smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1868

The news details which for some time past
we have been giving in the columns of the
HERALD enable us to form an opinion of tho
prospects Of the new Dominion. II was mani
fest TO many, ourselves among the number,
that though the confederation scheme was
grand and in many respects praiseworthy, il
had 70 deal with interests which were too
essentially antagonistic to be permanently re-
united or made compatible with peaceful
and prosperous union. The hasty and some
what arbitrary manner in which the union was
at last effected did not encourage us to alter
our opinion. 1t left too many burning hearts
and too many bleeding sores to warrant us to
conclude that the new Dominion would not
soon reveal symptoms Of disease.


Unhealthy symptoms are already making
themselves manifest From the outset nv
merous and influential party in Lower Canada,
openly opposed to tho union. The opposition
spirit If We may judge from recent events, Il
gaining rather than losing in intensity. During
the course of the last month meetings were
held In Nova Scotia which, from the numbers
who attended, from the influence which they
represented, as we'll as from the speeches
which were delivered, leave no room for doubt
that Nova Scotians are bitterly opposed to the
confederation. II would, OF course. be absurd
to expect that the Ottawa Parliament should
devote itself entirely to the interests of single
province. and 1t is quite possible that the
people ofNova Scotia are unreasonably sensi-
tive because Of the subordinate place they
occupy In the confe ederatiOn. Whether they
have just grounds for dissatisfaction is no busi-
ness Of ours. We merely note the fact that
dissatisfaction exists The Halifax meeting, at
which the Hon. James Howe, . well known
Nova S,otian politician, took prominent part,
has, as appears from the despatch Of Satur-
day from Montreal, created quito commotion
In Lower Canada and elsewhere throughout
the confederation. 1t will not surprise US to
learn that meetings similar to that at Halifax
are being held wherever local interests are
suffering. Nova Scotia openly petitions to be
separated from the confederation. Ii New
Brunswick and Lower Canada adopt . similar
course the new Dominion will not have trouble
to seek.


Whether there is vitality enough in our
Young brother to rise superior to all these diff:
iiculties we know not We.wish him no evil
II, however, 1t be discovered that he has under.
taken mission to which he is not equal we
shall not be unwilling to open our arms to re.
ceive him and to allow him TO share the benefits
resulting from our superior wisdom and
as late-when from the Gulf to the Arctic
Ocean and from the Atlantic to the Pacific
bu. one banner will float I! is written in tht
book Of fate and it must come to pass. 1t L
well for British North Americans TO look des
tiny in the face.
Year: 1868

moral acknowledgment Of power law cannot
bo supreme, and where hw cannot reign the
strong hand must Some one Of these quarrel
some chieis must put down the rest and rule,
and through the order Of monarchy 80 estab-
lished the people may grow to the higher level
of reDublioanism.
Year: 1868

A telegraphio letter recently received from
Japan informed US that the Tycoon (or, as Ii
appears he ought to be called, ShagOon) had


resigned his powers into the hands OF the Mi


kado. At the time this letter was received we
gave II as our opinion that the revolution
Of which this resignation was the result
was resctionary. Tho letter which we
publshsd from the pen of our special
correspondent in Japan; confirms our
opinion. The Shagoon was in favor OF
advancing In the pathway Of modern pro-
gress. Arrangements bad been made, with his
sanction and approval, to open up certain
ports TO foreigners at the beginning Of the
present year. Such arrangements were made
in opposition to the Mikad0 and the greater
Daimios, who, 1t appears, are utterly opposed
to all foreign influences, regarding as they do
what we call Christian civilization as an un-
mitigated evil Our latest letter bears date
December 2. and consequently We have
no means Of knowing whether or not
the ports Of Hiogo and Osaka were
thrown open at tho time agreed upon.
Our correspondents letter creates doubt
In our mind ON this subject. Prior to the
abdication Of the Shagoon the foreign minis
ters who had an interview with the Gor0gio.
or council Of the smaller Daimios, OF which the
Shagoon Is chief, were informed that the only
port which was to be opened was that OF
Neagata, and that it could not be opened until
the first of April This is proof sufficient that
the Shagoon, before his abdication, was in DIFF.
Aculty and entirely at the mercy Of his council
Of advisers. 1t remains now to be seen what
course will be followed. II the ports which
it was arranged should be opened at the com
mencement Of this year were not opened
according to treaty arrangements, trouble Is
all but certain and if pressure Is brought to
bear upon the Japanese government foreign
Influences may force the Shagoon back into
power The fall Of the Shago0n was the
triumph OF the reactionary party. with The
Mikado at their head 1t is too late now Tor
Japan to remain absolutely exclusive and II
the government now in power persist in re-
dictionary policy foreign influence is certain
to become dominant and The restoration of the
Shagoon may safely be counted upon. It was
Commodore Perry who, in 1853 made japan
known 10 the modern world and since then,
in all negotiations with that people, tho
American Minister has by all the Powers
been courteously yielded thero q superioI
place. In the events which are now tran.
spring aud which may ycs tranSpire we are
deeply and necessarily concerned. Future


