smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1864

1t is a fact worthy of comment that while the
Democratic leaders constantly find fault with
the action of the Administration and Congress,
the Democratic members of the latter never orig
mate any sort ofimportant legislation. We can
not now recall with the exception of Mr. Pen
dleton's bill of any general interest or import
ance that has been introduced by Democratic
member. All the great measures of the session
all the leading notifications of committee s
bills-have come from the Union side of Con-
gress The quantity of anti-slavery legislation
is constantly complained of by the opposition,
being free from that would devote their atten-
ton to general legislation, but they do not do it.


1t is Senator Wilson natures the ambulance
corps BILL it is Mr.. Sumner provides for the
codification of the United States laws; it is Mr..
Hooper introduces the billJ Mr. Washburne the
Lieutenant General bill, etc. flour readers will
look into this subject they will be surprised at
the facts. If the Democratic members of Con-
gress do anything but make speeches and intro
duce political resolutions to trip up Republi-
cans, we have not become aware of the fact
And yet these are the men who complain that
everything is done wrong, and who called upon
the people to put them in Congress, that the
public administration could be rectifed. Now
that they are in Congress, they do nothing but
peddle vile politics. If everything is as bad as
they say, what field for reforml 1t may be
said that they are in minority and can do
nothing. But they do not try to do anything.
If they were to propose unquestionably useful
legislation, the Republicans would not be found
arrayed against it.-DetrOit Tribune
Year: 1864

We are thankful for at least one of dame FASH
sons freaks; she has turned her back upon low
necked dresses, and rather insists that collar
bones and shoulder blades shall be covered
1t is certainly great improvement-not only
because the study of anatomy in private parlors
is not desirable, and that American damsels are
apt to run to bone as some tall flowers do to
seed; and that spinsters of uncertain age fear
full of being outdone by their nieces, presented
such vast expanse of yellow neck and shoulder
to the view at evening parties as were calculat-
ed to alarm nervous people seriously; but be-
cause since custom obliged US to wear garments,
there can certainly be no reason why we should
leave the most delicate portion of our frame
without protection.


Plump shoulders and arms are pretty, but so
(let us Whisper are plump legs. The mother
who should fail to provide her daughter with
stockings would be considered a cruel wretch,
yet year ago she might neglect to cover her
chest and arms with impunity. We trust this
state of things is over. We hope the wisdom
which causes every prudent parent to protect
the pretty shoulders of her little girls with COM
Portable wooden sacques and capes will be ap-
preciated; that sense will conquer vanity, and
that in little while it will be as absurd to see
a woman in low -necked dress as it would to-
day to see man in low w-necked coat.-Su7a-
cIo,f T;,ooc
Year: 1864

A Cincinnati paper thus reports an incident
at the launch of the iron-clad Catawba in that
city on Wednesday:


cat the foot of Butler street great crowd was
gathered, and though those standing near the
waters edge were repeatedly ordered away they
returned whenever the policemen were called
elsewhere. At the moment the vessel was full
lily in the water an immense wave rolled shore
ward, instantly submerging one or two hundred
people, and carrying many of them off their feet
As it retreated, sight at once ludicrous and
Terrifying was presented. Women and child
rem were crawling up the muddy bank, wildly
clutching at each others heels; men were fiOun-
dering on their backs, and one individual, his
hat carried off by the undertOw, was frantically
hugging log, alternately footing and burrow-
ing in the mud, as the surf advanced and rece-
ded. Fortunately, the first wave was the larg-
est and most sudden, and all the bathers against
their will scrambled out of danger One bed
raggled individual said he didn't care pin fol
the wetting but he didn't like to miss the show.
He disappeared in a neighboring bar-room, and
probably launched little Catawba on his own
account into a region where there was no dan
ger of its displacing an overwhelming bulk oi
water"
Year: 1864

The Spirit of the Fair publishes three SON
nets by Mrs. Kemble with the following intro
duction:


''Lest any one, in reading the following no
BILE sonnets should have their pleasure marred,
though but for a moment, by misconceptiOn
of their meaning, a word of explanation may
not be out of place.


