smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1863

GIVE THE DEVIL HIS DUE.-There is q
point in the following anecdote: A pas
tor was making a call upon an old lady
who made it a habitual rule never to
speak i'll of another, and had observed it
so closely that she always justified those
whom she had heard evil spoken of. Be.
fore the old lady made her appearance in
the parlor her several children were
speaking of the peculiarly of their moth.
er, and one Of them playfully added:


"Mother has such habit of speaking
well of erybody, that l believe il Satan
himself were the subject of conversation
mother would find some virtue or good
quality even in him."


OF course this remark elected some
smiling and merriment at the originality
of the idea, in the midst of which the old
lady entered the room. and on being told
what had been said, she Immediately and
voluntarily replied:


"Well, my children, l wish we all had
Satan's industry and perseverance"
Year: 1863

RELIGION AND BusINEss.-Elliott, visit
ing q merchant in his counting-house,
saw his books Of business on the table,
and those Of devotion on the shelf, and
gave his advice thus "Sir, here is
earth on the table, and heaven on the
shelf; pray don't sit so much at the ta-
Bile as to forget the shelf Let not earth
thrust heaven out of your mind"


YOUTHFUL minds, like the plant wax,
arc susceptible of the most lasting i'm.
pressions; and the good or evil bias then
receive, is seldom or ever eradcated.


We do not possess what We do not un.
derstand.
Year: 1863

revise the Constitution of the State. 20
dvocatc the call of such convention,
and to urge upon the neHs Legislature
the necessity of submitting the question
to the people at the earliest practical day.
as the only legitimate mode By which the
most earnest advocate of emancipation
can inaugurate that policy. have ne
yer hcsitated to avow the opinion that
the next Legislature should by all means
make such a provision. The people of
the State have the constitutional right to
express their views upon the subject OF
revision of their organic law every ten
wears, and whether or not the same con-
stitutional duty of providing for this
right rests upon tho next Legislature, Us
it did upon the last, no one will question
their ght to do So


Mr.. Mqba thinks the question Of e'non-
cipation piU distract and divide the
Union men,. = 1t is o question upon
which there are differences of opinion
; among the Union men Of the State, and
it should not, on that account, be allow
ed to come inte the political arena for it
will distract and divide them when all
should remain united


Gov. Bradford thinks that among true
Union men tie sentiment is almost undn-
in,ous in fayor of gradual emancipation.
The greater part if not all of the Sc
cessionists among US, still strangely
clinging to the hope that the rebellion
would succeed, the southern confederacy
be established, and Maryland be made
part of it, nave been, as matter OF
course, opposed to every mode of eman-
cipation, and determined to cling to sla-
very as the great pillar Of their new Re-
public. Besides the class above men
TONED, there are doubtless some-in my
opinion, however, small proportion OF
t6e true Union men Of the State-who
from early associations, or outer iniu-
ences, have not yet relinquished their
attachment to slavery. They, too, how
ever, Us they calmly consider the death
blow which the rebellion must necessa-
rily inAict upon the institution, and act
uated by desire to avoid all collisions
with their loyal brethren upon any sub
icct that may weaken the effect of their
united efforts in behalf of the Union,
are day By day yielding their first i'm
pressions upon the subject and acqulesc'
ing in the policy of State emancipation
by the earliest practicable means; and
nothing but the most inconsiderate and
violent measures upon the part of those
who may be called ultra in their eman-
eipation views can prevent, ere long, an
almost unanimous sentiment among tho
loyal men of the State in favor of grad
ual emancipation .,ar r-r-ear ~ -,
Year: 1863

A lady made her husband present of
q silver drinking cup with an angel at
the bottom, and when she filled it for
him he used to drain it to the bottom.
and she asked him why he drank every
drop. ~,


because, ducky, | long to see the
dear little angel y


Upon which she had the angel taken
out, and had devil engraved at the
bottom, and he drank it off just the
same, and she again asked him the rea-
son.


why, because / won't leave the old
devil DROP
Year: 1863

Wide was his cure the houses far asundcr:
Yet never failed he for rain or thunder,
Whenever sickness or mschance might call,
The most remote to visit, great or small,
And staff in hand, on foot the storm to brave :
This noble example to his flock he gave,
Though holy in himself and virtuous.
He still to sinful men was mild and piteous:
Not with reproach imperious or malign,
But in his teachings soothing and benign.
TO draw them On to heaven. by reason fair
And good example, was his daily care