letters from our correspondent will therefore
be anxiously awaited.
Year: 1868

tthe regular meeting Of the Board Of Directors OF
the First National Bank held on Thursday Decem-
Der 10Th, the death of Mr.. THOMAS X. PRICE was
announced and the following tribute was offered
and unanimously adopted: H. s~ua
The directors of The First National Bank Of
Richmond Va, deplorc the death OF THOMAS r.
PRICE, late member of their Board, as a public
loss In his official relations at this Board he was
most useful for his wisdom In counsel and his
practical sagacity concerning banking and finance;
while he was enGcared to every member by the
genia lty his social intercourse Ever
for the general prosperity Of the community. he
gave Jealous support to plans for the public
& cd. AS merchant he was distinguished for
business tact and. energy, while he preserved
throughout his career a probsty and honor without
stain. He contributed largely to the reputation Of
the city for mercantile enterprise and credit. AS
he advanced in life he kept pace with the changes
andimprovemens In his branch of business, never
growing old u The usagcs of trade nor in his spirit
and energy. Endowed with graces Of person and
manner, these brightly reflected the kindness, cor.
diality and sincerity of his nature-the disposition
of a Christian gentleman. His friendships were
constant. his motives pure and elevated, and his
intercourse marked by unvarying Kindness and
urbanity. Charity crowned his social virtues, and
his warm sympath.es with the distressed and un-
fortunate showed the goodness Of his heart. The
death Of such man IS indeed a public loss and
his memory will he honored and cherished by this
Board, who knew him and appreciated him so
well. VIE


The Board tenders to the widow and children Of
the deceased ther heartfelt sympathy in the be-
reavcment which has fallen upon them. ..
Ordered that copy Of these proceedings be
communicated to the family of the deceased and
published In the daily Journals OF the city, and also
that they be spread upon the records OF the Bank.


S. Il. SMITH, Cashier.
Year: 1868

LARGE YIELD OF TURNIPs.-A lot of the
finest turnips we have ever seen were sent
US yesterday by DR.. Lumpkin, Of Hanover.
In note the Doctor says. accept of one
bushel of white globe turnips, nine in mum
Der, good measure, of my own production
also, one that weighs nine and half pounds
three weeks after being taken from mother
earth. The yield from my field is about
$50 bushels to the acre. These are not sent
to brag over, but merely to show what the
people Of the country may do when they
turn their attention to it."
Year: 1868

SEVENTEEN CoNvIcTs have been received
in the penitentiary in the past ten days,
seme of them in the most ragged and filthy
condition. There can be no excuse for treat
ing these miserable creatures in such sn in
human manner. The Code of Virginia,
chapter 2lO, section 3, page 843, provides
"a court may appoint physician to at
tend prisoners in its Jail, and make him q
reasonable allowance. 1t may also, when a
person in its jail charged with or convicted
of an offence is unable to provide himself
with sufficient clothing, direct the jailor to
provide him clothing, and allow therefor
not exceeding ten dollars in one year. AL
lowsnces under this section, on being certi-
fed by such court, shall be paid out of the
treasury" For the sake of decency and
humanity We trust our courts will not send
any more prisoners to the penitentiary in
the loathsome and naked state in which
some have been recently received.
Year: 1868

WENT IN AT THE WRoNG ENTRANcE.-A
United States soldier who had imbibed 80
much lightning whiskey as to keep him
from walking chalk line attempted to
enter the restaurant of Mrs. Kirby, on
Broad street near Second, but being unable
to distinguish the window from the door,
he walked boldly through the former,
breaking the glass to atoms.
Year: 1868

