smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861

1t has long been the custom fpeople to speak
of a dissolution of the Union as an impractica-
BILE thing. Indeed until but few weeks past,
the newspapers and speakers of the free States
generally laughed and sneered and scofed at
the idea of accession, upon the ground almost
solely that the South was too poor to sustain
separate government


To the man at all acquainted with the tre-
mendous resources of the South-with its vast
extent of territory, comprising the most produc-
tive lands in America-with the fact that it is
the very richest portion of Gods earth, the idea
universally prevalent in the free States that it
is,poverty- stricken, is ridiculous, and would be
Imaginable were it not for the fact that its legiti
mate frpits-a dismemberment of the Republic
are almost in the grasp of the spoilers hand.


1t is therefore pleasing to perceive the change
-tthar mas recently come over the minds of these
heretofore blinded men. Now they admit there
is great danger that the man whom they elected
President-upon platform which avowed the
purpose of using the General Government to
fight the favorite and most vital domestic in
stituton of the Southern half of the Union
will not be inaugurated as the Chief Magistrate
of the republic of the United States. They not
only see and acknowledge this fact, but their
representatives in Congress, like honest men
and patriots, now taking the action necessa-
ry to assure the South that their rights under
the Constitution shall be maintained. They
have announced purpose to induce the North
ern Legislatures to repeal their unconstitutional
statutes passed to nulify the fugitive slave act.
They have likewise announced purpose to give
the South some sort of guarantee against future
interference with slavery in the States Surely
the South have right to ask that the North
shall cease to agitate the slavery question, be-
cause such agitation interferes with the domes-
tic tranquility of the South. Unless that do
mestic tranquility is guaranteed to them in the
Union, they will and ought to seek it outside of
the Union. This every fair-minded man, North
or South, must admit, because a Government
that does not secure domestic tranquility to the
people is failure a curse.
Year: 1861

WHERE IS DoUGLAs?-In these times of ter
ror, when treason is madly striving to destroy
the Government formed by Washington and his
immortal compatriots, where is Douglas, the
intellectual giant of the American Senate p
Where? Why just exactly where be has ever
been found when the Constitution was being
assaulted, in the deadly breach, armed and
equipped ready and eager, if necessary, to de-
fend it with his life's blood We expect that
Douglas will take just the position that Jackson
would have taken under like circumstances
The Washington correspondent of the Union
says


He is constantly engaged in consultations
with conservative men of all classes, in order to
the Union from destruction. He stated
yesterday in the Senate that he would drop all
party lines and unite with any one willing to
extricate the country from its present calami-
tous condition. As soon as time and opportu-
nifty offer he will deliver speech.
Year: 1861

B9F Billy Mulligan has been sent to Sing
Sing, the New York Pententiary, for period Of
four years and six months, for resisting an Off
Ger with arms, while attempting to eject him
from drinking saloon kept by the notorious
Morrissy. Just before sentence was pronounced
upon him, he said that Broderick's will was a
forgery, and he could prove it.
Year: 1861

One Of the correspondents of the Newburyport
(Mass) Herald tells the following funny story
about the Town Hall of Alexandria, which city is
attracting just now more attention thon any other
along the line ycleped Mason and Dixon. The
town some ten years ago. was the resort of divers
skilfull professors of the picture books, wherein
the Jack of Spades doth figure somewhat promi-
nently withal. A certain prominent citizen found
himself, after several night sessions, indebted to
the fortunate proprietor said picture books in the
sum of three thousand dollars, and being a man
of honor, he would pay "debt of honor"
though it killed him. A lucky thought, however,
enables him to take sweet revenge. In his young
er days he had studied law, and he remembered
that among the antiquities of that noble science
was statute Of "Old Virginia" enacted while
she was yet a colony, in which it was made and
provided that if any man could not show to the
satisfaction of the Court that he was engaged in
some lawful means of obtain ng livelihood 9he
should be sold hired at auction to prevent his be-
coming chargeable to the town. A complaint
was therefore entered against the professor" by
his victim, who in due course arrested, tried,
and condemned to be sold at public auction. He
was accordingly "put up" at public stand; and
not till the bystanders had run up his valuable
services to three thousand dollars, prompted by
the victim who stood the picture of innocence in
the back ground, did he realize that the whole
affair was not joke. He now began to bid him.
self, to save his precious carcass from degrading
servitude, and nothing short of four thousand
would induce his victim to "dry up" in his earnest
endeavors to avail himself of such n valuable
piece of loafer flesh, for which sum the live stock
was finally knocked off to himself. After much
ado the amount was raised, when he was allowed
to depart from the town by his prosecutor, who
gave the proceeds to the corporation, to be ap-
piled to the building of town hail. which hall
is now the first prominent object that strikes the
eyes of our brave volunteers as they march up the
banks of the Potomac toward the capital of our
glorious country.
Year: 1861

