smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861

TEX WAR NEws.-The news by telegraph
from the now seat of war caused great ex-
citement throughout the city. The Leader
Office was beseiged until a very late hour
with anxious crowds eager to learn the con-
tents Of the last page of The dispatches. The
reports Of breaches in the walls of Sumter
were hardly credited, inasmuch as probably
nothing, unless it be the floating battery in
within distance sufficiently short, to pro-
duce so serious an effect, and the report als1
states that but fifteensof eighteen shot have
struck the battery which locke very much
as if Anderson considered the latter an in
significant opponsnt. The iron battery is
said to be distant eleven hundred yards
which is considered to be beyond practica-
ble preaching distance.
Year: 1861

A PETITIOY.-We are requested to say that
a committee of young gentlemen connected
with the sprague Zouave Cadets will call
upon citizens of this city to-day for the pur-
pose of soliciting some aid to assist them in
completing their equipments. They desire
to purchase sixty stand of muskets, the to-
tai cost Ofwhich will be about FIVE or six
hundced dollars. The design is to place the
Tuskets in trust with some person who
will, in case of the breaking of the company,
take them in charge, either to be loaned to
another deserving company, or to sell them
for charitable purposes.


We think no one will be sorry for having
contributed for this purpose
Year: 1861

WATER STREET GRADING.-The cutting
of the grade at the foot of Water street is pro-
crossing rapidly. Several feet of earth at
the brow of the hill are being removed, and
the result will be that the hill will become
much easier of ascent than previously In
all probability much more Of the travel will
pass to and from the Depots by this way than
has heretofore been the case; loaded teams
having usually gone by way of River aud
Union streets.
Year: 1861

A DIsCRDuNATIEe JUDaE.-The Come
autville Record makes mention of liquor
suit in Court, in Crawford County, in which
the plea was advanced by the defendants
attorney that consignment of whisky had
been made to his client from Cleveland,
seeming to convey the idea that therefore its
illegal sale ought 10 be overlooked. Judge
johnson, in giving the sentence OF Court,
remarked with Characteristic plainness and
decision, that "it was notorious that Cleve-
land whisky was bad whisky, and to deal in
that kind of an article could not command
the clemency of the Court"
Year: 1861

As remedy for this most distressing and obstinate
mslRdy, the Vegetable Life Medicines deserve dis
tinct and emphatic Recommendation. 1t Is well
known to hundreds in this city that the former pro-
prietOr of these valuable Medicines was him elf af-
hi ted with this complaint for upwards of Thirty
five years and he tried in vain every remedy pre-
scribed within the whole compass Of the ''M-teria
Medica." he however, at length tried the Medicine
which is now offered to the public, and he cured
in q very short time, after his recovery had been
pronounced not only improbable, but al solutely
impossible, by any human means
Year: 1861

FIRE.-The alarm of fire at about 9o'clock
last evening was caused by the burning of a
barn of Pittsburgh street, a short distance
aboYe Prices Willow Ware Works. We did
not ascertain the amount of the loss.
Year: 1861




Cor OFF.-The parties whom we men
toned yesterday morning as having been
taken into custody by Officer Warren on the
Toledo train, on charge of picking the
pockets Of passengers, were set ct liberty
after having been searched. There was
nothing found upon the persons of any of
them which could lead to their conviction.
From the statement of one of the men, it
appears that they had been likewise exam
ined by the police at Toledo and had es-
capped in the same manner. At the various
stopping places they moved about among
the passengers, making considerable disturb
ance, and pretending at the same time to be
strangers to one another. The articles taken
were undoubtedly Immediately disposed of
in such manner that they could not be
found upon any suspected ones.
Year: 1861

THE MILITARY TAx.--In speaking of the
military bill now before the Legislature,
the Sacramento Bee thus refers to the sec
tion levying tax of three dollars year
on every person liable to military duty:


That is enormous, considering the fact
that the past aud present military tax was
and is but fifty cents per head. Here is an
increase of five hundred per cent at sin
gle jump Supposng that there are 10 the
State eighty-ive thousand persons subject
to this tax-and taking the vote Of the
State at 100000, there will, we think, be
that many-the revenue for military pur-
poses will amount 10 $255, 900 per annum.
The tax is too heavy. There is no occasion
TO burden the people thus, and all for the
mere qualification of military men. If the
present tax be not sufficient, let it be ad-
vanced fifty per cent. or so but to make ii
anything like the amount this bill proposes,
would be outrageous.
Year: 1861

