smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861

THE SOUTHERN CONFEDERATE LoAy.-The
SIS 000, 900 loan, ordered by the Congress of
the Confederate States, has not been taken,
nor have any opportunities been offered for
taking it. The Government has refused the
large bids of capitalists, and adhered to the
original plan of distributing it among the peo-
pie. The Montgomery correspondent of its
Charleston Courier gives the following infor-
nation concerning it


The bonds authorized by Congress for the
support of the Government have not been is
sued yet, though the applications made for
them have been very numerous. 1t is quite
certain that they will not remain upon the
market for ten days. Parties in New Orleans
are desirous of taking up ten millions at
premium of two per cent, and application
was made for the same amount by persons
wishing to invest them in the establishment
of a Cotton Bank in London. This offer has
been rejected, and it appears to be the desire
of the Secretary that the bonds should circu-
late amongst our people at large, in order to
give them the best opportunity for an invest
ment of extraordinary security and profit
In agreeance with this design, the minimum.
bonds have been placed at fifty dollars, so as
to bring them within the reach of poor as
well as rich men. The policy of thus distrib-
uting them is especially commendable, as it
withdraws them from the limits of specuia-
ton. 1t is universally agreed among fnan-
ciers that had loan of fifty millions been
in process of negotiation, it would have been
easily effected upon the same terms. The
great interest manifested by leading merean-
tile men in this investment, and the entire
confidence exhibited by them, is a fair index
to the manner OF raising future funds for Gov
ernment purposes.
Year: 1861

DEATH FROM TooTHAcHE.-Mr. Levi Gain, q
wealthy gentleman, resing near Harrington,
Kent county, Delaware, died on the 18th inst,
from disease produced by toothache. The
Wilmington Republican says:


son the 5th of the month he complained Of
toothache, but considered it nothing more
than an ordinary attack of that unpleasant
afnlcuon. 1t grew more serious, however
and progressed from bad to worse until he was
forced to take to his bed, and after the lapse
OF several days, erysipelas made its appear
ance about his face and throat, superinduced
by the pain and irritation of his teeth. This
disease spread over his body, and in spite of
medical skill, and of every thing that could be
done Tor him, terminated the patients exist
ence on the day above named in twelve DAYS
from the time he was first affec ted
Year: 1861

additional Market Hanted.-The people re-
siding in the upper section Of the city COM
plain of the grievance inflicted on them in be-
ing compelled 10 walk so far for their daily ne
cessares, and have expressed an intention of
soliciting the new Council, in a most vigorous
and determined manner, TO make an appropri-
alton for building one near the upper end Of
Broad street. The policy Of either enlarging
the End Market, or building the structure
spoken of, has been long In abeyance, but no.
thing definite has resulted from the coji.ations
Of citizens or city fathers as yet.
Year: 1861

CAPACITY OF THE SOUTH TO FEED IT.
sELF.-A great error that the Republican
presses are now instilling into the Northern
mind is that the South has not the capacity
to feed herself. They find it straitened for
food at this time, and, therefore, conclude
that such must always be the case, if cut off
from Northern supplies. The severe dougbt
last summer is the cause of the present
scarcity Of food at the South. Kansas is
suffering from the same cause. The north
ern part of Ohio, few years ago, suffered
from like cause, and SO severely that cat
tie died for the want of proveuder. No part
Of our widely extended country is exempt
from such calamitous visitation. To show
that the South can produce the articles ne
cessary to sustain people in war, we have
made the following exhibit from the census
table Of 1850. And it is only necessary for
the South, to double these figures, to put
under cultivation only about one-half the
number of acres now devoted to cottonfa and
tobacco, and devote the other to the raising
of corn, wheat, potatoes, etc. The follow
ing is from the census statistics of 1850, of
articles produced in the slave States that
wear:
Year: 1861

pare the way for re-enactment of all the
horrid crimes and massacres Of St. Domin-
90. 1t would eventuate in the extermina-
ton of the African race upon this cont
nent