In nineteen days Congress is to assemble at
Washington in extra session, unless jefferson
Davis should get hold of il before the Fourth of
July. The first thing Congress must do is TO pass
an indemnity bill in favor Of the President, 10
protect him against the legal consequences of
those unconstitutional acts which necessity has
compelled him to adopt for the preservation OF
the Government. In the next place Congress
ought to provide for the expenses of the war.
To do this effectualy, inste I'd of borrowing from
merchants, it ought to establish a national bank,
with a capital of one hundred and fifty millions,
whence the Government would be enabled to o5-
tain loan of fifty millions Immediately upon the
security of the deposits and the incoming revenue.
The next thing to be attended to is the increase
of the navy and the efficiency of the War Depart
ment. Lastly general bankrupt law must be
passed to relieve merchants from their liabilities.
and to enable them to commence a new career
under brighter auspices. All these measures may
easily be passed in three weeks. There is no
need of discussion. 1t is no time for talking
Action is what is wanted. The slavery question
is no longer at issue, but the existence of the
Government-N Y. Herald 18th.
Year: 1861

The Philadelphia North Anlerican (Republi-
CAM has the following comments upon General
BUTLER's movements, and the advantage thereof
in the present campaign:


1t must have been remarked that in discussing
the operations Of the campaign We have refrained
from considering those of the army acting from
Fortress Monroe under Gen. Butler. To tell the
honest truth, We can not arrive at the remotest
conception Of any definite plan Of operation. and
the movements which have been made battle all
military criticisms. If there is any particular
object aimed at, We can not perceive il. To our
view the operations seem 70 be desultory, unset
encfc and objectess. We can understand well
enough what part this corps darrnee was designed
to play in the comprehensive plan of Gen. Scott,
but we utterly fail to perceive how il Is likely TO
be effected under present arrangements.


We see no probability of either Norfolk or
Richmond being taken, becauSe what has been
done has no practical bearing upon either point.
For time il seemed as though the occupation Of
Newport News Point looked TO the capture of
Norfolk, and the plan for that purpose was al
legged to be TO proceed from that point down the
western branch of the James river TO Suffolk,
which commands the railroad access to Ports
mouth This might be well enough, were il not
that Wise's Point and Craney Island, at the
mouth of the western branch, sne strongly forfi-
fed and completely command the stream. The
battery at Newport News Point, therefore, has
no other use than TO aid in the blockade of James
river, which before was jeopardized by the
Sewall's Point battery. The attack on the
battery at Great Bethel had only a defen-
sive character, and the fact that Colonel Ma
gruder was in command there shows that the for
tfcations on the peninsula must be large and i'm
portant and that the rebel forces are numerous.
This closes up the idea of marching to Richmond
by that route Next We have notion finding It's
way into print that Buffers whole army is 10 sail
up the James river to Richmond. No reconnois-
sances of the river have been attempted; but Of
course it must be defended by formidable bate
ries at every point, and any feet earring the
army would be almost annihilated. Now il any
body can take map of Virginia and make out
any plausible plan of operations from Buffers
known movements, we will take il as great favor
TO be informed of it. and esteem the discoverer q
wise man.


