davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wilmington journal., 1874-04-24
CONSOLIDATION.

The completion of the Western
North Carolina railroad through the
mountains so as to form connection
with roads in the Mississippi Valley,
is of great Importance, not only 10
the people of the west, but to the peo-
ple of the whole State.
Tt may be doubted, however, wheth-
er the project is any nearer consum-
nation to-day, than it has been for
years. 1t is true that the Legislature
nassed an act authorizing the North
Carolina Rail Road Company to at
tempt to accomplish the great work
It is true. also, that the Stockholders
in that Company have had a meetlns
and bv majority vote of both State
and individual Stockholders, did agree
TO undertake the work. But, tor al
that, we apprehend that the legal ac-
cantan.e of the Consolidation Act by
the North Carolina Rail Road Compa-
nv. has not yet been accomplished
Until that be done the Company Is
noverless for this great purpose.
Tt viii be remembered that the
North Carolina Company accepted only
q part of the act of the Legislature,
amending its charter and in express
terms refused to accept the another
part. Ii happens however, that the
different sections of the act OF the
Legislature were not submitted to the
Company as separate several PROPOSE
tions. brlt they constituted one prop
. oaition and were submitted for ac
ceptance or rejection as an entirely
The failure therefore to accept any
mart of the act was in law a failure tc
accept every part of it.
As the Charlotte Observer we'll says
"that the amended charter stands to-day
inIawrejected, may be seen by a glance al
fundamental principles. What IS the
nature of charter? 1t is an act OF
the sovereign people OF the State
creating corporation. And what is
one of the main characteristics OF a
corporation thus created? 1t is
moulded and controlled both as TO
what it may do and the manner IN
which it may do it, by its charter or
net of incorporation, which IS the
fountain-head of all its powers and
privileges, the very tar Of its bc'"g'
which it can neither dispense with nor
after. These are grand, underlying
principles of the common law. 10 ac-
cept one part of the charter and reject
another part, is an alteration OF lt-a
dispensing with certain features III 1t,
and a clear violation of 'the very law
Of its being" If the company can
alter anv one clause in the charter, OF
so much as change the verbiage III
single line, then they can alter the
whole of it. and instead of compll-
ance with the law. we should have
them legislating for themselves!
which, to us, seems an absurdlty, q
child might discover.
Wilmington journal., 1874-04-24
GRANTS NON INTER

President Grant draws some nice
distinctions for q plain blunt man.
For instance, his Post Master Genera.
instructs the Post Master at Little
Rock to deliver TO Mr.. Brooks all
letters addressed to "Brooks, Gov
ernor. &c, or to 'GovernOr Brooks,
and to Mr.. Baxter, all letters ad-
dressed to s'Blxter, Governor, &c,
or to "Governor Baxter" Those adj
dressed to the Governor OF Arkansas
the President keeps for his own share
of the spoils. By what authority the
President or his subordinate retains
letters addressed to the Governor of a
State we do not know. If President
Grant were a Monarch the difficulty
would be one of easy solution. AS he
is simply the chief servant of the peo-
Pile, without authority, save such rs Is
conferred upon him by the plain,
written law of the land, it is not easy
to say where President Grant gets
authority to take possession OF
letters not addressed to himself.
Another thing this mountaineering
es-rights-loving President of ours
has done He has taken military pos
session of the telegraph Office at Little
Rock, and this, too, in time of pro-
found peace, so far as he is officially
informed. What authority he ha7 for
this high-handed act, it is as difficult
to discover as it was in the other
case.
That is a nice distinction that pre-
vents the President from interfering
in the internal affairs of a State, lest
he encroached upon its sovereignty,
and, that yet, permits him to take
military possession of the telegraph
office and mail bag
Wilmington journal., 1874-04-24
A Tennessee Esomancc.

