smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1862

CHRISTMAS was very quietly observed here.
Mass was celebrated at the Catholic Church, COM
mencing at II O'Clock the night previous a
large audience witnessed the impressive ceremo'
nies. During the afternoon most business places
were closed-even the printers rested from their
labors In the evening the young people of the
place had merry dance at the Tbeater, where
the young ladies INDUCED in the pleasant pass
time Of steamboating' their partners-at least
that is what one mischievous Miss termed it,
What we most enjoyed was "Christmas CAROL
in the evening, sung by party Of our English
friends, in their pleasant and peculiar style. Ma
ny private residences were decorated in the old
time Christmas STYLE and we felt like exclaiming
with Florence Percy" as we saw the little peo-
pie hover round the Christmas Tree, anxious for
the time to come when it should be relieved OF
its load,


g Backward, turn backward o Time IN your flight


Make Il child again, just for tonight J"
Year: 1862

In EARNEsT,-We are making out the bills of
all delinquents for subscription to this Office
The new subscription year of the JOURNAL will
commence on the 18th of January next, and on
that date all doubtful patrons will be stricken
from our list The great rise in paper and print
ing material makes this step necessary. We can.
not furnish papers any longer at the low rate of
So a year, unless we receive the amount in ad-
vance. We hope all delinquent patrons will see
the necessity of paying up old Indebtedness and
taking fresh start by settling for years sub
scription in advance.
Year: 1862

Bring ON Your WoRK.-We have fine lot of
new printing material and paper OF all kinds on
the way, and in short time will be prepared to
do any kind of job work our patrons may desire.
Hereafter all job work must be paid for on de-
lVnrV-
Year: 1862

CARHIERs ADDRESS, On New Years morning
our carrier, Master c. w. Craig, will wait upon
the patrons of the JOURNAL with New Years
Address AS it is something new to our people,
we will merely state that when we delivered our
first Carriers Address to the patrons of the
Goshen Democrat and Wing, fifteen years ago the
first of the coming month, we returned home with
plentiful supply of the good things incident to
holiday times and "pocket full of rocks" In
behalf of the Carrier we trust this hint will be
sufficient.
Year: 1862

A good many interior members are In town.
The Senatorial question is somewhat mixed. II
is remarked that all the members who have made
the pilgrimage to the "Mariposa Estate" have
returned enthusiastic Park men. But my time
and paper are at an end. TRINITY.
Year: 1862

Whether slavery is u source Of strength or
weakness to country engaged in war, 10 Q
question that was much discussed at the begin
ming Of our great rebellion. Whatever differ
ence Of opinion there formerly existed on the
subject, we presume that most men are now
agreed that slavery has been source Of strength
10 the SebeIs. Il has furnished them with good
laborers, upon whose productions the South has
lived we'll during sixteen months of actual hos.
tllitiss; and 1t has also furnished the Southern
armies with men TO do much Of that hard
drudgery which forms the antithesis to the ro-
nance of war.


Twelve or fifteen months ago, what Is here
accepted as sober truth would have been secuted
as the height Of absurdity by large majority
Of the Northern people. In fact, public opinion
in regard to this one subject, slavery az ga
source Of strength" has undergone complete
revolution. Almost everybody Is willing to
admit that this element In Southern society
was supposed to be the weak point-it was the
magazine which only needed to be fred to blow
in pieces the whole social organization. AZ II
to CONFIRM this view, suppositious accounts oi
slave insurrectlons were published In come ol
the radical newspapers at the outbreak of thu
rebellion, but since then the discovery has beer
made that slaves are q very different sort o
stuff. We have much more to learn on relevsn
topios.-M Y. Journal of Commerce.
Year: 1862

=" 1t is always darkest just before day.n This is
an old and true saying, full of promise and cheer
fulness. We of the South are just now in the
darkest hour of our trials, but day will soon break,
and the sun Of perfect independence will soon
shine brightly upon our fair and beautiful land.
That all this will be realized in the not remote
future We sincerely believe.


The Fishing Creek reverse, the capture of Fort
Henry, and the raid of Lincoln's gunboats down
the Tennessee river, described in the telegraphic
columns, have had depressing effect upon those
inclined to take O. sombre view of affairs. This
has not been the case with US. We are just as
confident and hopeful as ever, although we are un.
able to comprehend the strategy or policy which
left so important sire am comparatively unde.
Tended. There may be something behind the
curtain of which we are unaware, but we must
confess that it Is all inexplicable to US. We do
not however place full faith in the kilograms and
think it more than probable that later intelligence
will put another face upon the matter.


