smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1863

The following extract from letter OF
private gentleman of New York, of great
intelligence and worth, but taking little
sharp in party politics, was written IN reply
to letter from an esteemed friend IN
Washington in relation to the political ques-
tons of the dag, and is published in the
National Intelligencer. The patriotic spirit
and enlightened views of the extract will
commend it to::all dispassionate rsaoers.


The rebellion must soon come to close
but il will leave us with tremendous issues,
and the wisdom, patriotism, and energy o.
all classes will be severely tried to maintain
the status # the checks and balances OF the
Constitution, without which ell will be los
which freemen regard worth preserving in


Your letter is worthy of the best days o
our nation, and its conservative tone AM
practical suggestions cannot tai! to IND


response every where. The sentiments yo'
express are catholic and do not belong t
sny party. God knows Democrat as an
Of this most Incorporating cast} | sheai


be glad if the Republican party would b
Year: 1863

number of men, who were already shouting


their cry of victory. And although this


had been pronounced badly whipped army,


by commanding general itoo, and although


the other generals had left the field-in
defiance of this he rallied his men and
punished the enemy so severely that he did
not attack us all yesterday. And had he
only had some fresh troops yesterday we
might have attacked and routed the enc
my.


/ was on the field issuing rations to the
men yesterday morning when Gen. Thomas
rode along the line. 1t was tho first rest,
and almost the first thing the men had had
to eat for two days and nights; but they
left everything and rushed around the
general with yell He stopped, took off
his hat, and thanked them for the way they
had behaved. They gave him three hearty
cheers as he started to ride of, but he had
got but few steps when they surrounded
him again-they could not let him go. 1t
was a truly affecting sight-this, his old
division gathering around him in this way.
He took off his hat and said, "Well, men,
as soon as we get little bread and meat
and some more ammunition we will be
ready for them again" They made no gen.
eral attack yesterday, but felt around our
lines little and threw some shell around
near enough to some of us to make US
change our front, but believe no one was
hurt.


Our division in the two days fight lost
about 4,4O0 out of less than 5000, and
but very few of them were captured. So
you NAV know they were in the thickest OF
it, but they never fell back an inch unless
ordered to. They never took a position
that they did not hold until relieved. In
the third brigade of our division there was
uot mounted officer, except two, but what
had his horse shot; some of the officers had
their horses shot under them.
Year: 1863

. Editors who are now supporting the rad
ical policy of the administration with ear
nestness and vehemence, were, thirteer
months ago, firmly convinced that it woulo
result precisely as it has resulted ia COM
plete failure. The Boston Journal lead
ing Republican organ, declared that, to pro
claim the policy Of emancipation, would
crush out all hope of the reconstruction o
the Union Here is what it said only a
short time before the proclamation was
issued:


The objects of the war have been repeat
edly avowed in the most deliberate manner
by Congress; by the President, by members
of the Cabinet, and by the commanding
generals in the field. In the language OF
the resolutions of Congress, passed with but
two dissenting votes, ''the war is not waged
for conquest or subjugation, or for interfe-
ring with the rights of established institu'
tions Ct the States, but to maintain and
defend the supremacy Of the Constitution
with their rights and equality under it un
impaired" In the comprehensive language
of Seer etary Chase, 'the object of he war
is the security of liberty, the supremacy OF
the laws, the defense of the Union, and the
maintenance of popular Institutions" The
President has solemnly expressed his desire
to preserve the government, that 1t may
be administered for all as it was by
the men that made it. Loyal cit
izens have a right to claim this
cf their government, aud the g"rernment
has no right to withholdor neglect it,
Here is the war porlicy of the government
clearly defined by an administration ssct-
ed by Republicans, and by a Congress con
trelled by them, and no convention, made
up in whole or in part of Republicans, has
proposed to enlarge the proportions of the
war or to dictate new policy. The ind-
vidual, however high in his political stand
ing, who advocates a different policy, is just
as much ouside of the administration party
as the Democrat would have been last year
in urging the policy of excluding slavery
from the territories. We must limit tue
war to the purpose SO distinctly avowed by
ty the President, or the sun of our national
prosperity will set in darkness and gloom,
to rise again, if at all, only alter years OF
bloodshed and anarchy. Proclaim the
policy of emancipation, and all hope of the
reconstruction of the Union will be crushed
out 1t will come to this, that we must
subiugate or be subjugated The people OF
the South would defend their homes and
their fresides to the last extremity, as we
should do if the chances of war should "a
vor them. The present generation woulc
not see the end Of such contest, unless
the North should be conquered and sub
dued by foreign bayonets or internal dis
sentions. From such war We may vel
pray to be delivered.
Year: 1863

