davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-02-16
Written for The Spirit of Democracy
From Seneca Township.
FEBRUARY 9, 1877

| .-,s FEBRUARY y, 1919.
\ ED SPIRIT: hear great many inqui
tries made atoutthe wheat crop; there
was large amount of wheat sown in this
tow nship,and looked well before this cold
spell, { we have had some of the coolest
weather we have experienced for many
years, and we fear ithas injured the
wheat where it is exposed to the western
wind.
There is a good deal of sickness in our
neighhorhood, mostly colds. Joseph NJ
Carpenter has been dangerously i'll for Q
few weeks; be is thought to be on the
mend at present, ,and lis to be hoped thai
he will recover gee
There is nothing going on of import.
ance here, except going to meetings.
There is a protrac'ed meeting now in
progress at Union Chape!, on Wills Creek
conducted Ivy Rev. Rider, of the NJ E
Church There have been II additions
to the Church, and a general revival in
the membership. ~
The Free Methodists, of Summerfeld,
have just closed a protracted effort, con.
Quoted by Rev Z P Hart, of Ann Arbor
Michigan and the result is 50 conversions
and 80 additions to the church, mostly
heads of families, and the Church gene
rally revived. Several professed to lie
ceive the blessing Of sanctitication.
Wishing you success, Iremain, truly
yours, j. NJ.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-02-16
County CORRESPONDENCE.
Written for The Spirit of Democracy J
From Summit Township.
Owl Hollow, o, Feb. 9, IS


EDITOR SPIRIT: Seeing communica
tions from different parts of the county
thonght 4 few items from this part of
Old Monroe might interest some of the
many readers Of TnE SPIRIT The most
important ones are the following:
Mr.. Jacob Slimpert sold his farm OF
81 acres to Mr. Jacob Seigler, of Bos.
ton. for $500.
Cold weather is still prevailing, FREQ
zing nearly everything as it goes. The
wheat looks as dead now as at any time
this Winter.
There will he portable saw mill put
up in Owl Hollow next Spring, owned
by spangier Bro,. They are first rate
workmen. ,.sA--.
The tobacco in this section was
bought mostly by Mr.. Wittenbroolt. of
Miltonsburg, at prices ranging from
eight 10 ten dollars per hundred, and
people are preparing 10 plant large
area next season..
The schools in this township are in
successful operation, and are taught by
the following persons: C. L. Belt, John
Gfeenbank, Slack, j. Taggart and f
Brown. Yours &c,
SUMMIT.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-02-16
Belmont County News.

Gazette, 1lh Miss Jeanette Thomp-
son died atthe residence OF her brother,
Jas. Thompson, in this place on Tues
day last, at the advanced age Of ahont
SO years.
The trial Of case under the Adair
Liquor Law came of in BeIlaire last
Friday before Mayor Strahl and jury.
Mrs. Mary Lucas. colored woman, was
the plsirtif'. and Boyce & Beard the de-
PENDANTS. The jury brought tn verdict
awarding the plaintiff sal0 damages. (
The Judgment Of the District and
Common Pleas Courts of tl,i, county, In
the case Of The Baltimore and OHIO X
r Co. vs. Thomas Whitaker, has been
reversed by the Supreme Court of the
State, and the cause remanded to the
Common Pleas Court for new trial.
This is the case in which Mr.. Whitaker
was seriously injured by train al
GAINESVILLE, and brought suit against the
railroad company for damages.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-02-16
The SenCCaviile and WOOdsfleld
Railroad
written for The Spirit of Democracy
From Summit Township.
LEcoMpToN, O., Feb. 8, Is

lGSUMfloN, W., ECp. y, 1Oto.
ED. SPIRIT: Having noticed in your
columns that there is quite an excite
ment over the railroad question in the
Northern part of this and adjoining
counties, want to show to the citizens
of Guernsey, Belmont, Noble and Monroe
counties that there is scope of coun.
try lying between the Ohio River and
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad that is
35 miles wide, and from Senecaville to
the mouth of Sunfsh, on the Ohio Riv
.er is some 40 miles in length. 1t is a
good country and some very good coal
mines along the route.
The route is to commence at Seneca
vile and up Wills Creek Valley by
Bates mill, thence by the VIM. KEN
farm, thence by B Danford's and
through the farm formerly owned by
Jas. Brister; thence to the Low Gap a
Molly Garden, half mile North ol
Lewisvi!le, thence down the Sunfish
Valley by Ford's mill to the Ohio river
This route was surveyed some two
years since.
The survey commenced at Claringtor
on the Ohio River thence up the SunGst
Valley by the way of Woods6eld.
From the surveyors report, this i:
the best route and will take the leas
work to put it through The roughes'
part will be on the Eastern end of tht
route II.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-02-16