The Tennessee may fall as rapidly as it has risen,
and when it begins to fall the enemy's gunboats
will have to make haste to get out of the river or
else they will be left aground, to become an easy
prey to our forces. In the meantime they may do
great deal of wanton damage, by destroying un.
protected property. They have peculiar talent
in that way. 1t is the kind of warfare they are
adopts in. In sheiling helpless villages and firing
farm houses they are proficient fet if they vent
ure on shore, unless with an overwhelming force,
we venture they will be badly whipped. Thus far,
they have been defeated on land in every action
that has taken place, with the exception of the
conflicts at Rich Mountain and Fishing Creek, and
in both of those their forces vastly outnumbered
the Confederate troops. With an army of hun
dreds of thousands they have won two unimportant
battles, and with tremendous fleets they have az
yet done nothing of consequence. Their prepara.
tons for land and sea operations have been on
gigantic scale, but the results thus far have been
sngularly SMALL The difference between their
promises and performances has been remarkably
great.


The enemy is gathering his strength for one
mighty, combined effort, on all our borders, both
by land and sea. He must strike, and within a
brief period. This he would have done long ago
but for the inclemeney of the weather and the
badness of the roads. As soon as the roads will
admit of the passage of armies the effort will be
made. He may succeed at some given point
but he will be defeated in majority of instances,
which will be tantamount to defeat at all. The
loss of one pitched battle would break the back
bone OF McClellan's combination, and the folds of
their boasted " anaconda " would begin instantly
to relax. To aid in bringing about this desirable
result all the assistance in men and means, that
can possibly be obtained, should be placed at the
disposal of the proper military authorities with the
least possible delay. The next sixty days will
bring forth mighty events, in all human probability.
Year: 1862

SOUTHERN CURRENCY AT THE NORTH.


gentleman just from the United States informs
that the OF Georgia, Alabama North Carolina and
South Carolina banks discount OF only fvo per
cent and that Virginia bank notes are from fifteen TO
twenty Der cent discount This is q great Improvement
on fifty and sixty per cent discount and indicates that
feeling early entertained by the brokers Of tho
United states the best baroneters OF national storms


Our informant says that he tod that Confederate
notes would at about the same discount Of five per
cent II they could be dealt in The cause Of the dfe
between Virginia other Southern States Is said
TO be because Virginia "deeper and her territory
wasted and destroyed than any Of the other
from the state Of Southern money in the markets
Year: 1862

FRUITS OF THE SESSION or THE STATE LEGrs-
LAruRE.--In another part of this days HERALD
we publish list of the bills passed by the Le-
gslature of this State and signed by the Go.
vernon during the session which has just expir-
cd. They number nearly five hundred, or
about five on an average for each day Of the
session. If the merits Of the legislators were to
be estimated by the amount of the work they
have done, and not by its quality, they would
be entitled to tho highest praise. The tendency
in recent years Is to Increase and multiply
legislation without end. The We men Of other
days believed that The smalles. possible amount
of legislation was desirable, on the principle
that to govern best il 10 govern least In these
times bills are passed ignorantly, thoughtlcssly
or by fraud and corruption. In q short time
they are repealed; and then again the repeal.
ing act Is repealed. And 10 this vicious circle
is run from one session 20 another. How few
really vital and valuable measures are ever
adopted by the Legislature. In the mass Of
chaff which Is the fruit Of the present session.
how many grains Of wheat can be found Be-
fore we have q Legislature competent TO make
laws for tho great Empire State Of the Union
the people must take more pains In the seiec-
ton of the men who represent them at tho
State Capitol than they have hitherto done.
They must get rid of the ignorant degraded
and corrupt mon who Disgrace the halls OF
legislation; and they must take care TO elect
men Of intelligence, edusation and integrity.
Then, and not till then, yfll matters 60 right.
But, to accomplish this, oil good men mus, take
an active part In the elections, till the rowdies
and corruptionists arc routed from the primary
organizations, which are the. foul sources Of all
the evils which are inflicted on the country by
haA louislation.
Year: 1862

The GREAT OCEAN TELEaRAPH.-We publisi
this morning an interesting article on th,
present condition and prospects Of this grea.
enterprise, embracing an illustrated description
of the improvements made during the last fom
years in submarine cables, az exhibited in the
one which it is now proposed to submerge be
tween Ireland and Newfoundland, the termin
of the Atlantic Telegraph. From the facts pre-
sented twill be seen that the company have
received strong assurances Of aid from the
governments Of the United States and Great
Britain, and that this aid will be contribuI
ted in the form of a guaranteed interest Of four
per cent for period Of at least thirty years.
The capital which it is proposed to raise for a
renewal Of the undertaking Is seven hundred
thousand pounds sterling, or three and half
millions Of dollars; and this, it is presumed.
there would be no difficulty in obtaining on
the security afforded by the guarantee of the
two governments.


Previous to the Atlantic Telegraph expedi.
ton Of August, 1858, which ended in the
submersion Of the cable, there were
three problems to be solved before its ultimate
success could be regarded a. certain. The first
was the practicability Of laying GABLE across
vast tract Of water that measured from land
to land in Its narrowest practicable part NO
less than sixteen hundred and forty nautical
miles; the second was the manufacture of q
cable Of the required length, the conductor Of
which should be so perfectly insulated that its
covering would be entirely impervious to sea
water; and the third was to establish the pos
sibility of sending the electric current through
a conductor Of such great length.