ACCIDENTAL SHooTING.-Y Yesterday ne
gro named Andrew Cross, while attempting
to get into wagon on Eighteenth street,
accidentally shot himself in the hand. He
had hold Of the muzzle of a gun, and in
putting it in the wagon it went off.
Year: 1868

Mr.. Speaker:-I have not much to say to you
on this subject. have been slave ftty-hye
years, and no chance TO get learning, 80 could
have tried to behave myself and act like man
since have been here. IT / have failed to do
80, it is because am ignorant, and l have been
made 50 by the men who are n now seeking
members on the other side of the House turn
me out, they will give me credit for that much
sense any way. But Mr.. Speaker, the gentleman
the white man. ! would like to know how he
knows that. ] would like to know if his fore
fathers had been kept in slavery two hundred
years, and he had been kept IN slavery for 55
and whipped if he attempted to leapn his A B @,
how much better would he be- and how much
superior would he be to me to-day? When he
gets on the floor again / would like to have him
give his views on this point. Mr.. Speaker, the
gentleman from Floyd made some very nice
rails, but they were very old. and he laid up his
fence crooked. The honorable gentleman from
Richmond county, In his speech, made new
rails laid his fence so straight and high that the
gentleman from Floyd county can't get over;
that is my opinion; We Republicans
in i'm going 2 % a6ead-not back: back and and I don't
believe we can be driven back, either We are
just getting little taste of learning, and believe
in going ahead, or having our children. / will
not say any more about that, Mr.. Speaker. The
gentleman bad good deal to say about social
equalty-mixiug up of the races -amalgamq-
tion believe he called it. Now, sir, we colored
men don't want 10 mix up with the white men; (;
We all like our own color best, and Ii these men
that talk so much about the inferiority of the
race, and OF mixing up with the 'nigger," will
let our colored women alone we won't have so
many Iingstreaked and speckled people among
us. We want the white men to mind their own
business, and not come sneaking around our
women at night, or any other time, for unlawful
purposes. Now, Mr.. Speaker we are law
abiding people, and il / amt here according to
law want to know it right away, so as to go
home and go to work, thank the House for
hearing me. haven't anything more to say.
Year: 1868

pose the freedmen would submit to Democratic lie
without esistance7'"


In answer, have to say that am greatly
surprised that Mr.. Pendleton should so MIS-
represent the letter aud the spirit of my speech
Personally he is my friend-Gnd have always
regarded him as q hight toned gentleman and
connot see how he could make such repre-
sentation of me after reading the report of my
speech at Orwell, which was printed in the
Cincinnati Commercial OF August 2l. This is the
only full report of any OF my campaign speeches
this fall. In that / charged that the Blair
letter and the reconstruction plank of the New
York Convention meant war-were declaration
In favor OF overture ning eight States by the
bayonet- and asked If it was to be supposed
that this violence would be permitted without
resistance. Eight thousand people heard me,
and no honest man of either party who did hear
me will say that my speech can by any stretch
OF construction be made TO mean what your
letter represents Mr. Pendleton as saying. /
must think he had been told what he reported,
and is not personally responsible for the mis-
representation. Very truly yours,


j. A. GARFIELD.
General A. N. Nettleton,
Year: 1868

Mr.. Edward Payson Weston explains his re-
cent failures thus;-"After six fair trials l am
convinced that walking Hron a circular track is
not only against my nature, but unnatural to
either man or horse. Until my last trial
attributed Dy previous failures to every cause
but the right one, aud it was only by accident
that learned that it was the continued walking
round the circle that caused the dizziness in my
head and the nauseating feeling in the stomach,
besides the feeling Of intense drowsiness that
could not account for. / can only describe the
feeling as such as one feels when inhaling ether,
with the single exception of severe pain in the
stomach.


