davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-12-30
Religion Among the Alabama Nc
grOeS.

Soon after the war ceased, it was
remarked that the negroes Of tn c
South had changed in many respects,
and that among other things they
had given up dancing and singing
Now their principal amusement con-
sists in going to church and shouting
themselves hoarse in what they call
"the holy dance" Here in Hunts
vile nearly every negro in the place
has Experienced religion" as he will
tell you with sly affectation of meek
ness that is truly laughable. Hav-
ing experienced religion does not
mean with them, however, that they
shall try to live pure, good lives, Or
that they shall sacrifice anything for
the sake of their faith. Religious
negroes steal as much and get drunk
quite as do the very few who are not
in the church, and I am informed on
the very best authority that black
men and women, after passing halt
the night in protracted or revival
meeting, will leave the house of God
to engage in scenes of dissipation
that are too disgusting for descrip.
tiou.
In former letter I tried to convey
an idea of how terribly immoral the
country negroes were. At this time
it is only necessary to add that seve
raj colored preachers in North Ala
bama are known to have more thar
one wife, and that the leading siste
in the Methodist Church in this plac,
is the keeper of a den frequented on
ly by negro thieves and women O
the lowest class. In church matter
the colored people are very exclu
sive; at the same time they are ex
cessively proud of the particular de
nomination to which they belong
and loud in their denunciation 0
those who join other churches.
| In Huntsville the so-called Hard
shell Baptist congregation is by ia
;. the largest, numbering upward O
two thousand members. A day o
two since I asked an old darkey, VIII
is prominent elder in the Metho
dist Church, how it was that tn
Baptists were so numerous. "Lor'
sah,'' said he, ''dat's easy 'noug1
'splained. Niggers is sinful fond o
show, and the Baptists gives it t
'em sure; no natural niger can't re
sist the fascinations of a public bap
tisin'.-[ Huntsville Correspondence
of the N. Y. Times.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-12-30

ANorHEH.-Congress disappointed
another special committee to come
to Louisiana and investigate; it con-
sists of two Democrats and five Rad
icals. They are in New Orleans by
this time, as they we're to leave Wash
ington, after eating their Christmas
dinners. Hard to tell what they will
do, and what they won't do. We
shall report progress as the battery
is unmasked.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-12-30

II The more dirt the more diptheria,
as New York is finding to her cost. This
worst form of throat disease Is raging as
an epidemic, and its prevalence is plainly
traced to unfavorable sanitary conditions,
chief of which is imperfect drainage
Nav York is specially subject to malarlal
diseases, fed by perennial springs, which
permeate i'll every direction the original
topography of the island. Over these
streets have been graded, the intervening
blocks filled up, and acres of buildings
erected, while beneath lies the undrained
saturated soil, giving offits damp, chill
ling nlalarious atmosphere.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-12-30

~ The annual Texas conference
of the Methodist Church, South,
convened at Houston on the 10th,
Bishop Keener presiding.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-12-30

CouRT.-We forgot last week to
make mention of the fact that John
Sullivan had been holding, Parish
Court, to fill out Lcdoux's unexpired
term. The cracked sound of the old
COW bell, this Monday morning, re-
minds us of our negligence in the af-
fair, and farther that she is still in
session as we write. We think as
the year is nearly out she had better
decamp SIM die, and let Judge Dai
gre, our legal Judge, take his seat.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-12-30

60 We had apassably good time
of it on Christmas day, and we're
kindly remembered by few friends.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-12-30

~ DR.. Mary Walker pants for the i'm
proyement Of her sex.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-12-30

STRAYED OR STOLEN !!
I'm TUESDAY. DECEMBER 22d,
~ a BAY HORSE, about IS hands
high, six years old and perfectly gen
tle-had three shoes on. A liberal re-
ward will be paid, if returned to me at
Alexandria. JAS. T. FLINT.
Dec. 30.2t.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-12-30

~ A bachelor-a man who peglects his
opportunity to make SONIC womad misera-
bic.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
The Secretary of the Treasury.