''The first poem is intended to speak for the
conservative aristocracies-those who caught
up and echoed the jeering cry of the London
Times, The Great Republic is no more :.
''The second is the wall of those true but faint
hearts who, also accepting as inevitable the ru-
in of this country, seeing in her going down not
a triumph. but the quenching of that star OF
redemption which they had prayed might one
day shine over the whole earth, bringing light
into all its dark places.


In the last, the writer, like another Miriam,
takes her 'timbrel in her hand and answers both
the sneer and the despair.


''We need only add that Mrs. Kemble in
the letter enclosing her verses says, that to rise
to the occasion she should need the pen of both
Milton and Wordsworth. "


FIRST SONNET.
She has gone down They shout it from afar,
Kings, Mobiles, Priests-all men of every race,
Whose lingering clogs Time swift relentless


pace.


She has gone down Our evil boding star


Rebellion, smitten with Rebellion sword,
Anarchy, done to death by slavery
Of Ancient Right, arrogant enemy,
Beneath hideOus cloud of civilwa


Strife such as heather slaughterers had ab.
horr'd.
The lawless band, who would call no maI


lord,


Spurning all wholesome curb, and dreaming


free


Her rabble rules licentious tyranny,
In the fierce splendor of her insOlent morn,
She has gone down-the worlds eternal scorn


SECOND SONNET.
She has gone down. Woe for the world and al
Its weary workers looking from afar


To the clear rising of that hopeful star,
Star of redemption to each weeping thrall
| OF POw'r decrepit, and of Rule outworn;
Beautiful dawning of that blessed morn,
Which was to bring leave for the poor to live,
To work and eat, to labor and to thrive,
And righteous room for all who nobly strive.
She has gone down Woe for the painting worlC
Back on its path of progress sternly hurl d.
Land of sufficient harvests for all dearth,
Home of all highest hopes-Time richest birth
Woe for the promised land of the whole Earth
THIRD SONNET.
Triumph not, fools-and weep not, ye faint
hearted;


Have We believed that the divine decree


Of Heav n had Civ n this people o er to per


ish
! Have ye believed that God would cease t.
cherish


This great New World of Christian liberty?
And that our light forever had departed?
| Nay-by the precious blood shed to redeem


The nation from its selfshness and sin,
By each true heart that burst in holy strife,
Leaving its kindred hearts to break through life
By all the tears that will not cease to stream


For ever, every desolate home within,
We will return to our appointed place,
First in the vanguard of the human race
London January 20, 1864.
Year: 1864

The Chicago Tribune publishes new ritual
of the Knights of the Golden Circle said to
have been adopted at meeting just heldin that
city. The Tribune says:


It's features are cuDningly and skillfully
drawn, and ifcarried out would perfect strong
and compact organization. The society is COM
posed Of clubs of ten, each acting under a chief
These clubs completely isolated and un-
known to each other. The chief of one club re-
ports back to the club where he was initiated.
and beyond these two clubs be is unacquainted
with the individual members of the Organiza-
ton These clubs composed of personal
friends of business men closely associated, so
that they may act i'll harmony or be readily
called together, and are provided with technical
signs, passwords, and grips, and each member
designated by number the chief being /, vice
chief 2, DC. All OF the minor details of the or
ganiZation and the programme for the develop
ment of its plans are shrewdly arranged and
| elaborated, and make when combined, a pow
erful secret society, the detection or suppression
of which would be well-nigh impossible. In
known to ITSELF it would work, nevertheless, in
complete harmony throughout its various ram
ifieations to the accomplishment Of its objects.


This organization has double object in view,
first, the election of COpperhead like McClell-
an or Vallandigham to the Presidency, by which
the independence of the rebels NAV be secured
with slavery restored to them; or falling in that
the kindling of civil war in the North, which
shall compass the same object, and to this end
these clubs are being extended all over Illinois,
and will rapidly spread through the other States.
This exposure viii serve to put Union men on
their guard, and thwart their diabolical schemes.
We are no alarmists but we warn loyal men of
the danger ahead, in the hope that by timely
action and energetic efforts the plOttings of this
l. l., g.


