davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-04-30

We have compiled a few of the many
comments of our exchanges upon the
Sprague Abbott imbroglio, and we give
them in place of farther remarks Of our
Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-04-30
STATE NEWS.

His Excellency, Gov. Holden, offers a
reward of two hundred dollars for the ar
rest of w. J. Steelman, indicted at the
Spring Term of Wilkes Court for the muir
der of L. w. Lynch, in February last
Raleigh Standard
The Hickman courier., 1869-05-01

HEALTH OF A. III. STEPHENs.-A
correspondent of a Georgia paper, writ
ing under date Of April 18th, says; In
response to very kind invitation, such
as could come from none other than as
warm and hospitable heart as the Hon.
A. H. Stephens is known to possess,
made brief but pleasant visit to Liberty
Hail. found Mr.. Stephens still unable
to stand or walk, and only able to move
from the fire place to bed; from chair to
chair without any assistance except some
one to arrange them For several months
previous to his accident which prostrated
him he was so weak as scarcely to be able
to raise himself when down. He now
thinks there is not sufficient vitality in
the organ affected to recuperate, and has
little hope of ever being able to walk
again. The burden of his anxiety is the
completion of the second volume of his
history of the war between the States
The material for the work is all ready,
and nothing lacking but the physical
strength to put it together.
The Hickman courier., 1869-05-01
Correspondence of the Paducah Kentuokian
The school Tax.

The Herald of Tuesday, and the Ken
tuckian of the 18th, contain able articles
in favor of State aid to railroads, which
will be read with interest by your hume
rous readers.
While reading those articles, wished
in my very heart that the pens of the
eloquent gentlemen who wrote these ar
ticles could be as earnestly enlisted in
another, and, in my opinion, far more
important subject to the people of the
State, the interest of the free school sys-
tenn in Kentucky. The people do not
know, many of them, that there is pro-
position before them to increase the
school tax. And there are thousands
who do not properly understand the i'm
portance of education in sustaining and
perpetuating republican liberty. They
need to be taught the Importance and ne
cessity of universal education, and how
much our existence as free people de-
pend upon the education of the masses.
Will the papers of Kentucky give
their powerful influence to this good
cause?
notice the Louisville Courier-J our
nal, the Jackson Purchase, and the Hick-
man Courier, are advocating the tax
and the increase of cur free school facil-
/ tiles. hope to see every paper ii the
State come out in favor of the prcposi-
ton.
The Hickman Courier, in an article on
this subject, remarked ''that the neces-
sity for this tax was so apparent that it
scarcely needed advocacy before the peo-
oil hot
there is necessity for its advocacy-it
needs to be set before the people in its
true bearings and Importance. In these
latter days of progress and innovation,
taxes have grown to be enormous, and
the people are sore under the pressure,
hence their prejudice against anything
that savors of taxation. This prejudice
needs to be removed, and somebody must
do the thinking and explaining to re-
move it.
A few articles in favor of this tax as
earnest and eloquent as those for State
aid to railroads, would leave nothing OBJ
noxious about the tax, it would set the
thing all right. 1t would emancipate the
politicians from their thraldom of 81
lence, and they would come to the assis-
tance of the dear people.
Universal education is necessity to
our form of government; the suffrage of
the people is the great power which sets
the whole machinery in motion. Then,
how important it is to have this power di-
rected by virtuous and liberal educa-
ton. Where the government itself de-
pends upon the virtue and intelligence of
the masses, is it not right that it should
provide literally fer the education of the
people Experience has taught our sis
! ter States that a system of free schools
supported by the State which will fur
nish the means of obtaining good cdu-
The Hickman courier., 1869-05-01
BRAINS VS.. LABOR.
The Exhaustiveness OF vvorI