-CaaterJny 7oleS.
Year: 1863

\ young lady has said


That she no man will wed
Who's worth less than six hundred year.
One would fancy, to keep


a white elephant cheap,
If compared TO damsel SO dear


Full one hundred; no less,


She must spend upon dress,
Every year of her conjugal life:


Only somebody who


Is as rich as Jew,
Could afford to maintain such wife
Oh, how lovely must she,


To expect so much be!
But who prizes mere beauty s goose.
Like the plum's bloomy rime,


'Tis brushed Off in no time
And how then if your wifes of no use!
What can this girl, then, do?


Can she bake? Can she brew?
Can she wash? Can she cook? Can she mend:
Or is she nothing worth


Than the fruits of the earth
To consume. and fortune eXpend:
London : inch.
Year: 1863

A Washington correspondent Of theNew
York Tribune writes:


"If am correctly informed, the French
Government has decided to act alone in
the matter, and 10 offer TO the President Of
the United States the same proposition
which has been made to England and Rus
sia, trusting to his judgment to pronounce
upon its merits and its practicability.
That document will be accompanied by q
letter from Drouyn de Lhuys, stating in
substance that the Emperor believes the
proposition Of an armlstioe an act in no
way injurious TO the interest and honor Of
the United States, but on the contrary,
eminently useful that it is not his inten-
tion 10 press it upon the Federal Govern
ment, which alone can determine the time
when the friendly office. of France may be
accepted; but that the President must be
aware that any protracted refusal Of her
offers would neeessitate the Emperor to lis
ten to the Southern representatives whose
propositions for recognition have hitherto
been rejected, because he has always en-
terteined the hope Of seeing our difficult
ties smicably settled, and the Union re-
stored. The official communication will
conclude by stating that the French Gov
ernment expects- sha6-sEr. Hfu1Ofu Will
maturelv consider the peculiar situation in
which It IS placed, and also take into con-
sideration the uses and customs established
in the cases referred to in his proposition
by writers on international law.


"Such, am informed, is the sense Of the
letter to be forwarded to Washington in
the course of month or so, together with
the proposition for mediation already pre-
sented to England and Russia. l am dis
posed to credit this information, inasmuch
as several chambers Of commerce in
France have expressed in their addresses
to the Emperor the hope that the noble
and humane project Of mediation" in Amer
lean affairs would not be abandoned. On
the other hand, the wants and destitution
Of the French working class have become
so pressing that they cannot fail to have
an influence upon the mind of the Emperor
and confirm him in his project Besides,
the ides Of seeing the Emperor persevere,
alone and without the cooperation Of other
nations, in becoming the arbiter in our
difficulties has something in it which
.fatters the vanity of the French people I;
and Louis Napoleon is too adroit to miss
the opportunity of adding to his populari-
ty by step which in his estimation and
that of his friends does not fix his policy
nor compromise in the least his relations
with the United States. dad.


"It is rumOred in social circles where
the influence of diplomacy is felt, that the
way IN which the Communication Of the
Emperor will be received by our Govern
manf daDauds in qorna ro1nar roo1 4ba
course he will hereafter pursue toward the
South. It is not believed, however, that
he will allude to this matter on the first of
the year, but that he will carry his plan
through the usual channels of diplomacy,
and with the same urbanity and apparent
friendship which have marked all his re-
lations with us since the beginning Of cur
struggle"
Year: 1863

Those who know the habits Of President
Lincoln are not surprised to hear of his
personal visit to General Burnside-nor
would any such be astonished TO know that
he was in New York at any time. If be
wanted to see anything or anybody, he
would be as likely to come on as to send.
he has an orbit Of his own, and no one can
tell where he will be or what he will do
from anything done yesterday. If he
wants newspaper he is quite as likely to
90 out and get it as he is to send after it.
If he wants to see the Secretary Of State,
he generally goes out and makes call
At night, from ten 10 twelve he usually
makes tour all round-rnow at Stewards, s,
and then at Halleck's; and If Burnside
vas nearer, he would see him each night
before he went to bed. Those who know
his habits and want to see him late at
night, follow him round from place to
place, and the last search generally brings
him mp at General Halleck's, as he can get
the latest army intelligence there. Who
ever else is asleep or indoleDt, the Presi-
dent is wide awake and around. Cores
PoHdenee Boston Journal
Year: 1863