Hence we boldly aver that the man who
recommends such disposal of four mil
lions of slaves, is ignorant of the history of
the past is blind to stubborn facts meeting
him at every point, is incompetent to judge
in case of such momentous issues, and
deserves to be branded as the worst enemy
The negro has. The only other alternative
and method proposed is to transport and
colonize the slaves when manumitted. This
scheme is burdened with many iusuperable
difficulties. The negro is now at home in
America, and it is unfair and cruel, to ex-
patriate him against his will. And there is
not one negro in a thousand that would
consent either to leave his master or his
country. Nor could they be transported in
a mass, because of the expense. 1t would
empoverish the South, and the North too,
to pay the passage and sustain for a sufi-
cient time, in foreign country: the whole
number of negroes we have amongst u.s.
To send them away in their untaught and
DEGRADED condition would be unmitigated
cruelty, for they must perish with star0a'
ton before they could have time to relapse
into their primitive oarbarism. The histo.
ry of Hayti, and the British West Indies,
and even Liberia, only confirms what We
have said. The negro is unfit for self:gov-
ernment, he is not civilized yet, and his
propensities for vice, and his known lazi-
ness and listlessness, render it impossible
to put him under a political government,
adapted to him, that would not be despotic.
Thus we believe that transportation, with
view to foreign colonization, would be the
doom, the determination of our negroes
Rather than overwhelm them with such a
fate, reason, philanthropy and religion plead
that the negroes be left under the yoke to
their masters, who are their best friends in
the judgment Of PHILEMON.
Year: 1861

DEAR BROTHER AS special messen.
ger will leave here for Washington to.mor.
row, will ask him to carry some private
letters, with his public ones, and let you
know some little about Fort Pickens and
the inhabitants thereof. I only wish it
were not 30 much of one.sided arrange.
meut, as We need letters down here more
than you fortunate people up North can.-
The papers come through sometimes, but
letters never. It quite surprises me to see
my name figuring so extensively in the
newspapers. I have simply done my duty;
but I suppose the doing it under such a
pressure of opposition, makes it appear
creditable. The troops are leaving the op-
posite shore, disgusted at playing soldier, l
suppose. They say there are only about
three hundred remaining, and these are
regulars, having enlisted for one year. My
messenger to the yard, this morning, said
they were afraid we would attack them now.
We could do SO, and get possession again
of every thing in an hour, if we were only
permitted to take such course.


have now mounted nearly all the guns
that is, all that are really necessary to
enable this work to be defended by force
of five hundred men. We have worked
like horses TO accomplish this, but great
things can be done by small means when
one knows how. This small command has
done more than Chase or Lomax could have
done with their two thousand men, and they
know it. Having seen our guns 60 up so
rapidly, they swear We have had reinforce
ments. In fact, the papers say, nothing
else could b., expected-that we have SNUG
gled in men from the vessels. 1t is true
we could have done so, and they be none
the wiser; but not man has been added
to this command from them. In fact, so
particular are we, that not even an officer
has come ashore, with the exception of Cap
tain Vodges, and he only once, when the
vessels first came.


These Southern papers are publishing all
sorts of false reports about me. One is that
I was heard to say that if they had attacked
Year: 1861

the fort any time during the first fifteen
days, would have surrendered it without
firing gun. Of course this is not true.
My men stood at the guns every one of
those days, and if they had come they would
have learned the definition of one kind of
grape.


The people on the opposite shore think
We are in much more defensible condition
than when they first came. The moral ef-
feet of the guns on top is great. When the
move was first made I worked most where
they could not see me, and they thought
but little was doing; but when my men
were put to work on the barbette guns, and
they saw them 90 up almost like magic as
they thought, Qhey could scarcely move
their own guns,) they began to think troub'
lous times were coming. There are only,
as said before, about four hundred men at
the barracks, Fort Barrancas and old Nc
Cree-only enough to garrison them. They
are very much afraid that some fine morn
ing they will find the ships in the harbor,
with the intelligence to them that they
can leave within two hours, unless they
prefer to be food for powder.