The following beautiful passage is by
the Rev. j Z. Corning. 1t will be APP
preciated by all "brain workers."
"While 1 sit at my study table with
my pen in hand, the fingers moving with
tardy pace at the beckon of BRAIN |
hear right below my window, in the ad-
Jacent field, the monotonous ring of la
borer's hoe upon the corn hills. While
he hoes, he whistles hour by hour till the
clock strikes twelve, and then with raw
snous appetite repairs to his bountiful
yet simple meal, only to resume his task
again and pursue it to the setting of the
sun. As | stood at the window watch
ing his toll, aud turned again to my pen
and paper, asked myself how it hap
peucd rfut Tire nian WIN tire ie'c witt IL
Dor his eight or ten hours a day with
less fatigue than the man with his pen
will toll his three or four. Hugh Miller
was a sreat worker with the shovel and
pick-would have made good hand in
a slate quarry, in grading a railroad, or
digging canal. But one night, as you
know, he shot himself in fit of nervous
fever. What was the difference between
the great geologist and the man with the
hoe whistling under my window Simp
ly this, the former was worker of brain,
and the latter a worker Of muscle. Let
this man with the hoe lay down his hus-
baudry for little while and set himself
to studying one of the stalks of corn, or
the chemistry of one Of those hills OF
soil, and very likely he would soon learn
what IL is to lose ones appetite. and hear
the clock strike nearly all the night
hours in feverish wakefulness. And thus
we get at a great organic law Of our be-
ing to o-wit that brain work substracts
vitality from the fountain, while muscle
work only makes draughts upon one of
the ramifying streams of life. 1t Is es-
by scientific observers that a
man VIII use up as much vital force in
working his brains two hours as he will
in WORKING his muscles eight" "
The Hickman courier., 1869-05-01
Advantages of "a Shindy witt,
England.
Broom the New York Herald.


Talking of the advantages of a war
with England might astonish such timid
old fogies as our Secretary of State, Mr..
Fish, and men of the same narrow mind
ed views: but with all the horrors and
cost of such conAictthere can be no
doubt the result would be of advantage
to the United States. 1T would put all
our shipyards, workshops and manufac-
tories in full operation; vessels of every
description would spring into life as by
magic; the ocean would soon be covered
with Alabamas of the most formidable
character British ships and commerce
would be swept from every sea, and in
the end this country would become the
first maritime nation 10 the world As
to war vessels. monitors, aud all the other
terrible naval engines of modern war
fare, we could construst them more rap
idly than the Monitorvhieh fought the
Merimac was built, when only took
few weeks to prepay yaF the greatest
naval fight in history.4 This country is
comparatively inyulnaable to British
armies or fleets, and a gar would leave
Us in the position Esaks = ,yass. in. after
she destroyed the Spanish Armada and
the fleets of Holland, she first naval and
maritime nation en- the globe. We say
nothing Of The British possessions in
America, which would necessarily be
lost to England and become part of
this republic, nor of the thousand mil
lions of American bonds and securities
held in that country, which would be
rendered valuless. We look only at the
question as affecting our shipping inter
ests and manufactures. But there is no
reason to believe England would 20 to
war with the United States She is too
wise for that. Still, war or no war, it is
absurd, cowardly, and an insult to the
American people, to talk of fearing such
an event. Any public man who gives
expression to fear, as Secretary Fish has,
ought to be kicked out of Office without
. moments hesitation.
The Hickman courier., 1869-05-01
The United states and spain.

; The administration and its whole par
ty are deeply intent upon getting. into 4
trouble with Spain. They gaze with
Tvidity upon every incident, actual or
reported, that seems to promise a chance
of involvement in hostilities. In this
Ee have not the slightest sympathy with
- Se earnestly wish well, as we
gre than once said, to the cause
s7ban revolution, hoping and trust
eg that those engaged in it have honest
Rnd pure purposes in view, but we want
no war between the United States and
Jpain if war can y avoided with honor.
We do not see that much, if anything,
could be gained by our country from a
war, though a great deal might be lost.
We could of course seize Cuba, provid
ed Great Britain, France & Co. should
consent, which seems doubtful; but Cuba,
relieved from Spanish tyranny, might
prefer independence to annexation, and
If forcibly annexed, might prove sickly
body Joined TO another sickly one, the
junction fastening the decomposition of
both. Besides getting Cuba, we don't
know what our Government could wiring
from Spain, for she has no money and
nothing else that we want Moreover,
weak as she seems and in most respects
certainly is, she could unquestionably,
in the event Of Lostilities, infict great
injuries upon US. She has little or no
commerce of her own, but what ruin she
could, with the sympathies of all &e
world alive in her behalf, work upon us !
IF the Alabama and two or three other
Confederate cruisers, during the late
war, nearly swept our commerce from
the ocean, how much of it can we sup
pose would be left by two or three hun
dred Spanish privateers securing the
ocean day and night? Would not the
damage legitimately inflicted upon us
outweigh ten times over the value of
Cuba to us, even supposinG Cuba to be
valuable? 4?
Let US scrupulously exact justice from
Spain. but let us scrupulously render her
justice. This is our true policy and our
only true-one.-Low. Coar-.Jour.
The Hickman courier., 1869-05-01
international Affairs.

