smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1865

A writer in the British Quarterly Rerie,c
speaks thus of Gen. Grant:


In Washington | had the privilege of an in
PRODUCTION to General Grant. The eminent
man was in his official department, much the
sort of a room in which a London attorney
might be imagined giving audience to his eli
ents. The General was not in uniform, and
plainly dressed. The portraits of him are faith
tul representations of his square and spacious
forehead, and Of the settled and regular, but
not strongly marked features below. A mill
tary officer was in attendance upon him, who
was Of old Indian Descent person somewhat
above the ordinary height, complexion and
features bespoke his origin, but whose civilized
experiences had given him little more flesh
than would seem to have been common among
his ancestors


This stately descendant from the sons of the
Pia S"nS wilderness gave me cordial grasp of the
hsnd on our being introduced. The manner
OF the General was simple and quiet | soon
saw ne was man of few words, and had reas-
on 10 think that his words were usually well
CHOSEN. After few commonplaces had mass
ed he began to speak freely on public affairs
The tone Of the English press Concerning the
military action Of the North seemed to have
impressed him unfavorably "If your news
papers are to be believed said the soldier,
who is second to none of his time, "we never
went into the field but to be beaten. have
been in more engagements than any other man
in the service, and have not been beaten yet.
On the continent of Europe, too, the disposi-
ton, it appears, has been to harp on the same
string. Friends who have visited your coun-
try and France tell me that, go into what cir
Gle they might the talk about America all went
one way"


In reply mentioned some facts which SEEM
ed to warrant somewhat different conclusion.
The facts were frankly admitted as tending to
show that in England there must, after all,
with the North. "Say what you will" said
the General, "ths war has been the biggest
job of the sort that has been done in this world
and it will be chapter to itself in the history
OF war; nothing like it has .gone before"
Year: 1865

PoLYdAMoUS GRUEL.-Artcmus Ward saw,
that IN Utah man must be amply paid to
support number of wives before he can take
them. Hence, perhaps it is that so many old
chaps; have young and blooming wives in their
seraglloS, and so many young men have only
one.


Artemus had man pointed ont to him who
married an entire family. Hg had oriripaIv
intended to marry Jane, but Jane did not want
to leave her widowed mother. The other three
sisters were not in the matrimonial market for
the same reason so this gallant man married
the whole crowd, including the girls grandma
ther, who had lost all her teeth, and had to be
fed with spoon. The family were in indi-
gent circumstances, and they could not but
congratulate themselves on securing wealthy
husband. 1t seemed to affect the grandmother
deeply, for the first words she said on reach
ing her new home, were: Now thank Godl
| shall have my cruel reg lar T.
Year: 1865

FACTS AND FANCIEs "A few days since a
stranger came into boot and shoe store in Ca
nal street, New York, to purchase a pair of
shoes. He was a long time engaged in trying
different shoes before he could find a pair to
mt. Meantime another person came in to buy
pair of boots He soon found pair which
he drew on, and which fitted exactly, and
while he was thrusting his hand into his pock-
cts for the ready" the shoe purchaser dart
ed off with the shoes without either payment,
or even saying SO much as by your leave,
sir. The villain exclaimed the boot pur-
chaser and the boot maker in the same breath
and both gave chase The man in the new
boots, however, had the best wind and cleanest
heels. lie soon shot ahead of Crispin, while
the latter urged him to push forward and over
take the shoes. There was no need of urging.
The shoes turned corner the boots followed,
and for anything that Crispin knows they are
pursuing each other yet.
Year: 1865

: DEATH W1SnED TO "SrAY-so "a negro
IN ST. Louis, who was supposed to he dead,
arose in his coffin during the funeral ceremony,
shrieking and the parson in Mysteries. Mo-
wing his not only entirely sightless orbs around
the company Of mournerS, his clay lips began
to chatter some unintelli gibe stuff about the
other world. The distressed widow ran ont of
the room and out of the house, and nothing
could induce her to return during the day not
withstandlng she was assured that her husband
was conscious, and the doctor thought he
might recover.
Year: 1865




