davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-17
The Late Hanging 81 Porssmeuth-A Curl
Gus Case.
I..... Al. NJ Noxl H.saII. IIlh


The Late Hanging 81 Portsmouth-A Curl
Gus Case.
From the New York Herald. ilth.l
The annals Of crime fail TO furnish
such other examples Of brutality as those
which we're perpetrated on the persons Of
widow named Mrs. Elizabeth Ford
and her daughter, Miss Sarah X. Ford,
on the night Of the 9Th OF June, at Bow
den's Ferry road, about eight miles from
Norfolk, In the State Of Virginia. The
facts Of the case, briefly stated, are
these: The night 10 question John Per
kins, white man, benjamin Jefferson,
n negro, and another colored man named
Fawlkes, repaired, about midnight, to the
house Of Mrs. Ford, and while mother
and daughter. lay wrapped in sleep, the
rascals burst the docs open and forcibly
entered the house The affrighted wo.
men, disturbed from their slumbers,
were nearly paralyzed with fear when
they beheld the three men within doors.
They screamed for help but received
none. They were then seized by two Of
the three men, and while the negro JEFF
ferson held Mrs. Ford, stined her screams
and nearly strangled her in his grasp,
the white man, Perkins, giving rein to
the very lowest instincts Of his brutal
nature, criminally assaulted the strug-
Cling child in the presence Of he,
mother.
The following day Perkins and Jeffer-
son were arrested. They were suisse
quently brought to trial, and condemned
to suffer the extreme penalty Of the law
for their otfenses The 9th of October
was set apart 90 the day of execution of
both men, but the night previous re-
prieve from Governor Wells changed the
sentence Of death on the negroes to i'm
prisonment for life. Perkins was allowed
to suffer his fate, and was hung next day.
As soon as it was ascertained that the
prerogative of the Governor was exer-
cised in behalf Of the negro, who was
equally criminal with the white man,
considerable excitement prevailed, espe-
cially among the white people, through
ont the district. Indeed, the commuta-
ton was and is regarded by many in q
political light. It openly asserted that
the fact Of the district giving a congress
sional negro majority of over seven
thousand votes contributed largely to
influence his Exeellency in the step he
has taken. Perkins was Northern man,
or "carpet-bagger," and this was also
urged as reason why he was not spared.
That both men deserved the seyerest pen
atty the law could inAict In atonement
for their crimes no person will deny, and
the apparently one-sided dealing out of
executive clemency in the case Of the
negro demands that some explanation be
given to account for the discrimination
Of the Governor in his distinction between
the black and white man, both of whom
we're implicated in the commission of
the same offense
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-17

The receipts Of cotton by railroad yesterday
we're: By Memphis and Charleston road,
Az bales Mississippi and Tennessee road,
sls bales; Memphis and OHIO road. III; total.
14ls. Exported. by Memphis and Ohio road.
ASS bales
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-17

THE announcement OF a proposed
change Of ticket seems TO have come
from the New York World, and has done
is mischief The change would prove
little more deleisri0us. and We should be
rIsd II the World could learn 70 keep
its mouth shut until il has sOnsthing 70
say.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-17
WANTS.
BOAR DIM c.

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES LADY
ID can have q good front room aud board AZ l79
Second street. W II. LAIRD.
ID rooms can be had, with board, in a private
familv. b. application 10 No. IS Linden street.
References EXCHANGED.
~ ELIZA J. BEcKTEL.
DoARDING-Tw0 PLEASANT ROOMS.
ID with good board. furnished or unfurnished.
References required. Terms moderate. APP
ply A No. rs Adams sireel- III
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-17
Par ocular Attention Paid TO the Obtain
ing Of Patents.

An classes Of Government Claims prose-
euted Al the proper Departments and before
the Court Of Claims. Pensions, Back Pay and
Bounties cellectsd. 4Of
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-17
Dancing Academy,
ass Main street, Clay Building.

Mrs DrGRAY BKHEET. TIE ONLY
MI arffrio teacher In the South. respectfully
inf5rmI ksr friends that her School Il nov open
for the reception ~ Duria. ~
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-17

AFRDI. DOYLE BECAME A MKMBKR
NJ 81 oar frl On The Lat insi.. The arm f1is
''n''n''s un'h HhI1EkIs COCHRAN AGO:
Ssptsuber u. - be
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-17
River.