Here is a passage from the ritual"


We are against the determination of the white
race of the South, and against the universal
emancipation of the black race by Federal au-
thority. We are against the effort now making
to bring black labor IN competition with the Ia
Dor of the freemen Of Illinois, We are against
every Infringement of the rules of civilized war.
We are against the Administration of Abraham
Lincoln; and we believe that a policy looking
to peace, founded on good faith an honest inter-
pretation of the Constitution, and a real desire
to restore the former brotherhood of States and
sections, are the only means to reconstruct the
Union and save the Republic.
Year: 1864

The Copperhead outbreak in Coles county,
Illinois, is likely to result very disastrOusly to
the rebel sympathizers who were engaged in it.
Forty of their number heve been arrested, and
the work ofapprehension is still going on, whilst
a still greater number have fled from their homes
to wander like towards and criminals through
the land, or lie concealed where the officers OF
Justice may not be able to find them.


The manifestation ofsuch belligerent and dis
loyal spirit will not pay. No rebel symPathiz-
ing action stands the ghost of chance OF grow
ing to a serious head, in any loyal State The
most formidable example of that sort was ex-
hibited in the New York city riots of last year,
but it was movement that could not last, and
was made to recoil on its authors and abettors.
In Coles county, five or six unprOyoked mur-
ders were committed, for which the guilty will
be punished, but the crimes neither serve the
cause of the rebellion, nor effects the power Of
the Federal authority the weight of afeather,
Year: 1864

A large party of gentlemen were enjoying
themselves in a saloon, when one of them said
that he would like to make an "April Fool" of
his brother, who was not then present. A meth
cd was devised at once, and man was sent to
inform the absentee that his brother had been
killed in an atfray, and was lying in the saloon.
Ofcourse the story was told in a very pathetic
and earnest manner. When he arrived at the
saloon his brother was lying on the counter
with red scarf tied closely around his neck
He thought the red scarf was blood certainly,
and in terrible fit of excitement he demanded
the person who had slain his brother Here the
Joke should have been explained, but was car
ried little to far. Somebody who appreciated
the fun Immediately pointed to a man as the
guilty party. In a moment the enraged broth>
er drew revolver and shot him.
Year: 1864

1t is stated that JEFF. Davis has gone to
Georgia to head of Stephens and Brown in
their efforts to restore that State to the
Union. The situation in that direction, so
far as the rebel cause is concerned, is con-
sidered critical in the extreme. Nothing
less than Jeff's presence can reconcile the
citizens of the state to a longer endurence
OF the rebel yoke. Hoods army is also re-
ported to be in such state Of demoraliza-
ton that the presence of their President is
considered necessary to bring them up to
the fighting point,
Year: 1864

old assignment of quotas to tie state and
congressional districts. This mode Of
assessment, although affording relief TO
some towns, only increased the burden to
others, without relieving the real point OF
difficulty. 1t became necessary, there
fore, to apply to the War Department
for the necessary relief accordingly
made application, and succeeded in OBJ
tanning not only the proper reduction Of
the enrolment, but also the corresponding
reduction of the quota of the state, and
authority to apportion this to the several
towns entitled to the same, so as TO equal
ize the several congressional Districts
The number thus credited was seven
hundred and sixty seven men, which have
been properly distributed to the towns,
thus giving to many towns who bad al
ready promptly furnished their full quo
tas, large excess and credit to apply on
future calls, while at the same time those
towns which were unjustly burdened by
too excessive an assessment have been
properly and justly relieved.
Year: 1864

The total number in service on the 1st
of October, as near as can be ascertained
from the latest returns, is about twelve
thousand two bundled and fifty.


The total number raised since Oct. /,
1868, including 17th regiment and third
battery, aud credits not heretofore allow
ed is 14,020.


The state has thus furnished during
the past year more men than in any pre-
vious year since the commencement Of
the war. And the promptilude with
which they have been furnished, indicates
in most unmistakable language the deter
minaton of her people to vindicate the
power of the government in this great
struggle, and to favor vigorous proseeu-
ton of the war as the only sure means of
establishing a peace that shall be alike
honorable aud enduring.