"a rest of twenty or thirty minutes will entirely
relieve the system, but after the first attack
find myself unable to go bat one or two miles
without experiencing the same feeling, and CON-
PEELED to stop for treatment. Again, when
walking on the track, have been unable to eat
substantial food; and what is more convincing
proof that 1t is unnatural for me, is, that when
walking on the highway have always ate most
heartily, and have never been troubled with
any dizziness in the head or disorder of the
stomach. Food alone gives the strength to walk
naturally, and when you cannot eat you are
Year: 1868

A writer in Cassel's Magazine has a
dissertation on the moral significance
of bad boots when found upon men,
which he closes in this way:


when boots are hopelessly gone,
shame seems to have departed also.
What terribly bad boots we see cross
ing-sweepers following their profess
sion in. But these are sometimes put
on to excite pity. We feel this, and
the effect is lost upon us. But Is there
a more piteous sight than poor beg
gar with boot on one foot and a shoe
on the other? A man brought to this
point of degradation must be demor-
allied beyond the hope of recovery


He then directs his remarks to the
other sex in the following language:


With women the moral influence of
bad boots is not so great as with men,
for the reason that they eontrive not
to show them; but the physical influ
enee is far more serious. The writer,
speaking from a long experience in
the practice of a dispensary, where
the poor mainly apply, can safely say
that not a tithe of this class possess
sound boots. Hidden under the petit
coats, they are allowed to wear some
times until the feet are Just upon the
ground, and the wearer' stockings are
from morning to night, in wet wealth
er, in a state of sop.


This may seem a minor evil, but il
is Just the one that causes half the dis
ease among the poor women, whose
constitutions render them far less able
to bear exposure of this kind than the
other sex. There are clubs and bene-
fit societies of all kinds, but we can
not fancy an institution that would
do more immediate and lasting good
than a "good boots elubn- for the bene-
fit of women. We may ascend high
er in the social scale and find the same
evil prevailing. Many poor govern
esses and servants are shOckingly shOd.
1t is Just the weak point in theiI dress
which they can hide, aud they inva-
riably do it, whereas it lies at the
foundation of their health and that of
their children, and it should claim
their first attention. We laugh at the
clattering wooden sabots of the French
and German working classes, but in
comparison with the fiimsy, ill-made,
fOOt-coverings our own poor indulge
in, they are more healthy and lasting;
but fashion, even with the very poor,
is far more powerful. we fear, than
considerations of health or service.


We have said enough to show that
"bad boots" may be considered one Of
those social evils of the day worthy of
recognition. 1t was the wish of one
of the best French kings that every
poor man should have a fowl in his
pot. If wishes had the power of full
filling themselves, it would be good
wish that every poor woman had a
sound pair of boots to her feet If
that were the case, there would be far
less disease, and half the dispensary
doors i'm town would be closed.
Year: 1868

Take care of them. Do not let them
stir without watching. They NAV do
something if you do. To be sure, YOU
never knew them to do anything very
bad, but it may be on your own account
they have not. Perhaps if it had not
been for your kind care they might
have disgraeed themselves long time
ago. Therefore do not relax any
effort TO keep them where they ought
to be; never mind your own business
let that take care of itself. There is
a man passing along-he is looking
over the fence-be suspicious of him
perhaps he eOntemplates stealing some
of these dark nights; there is no
knowing what queer faneies ne may
have got into his head.


If you find any symptoms. of any
one passing out of the path of duty.
tell every one else what you see, and
be particular to see a great many. 1t
is a good way to circulate such things.
though it may not benefit yourself or
any one else particularly Do keep
something going-silenee is a dreadful
thing; though it was said there was
silence in heaven for the space of half
an hour, do not let any such a thing
occur on earth it would be too much
for this mundane sphere. If after all
yoHr watchful care you cannot see any
thing out of the way in any one you
may be sure it is not because they
have not done anything bad; perhaps
in an unguarded moment Won lost
sight of them-throw out hints that
they are not better than they should
be-that you should not wonder if the
people found out what they were,
after awhile, then they may not carry
their heads so high. Keep it going,
and some one may take the hint and
begin to help you along after awhile
then there will be music and every
thing will work to a charm.
Year: 1868

The Court of Appeals of this State
has just given an important decision
in a case between the American Life
Insurance Company and the widow Of
the insured Marcus W. Gibson.) The
widow had applied for the payment of
the insurance, and had been refused
by the company, on the ground that
her husband had invalidated his poll
cy by committing suicide The de-
fense set up by the company was in
these words:


''First-That the proof furnished
omitted to state truly the cause of the
death of said Marcus.


