davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-12
The Mass Contention.

Our Devil, after visiting the Mass Conven-
ton q held in this place on last Thursday, be-
came somewhat excited, and perpetrated the
following lines
On Thursday the 9th, the bell rang aloud,
And, apparently, there hung DER the Court
House cloud;
A direful omen of what was within,
But it proved to be merely gathering of men.
In the midst of the hall there sat a large man,
And summoned around him were from seven
to ten
A pretty large crowd for county so sparse,
But the Chairman said little and seemed to be
hoarse
The gentleman looked embarrassed, but stable
Q'm told that he lives in the town of Hard
ScrabbleD
And stated in brief the objects in hand,
That their object was holy-the result would
be grand
Two delegates, then, were said to be wanted,
For the honor of which several aspirants pant
ed;
But that honest fat Chairman, the cunning
old elf,
Had the handling of the cards, and appointed
The mode was so new, had to applaud,
Whilst neighbor who's by roar'd out "by
Cd =
But we hushed him straight up-and then forth
with
Appointed Il eolleague-a person named Smith.
The Chairman now rose, as straight Il sap
lin
And named for the Senate, Mr.. Joseph A.
Chapline;
Who slept on the floor, and in rhetoric loose
Declared himself known rs fright the
goose!s'
The speech was replete with gumption and
vigor,
With portion of bile, and II sprinkling of
nigger
But where energy seems so potent and risky,
/ am prone to suspect the presence of whisky.
The meeting now seemed to end in joke,
A call for our friend, the editor Hoke;
And being quite tired, we got in kink,
Retired to Staub's, and there took drink.
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-12

The President is said to have promised Gov
eernor Bramlette that Kentucky should ut once
be relieved from martial law, and his procla-
nation to that effect is expected within day
command is said to have also been determined
upon. His successor is not named, but Gen
eral Gordon Granger is for many reasons most
likely to be the man. Kentucky has expend-
ed over two millions of dollars for national
troops, in addition to her home-guard, for
which she never received reimbursement. Mr..
McCulloch has promised to arrange for it's pay.
ment at the earliest possible day.
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-12
RoMNEY, HAMPSHIRE Co.

At the recent term of the Circuit Court
of Hampshire County, Judge Balch pre-
siding-ssven attorneys att law, who had
been regularly practicing in that court,
some of them for many years, were re-
fused permission to qualify therein, be-
cause they We're unwilling to take the
oath prescribed for officers; by the Stat
ute of West Virginia, passed Nov. Is,
1868.
The Court holds the matter under adj
visement, thereby in effect denying the
right of these Attorneys't to avail them
selves of the benefits of their profession,
and precluding the citizens from secur-
ing their aid, implicitas their confidence
may be in them. 1t is understood, that
of all the Judges of West Virginia, Judge
Balch stands alone, in making this re-
QUESTION, and it is believed that after the
argument was submitted before him, as
to their right to qualify, without taking
that oath, he alone of all who heard it,
remained unconvinced. Has he more
legal attachments, higher capacity, or
purer integrity, than any or all of his
brother Judges: 1t would be inferred,
not as he announced from the bench at
the same time, that he had never heard
OF "a plea in abatement in a criminal
case" May we not say, "Eheu! Nol,os-
tds, pro rdtione stut.' RAS.
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-12

