smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1865

"A HARD SEr.-The Illinois papers are
publishing list of members of the Legis-
lature who refused to take greenbacks for
their per diem, and hold on to their
claim for gold. These men are making
q record which will damn them in spite
of fate with the people.
Year: 1865

The propriety of admitting negroes to
testify as witnesses is just now being some
what discussed, and is likely to be
prominent question before the Legisla
.ure The question will present itself to
that body in two aspects, first, as ques
ton of power under the constitution as
amended. and secondly, as a question of
policy, provided the Legislature should
believe it has authority to prohibit or re-
strict such right to testify.


1t is supposed the Legislature will have
but little or no discretion left on this
subject, in view of the provision of the
constitutional amendments which not
only abolish slavery, but declare that
"the Legislature shall provide by law for
the protection and curity of the persons
and property of the freedmen of the
State, and guard them and the State
from any evils that may arise from theil
sudden emancipation" This is now the
language of the supremelaw Of the State,
and it will become necessary for the Lee
gislature to measure its force and extent,
with the view to ascertain their own
powers and duties. 1t may be asserted
on the authority of precedent that this
language does, of itself, give protection
to person ard property, for it is the bust
ness or purpose of constitution to de-
clare organic principles as the foundation
and Limitation TO the powers of govern
ment, which are to be carried out lin de
tail by the Legislature. And when these
principles can have practical force anc
effect without legislative aid, they become
at once active and operative as laws with
out further action. Thus the forme:
Constitution of this State declared tha


the introduction of slaves as merchan
die or for sale, should be prohibited afte


the 1st day OF May, l833 which was onl


mandatory to the Legislature, as no penal


ties or forfeitures were prescribed for
!. violation of the provision. The adjud
cations on this provision fully settledsthar
! although it was mandatory to the Legis
lature,- yet the principle of the constitr
ton became operative and took effect a
an active principle without legislativ
; aid. This is precisely the case now pre-


sented. Here is provision that secure
to the negro the right to protection Z
j person and property; the principle {


protection is there. Could the Legisl


ture. either by action or non-actiop, d
/ feat this principlef Can the Legislatur





say that the negro shall not be entitled |
/? sue in the courts of law? 1t is suppose
: not; such right isestablished by an actr
!? constitutional principle, az no one can |
|, said TO be projected who has not th
. right. And the reason why the Legis!
i ture cannot say so is, because the primo
il pie of protection IS a paramount la,
e being part Of the constitution shove ii
d power Of the Legislature. Can. The L


gislAture say the negro shall not testi
Year: 1865

Under the new Constitution represen
tation Is based as heretofore, upon the
Joint basis of the amount OF all taxes
raised. whei her direct or indirect and on
the number of white people In each
election district. Instead of being as
sessed at a fixed estimate as heretofore,
all lands will now be taxed according to
value. By the old law Charleston paid
nearly one third of the iupost IN the
State. One Senator is assigned to each
Judicial district, except in the Charleston
District, which constitute two election
districts. The House of Representatives
remains the same, with the proViso
that no one election district shall be
assigned more than two representatives.
The office of Governor is extended to
four wears. lie is to be elected by the
people Has the pardoning power, with
the safeguard that he is to report to the
Legislature. He is vested with veto pow
er in order 10 prevent hasty legislation
The freehold qualification for seat ia
the Legislature has been dispensed with.
The law is TO be administered by superior
and inferior Courts, directed and estab
lizhed by the Legislature. Tee Judges OF
the superior to be elected by them for the
term of good behavior; those of inferior
Courts for four years, to be located IN
each Judicial District, and to be especially
charged with the trial Of all civil cases
wherein one or both of the parties are
persons of color, and of all criminal cases
wherein the accused is a psrson of color.
The right to vote is given to every white
man of full age who has been two years 3
citizen of the State, and who is not pau
per nor non-commissioned officer pri
vate soldier in the army, nor a seamen OF
marine in the navy of the United States
An amendment, introduced by Gen. Con
ner, confers the right to vote upon Eu
ropean immigrants who have declared
uheir intention of becoming citizen. of the
United States two years previous to the
day of election, and have resided slS
months in the election district.
Year: 1865

always be able to discriminate between
truth and falsehood By these inS'f"
mensalities we are, and have always oeen'
protected from the effects ct false tesu
mony, and we need have no fears IN 'he
future.