"Second-That the said Marcus w.
Gibson committed suicide, by design
edly shooting and wounding himself,
with the design and for the purpose of
producing death; of which shooting
and wounding said Marcus died"


The company also attempted to
prove that Gibson was an atheist or
infidel, and therefore that the suicide
was intentional, the deceased not hav-
ing the fear of God before him; but
the court ruled out this as irrelevant,
and held tnat in an action to recover
for an insurance upon the life Of the
ueceaSeu IL Is incompetent 70 inquire
into his religious faith with view Of
influencing the question whether, in
such case, death was oecasioned by an
intent of self-destruction or of aeei-
dent.


The Court of Appeals, therefore,
affirmed the Judgment of the lower
court by giving Judgment for the re-
spondent, thus virtually establishing
the principle that a life insurance
policy is not OF necessity invalidated
by the suicide of the insured person;
or, in other words, that though man
should be suspected of having commit
ted suicide, his widow and children
are not therefore to be deprived of the
amount of his life insurance, whether
he was a christian or heathen. Men
York EUeHiIlg Post, 23d.
Year: 1868

The way to freedom is through Obe-
dienee to law; the way to bondage is
through laxity of self-governmeEt.
The basis of civil society is the cOnvic-
ton that men can, and do, distinguish
between right and wrong; between
good and evil between the just and
the unjust; between yours and mine.
If men can recognize these things,
and obey them, then laws have moth
ing to do, and laws may grow mild.
Just in proportion to the responsible
ness of the Individual, laws have little
to do. No country requires so little
governing as one in which the people
govern themselves. If self-govern-
ment is wanting, then lawsmust have
more of the iron in them, and penal
ties must be more stern. You can
change the name, and no longer call
it ''penalty ~ YOU can call it motive
or help; but still it will be pain; and
pain Is that which men do not like.
External arrangements to compel
right conduct must be augmented just
in proportion as interior ability to gem
crate right conduct becomes enfeebled.
The man that takes care of himself is
the freest man in the world. The
man who cannot control his own pas
siOns or feelings, or conduct, goes back
into the cold embrace of irresistible
natural laws, or notifications of them,
which men make in the help of sOei-
ETY..


The doctrine of liberty of choice,
and of personal responsibility for con-
duct and character, leads to personal
excellence, to social purity, and to civ
il liberty. The contrary view, that
man is irresistibly controlled by exter-
nal laws, although at first sight it
may seem to give men greater scope
and variety, yet leads directly to des-
pOtism and cruelty. believe that the
doctrine of the irrespOnsibleness of
man in one hundred years, or in three
generations, would again lock up sOci-
ETY. in the embrace of fiTrefragable des-
potism. l hold that dignity of man
intellectually, his nobility in the
household and in society, his power
and his glory in his various civil assO-
Citations, and even the liberty of the
state, strange as you may think it,
turns upon the doctrine of free agen-
CIV and moral accountability. If you
look back through history you Will
ind that those ages which have been
most potential under the influence of
this doctrine have been ages marked
by the birth of liberty in the state ;
while, on the contrary, any doctrine
that tends to lower human response
bility and moral accountability tends
also to lower manhood, to reduce the
purity of the household, and ultimate
" to bring society itself into bondage.
The doctrine of accountability begets
in society broader and broader in
telligence, and lays deeper and deep
er the foundations of liberty.-Henry
| Ward Beeeher.
Year: 1868

Be true to yourself at Me start, young man,


BE true to yourself and God;
Ere you build your house mark well the spot,
Test all the ground and build you not,


ON the sand or the shaking sod.
Dig, dig the foundations deep, young man,


Plant firmly the ouier wall;
Let the props be strong and the roof be high,
With an open turret toward the sky.


Through which heavens dews may fall.
Let this be the room of the soul, young man,


When shadows shall herald care,
A chamber with never n roof or thatch
To hinder the Lighter door TO latch


To shut i'm the spirits prayer!
Build slow and sure-'tis for life, young man,


\ life that outlives the breath:
For who shall gainsay the Holy Word?
'Srheir works do follow them, saith the Lord, ,,


''Therein there is no DEATH
Build deep, and high, and broad, young man


AS the needful case demands;
l ct their title-deeds be clear and bright,
Till Won enter your claim to the Lord of Light,


For the house not made with hands,