smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1862

We have received telegraphic dispatch which
has come all the way from San Francisco to New
York by the magnetic telegraph direct. The great
Overland Continental Telegraph line is now at
length completed and in working order. This
achievement of science, enterprise and skill is one
lenge the world to find parallel-While Eng
land has vainly wasted her treasure in endeayorng
to stretch the telegraph across the ocean, we have
spanned it at its widest part with the wonder-work
ing wires. If we had not to traverse the deep
receses of the great ocean to do this we have had
to render practicable the mountain passes of the
Rocky and Sierra Nevada ranges, the great des
erts east and west, and, in fact, wilderness three
thousand miles in extent The mere statement
of the length of the line affords an inadequate
conception of the difficulties of the undertaking.
and it is only when we call to mind the character
of the region penetrated that we appreciate the
the boldness of the enterprise.


But there is no difficulty in public work insur-
mountable by American perseverance, and energy.
The same people who have made the Pacific
shores thrill with every pulsation of the national
life have planted colonies along the vast highway
organized the beginnings of inchoate States, and
laid almost by magic the foundations of mighty
empire. They are laying ont roads in Nevada,
Utah and Colorado Cities have already sprung
up like mushrooms, hardy pioneers cluster around
the mail and telegraph station, and civilization is
rapidly seizng upon the whole line. How long
will it be before the Pacific Railroad becomes a
reality? Who can doubt it now, in view of this
great telegraph line Already we have daily
mail to the Pacific, and the San Francisco papers
reach US more regularly than these from States
east of the Mississippi. We have but to organ


ze the Territories rapidly possible, give land
grants to help the railroad, and in less than ten
years it will be built-PhH Worth american.
Year: 1862

A WISCONSIN farmer wrote urgently to- his
son, a minor, who had enlisted, that he must at
least return home till harvesting was finished, as
he could not get help at any price, and he had a
large amount of thrashing that must be done. To
this Young America replied: Dear Father-I
can't go home at present. l should be very glad
to help you, but Uncle Sam has got mighty sight
bigger job of thrashing on hand than you have,
and I'm bound to see him out of the woods first"
Year: 1862

A Worthy ErampEs.-We learn that
the members Of ST. Paul's Church, in
this city, have determined to take up
the carpet on the floor of that sanctu-
ary and convert it into blankets for our
soldiers. We heartily commend their
action to other churches in this city
and throughout the Confederacy. Sure
ly we can afford to stand or knecl on
bare floors to shelter from the cold tho
bodies o! the brave men who are fight
ing to secure our right Of conscience no
less than our political liberties. .-'-Co-
hmbus Times, Hr.
Year: 1862

An ACT supplemental TO An act grant


ing the right Of way TO the State of


Missouri, and a portion of the public


lands TO aid in the construction of Ger


tain railroads in said State" approved


June tenth, eighteen hundred and fifty


two.


BE IL enacted by the Senate ant h6uss ~
Representatives ofHs United Satesof AmeIrq
IN CDagre s assembled, That the time re-
quired by the act to which this Is sun
plemenlal, for the completion of the road
therein described, from the city Of Saint
Louis to such point on the western boun-
Diary Of said State as may be designated
by the authority Of said State" as well
as the time Of reyerson TO the United
States Of the lands thereby granted 10
the State Of Missouri for the use of said
road, is hereby extended for ten years
from the tenth day Of June, eighteen
hundred and sixty two: Provided, That
in case said company fail to complete said
road within the time as Dhus extended
the said lands shall revert TO the United
States.


Approved, june 3, 1862.
Year: 1862

The Editor will be greatly obliged to
persons making up clubs for the UNION il
they will remit to the publishers and not
to himself. Communications and sub
scriptions are sometimes mixed up with
private information in such manner rs
to cause needless delay and trouble to
all parties.
Year: 1862

We have no time to transcribe COM
munications We sometimes receive
communications with a scrap Of conf
Dental information written en- the back
of the manuscript OF course if We use
the manuscript we have to re-write it.,
and this imposes entirely too much labor
on US. We have no time for such work.
Year: 1862