We call the attention of our readers to
the extraordinary statement made in a
communication in this days paper from
the county of Hampshire. The writer
is one Of the purest, and most enlighten-
ed men in that section of the State, and
full faith may be given to any fact which
he asserts. Seven Attorneys at Law,
many of them old practitioners, deprived
of the means of living by the arbitrary
and illegal act of a Judge! Truly, we
have fallen upon evil times!
The attempt which has been made in
this Judicial District, and which is con-
fined to this District alone, to exclude
from the bar every man who will not
take an illegal and unconstitutional test
| oath, is one Of the most remarkable Incl
dents of the day. 1t seems to produce
no effect upon the mind of our Judge,
that the Court of Appeals of West Vir-
ginia can see no sanction orauthOrity for
this eXaction that he stands alone of
all the Circuit Judges of the State, in re-
quiring this condition. he can
point to no law of West Virginia impos-
ing any such obligation--hes seems deter
mined to signalize his brief Judicial ca
reer by persistence in an error, which
admits neither of palliation nor defence.
Is it not indeed an extraordinary fact
that everywhere from the Potomac to
the Rio Grande-from the Atlantic to
the Pacific-that every where through
out West Virginia, the bar as a profess
sion and means of livelihood, isopent to
all, except alone in this Judicial District.
What special offence has this District
committed, that it should be alone selec-
ted for the imposition of disqualifying
law, which is made to apply to no other
section of the State? How is it, that a
rule is brought to bear upon the citizens
of this District, which is rejected and re-
pudiated by the Court of Appeals, and
by every other Circuit Court Judge in
this State? These are questions which
a scrutinizing public will everywhere
ask, and to which an answer will have
to be given, some day, sooner or later.
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-12
.JOHu. Minor. Bolts.

From a late letter of the above named
distinguished gentleman we make the
following extract, which goes to show
the construction which he puts upon the
question as to what constitutes giving
aid and comfort to the rebellion. There
are but few persons in this district, who
would be allowed toexercise the elective
franchise under the strict definition of
what constitutes giving assistance, as in
terpreted by the Radical Notification
Party. We hope to see those ofour read
ers who have heretofore been laboring
under any misapprehensions as to the
meaning and ultimate action of the
"Test Oath Law" come forward and
vote at the coming election:
"Does any one suppose that a civilized
and enlightened people would regard 1t
as treason to hold a refreshing glass to
the parched lips of a wounded soldier
whom he himself had just laid PROSTATE
at his feet? And the Government ofthe
United States, too, under this interpre-
tation has been a traitor to itself-for
who has fed SO many as Mr.. Lincoln 2
Who nursed so many of the wounded as
Mr.. Lincoln? Who clothed SO many as
Mr.. Lincoln, and then restored them to
the ranks of the Confederate army; and
yet, could not he take this oath? If to
give food to the hungry or nurse the
wounded and sick was an offence, so it
was equally crime to give glass of
water to the thirsty; and if this consti-
tuted treason, / confess myself asamongst
the most culpable of traitors for all this
have done. l have probably fed to a
greater extent than any one man in the
Confederacy (only because they were
around me all the time, but God knows
as well as | that it was never done with
view to help the rebellion, for which
never, for the first moment, had the least
particle of sympathy or respect.'
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-12
Harrison County, Vest Va.

We have been permitted to take the
followingextract from letter written by
an intelligent gentleman residing in
Clarksburg, West Virginia. It is dated
Sept. %, 1865:
'HThe Circuit Court here is in session,
being held by Judge Ollie of the Preston
District, he and Judge Harrison having
made temporary exchange of circuits.
He appears quite conservative, and de-
means himself with great propriety.-
The grand jury was disposed to indict
soldiers for taking horses during Jones
raid under orders, but he instructed them
that they acere not d,asUera6le to the courts
for doing so and the jury ignored the
Bills.'
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-12

Legislature is not an e.r post .fdcto law?
He could only maintain such position
by showing that the elective franchise is
a mere 6ogatels, and that it is no punish
ment to be deprived of one of the great
est and most sacred of American rights.
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-12

1t has already been announced, that
OIL next Monday, at the Courthouse in
this city, the Hon. John w. Kennedy,
the Union candidate for the Judgeship
of the 10th Judicial District, will discuss
before the citizens of this county, the
grave issues involved in the approach
ing election. Other distinguished speak
ers will take part in the discussion. We
earnestly invite all, without regard to
theirpast political views or relationships,
to be present on that occasion.
Never since the State commenced its
existence, have its citizens been called
upon to decide questions of deeper mo-
ment to its future character and welfare,
than some of those which will be SUBJ
mitted at the next election. Especially
is this true of the proposed amendment
of the Constitution. An amendment,
which, if adopted, will disfranchise for
all time, one-half at least, of the citizens
of this State. All, who, since the LIST
day of June, 1861, have given amy, even
the slightest voluntary aid to the rebel
lion, whether by word or deed, -"the
high and the low-the intelligent and
the ignorant-the leaders and the led,
will be alike forever stricken down by
it, saving only such as have volunteered
into the military or naval service of the
United States, and have been or shall be
| honOrably discharged therefrom. Shall
this momentous change in the organic
law of our State be sanctioned? Citizens
of Berkeley county, come on Monday
next, and let us reason together, on this
subject of indescribable importance to
yourselves and your children.
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-12
Letter of Hon. Jas. II. Ferguson.