He was young, he was fair, and he
parted his hair, like tie average bean,
in the middle he was proud, he was
bold, but the truth must be told, lie
played like a fiend on the fiddle. Bar
| ring his voice, he was everything nice,
and his heart was SO loving and ten
der, that he always turned pale when
he trod on the tail of the cat lying
down by the fender. He clerked in a
store, and the way that he tore off cal
leo, jeans and brown sheeting would
have tickled calf. and made the brute
laugh in the face Of quarterly meet
ing. He cut quite dash with dar-
ling moustache, which he learned to
adore and cherish for one girl had
said, while she dropped her proud
head, that 'twould kill her to see the
thing perish. On Sundays he'd search
the straight road to the church I'M
needing the voice of the scorner and
demurely he sat, like a young tabby
cat, with the saints i'll the amen corner
He sang like a bird, and his sweet
voice was heard fairly tugging away at
long meter /; and we speak but the
truth, when we say, that this youth
could out sing hungry mosquito.
She was young, she was fair, and
she scrambled her hair like the aver
age belle of the city she was proud,
but not bold, yet the truth must be
told, the way she chewed wax was a
pity. Barring this vice, she was ev-
erything nice, and the world admired
her hustle and the Fayetteville boys,
being calmed by the noise, walked
miles to hear it rustic. She cut quite
a swell, did this wax-chewing belle,
and men focked in crowds to meet
her but she gave them the shirk, for
she loved the young clerk, who sang
like hungry mosquito. So she hem
med and she hawed, and she sighed
and she "chawed" till her heart
and her jaws were broken then she
walked by his store, while he stood at
the door awaiting some lovely token.
She raise1 up her eyes with a mock
surprise, and tried to enact the scorn-
er but to tell the truth, she gri,aned
at the youth who loved the amen
corner.
Theymet-alas! what came
to pass was soft Rnd sweet and preci-
Gus; they Woed, they coed, he talked,
she chewed-O, how they loved, good
gracious! They had to part, he rose
to start; her grief cannot be painted;
these are the facts; she swallowed her
wax, then screamed, then choked then
tainted. Her pa appeared; her beau,
quite scared, rushed out to get some
water; the watch dog spied his tender
hide, and bit him where he'd fought
er." This tale is sad, the sequel stern
so thinks the youth thus bitten. He
sings no more, as oft of yore; he gave
that girl the mitten.
She pined apace, her pretty face
looked slender and detected; herfather
kind, but somewhat blind, beheld her
and reflected. His income tax he
spent for wax-she smiled aud called
him clever. She went to work, forgot
that clerk, and chawed in bliss forever.
j. Batenla9a Smith.
Wilmington journal., 1874-04-24

A Washington correspondent says :
Hereafter frugality of mind must be
ascribed to Mrs. Toodles alone, for
since the recent engagement of lieu
tenant commander in the navy to a
young lady who visited here during
the winter, the inquiry was pnt to him,
How come you to be all prepared
with these diamonds, and India shawl,
and laces which you presented to the
lady?' The gentleman recently re-
turned to this city from three years
cruise, and says that he thought he
might become engaged to some one
before he made another voyage, and it
was best to avail mself Of the oppor-
tunity he then had of providing suit
able presents for such an emergency.
Wilmington journal., 1874-04-24

At a meeting held at ManhoiIoW'
Grant township, on Saturday, the loth
inst, Thos. B. Barton was called 10
the chair and VIM. Everett was re
quested to act as secretary.
The following resolution was
adopted:
ResoIred, That we. the colored
citizens of Grant township, will most
earnestly support A. r. Black, Esq,
candidate for Sheriff of New Hanover
county, on account of the noble stano
he has taken for the last several years
and is still taking, in behalf OF the
cause of education and the promotion
and furtherance of our free schools
PROVIDENCE BATS,
HENRY STOKELY,
CALEB SPICER,
COMMITTEES.
Wilmington journal., 1874-04-24

It is stated that the Patrons of Hus-
bandry in Iowa have perfected an Or
ganization for the capture of horse
thieves. Each grange is to have
five riders, who are, on robbery
of stock being reported, to mount and
follow the culprits. To this end the
grange is to furnish them with funds
not less in amount than twenty-five
dollars. and on giving the hailing sign
of the Patrons all other oranges VIII
entertain them free of cost, turn out 10
them, or lend them fresh horses. SIM
liar organizations in other States
would render stealing horses very
improbable business.
Wilmington journal., 1874-04-24
London BOndhoIders

We are very much gratified at the
complimentary illusions adopted by
the London meeting of bondholders
to Gov. Kemper's financial message,
but it is rather amusing to read their
''regrets at the increasing number OF
defaults committed by States of the
American Union as calculated to de-
fraud bondholders and impair the
credit of the Federal as well as the
State governments, and declaring that
they will hereafter discountenance any
attempt to raise money in European
markets on the part of defaulting
States"
We hope these financial gentlemen
may be entirely successful i'll defeating
call attempts" which the Southern
States may make to ''raise money in
Europe, or anywhere else, for really the
South has been ruined by what she
has borrowed in the past. Our States
want no more loans and no more credit.
PCfersbur0 Ne1Cs.
Wilmington journal., 1874-04-24
YsaIOr StlIrEfl.

