smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861

The measures which passed the Senate on
Monday, as defined in debate in the Senate,
by Senator Douglas, is as follows: The pro-
position is simply this: to authorize the
Postmaster General to suspend the mails in
cases where they cannot be carried and de-
liyered in peace and safety. The bill origin
ated in and passed the House. With the
Presidents signature, which will undoubtedly
be given, it becomes law. Mr.. Hunter, of
Virginia, opposed the bill very earnestly. He
said:


"This bill leaves it to the Postmaster Gen.
eral it proposes to vest in the Postmaster
General the power of saying that they have
violated their constitutional obligations, that
they are in a state of insurrection and
rebellion, and therefore, to deny them the
benefit of the general legislation of the coun-
try. Where is this to lead US? Ifa Post
master General, if the Executive of the
country, can sit in judgment on the action
of State, and thus put it out of the
Union at his pleasure, what sort of Gov
ernment have we? how many more steps
are we to take in order to reach despt tism?"


Who ever knew murderer to have good
opinion of the law for hanging?
Year: 1861

We.are publishing, daily, extracts from
Southern papers, imploring Republicans not
to give way to treason and rebellion, but to
stand firm. When Southern men have the
courage thus to confront armed treason in its
nest, what shall be thought Of those towards
at home who are down on their trembling
knees, shouting concession? This is what we
think Of them: Seccssionists and concession
lists are birds of feather; they flock together
and they will roost together, and will be
buried together.
Year: 1861

Treason is defined to be levying war upo


the Government of the United States, or aid


ing and abetting its enemies in hostile acts


There is prevailing misapprehension in tn


minds of some people as to the nature of tn


present disturbance at the South. They speal


of it as though it were war between tn


North and tho South, in which both section


are wrong, and both should yield something


for the sake Of peace.


This is all humbug. There is no fgh


between sections. 1t is contest between I


nest of conspirators and defeated politicians
and the Government of the United States.-
The contest will end by the Government and
the rebels taking the different ends of rope,
the Government welding one with its strong
arm, the rebels being held by the other
around the neck.


Another humbugging idea circulated by
rebel sheets, North and South, is, tina: this
trouble is resumption by the seeding States
of their sovereign rights. This is all mis-
take. Not single State Of tAs Union has,
so far, by the action Of the State, declared its
wish to 60 out of tho Union. The whole
secession movement, from the beginning to
the end, has been the act of individual con-
spirators without the shadow of authority to
speak for their respective States.


The principle of this Government is that
the sovereign power resides in the people,
Nothing but the sovereign power of a State
can act for the State in this matter. In not
one State have the people of that State voted
in favor of secession. The whole movement
is an individual matter, done on the individual
Of the guilty actors in the poor,
miserable fai ce of secession.


Another prevailing error is that caused by
using the adjectives constitutions" and
peaceable" as applied to secession. The
whole object of the use Of such words is to
disguise from the people the real meaning of
Secession is nothing else than
reason and rebellion against, not the North,
,ut the Government. AS We have before
'aid, the active rebels, just so sure as they
proceed to actual war, will HANG IN THE END.
Their friends, North and South, will 60 down
o their graves covered with everlasting shame,
md the UNION. AS IT IS will stand forever.
Year: 1861

WANTS TO SEoEDE AGA1N.-The Richmond


Whag says that nothing but The blast of rid
icule which would follow, prevents South
Carolina from seeding from the Southern
Confederacy. 1t finds itself in the position
Of the pig which tried to break out Of q
field by going through q crooked, hollow leg
in the fence. Both ends opened inside the
field and its swinish amazement at finding
itself still in confinement was not more
amusing than the present attitude of South
] Carolina, ..
Year: 1861

On the morning of Fast day, September
26, the editor of the Chicago Post suggested
to clergymen of that city the following
PRAYER for the occasion to the Throne oil
Grace: ...