PRoTEST. previous to the adjournment
OF the Episcopal Conventions the following pa
per, signed by Bishops McIlvaine. Lee of Del
aware, EastbOrn, Burgess, Lee Of Iowa, Be
dell and Vail, was read in the House Of Bish-
ops:


9 In the decision of the House of Bishons
with reference to the Day of THANKSGIVING for
the restoration of peace and to other important
subjects, the ground has been taken, that, for
the sake of more complete concilation, no sen
tilnent should be expressed by this House or
this Convention, or this Church. in any collec-
tive capacity, on subjects of such Importance.
and 50 dear to all of us as the re-eStablishment
of the National Union, and the emancipation
of the slaves.


The House Of Bishops unquestionably love
their country, and its unity, and they could not
approve of the system of human bondage: but
they will seem to have adopted as the position
to be henceforth occupied by this churh, one
which is consistent with Indifference to the
| safety and unity Of the nation, and to the free
dom of the oppressed.


This is a position which, as the undersign-
ed believe, should not be maintained by any
branch of the Christian Church in the United
States, whether in the present or any future
generation. To signify that it was not accept
ed by all on this occasion, and that those who
did not accept it believed it to have been ac-
cepted at all, only because an extreme desire
tor conclliation and unanimity prevailed for the
hour, the undersigned have prepared this doe
ument, with perfect and cordial respect fol
thelr brethren, but under the consciousness o1
a great duty to the inseparable interests OF
tAelr beloved church and country"
Year: 1865

The Radical Republicans of Wisconsin
held O. convention at GAINESVILLE last week
for the purpose of expressing their views
on national affairs and ratifying the
nominations of the Union party. Judging
from the large number of eminent men
there present, from the unfinching plain
ness of the resolutions, and from the
great ability and courage of the speeches,
no convention ever held in the State has
exercised SO direct and general an in :
fuence as this will upon the people of
Wisconsin.


The leading idea of the convention as
expressed in it's resolutions was Impar-
tial Suffrage, as an essential condition OF
a safe Reconstruction and the security of
the Union in the future. It was unani-
mously resolved:


e'That in our opinion it is incompati-
BILE with the honor of the nation, after
having called in the negro to aid us, to
abandon him in the hour Of that victory
which his efforts helped to secure that
to brand him as unworthy the right OF
suffrage is to deliver him disarmed and
helpless into the Ihands Of his enemies
and that, therefore, it is competent and
right, and in accordance with that ma
tional faith which is virtually pledged to
him for his. protection, to impose on the
States recently engaged in rebellion as g
farther condition Of their return to full
fellowship in the Union, that IN txlng
the qualifications for the exercise OF the
elective franchise in their several con-
stituencies, they make no discrimination
against any person on accountof race OF
color.
The Convention proceeded to declare
that whatever theories about the lmpos-
sibility of secession might prevail, the
States were practically under control Of
the Federal Government, as was shown
by. the appointment of Provisional
Governors, by prescribing the quallhcs-
tions of electors, and by insisting, on
Emancipation as the condition precedent
to their return. They resolve that Con
Year: 1865

groes. We are not even sure that the
Governor does not believe In negro suff-
rage. He does not advocate it. but he
does not oppose it, contenting himself
with the remark that it is a political
right, and does not necessarily accompa-
ny civil rights. Perhaps word of en-
couragenent from Washington might
open the way for Gov. Marvin to show
himself an advocate of equal justice to
all even at the ballot box.


On the question of negro testimony
In court, he is perfectly explicit, and de-
serves quoting in full:


Furthermore the constitution must
declare that persons of color shall be ad-
mitted as witnesses In all our courts of
civil Jurisprudence. The law, in this re-
spect, knows no distinction of color.