RUMoRs are still prevalent in Washington,
that a secret organized mob contemplates
rushing into the House of Representatives
on the day set apart by the Constitution
TO count The votes for President, with the
intention of destroying the legal returns.
80 that Lincoln cannot lawfully be declared
President elect. Such report at any other
time than this, would be looked upon as
the viest trash, but unlikely as such pro-
ceeding as this is to happen, preparations
have been made to meet II square.
Year: 1861


Young April treads light in the woodland,
And smiles through her tears in the lane,
And the sun Of the old, old spring-tide
Falls warm on the cheek again.
The breath of the old dead breezes
That blew In the face of the boy,
Greens back from my life's faded meadows
with whispers Of hope and of JOY.
The larks that heard in my childhood,
Hid deep in the bending blue,
Sing yet Of the same old heaven,
Till that heaven comes almost true;
Sing vet Of the loving and longing
Ior the beauty Of far OF skies,
Ofthe pleasures that spring like flowers
Round the steps Of the gentle and rise.
And wake from my dead despairing
Like trembling child at night
And lol through the darkness Of sorrow,
Hope walks with her calm glad light;
And still, as she passes by me,


see my pale dreams revive,
And the JOY and the courage of spring. time
Make the dead cold heart revive.
. world thou art surely Youthful
But the sapling shall grow tree:
Thou too hast a soft green April
Shall bring great summer to thee.


Il -(Fraser's Magazine.
Year: 1861

TH0UGliTs ON THINKlNG.-If one would
rate any particular merit according to its
true valuation it Is necessary TO consider
how far 1t can be justly claimed by mankind
in general. five 60 below the surface Of
things, and observe carefully, we shall per.
ceive that there Is not more singular
character in the world than that of think
ing man. 1t is observing them separately
and distinctly, and ranging them in their
respective classes: it is calmly and steadily
viewing our opinions on every side, and
resolutely tracing them through oil their
consequences and connections, that constl-
tutes the man Of reflection, and distinguish
CO reason from fancy Providence, indeed,
does not seem to have formed any very con-
siderable number of our species for on ex-
tenslve exercise Of this higher faculty, as
the thoughts of the far greater part of man.
kind are necessarily restricted 70 the ordi-
nary purposes of animal life; and if we look
at the favored few who move in much high
er orbits, and have opportunities to improve
rs well as leisure to exercise their under
standing, we shall find that thinking is one
Of the least exerted privileges of cultivated
humanity. II is, indeed, an operation tOf
the mind which meets with many obstacles,
may be particularly noted, as being princi-
Piles which prevail more or less in the con.
situations of most men, aud which greatly
contribute to keep the faculty of the soul
unemployed; these two are pride and indo-
lence. To descend TO truth through the te-
dious progression Of well-examined deduc-
tion, Is considered reproach to tue quick
ness Of understanding, rs it Is much too La
borious method for any but those who are
possessed of vigorous aud resolnte activity
nf mind. For this reason, persons com
monty choose either to seize upon their con.
illusions at once, or to take them by rebound
from others, as best suting with their van
ily or their laziness. So truth advances by
slow aud difficult marches, aud the most alb
surd theories and systems obtain wide
currency; for there is 0 strange disposition
in human nature, either blindly to tread the
same paths that have been traversed by 9TH
ers. or to strike out the most devious ex-
travagance; the greater part of the world
will either totally renouce their reason, or
reason only from the wild suggestion of o
heated imagination.
Year: 1861

An INCIDENT OF THE INAUGURATION One
of the Representatives in Congress reports
an interesting and rather funny incident of
the Inauguration, which, not having seen
in print, We record. On approaching the
platform where be was to take his oath and
be indicted into the Office of Chief Execu-
tive, Mr.. Lincoln removed his hat and held
it in his hand as he took the seat assigned
him. The article seemed to be burden
He changed 1t awkwardly from one hand to
the other, and finally, despairng of finding
for Il any other easy position, deposited It
On the platform beside him. Senators and
Judges crowded in, and to make room for
them, he removed nearer the front of the
stage, carrying his tile with him. Again it
was handled uneasily, and as Senator Baker
approached to introduce him to the audi
ence, he made motion as If to replace the
tile on the stage, under the seat. when
Douglas, who had been looking on quietly.
and apparently with some apprehensions Of
q catastrophe to the hat, said, "permit me,
sir" aud gallantly took the vexatious arti-
Gle, and held it during the entire reading of
the Inaugural! Douglas must have reflected
pretty seriously during that half hour. that
instead of delivering an inaugural address
from that portlcO, he was holding the hat
of the man who was.
Year: 1861