The London Post has an article on
the Cuban question, and gives currency
to the assertion that Grant desires the
acquisition or Cuba in order to divert
the attentions of Americans from inter
nal distractions. 1t says there would be
no doubt as to the issue of the conflict,
and thinks the acquition of Cuba would
lead to the final acquisition of the whole
West Indies France and England will
doubtless determine whether these de-
signs against Cuba will be tolerated, or
aid Spain in retaining her colony. The
French press has agitated the question
much in the same tenor, and special
meetings of the French cabinet were
held Tuesday and Wednesday which
resulted in special envoy being sent
to London with Nspatches referring to
the present complication of events.
e telegram has been received which
ffo = that Secretary Fish has informed
kiGansoanish Minister that the United
1awill hold the British government
Esible for the seizure of the Mary
ll6Well
The Hickman courier., 1869-05-01
The Late Robert johnson.

We are panied to learn of the death of
Col. Robert Johnson, son of the Ex-
President He died suddenly at Green
vile on the night of the 22d inst. 1t
was our pleasure to have known the de-
ceased intimately, in former years, dur
ing his temporary residence here as
representative in the Legislature, and es-
pecially during the stormy period imme-
diatciy preceding hostilities between the
sections Colonel johnson, like his IL
lustrious father, was consistent, fearless,
and uncompromisins Southern UniGsist,
from first to last. He was young man
of fine abilities. He had his faults and
weaknesses, like other men, but he was
ever generous and chivalrous, a true
friend, an affectionate brother and son.
We deeply sympathise with his relatives
in their bereavement.-Nash Bdnaer
The Hickman courier., 1869-05-01
EifslOgraDhY.

Mr.. James Parton, in a very readable
article on popularizing art in the Allan
tic Monthly, says that the impatience of
a German washerwoman led to the inven
ton of lithography. The history of that
elegant art begins with homely domes-
tic scene, which occurred at Munich
about the year 1893, and in which three
characters figured-Madame Senefelder,
the poor widow of an excellent actor,
then recently deceased; her son, Alois
Senefelder, aged twenty two, young
man Of an inventive turn, and the i'm
patient washerwoman just mentioned.
The washerwoman had called at the home
of this widow for the weekly ''wash, y
but the ''list' was not ready, and the
widow asked her son to take it. He
looked about the room for a piece of pa
per upen which TO write it, without be-
ing able to find the least fragment and
he noticed also that his ink was dry.
Washer women are not apt to be oyeraw-
ed by such customers and this one GER
tainly did not conceal her impatience
while the fruitless search was proceeding.
The young man had in the apartment a
smooth, soft. cream -colored stone, such
as photographers now use. He had also
mass of paste made of lampblack, wax,
soap, and water. In thc hurry of the
moment, he dashed upon TIE soft, smooth
stone the short list of earments. using
for the purpose this awkward lump OF
oily paste. The washer-woman went of
with her small bundle of clothes. peace
was rcstoreT to the family, and the wli-
ting on the stone remained.
The Hickman courier., 1869-05-01
A NIasonic biblical Legend.