From the increased activity visible upon
the front Of the rebel entrenchments at
Fredericksburg, and The demonstration Of
building rife pits and earthWOrks it is sur
missed that General Lee has adopted this
rlse to shield his retreat. A cOrrespOn-
dent Of the Tribune, writing on the 9th
says:


"Just as the sun was dropping behind
the hills last evening, q heavy signal gun
was hesrd, fired from the nights back Of
fredericksburg, eehoing through the val
ley, and starting every one from the re-
pose which they had been gradually
dropping into since the battle. At
the same moment long column Of rebel
infantry was seen to emerge from the
woods and move down toward the ford at
Falmouth, as il with an intention 10 cross
upon the rocks and destroy the large euan-
tity Of euartermaster and commissary
stores at the depot.


" In an instant everything was in mo
ton in and around Falmouth. Two bat
teries dashed down to the river, and took
position to give them warm reception If
they persisted in the attempt The men at
the guns on the hills fully prepared them
selves for a charge, and would have given
eie1or~4 Ges5vs-gvs-Fri g1ET6 Us q IeF
days ago, few unpalatable doses Of grape
and canister before leaving their intrench-
ments. Drums were beaten and bugles
sounded, and regiment after regiment of
infantry sprang to their arms, and in a
few moments were ready for the fight; but
the long rebel column which looked so
formidable, and threatened so much, halted
long before it reached the river, and in
stead Of forming in battle line, or making
demonstration TO cross, stacked their arms,
opened their haYersaeks, sat down upon
the ground and commenced deVouring
their rations.


" Notwithstanding this rather amusing
finale Of the movement, strong guard was
kept upon the ford all night in antieipa-
ton of an attack. This morning dawned,
the rebels were still where they rested du-
ring the night, but instead Of offering bat
tie were exhibiting their clean linen and
white tents TO our astonished gaze.


+" From what source they supplied them
selves with these luxuries we are all at
loss TO know"
Year: 1863

A Washington correspondent Of the Tri-
bune has the following:


"a very clearly defined and a strong
opinion is receiving shape here, that it is
the duty Of the Government to follow the
Proclamation Of Freedom on the first of
January, instant, with q military or
ganization Of the slaves in the rebel States.
This is demanded in the interest Of the
black race, as we'll as Of the country at
large and Of the world. The demand rests
on the patriotic and humane desire that
the passage Of this vast body of people
from Slavery to Freedom shall be under
the restraints which military discipline
imposes--that it be in no wise left 10 the
accidents which will menace it, from the
rage and resistance Of the masters on the
one side, and on the other side by the in
sistanee Of the slaves upon enjoying the
liberty which has been conferred upon
them by the authority of the United States
Government. tits demanded, too, in order
to sustain the authority Of the Govern
ment in proclaiming freedom to the blacks
-an authority which would fall into con-
tempt all over the world, and give the
eOap de grace to the Union, if the Procla-
nation was not thus sustained It is de-
muBdOd1 tee1 BY that mighty procession
fast stretching across the continent, that
walks in weeds and mourns the dead of
the army, killed by the malaria Of the cot
ton, rice and sugar districts Of the South.
The feeling on this point, converging here
about the Hospitals and the Pay Depart
ment and the War Office, and Congress
under constant siege by its constituency
in Grape, is fast becoming imperious. Upon
the other and the statesmanly considera-
ton of taking military control Of, and
giving orderly shape to, the exodus Of the
Southern blacks from bondage to freedom,
and settlement Of them into their new re-
lations to the soil on which they live as
compensated laborers, sentiment is fast
ripening into executive command and de-
partmental action. The restoration Of the
Union-the promptly paid price of the en-
franchisement Of the American slaTesp
Year: 1863

RETURN OF CONFEDERATE PRIsoSERs.-
The flag Of truce beat which arrived at City
Point on Tuesday morning brought UP Us
hundred and twelve pafoied Confederate
prisoners, who reached Petersburg the fame
evening. They were generally Western men,
captured at different times and places.