/ adopting them ever perpetuate their power
But I fear that with tthe exception OF Mn
and few more (Yery few) Of tha


party they will not be able to Withstand tn


terrible pressure Of their radical element.
fear that we are entering into o contest


with radicalism, and that the love ofpoweI


will produce dangerous element when ad


ded to the combustible material already


melting fanaticism. The conservative ele'


ment is always less active than radicalism-
and the wicked rebellion, for obvious rea-


sons, produces greater disparity in their re-


lative power with the masses. Good men,
fearing to encourage anything like an ap-


proach to sympathy with rebels go to the
opposite extreme for measures really tend
ing to protract the power Of the rebel lead
ers, and hence the loyal sentiment in the
Border States has been greatly impaired
while the love of the Union is crushed out
altogether in secession States. The strug-
gle will soon be, l fear, whether the South
will be permitted to return or not, and
whether our Government shall bea central


lied one like that of France, or whether
We shall continue the glorious form lnltlat-
ed byWashington and illustrated by Web
ster, Clay, Wright, and hosts OF worthies
of both parties, whose patriotism and wis
dom still illuminate the dark horizon of our
country. ..-.--- II. r.


No American can visit Europe, as friend
recently returned from abroad tells me,
without coming home more impressed than
ever with the value of our glorious heritage,
and with horror in the contemplation OF
secession, abolition, and every other form
of wicked heresy against that almost divine
instrument, our Constitution: and it al
most makes my blood boil with Indignation
when hear the fippant or designing re-
marks of men in power, tending to under
value its force in any particular. -


1t is an instructive fact that the rebellion
has received its most potent blows under
the constitutional power of the Govern
ment, and in no case has departure from
the Constitution had any other effect than
the loyal sentiment of the North and to
prevent an expression of loyal sentiment at
the South .-1-. -- .--s--
Year: 1863

MADAME BIsHoP.-This uarivalled can
tatrice will favor our citizens with one Of
her unrivalled concerts on next Monday
and Tuesday evening. assisted by her
daughter. who has just completed her
musical education in Europe. Our citi-
sens may. therefore. expect a musical
treat, such as they have not enjoyed for
some time.


The Chicago Post pays her the follow
ing well merited compliment on the occa-
sion Of her recent visit to that city:


"Madame Bishops singing is as sweet
and powerful as when she first appeared
before Chicago audience thirteen years
ago. Her voice increases in fullness and
sweetness, and she certainly sings with
more vigor and passion and enthusiasm
than she ever did before. She seems to
have taken a new lease of life her exist
ence is retrograding, and we shall expect to
see her by and by in the bloom Of girl
hood. She becomes younger and more
beautiful apparently every day. In all
the concerts this lady has ever given,
from the date of her debut up to the pres
ent time. we do not believe that ever a
Listener was dissatfed. And in all our
experience we do not remember 10 have
seen an audience more enraptured than
the one which greeted her appearance
here last evening Her very soul seems
to enter into the spirit of the music, and
every fibre of the body is attuned to the
melody of her fine voice. In her sympa-
thetic songs she appeals to the feeli gs in
manner almost startling, while her grace
of aclionsis charming to the beholder and
every movement corresponds with the
spirit and sentiment of the song, and Of
ten as the rich notes die away, like an
-Eoliau harp, or the weird song Of
some sweet singing bird, the sudito
can nearly imagine that he is in q wild
dream. or transported to some mystic
realm of immortal delights Then again,


eaping like cataract, the "small voice"
rises to the furiously sublime, aud you
are carried away By grand tornado Of
melody that fires the soul and kindles en-
thusiasm, till you are ready to crown
yourself and everybody else hero. She
is, in fact, the very embodiment of music.
Her face and grace are musical, and she
is all that was ever dreamed, or though,
or sung of music"
Year: 1863