~We have learned that some over.
suspicious persons interpreted our ques.
tons, last week, in regard to the railroad
as masking some hostility to the enter
prise. ~
We have only to say that they were
precisely what they purported to bear
effort to eliei. information-such infor-
nation as the people have right to, and
as they should insist upon having. We
want to knowall about the business, sc
that we can tell all about it; as it woulf
be little awkward for US to try to en-
Tighten our readers on a subject of which
we remained profoundly ignorant.
Atthe very earliest moment that W,
see a reasonable prospect, based OF
something more reliable than rumor, tina
We may secure a railroad through th'
county, we will joyfully announce TIN
fact. We ardently hope that such evi
dence will he forthcoming as will con
vince the most sceptical; but, to. say VI
believe it when we do not, doesn't sui
US. a AZ
Going in, ''likc the Watson's, withou
fear or Judgment" doesn't strike US a.
the surest means of success.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-02-16

comparative quiet. Such scenes, says
the correspondent. are OF daily occur
renee in what is called Kelloggs Louisi'
ana Legislature" =.
This is the Legislature which occasion
ed the recent troubles in New Orleans -
1t was toplace such creatures in power
that KELLoGG's Returning Bo,rd fraudu-
lcnily threw out the ballots Of white vo-
ters. 1t was top place such creatures in
power that GRANTS military cfiltials bay.
onetted legally elected members out-oi
the legislative hall Il is to keep in the
| control of such creatures, the lives and
fortunes of the people Of Louisiana. that
the Constitution is violated, the rights OF
Il State invaded and the will of the peo
pie despisel Iii is to mako rulers of such
creatures tha: this administration endor.
ses fraud, and maintains it by force.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-02-16

EIf the suhjoined sketch of KEEL.
LoGG's Louisiana Legislature were taken
from any other than the most loyal OF
Republican papers, it might be regarded
as caricature, or at least as a gross ex-
aggeration. tbs from the New Orleans
correspondent of the New York Times, 70
paper which was the recognized organ Of
the administration until recent events
compelled itin very shame to disapprove
Of some of GRANTS indefensible officiaI
acts. EFfw
But notwithstanding the fact that the
Times does not endorse everything done
by the administration, its structures are
exceedingly mild and apologetic,a it is
almost universally regarded as the ablest
and staunchest supporter Of the Republi
can party.
We may therefore very reasonably
conclude that it did not admit this picture
of the Louisiana Legislature to its col
umns without the amplest evidence of its
absolute fidelity to truth. The Time.
writer says:
"a majority Of The members of the Leg
islature now in session are unable to read
and some of them never learned to sigr
their names This is particularly true O.
the Lower House. it's no exaggeratior
to state that half the members of tina
body are unable to read print. Nearly
all of them are negroes who few year:
ago were laborers on rice and sugar plan
tations
"On the day of the correspondent.
visit all the entrances to the building wer,
filled with crowd of wrangling negroes
They were of all ages and colors, man,
of them being field hands who had come
to town, as they stated, 'to see dat Legis
lature show They were all we'll supplied
with bacon and corn bread, and well filled
whisky bottles. D.
| uc uil W uOOi VI VIC Hall Was StIcWi
with the ends of halfsmoked cigars
mouldy bits Of meat and bone or two
All light and air were excluded by tn
huge plank barricaiing the windows
One sicklygas jet was barning. but onl.
tended to leighton the gloom. This dit
not seem to dampcn the spirits of the leg
| islatOrs, however.
1.-The scenes in the Legislature were in
describabIe Six or seven black mel
we're on the floor shouting like maniacs
Twenty different motions were put, ant
none of them acted upon. The expires
sions 'liar' and 'nigger' were frequentl.
used, and at one time it seemed as if tn
meeting would break up ina fight. TIL
Speaker wss powerless to preserve order
and finally Kellogg himseifcame In, bare
headed and excited, and coaxed them int
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-02-16