The fact is, we suspect that Gen. Butler has
got On field entirely too large for him.
Year: 1861

The New York Sun learns from Vermont
volunteer who was disabled at the engagement of
Great Bethel, the feeling of the army in refer
ence to the inexperienced commanders upon that
occasion, and the following facts respecting the
swind'ing in the subsistence department:


The bitterness expressed against Gen Pierce by
the troops, and their burning resentment at the
disgrace which he has brought upon them, are
universal and intense Judging from the eyi-
dence before us, in any regular and strictly gov
erned service such an officer would inevitably be
shot. Under the large indulgence necessarily to
be made in our service for inexperience and mis-
taken vocation, the least that be done (al
ways supposing the truth to be substantially I'M
is to dismiss him from the army-not less to rid
it of piece of hopeless material, than to admin
lister n needed lesson to other rash aspirants.


1t is to be hoped. certainly, that Great Bethel
is the last field that is to be deliberately entrust
ed to the command of any officer who has not ut
least served with credit in one or more severe en-
gagement.


But it is in the substance department that the
most subtle and incurable evils of party and spoils
administration are to be suffered by our armies
and our bleeding country. A corrupt Quarter
master is a worse and more dangerous traitor than
there is in all the "Confederacy," and will do
more execution upon an army thar battery of
rfed cannon. o for Napoleon to hang mex
orably every traitor of this foulest dyel We have
already transgressed the usual prudence Of our
profession from a sense of the duty of denouncing
pointedly every apparent attempt to make mer-
chandze of the affairs OF the commissarit. Act
ing upon this principle, We shall run the risk even
of calling innocent men to account, by publishing
all charges of this kind that reach us under a re-
sponsible name. Severity is necessary in war.
The Quarter master must be held by the press to
the rigorous accountability of Caesars wife, ans
werable not only for her chastity but for her rep
utation. They must be above suspicion-or else
take the risk of enduring suspicion.


The Quartermaster of the Vermont regiment,
(appointed by the Governor) is loudly complained
of Tor swindling and starving the men. We are
informed that they marched to the conquest Of
Great Bethel with a ration for the day of SIR
army biscuits 10 a man. The suppostion of a
deficiency of supplies is secuted. Only since the
arrival of the State Commissioner, Mr.. Hatch.
since the fight, have the troops been humanity fed.
Their disgust is said to be such. that no thought
of re enlistment after the three months are up, is
now entertained.
Year: 1861

The test oath has only been administered to
about one third of the clerks employed in the
Treasury Department, contrary to the general
supposition- The public will doubtless be some
what urprise to learn that the reason alleged
by Mr.. harrington, the Assistant Secretary for
not administering the oath generally, is a fear
that stampede will take place from the differ
ent bureaus, as was the case with the Sixth
Auditors Office, the only bureau in which the
oath has been administered, so far. Twenty
traitors were found here, and out of 100 clerks,
and doubtless the same per centage of treason
exists In all the other Auditors Offices. There
is, however, universal complaint among Re-
publican Senators and members that, notwith-
standing this condition of matters. they are ut
teriy unable to get any of their friends accom-
modated there. Ii is certainly pity if in the
ranks of the great Republican Union party OF
the country there can not be found competent
persons enough to fill places now held, and
which, We fear, will continue to be held, by
gang of thieves, traitors and spies. Ii can be
proven that there are now employed in this de-
partment several clerks who have been heard
frequently to say, in the drinking houses of the
city, within the past week, that il was shame
that Northern men would come here and Join the
armies oil Lincoln for the purpose of waging war
upon their Southern brethren, who were simply
contending for their rights. A man employed in
one of the Auditors offices has three sons in the
rebel army, and the fact can be substantiated that
the father sends portion of his monthly pay
South Tor the support of these traitors. man
employed in the Interior Department wrote a
book, winter before last to prove that the assault
OF Northern Abolitionists upon the institutions of
the South would result as at the West Indies, in
raising of the blacks and murder of the whites
Secretary Thompson considering this book as con-
stituting claim upon the country, gave him the
office which he now holds


Clerks employed in the War Department are
also in the habit of writing to places where agents
OF the South can hear things that ought never to
be spoken out of the Office. And correspondents
OF Southern journals. and spies from Virginia,
have been known to boast that they were ON init
mate terms with clerks in this Department
Washington Correspondence Nep York Tribune
Year: 1861