A Washington special says that Bris.
tow, in his report says the sinking fund
is over twenty millions behind. The
Secretary, not only takes strong ground
in favor of specie payments, but sets
forth definite plan for reaching the
same. lie recommends the repeal OF
the legal tender act at a fixed day as to
contracts thereafter made, and except
as to official salaries and ordinary ex-
penditures OF the government under
existing appropriations. The Secreta.
ny recommends that authority be given
for the immediate issue of convertible
bonds, bearing low rate of interest.
lie asks that day may be liked for the
resumption Of specie payment, not more
limited than three years, at the end of
that time the Secretary to be authorized
TO raise gold by selling bonds in such
amounts as may become necessary from
time TO time to keep the Treasury in
condition to redeem greenbacks as pre-.
scented. The Secretary recommends
free banking as part of the plan for the
resumption of specie payment, but this
branch of the subject is not elaborated.
1t is recommended that the fractional
currency be replaced by silver, and to
this the Secretary desires to
set all the minis at work coming silver,
and as rapidly as il is produced frac-
tional currency to be recalled and de-
beginning with the smallest de-
nominations,
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11

ly free the frontier of Indian depreda.
lions. He alludes to the Civil Service
Reform. saving 1t had been adhered TO
as closely as the violent opposition
manifested against II permitted. It's re-
sulis have been greatly beneficial, hav-
ing elevated the capacity and tone oil
appointments In the several depart
ments Of the government. Butt wonl.l
he impossible 10 continue the reform
without the direct support OF Congress,
sanctioned by the people The Presi.
dent alludes TO the reports OF The heads
of the several departments, which ac-
company the message. and calls atten-
ton 10 their respective recommends
tons. lie again recommends the pas
sage OF law establishing court Cor
the adjudication Of the claims of aliens
against the government, a bill for this
purpose having been introduced by
Judge Lawrence at the previous session
OF Congress.
The President does not allude 10 Utah
affairs, the subject being LEFT open for
future consideration. He calls atten.
ton to the fact that Chinese immigrants
continue to be brought to this country
under the condition Of slaves, accord
ing 10 contract, aud also whose charac.
ter is such as TO demoralize the com.
munities in which they are located. lie
invites legislation on this subject, say.
ing il will be his pleasure as well as his
duty, to enforce any law on the subject.
The President, in further conversation,
said he had three vacant district Judge
ships to fill; namely in Alabama, Ar.
kansas and Louisiana. II was proba-
BILE he might be successful In selecting
an appointee for Alabama from that
State, BIZ: as for the other States there
was more difficulty and he might,
therefore, be forced to appoint persons
moi now resident in them. AS to Ar.
kansas, those best fitted !or the place
were either in favor of the Garland
government or desired its total over
throw.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
RumOred Combination.

The correspondent of the New York
Herald writes--"there is no doubt that
tho internal Improvement schemes will
be pushed mainly by the innationists,
and that the two policies will stand or
fall together. The in1ationists, who
claim TO be very strong in the Middle
West, SEQ that they cannot succeed in
their demand for more greenbacks, I'M
less they can create great government
expenditures, which could not be met
by taxation and to defray which they
would command further issues of green
backs instead of interest. bearing bonds.
They expect also 10 get the help Of
those members whose sections would
benefit by the proposed canals aud 9TH
er improvements to pass imitation mes-
sures. 1t is not possible, at this time. to
judge of the strength Of this combina-
ton, but some Western men claim that
the imitation sentiment is overw hclming.
ly strong among the people of several
States, and that it made itself felt in the
November elections"
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
Twenty-Five Millions.