ing him a quarter. "tell me all you
know, and give me back the change"
The last essay was the importance Of
the teachers work, by Miss Emma
Yarnall. 1t was excellent, and / think
all appreciated Miss Yarna!'s manner
Of reading il. She read clearly, and
distinctly, her pronunciation was fault.
less, and she did not confre her eyes
exclusively to the paper, but glanced
over the audience occasionally thus ma
king it very pleasant to listen to her,
Lastly came the discussion of queries.
The first was How shall we teach chill
drcn to read ?" Answered by Mr.. c.
Edwards, who said he would teach them
their letters first, and then have them
form short words and put them toeeth.
Ter He thought the First Reader. was a
very good book for them to start in
He also spoke of the manner OF reading,
said they should be taught to make their
reading sound as nearly like talking as
possible.
The next question, "At what age
should children begin the study of
grammar?" Was answered by Miss
Dee She said they should not begin it
too soon, but as she had not had much
experience as teacher, she hardly
knew what would be the right age. Said
she commenced Studying grammar
when quite young and had studied it a
great deal and she thought she would
have done better if she had waited q
year longer to commence it.
"ShouId childrea he required to write
essaysP" Answered in the affirmative
by Miss Yarnall. She said every schoI-
ar in the school should be required to
write an essay as often as every two
weeks, and once week she would ad-
wise impromptu essays. For instance,
give the scholars some easy subject, as
skating" or Fishing" and let them
write all they can in half an hour. If
there are any in the school too small
for an exercise of this Kind, tell them a
little story and let them write all they
remember about it. Espa M. g.,
There were several more questions
but as it was getting late the Associa-
tion adjourned till the fourth Saturday
in February. The meeting was we'll at.
tended and al seemed to feel that it
was good to be there. AS the Answers
to Queries is one Of the most interest
ing features Of the meeting it is to be
the first instead Of the last exercise In
the afternoon hereafter.
RACHEL GREY.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-02-16
wWhatever NAV be the later effect

EF w nateVer may Dc Tue iater eutCls
Of the passage of the Civil Rights 6A
by the House Of Representatives, its
first fruits must be rather surprising and
far from encouraging to the Republican
leaders who have assumed the parent
age of the bill in its present form. In
the North Carolina Legislature yester
day two of the most prominent Repub
Iican members of that body publicly an
nounced their secession from the party
with which they have heretofore afTila-
ted, and assigned as the cause the sup.
port given by Republicans in the House
Of Representatives to the Civil Rights
bill One of these gentlemen introdu-
ced resolutions denunciitory of the bill
and inviting white Republicans generally
in North Carolina to follow their exam
pie The men in Congress who have
supported the Civil Rights bill, not as
a matter of principle but as a party
measure, will doubtless discover their
mistake before many months shall pass,
~. 7. Tribune, 9th inst.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-02-16

aD- The railroad meeting here on Sat
urday was largely attended, and was ad,
dressed by L. NJ. ATKINSON, Esq, who
is the leading man in the enterprise
We learn from him that consoli6a.
tion has been effected with the Calico
road, and that Dellaire agrees to meet
the proposed line at Armstrong; Mills,
on Cap,ina Creek, with privilege of ex.
tending further southwest. Local aid and
the bonds Of the roal are relied upon
exclusively to construct and equip the
road.
An amendment has been made, or a,
least applied for, to the charter, autSor.
izing the line to pass through Monroe
County, At this point Mr. ATKINSON
stated that line of road could not be
built, except by having two routes; thai
without Monroe County in their charter
luCS Cpuit ilO1 uafc IWo fOulcS, auu tua
their enterprise would be failure. HI
did not say that this was the only reason
for having the name of our county in tho
charter, but he left that impression deep
ly fixed upon the minds of his hearers.
At the close Of his address, which wa:
characterized by intelligence aud candor
the audience broke up and left the room
evidently convinced that there was moth
ing to be done.
Among those whose hot zeal led
them to think that we had a chance for
the road, and who were almost ready
to quarrel with those who did not so be
lieve, we have met but one who now
thinks We have shadow Of a chance.
We feel assured that we fairly repre-
sent the views of that meeting in saying
that there is not the slightest probability
that Monroe County will be touched by
the line.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-02-16