From all the information that is before
us at this writing, it would seem that the
combined columns Of Gems. Mcclellan,
Morris and Hill have made aud are max
ing a clean sweep of the rebels from out
of Northwestern Virginia They have
been driven from their prey like a pack Of
sheep-stealing dogs. Their commander
has been killed, and they themselves sur
rounded, cut II and captured, They ha-e
been ignominiously foiled in every attempt
to retrieve their fortuncs-completely out
generated and most disgracefully whipped.
All we want to hear now is, that old Wise
and his son, and their gang Of rag and bob
tail irates, have been dealt with after the
same fashion Garnett and Wise's neck in
the gibbst, our troubles in Western Vir-
ginia will be ended WAes'tng LfeEFgen-
Ger
Year: 1861

In the Fulton Street Prayer Meeting
the other day, there rose up tall fine
looking man, having the type and air of a
Southern gentleman. He said that in the
extreme South, he had often heard and
read of this meeting. Occasionally he
had read notices and reports Of it in the
religious and secular papers Little did
he think he should be standing up in it,
and asking prayer for such as himself =


He had been seven years resident OF
the South, living uudsturbed until the
breaking out of the pres ent rebellion. Then
there was a change He had been doing
an extensive and very prosperous business,
was largely, and, as he supposed favora-
bly, known, to great numbers in the South


Yet, twice he had been seized in order
to be hung. Once had he been tried BY a
Vigilance Committee, and he now had with
him full discharge from all ground eff sus-
plcion. For three weeks be had been guar
ded night and Gay by armed friends, who
defended him al the risk Of their own lives,
and at last he escaped by almost Hercue-
an efforts. He had left all behind him,
and accounted it great mercy to be in
the free North with nothug, Often had
be been in wa t Of the barest necessaries
of life. He lett S25, 600 behind him.


If you think, said he, tha' you can con-
ceive of the state of things at the South.
you are simply mistaken. A widespread
system Of the worst form of despotism
which the world ever saw, prevails. Over
all the South terrorism, such as YOU can
not conceive Of, reigns. No man feels
safe. No man feels as if be knew what
the end was to be. No man knows what
sentiments he may express to-day, that
will not be perverted to his destruc Jon to-
morrow. 1t is only necessary to raise a
cry against a man, and no power on earth
can save him, after that.


| have seen hundreds suffer under all
sorts of ipdignity and outrage 7 have
seen women, born and reared at the South,
owners of slaves, with half their hair sha-
we'd off. All this was because they had
dared to express some sentiments in favor
of the Union. This terrorism is growing
worse every day. 1t is despotism of the
most fearful kind. If there is any class of
people on the wide earth who need your
prayers, it is the people Of the South, white
and black.
Year: 1861

The REASON WHY-0ur readers will. of
course, have noticed the decided advance in
the price Of Southern state stocks in the
New York market varying from FIVE to ten
per cent. during the past few DAYS. TIE
money article in the New York World of
Saturday gives the following as the reason:


We have good authority for stating that
there have been orders in this city for some
weeks, from capitalists in New Orleans, to
purchase for their account Southern State
stocks and securities The tenor of the
letters which accompanied these orders
evinced a conviction that The North must
prevail, and Reconstruction of North and
South take place under the Constitution of
the United States Some of these gentle
men are confidential friends and financial
advisers of Jeff Davis
Year: 1861




The people of the State Of Wisconsin represent
ed IN Senate and assembly, do enact as follors:


Section l. For the better security and pro-
lection of the State and to aid in enforcing the
laws and maintaining the authority of the Fed
eral Government, there shall be raised and or
ganized in this State, any number, not to
ceed six regiments of infantry, inclusive of
three already called into the service Of the
United States, ia the discretion of the Cover
nor, Preceded. that if the full number of six
regiments raised as aforesaid. be mustered in
to the service of the United States, that then
and in that case the Governor is hereby author
lied and empowered, in his discretion. t raise,
organize and receive into the service of the
State, two additional regiments of infantry to
be held as reserve force, subject to be mus
tered into the service of the United States and
as often as any cali shall be made by the Gen
eral Government. and the forces then enrolled
shall be mustered into the service of the United
States, it shall be lawful for the Governor to
accept the services of so many additional vol
unteers, as shall be constantly equal to two
regiments Of reserve force enrolled in advance
of any requisition made upon this State.