I'VE pray Thee to incline the hearts of
all quartermasters and Government COM
tractors to the way of Righteousness and
honesty. Open their eyes to their trans
gressions, and convince them that they are
great rascals. Show unto them the way of
truth, and set before their eyes the light of
the revised statutes. especially that section
which relates to the crime of larcenyss
Convict them of their iniquities, and, if
possible, sentence them to the Penitentiary.


CAS- for the generals 10 command of our
troops, we pray Thee to convince them that
good Judge of Otard and Bourbon sn't
always the best qualified to plan or to exc


cute a campaign. Give them more know
ledge and less cOnceit Teach them that
the parable of the sOwer was not promul-
gated with reference to military operations,
and that who so scattereth his soldiers
abroad, all over the State OF Missouri and
elsewhere, shall find that his labors will not
yield very abundantly in the harvest. And,
finally, open Thou their eyes to the fact that
the practice of setting traps for rebel armies,
baited with handful of men, while it may
be in accordance with trapper tactics in the
Rocky Mountains, does not always work
satisfactorily in other parts of the country"


The closing sentences in the above un-
mistakably refer to Fremont, and condemn
his practice OF batting Price, the rebe
General in Missouri, upon such a hook as
Lexington. ra r
Year: 1861

A passenger by the Persia relates the
following incidents connected with the dis
aster to the Great Eastern. On the 10th,
about eleven o'clock in the morning, the
Great Eastern was met two hundred and
twelve miles from Queenstown. She was
rolling very badly, and on approaching
nearer it was noticed that she had lost both
her paddle wheels, her boats, with the ex.
ception of two, and her rudder head. She
was steering for home with the aid of her
rudder chains.


Large ropes were stretched from bulwark
to bulwark for the passengers to cling to,
and the rolling was so fearful that one mo-
ment the great ship revealed the whole of
her decks at most distressing angle, and
the next the bilge was plainly visible. On
discovering the plight OF the vessel Captain
Judkins hOisted signal" Do you require
aid ?"-which was only replied to by large
board being displayed on the paddle box
but the characters thereon being so small
the writing could not be deciphered. The
Great Eastern still kept on her course,
working with her screw, and for twenty
minutes the Persia followed her in order to
get an answer to her signal. The passen-
gers of the Great Eastern were scattered
over the decks (there were reported to be
about four hundred on board of her,) all OF
whom seemed strainiDg anxiously forward
to catch view of the Persia. The ladies
waved their hankerchiefs, the men their
hats, and, Notwithstanding the extraordi-
nary roll of the vessel, the utmost enthu-
siasm seemed to be manifested by her pas-
sengers.


Up to this time, no answer had been given
to the signal of the Persia, and as she
dipped her ensign and turned her Roadway,
another board written on was elevated from
the paddle box of the Great Eastern, with
no better result. Even with the aid of the
glasses of the officers the characters could
not be distinguished. During this time the
Great Eastern had not sackened her pace,
and when the Persia got some distance from
her she hoisted the signal "Come within
hail ;" but as Captain Judkins justly said
he had followed her for half an hour, asked
her if she required aid, and receiving no
reply in the usual manner, he could lose no
further time by again putting back. 1t
was matter of wonder on board of the
Persia why this signal had not been given
before, as ample time afforded. After the
Persia left Liverpool on Saturday she met
with rough weather along the channel the
wind was blowing hard from the westward
and it is supposed that the Great Eastern
must have experienced tremendous gale to
have met with the disasters taat had over
taken her.
Year: 1861

The shadows are lengthening eastward
now-the summer day will soon be gone.
And looking about on this beautiful world
l think of a poem by Bryant, in which be
tells US how, gazing on the sky and noun
tains, in June, he wished that when his time
should come the green turf of summer might
be broken to make bis grave. He could
not bear, be tells US, the idea of being borne
to lis resting place through sleety winds,
and covered with icy clods. Of course,
poets give US fanciful views, gained by look.
ing at one side of picture and DeQuincy
somewhere states the opposite opinion, that
death seems sadder in summer, because
there is feeling that in quitting this
world our friend is losing more. 1t
will not matter much, friendly reader,
to you and me, what kind of weather
there may be on the day Of our respective
funerals, though one would wish for pleas
ant, sunshiny time. And let US humby
trust that, when we go, we may find ad-
mission to place so beautiful that we shall
not miss the green fields and trees, the roses
and hOneysuckles OF June.