AMENDMENI OE ENkOLLMkNIs l.


Previous to the call of the president
for five hundred thousand men in July
last, orders had been issued by the War
Department to the Acting Assistant Pro-
vost Marshal General of Vermont to
have the enrolment lists in the several
towns in the state properly revised and
corrected up to July lst, 1864. Notices
were accordingly published in several
newspapers in the state calling upon the
selectmen to see that the enrolment lists
were properly corrected. Upon the re-
turns thus made the quotas of the sever.
al towns were assessed. Owing, howev-
er, either TO the fact that the notices did
not reach all the towns, or to misunder-
standing and neglect on their part, great
discrepancies were found to exist when
the quotas were announced, and numer-
GUS applications were made to the Acting
Assistant Provost Marshal General for
the correction of these errors and the re-
duction of quotas. A careful examina-
ton into these complaints satisfied that
officer that there were just grounds for
them, aud that further opportunity sho'd
be given for correcting the lists. Ac>
on the oath day of August no.
tice was given to the towns to correct the
lists, and upon returns being made, it was
that the former enrolment
was too large by nearly five thousand,
and that consequently the state bad been
assessed by nearly eight hundred men
too many. A new assessment of quotas
was therefore ordered. The Acting As
sistant Provost Marshal General, how
ever, did not feel authorized to make any
or reduction of the general
quota assessed 20 the state at large, or to
the several Congressional Districts.-
Consequently the new assessment to
towns was made upon the amended en-
still retaining tue basis Of The
Year: 1864




The penc,ant of abolitionists for mixing
or say here, met with Just rebuke from
the men Of the gallant 10th regiment, which
arrived here yesterday. The committee of
reception, too niggardly to employ white
band, or wishing to exhibit their affection
for their sable brethren, by having them
continually at their right hand, insulted the
returning heroes, fresh from the battle
fields of the rebellion, by calling out negro
band to assist in this reception. This is the
appreciation abolitionistshave of our brave
soldiers. They do not consider them so good
as negroes, and put the latter foremost in a
public reception. 1t was brutal insult,
and was felt as such by the indignant SOL
diers. They very properly refused to march
after the negro band, and the officers were
compelled to drive the men into the ranks
at the point of the sword. But after arriv-
ing on the avenue the men rebelled and re-
fused to march another step after the band.
The consequence was, the procession broke
up in confusion. The men made their way
in squads to the different hotels where they
were assigned for breakfast The band,
minus followers, except crowd of negro
urchins, of various sizes, brought up in
front of the Railroad Hotel. A number
of the men were quartered here, and
| Cne more Jney renecCed upon the insult That
had been offered them, the greater became
their Indignation. They may have been
nothing but common soldiers, used to the
hardships of the field and the wild terrors
of the battle, but they still had some linger-
ing belief that they were as good as ne
groes. 1t would have taken but a spark
to ignite the fires of Indignation that were
smouldering in the breasts of the soldiers,
and they would have ''cleaned" out the
band, who were hanging around the portico
of the hotel, evidently thinking their
services were to be still further required
But the committee who employed them
had probably retired to their closets to
reflect upon their generous treatment of
the returned soldiers-at least none of them
were to be seen upon the streets. The
band, seeing that matters were fast assum-
ing threatening aspect in their locality,
thought it advisable to make the best of
their way back to camp. AS they turned
to skedaddle, the soldiers pelted them with
rotten apples, and jeered them, and called
after them with no very complimentary
epithets. 1t was no fault of the members
of the band, but of a certain woolly headed
member of the committee of reception,
whose chief characteristics seem to be
penuriousness and love for the negro.
Year: 1864

worthless. They will neither buy supplies
nor labor, the Examiner says, and mechan-
les will not work unless they are paid in
provisions. Even the government can get
supplies only BY collecting taxes in kind
and allowing the most exhOrbitant prices.
The Enquirer finds it impossible to determ-
inc what will be the upshot Of this absolute
break down Of the currency aud to add to
the general distress and dissatisfaction, at
least sixty Thousand people In Virginia are
reduced to PauperiSm and depend on the
state for support. Having thus used up
their last dollar and put their last man into
the field, the question becomes a serieus
one TO the rebels how long they can go on
in this way. And the inference from these
facts to be drawn by every loyal man, Is
that this Is no time to talk about or vote
for armistice and negotiation. Hold on a
little longer, and the shabby concern will
collapse in irretrivabIe ruin.
Year: 1864