Colonel Chase and Capt. Randolph are
both in Montgomery, leaving Col. Forney
in command He is West Point gradu-
ate, and was engaged in putting up the
batteries before that work was stopped


Colonel Chase was putting up battery
near the lighthouse, and mounting eight
inch Columbiads on it. This battery would
have raked our front, so wrote protesting
against its continuance at present, and also
against the erection of all batteries bear.
ing on the fort Colonel Chase told the
Secretary of War that if he would not land
the troops in the Brooklyn, he, on his part,
would not attack the fort, and would i'm
mediately discontinue all preparations for
so doing. OF course this battery building
violated the agreement; and they have ad-
mitted it by not going on. They think I
have no right to mount any more guns Ell
ther, but that is all they know about it.
There was no armistice on my side at all,
except about the landing of the troops, and
that was the Secretary's. am at perfect
liberty to mount every gun in the fort if I
choose, and to make such other defences as
I can invent or copy. x


A. J. SLEMMER,
First Lieut.. First Artillery, comd'g Fort
Pickens.
Year: 1861

but in its completeness we have been re-
minded of Byron's satire on military glory
"To be shot dead on the battle field, and
have your name misspelt in the Gazette"


The position now so promptly assigned
to Gen. Bealregard is just tribute to hia
worth. 1t is great satisfaction to our peo'
pie that the enemy can bring no talent a.
gainst US which we cannot match with its
equal in our Southern land; and amongst
all the brighr galaxy, no one could be more
acceptable than our native born Louisiana
Beauregard. Charleston Mercury.
Year: 1861

The Columbiad of Paixhan pronounced
pay .zau) is large gun designed principal
" for firing shells-it being far more accu-
rate than the ordinary short mortar.


A mortar is very short cannon with a
large bore, some of them thirteen inches in
diameter, for firing shells. Those in use
in our army are set at an angle of As de-
gress, and the range of the shell is varied
by altering the charge of powder. The
shell is caused to explode at just about the
time that it strikes, by means ofa fuse, the
length of which is adjusted to the time of
flight to be occupied by the ball, which, of
course, corresponds with the range. The
accuracy with which the time of the burn
ing of fuse can be adjusted by varying
its length is surprising; good artillerists
generally succeed in having their shells ex-
plode almost at the exact instant of strik-
ing. 10 loading mortar, tie shell is care
fully placed with the fuse directly forward,
and when the piece is discharged, the shell
is so completely euveloped with fame, that
the fuse is nearly always fired. The fuse
is made by filling a wooden cylinder with
fuse powder, the cylinder being of sufficient
length for the longest range, to be cut down
shorter for shorter ranges as required.


A Dablgren gun is an ordinary cannon,
except, that it is made very thick at the
breech for some three or four feet, when it
tapers down sharply to less than the usual
size. This form was adopted in coDse-
quence of the experiments of Captain
Dahlgren, of the U. s. Navy, having shown
that when a gun bursts, it usually gives
way at the breech. The Niagara is armed
with these guns, and at the Brooklyn navy
yard there are sixty, weighing about 5000
each, and six Of $4,000 pounds weight
each, the former of which are capable of
carrying nine inch, and the latter, ten
inch shell distance of two or hree miles ;
and there is one gun of this pattern which
weighs 1876 pounds, and is warranted to
send an eleven inch shell four miles


A casemate is stone roof to q fort made
sufficiently thick to resist the force of can.
non balls, and casemate gun is one which
is placed under casemate.


A barbette gun is one which is placed on
the top of the fortifcation.


An embrasure is the hole or opening
through which guns are fired from fortifca-
tions.


Loop holes are openings in walls to fire
musketry through.-ScientJfc american.
Year: 1861

SoUTHERNERs AT OUR HoTELs.-At
this time of the year our hotels are gene
rally filled with Southern merchants, who
have come North to make their spring
purchases. Owing to the unsettled state
of national affairs, not one-ffth as many
merchants are here buying goods as usual
at this period of the year. Not only do
merchants suffer on this account, but all
the hotels are losers in consequence.-M
Y Herald.
Year: 1861

We have been shown a series of ten com.
mandments drawn up for California wives
which occupy one page of letter sheet,
sent from FL Dorado. Some of them would
answer for this region quite as we'll as Cali
fornia, and We therefore copy:


Thou shall not "put on airs" of self i'm.
portance, nor indulge in day-dreams of ex-
travagance, nor allow thy vanity and love
of dress to turn thy head and unfit thee for
the sober duties of life, or make thee mere
y an expensive toy and walking ADVERTISE
ment of the latest fashions


Thou shalt not consider it fashionable,
cleanly or economical, to sweep the streets
with 500 dresses-when at home thou
considered thyself fortunate to get calico
nor to promenade muddy sidewalks in long
satin robes and bedraggled underclothes
nor to wear jewels or flowers % thy head
while thy feet go "Aipety. click" in buskin
shoes run down at the heel and discover
to strangers the holes in thy stockings.