Sec. 2. For the purpose of carrying into
effect the foregoing section, the Governor IS
hereby authorized and empowered to accept
and muster into the military service Of the
State such persons as shall volunteer TO be so
mustered, and who, in conform ty with the
army regulations Of the United States, would,
in like cases. be mustered into the service OF
the United States not to exceed the number
requisite and necessary to complete and make
up the full number specified in said foregoing
Section. computing the said regiments to con-
tain not less than eight hundred and sixty-slx,
nor more than ten hundred and forty-six per-
sons each, and which shall be subject, upon
TIE order of the Commander -Ir-Ch eff, % be FIRST
used in case of actual hostilities against this
State. or to be transferred to the military ser
vice of the General Government whenever re-
quired by the President, Prorided, that two as
slstant surgeons may. with the consent of the
War Department, be added to each regiment,
with the rank ST Lieutenant. to be appointed by
the Governor and paid out of the g War y Fund
in the State Treasury


Sec 3. The said regiment shall be organ
lied. armed and equipped, conformably to the
rules and regulations adopted for the govern
ment of the United States army, and shall be
uniformed as to the form, fashion snd color of
Year: 1861

AN ACT to provide for extraordinary expendi-


lures in the Executive Department


The people Of the STATE Of Wisconsin, represen-
ted in Senate and Assembly, DO enact as tollotcs:


Section l. The Governor is hereby author
lied and empowered to employ such sids,clerks
and messengers as the public interest may
require, and allow them ch reasonable COM
pensation for their services and expenses as in
his Judgment they shall be entitled to receive,
and on the requisition of the Governor, the
Secretary OF State shall draw his warrant on
the Treasury for the amount so required by the
Governor, to be paid out of the war fund.- OF
to exceed in the aggregate ten thousand dollars


Sec. 2 This act shall be i'll force and effect
from and after its passage and publication.


Approved May 25, 1861.
Year: 1861

STRUCK By LIGHTNING-T The liberty pole
in the Sd ward was struck by lightning
and badly shattered during the storm yes
terday, The ball surmounting it was d.
vided into quarters by the electricity, and
a piece some twelve or fifteen feet long
taken out ofthe pole. Several men stand
ing in the doorway of grocery near by,
were slightly affected BY the shock, and a
horse in front of the grocery was thrown
down, At the same time that the pole
was struck, the wagon shop of J. Veo,
which is one hundred and fifty feet distant
from the pole, was so struck. A chimney
in the UPPER story of the shop was shatter-
ed, the fluid passin g upon strlnger, FIVE
inches square, nearl Y tearing it apart, from
then following a studding to The floor of
the second story and passing from this
through the air into the ground, close by
a man who was engaged in the lower room,
was slightly affected by the electricity.
Oshkosh North Hesfen.
Year: 1861

The Transcript, Of yesterday morning,
treats its readers to blood and thunder
article that would have done credit to
Wendell Phillips or Lloyd Garrison. It
favors the total destruction Of Charleston
and blocking mp the harbOr, the arming OF
slaves. and desolation Of every South Caro-
lima plantation. We presume the Tran
scripts opinion will not have much weight
with the Administration, nor would any
thing 1t could say be likely to create a very
extensive sensation 10 the rebel States; but
every paper, however insignificant, or linn
tied its circulation, has more or less infiu-
ence, and such articles, occasionally APP
pearing 10 Northern papers. are greedily
seized upon and circulated by the rebel
leaders, in order to keep up the belief in
the South that the Government is carrying
on the war for the purpose of exterminating
the whites aud emancIpating the slaves.


The people have been given to under
stand, both by the action Of the Admins
tration and resolutions Of Congress, that
the war was being carried on solely for the
maintenance Of the Federal Union, and to
preserve the integrity Of the nation; and
when this object is lost sight Of the sooner
the contest is ended the better.