The rumor, current on New Year $
day, of a terrible fight in Kentucky and
sad defeat Of the Union army, was entire
ly unfounded, although there is Il collision
of the armies evidently near. Some way
in the absepcc Of the operator, posted 4
bogus despatch at our door, giving details Of
this fabulous fight, which created 4 very
annoying sensation. We hope such an
act may not be repeated
Year: 1862

very apt to settle this question of the reenlisf-


ment Of the rebel soldiers, in general break
up Of every rebel camp and in general col
lapse of this overinfated rebellion, from Ma
nassas to New Orleans. To this end we expect
some decided manifestations in the South from
the operations of the Burnside expedition In
word, under the conservative war policy Of
President Lincoln, and under the skilful direc-
tions of Gen. Mcclellan, everything in the ar
rangements and forces of this campaign pro.
misses the suffocation of this rebellion before
the merry month of May.
Year: 1862

The Financial Measures OF the Govern.


ment-Nccessity for Immediate Action.


We published yesterday note from the
, Secretary of the Treasury to Mr. Spaulding, in
which he says immediate action in Congress.
Immediate action" says Mr. Chase, sis of great
Importance. The Treasury is nearly empty. I
have been obliged to draw for the last install
ment of the November loan. So soon as it is
paid fear the banks generally will refuse to
receive the United States Treasury notes. You
will see the necessity of urging the bill through
without delay"


1t will be seen from this important CON-
municaton that the Treasury is nearly
empty, and that Mr.. Chase fears the banks
will refuse to receive any more Treasury
notes after the last instalment of the November
loan has been paid. There is, therefore, ne
cessity for the immediate action of Congress
upon the Demand Note bill. 1t is not the Secre-
tary of War, or the Secretary of the Navy, or
the whole Cabinet combined, or the President
himself, or Gen. Mcclellan, who is now retard-
ing the naval and military operations destined
TO crush the rebellion, and who is thus risking
the recognition Of the independence Of the
South by the Powers Of Europe, and, it may be,
an attempt to break up the blockade, involving
foreign war or the dishonor of the country.
The whole responsibility rests on Congress.
From its inactivity everything is kept back. It
is needless to say that to provide the means and
ways for the war belongs exclusively to that
body. Though it is now in session two months,
it has literally done nothing but consume the
precious hours of the public time in discussing
abstract questions about the negro and other
matters of no pressing importance and of no
practical bearing upon the great question of
the day. The Committee Of Ways and Means
we're appointed last July. They then knew we
were embarked in formidable war, which
could not be carried on without money. TWAS
their sacred and solemn duty to come prepared
with their plans at the opening Of the session
in December by which they would have saved
two months time, and have contributed in no
small degree to place the cause of the Union in
much more commanding position than it oc-
cupies to-day.


There is now no remedy for past apathy and
neglect but in double energy for the present
and increasing activity and vigor for the future.
Let Congress, therefore, redeem its errors by
taking prompt action upon the Treasury De-
mand Note bill The luminous and able
speech of Mr.. Hooper in the House of Repre-
Year: 1862

MANNING OuR SEACoAsT FORTTFICATIoNs.-
The Old City Guard of New York, formerly
commanded by the rebel Major General Mans
field Lowell, has taken the initiative as a volun-
teer battalion Of seacoast artillerymen. The
Old Guard is now under the command Of Capt
T. L. Stone, numbers about two hundred and
fifty rank and fle and has recruiting Office
and drill room at No. 654 Broadway. The
members are drilled every evening in the
management of large thirty-two FOUNDER, and
are occasionally permitted by the government
to practise in our harbor forts. Our city mill.
tiamen could not do better than to join this
guard or organize similar battalions'


Indeed, we hope to see the Old Guards ex-
annie generally initiated throughout the coun-
trv. Not only our large cities, but almost our
t,es in the event Of q foreign war, and, while we
entire coast will be the points of decisive bat
build batteries and erect forts here and there
to protect the coasts, we should be equally upon
the alert to provide men to man and defend tho
Qualifications. Such cities as New York, Phila-
delphia, Boston and Portland ought to be able
TO protect themselves against any naval attack
without calling for a single soldier from the re-
gular army; and if the present splendid oppor-
tunities for practice and experience are rightly
improved, we shall have such corps Of trained
Year: 1862