The following is said to be the expla
nation of the text: "The stone which
the builders refused the same is become
the headstone Of the corner" 1t is said
that when Solomon's Temple Sls build
ing, all the stones were broSaLt from
the quarry ready cut and fashioned, and
there were marked on all the blocks the
places where they were to be put.
Among. the stones was a very curious
one it seemed of no desirable shape, it
appeared unfit for any portion of the
building. They tried it at this wall, but
it would not fit; they tried it at another,
but it could not be accommodated so,
vexed and angry they threw, it away.
sIhe. temple So. anany years DuIldfns
that the stone became covered with moss,
and grass grew around it. Everybody
passing by laughed at the stone. They
said Solomon was wise, and doubtless all
the other stones were right; but as for
that block, they might as well send it
back to the quarry, for they were sure it
was meant for nothing. Year after year
rolled on, and the poor stone was still
despised the builders constantly refused
It. The eventful day came&hen the
temple was to be finished and opened,
and the multitude was assembled to see
the grand sight. The builders said,
where is the top stone? Where is the
pinnacle ?" They little thought where
the crowning marble was, until some one
said, Perhaps that stone which the
builders refused is meant to be the top
stone" They then took it, and hoisted
it to the top of the house; and as it
reached the summit, they found it well
adapted to the place. Loud hosannas
made the welkin ring, as the stone which
the builders refused thus became the
headstoue of the corner.
The Hickman courier., 1869-05-01
The Proposed Addition to the
school Tax.

The last Legislature passed bill sub
hitting a proposition to be voted on by
the people at the State election, in Au-
gust next, to increase the tax for the
benefit of the common free schools, ff-
teen cents on the one hundred dollars
worth of taxable property The school
tax proper is now five cents on the hun
dred dollars.
If there is any purpose on earth for
which the people ought to be willing to
submit TO an increase of taxation, it is
for that of educational purposes. Igno-
rance is one Of the worst conditions that
the people of Kentucky, or any other
State protesting to have 4 republican
form of government, can be placed in.
If the people wish to remain free and
independent they must educate the chill
dren of the State, SO as to render z lem
competent u make up an intellis sent
judgment on ali questions affecting the
welfare of the State, and thus place them
beyond the reach Of the demagogue, who
would otherwise be- sshle to drag them
into ruinous system or policy, by para
ding before them the carcass of some
exploded theory that had it's influence
fifteen or twenty years ago.
There oAght to be no hesitatiosi on
the part of the people in approving at
the ballot box the act Of the Legislature
increasing the school fund.
We think the argument in favor of the
measure is conclusive; and We shall
from time to time take occasion to urge
it or the favorable consideration of the
people, and attempt to give the argument
why they should give it their unqualified
approval-Pdducah KentucEian.
The Hickman courier., 1869-05-01
A Row In the Senate.

Scene: The Senate of the United
States on Thursday before adjournment.
Enters: Senator Sprague in another
speech, in which he compared Nye's re-
ply to him ''to the barking of puppy
dog encouraged by the presence of a
-mastiH.2- Seallawag Abbott, of North
Carolina, rises and demands to know if
he is the puppy pointed at. If he is he
dcmara asstgtrar'ion or satisfaetious aut. .sf
the chamber. Sumner interposes with
the original remark-'Let US have peace
He is opposed to the shedding of blood.
Abbott disclaims the intention to hurt
anybody, but the retraction must be as
broad as the canine figure of speech.
Nye proposes that he take Sprague out
and spank him. And then the Senate
went into Executive session.
Shades of the great old! avert your
gaze The chamber you once adorned,
has become the witness of scenes that
would disgrace -pit.-Ndsh. Z. q, i
The Hickman courier., 1869-05-01

CoLoRED MAsoNs-There are in Mas
sachusetts about seven hundred colorcd
Freemasons, who have seven fourishing
lodges in existence. They have never
been acknowledged or recognized by the
white Freemasons of Massachusetts,, and
have for long time been trying to Sc
cure what they term their rights. The
Masonic publications are discussing the
subject, and so is the Grand Lodge
(whitel of Massachusetts.
The Hickman courier., 1869-05-01

cation to every child in the Common
wealth, is cheaper and far more efficient
than the old system of subscription
schools, supported by tuition fees.
Turn tuition payers to tax payers and
the whole people can be educated with
the same money paid out to educate the
fortunate few ALBERIQUE.
The Hickman courier., 1869-05-01
MRs. CHARLES SUMNER, formerly tn,

Mrs. CHARLES SUMNER, formerly the
widow Hooper, and now grazing some
where in the Alps as the widow of the
Senator from Massachusetts, has sent a
handsome cash present across the water
to the relief of the late Preston Brooks.
Mrs. Sumner declares that Preston S.
Brooks deserved the thanks of the pub
lie for having drubbed her consort, and
that during her brief stay with him as
his matrimonial partner she was prevent
ed from repeating the famous scene IN
the Senate by Charles abject cowardice.
The two widows-Mrs. Brooks and Mrs.
Sumner-correspond regularly. In the
meantime Charles, in his lonely bache-
lo-'s attic in Washington, is annotatinG
his famous speech on the Bsrbarism
of Slavery" With reminisccnees of his
Es,sdci weeks with widow Hooper. "He
learned in suffering what he taught in
slang.
The Hickman courier., 1869-05-01

