little can be done
anywhere for what is called reconstruction
Hence our chiefest care must still be directed
to The army and navy, who have thus tal
borne their harder parts SO nObly and well
And it may be esteemed fortunate that il
giving the greatest efficiency to these indls
pensabe arms, We do also honorably recog
nize the gallant men, from commander Il
sentinel, who compose them, and 10 whom
more than to others. the world must stanC
indebted for the home Of freedom, disentralI
ed, rejuyenatsd. enlarged and perpetuated.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-12-18

LOUISIANA COMING BACK.-The New Or
leans papers say that the free state central
committee in that city has determined on
holding state election on the 18th Of Janu-
AIRY next. Gen. Shepley, military governor,
having given his consent, provided a sutfi-
cent number OF loyal voters shall be regis
tered in the State As soon as the Presi-
dents message reaches New Orleans, the
free state men will know exactly how many
men they must find willing to sware by the
emancipation proclamation, in order to recon-
struct the state government, and it ought to
be easy to get tenth of the voters up 10
that mark, especially if northern residents
and soldiers may be counted in. Thus Lou
islana will probably be the first of the seced-
ed states to organize loyal government,
unless Arkansas hurries up her reconstruc-
ton movement.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-12-18
!, OR SALE IN BAR n E

4 good farm In Rarne; situated about IN l.
from West Barnet. Said finn contains $50 acres
Of exec lent land under good cultivation There
i good house and two barns upon the place. with
water running to the same. On the farm Is 4
good apple orchard; also. 4 sugar oTcha,d-
School house within half mile. church within
Il mile
As | an lOul.d to sell this is rare oTpOr,uni-
~ I" get farm fu- little money. For particulars
enquire cf the -bscriber on the premises
JOHN GILkERSON-
Barnet. Dec. S. 1862 I6.1o-
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-12-18
T II L ALED ON [ AN
BY c. NJ. STONE Il Co.
st. Johnsbury. VT, Friday, Dec. IS, 1868.

JOB PRINTING. Every kind of print.
ing is promptly executed at this office, in
the best style and at the lowest prices.
The facilities Of the establishment are of
the first order: good workmen are EN-.
plOyed. and additions of type and other
printing materials are constantly being
made to keep fully up with the times.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-12-18
Agents for The Caledonian
\ CALL TO YOU. If YOU OWE Us.

Il IS cery important TO hare settlement once
a year. Many scho take oar paper and ,chO
adrcrtise wiM as, k0re .tailed to square then
accounts up to ,I0nFarV 1863. is 'ce are IN need
Of or dues to enable as 10 discharge oar obiiga-
tons promptly, .ce cali upon oil oring US to
SETTLE UP IMMEDIATELY.