FSHERIDAN must be sent to North
Carolina at once. The very cream of
the Republican party down there is uni
ting with the "bandittt" That State
has twice voted for GRANT, but unless
federal bayonets interfere, it will never,
never do so again.
Here is resolution introduced in the
Legislature at Raleigh by Republican,
Worse than that: BY brother in law OF
the President of the Convention which
nominated GRANT, and who received q
fat Office for his services:
"Resolped,. That we. the General As
sembly of North Carolina, do appeal to
every man within the borders of our
State to protest against this ungenerous
treatment of our people; and especially
do we beseech our brothers Of the white
race who have heretofore adhered to the
Republican party to sever their connec
lion with the same, for the reason thai
in this hour of extreme peril to cur man
hood, all mere questions of party pride
or passion should be forever sunk in the
Cgreat issue for the protection of oul
morals, our social rights and our'race.'
Messrs. GLENN and FooTE followed
with speeches
A number of other Republicans have
declared their intention TO votefor it,anG
it is probable that few white Republican:
will be left in the House. In closing hi:
remarks, Mr.. GLENN said:
81 declare that / hereby forever dis
solve my connection with the Republi
can party, and ally myself with the grea
party that is now building upon th'
South and North for the preservation o
Constitutional Government, and the pu
rity and salvation of the Anglo-Saxol
race of our great land"
This IS merely the cloud as large as
mans hand, evoked by the Civil Right
Bill, which will grow into storm beior
llS76. a7i
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-02-16
Written for The Spirit of Democracy.)
What We Did AZ Teachers Meet.
. Ing

Ed SPIRIT: The Matamoras Teachers
Association met at New Matamoras
January 23d, at eleven A. NJ, and was
called to order by the President, E d.
johnson. Exercises opened with sing
ing and prayer A selected article was
read by Miss Hattie Dee, for criticism,
both as to the manner of reading, and
the subject matter contained in the ar
ticle. The reading was highly compli-
mented, but few exceptions being taken
to the manner of reading, pronuncia
ton, etc. Next, contributions for the
question box were collected and assign
ed to the teachers present, to be ans
wered in the afternoon, after which the
Association adjourned till 2 P. NJ.
The afternoon session opened with
singing and election of officers. The
results of the election were as follows: ::
W. Barber, Pres, Will Mitchell, Vice
Pres, Miss Hattie Dee, Sec D. States,
Cor. Sec, Miss Laurs Barnes, Critic,
and Miss Annie Barnes, Treas.
After the election discussion of the
best methods of exciting an interest in
study was opened by c. Y. Riley. The
principal points were first, secure the
love and respect of the pupils; second,
govern well. Keep the school quiet and
orderly. This will net be hard to do it
the teacher has secured the respect and
confidence of the scholars. Third, the
roll of honor, monthly examinations,
certificates and rewards judiciously CIV
en-, are of value in exciting an interest
in study. Fourth, thoroughness in ev-
erything is really the greatest incentive.
And fifth, regularity. II scholar does
not attend school regularly he naturally
looses interest in the lessons, as we'll as
the connection between them. Mr..
States followed with remarks on the
same subject. . --
Next on the programme was an essay
by Miss Laura Barnes. Subject: Who
shall teach. The essay was short,spicy,
aud pointed She said the question had
been asked at the last meeting and the
answer was "Any one who can get a
certificate" She didn't accept this as
the true answer but thought it should
be "any one who is qualified" and men,
toned as some of the qualifications, dig
nifty, composure, and love for the work,
and the like. The teacher who has
not these qualifications should not be
allowed to teach. She also spoke ol
the selfish teacher; said she had seen
some teachers who took special pains
not to tell the scholars anything they
wanted to know, and she thought such
teachers should be served as selfish
lawyer once was. A gentleman of the
same profession called on him one day
to gain information upon some subjec,
relating to his calling The selfish law
yer drew himself up to his most digni
fed height and said coldly: 81 usually
get pay for telling what l know
There" said his brother lawyer, hand
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-02-16

yThe Barnesville Eaterpriset thinks
We are little cool toward the MeCon-
nelsville and Powhattan Railroad pro.
jeet.
AS to railroad along Captina Creek,
whiclris to miss our county entirely, we
confess that we are not prepared to rend
our garments.
But give US fair show for railroad
through this county, and We will pledge
to its support all the energy at our COM
mand, not only through this paper, but in
every other honorable way that We can bt
useful. 1t is almost impossible to. over
state the advantages. Of arailroad to I
people situated as VIC are, provided, al
ways, that such road is within our Dor
dcrs.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-02-16