Letter Of Hon. Jas. II. Ferguson.
We call the special attention of our
readers to this letter, which will be
found in our columns of to-day. The
author of this letter was a prominent
member Of the last Legislature, and more
influential, probably, than any other man
in securing the passage of the Test Oath
Bill. He now frankly admits that the
Oath prescribed is inconsistent with the
Constitution Of the State, and recon-
mends to his Onion friends ereyyrhere
that they treat the la,o requiring this oath
as a dead letter, and not seeh to enforce 1t
upon any one.o He also says, I" if we
expect others to live up to their consti-
tutional obligations we must not violate
the Constitution ourselves" If Inspect
ors of Elections shall enforce this Oath
and thereby reject otherwise legal votes,
they will not have the shadow of a
defence to actions that may be brought
against them, by those whose cOnsti-
tutional rights shall thus be trampled
upon:
"There are doubtless, many persons in
the State who, prior to the act of 1868,
gave aid and comfort to the rebellion in
some of the methods prescribed in that
act, but who, previous to its passage, had
returned to their allegiance and become
peaceable and law abiding citizens. Now,
these persons, if otherwise qualified,
would clearly have the right, under the
Constitution, to vote, and yet they could
not take the oath prescribed by the act
Of 1865. And then, again, it may be that
many persons expatriated by the act of
1868, have returned to their allegiance
and regained their citizenship, and if SO,
they would be entitled, under the Con-
stitution, to vote, but could not do so if
challenged, because they could not take
| the prescribed oath. For this reason
am free to say that the oath in question
is entirely too broad in its terms, and
that it requires the person offering to
vote, ifchallenged, to swear to more than
is authorized by the Constitution. Had
the oath been so framed as to carry out
the object and intention of the Legisla-
ture, its enforcement would have been
no violation of the Constitution but,
unfortunately, this is not the case, and
!, therefore, recommend to my Union
friends everywhere that we treat the
law requiring this oath, as dead letter,
and not seek 10 enforce it upon any one.
If we expect others to live up to their
constitutional obligations, we must not
violate the Constitution ourselves. The
. election law of 1863 confers upon the
supervisorsand inspectors of election full
power to reject the ballots of all persons
not entitled to vote, (see laws Of 1868,
section - and %, on page 49,
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-12

The first church ever established in New
Jersey was Dutch Reformed Church, organ
ized III l6f4. The first one in which the services
were IN English was Of the Presbyterian de-
no mominatlon, established at Elizabeth in 1866.
inc me hrst Quaker church was at Shrewsbury, in
Monmouth county. probably in 1870. George
ioN the founder of the society of Friends, Of
tieated in it in 1917.
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-12

7H0HZNS " 77z1777HOT.
This isastrangejuxtaposition ofnames,
and yet the conclusions to which these
two distinguished minds have arrived on
the same interesting legal question JUS
titles reference to their opinions in the
same article.
Gen. Thomas by general order No. %,
dated at Nashville, declares that "citi-
zens of Tennessee who have been in the
service Of the United States, but moW dis
charged, shall not be sued or arrested for
acts committed by them, whilst in the
service and done under the orders Of s,t-
peri0rs.o
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-12

\ PATRIOT vii! admit there NAV be
honest men, ant that honest men may
differ.
Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-03-18