Thou shalt not starve thyself and family
20 days out of 80, to feast thy circle and
give party nor by the purchase of expen.
siVe gew-gaws and 6uery keep thyself and
husband poor; nor run up bills for frills and
furbeloes, while the very goods.merchauts
and thy husband are at their wits end how
to pay their way; nor spend hard earnings
foolishly; nor lose half day shopping, to
invest four bits. Neither shalt thou devour
all thy savings at cotillion parties aud balls ;
nor waste thy substance by improvideuce
or neglect.


Thou shalt not subtitute sour looks fol
thy pickles; nor fiery temper for stove
wood, nor cross words for kindliugs; mol
triaiug talk for light bread; nor tart Ian
guage for dessert; nor excuses for anything
Neither shalt thou serve up cold looks OIL
cold meals for breakfast; nor seedlings and
hard potatoes for dinner nor what remains
of the other two meals for supper-no, moi
even on washing days. Neither shalt thou
allow hard feeling or unwashed dishes te
accumulate; nor withhold either secrets Of
shirt buttons from the bosom of thy hus
band; and never omit kindness of any kind


Thou shalt not neglect to make thy per
son and thy home attractive-that wher
thy husband cometh from his daily toll
or business care, thy cheering looks of loving
welcome may greet his footsteps at the cot
tage door, and charm him into forgetful
ness of all but thee. And should he be
unfortunate-as many are-thou shalt moi
increase his sorrows-as many do-by
weeping but with all thy noblest sympathy
and womanly love, seek to lift the heavy
burden from his manly heart; and thus re
uewed, again to dare the rugged and slip
perry steep that leads to fortune and success
-believeing "there's no such word as fail,
while thou art near to cheer him on, aDc
share with him the victory.
Year: 1861

The DECLARATION OF WAR.-Mr. Lin.
coins Inaugural Address is before our read.
ers-couched in the cool, unimpassioned,
deliberate language Of the fanatic, with the
purpose of pursuing the promptings Of fa-
naticism even to the dismemberment of the
Government with the horrors of civil war.
Virginia has the long looked.for and prom.
ised offering before her, and she has
more-she has the denial of all hope of
peace. Civil war must now come. Sec
tional war, declared by Mr.. Lincoln, awaits
only the signal gun from the insulted South
ern Confederacy, to light its borrid fires all
along the borders of Virginia No action
of our Convention can now maintain the
peace. She must fight! The liberty Of
choice is yet hers. She may march to the
contest with her sister States of the South,
or she mast march to the conflict against
them. I here is no middle course; there is
left no more peace; war must settle the
conflict; and the God Of battle give victory
to the right!


We must be invaded by Davis or by Lin.
coin. The former can rally fifty thousand
of the best and bravest sons of Virginia,
who will rush with willing hearts and ready
hands to the standard that tprotects the rights
and defends the honor of the South-for
every traitor heart that offers aid toLincoln
there will be many, many who will glory
in the opportunity to aveuget the treason by
sharp and certain death. Let not Vir-
ginians be arrayed against each other, and
since we cannot avoid war, let US determine
that together, as people of the same State,
we will defend each other, and preserve the
soil of the State from the polluting foot of
the Black Republican invader.


The question, 'where shall Virginia go?
is answered by Mr.. Lincoln. She must 60
to war-and she must decide with whom
she wars-whether with those who have
suffered her wrongs, or with those who have
inflicted her injuries.


Our ultimate destruction pales before the
present emergency. To war to arms is
now the cry, and when peace is declared, if
ever, in our day, Virginia may decide
where she will finally rest. But for the
present she has no choice left war with
Lincoln or war with Davis is the choice left
US. Read the inaugural carefully, and
then let every reader demand of his dele
gate in the Convention the prompt measures
of defence which it is now apparent We
must make.-Richmond Enquirer.
Year: 1861

TIE NEW YoRK MILIrARY.-The Tribune of
yesterday says: at 10 probable that the State re-
QUESTION will be allied without rssorting to draft
ing. The progress Of recruiting for the State has
hitherto been slow. The number Of uninspected
at the depot in this city does not reach GOO and
those at Albany and Elmira probably mott greater
number These, with the large number Of re-
cruih which viii offer In the country when th e
harvest 10 over, and the addition Of some of the
militia regiments which are reorganizinp. will
probably soon bring up the whole number Of men
TO 25 600"
Year: 1861