The Louisville CouricT'-.JOl1rnGt pub
fishes this interesting chapter from
the private life of Victor Hugo's
Nephew :"
Notwithstanding the threat CT n libel
suit, we propose to give the public the
benefit of few facts in relation to this
fellow Sturm we happen to be i'll pos
session Of.
Victor Hugo Sturm is the son of a
well-known physician living a few
miles below Cincinnati. There he
married, his wife bringing to him
quite a handsome little fortune. He
has succeeded in spending nearly all
of it, the last piece Of property his
wife owned having been mortgaged to
raise him So, 300, with which to engage
in business in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Not succeeding, after his means were
spent be engaged with Barkhouse &
Brothers as "a travelling agent. remov-
ing most of his family here, where
they remained the larger portion of
the time SINCE, and until recently,
boarding for the last several months
at the National Hotel, where Sturm
secured quarters for them. About the
first of November Mrs Sturm received
Macon, Georgia, of which the follow
ing is a copy
MACON, Ga, October y, 1873.
My DEAR WIFE Yours to hand
and with pleasure. I was indeed glad
my little ones are all we'll we'll. Ihope
they will remain go. / am quite busy
arranging matters here at the Fair. 7
have not seen Maggie, and suppose !
will not see her unless I go over to
Fair here. Mary, [ assure you, am
tired of this travelling life, and am 60
ing to quit it on next January, sure. [
must and will be more with you and
my babies.
Please write in care Exchange Ho-
tel, Richmond, Va.
With much love any many kisses to
you and the babies, / am, as eyer,
your NlcToR.
Instead of coming to see and be
with her, as promised, Mrs. Sturm, a
few weeks after this, had letter
from him, stating that he did not in
tend to live with her longer, asking
her to secure q divorce, and offering
Inducements if she would do SO. Mrs.
otufln IOOh tue doF1Co Oh cOuuSel tinu
declined to apply for divorce. He
then called to see her and threatened
her life if she refused to sign the pa
pers he wished, drawing at the same
moment long and sharp-bladed knife
from his pocket.-He had, on preyi-
Gus occasion, as we have authority for
saying, forced her, by presenting
pistol at her head, to give him 1925,
the proceeds of the sale of piano
presented to her by her father, and
similar threats and acts of violence
were not unfrequent.
Failing in procuring her consent for
L divorce, he has probably secured one
secretly, which OF course is invalid,
and renders him liable to punishment
for the crime of bigamy. The husband
of Mrs. Casten, whom he married, it
is stated, died suddenly only some
three months ago, and it is not sur
prising that the affair is now the chief
topic of discussion in Macon circles.
Sturm is Mason, and the Masonic
fraternity, having had some .intimation
of his misconduct, have been making
Investigations, and, we presume, will
thoroughly probe the matter.
Wilmington journal., 1874-04-24

1t is officially stated that Hon. Ben
5anin Disraeliwillnot permit officers I'm
der him to ''guinea-pig." To ''guinea-
pig is to receive a directorship in a
Joint stock company, with the object
of helping to form the company by
adding an Influential name in the pros
pectus. Such practices have been
known in London for some time, and
are now altogether too frequent
Suppose President Grant should issue
an edict against ''guinea-piging" under
his administration, what a commotion
there woalC ba.
Wilmington journal., 1874-04-24

The distillers of the country, for the
last fiscal year, produced over S,OCO,-
900 gallons of spirits. There were 445
of them, in which about $40, 900, 600
capital is invested, 10000 men en-
ployed, and nearly 2O,OOO,O 900 bushels
of grain consumed, four-ffths being
corn. The spirits produced Welded
nearly s5O,O6O,OOO Of taxes to the
Treasury. Illinois is the chief pro-
ducer, and the Western States distilled
more than fve-sevenths of all the
spirits made. A letter from California
says, this year, there will be produced
there 100000 gallons Of wine,
100000 pounds of grapes for table
use, and 25o, 900 poun4s Of raisins,
besides the brandy, of which we ha7e
no statistics 10000 acres are in vine
yards, and the area is constantly in
creasing.
Wilmington journal., 1874-04-24
r.x-pI.Es,DENr DAVIS, HEALTH

EX-EIsESlDENE DAVIS, HEALTH
Referring to a statement of the New
York Graphic that Mr.. Davis was i'll in
London with dropsy of the heart, the
:cksburg Herald says: We are salts
lied that the statement of the Graphic
IS er. ~" -. Letters from Mr.. Davis
s2lav,> '," ceived in this city since
his arrs' n Europe, and they make
no mention of such alarming symp-
toms. On the contrary, those letters
speak Of a very great improvement in
his health, and breathe an air of cheer
fulness utterly incompatible with the
statement of the Graphic.
Wilmington journal., 1874-04-24
From the Charlotte Southern Home
The Atlantic, Tennessee & Ohio
Railroad.