An ancient Greek critic used to boast
that Homer first taught men pseudo iegsiR
hos dei--to lie as il ought to be DONE
In these times the telegraph has taken up
old Homer's vocation, but without any
part'o his genius or poetry. Aud in the
army they even do il up better still. For
example: few days ago Hampton sur
prised Fitzpatrick. gaining decided adj
vantage over him. Sherman, writing to
Grant, disdains to lie about il; but the an
onymous officer who brought the letter.
undertakes to make up for it; anj accord
iugly relates that, while it is true that
Hampton surprised Fitzpatrick and did
much mischief. including the capture of
all Kills staff except two, yet that
Xii. afterwards rallied and whipped
Hampton "out Of his boots," recapturing
everything. Grant telegraphs this to Da-
na, and Dana whenever anything doubt
ful is to be done, Stanton steps aside for
Dana, telegraphs it to the public
Whereupon, all "loyal" people, of course,
piously and as in duty bound. believe it.
And why not? When Lincoln, before he
was President, was once upon a time re-
monstrated with Tor allowing his wife to
Scold and abuse him so iurously, he very
coolly and pbilosophically answered, "Oh,
if you only knew how much good it does
her, and how little it hurts me, ycu
wouldn't say a word"
Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-03-18
Current News Items,

The Louisville Journal makes this hit All
the female abolhionists are violently in favor
OF the neeros voting. Espousing the cause
Of niger suffrage is the next thing TO esPous'
ing the nigger himself
The Marion Mirror says While the church
es all over the country were called upon to
meet on the lth to offer up prayer for Abra'
ham Lincoln aud every man wac accounted
disloyal who would not join, President Lin
coin aud the officials at Washington we're
preparing Tor Grand Inauguration Ball.
This is consistency for you,
Julgs Price, who recently died in Hillsbor-
rough, Oh.6, was at one time student OF the
illustrious John Marshall
The papers are again horrible with the de
tails OF military execution. The account OF
Sue Muudy's death follows that Of Beall in
quick succession
Sue Mundy is represented rs tall well.
formed, and handsome mau, and at the
time OF his death wanting some months OF be-
ing twenty-one years Of age.
The death of Sue Mundy was cruel one.
The drop was only three feet and did not
break his neck lie choksd 10 death amid
horrible convusions.
The water is many feet higher in Utica,
New York, than has ever been known before
The gas works in that city are effectuaIIy
stopped and the people are thrown upon their
own resources for light
There is the greatest aood in Rochester, New
York, aud The vicinity, ever known. Immense
damage has been done to property.
The food in the Gennessee Valley, New
York, has swept everything away
The mail aud baggage car has been de-
stroyed by fire on the indianapolis and Terre
Haute Railroad The origin Of the fire is
unknown.
Henry A. Wise is candidate for the Con-
federste Congress.
Durbin Ward is practcing law in Memphis.
st Patrick's day was celebrated with great
enthusiasm and magnificent display in lndi-
annapolis,
No arrests have been made for the murder
Of the Roosa family, although such rumors
have been in circulation.
The Commercial says AS an instance of
the good fortune that sometimes attends
shrewd speculation, we were told ofa gentle
man, who, two or three years ago was a news.
paper carrier, in this city, and is now estima-
ted to be worth over two millions Petroleum
did the business.
James Heenan, brother of the Benicia Boy
died in st. Louis on Wednesday, He was
something of a proficient in the "manly art, -
but never exhibited himself otherwise than at
sparring exhibitions.
Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-03-18

SCIENTIFIC, The Cincinnati Gazette (which
it will be remembered numbers "Superauoua
Lags," alias "E d. NJ D." among its contribu.
tors has correspondent who, under the
protentious head of scientific Progress the
Past Year" discusses the theory OF the nebu.
lar systems, and pronounees it incorrect
Here is a specimen of his grammar, which is
calculated. to PROPOSES the reader with his
scientific attainments. "Instead Of them be
ing vaPor they are planetary matter, such as
this earth is supposed once to have been, when
all the elements Of which tho earth aud atmos.
phere is now composed 'ods in a state oI wild
confusion, or in a chaotic state, as We call it
We think his mind is n the brimordisl
state of confusion and chaos which he ascribes
TO the "earth and atmosphere"
Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-03-18

VINO IS HIT2-A correspondent of the
Cincinnati Gazette, paper which is the par.
agon Of loyalty, and which represents all the
vices of Black Republicansm more faithfully
than any Journal published, makes hard hit
at the petty despots of the Administration,
such as Burnside, Burbridge, aud the like
lie says:
The people have in many Instances been
subjected to the wholly unnecessary and uu-
called.for impertinence, and contumely, and
insults of these irresponsible iyrants, who,
amid the present agitation Of the social ele-
ments, have been thrown temporarily to the
surface, ohly TO crown themselves with niamy
and disgrace the American name. | have
myself known instances in which the most
vexatious and annoying regulations, intolera-
Bile alike to sold er, citizen and officer, were
instituted for no other purpose than to cloak
the shameless proaigacy, the vile corruption,
or the graspiug avarice of the petty despot
who CHANGED for the time being to exercise
eommAnd
Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-03-18
Geo. H.PsndIe,On.