Bat some persons object to the adhsis
sion OF negro testimony. because they
say it is raising the negro to an equ"ii''
with the white man. AdmisslbiIity 10
the witness stand, is certainly ne" anu
strange test of equality, and if 1t De the
tue one, then all men who are comPe-
tent as witnesses are equals The witness
who would have no credit with jury
the witness whose statements are proven
to be false, is the pee of any man IN 'he
land, no N alter how pure or how eleVateo
his character may. be. The notorious
liar, the highway robber, the horse-thle1.
are the equals of ali men, because tney
can go to the witness stand. By TINS pro
cess Of reasoning, instead OF raising the
negro to an equality, we are letting our
selves down. No body objects to the
negro's right to sue, which is the higher
and greater righs; he may 60 into court
side by side with us, that does not make
him our equal, but keep him OFT OF the
witness stand, that makes him our equal.
IF this be the standard of equality, then
the negro has always been our equal, Tor
he has always been competent to testify
from the same witness stand, against
white witnesses, in prosecutions against
negroes, and it has always been the p5ac
tice Of the jury to weigh his testimony
against the testimony of white witnesses.


But it is sometimes urged that if we
permit negroes TO testify, they will be put
on lurias and be allowed the right oi
suffrage | answer, that jury service Is
not right at ALL it is a duty. and it is 8
duty the State may require Of whom she
pleases. Even now juror must possess
certain qualifications, he must be free
bolder or house holder, and he must be
a white person. In regard to the right O.
suffrage, that is a matter fixed by the
constitution, the voter must be white
person, and so it must remain until white
voters may choose to change it.


Those who oppose the right Of negroes
to testify, do not reflect that they are
pursuing the very policy which the
Northern radicals approve, and in fact are
giving aid and comfort to the fanatics o
the North, by helping to break down
the President, and, if they could accom-
plish their purpose, they would most as
suredly keep our members out OF Con
gress, which is the object Of the extrem
lists of the North, and our refusal to ad
NIT the negro as a witness in cases wher'
he is interested, would furnish them witt
a most powerful argument with whic!
to drive the conservative party from us
Now l ask the people to reflect on thi
qeestion; and if they will do so, preju
dices will be overcome by the force Q
reason. Their duty to their country is


paramount consideration, and he VIII
would now throw obstacles in the way {
our complete success in restoring civ
govern nent is but poor patriot.


PUBLICOLA.
Year: 1865

MISSISSIPPI SINCE 1SG0.-We print this
morning the prospectus of work to bt
entitled Documentary History of the
State of Mississippi" by Major j. L
Power and Col. Jones l.. Hamilton. 1t is
to include succinct review of public
events from the territorial organization
to the present time. The Debates IN the
Convention of 1861 both in secret and
open session sketches of the various
military organizations, with an accoun
Of the most important military operations
in the bounds of the State will be given
The work will consist of two large vol
unles and will be published by subscrip
ton at the rate of FIVE dollars per volume
The people of Mississippi need such
work to preserve the past, and we bop'
the efforts of our friends Power and Ham
ilton will be eminently successful pecu
niarily and otherwise.
Year: 1865