Editors Gate City: / notice in an
"appeal to the Union ladies Of Keokuk"
by "Friend TO the Good Cause" that
the proceeds Of the "Union Socials" last
winter kept many women and children
from starvation, and that the "commit-
tee have tried to start them this fall but
have as yet been unable to obtain suit
able hall, because the Odd Fellows Hall
is not vacated to the great inconvenience
of the members Of that imehonored and
benevolent society, who generously gave
the use of their hall to charitable purpo-
ses last winter, and cheerfully submitted
to several Interruptions to their organixa-
tions, bu. at the time it was not supposed
for a moment that the COMMITTEE would
ride free horse to death" by making
permanent use of our hall to the exclu.
sion of our society. while other halls stood
vacant, and could have been had for the
asking. Now are we reaping the fruits
of our generosity last winter by the
charge abainst US of excepting food and
clothing from our soldiers wives and
children" What base and malicious
charge. We contribute in our individu-
al and official capacities, as much to char
liable purposes as our purses will allow;
nor do we herald an act of kindness to
the world. The charge is base from the
fact that if the committee is sincere in
their self-sacri6cing benevolence they
would not parley about this hall, or that
hall, while our beings are suffering
from want and attention; but 90 into ev-
cry ward in the city, organize societies
in School Houses, Burrows Hall, Nc


Cune's Hall, or any where else, rather
than settle down on the getting of the Odd
Fellows Hall. 1t is malicious and arbi-
trary from the fact that the committee
would make a forced contribution of our
hall through fear of public opinion. for
they say "we must have it, 1t is un-
reasonable to be SO exacting with US; we
ought to labor harmoniously together for
the amelioration of the human family. =
The field is large enough. The war has
taxed our fraternity as other families,
and we have our soldiers families to sup
ply and attend too, as well as to dispense
charity and contribution to others. One
who claims to be an ODD FELLOW.
Year: 1863

E The destruction Of the lumber
yard and the fire in the carpenter shop
on Exchange street, indicates that there
is q set of scamps abroad who are bent on
the destruction of property by fire. II
would be we'll for our citizens to look oul
for the scamps.
Year: 1863

BREEzY.-Ye esterday was slightly blowy,
throwing dust and gravel over the clothes
of pedestrians without mercy. The
slight rain which we had on "Wednesday
morning hardly had the effect Of Stacking
the dust, which lies heavy on our streets
since the perseverance man. has stopped
his sprinkler.
Year: 1863

nn- Our packing houses are now in
full blast again, and they are all running
a full set of hands we understand. The
weather is now very favorable for slaugh-
tering and they are all improving it.
Year: 1863

ENLIsT.-Those who voluntarily enlist
in the next few weeks in the army OF the
old or new infantry, cavalry or artillery
companies or regiments will be entitled
to the large bounties of money, etc., Of
fered by the government. Those failing
to enlist may have to go as conscripts
when the time of the draft rolls around
Then they can whistle for their bounty.
Be wise in time-"'ti folly to delay"
Year: 1863

The New EMPIRE IN CHNA-There have been
for some time past q number Of adventurous
Yankees In China fighting to aid in putting
down the big Chinese rebellion. England and
France have been not little jealous Of the en-
terprise of these Americans, and they interfered
ct Pekin to the injury of Yankee influence.
The result was that after the death of Ward,
the great American Mandarin, the Emperor
became opposed to Burgevine, an officer who
had always been the companion Of wsrd in his
campaigns. He tried to arrange the matter
with the Emperor, but could not 30 one fine
morning he coolly marshalled his body of two
or three hundred trained soldiers and went
over TO the rebels. The Emperor has thus put
his foot into o serious scrape, and he s natu-
rally greatly terrified at the probable result Of
Burgevine's secession, having already offered q
reward Of three thousand taels for his appre-
hension. dead or alive. There Is no doubt that
this bold American will gather strong party
around him, and unless the Emperor looks very
sharp be will beat him in the Celestial war;
and then England and France will be still
more sstouishsd TO find that Russia and Ame-
rica are carrying everything before them 10
China
Year: 1863