81 am aware that this is a hard dec
trlne to many, but is not, and neveD was
such to me. Seme think the negro con-
stitutionally liar-that falsehood is
marrow in his bones, aud that it circu-
lates in his blood. Now that is not true,
III whole or in part, and the statement
is SANDER upon both God and man
An experience of thirty years in the





often told the truth, while the master has
lied. For some years | occupied the
bench, any many are the instances in
which have known guilty parties to go
unwhipped of justice because colored peo-
pie could not come into the court and
testify. The admission of such witness
es would have given the State prison or
the gallows it's DUE, and relieved society
OF bad and dangerous characters. have
much feeling upon this subject, because
the impressive and painful lessons of
years crowd in upon my memory. You
know that the menial classes of all ma
tions are permitted to appear in court
and testify, and that in some instances
lords and mobiles have been sent to the
gallows on the evidence of house serv-
ants. Our colored population are as we'll
qualified to to testify as they. You
keep the negro out Of court, and what
chance has he for justice Just none at
all. The government and the word are
aware of this, and I do not think Con-
gress will regard the constitution you
may frame as republican in form, or cal
culated to. secure the ends of justice to
all citizens, unless the negro is permitted
to come into court as witness. NAV
be mistaken, but should that wrong be
perpetrated, and your constitution reject
d OH that account, for one shall ac-
quiesce in the justice of the decision
The fact is, we have no other course left
us but to make clean breast of this
whole business, do full justice to the me-
gro, though he is of an inferior race,
aud remove the whole subject growing
out of his slavery emancipation and
status from the theatre of politics.


Is seems pity that man of Gover~
nor Marvin's calibre should not have a
wider scope for his good sense and abili
ties. Why not make him Governor
where he is more needed than in Florida,
say in South Carolina-or Connecticut
Year: 1865

A fact which ought to make us the
more patient with the political and So
cial evils left by slavery, is the absolute
freedom of the press to discuss every
public concern. Such a freedom exists,
and.is practically exercised, in every
Southern State. It is not military au-
thority that secures it, but public opin-
ion. Nobody calls it in questi n. The
assimilation to the North In this respect
is universally recognized to be one OF the
natural and necessary results OF the war.
This in itselfis of more real consequence
than anything which has beea done, or
left undone, by the conventions.


Under the regime of slavery, the press
was as closely chained as under any ty-
ranny in Europe. The emission OF an
incendiary publication was by law a
penitentiary offence and every publica-
tion was deemed incendiary which in
anywise exposed the evils or questioned
the sanctity of slavery. The slave power
with its three thousand millions of what
it called property at stake, subjected
every pen, every tongue within its limits,
to an absolute powerlessness of discussion
against it, or against any of its adJuHcts
and incidentals. The wonder is that
slavery did not grow, under this system,
even more horrible and detestable than
+ actually was. There is nothing OF
which human seIfishness is not capable,
when. for any prolonged period, upheld
hv law. and exem pied from all discuss
ion or rebuke. This success In locking
Year: 1865

j q
domestic institution, was the one +bino
which brought despoRdency to ali natr;otSs
IN the Nerth who calmly contemplate
the future. 1t is morally impossible for
the mind OF any people to be long kent
under such an incubus without being
para1yzed outright, or else monstrouslT
perverted. The actual result was the
most transcendent piece of infatuation to
De found in modern history.


ALI this has passed. The slave mower
has fallen, and with it all tyranny over
the Southern mind. The freedom Of
speech and of the press, which naturally
belongs to the republican system Of
government, has begun to assert itself.in
all its rightful scope. Its power to rectify
and regenerate will be equal to any de-
mand, if we will but give it time. Free
discussion insures that the South will
henceforth be subject to the laws of pro-
gress. We ought to trust in large
measure to these, and net to insist, fur
ther than is absolutely necessary, upon
forcing on the South our own sentiments
and systems We should make annie
allowance for the crude notions that still
prevail In many parts of the South con-
eernlng the just relations of the races
They are the necessary results of the in
stitution now perished, that demented
mems minds so completely, and will
soon give way to the collision of free
opinion.