NORTH CARoLINA.-The following extract
from private letter from Vermonter and
formerly prominent member Of it's legisla-
ture, now at Newbern. NC, will be Of inter-
est to any who desire to emigrate to that
State "I have been farming the past year
employing about seventy-hye free negroes,
cultivating corn and cotton. The former
crop is very abundant and the latter is good
where the worm did not attack it. This is
truly fne country, but we need mare Yam
kee enterprise to develop its agricultural and
mineral resources. There is also mine oi
wealth in pine lumber, only needing Nor
thern energy and capital to convert it into
lumber for market. The Northern people
have formed an erroneous opinion in regard
to the feelings Of the people of this State
towards them there seems to be general
desire that Northern men should settle among
them and appear toward them as cordial and
hospi able as before the war. The election
for delegates to the State convention to be
held in Raleigh, next week. his just been
held, and it is a matter Of general JOY Il at
the choice of the people in every county has
fallen upon gentlemen whose views accord in
the main with the administration policy. l
have no doubt that the machinery of State
legislation will soon be in operation, and a
Union perfected based upon fraternal feel
ings."
Year: 1865

This subject has involved within it much


of deep interest, and furnishes for the
mind Of every thinking person a vast
amount of material with which to engage


their meditations. There are those Of this


worlds people, who, judging from their
outward appearance and actions, seem to
think that the world owes them a living;
and, while moving on through life with
this erroneous idea as their guide, little
thinking that they are at the time trifing
with the laws Of an all-wise and just Be-
ing, believe that they have attained the
desired object for which they we're created.
But dear reader, welcome not such
thought to your mind. We should live
for a higher and more worthy purpose.
We should live not only to participate in
the enjoyments which this life affords, out
live in such a manner that we may be pre-
pared, at any moment, to bid adieu to
these eDjoyments, to enter into that "hOly
mansion " where si1 and sorrow never gain
an admittance, nor the dark clouds Of ad-
versity hover around our pathway.


While living it should be our earnest
endeavor to cause those around US to be
happy; and having sought some useful
employment with which to bear US on
through the varied and changing scenes
of life, we should buckle on the armOr
and enter the field of action, resolved to
win or perish in the attempt, allowing no
small trihe to serve as a barrier to our on
ward progress; for, if we do, our at
tempts will be fruitless.


Let industry ever be our constant com
panion through life, and never suffer our
selves to be led astray from the path of
duty; be ever on the alert, lest we be en-
tangled within the snare of the temper,
and fall victim to some of the evils that
now disgrace our country. Let honesty
and uprightness mark our daily transact
tions and business affairs of life and, al
though others may swerve from their duty
to God and man, let it be no example
worthy of our imitation, but rather a
stronger inducement to 60 on in the noble
work although we experience no tribute
of praise upon earth; yet, when death clO-
ses the scene, rest assured that then shall
Ne receive a reward more lasting than
brass and more beautiful than any thing
this world can bestoW.
Year: 1865

An exchange gives the following in
structions, which we publish for the ben
eft of those who would know how to Judge
the age of a horse:


At about two years old the horse sheds
the two middle teeth of the under jaw; at
three years old he sheds two other teeth,
one on each side of the two he shed the
year before; at four he sheds the two re-
naming or corner teeth; at five the two
middle teeth are full being no longer hol-
low, as the others are, and the teeth will
have penetrated the gums; at seven years
old the corner teeth are full, the tusks
larger and thicker, and the horse is said
to be aged. Occasionally, however, these
marks will slightly vary, a good deal de-
pending on the animals constitution,
whether he be late or early foal, also,
upon the manner in which he has been
reared, the kind of food, shelter, &c.
Year: 1865

trees is a great temptation to an elephant.
They are all fond Of slipping their fasten-
ings, when it Is practicable, and starting
of on foraging expedition, trait which
has led to some very funny occurrences.
Queen Anne got loose once in Missouri,
and making her way into the woods, def
ed all efforts to capture her for several
weeks. She was finally run down by a
party on horseback, organized for the pur-
pose. When retaken she had become
quite unmanageable, but was soon civiliz>
ed by the usual process.


An ELEPHANT IN LOVE.