OLD BILLY W was dying. He
was an ignorant man and very wicked
one. DR.. D, an excellent physician,
and very pious man, was attending him.
The old fellow asked for, bread. The
doctor approached the bedside, and in a
very solemn tone remarked, "My dear
fellow, man can not live by bread alone" +"
"No,p said the old fellow slightly reviv-
ing, she's 'bleedged to have few wege-
tables" The subject was dropped.
The Hickman courier., 1869-05-01

A NEGRO PUr THRoUaH.-A color
ed man who reached Washington last
Thursday night from Georgia, called,
Friday morning, on Senator Sumner,
who accompanied. him to the Internal
Revenue Department, and by noon be
had been made an assessor of internal
revenue.
The Hickman courier., 1869-05-01
DOings of a ,Hickmanite.
Heary ,Sicindiiag Operation-Attempt
to Defraud Insurance G5mpanies--4
I-cssct Clears With False Papers
Seizure Of Brig C. C. Coison

HeurH ISCtHdttag temp
to Deffdud Insurance G0n,panies--4
T'csset Clears U-ith Fdlse Papers-
Seizure IF Brig G. c. Coison.
From the New Orleans Picayune, 10th ult.
The Collector of Port, Col Casey, ac-
ting upon information received from his
officers, yesterday morning directed Spe-
cial Deputy Surveyor Chas. b. Keith to
seize the American brig G.. c. Colson
Capt. Pratt, lying at Post 16, fool Of st.
Joseph street, for attempted violation Of
the revenue laws, and because it was re-
ported she had on board arms for the
revolutionists in Cuba.
The seizure was made about II o'clock
two officers of the Surveyors Depart
ment taking charge and sealing the
matches of the vessel The Collector iu-
formed the District Attorney of the sci
zure, and the latter will take the Deees-
sary steps to investigate the matter
In investigating this affair we have
unraveled one of those ingenious and
daring scheme 4of robbery which are
;e~zSgieRf!l! -Ahha-. light, but which
pIisLed. sr5ns-TfiSt the e brig M e q. u; &.
Colson, vessel of 800 23-100 tons, ar
rived here in February last from Messina,
and was in March purchased by Francis
H. Page, citizen of New Orleans, for
the sum of $4,000, Mr.. Waddy Thorn
son holding a mortgage upon her for the
sum Of $4,000.
The brig was then advertised for Liv-
erpool, and to the casual observer who
passed Post 16 there was nothing suspi-
cious about the craft; she was apparent
ly loaded for Liverpool, with ordinary
freight-cOtton, slaves, moss, cotton
seed, etc. All things worked along very
smoothly until president of one of our
insurance companies was called upon by
Capt. Geo Baker, who informed him that
he had been approached by parties in
terested in the brig, with the proposition
to take command of her and to destroy
her at sea, for which service they propos-
ed to give him the sum of FIVE thousand
dollars. He was astounded by so outra-
geous a proposition, but, determining
upon the course he should pursue, said
he would consider the matter
The president, after consulting with
numerous insurance friends, advised the
captain to lead the parties on, and with
out absolutely committing himself, to
induce them to believe that he would
take command of the vessel This he
did, and it was not long before he was
approached by the same parties with the
request that he would sign bills of lading
for two hundred and fifty bales of, cotton,
which had ',ot been placed on the brig;
this he { FORl to do, and they were
e 2-zpcure another man, Capt.
The Hickman courier., 1869-05-01
THERE was a great; delicacy id1

THHRE was grea3 delicacy in
manner in which foreigner ha
friend hung in this country, broks
intelligence to his relations on the 6fhel
side of the water, He wrote as follows
"Your brother had been addressing Q
meeting of citizens, who had manifested
the deepest interest in him, when the
platform upon which he stood, being, as
was subsequently! ascertained, very inse.
cure, gave way, owing to which he fell
and broke. his neck y