MILITARY BURIAL GRoUNDs.-The universal in
stincts of humanity encourage respect for the
dead However bitterly we may have detested
the individual during life, we forgive him when
he is departed, and look with awe upon that
mysterious bourne whittier he is gone, and to
which we are all bound. To the dead of the
Union army we, the people of the United
States, owe moral debt, and it is our duty to
bury them, and that decently. We are sorry to
say, however, that we have been neglectful in
this respect, owing, doubtless, to the difficulties
attending interment There has been pro-
miscuous budding Of human bodies together
in the one rude grave, without any measures
being adopted to secure the identity Of the re-
spective corpses; and, as consequence, there
has been grief in many homes when rela-
tives came to claim the dead and were unable
to find them. 1t Is now suggested, and very
properly, that national cemeteries should be
provided whore the troops are most numerous,
and that the ground should be invested with
that sacredness which is usually attached to
places of .interment in every part Of the civil
lied world, and from which the bodies of the
dead may be taken by their living relatives
when desired. In future years these places Of
sepulture will be full of Interest. and ii will be
at least satisfactory to our volunteers to know
that if they die they will be buried in recog-
nzed spot. We therefore heartily approve Of
the suggestion made in Congress on the SUBJ
iect and we trust that the committee appointed
to inquire into the matter will be successful in
carrying out the idea.
Year: 1862

ferer from long sermons suggests to the London
Times that after half an hours preaching the
bottom Of the pulpit should be contriyed to
come out, on the principle Of an ou5hette, and
project the clerical transgressor into the gull
below. Another proposes that sounding board
or cover, in the shape of an extinguisher made
exactly to fit the pulpit, be suspended above it,
and that at the expiration Of twenty-five min
utes from the delivery of the text it should be-
gin to descend so as exactly at the half hour to
"shut up" the lengthy preacher.
Year: 1862

A ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO Moss
Well, what Of it? Who wants to be mossy
old stone, away in some damp corner Of a
pasture, where sunshine and fresh air never
come, for the cows to rub themselves against
and for snails and bugs to crawl ever, and
for toads to squat under among poisonous
weedss II is far better to be smooth and
polished stone, rolling along in the brawling
stream OF human life. wearing off the rough
corners, and bringing out the firm crystalline
structure Of the granite, or the delicate veins
OF the agate, or the chalcedony. 1t is this
perpetual chatting and rubbing in the whirl-
ing current that shows what Kind Of grit a
man is made of. and what use he is COED for.
The sandstone and soapstone are soon ground
dowE to sand and mud, but the firm rock il
selected for the towering fortress, and the
diamond is cut and polished for the mon.
arch'S crown.
Year: 1862

Coop Lucx.-Sone young men talk about
luck. Good luck is to get up at six o'clock
in the morning; good luck, IL you only have.
shilling a week, Is to live on eleven pence
and save a penny; good luck is to trouble
your heads with your own business and lct
yonr neighbours alone; good luck is To full
fill the commandments, and do unto others
as ne wish them to do unto us. They must
not only plot but preserve. Pence must be
taken care ofbecause they are the seed oi
guineas. To get on m the world they must
take care Of home, sweep their own doorways
try and help other people, avoid temptations
and have faith in truth.
Year: 1862

We admire the vigorous animal life Of
the Greeks, and with justice we recognize
and partly seek to initiate, the vigorous
gymnastic and other means which they
employed to secure it But probably we
should make a fatal error if we omitted
from our calculation the hearty and gem
erous earnestness with which the highest
subjects of art, speculation and politics
were pursued by them. Surely in their
case the beautiful and energetic mental
life was expressed in the athletic aud
graceful frame. : And were it mere ex-
trayagance to ask whether some part of
the lassitude and Weariness, of life, of
which we have so much incur day, might
be due to lack of mental occupation on
worthy subjects, exciting aud repaying a
exercise on lower ones2 Whether an en-
grossment on matters which have not
substance enough to justify or to satisfy
the mental grasp, be not at the root of
some part Of the maladies which affect our
mental convalescence? ANY one Who
tries it soon finds out how wearying, how
disproportionately exhausting, is an over
dose of light literature compared with
an equal amount Of time spent on real
work. OF this we may be sure, that the
I due exercise of brain-Of thoughts one
of the essential elements of human life
The perfect health of a man is not the
same rs that of an OK or horse. The
preponderating capacity of his nervous
part demands a corresponding life.-TE Ex-
change
Year: 1862