A number Of years ago two menageries
were laid up for the winter in a storehouse
on the bank of the canal at Pittsburgh.
Here Hannibal for the first time was
thrown into the the society of Queen An
ne. They were tied side by side, and an
immediate attachment sprang up between
them. 1t was case Of love at first sight,
for the moment Qeeen Anne was brought
into HannibaPs presence she run her
trunk into his mouth-the elephantine
style of kissing. All winter long they
were continually caressing each other, and
their demonstrations of mutual affection
were really extraordinary. In the spring,
Queen Anne was taken away to start upon
her annual tour. The rage Of Hannibal
at this separation was terrific; for eleven
days he refused to. touch a morsel of food,
the only nourishment that he received
during that time being whiskey and wat
er. By dint of a continual swaying or
surging against his fastening he succeed
ed in breaking loose on the twelfth day,
when he took entire possession of the es-
tablishment. The animals in the cages
were fearfully frightened, dashing against
their bars and filing the air with their
hoWls and shrieks. Hannibal ragged around
the building, reared on his hind feet and
to tear down the rafters in the
roof with his trunk, but molested none Of
the animals In the mean time a large
force of men was gathered, steel hooks
attached to long poles were inserted in his
ears and shoulders, and after great diff
Guilty he was hobbled y and caught,
when the customary discipline was applied
with the satisfactory result. Queen Anne,
who was Of more gentle disposition, bore
the separation with exemplary resignation.
Year: 1865

A LAZY PEoPLE.-The Captain of one
of the English steamers running to this
port vouches for the truth of the follow
ing good story concerning a sturdy young
Hibernian who came over to this country
in his ship but returned on the next home
trip. Pat had never seen sleighing in the
" Green Isle," and the ideas he inferred
from it were not creditable to US as a peo-
pie. " How is it that you are going home
so soon ?" asked the Captain, g you could
emit have seen much of the country in the
five days you were in port" Faith an
1 seed enough of it," quoth Pat. "I
went up town in Portland but once, and
made up my mind that people who were
too Id lazy to put their carriages on
wheels were not for the likes of mo to be
living among. g."-Portland Press.
Year: 1865

CONsOLING--In village hard by, where
ministers are not so plenty as in larger
places, Squire p, justice Of the
peace, a man of good common sense and
sterling integrity, remarkable for blunt~
ness rather that blanduess of manner, and
whose literary attainments extended to
the writing of his name, was called on by
a colored family to make a few remarks
at the funeral of their son, in the absence
of the clergyman of the place. The
weeping friends were seated about the
room, when he arose aud said" It's
pretty bad but if was you wouldn't
take on so. It's all for the best. S'pose
he'd lived and grown to be a fat, healthy
bOy-why, he'd never been nothing but
niger, any how"
Year: 1865

The cOlors of the sky at particular
times afford wonderfully good guidance.
Not only does a rosy sunset presage fair
weather and aruddy sunshine bad wealth
er, but there are other tints which speak
with equal clearness and accuracy. A
bright yellow sky in the evening indicates
wind pale yellow, wet; a neutral gray
color constitutes a favorable sign in the
evening, and an unfavorabIe one in the
morning. The clouds are full of meaning in
themselves. If their forms are soft, un~
defined and feathery, the weather will be
fine if the edges are hard, sharp and
definite, it will be foul. Generally speak
ing, any deep, unsual hues betoken wind
Or rain while the more quiet and delicate
tints bespeak fair weather. Simple as
these maxims are, the British Board of
Trade has thought fit to publish them for
the use Of sea-faring men.
Year: 1865

The wild despair which induced the
Carolinians tosetfre to their metropolis will
not win for them the sympathies of the
civilized portion of the world, for they
have never been anything but mere rebels
against a Just Government. Their cause
has never been that Of liberty-their
" watchword is slaves and slavery" The
line of conduct adopted by Sherman is
we'll calculated to force the South to re-
turn to the path of duty. The General
has bafled the plans of the enemy by the
skill Of his tactics and the energy of his
movements, whilst by his moderation and
justice he has aroused in the insurgent
population a love of the old Federal flag.
The progress of the liberating army to-
wards the North will decide the fate of
the rebel capital. Richmond will be the last
retreat Of Mr.. Jefferson Davis, and the
last rampant behind which rebel slavery
will find shelter.
Year: 1865