No man in this country has retired
from public life, bearing with him, in a
higher degree, the love and confidence of
his party friends, and the respect of his
opponents, than Geo. II. Pendleion. This
is due to the manliness with which he has
asserted his convictions, no less than TO
his intellect, his eloquence, and that cour
tesy of bearing which is inherent in his
character, and which therefore never for.
sakes him, either as q citizen or Con-
gresham. The correspondent of the
World writes from Washington, March 6;
"Hon George II. Pendleton left this even
ing Tor Cincinnati He was accompanied TO
the depot by large delegation of his political
friends, who addressed him through Hon.
Charles Mason, chairman ofthe resident Dem
oerntic committee. Mr.. Pendleton responded
in the happiest manner"
Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-03-18

The Ohio State Journsl is trying to apollo.
Pize for the drunkenness of Vice President
johnson. 1t would be well for the people
at the Spring election to vote him a rebuke,
by voting for the Democratic candidates The
Administration officials are not likely to mend
their ways so long as the people shall give 10
the Administration candidates overwhelming
msjor:ties 1t is folly for the people to com
plain of extravaganza, corruption, high taxes
and drunkenness in officials, If they will per
sist in keeping in power the present party
To work reform in these matters, the people
must vote the present party out Of office, aud
vote to keep them out.--Stdtesmdn
Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-03-18

DD~The Legislature have passed law for
the election of clerk of the Supreme Court of
Ohio, by the people of the State, at salary OF
two thousand dollars, The duties oi this Office
have heretofore been discharged by the Clerk
OF Franklin county, at q cost Of about four
hundred dollars, But the Clerk of Frank
county is a Democrat, and likely to continue
So hence this mean and proaigate act Of
Republican Legislation. About the same
time the Superior Court of Franklin county
was abolished The present incu mbent of the
judgsship is a Republican, but his time will
expire in a few days, and the probability wac
that his successor would be Democrat
Hence, against the remonstranees Of thirty
five out Of forty members of the Franklin
county oar, the Superior Court was swept oui
of existence But we are to expect these
things while RepgblicAnism predominates
There is no depth Of neanness too profound
for il to fathom.
Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-03-18
An order from General Lee.

From the Richmond Examiner, March lOl
HEADo'Rs ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
March |, 1865.
General Orders, No 6-Tha President OF
the Confederate States, at the request of the
Representatives in Congress assembled, has
appointed the tenth day of March as day OF
public humiliation, fasting and prayer. The
day will therefore be observed with due 80.
emnity in this army All military duties and
operations of the Staff Department, except
such as are absolutely necessary, will be sus-
pended. Chaplains will hold religious services
in their respective commands.
Soldiers, let us bow with peniteuce and
deep humility before Almighty God, who has
sorely chastened US, beseeching Him TO turn
again and cause His face TO shine upon us
Let US not forget the days when He delivered
us from our enemies but in the day of our
trouble let us seek the Lord our God Let
US set our hope in him, aud not forget the
works Let us 20 forth in His strength, trust
ing 10 Him as our hope and deliverer, and
praying that in his own good time He will
establish US among the nations OF the earth
r, + LEE, General.
Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-03-18

The recent introduction Of the electric
telegraph into Morocco was vehemsRty op-
posed by many who looked at the progress o
the work with religious horror The Emperor
threatened with death any person who should
injure the apparatus, but the inhabitants of
the little village of Mahovany, nevertheless
cut down the wires The late Emperor
straightway had the place surrounded by his
teoops, and the heads of ten prominent citi-
zeus were forthwith cut of aud fixed on the
telegraph poles as an awful warning