The Mississippi. Ohio, Arkansas and White
rivers are falling.
Boats leaving this evening arc For 81, Louis.
Mary e. Forsyth; New Orleans. 0liveBranch /;
White river, Mayaowsr' Louisville. Legal
Tender.
The Sam. ]. Hale left last evening with 1900
bales Of cotton for Cincinnati and 637 bales for
the Little Miami railroad.
The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1868-05-16

him. and we shall live to see hina re
deemed, and to heaf the majestic voice
lot She people, Wsll done faithful SER
want. you shall have gouf reward BRb
II, senators, as ] cannot believe, but has
been boldly said with almost oficiai
sanction, your votes have been canYassed
and the doom Of the president sealed,
then let that judgment not BE pros
nounced in this senate chamber, just
here where our Canlillus, ia the hour Of
our greatest peril, single-handed met
and baffed the enemies Of the republic
not here where he stood faithfully
among the faithless not here where he
fought Gle good fight for The Union and
the Constitution mot in this chamber,
whose walls echo with that clarion voice
chat, in the days of our greatest danger;
carried hope and comfort to many
heart, strong as an army
With banners No, net here Seek out, |
rather, the darkest and gloomiest cham
Der IN the subterranean recesses Of the
'apitol where the cheerful light of day
lever enters, and there erect The altar
md immediate the victim.
The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1868-05-16

which il authorized the Convention
to establish
We cannot believe that the Mill
tary Commander ia this stats viii
deem it Ibis duty To thWalt the
wishes Of the people by transcend
ing his powers under the law. we
notice that several leading Repub--
.liean papers deprecate inn0 meas
ured terms the false step taken bv
Gen. Meade The present crisis
imposes weighty responsibilities
upon the Legislatures ia the South.
eln States, and it is not surprising
that the people at the North, Who
are deeply interested in the revival
of trade, the maintenance of public
credit and the development Of the
country, should SEQ with alarm
this unwarranted attempt To ex-
clude from the Legislature tho
representatives Of the property, the
intelligence and education of these
States. M O. Times.
The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1868-05-16
ELIGIBILITY.


ELIGIBILITY.
Gen. Meade has ordered that il
his District the members Of the
Legislature will be required To take
| the test oGth, which will exclude from
| the Legislature ninet een-tWentieths
of the Democrats, Whatever Be
the motive of this arbitrary CON
struction Of the acts of Congress.
its obvious effect will be to n1llify
the action Of the people, and to
transfer to the Radicals the whole
political power of the State. Should
this unWarranted Interpretation
prevail in this State, the tenure Of
elected officers viii be extremely
precarious. BY the process of spe-
cial elections and Legislative adj
dresses, the work Of wholesale and
retail political decapitation and ex-
clusion will be vigorously urged by
tenacious incunbents and disap7
pointed candidates.
BY this construction q packed
Legislature, and not the Lepisla-
ture elected, will be the arbiter oil
the material and political destinies
OF our State, The sword will seat
and unseat members. If this para
mount power of converting State I
Legislatures into close corpora
tons had been delegated to d mill
5ary commander By Congress, in |
The helplessness Of our condition /
We would patiently, but not ID d \
spirit Of Christian neekness say
thy will be done.'' But when We /
IRE passing through transition
state from military domination to
;he promised stability and bless
ngs OF civil government when we \,
lre asked to feel that the magnan- Il
nifty Of Congressional reconstlrc- I,
ION IS loosening the iron grasp of
rule, may we not say that
'ur reason il perplexed and our
ense OF justice is shocked ut this
Unexpected and gratllitous nlisoon- /,
truetlon OF a law, which literally II
Interpreted is sufficiently proscrip-
I'VE Is it wise, polite 81 Just that
/ military commander should ag-
our pltiable condition by X
eprlYlng the people Of those few
fiyileges which even Congress re- /
9rved to them? The intention 81 Il
congress upon this question Is not t
pen to doubt.
Gen. Meade decides that untiIl 1
40 admission of The State the GOV !
rnnent under the ratified consti- i
ltIon is provisional, and, there !
're, the members must take the !,
,st oath, II may BE- granted thabl 4
~ State government Ill provision B
!, put his conclusion ia indefensi- f
e nnder the law. Under thenaiIi- y
ny blll Of March III, 1867. VIII Ell
arsona not disqualified under the 4
institutional amendment were Gle Is
Iple 70 Office, This was CHANGED q
( the act Of July 19th, 1867. The \
liy provision regulating elinibili- n
~ once Is section 8, which says s
mat members of said board ofl y.
stEalA9n and All persons here III
VI 81 sessa of appointed to oflics Il,
sald MILITARY Districts, under 3,
z s-csasea state ~ municipal au ~
The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1868-05-16