A writer in the. Jonesboro Herald and
Tribune claims to have "information
from reliable source to the effect that
there is to-day capital TO the amount Of
$25,000,000 in England, which is look
ing in tho direction Of the iron aud coal
folds OF Tennessee"
Such statements, like the tale of an
idiot thrice told, are growing stale, fiat
and Improbable. They have been
sounded in the public ear for quarter
OF a century, and have done more harm
than good by educating our people to
believe that, at some day not very re-
mote and without tho slightest effort on
their part, all the accumulated wealth
and enterprise Of Europe viii pour in
to East Tennessee, and so they are con-
tent to plod along from year 10 year,
waiting and watching for Hercules, in
stead Of putting their own shoulders to
tho wheel. We don't doubt that our CO.
temporary at Jouesboro heard just what
ho states, nor that English capitalists
occasionally turn their eyes in this d.
rccton or visit our mountains and val.
leys TO spy out the resources with Wow
perhaps to ultimate investment. But ii
is Of the extravaganza Of such stories
and their constant reitcration that we
complain. They ore dolusive, as much
so as the promise tho radicals made u
fow years ago to the poor negro about
"forty acres and mule" and in nino
cases out Of ten not any more likely to
DO realized. Lot us cultivate more self
dependence, moro home industry, in
stead Of Numbering down aud waiting
for somebody to "immigrate" aud make
us all rich by paying fabulous prices for
our "undcvoloped resources and "sur-
face Indications"
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
New York Prices.

Wholesale prices in New York, &C.
cordiDg to interesting tables published
BY the New York Express, are actually
lower for wheat, corn, and cotton prints
than they were 10 1859, and the curren.
cy prices of corn, cotton, provisions
sugar and coffee, are but little higher
than gold prices Of those articles before
the war. But no corresponding reduc.
ton has yet reached the consumer nor
can it be expected as long as u currency
of fluctuatiRg value exists.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
Congressional summary.

Congress met Monday Two hun.
dred aud thirty-eight members answer
ed 10 the roll in the House-showing
fifty-four absent. Phelps asked unani-
nous consent TO Introduce bill repeal.
ing the newspaper gag-iaw, which was
objected to. The Presidents message
was listened TO with unusual attention.
The legislative, executive and ju1icial
appropriation bill was reported and
maze the oruef ~. Tuesday of the fol-
lowing week. The navy, army, Indian
and fertilization bills were also report
ed. The amounts appropriated by these
several bills are as follows: Legislative
bill, Sl9,653,434: navy, sl6976,O0 ar
my, S27 70l, 800; Indian, $4S6l ,507 for.
tifcations, SS50000. A bill was also
reported approprialing $4,000 for the
purpose Of buying scales for the use of
the post-ofiice department in executing
the law requiring prepayment of post.
age on newspapers. Cox, of New York,
introduced bill excepting from the
operation Of the new postal law cases
where subscriptions were taken prior TO
the LIST of January, 1875, and allowing
postage in those cases tc-be paid at the
place of destination. Referred.
In the Senate--a bill was reported for
the better governmen. of the District of
Columbia. 1t provides that depart
ment shall be created in the government
of the United States TO be called the de.
partrient of The District of Columbia,
and that it shall have corporate capa-
city. II is to be headed by o board Of
three regents, to be appointed by the
President and confirmed by the Senate.
The first board TO be appointed for
terms Of six, four and two years, re.
spectivcly. Thereafter the term of of.
flee will be six years. Salary, $4,000
each per year.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
/ tens.

Rev. DR.. Benedict, famous as Bap-
fist historian, died at Pawtucket, Sun
day, in his Goth year.
Near Altoona yesterday John Thomp-
son was shot dead for deer by his
hunting companion.
Josiah Cummings, a trunk manurac.
turer of Springfield, Mass, has failed
with $4,000 liabilities.
II. Il. Thomas, junior member Of the
wool commission house Of Reynolds,
Corbett a. Thomas, has absconded, lcav-
ing liabilities to the amount of $4,000.
A man named Rush, charged with
having committed several burglaries in
Concordia, Mo-, was hanged by mob
near that town Sunday night.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
Local Brevities.

Quorum Court was in session last
Monday, and went through tho usual
routine of business--appointing guar.
dams, issuing road orders, sc.
The Ladies of Mars Hill Presbyterian
Church, Athens propose to give Sup
per on the night Of the - instant, for
good and worthy purpose.
Col. Reaves, Of Jonosboro, was along
this way this week. lie thinks Andy
johnson will carry East Tennessee al
most solid.
]. w. Lillard, of the East Tennessee
National Bank, Knoxville, was in town
a few days ago, registered at the Alice
House.
John L. Gibson started to Knoxville
Wednesday night 10 purchases car load
or two of Christmas goods.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
Lynch Law in Kentucky.