The embarrassments under which
this road, better known as the States
vile road, has been laboring for long
time, seem to be increasing rather
than diminishing After strenuous
efforts and patient waiting for de-
cision of the Supreme Court on the
legitimacy of the rival boards of direc-
| tors, the announcement is made that
the case has been thrown out of court,
in consequence of having been brought
in by appeal, instead of quo aca1ranto.
| Fast on the heels of this disappoint-
ment comes the decision of the Su-
preme Court of the United States, to
the effect that the road must pay the
claims of the National Bank of Col
umbia, or be sold at auction under a
deed of trust. The bank claims the
payment of certain bonds, issued by
the road in 1862, payable in 1874,
amounting to nearly ninety thousand
dollars.
At first glance, this might seem
crushing blow to the road in its pres
ont embarrassed condition.; and we re-
gret to say the impression generally
prevails in the community, that the
road viii necessarily come under the
hammer. This is an error. The road
has, we believe, 100000 in FER
cent bonds in the hands of McAden,
Lancaster & Co., with $50, 900 in other
bonds, free of mortgage, and a large
annual gain in the receipts of the road;
therefore, with proper management
(for WHICH the gentlemenly Receiver,
and Superintendent, are fully compe-
tent) there will be comparatively little
difficulty in meeting the engagements
of the road as fast as they alise.
We take hopeful view of the mat
ter, because we believe the road can
be saved. and because its sale would
entail heavy loss on our county
Mecklenburg owns 100000 stock in
the road; Iredell county 100000; and
private individuals, embracing many
of our citisens) $263, ,OO0;-all of which
must be sacrificed by the sale OF the
road. If the sale is forced, we shall
agree with friend, who insists that
North Carolina is resolved to throw
away every dime of her interest in her
own railroads.
Wilmington journal., 1874-04-24
MAGBEE'S REVENGE

On the 25th instant the regular
apring term of the Circuit Court for
this tManatee) county convened, and
his Honor, Judge Magbee, being wide
awake and sober, resolved himself into
Court Of Chancery, and in the most
summary manner proceeded to order
Mayor Lipscomb and the c ty Marshal
into close confinement il. the county
Jail for the period of ten days for in
dignities offered to the Judges body
in putting him in the caluboose, and
for contempt of court i'll neglecting to
recognize his wit of habeas corpus by
refusing to produce his body before
himself for adjudication upon the
legality of his own confinement.
Mayor Lipscomb and the City Mar
shall resisted this attempt to punish
them for doing their duty, and they
are unanimously sustained by the
people. There is considerable excite
ment, and it is feared that something
serious may result. Mayor Lipscomb
and his officers are willing to submit
to the law, but as The features of this
case are somewhat extraordinary, they
desire that it shall be reviewed by the
Supreme Court of the State.
Wilmington journal., 1874-04-24

A ray of light is thus thrown npon
the mysterious power behind Sanborn
by the .Si)rinHfcld Rcl5"biicaH
Prescott, the Unknown Boston law.
yer, to whom Sanborn says he paid
SO, 600 in fees, proves to be one Of
Buffers henchmen and formerly hia
private secretary. That accounts, pro
badly, for Buffers name not being
among the recipients of the Sanb"rn
bounties. "
Wilmington journal., 1874-04-24

Alice Mason Sumner, the divorced
wife of the late Senator, has fled pc
tition in Boston court, asking that
her name may be changed to that Of
Alice Mason. for the reason that "she
has been divorced from her late hus-
band, who has since deceased, and de-
sircs to resume her maiden name"
Wilmington journal., 1874-04-24

Probably the fastest train in the
world is the express train on the great
western railroad, which leaves Lon
don (Paddington station) at i1.45 A.
NJ, and arrives at Swindon Junction,
seventy-eight miles, at 1.12 z. NJ, at
an average rate of tifty-three and a
half miles per hour. Few of cur
American ''ightning express" tralns
keep mp a speed OF thirty-miles an
hour
Wilmington journal., 1874-04-24

The Radicals of Raleigh have Domi-
mated 10. w. Holden for Mayor.
Wilmington journal., 1874-04-24
Galiantry of n North CarOlinian-
Hon A NJ. Waddell.