There are other officers Of the army
who, like Major Key, do not wish the re-
.bellion to becrushed too soon, for fear the
abolitiopists. by which they. meanathree-
quarters of the northern people, will i'm
noCterms are proposed by any body, ex.
cept submission to tho constitution, just
as it was before the rebellion broke ont,
as there is no authority to impose OF to
grant any other terms, it follows that the
officers of his persuasion desire that the
north should yield to the demands of the
south; that whichever side may conquer
the north should suffer the Consequences
of defeat and, tho south should have the
rewards of victory. .5es,si


1t is bad enough that private citizens
should entertain such opinions, the effect
.ot which, If carried out; would be to pro-
long the war till 1t could be brought to an
end precisely satisfactory to the interests
of treason; but that officers of the army
should set up such opinions, and presume
to act upon them, Is monstrous. Yet we
need not the casein question to prove that
this is the way in which too many of those
who have been entrusted with commands
in our gallant armies propose to carry on
the war. ltis time they were weeded out
of the service. The men who want to car
ry on the war to suit the South, should
follow tHeir sympathies, and go to the
South. They have no proper place in the
armies of the Republic. They have prac-
ticed a deception and wrong in accepting
the commissions under which they are un-
willing to 6ght for the speedy suppression
of the rebellion. Let not the country re-
main under the, wrong.
Year: 1862

Messrs. SPruance & Megear have Just opened a
large and complete stock of Fall and Winter goods
for the inspection of the public. The ladies are
specially invited to call and see their dress goods.
Year: 1862

We are pleased TO observe that one of on
morning contemporaries takes the same view
as that expressed by us in several numbers o
this paper, in regard 70 the soldierly qualities
and ability of Gen. Grant.


When the newspaper press of the country
will come to this way OF thinking and will
vindicate the character of such men as Gen.
Grant, the war will soon be virtually at an
end. The vigorous prosecution of the war
will he inaugurated when men like Grant are
put in command OF our army.


There is hut one way to successfully con.
duct II war, which is to provide the troops and
the means and place them under the direction
oi the best military talent and experience OF
he times, and afterwards to change that di
rection according to the developments of the
battlefield. This is the lesson of oil history.
Year: 1862

The New York election is over and past
ard according TO the returns now before us at
the present writing, this great State has
wheeled round square into the Democratic
column.


For good or evil, lIoratio Seymour is the
Governor elect of the Empire State.


Our readers will recolect, that we some,
time since, gave our views Of the impolicy Of
making issues with party, which that party
did not make for itself, Of charging that Mr.
Seymour was traitor, and in sympathy with
the rebellion, as some New York politicians
and newspapers were disposed to do. We
were severely criticised by many Republicans
and some New York journals had the kind.
ness to request us to mind our own business
and not to NEEDLE with New York politics, a
subjec: we knew nothing about, and matter
that was no concern of ours The wisdom o
the views then expressed by u.s. must now be
patent TO all.


Those politicians and papers which al
tempted to make issues with Mr.. Seymour
which neither his platform nor his speeche.
indicated, may now find it difficult to undo
especially abroad and in rebeldom the mis-
chief which their high-wrought statements
respecting Governor Seymour's position
shadOwed forth.