HAvELocKs CIVIL INSTITUTION. - The
Havelock is by no means as recent an institution
as MANY persons suppose. Ii is new thing to
see them worn in this locality by men; but for
time almost out OF mind they have been patron
lied by the gentler sex. The sun bonnet. so IA
miliar to every one a favorite article of head
gear with children, country madens. washer-wo-
men and watering place bellies, is nothing more
nor less than Havelock in all essential particu-
lars, and un-bonnets were worn by the grand
mothers and great grandmothers of the present
generation. General Havelock when he saw that
his soldiers in India were suffering with the roast
ing heat. and that the backs Of their necks and
their necks and their shoulders were blistered by
the suns rays, no doubt thought of the long
his men.
Year: 1861

euts Gens SCOtt as Cam gners


In an article on the war, the New York Atlas
remarks of Gen. Scott:


Do not some of us little forget the character
of the man who commands the United States
armies The secessonists, and even some of
the nations over the water, understand him bet
ter. One of the Louisville journals, not many
days ago, remarked that Gen. Scott is proverb-
tally slow commander He is always unpopular
during his campaigns. 1t is only when the cam
paign is over. and he has won,-as he always has
done-that the wisdom of his action is under
stood and he becomes popular. Higher praise
could not well have been bestowed upon any
commander, for the parallel is an exact one with
that paid the Duke of Wellington. He was al
ways slow coach-an old fogy. He never
seemed to be doing anything. But he always
won. In the. end he was always worshipped. At
Torres Nedras, in the Peninsular war, yelling
ton could have cut the French army to pieces. in
n few hours, with the loss of half his men, He
waited, maneuver;d, and secured advantages for
week, and he obtained much more decisive
victory, with loss that scarcely figured in the
bulletin. Scott could have taken Vera Cruz in
three days, with the loss of three thousand men;
he took it in three weeks and lost but hundred
or two.


Let one more point be fairly remembered. Win.
field Scott has been in arms for more than half a
century. During all that time, as youth, man
and veteran when in command of any description
of force, he has never retreated one foot Not
that he is any braver than officers who have made
nearly as many retreats as advances. but that he
can not be induced to move until he is certain of
his ability to maintain his position. Not move
will he make in the present contest until he feels
well assured that he can maintain, in men, muni-
tions OF war, and lines of communication. any
advantages temporarily secured; and the last
thing which should be urged upon him by the
Government, or on the Government by the peo-
pie, is precipitation without judgment. Neither
the newspapers nor most of the people who talk
most freely of the military position can do more
than show gross ignorance and presumption in
the attempt at discussing what this or that plan OF
operation would effect. So far all goes well, and
apparently as sure as SLOW There is every rea
son to believe that the operations of the campaign
will be continued to be carried on with faithful
ness and judgment, and we can not do bette,
thing than to express that conf lence which VIC
really have ut heart, and wait patiently Cor thai
success which belongs to competent management
in good cause.
Year: 1861

This patriotic Union State is threatened with
a terrible affection. Ii is to be not only the the
ater of sectional war, but war among its own
citizens also. We beg leave TO suggest that this
be efectually avoided by the immediate
meeting of its Convention, which the President
has a right to call, and the removals from Office
by ordinance of the present Governor and Legis-
lature, with provision for an immediate election
oi another Governor and Legislature. The Con-
vention could at the same time recommend for
Missouri n position of neutrality. With this, the
Federal Government would be content, and the
people of the State would have early oppor-
tunity to place her in proper position.