The CALL FOR voLuNrEERs.-The response
to the Presidents call for three hundred thou
sand volunteers is likely to be all that could be
wished, and it is not at all improbable that New
York State will be ahead of all others in fur
nishing her quota. The .bounties offered are
most liberal. The veteran volunteer who has
served before will receive the sum OF s402, and
those who have not been in the service 1902,
which sums will be paid in eight regular install
ments during the term Of service-the first being
paid before leaving the rendezvous and the last
at the expiration of the three years for which
volunteers are called into the field. With these
inducements there cannot be much difficulty
in raising the required number But the 60
vernment should see that these bounties are
faithfully and punctually paid. There must be
no distrust in the mind OF the volunteer or his
family upon that point. Nor should bounty
agents-those middle men who stand between
the government and the VOLUNTEER, and who for
the most part are mere sharks and shysters-
be tolerated under sny circumstances. They
should be stunned and discouraged. Let the
money come from direct source to the volun-
teer, undiminished by any fees or impostions,
and all will be we'll.


Gov. Seymour has appointed committees in
each Assembly district to act with the recruiting
agents Of the Provost Marshal and dsburse the
State bounty of SIS to each recruit. Now that
the hustle Of the election Is over, and we have
shaken of the dust Of local politics, recruiting
for the national cause will no doubt commence
with earnestness all through the State, and the
quota Of one hundred and eight thousand will
be forthcoming by the 9th Of January.


The official returns show that the govern.
ment has raised, for the different terms Of SER
vice, up to the lst Of January, 1868, no less
than l,276,246 volunteers; and this without
counting the enlistments In California, Virginia,
Tennessee, Maryland and Delaware, from which
States no returns have yet been made There
are plenty moro men where these came from,
and II proper care Is taken 10 fu6l the pro-
mises held out in the shape OF bounties We shal l
see three hundred thousand fresh troops in the
6eld and ready for action before spring opens.
These men will not have much fighting 70 do;
Year: 1863

The GREAT BOsToMAN ExcrTEMEHr.-The Boz.
ton people have had sensation. The @Hub d
the Universe" has been in state of ecstsey X
has not been about bsnquets and balls in honor
of the Russians, nor about the elections, nos
about sending twenty or thirty thousand troops
to the relief of Pennsylvania, nor about any.
thing of this kind. Their sensation was aaf
about an organ, and may we'll be said to be
organic in its way. The organ was inaugurated
at their Music Hall; and so anxious were they
that the place should be filed that they sent
out invitations on all sides. They had ne
less than two or three hundred from New York
Well, the organ was very big one, and the
affair altogether was big one-for Boston.
Year: 1863

reasons for this shelving q General Rosecranl
short Of an invesHgasioA Of his late campaisp
BY the Congressional Committee On the Con
duct Of the War; and such a investigation.
We guess, In Difference to General Halleck, will
be indefinitely postponed
Year: 1863

BALLooHNa IN EURoPz-Two or three bal.
loon ascents have recently been made in Lon
don, and grand one In Paris, under the aus
pices Of the Emperor. His Majesty carefully
examined tho machine and all Its parapherna-


lia before 1t went up; and hs must have bees
somewhat astonished to hear that it had CONS
down so soon after with such violence. He
has. however, sent up another balloon, whIch
y ill shortly come down in the same way We
enpect that his Mexican expedition will share
the same fate as the Giant balloon-come down
with q smash, to the peril Of the life Of every
one in the car II the Emperor be shrewd b
will save his balloon by getting out Of the way
in time; and by giving up baliooning alto
gether in France, as well - in Mexico, he win
stand q better chance with the universal Yen
kee nation.
Year: 1863

UNCONDITIONAL SuRREsDER.--Thrs
gentlemen sportsmen on last Sabbath
morning Obtained horse and wagon, and
went some eight miles out on the plank
road to make war on the young prairie
chickens. They opened the gate Of .
farmer and drove into his meadow and
commenced shooting rather promiscuous-
iy. when the farmar and his ixn sons came
out and demanded an unconditional sur.
render Of their horse and wagon, and
their Immediate evacuation OF his grounds
The horse and wagon were ukrn to the
bsro, and the young gentlemen started
for Summi'vills to consult fricnd N to
so'ss nesns Of obtaining the home
This gentleman went to the farmer for
them 70 Try and obtain the team bu, it
vas Of no ass,l. The farmer refused to
give them up. and they were forcvd to
return on foot.