The impeachment trial still ssDrags
its slow length along Bets in Wash.
ington run high in favor Of acquital.
The radicals who at the beginning ex-
pressed themselves sanguine Of success
by q large majority, gradually came
down to 4 votes majority, then to 2 and
now to one. But this one seems to be
the vote Howard, who now lies at tie
point Of death, and whose deliriun from
last adyices still continues. The radi-
Gals held 3. caucus and determined to
postpone the trial. The managers, ex-
press themselves confident Of conviction
should Howard recover in time.
The following are the concluding re-
marks of Mr. stanbery
" Now, listen for moment 10 one
who understands andrew johnson bet
ttest Of ) Cd, lOr Tlis opJorf1Irfii- +
ties have been greater. When nearly |
Two years ago he called me from the /
pursuits OF my professional life to take |
seat ia his cabinet, I assumed the call 1
under q sense Of public duty I Game
here almost stranger To him, and M
every member of the cabinet excAnt MI.
We had been friends for many
years Senators, need I tell YOU that
al my tendencies are conservative /?
You, Mr. Chief Justice, who have known
me for Q third of century. can bear me-
witness. Law, not arms, Is NV prnfas-
'lon. From the moment that n wae
IGNORED with 6 seat In the cabinet of
Mr. johnson, not a step was taken fbat
Ald not come under my observation. 4
lot o word was said That eseapad atten-
Eon regarded him closely ia naI;nat
si y sui more In private and confiden-
la a, person saw him often tempted
Flsh bad advice. I know that evil conn !
'e y were more than once around him
Flsh tne most Intense anxiety. bi1t ney- !
Z IA Word nor in. deed. or IN tIIongbt ~.
a action, did / discover n that man
ny tlnlng bit loyalty to the Clonsti Al
M tiie iaws. lie stood Arm "a ) rocIr {
'8alnst al temptation to abuse hiq or,n
bowers or TO exercise those which .s,s,.s. !.
loG conferred upon him. Steadfosf or5
ell-rellant IN the midst Of aIl 1ifficf,l-
les, when danger threatened. when !
were strong, he looked univ 9
the Constitution of his countrv an9
the people. Yes, senators. / have .s,a1 4
ssn mat man tried as few have been :
llee'-L have seen his Confidence &
Z, 4 have seen him endure. dav 9
lOef any prigations such as few men I,
.aye 9een called upon to meet. M man 1,
o,lla nave met them with more sublime linz, +
.ssls8Alce- sooner or letct, howeyer 4 J. J.
llsW she explosion must come and z
men ~ s = Y alCs come my only wonder va b
aat Y had been So long tlelava5 Va Va b
majors & w4th Ell his fanltsS the.prssi.. b
silt mas Oeen more sinned aoaiinsf fken 4
inning Fear not then M $500 L 49,. =
ne constitution Of the couaf s.v i " y E
lHe "a hrs hanes from violepsa I II e u b
re hands of Warrington ana n o
motors, you condemn aim yor " ss,. Il, !,
ga q the robes of Office ii 655 I.
.aae hlaa e the utalost stretch IF
1sfsts mara tsAa pr3phe8y Ibe II s6s \. n
lfs 81 file people VIII ne 056nt + 81
ney VIII find q way 20 rsiss isj5r 49,. r.
Y usptn 70 Wlieh yen may eonsian IN
The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1868-05-16

The Lafayette Advertiser announces
the cheerful news that the railroad from
New Iberia TO Sabine is again on the
iapis, and that an engineer il en- his
way to Lake Charles, to examine the
country with q view to d speedy compile
ton of the road We had heard vague
rumors Of this before and we're GA the
qai 5fgs for the arrival of this harbinger
Of long promised and long deferred
hopes But none have yet nade their
ia our quiet little town.
The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1868-05-16