No late Northern papers were brought by
this arrival, or if any were On board, they
were not permitted to come ashore.
Year: 1863

sg Can efficient soldiers be made
out of men who are conscripted to
invade country? The Cincinnati
Enquirer thinks not, in the following
article, which we clip from that paper
of the 1lth
Year: 1863

LOVE OF SIsTERs.-There can be but few
separations more pain ul than that which
sisters, who have lived together from in
fancy. are called upon to endure when new
ties divide them and call for the exercise of
other duties. Even to the woman who
leaves the happy home of her childhood
from the free and unrestraiued impulse of
new and engrossing feeling, there will be
moments of solitude and tboughtfulness,
when the heart fondly returns tc that loved
spot. our first home, endeared by thousand
associations of affection; and he who loves
his wife with the most fervor, will fe ell more
securely the strength of her attachment to
himself, in proportion as he discovers in
that heart the warmth Of natural affection
which cannot part from parent aud sister
without regret-who cannot recall, even in
that society which she has preferred to
every other. the memory of their tenderness
without grateful tears.
Year: 1863

6TOn the subject Of Slavery and its ulti'
mate fate at the end of the war the Cabinet
is a unit, only differing as to the means by
which its annihilation shall be brought
about. Messrs. Chase, Stanton, Welles and
Usher are o the opinion that Slavery should
cease in all sections. whether covered by the
PROCLAIM alton or not, at the end of the war;
while Messrs Blair, Seward and Bates claim
that it would be impoltic to make such a
radical change-that the interests of polit-
zeal economy demand that emancipation
should be gradual. To this effect these
gentleman favor the idea that all colored
people rem aiming in Slavery at the end OF
the war shall be gradually freed by special
enactments. No member harbors for a mo-
ment the idea of reconstructing the Union
on basis of Slavery, and no flag of truce
has been or will be entertained from dis
heartened Rebel leaders which foreshadows
an idea in conflict with the Emancipation
Proclaim ation.-W Washington Dispatch Of 25th,
to NelU York Tribune.
Year: 1863

A SCRAP OF HIsToRY.-In these. days
when the cry of''traitor'' is so freely used
by fanatics who are quite ignorant Of the
epithets they indulge in, it is well, some
times, to cool them with scraps from their
party leaders. For the present we select
the following:


"Any people, anywhere, being inclined
and having the power, have right to rise
up and shake off the e1isting Government and
form nea0 one that suits them better.


Nor is this right confined to cases in which
the people of an existing Government may
choose to exercise it. Any portion of such
people can, may revolutioDize and may
M AXE their own so much of the territory as
they inhabit. More than this, majority of
any portion of such people may revolution
izs, putting down a minority ihtermingled
with near about them, who may oppose
their movements"


If the above don't come pretty near JEFF
Davis doctrine, we must confess we don't
understand language. Yet strange as iE
may seem, it is the language of Abraham
Lincoln, President of the United Statss.-
1t is an extract from a speech made by Mr..
Lincoln in the Lower Houss of Congress- on
the 10Th day Of January, lS49. The speech
is reported officially in the Congressional
Globe. and will be found on the Gath page
of the Appendix among the debates of the
First Session of the Thirtieth Congress-
Clsrke Democrat. .
Year: 1863

DRAFTING AND V VoLUNTEERING.-TheA Ad-
ministration press is beginning to fad out
that there is more reliance to be placed upon
volunteers than upon the draft, as will be
seen by the following from the Springfield
(Msss Republican:


"'rhe daily reports of the results of the
draft throughout the country produce the
general impression that it is a failure; tha I
it will not add m aterially to the strength Of
our armies, and that it will cost more than
it is worth. This is not absolutely true, out
it must be confessed it is too close an APP
proximation to the truth to be contemplated
with satisfaction. Evidently the Govern
.ment will not get one-fourth the number
drafted, counting in the substitutes. Making
due allowance for the States exempted from
the draft, and the whole mum ber actually
drawn will not be over three hundred thou
sand. One fourth of this number will be
seventy five thousand. But many of the
conscrpts, as we'll as substitutes, will make
their escape, and the War Department would
undou btedly jump at the chance to exchange
the whole lot for fifty thousand, or even
forty thousand volunteers. If the President
could have foreseen how badly the draft
would have been mismanaged, we believe
he would have decided to rely upon volun-
teering to fill up the armies; and as things
have turned he could have done so with
safety. The money and effort expended
on the conscription would have secured fifty
thousand volunteers, there is every reason
to believe. And it would have been glori-
GUS thing to record on the pages of history
that the great rebellion was put down en-
tirely by the spontaneous and unfo.ced
patriotism of the people"
Year: 1863