BAn attempt was made on Wednesday
last to launch the ocean monitor Puritan at
New York, but she stuck to the wars aad
the attempt failed. Another effort will bo
made a. soon aa proper machinery can be
perfected.
Year: 1864

% Section one Of article two is hereby amend
ed by adding at the end thereof the following
words " Provided that in time OF war, no cleo
tor in the actual military service Of the United
States, in the army or navy thereof, shall be de-
prived Of his vote by reason Of his absence FROM
the State; and the legislature shall have power
to provide the manner in which, and the time
and places at which such absent electors may
vote, and for the canvass and returns Of their
votes in the election districts in which they res
pectiyely reside or otherwise


The above is the amendment to the consti-
tuition of the State Of New York on which
a vote was cast on TUESDAY, March s. Its
adoption by an immense majority Is un-
doubted, though it will require some days to
sum up the returns officially. To make this
amendment the following steps had to be
taken. lst. \ majority vote Of all the
members elected to each branch OF the Leg
lslature was given for it in 1868. %. The
vote with a record of the yeas and nays had
to be entered on the journals and referred to
the Legislature Of 1864, and published three
months previous to the election Of members
to the same. 3D. 1t had to be agreed to by
a majority of all the members elected to each
House Of the said Legislature of 1864. 4th


Il had then to be submitted 10 the people
and to receive a majority Of all the votes
cast. Surely all those precautions seem
abundant against hasty and in considerate ac-
ton With the exception Of the expense Of
publishing the proposed amendment and
Iaying for the services Of some Of the Off
GERS charged with the oversight Of the cleo
ton and canyassing the returns, it has cost
the Treasury Of the State nothing at all to
make it. Yet. here, in our little State Of
Vermont, we yet keep up the stupid and
worthless i. Council Of Ccnsors' arrange
meut, which once in seven years brings along
a considerable expenditure from tine Treasu-
~. whether needed or not. and then keeps
the people from voting directly on what Is
proposed. If Vermont had any common
sense mode of getting at an amendment Of
her constitution, her own brave citizen sol
diers-temporarily absent from the State at
the call Of the national government, and
fighting To save their country from dis
ruption and ruin-could be enabled 10 vote
as well as their companions from New York
Year: 1864

Among the prospects held up before US by
Mr.. Phillips in his recent lecture, was that
of an assumption by the [. 5. Government,
after the war, of the rebel war debt. His
reason for believing this to be probable is
that tlreHfy millions will purchase any Con-
gress. If 50, why does Mr. Phillips stop
there? If JEFF Davis, with twenty millions
of confederate paper, can bribe Congress to
saddle the country with the Confederate debt
in addition to its own proper burdens, with
another twenty he can procure the passage
OF an act making him perpetual Dictator of
the restored country and with like sum
another act disfranchising all wi have taken
up arms against the rebellion and coniiscat-
ing their property to pay pensions to thereb-
el veterans or put into his own pocket; and
so on ad hbiftnn How valuable such a com
forter as Mr.. Phillips, when the people need
cheering T. their work
Year: 1864

TIE letter of Hon. S. j. Chase disallowing
the use Of his name a. candidate Tor the
Presidency will he damper on the spirits of
those uniouists who have set their hearts on
ha wing some one other than Abraham Lin
coin occupy the Executive Mansion after the
4th of March 1865. Mr.. Chase refers to the
action of the Legislative Union Caucus OF
Ohio. He doubtless concludes that If the
sentiment of his own State i in favor of the
denomination Of Mr.. Lincoln 1t would be
folly for him to oppose it. There is re-
port that the result of that caucus was due
IN the withdrawal of the Chase men but
the Cincinnati Commercial states the mat
ter very differently. Some OF Mr.. Chase's