Il GO4lIy, S0OulQ sec With alarm
| this unWarranted attempt To en-
clude from the Legislature the
representatives Of the property, the
intelligence and education of these
States M O. Times.
Understandings on the Missis-
sfppi.
To make the Mississippi what II
is capable Of being tie medium
| of cheap Water-carriage between
millions of producers and consum-
Fers-is the interest and should be-
the aim Of every inhabitant of TIE
great valley, a valley which extends
from the distant lakes and noun
tains t0'the Gull, IT Isl estimated
that the Mississippi and its aflu-
ents drain an area oil more than d
million of square miles, with coast
lines Of nayigable waters amount
ing to thirty thousand miles. The
trade OF these inland waters has
already become so enormous as to
be almost incalcul8ble, and the
prospective increase sets figures
wholly at defiance. AS soon Is.
the physical distractions now ex-
listing are removed the commerce Of
the Mississippi and it's tributaries
VIII be greatly increased, for their
condition will then be such as to
invite and secure the trade which
of late years sats carried eH H
artificial lines of transportation.
But in order to make the most
Of the advantages offered by the
cheap water Transportation, IF
which the Father Of Waters is the
great central channel, the same
vessels which carry loads Of GRAIN,
pork, flour and other articles from
the interior to the seaboard, must
be furnished with a return cargo
almost equal value. This can Be,
done If New Orleans, instead Of
New York, be made the great de-
pot Of supply for COTE, sugar, salt,
tea, fish, tropical fruit, and an the
more bulky articles of European
manufacture. Wherever q farmer
sells his produce he wishes to
his supplies, and il he
cannot dos to advantage az viii,
i possible, carry his wares to
another market.
With tlhf ttllfe obstl ctioT st II the
6alize removed and a proper dis
clay Of commercial ENTERPRISE ~
lac part of our mercantile COM,
nunitY, the great difficulties which /.
lave thus tar operated against an
nlarged intercourse with tia
Vest Will speedily disappear.
treat elevators and barges have
iready turned the cereal current
2 tins direction, and Bo make 1T
erlnanent we must not only hus-
ana All oar resources, but bring
lFo requisition the advantages 81
ttr position On making this
,ade reciprocally profitable tile
lture ct New Orleans iii a great
depends The commerce.
the West must not be tram
.eiied W must run unyexed t0
ie sea, and when there 1T must
met 90 such a spirit of generous
'comm0datiOn Us will encourage
: continuance M q Times
5eecaer, % recent sermon
The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1868-05-16

There are 50 far four candidates for
the presidency Grant, Hancock, john
nton and Pendleton. The three last are
conservatives.
The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1868-05-16

FIJI return Of the Last election
shows for the Constitution, 57,OT0;
against, 1887 Majority for the Con-
atitution, 1858. Radical majority : ID
the Senate, ia the House, 10.
The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1868-05-16

N Ntt0L1VFs OK DN l0Nltsl ~ aIkJ9As4N
: 1nent 81 the District Commando
shall be required 80 take ana sab
] scribe To Che oath of Office pre-
6oribed by law for the officers d
the United States"
We're the lately elected officers
elected under any So-cdJJ6d State
authority within the neaning 81
/ this seetion2 When this law was
passed no State Convention had
.Ibeen held under the reconstruc.
tion laws, Congress was waging
war against the then existing State
governments. Their recognition
by Congress was studiously avoid
led. The preamble of the military
bill proclaims, them illegal. ia, the
contemplation of Congress, they
| were spurious and unauthorized n
hence the derisiFe expression, sol
oalled, conveying, the idea that they
had no functional power. For nau-
nicipal purposes in a military dis
trict they might answer as the ma
chihery of local government, brit
that any Of its departments em-
braced the legal elements for the
organization Of State Govern
ment was derisiyely repudiated by
Congress, because it claimed the
right to reconstruct the State gov
eminent. BY whose authority have
the late elections been held? Ger
tainly not under any 8o-cal1ed State
authority existing before the pas
sage Of the reconstruction laws.
The ratification Of the constitution
destroyed any existing so-cq75ed
State authority, The existing frag-
ments Of President JohnsOn's so-
cuAed State governments will dis
the moment the new gov
ment goes into even local opera |
5ion. Congress delegated to its
State Conventions the authority to |
order elections. These were not
held under any so-caJled State au- |
,hority. 1t certainly did not intend |
p have its own supreme authority |
questioned and placed upon tie I
evel of any 8o-cdlJed authority. It
it1bbornly maintains that tthe late
conventions were legal and consti-
bodies, and not 8o-caZJed
State Conventions. These receiiv-
ng their power to ORDER elections, /
low can it be said that the cleo
ions were held under any so-caZZed I
State authority; If not, the cleo
ions were held under the authori-
Y OF Congress, acting through the
tate Conventions. The eighth
sction, requiring the test oath,
annot apply to officers elected un-
er the authority Of Congress-, be-
ause 1t applies only to officers
lected under any 8o-called State
The fact that the State govern
lent goes into operation as pro-
lsional government does not en-
arrass the question of eligibility.
government may be provisional ;
nd not ~ any just sense be a so-
tlLed government. which is al iIIe-
u or non-existing government. IA n
'rrltoTlal government is a provis-
MAJ government, and yet within I
: sphere II has OH the sanctions, {
notions and power of govern /
ent permanently established. al i
.eaaty may be provisional and vet 4
ithln the limits Of it's purposes Z
- duration may be lis binding \
81 solemn as treaty not propis- /; /,
nal. The difference between q
-easted and b provisional State L
'Yelnment finds it's strongest if- y
The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1868-05-16