Under this head Washington cor
respondent of the New York Graphic
of the 11th instant, writes: ''An in
cident at Wizards Hotel the other
night, which reflects some credit on a
North Carolina member of Congress
for his gallantry, has not yet been re-
ported in the newspapers. While COM
ing out of the dinner hall of the hotel
beautiful young lady, the daughter
of member from New Jersey, was
roughly greeted by a young ruffian
from Maryland, who seized her by the
shoulder aud insultingly inquired,
Did you ever travel with Buffalo
Bill ?' The young lady was startled
and frightened, but made no reply.
The man who insulted her appeared
to be in his right mind. He certainly
was notintoxicated, and walked straight
out into the hall. The young lady's
father was absent; but she presently
met Mr.. Waddell, of North Carolina,
and told him of the insult. Mr.. W. at
once promised to punish the offender
and asked her to point him out. She
did so and retired. Waddell then
went to the brute and informed him
that he must instantly apologize or
there would he trouble The young
man was awed by the determined man
ner of the North Carolina Congress
man and complied. Waddell led him
into the presence of the young lady
and her mother and extorted from him
an abject apology. The young mans
brother attempted to interfere, but
upon being told that no words would
be wasted with him he also retreated.
Waddell has become quite lion with
the ladies for his gallantry."
Wilmington journal., 1874-04-24

THE Arkansas muddle is still q muC-
die and promises to continue one.
The people elected Brooks, but the
Legislature counted in Baxter. The
Supreme Court, Chief Justice Mel ure
dissenting, refused to consider the
matter for the reason that the civil
courts had no jurisdiction in the
premises. Tho Circuit Court of the
State did take jurisdiction of the mat
ter, however, and Baxter's counsel be-
ing absent, decided in favor of Brooks.
Meanwhile Chief Justice Mcclure has
taken possession of the records of the
Supreme Court so that its decision
can not be certified by the Clerk.
The Memphis Appeal. paper that,
from its location, ought to have a good
insight into Arkansas affairs, is strong
ly opposed to Brooks. It says:
Baxter may not have been fairly
"'-c.P.! C1vsr-'sr. Int lie fairly won
title to the Office Ny his Wise aud ust
execution of the laws. Brooks is
madman; crazed zealot; a raging re-
vivalist in politics and in the pulpit.
He is q very devil when unchurched,
and he fell further when he fell from
grace into the pit of politics than Be-
lial when kicked out of heaven into
kingdom-come."
Wilmington journal., 1874-04-24

The Charleston Neacs and Courier
says: A prominent undertaken in this
city gives his views on cremation in
the following epigram: ''This matter
of cremation has caused me sore
m.sgiving for should the people
urn their dead, how can I earn q
living ?"
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-10-31
A REMARKABLE DIFFERENCE.

Mr., E., A, B., Northrop Of Norwa1k,
Conn, sends US, the following, extract
from the Ne,6 Hatsn, Gazette and Con,
,sectie,e" Mdyasine for the year 'f786,,
which, as he thinks, iill1strates the de-
generation bof our present political
ieadeFs, Aa D. .4lisH -4il.N !" osGI
i" DEc,, 80, .1735.r+A1 knowledge of
your veneration for thecharacter of our
illustrious couhtrymanr WAsIIINGfoN will,
not suffer me to pass over d late trans
action between the Assembly - of Vir-
ginia and this great man.. 9You have
heard that fifty shares in the, companies
established for the purpose OF. opening
and extending the navigation Of the
James and Potomac rivers were pre-
sented to- him by the Legislature. His
Excellency has lately written an affec-5
tionate letter to them declining the ,ac-
ceptahce Of the favor, from the special
consideration that owing to the diff
dsnce which he could not avoid feeling
on being called to the very important
station, in which he has acted in ., the
late struggle for our liberties, he
thought it his duty to join in firm
resolution to shM hisihdnd against ere,.y
pecaniasy reconpta,se J. and he requests
that the Legislature will recall their
bounty, unless he may be permitted to
turn its destination to objects of pub
lie nature" '''''''h"" CI'''N
If any Legislature or any individual
We're to be present Gen Grant with
shares in joint stock company, or with
any other valuable thing whatever, ia
there any person in this country idiotic
enough to suppose that he would, I'M
less under some sort of duress, write
letter declining the present? On the
contrary, would he not accept it and at
once appoint the donor to some valu-
able public office?d And if Congress
we're to double his salary again, would
he answer that he thoughtit his duty to
join in firm resolution against every
pecuniary recompense? On the con-
trary, would he not lobby for such an
increase at every session with all his
might, if he thought that there was
chance Of gaining such boon? rsf