We presume it will hardly be denied that the
power of the Convention to remove the Cover
nor and Legislature falls within the scope of the
authority customary ascribed to State Conven-
tons lawfully constituted. The State Convention
of Kentucky, we believe, actually exercised this
power, by removing the Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, and half the State Senate. Whether
the power is n regular one not, the public
safety would justify the exercise of the power in
the case of Missouri. Nay, we are constrained
to think the public safety demands its exercise
Louisville Journal.
Year: 1861

VIRGINIA BoNDs.-It is now authenticity as
certained that Virginia will not pay the interest
on her bonds on the approaching first of July.
1t may be- as stated in the telegraph. that the in
terest will be offered to be paid at Richmond in
the currency Of the banks Of that State That
currency has recently been trebled, without any
corresponding increase OF security, to meet the
loans demanded by the State The banks are
exempted from redeeming their issues in specie,
until after war, and we suppose the currency, to
those who can wait long time for the money is
not worth over fifty cents on the dollar. For
present use outside of Virginia, it is not available
at any price. The payment of the interest in
such currency as that. is worse than reputation
for want of means to pay.
Year: 1861

When to what we have already said of the in
creased lightness and activity given by Frederick
to his infantry and cavalry, add that he adopt
ed the same view with respect to artillery. by or
ganizng horse artillery batteries, it will be evil
dent that this principle, with the illustration af
forded to it by its actions is the legacy that great
warrior has left to military science.
Year: 1861

this tendency we readily coincide in the criticism


That they possess it to certain extent there can
be little doubt. 1t will be well, however, to con-
slider the question more generally-in what sense
war can be looked unon as a science.
Year: 1861

GIN. SIcELEs.-It appears that the brigade
OF Gen. SicKLEs is prominent in the cominis
sion OF the outrages which are daily inflicted
upon unhappy Maryland Nothing less was to
be expected twas precisely for that purpose
that the brigade was organized, that SlckLEs
assisted in it's organization, that New York
gave him her blessing, that the Government
accepted him and his followers Booty and
Beauty" Were the watchwor,ls deliberately
adopted, and booty and beauty are thus far the
orderof the day. What else than such scenes
of horror as are transpiriug in Maryla could
be expected of such brigade and such Gen
eral In no civilized society of Christendom
could such d fellow as SIcKLgs be recognized
by gentlemen. aud 10 no army on the tace of
the earth, except that of the United States.
would he be permitted to hold commission.
His soul is stained with damning copnivance
at the dishouor Of his own hearths,one, and
his hands red with the blood of murder. We
hope and believe that be will soon expiate. as
far as his worthless life can expate, "a career
of unexampled degradation and crime
Year: 1861

PAY OF OFYIcRns.-The Enqairer states
that the pay of the officers of the Northern
volunteer army averages less than half that of
the officers of the Southern volunteer army
a Lincoln Colonel receives lees pay tbun
Confederate let Lieutenant
Year: 1861

transit for them from this to another


world. Hcmp is what they have
carned--infamy is what they deserve
and it seems to be the purpose of
Gen. Scott, while he is cndcavorinn.
to carry on his campaign without the
loss of life among those whom he is
leading, to bring the traitors TO a ter
rlblc punishment. So far as Davis is
concerned, we trust that the Old Hero
may realize all his dreams of rctribu-
ton and retaliation.
Year: 1861




We hear a great deal of talk among
the Democrats Of this State of drop,
ping party lines, and understand they
intend trying Union ticket" We
all know just what Ills talk amounts
to. The difficulty is, Democratic lead
ers never will nor can be made to
drop party lines in reality, no matter
how boisterous their profession nor
how apparently honest their actions
They are proving this right before
onr eyes now in the election Of field
officers for our regiments, as they
showed SO Enthusiastically during the
late Extra Session Of the Legislature.
In this last case, their proiesSi0as were
all that could have been desired
there was a perfect union Of parties
during the session The Republicans
nobIy met them, and gave them the
lions share Of all Legislative and other
Offices within their gift as the maiori-
ty, thus proriag their own honest in
tcntions. Yet during the whole scs-
sion the Democratic members seized
every advantage they could to make
party capital, divide the Republicans,
and Weaken their strength. They
Prorcd their professions false, and that
now no more than in all time before,
can their honesty and good faith be
trusted.


Their policy now, aad we want Re
Publicans all over the State to marx
this, is to form a " Union Ticket" in
the support of which they will en-.
dearor, by professions of " no party"
Lae LHIoa, &c, to enlist all weak
knccd or timber back-boned Rcpubli-
cans. The Republicans will present
to the people Of Iowa as good Union
Ticket as the material in the State
can afford, and such q ticket as all
,r"e Union men may consistently vote
for,