This liberty Of free discussion will, of
itself, make the re-establishment of
slavery impossible and it will also be
m ms Gn10m hi how I
system of servitude which many in the
South fear will follow the restoration of
the Southern tates to their full civil
power. The true interests Of the South
require absolute freedom of industry
This truth is demonstrated by the laws
of human nature, the principles of politi-
cal economy, the results Of experience in
all other parts of the civilized world. Is
it not possible that truth capable of so
many kinds ofproof should not be accept
ed in every part of this practical land ,.if
| left to free discussion. There is no
danger that free discussion, once firmly
established as it now is thrcug hout the
South, will be subverted. It will main
tain itself against every opposing in
fuence. Slavery, to be sure, had the
power to put it down. But slavery was
an institution of most terrible strength.
| 1t had the almost incredible force to cope
with. the nation itself, in deadliest Crap
pie, fer four years. We shall never
again see the like of any such power as
that in this republic. The foothold
which the freedom of the press has gain
ed upon the grave of slavery, it will keep
AGAINST all Gamers. ret the Northern
people have faith in it, and trust largely
to its future work. Such trust would
save us from much obtrusive and mis-
chievous legislation in Washington, and
would bejustifed in the end by all the
results we can reasonably desire.-N. 7.
| Times.
Year: 1865

there, the two will again strike hands, and
will efectually obstruct any Congression-
al legislation looking to the security of the
freedmen against such oppression as this
Alabama ordinance of exclusion from the
courts contemplates. Mr. Langdon, how
ever, proposes to crack the old plantation
whip in the same lively style as before
eve have not been disgraced," he de-
clares, tand want our Congressman when
they go to Washington to go with a bold
front and high head, as honest men, and
not as criminals supplicating mercy. TIs
Mr.. Langdon's petition for pardan on file?]
but independent, as guilty of no crime, ,and
to fear1essly demand our rights in the
name of the Constitution


Ift the policy then to be. pursued be still
doubtful in anybody's mind, listen to this !:
owe must get control of these negroes. !.
We cannot endure what is now going
on. will not particularize, for you all
know to what refer. We know how to
manage the negro better than anybody
else, but we cannot get control of him
without first getting back into the Union"
i Needless to continue the quotations.
What Alabama cannot endure is simply
the Freedmen's Bureau, or any other eff
fort toward justice and protection by law
for the negro. Abolish that Bureau, with
draw the United States troops-as seems
to be the present policy at Washington
open the doors of Congress to the Ala
bama delegation, is to remit the negro to
such an unchecked despotism as this ordi-
nance imposes upon him, and to announce
our acquiescence in policy that will not
stop short of the determination of the
black race---Nea0 York Tribune
Year: 1865

~ ' rG"PIe's views on Social Equal.


Ny and Political Equality


The Nashville Colored Tenaessean con-
cludes long and sensible article as fol-
lows:


"Thus far we have endeavored to show
why political equality should be accord
eo TO us as natural right. In regard
TO social equality we ask nothing. 1t is
characteristic of every race of people to
prefer heir kindred and kind as associ-
ates: We affirm that this is pre-eminent-
ly the case with the negro. Moreover.
we do thiuk it sounds little ludicrous'
here IN the South, to. hear arguments
against political equality based on the
presumption that social equality follows.
as necessary consequence. Social equal
lty has nothing, strictly speaking, to do
with political equality. The fact is, we
have had almost too much social equality
with the whites in times past. Social
equality with them has stolen from us
the complexion of our fathers. We are
the one VINO of right should complain of
too much familiarity and undue encroach-
ments on our social prerogatives. But
society Is not the creature of legislative
enactment. The naturalized Irishman
and the Wall Street banker both go in
the morning to the same polls, each de-
posting his vote alike, that of the one
being Of no more significance than. the
other. Yet, at the splendid entertain
ment at the banker in the evening, you
will search in vain for the Elegant bro
gansGnd sprig O. shillaly of the gentle
man from the Emerald Isle Nor would
Patrick dream of making a proposition
for the hand OF the fair Miss Dulcina,
the bankers daughter, unless sadly mis-
used by that seductive fluid, very popu-
lar in the Empire city, called election
whisky.