Adam used to go to Heaven in the
evening to pray. One time Satan
made a friendly call at Adams resi-
dence, and Eve, not knowing where
her husband had gone, was a little
petulent and lonesome. Satan told
her that Adam had gone to Heaven to
call on another woman-he supposed
it was right; he was ayerse to making
mischief in families, but really, the
conduct of her husband was remarka-
bic, in thus leaving so beautiful wo-
man alone. He then took Eve to
fountain and showed her the picture
of the woman her husband was in the
habit of visiting. Adam came home
after while, and got regular blow
ing up, and they made so much noise
abOutit that both were unceremOni-
Ously kicked out of Paradise,
Year: 1865

A member Of the Arkansas Legislature,
in debate on the question of restora-
ton Of the Union, made a speech in favor
of it, which he concluded by saying that
1t would change the barren hills into
fruitful valleys
Year: 1865

BosToN, Nov 25.-The Boston Board
of Trade has adopted series of resolu-
tions looking to the encouragement of
cotton raising in the southern States, in
which the Government is requested,
within the sphere of its Legitimate pow
ers. to aid forthwith in sustaining and
organizing such portions of,the laboring
classes now in the southern States as
cannot be reached by private parties,
not only on the ground Of considcratc
humanity, but also 30 secure the benefit
of their labor to themselves aud to their
country.
Year: 1865

The Northern papers publish letter written
by General Grant to Sherman when the former
was appointed Lieutenant General. He saws:


ssWhilst have been eminently successful in
this war-in at least gaining the confidence of
the public one feels more than I do how
much of this success is due to the energy. skill
and the harmonious putting forth of that energy
and ski IL, OF those whom it has been nv good for
tune to have occupying subornate positions under
me.


There are many officers to whom these re-
marks are applicable to greater or less degree.
proportionate to their ability as soldiers but
what want is to express my thanks to you and
Mcpherson, as the men to whom, above all 9TH
ers, feel indebted for whatever l have had of
success.


elbow far your advice and assistance have been
of help to me, you know. How far your execu-
ton OF Whatever has been given you to do enti-
ties you to the reward | am receiving, YOU can.
not know as well as l."


In General Sherman's reply the following para :
graph occurs


''My only point of doubt was in your knowle edge
of grand strategy and of books of science and
history; but confess your common sense seems
to have supplied all these.''
Year: 1865

There is hopeful future for the South, but it


is not to be found in the counsels of those time
servers and submissionists who are for Welding
unconditional obedience to every behest of DO


lilcal party in power, AMI are anxious that those
IN authority may spit upon them that they NAV
give evidence of their dociity. The South has
nothing OF good to expect from its timid and mer
cenary press. 1t has nothing of good to expect
from misrepresentation in Congress-, who claim
as decisive qualification, and peculiar merit
that they swear that in war which invaded
the homes of the South they were the heartless
creatures who stood mute and neutral in the face
OF the grand tragedy that ran with blood and
tears, withoutaid, comfort or countenance to their
countrymen dying before their eyes, reaching


their hands for bread, fighting and starving be-
neafn the glorious banners of Lee and Jackson,
and Johns ton, and Pickett, and Gordon!


| Coupsels obtained from such sources are not
what the South needs, or what she should accept,
ohe should take new lesson of courage and self
| respect. She should re assert some of her former
/ spirit She should rest her hopes in some brave


organization of public opinion, resolved to concede
nothing to the North but what was decided in the
issues of the war;; determined to resist every en-
chroachment upon her constitutional rights
prompt t o claim the benefit of the Constitution as
Of old, and steadily and even deGantly, asserting
the ancient landmarks in the Union Such par
1ty may restore the fallen fortunes of the South
1t will, at least, erect again the self respect and
pride-'hose high standards of personal character
which formerly distinguished this part of the
Union. Nothing is to be gained by the people of
the South regarding themselves as ticket>of leave
men or any other kind of probationary vagabonds;
such behavior invites insult and oppression.-Ed
soard 4. Pollard.