You may think, perhaps, of another rea~
son besides Bryants for preferring to die in
the summer time. You remember the
quaint old Scotch lady, dying on night of
rain and hurricane, who said, lin entire sim
plicity and nothing of irreverence), to the
circle of relations about her bed, Z" Eh, what
a fearfu' night for me to be fleein' through
the air!" And perhaps it is natural to
think it would be pleasant for the departing
spirit, passing away from human ken and
comfort, to mount upward, angel guided,
through the soft sunset air of June toward
the country where suns never set, and where
all the days are summer days. But all this
is no better than a wayward fancy it is
founded on forgetlulness of the nature of
the immaterial soul, to think that there
need be any heightened journey, or any
flight through skies, either stormy or calm.


You have not had the advantage, I dare
say, of being taught in your childhood the
catechism which is drilled into all children
in Scotland, and which sketches out with
admirable clearness and precision the ele-
ments of Christian belief. If you had you
would have been taught to repeat words
which put away all uncertainty as to the
immediate stale of departed spirits: "The
souls of believers are at their death made
perfect in holiness, and do Immediately pass
into glory" Yes, Immediately, there is to
the departed spirit no middle space at all
between earth and heaven.


The old lady need not have looked with
any apprehension to going out from the
warm chamber into the stormy winter
night, and flying far away, Not that but
millions of miles may intervene, not that
but the two worlds may be parted by still,
breathless ocean, fathomless abyss OF cold,
dead space, yet swift as ever light went,
flies the just mans spirit across the pro
found. One moment the sick room, the
scaffold, the stake; the next, the paradisal
glory. One moment the sob of parting
Year: 1861

From the Philadelphia North American. a


How man feels when in battle is ques-
tion that our volunteers have doubtless fire.
Quently asked themselves. We yesterday
stumbled upon volunteer on furlough, who
first smelt powder at Bull Run. During an
hours chat with him he gave US very good
general idea of the way in which man
feels when under an enemy's gun. Our
friend didn't claim to be especially coura-
geous. He placed due value upon the in
tegrity of the American eagle, but enlisted
mainly because be had no other employment
at the time. He did camp duty faithfully,
and endured the hardships of long marches
without any special grumbling. That be
dreaded to confront the enemy he freely
admits. While willing at any time to kick
bigger man than himself under justifable
provOcation, he disliked the idea of the
sudden sensation impaired by bayonet
thrust in the abdomen, while only second to
this was bis horror OF being cut down with
rife ball like an unsuspectiDg squirrel.


When his regiment was drawn up in line
he admits his teeth chartered and his knee
pans ratified like pOt.closet 10 hurricane.
Many of his comrades were similarly affect
ed, and some OF them would have lain down
had they dared to do so. When the first
volley had been interchanged, our friend
informs US, every trace of these feelings
passed away from him. A reaction took
place, and he became almost savage from
excitement. Balls whistled all about him,
and cannon ball cut in half a companion
at his side. Another was struck by some
explosive that spattered the brains over the
clothes of our informant, but, so far from
intimidating, all these things nerved up his
resolution. The hitherto quaking civilian
in half an hour became veteran. His
record shows that he bayonetted two of his
rebel enemies and discharged eight rounds
of his piece with as decisive an aim as
though he had selected a turkey for his
mark. Could the entire line of an army
come at the same time into collision, he says
there would be no running except after
hopeless defeat.