The Houston Telegraph publishes speech lately
delivered by Gen. Houston, from which we take the
following extract:


The trouble is upon us, and no matter how it
came, who brought it on, we have to meet it
Whether we have opposed this secession movement
or favored it. we must alike meet the consequences.
sought calm and prudent action. desired uni
ted and prepared South if we must leave the Union.
Entire cooperation may not now be possible, but
We have ample strength for the struggle if we hus
band it Alright. We must fight now whether we
are prepared or not.


My position was taken months since. Though |
opposed secession for the reasons mentioned, saw
that the policy of coercion could not be permitted
The attempt to stigmatze and crush out this revolu
hOn comprehending States and millions of people,
as a rebellion, would show that the administration
at Washington did not comprehend the vast issues
involved or refused to listen to the dictates OF rea-
son, justice, and humanity. A stubborn resort to
force, when moderation was necessary, would de-
sroy every hope of peace and the reconstruction OF
the Union.


Now that not only coercion, but vindictive war
about to be inaugurated, l stand ready to redeem
my pledge to tie people. Whether the Convention
acted right or wrong is not now the question:
Whether was treated justly unjustly is not now
10 be considered. Iput all that nnder my feet, and
there it shall stay. Let those who have stood by
me do the same, and let US all show that at time
when peril enyirons our beloved land, we know how
to be patriots and Texans.


Letus have no past except the glorious past, whose
heroic deeds shall stimulate US to resistance to op-
preston and wrong, and burying in the grave OF
Year: 1861

oblivion all our past difficulties let US go forward,
determined to yield the position which the peo-
pie have assumed until independence is ac-
knowledged, or, if not acknowledged, wrung from
our enemies by the force of our valor. 1t is time
to turn back now the people have put their hands
to the plow--they must 60 forward. To recede
would Se worse than ignominy. Better meet war
in its deadest shape, than cringe before an enemy
whose wrath we have invoked. / make no preten-
sons as to myself; | have yielded up Office and
sought retirement to preserve peace among our peo-
ple My services, perhaps are not important enough
to be desired; others are perhaps, more competent
to lead the people through this revolution l have
been with them through this fiery ordeal once and


know that with prudence and discipline their cour
age will surmount all obstacles. Should the tocsin
of war; calling forth the people to resist the invader
reach the retirement to which shall 60 will heed
neither the denunciations of my enemies nor the
charms Of my own freside; but will join the ranks
of my countrymeR to defend Texas once again
Then will ask those who have pursued me with
malignity, and who have denounced me as a traitor
to Texas and the South, to prove themselves more
true when the battle shock shall come. Old and
worn as l am, shall not be laggard. Though 9TH
may lead shall not scorn to follow, and though
may end life in the ranks, where commenced it,


shall feel that the post of duty is the post of honor


| have ever been conservative, was conservative
as long the Union laSted-am a conservative citi
zen of the Southern Confederacy and giving to the
constituted authorities of the country civil and mil
itary, and the government which majority of the
people have approved and acquiesced in, an honest
obedience, feel that shall do less than my duty,
did not press upon others the importance of re-
gardmg this the first duty of good citizen.
Year: 1861

It is hereby stipulated that free
ships shall give freedom to goods.
and that everything shall be deemed
to be free and exempt which shall be
found on board the ships belonging to
the citizens of either of the contract
ing parties, although the whole lading,
or any part thereof. should appertain
to the enemies Of either, contraband
Year: 1861

No higher or other duty shall be
imposed ON the importation into the
United States Of any article the
growth, produce, or manufacture of
Venezuela or of her fisheries; and no
higher or other duty shall be imposed
on tho importation into Venezuela Of
Year: 1861

This convention is concluded for


the term of eight years, dating from
the exchange Of the ratification and
il one year before the expiration Of
that period neither of the contracting
parties shall have announced. by an
official notification, its intention Ia
tho other to arrest the operations Of
said convention, it shall continue
binding for twelve months longer, and
SO on, from year to year, until the ex-
piration Of the twelve months which


will follow similar declaration, what.