A dispatch to the Courier.Journal
from Morganfeld, Dec. 3 says:
Considerable excitement was occa.
stoned last night by three negro men
being taken out of Jail by q mob to a
point just outside Of our town, and hung
to o tree until they were dead These
negroes are supposed to be implicate d
In the burning of the distilery and
other buildings. a, Uniontown, several
weeks since. While one Of the party
had acknowledged his guilt, there was
some doubt as to the guilt Of the other
two. The action OF the mob did not
meet with the appreciation of our citi-
zens here, and there Ia no little indigna-
ton expressed at their conduct. Mob
law is q bad law, and should be frown-
ed down 10y all good citizens.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
Calhoun and Charleston.

The writer spent last Friday and Sat
urday among the patrons of tn e Posi-
at Calhoun and Charleston, and tender,
bis Acknowledgements for their attention
and promptness. Both towns are i'm.
proving in building and in business, and
both have good schools. Charleston
High School, now in charge of Prof. II
Cate, has an attendance OF l22 pupils
We didn't learn the number in attend
ance at the Masonic Institute, Calhoun.
The Barrett House, Charleston, is
one of those places where one always
finds cheerful Preside, good fare and
kind treatment at the hands of the pro-
prietor and his clever family.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
logs.

Tho Courier.Journal Of last Monday
notes decline In prices, and says: To-
day some lots changed hands ut $3.50,
aud the lowest prices paid were $G.75 (;
the bulk OF sales of fair grades being
at $500 to $40 per GENITAL gross. Tho
average OF prices same day last year
was S4GJ. Total number killed 10 date
2lG,l99. ST. Louis quotes at 7.0Oa7. 30
for good packing lots. Augusta, Geor-
gia, quotes at7JG gross--very Ilt,lo moro
than the western figures. All adviccs
indicate tina. Bacon will open at and
maintain pretty steep prices.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
The Presidents Message,

The New York Herald says that the
message Of Grant ia a more creditable
document, in point of merit and literary
execution, than its predecessors, from
the came source. The President makes
it clear, that in his view, the three prin-
cipal causes which have led to the dis
astrous defeat Of his party are, the pros
tration OF business, the condition OF the
Southern States, and the unsuccessful
experiment of reforming the civil SER
vice. This is not directly stated, but ii
is necessarily implied in the texture OF
his views on those snbiecta.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
No Resurrection.

DR.. Leonard Bacon says: Two years
hence The parties contending for tho
election Of tho next President may DO
called Republican and Democratic but
the dead issues will have been buried,
and tho Republican party then (ir such
be its name) will not be identical with
the party which bears the name to-day.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
The End.

This 18th of December is the day fix.
cd upon by the Millerites, or Second AID.
ventis.s, Of Maine for the general confla.
grafton and final winding up OF all sub.
lunary things. With all reverence, the
wicked are TO be burned up and the
earth purified by fire and made fit for
the abode Of the righteous. We go to
press day in advance, that our read
ers may be duly notified of the great
change so close at hand.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
Ohio.
The Ohio Legislature met last week,
In his message Gov. Allen saws:

The Ohio Legislature met last week,
In his message Gov. Allen says:
Railroads are not only Of great utili.
~, but have become a necessity. They
should not be bampered by viDdictive
aud vexations legislation, but as the SER
wants of tho people, enjoying peculiar
franchises, they should be strictly
amenable TO judicious legislation, that
will prevent them from becoming the
masters Of the people. These rights
should be fully protected by law. and
the rights of the people should be pro-
tecied against such encroachmemts as
tend to make them the victims Of mo-
nopoly. The Governor urges economy
in pubic affairs, and closes with the fol-
loving words:
at is question for your serious con-
sidnration, we,her the compensation of
our county officers is not disproportion-
ate 10 the service ofother public officers
and Of persons in private life. Public
servants spoud not 90 paid so high as
to make the getting Of Office profess
sion and to enable candidates and appli-
CAMS to buy their way 10 public places
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
A Gloomy PrOSDect,