On Monday the owner Of the team, With
an attorney vent out and brought them
home.


l should think this would 30 . warn
ing TO sportsmen not to trssspass on
farms BY shooting gsme before it 10 large
enough. and espscislly on the sabbath
day, a. is often done BY the young men
of this city.


A Member OF the shooting club.
Year: 1863

B-The London Star makes the following
gratifying assertions respecting the feelings of
the English people:


More than two months ago, Lord Russell
expressed TO Mr.. Adams his belief that Eng
lsh sympathy, as tested by popular meetings,
would still be found to be upon the side of the
United States The belief did credit to his
lordship's sagacity and knowledge of his coun-
trymen. He might have made the statement
in much stronger terms, and yet have fallen
short of the truth. He might have said that
in all public assemblages an overwhelming
preponderance of sentiment would be mani
tested for the North. The experiment has
been made, and with degree of success that
must have surprised some of its promoters
Wherever vote has been taken upon the
question, the sympathizers with the South
have numbered one in hundred.


In most instances, and in assemblies of the
largest dimensions, the cause of the North has
been sustained with absolute unanimity and
enthusiasm. There were three such meetings
on Wednesday night-the eve of the day on
which the Proclamation of Freedom was TO
take effect. The great Free-trade Hall at
Manchester, the Temperance Hall at Sheffield
and one of the largest places ofpubc meeting
in London, were crowded with working men,
who adopted by acclamation addresses to
President Lincoln, in support of his anti
slavery policy. Nearly every day for the last
month or two we have had to record some
similar demonstrations of opinion. These
meetings have been held in various parts of
the country-in the suffering cotton districts,
as well as in the prosperous towns Of the mid
land or the southern counties, and there has
been not single exception to the prevailing
sentiment.


No where have the advocates of the Con-
iederacy obtained as many supporters as there
are slave States. They have been left in the
most ignomnious minorities whenever they
have yentured upon presenting even an
amendment that affected to censure the North
for lack of anti-slavery earnestness. OF course
it will be said that these meetings do not fairly
represent the divided state of public opinion
that they are attended mainly by people who
concur with the objects announced, and that
the bulk of those who dissent choose 10 stay
away. But they at least show that there is a
powerful and active sympathy in the public
mind with a cause that has been alleged to
have no friends in England, and the adherents
of the other cause are bound TO attempt coun-
ter demonstrations if they deny the conclu-
siveness of these"
Year: 1863

BRAVERY OF UNION SoLDIERs.-A Prus-
sian officer of rank, who witnessed the late
battle at Fredericksburg, has declared to sew
eral of our higher officers that he never saw
troops march up to storm batteries in face of
such dreadful fire as did our troops at the
late battle. He expressed admiration at the
excellent order in which the several divisions
advanced under fire, and the obstinacy with
which the battle was contested on both sides,
and said that no such severe fighting had been
done IN any OF the European wars within the
last twelve years. This officer was at the bat
ties of Solferino and in the Crimean war at
Sebastopol and says that the French and Eng
lish troops in those campaigns never displayed
more daring and good fighting qualities than
did our troops. This testimony, coming from
high and disinterested source, is worthy
tribute to the bravery of our patriotic Union
soldiers.
Year: 1863

sB-Spain has an earnest horror against the
slave trade with Cuba. 1t has sent nine steam
schooners to cruise arouid the island, and pre-
vent the landing of the slaves; and the present
eaptain-general of the island is in sympathy
with the wishes aud movement of the home
government. This is the best news concerning
the slave trade we have had for long while.
Year: 1863

of the present nine-tenths fineness, but of re-
duced weight, and of legal tender to the
amount OF five or ten dollars. The new pieces
would, of course, be not worth that much
abroad but they would be at home, which is
all that we are concerned about"