"Our aim has been to show that politi-
cal equality: in justice, should be extend
ed to us at once, and that social equality
is another thing entirely. What we want
is, law to protect our homes, our tami-
lies, and all that is dear to us. When
brutal rufiians stalk into our peaceful
dwelling, insulting our wives and daugh-
ters, we want law to bring those ruffians
to Justice, and the right to call black
men to the witness stand to testify against
them. When insult or violence is offered
to persons of white men or their taml-
lies, we want the right to take our place
on the witness stand and give our testl-
mony against the perpetrators OF these
outrages, When we have these rights,
and pot till then, will justice have been
vindicated.
Year: 1865

OF THE PARTIES ARRE6TED.


Since the desperate aitempt 70 take the life OF onicer
Danel Of the Eighth precinct early last Tuesday morn
ing Thompson street, by gang Of rufans, the police
have been on the alert for the perpetrao On Wednes
day Afternoon Norris Hanover OF the do0rmen OF
the Eighth precinct discovered an italian at house IN
Baxter street. and, from the description given suspected
Danels Hanover made effort 10 arrest the
Italian, but he leaped through window and
ran away The do0rman started In pursuit. and,
with the assistance Of officer HYDE Of the Sixth pre-
cnct the fugitive arrested and taken 70 the Eighth
precinct The prisoner gave his name as John Germ On
being confronted with officer Daniels the latter identified
him as being Of the three men who assaulted and
shot him in the left side Of his neck The prisoner also
confessed being OF the party and said the officer
knocked him down with his club. Germ is only twenty
years of age He taken before Justice Dodge, and
committed TO prison for trial In default Of 500 bail
The other parties engaged in the murderous assault are
still at large.
Year: 1865

burn their cotton, or more completely
sscreteit. We are not aware what is the


real intention of the Government. with
respect to the cotton taken at Savannah,


but judging from the way in which the


business has been conducted, it would


appear to have chosen a policy Of indis.
criminate cOnfscation. This, at least, is
the cOnstruction-sthat will be put upon
the business within the rebel linesy 1t is
much to be hoped that the Government
will early adopt q liberal policy on this
question, and make it known in such a
way that the private holders within the
rebel lines willregard 1t to their interest
to hold their cotton until they have aci
cess to the ports. d
Year: 1865




Considerable importance is at present
attached to the prospect of our armies So
curing cotton now within the rebel lines.
would necessarily affect very directly the
value of foreign exchange, the supply of
gold and the value of cotton fabrics In
the dry goods trade, the question is es-
peCially one of great interest. The large
reduction in the prices of certain leading
fabries1 made q few, days since, was pre-
dieated upon, the opinion that we are on
the eve of receiving large additional
supply of Southern cotton. Several
firms largely interested in the cotton
trade have their special agencies for as
certaining, as precisely as possible, the
prospect; and there appears to be a pre-
vailing disposition to concur in this view.
It is argued that the rebels have invested
their means as much as possible in cot,
ton, as the only stable property; and
that, to prevent its destruction by the
rebel forces, they have distributed It In
small lots all over the, interior, to be COLI
leeted and brought to market so soon az
the ports may be opened and trade per-
mitted. WeIare disposed to think there
Is considerable force in this view; and
espeCiallyias itihas received confirmation
from citizens of Savannah who have ar
rived here since the fall of that city. a
gentleman, who accompanied Sherman
on his march through Georgia, informs
rs that the people had boarded cotton
with asmueh care and secrecy as gold
itself, and expresses an opinion that the
aggregate thus thrust away into boards,
IN that State is enormous. The extent
to which this secreted cotton will come
into the ports must depend, to large
extent, upon the policy adopted by the
GoTernment. Ifthe whole is to be seized
by the government officers, the marks O
identifcation destroyed, and the cottor
sold ON Government account, then tht
holders have every inducement either x