The men who played the runaway at
Bull Run were men who had not partici-
pated in the action to any extent, and who
became panic stricken where, if once smell
ling powder in the manner above described,
they would have been abundantly victori-
Gus. In the roar of musketry and the
laundering discharge OF artillery there is a
music that banishes even innate cowardice.
The sight of men struggling together, the
clash of sabres, the tramp of cavalry, the
gore-stained grass of the battle field, and
the coming charge of the enemy dimly visi-
BILE through the battle smoke-al these,
says our intelligent informant, dispel every
particle of fear, and the veriest coward in
the ranks perhaps becomes the most tiger
like. At the battle of Bull Run the Chap
lain of one of the regiments, man of small
stature and delicate frame, personally cut
down two six feet grenadiers in single ccm
bat. If these things are so-and we incline
to think they are-the best cure for cow
ardice is to crowd a man into fight and
there keep him. The fugitives from Bull
Run were men who imbibed panic before it
could have reached them.
Year: 1861

The Washington city Star, the semi Off
cial organ of the Administration, has a
lengthy article on General Fremont's mill.
tary operations in Missouri. The article
closes in the following not very complimen.
tary style:


General Fremont is no soldier by educa-
tiOn or experience. Ere entering the army
as a Second Lieutenant of Typographical
Engineers, he was schoOlmaster of very
limited education and attachments. While
in that corps he never commanded cOrpo
ral's guard in arms. His duties there were
wholly those of surveyor and explorer,
not those OF soldier in the field. After
resigniDg, as favor from the government,
to his fatber>in-law, Colonel Benton, he re,
entered the service as Lieutenant Colonel
OF Mounted Rifles, and remained in it less
than a year, in the course of which time he
was tried for mutiny and sentenced to dis
missal from the army. That closed bis
military career, until recently made Major
General.


Perhaps the most remarkable fact of the
history of bis brief career in command OF
troops was the character of the accounts
for the subsistence of his command, while,
according to his printed representations,
they were tor the most part living upon
dead mule fare. These accounts, over
which the government had so much subse-
quent trouble, it will be remembered, footed
up about an average cost OF beet per man
per diem.


The army of the United States did not
contain an officer, when he left it, who
failed to realize that he was utterly unsuited
for military command-worse than useless
in the field, and as uncomfortable by his
superiors as unsuited to manage his interiors
in the service for the public good.


We submit that his current utter failure
as military man in Missouri is but the
Quod erat demOnstr0ndum of the history O
his previous command in the army OF the
United States
Year: 1861

anguish, the next, the great deep swell Of
angels song. Never think, reader, that the
dear ones you have seen die had far to go
to meet God after they parted from you.
Never think, parents, who have seen your
children die, that after they left you they
had to travel dark solitary way, along
which you would have liked Gf it had been
possible) to lead them by the hand, and
bear them company till they came into the
presence of God yet you did so, if you
stood by them till the last breath was
drawn. You did bear them company into
Gods very presence, if you Only sta'd be.
side them TIL they died. The moment they
LETT you they were with him. The slight
pressure of the cold fingers fingered with
you yet; but the little child was with his
Standardization of Country ParSon.
Year: 1861

How TO MANAGE RUNNING OR BALKY
HoRsE.-In lecture recently given in New
York by Rarey, the horse tanner, the fol-
lowing remarks are made on the manage
ment of horse who may either refuse to go
or attempt to run:


In the head the horse has immense pows
er. No man can ever hope to hold in
running horse by pulling evenly upon the
bit he might just as well try to lift him-
self over the fence by pulling at his boot
straps. 1t can't be did. When a horses
head is pulled to one side be is compelled to
SO arrange his legs that they will probably
balance him-he can not run forward
therefore my advice would be-, if horse is
running away, or if he refuses to go, pull
tightly on the right rein, and force the
horse to describe circle for an indefinite
period of time, after which,'y may depend
upon it, he will not attempt the same trick.
Year: 1861

The rOmancer will find a capital subject
for newspaper tale in the following, which
is vouched for as truthful by the New Or
leans P,cayune:


About the year 1856, a bright eyed, in
telligent, delicate, and rather effeminate
looking lad, who gave his name as New
some, made application and obtained
employment at the Crescent Office as a
sub newspaper carrier. He Was then about
fourteen years of age, very modest aud
reserved, but ever prompt and faithful, and
gradually earned the reputation of being
the best carrier in the Office at that Journal.