II. V. Il. in his last Chattanooga let
ter says:
The condition of politics is such that
the Republican party cannot hope TO re-
main in power unless they Keep the
Southern question, in all its bearings,
before the country as the most promi-
nent and vital question They live on
that, anC are not disposed 10 let 90 at
this late day. The Southern field is,
and is to be, a sort OF political cunning
ground, not only for the parties that
now exist, but for such as may hereafter
exist. The Poland question may be la
ken out of Russian politics, the Irish
question may DO taken ont of English
politics, but the Southern question will
never be taken out of American poll
ties as long as the two most separate
and distinct races on earth inhabit tho
same territory.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
The Present Congress.
The New York Herald says of

The New York Herald says of the
Congress now in its last session:
This body came into power with the
second election of Grant aud repre-
sents, the largest popular majority
we have ever given TO represent
sentative body. IL came flushed with
triumph, and II ends it's career In dis.
aster. The country which, two years
ago, called this Congress into being
with such unexampled approval, now
dismisses it as altogether unworthy
OF confidence aud in no sense repcsen-
tative OF the wishes aud aims Of tho
people. Many public men long promi-
nent in the national affairs go out with
1t, some with honor, but more in dis
honor and disgrace. 1t is the last year
of the old order Of things. and of me-
cessity il is in some degree preparatory
to tho new order which is coming. 1t
must work under disheartcning infu-
ences, and 1t is not possible that II will
be able to regain in the few weeks OF
the short session what it deliberately
threw away in the many months of its
previous deliberations. The Eandshak-
ings Of the leaders will be sorrowful
for they have only met 10 separate, and
they will never come together again.
The year 1875, like 1850, is to be an
epoch of new mon, and the men OF tho
war, like tho champions and the foes
of the Missouri Compromise, give place
TO new class Of statesmen, who, il Is
10 be hoped. will bring TO their duties
sounder ideas and fresher thoughts.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
A Heavy Suit.

Gen. VIM. A. Quarles is in Memphis.
The Ledger says the purpose Of his visit
is to take evidence in an important suit
brought against the old Union and Plan
tiers Bank by reason of loan of 81 ,500,-
600. made some years ago to the revolu-
tionary government Of the State Of Ten
nssee. The ablest lawyers Of the State
arc engaged in this suit; also Jero s.
Black and Montgomery Blair.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
Whent---Cnrn--.OatA.

Augussa, Georgia, quotes choice white
wheat at lao 10 Las; red 100 TO 1886.
Corn, old white, Ito; yellow LOS TO
l0S car 90. Oats by tho car load for
feed, So Black, for seed, 90al.l2; Red
Rust Proof l.25.
Chattanooga buys Corn on the wharf
at Is cents, sacks included, Wheat on
wharf sacks included, Toto LIS. Hay,
primo clover, per ton 1000 20 $500;
Herds Grass 2j0)l3100.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
Admirable.

Chicago Tribune; Gov Kemper's
message 20 the Virginia Legislature
contains this admirable sentence: This
political equality of the races is settled,
and their social equality is a settled i'm
possibility" We agree very heartily
with this sentiment; aud in the main
with that part of the message which ex-
presses hope for tae amendment or
repeal of the Enforcement act.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
"The State Judiciary"

We have received a communication
on the above subject from one u, ,"c
best thinkers and readies. pens Of East
Tennessee, which we will print in our
next issue. The Legislature meets IN a
few weeks, and we will gladly publish
any suggestions worthy the attention of
that BODY.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
Iowa.

FRANKLIN, Dec S.-Tbo court house,
with the records Of tho county, was
burned here to-day. The fire was tho
work Of an incendiary. This is the
third incendiary fire within tho last
three weeks.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11

A report having prevailed that the
Emperor Of Russia was insane, his ply
sicians officially announce that he Is not
any more so than the average of man
kind.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11

Couricr.Journal; Perhaps too much
can not be said against corrupt jurios,
but they don't do all the mischief that
is done in courts. Twelve honest asses
often accomplish as much harm and In
Justice 40 twelve rogues,
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-11
A Fearful Epidemic

A private letter from Alexandria, In
this State, says that so far there has
been eight deaths from the "black fux,"
with FIVE other adults not expected TO
live forty.eight hours, besides number
of children. II says there Is no cause
assigned for tho disease, except that OF
the use Of fresh pork, and this lie doubt.
al