wThc second Investigating Com
mittee, which was sent to New Orleans t
collect material for the presidential cam
paigu. have failed in their enterprise
Here and there chap could be found
who would swear up to the mark, bu
much the larger portion Of the witnesses
fully sustained the report Of the frs
committee. e. Hra ag e
The only thing left for the Republican
leaders is to follow SoHENcK's rule for :
poker player who has "nary pair
ScuEScK says, "Look content and seri
Gus, stand pat, aud bet high.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-02-16
The President Wants 10 Interfere
..fr IN Arkansas.

WASHINGTON, Feb. s.-The following
is the Presidents message on Arkansas
affairs: ... .t.a l.
To the Senate Of the Uaited States:
Herewith have the honor to send. in
accordance with. the resolution Of the
Senate of the Sd inst, all the iuforma-
ton in my possession not heretofore
furnished relative to affairs in the State
of Arkansas. will venture to express
the opinion that all the testimony shows
that in the election of 1872, Joseph
Brooks was lawfully elected Governor
of that State; that he has been unlaw
fully deprived of the possession Of his
office since that time; that in 1874 the
Constitution of the State was by vio-
lence, intimidation, and revolutionary
proceedings overthrown, and new.
Constitution adopted, and a new State
Government established. These pro-
ceedings if permitted to stand practio-
ally igrore all the rights of minorities in
all the States Also, what is there to
prevent each Of the States recently re-
admitted to Federal relations on certain
conditions from changing their consti-
tutions and violating their pledges If
this action in Arkansas is acquiesced
in2 / respectfully submit whether q
precedent so dangerous To the stability
Of State Government, if not of the Ma
tional Government also, should be rec
ognized by Congress l earnestly ask
that Congress will take definite action
in the matter to relieve the Executive
from acting upon the questions which
should be decided by the Legislative
branch of the Government.
U. S. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, Feb 8. 1875
WASHINGTON, Feb. S-The President s
message on Arkansas affairs took every.
body by surprise to day. There is the
best authority for the assertion that
Gen Grant has not in any CT his recen,
Cabinet meetings announced his pur.
pose of recommending q new policy in
regard to that State, and, as late as last
evening, two Of tie gentlemen who are
supposed to be consulted on all sucl
important subjects were certainly wholly
ignorant in regard to the matter. The
letter Of the AttorneyGene trans
hitting the documents asked for by
Senator Clayton's resolution was of tht
ordinary character, and contained moth
ing to show that Judge Williams con
Isidered a new policy desirable. 1t il
4 the general impression in Washington
to night that the President was guidef
solely by the desires Of Mr.. Brooks ant
the Clayton party, and that if he asked
the advice of any one else it was prob
ably OF ex-Gov. Alex. R. Shepherd ol
Gen. Babcock. r-r.
The Arkansas Senators were anxiou!
for as prompt action as the state of th'
public business would permit, and de
sired the matter to be sent to the Com
mittee on Privileges and elections fo
an early report. The matter will tax,
that direction. The opinion obtains
among Republican members OF th'
House that apart from whatever th'
Senate may do the House will supper
the report of the Select Committee, ant
take no action in the premises, in accor
dance with its recommendation.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-02-16
Fruit Prospects.

Present advices indicate that the recent
severe cold weather did much injury to
peach buds in parts of Ohio and Illinois.
In the extreme south of Illinois little or
no injury is thought to have been done.
Further north most of the peach buds
are thought to have been killed. A cor
respondent from southwestern Ohio re-
ports the peach buds killed there. From
Michigan reports are generally favora-
BILE. In some places in the central part
of the State some injury was done, but
the great peach region Of Michigan
seems to have escaped injury Western
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-02-16

EFWho determines where railroad
line shall be located is question ask
ed many times in this vicinity recently,
Our understanding of it is that the 10.
cation is fixed by the Directors who are
elected by the absolute subscribers OF
stock The conditional subscribers have
no voice in the matter-'hat is, the man
who subscribcs on condition that he pays
il, the road is made on certain route,
has no vote for Directors. r. -