Newsome ia good name for carrier) be-
came well known to all his fellow carriers,
and from bis uniform good department, won
their respect and esteem, while his reserve
prevented all familiarity. For three years
he made daily rounds of his route, through
the cold rude blasts OF winters mornings
and the pitiless pelting rain storms, without
a murmur and ever looking bright and
cheerful. In the latter part of 1859, New
some suddenly disappeared, much to the
regret of his fellows, and more especially to
that of his employers. He gave no intlma-
tOn of his future course, as to where he was
going, or what pursuit he intended hereaf-
ter to follow


Times dark, sulen shadow of departing
years stole by, and Newsome became for
gotten in the busy whirlpool of the worlds
affairs. Some days ago there was seated
on the porch of pretty cottage, sweetly
dressed lady of between nineteen and TWEEN.
ty summers, whose well-developed, rounded
figure and smiling face was of itself pic>
ture of happiness. Seated near her was
not Newsome, but somebody else, for
Newsome was the Identical lady herself.
And thus is explained the true, but roman
tic history, of the mysterious newsboy. .
Year: 1861

The unqualified attractions Of the Central Park on
the DAYS when the sweat of the brow comes lndepen-
denty Of the original curse, are yet 10 be revealed
The grounds picturesque for their unduaons, un-
rvaled in their kind for abounding rocks bat poor as
regards lake or stream and starved respects trees
ln these intenscs OF the dogstar, we cannot divine
the pleasure OF walking the capltally graveled
paths or maCaiamizcd roads of the Park, while the
thermometer in the sun rises TO blooheat and lassi
,ue oyorcOes the body. But that is what thousands
did ON Saturday, attracted by the music of Dodworths
Band 4 better dressed or behaved crowd need not
be brought together; and the vast majority being as
they should be in these fighting times ladies' the scene
was heightened by the gay oolors of the toilette.
There Was some provision under large awning Or
tent for portion Of these ladies, but quite inadequate
for the whole number and at beat moderate protec-
ton against the heat The musicians were placed M
der similar canvas but the effect Of the instruments
even brass instruments, proud in their resonance,
was not inspiring. The laws of acoustics will not be
trihed with and cotton ceiling is the death of the


fine arts OF music and oratory- quartet well placed,
will produce better results than band hudded togeh
or under tent Preaching with napkin over the
mouth would not make converts; and playing on


rumpes into the face of dry goods presents cognate
dehclences. tnuer tnese clrcuinstahces, anu up 10
that golden period when the trees grow in the park, it
would be well to construct wooden coverings OF ample
proportions, with sufficient dash of art in form and
tint to be slightly. Cor the accommodation OF Summer
visitors and auditors; and let this include thoroughly
wedesiged place for the orchestra, that it can be
heard. lndecd there is every for constructing
such place permanently independently of the growth
of forest trees, which requires thirty years And il,
besides it be possible enlarge the lake, which is
apology for sheet of water in the Summer and q
wrc,ched place for skating in the Winter it ought to
ke done
Year: 1861

A correspondent Of Nashville paper,
states the case we'll, as follows:


"As to the Republican party. who as
yet have done US no harm, and may new
er do it, we will ,ttend to them when
they attempt practical aggressious upon
our rights. We have now to deal with a
more pressing danger Disunion and
treason are amongst and around U.S.
When we have crushed .the viper now
ready to dart his venom into our vitals, it
will be time enough to look for our enc
mics beyond Mason and ixon's line. -
If We cannot save ourselves from the
deadly embrace of Southern Confe1er,
acy, it matters li.tle what else may hap
pen-after that comes the deluge."


There is no disputed States, in which
the Union men make more true and no.
bic fight than 10 Tennessee The Union
papers of the State are telling an amount
Of plain truth in plain terms, that cannot
fail to have wholesome effect Chicago
Tribune
Year: 1861

J


The above table is not intended as an
exact representation of numbers and Is
known to be somewhat at varience with
the official figures whereupon the appor-
tionmcnt of representation will be es'ab.
lished, but is deemed sufficiently correct
to be relied On as close approximation.