The Public Debt has decreased
100000. Amount in the treasury
Coin, s4,000OO0; Currency, %, 600, 600.
The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-26
MAYoRALTY OF NEW ORLEANS,
City Hall, Nov. 10, ls68. I
TNo 11Qn-N 81


AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE REDEMP ZION AND
ABSORPTION OF THE VARIOUS ISSUES OF CITY
TREASURY NOTES AND THE RELIEF OF THE
FINANCES OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, TO BE
SUBMITTED TO THE APPROVAL OR DIsAPPRovAL
OF THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF
NEW ORLEANS.
WHEREAS, The Common Council of the city of
New Orleaus has exhausted every means within
their direct control for the relief of the finances
of the city; and
WHEREAS, They have applied, without success,
for assistance from the Legislature of the State
of Louisiana; therefore
SECTION l. Bet ordained bydte Common Coun-
cd of the city of Ne1o Orleans, That the mayor,
controller, treasurer and chairmen Of the finance
committees of the Common Council be and they
are hereby authorized to issue bonds of the
city of New Orleans In and for the sun OF
(s3 COO O00) three million dollars dated December
l, 1868, and payable twenty five years after date
in the sgs :. Of The y Hpsa
tenihs of one per centum per annum, In semi an
nual coupons.
SIC. 2. BE afurtler ordained. etc., That these
bonds shall be used exclusively for the purpose of
absorbing the various issues of city treasury
notes, and shall be offered for sale in city notes
and under no conditions shall be sold for less than
par.
SEC. 8. Be Il further ordained, etc., That in ad.
dition TO the present taxation a tax Of "a one.
fourth Of one per cent. be levied anuu.
ally on the assessed value of all real and per-
soDsl property and on the amount of each
and every license paid into the city treas.
ury by the party following the profession
licensed within the corporate limits Of the city Of
New Orleans mot exempted by law from taxation),
and that the same be and is hereby set aside and
pledged to be used solely and exclusively for the
payment of the interest and the re-
demption of the bonds to be issued by virtue OF
this ordinance. and that this annual tax shall be
deposited daily when collected, in such bank iu
no aifv 0f Nc 0rlaa Qa NAV he tad y
the Common Council.
SEC. 4. Be IL further ordained, etc., That the
bonds to be issued under the provisions of this or
dinaDce be and the same are hereby exempted
from taxation by the city. -.
SEC. s. Be il further ordained, etc., That all
city notes received liz exchange for or in purchase
of the bonds to be issued under this ordinance,
shall be cancelled and defaced daily as they
are received into the treasury, and whenever they
shall amount to the sum Of one hundred thousand
The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-26
OFFICIAL.
PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR.

MAYoRALTY OF NEW ORLEANS,
City Hall, Nov. q, 1868.
WHEREAS, The Common Council of the city OF
New Orleans, by authority of law, having passed
an ordinance for the redemption and absorption
of the various Issues of city treasury notes aud
the relief of the finances of said city to be sub.
mitted to the approval or disapproval Of the
qualified voters of said city, at special election
conducted in accordance with existing laws and
ordinances and, 49,
WHEREAS, The said ordinance having been sp
proved by me and promulgated according to the
provisions Of the city charter, /
Now, therefore, /, John r. Conway, mayor Of
the city of New Orleans, by virtue of the power
vested in me, and conformaby to the provisions
of said ordinance. true copy of which is here
with appended, do issue this my proclamation,
submitting the same to the qualified voters of the
city of New Orleans for their approval or disap.
prevail, for which purpose the polls will be opened
10 the various precincts of the wards established
for voters at the late election, said election to be
held on Saturday, the fifth day of December, A. D.
1868, and said polls to be opened from seven
o'clock A. NJ. until six o'clock P. NJ. of said day,
and the returns made TO the mayor, agreeably to
section seven of said ordinance.
In testimony whereof have hereunto set my
hand and affixed the seal of the city of New Or
leans, this 2lst day Of November, A. D. 1863
JOHN R. CONWAY, Mayor.