IEDUsTRY.-Man must have an occupation
or be misera BILE. Toll is the price of sleep
and appetite, of ealth and enjoyment. The
very necessity which overcomes our natural
sloth, is a blessing. The world does not
contain briar or thorn that divine mercy
could have spared. We are happier with
the sterility which we can overcome by IN
dustry, than we could be with the most
spontaneous and u unbounded profusion. The
body and mind are improved by the toll
that fatigues them that toll is a thousand
times rewarded by the pleasure which it be-
slows. Its eDjoyments are peculiar; no
wealth can purchase them. no insolence can
touch them. They only flow from the ex-
ertions which they repay.
Year: 1863

PRAYER.-Prayer was not invented; it
was born with the first sigh, the first joy,
the first sorrow of the human heart, or
rather man was born to pray; to glorify God.
or to implore him was his only mission here
below; all else perishes before him or with
him; but the cry of glory. of admiration. or
of love, which be raises towards the Crea-
tor, does not perish on his passing from
earth; it re- ascends, it resounds from age to
age, in the ear Of the Almighty, like the
reflection of his own masniicence. 1t is
the only thing in man which is wholly di-
vine, and which he can exha'e with JOY
and pride; it is homage to him to whom
homage alone is due-the infinite Being.
Year: 1863

According tothe Troy Wing the United
States Government is engaged in manufac-
turing poisoned bullets. This is what tn,


Whig says:


I'VE have before US some specimens of the
Mimic bullets now produced at the United
States Arsenals. One of them is made
fatally poisonous by the washing of the in
dental portion with a solution of copper
Another is the Mimic ball in three sections
The heavy part is the pointed or forward
end-this is evidently intended to penetrate
further. Next to this is washer of zinc.
Behind this comes the butt, with thecy lin :
der, on which are joined the three sections
of the bullet. Suppose a man to be struck
by one of the bullets, the surgeon, on probing
the wound, would be apt to get at the light
butt and cylinder. The zinc washer would
still remain causing inflammation aud death
Should the victim survive the extraction of
the cylinder and washer, third operation
would still remain for the heavy part of the
bullet.' .-.


Can cruelty be more refined? The scalp
ing process IS benign institution in com
parison to this atrocity. We hope. for the
sake Of hum anty that this announcement is
not true.
Year: 1863

We are permitted to publish the follow
ling extract of letter from personal friend
iof this officer. We publish it, believing il
/ may correct, in some degree, public impres


sions that are as erroneous az they are I'm
Just:
You may feel some interest in knowing


that,I spent last Sunday in Baltimore with
General Hooker. lie rejoices as earnestly
Ias any other person in the success of Gen:
Meade, but feels most deeply the injustice
dome himself: It is some evidence, think,
lot Hooker's fitness to command, that Meade
Book the army precisely as he left it, with
Fthe exception: Of reinforcemsnts, and found
it so, ready for action and victory: You
may ask: Why did not Hooker lead it to
action and victory The reason is si.rply
this-that reinforcements were withheld
from him which were given to Meade on the
very day that he assumed command. Ever
since the invasion began Hooker had been
pleading reinforcements. He had said to
Gen. Halleck and the War Department: Il
am able, with the force have, to whip Lee,
but not to capture his army. The country
will not be satisfied if Lee is permitted to
get back, and he may be as easily captured
as whipped. Give me Couch and the gar
rison at Hsrper's Ferry 10000 men, Hal
leck refused. Having command of the
troops at Harper's Ferry, Hooker then took
responsibility, and ordered the evacuation.
1Ialleck countermanded the order. Hooker
then telegraphed: 1 now demand REIN
forcements, or earnestly beg to be relieved
Of my commando He was relieved, and
the very messenger who brought ualleck's
order to Meade, brought the order giving
him the forces for which Hooker had wait
ed and begged in vain. Such is simple
statement of the facts. said to the Gen
eral: 1t is too bad that you should have
that splendid prize so near your hand and
not allowed to pluck it, He replied with
quivering lip:


1t is hard fortune.'


give you my word that the stories about
his drunkenness are utterly false. So far
from being drunk at Charlottesville, the
fact is that when he was made insensible by
the concussion Of a cannon shot against a
column upon which he was leaning, and
spirits were wanted 70: his use by the sur


geon, not drop could be found at bis quar-
tors. and it was long before it could he ob.


tained.'