AS for slavery, we do not believe II had
any ything to do with the rebellion, except as
an excuse, and decree Of emancipation, by
the President, or by Congress, instead of
ending the contest, would only weaken the
cause of the Government and render the
rebellion more formidable. To preserve
the nation from disintegration, no sacrifice
is too great; IL slavery stands in the way,
let II fall, but let the destruction Of the
institution, like the destruction of life and
property, be the result, and not the object,
OF the war.
Year: 1861

The Rebels Respect for State Rights


The Memphis Appeal. one of the "let us
alone" anti.coerCion organs, though q
great stickler for State rights, insists that
the interests of the COnfederates overrule
these rights as applied to Kentucky II
say:


We Only speak The sentiment Of the United
Sontb we belieye in asserting that Kentucky
can never be allowed to cast her destiny WIN
the North, whatever verdict Federal tyranny
NAV force from her people under the duress OF
the bayonet. While we respect State rights
and State Sovereignty, there are political ana
military necessities which override these rlghtS
as measures of retaliation in great revolution
like the present. Kentucky may bend her
knee at present 10 the Baal of A6ohuonlsfn,
but the strong arm of our national power Will
rescue her from the possession OF the enemy
before the termination of this war as certainly
and as effectually as the vast expanse OF our
territory upon the golden coast of the Pacific
was rescued from the hands Of prostrate Mex
leo. The truth had as well be spoken, and we
can tell her citizens-loyalists and traitors
that no such idea has ever for one moment
entered the mind of the Southern people as she
shall remain under the iron rule Of Yankee
despotism. The South needs her territory and
must have 1t, though at the price Of blood and
conquest.


State rights and State sovereignty, ac'
cording to this argument. appertain to the
cotton States alone; but the idea never for
a moment entered the minds Of the Con-
federate leaders that the people of Ken
tucky had any such rights. The cotton
States may yet be taught that There are
political and military necessities which
override" their doctrine Of State rights;
that the American nation "needs their ter
rtory, and must have it, though at the
price Of blood and conquest"
Year: 1861

BRoDERICK EsTATE.-A San Francisco dis
patch says that an agent sent to ireland to
search for relatives of the late Senator
Broderick, has returned and found none
The Bulletin says there is evidence showing
that the document purporting to be the will
of the late Senator is a forgery, and that a
suit will be commenced in behalf of the
State for the property. The property is
worth about $l3O,OOO over and above the
debts, and will 90 to the school fund should
il esCheat to the State.
Year: 1861

A LETTER FROM MRs. JEFF. DAvIs.-I
was to-day informed by gentleman who was
well acquainted with the fact that in June last
Mrs. Jefferson Davis wrote letter to a colored
woman in this city, in which she stated that
before the end of July the rebel Government
would be inaugurated in Washington, and she
be installed as mistress of the White House.
The object of the letter was to assure the col
ored woman that she would be safe to remain
in Washington, and to secure her services when
Mrs. Davis was called to dispense the hospi-
talities of the Executive Mansion Washing
ton Cor.
Year: 1861

IT IS better that South Carolina be colonized
exclusively with free negroes than be longer a
nest in which all treasons are hatched against
the best Government that God and man togcth-
er have ever devised.-LTranScript.


We are pleased to note that the editor of
the Transcript endorses the works Of the
Almighty, while at the same time awarding
due credit to such an humble atom 90 man,
for the important aid rendered by him in
the councils Of Jehovah.
Year: 1861

IMPORTED WIT.--When Sparrowgrass joined
the Home Guard at Yonkers, New York, he
was reported to have said that he did so with
the understanding that the Guard were "never
TO leave home except in case Of invasion" This
was and is very funny; but it does not belong
to Sparowgrass. A proposition was once made
in Parliament that the British Militia should
never be ordered out of the country. Pitt
moved, as proviso, Except in case of inva-
sion" Sparrowgrass probably did not commit
the plagiarism. 1t must have been kindly done
for him by Jenkins.
Year: 1861

THE deepest deposit of guano known is 20
feet. According to Humboldt, the deposit Of
three centuries would not exceed one-third of an
inch In thickness. BY an easy mathematical
calculation, it will be seen that at this rate il
would take almost countless centuries to form
the deepest guano bed.