Mr.. Seymour has said in a speech, recently
made by him, that he is in favor of vigorous
prosecution Of the war. We trust it vii
nrnra iruc
Year: 1862

One Of Garibaldi's wounds is in the
tenderest part Of the thigh, and viii re-
qulre, 1t is said, surgical operation The
other IS in the foot and of 10 importance.
Since his capture he has hardly spoken
to any one and appears totally overcome
by the weight Of his disaster 1t is said
that the King has sent his own physician
TO Garibaldi
Year: 1862

times of Jackson, undertaken upon your
suggestion. If you know any other faith
er Of democracy whose writings you think
can be safely relied on to prove that the
war power is limited by the constitution,
please name him, and ''the boys will
search and give you the result of the in
yestiaation
Year: 1862

E<s~A strange phenomenon occurred
recently at Presque Isle. Maine One
morning it suddenly grew so dark as to-
require lamps to be lighted There was
very little thunder, and some rain fell.
which was black, and -smclied like an old
chimney burning. Clothes that were
hung out were covered with fine black
dust
Year: 1862

We have often admired the fidelity of that no.
ble boy who stood "amid the battle wreck, when
all but him had fed" who, while the fame.
lsapsd wildly from shroud to shroud, waited his
fathers permission to 60. This was fidelity
which, though It cost the boy his life, won for
him noble name. Our fidelity may never bs
called to test so severs yet there are tests, every
day of our lives, by which may prove ourselves,
and know whstherer we have the principle Of
fidelity or not. The Scriptures say, "He that is


faithful in the least, is faithful also In mucb and
whenever we sec little boy or girl faithfully do.
ing the work appointed them, nc, matter how email
that work, we have great confidence that when
called T. more difficult duties they will not shrink,
but do with noble fidelity, even unto death.


Ionce heard father say of his little son,
"When left anything for Samuel to do, was
always sure to find it peI done." He said this
while Samuel was lying in his cofip. The hands
which had done so faithfully what they found to
do were now folded, cnld and pale, over tie bosom
where's heart Of true fidelity once beat. Their
sArthsrly work was done. Yet when the father
said this, we did not feel SO sad. wstrusted that
he had been as faithful to bis Father in heavsn as
to his father or earth, and hoped that bis happy
spirit was able to say to Its Father, God, Il have
finished the work THov gsvNt me to do"
Year: 1862




GeniIemen-After the adjournment of
Congress, new near, ! shall have no OPP
portunily q. sse.4sg ron for seseral months.
Believing dat ,eu vi the Border States
hold more power for good than any equal
number of members, / feel it duty
which cannot justihably waive to make
this appeal to YOU.


intend no reproach or complaint
when assure you that, in my oplnien.
if you all had voted for the resolution in
the gradual emancipation message Of
last March, the war would now be sub
stantially ended. And the plan therein
proposed 10 yet one of the most potent
and swift means OF ending it. Let the
States which are in rebellion see definite
" and certainly that in no event will
the States you represent ever join their
proposed Confedcracy, and thry cannot
much longer maintains the contest. But
You canhot divest them OF their hope to
ultimately have you with them SO long
as you show determination to perpetuate
the institution within your own States.
Beat them at clecsious, as you have over
whelmingly done, aud, nothing daunted,
they still claim you as their own. You
and know what the lever of their power
is. Break that lever before their faces,
and they can shake you no more forever.


Most Of you have treated me with kind
ness and confederation, and / trust you
will not now think improperly touch
what 10 exclusively your own, when, for
the sake of the whole country, ! ask, can
you, for your States, do better than to
take the course l urge? Discarding
Ptactitio and maxims adapted to more
manageable times, and looking only to
the unprecedentedly stern facts OF our
case, car you do better in any possible
event? You prefer that the constitutional
relation of the States to the nation shall
be practically restored without disturbance
of the institution; and, if this were done,
my whole duty, in this respect. under the
Constitution and my oath Of Office, would
be performed. But it is not done, and
we are trying to accomplish it by war
The incidents Of the war can not be avoid
ed. If the war continues long, as it must
if the object be not sooner attained. the
institution in your States will be extin-
guished by mere friction and abrasion
by the mete incidents Of the war. twill
be gone, and you will have nothing yaIu-
able in lieu OF it, Much of its value is
gone already. How much better for you
and your people 70 take the step which a.
once shortens the war, and secures sub
stantial compensation for that which is
sure TO Be wholly lost in any other event!
How much better to thus,save the money
which else We sink forever in the war;
How much better TO do it while we can,
lest the war ere long render us pecuniarily
unable to Go it How much better for
you, AS seller, and the nation, as buyer,
to sell out and buy out that without which
the war could never have have been, than
to sink both the thing to be sold and the
price Of it in cutting one snother's Arests.