All of these three problems, which were to
decide the final success of the enterprise, were
solved in the most satisfactory manner. The
mechanical difficulties in the way of submerg.
ing the cable were successfully overcome; the
material used in its manufacture as an insu.
lator secured the second important desideratum;
and the transmission of several messages through
the cable when laid, although it had been
injured before it was placed on board the YES
sells from which it was to be submerged set
tied the third point. Only one more problem
remains-the commercial success of the un.
dertaking. But the fact that there are no less
telegraph lines in Europe and America to
which tho Atlantic cable would be feeder
conclusively disposes of this last difficulty.
Should the governments Of the United States


and Great Britain agree, as there Is every rea-


son to believe they will, to guarantee the re-
quired interest on the specified capital, alargs
part Of the risk of laying the cable will be as


sumed by the manufacturers. In conclusion.


we may say that there Is good reason to war
rant the belief that such cable as we have
described will be laid some time during the
summer Of 1868.
Year: 1862

THE sLYING ARGUs."-The disposition to
falsify, to misrepresent, and to manufacture
falsehoods from whole cloth, is complaint
with the Argus that long since seems to have
become chronic. In its issue of yesterday
morning, in an article headed seen. McClel-
Ian and the radicals" after giving examples of
the New York Tribunes unfairness towards
and assaults upon the commanding General, it
says: "and net it Ithe Tribune has an en-
dorser in this rery city-the Daily Press"
Considering the spirit and intent of this re-
mark of the Argus-that it was intended to
make its readers regard the Daily Press,which
they do not see, is malignant assailer OF Gen.
Mcclellan, we pronounce it a base, malicious,
malignant, unmitigated falsehood, without one
element of truth to redeem it, and the author
of it vile culmniator and mischief-maker. He
kno,cs better. And while we are thus COM
plimenting this delectable sheet,we will add,
that within the last ten days we were told by
leading Democrat of the State; man whom
that paper supported for office at the last cleo
ton; a man who is cordial friend of Gen.
Mcclellan. and who can exhibit credential of
good standing with his party, that the Argus
would find it difficult to match by such
man we were assured that the Eastern Argus
was the most infamous and unprincipled pa
per that he knew of in the State; that it is con-
trolled by a set of malignants, of doubtful 10y
atty, and that he will do anything that is hon
orable in itself to destroy its perncious intlu-
ence in the State. The Argus is welcome TO
this compliment which it will have repeated
to it by the gentlemen himself, before many
weeks, unless we greatly mistake his spirit.


One word more: the Argus has on frequent
occasions polluted its columns with the foul
lie that the Daily Press is guilty of assaults up
on Gen. Mcclellan and the administration. The
readers of the Press know better; they know
our ground,-that the administration must be
upheld, and to this end, the military command
ers kept in the field by the administration, must
be sustained. In pursuance of this policy we
have not only refrained oursef from severe
criticisms upon our commanders, but we have
peremptorily excluded some correspondence
having that bearing. AS yet we have not kept
back articles complimentary to our military
men. We have published the most eulogstc
praises of Mcclellan and Others; when the
general tide set hard against Mcdowell we
gave place to a warm article in his favor, and
we have desired, if we erred at all. to err by
over praise, rather than by unjust censure.
Gen. Mcclellan needs no vindication of ours.
He is in position to take care of his own rep
utation. We think Ne is doing it nobly. We
ask no one else to think so because we do. But
if anything can possibly tend to tarnish the
briancy of his deeds, and to make the loyal
people suspicious ofhim, it is such heartless,
hypocritica, selfish eulogies as are sometimes
found in such traitorous sheets as the Eastern
Argus.
Year: 1862

GE- The telegraph has given the news of
the dismissal from the service of Commander
Preble, of the blockading squadron off Mobile,
for allowing a vessel carrying the English
flag to run the blockade, when he had power
to prevent it. The people will not complain of
any necessary increase of stringency in the
Navy Department. An application of equal
stringency to some other Departments would
not be ungrateful to the popular heart. With
reference to this particular case, however, we
feel confident, as do the numerous friends of
Commander Preble in this city, that when all
the facts shall come TO be known, he will be
restored TO his command. Commander i. is
Portland boy, was raised in this city, edueat-
ed in our Public High School, and is known to
be as true a sailor, as honest a man, and as
loyal'a citizen as ever stepped on shipboard, or
obeyed an order. He is nephew of the late
Commodore Preble, and, like his old weather
beaten kinsman, has seen hard and honorable
service. His friends, we repeat, cherish abid-
ing confidence that there must be palating
circumstances, which, when known, will cause
his name to be restored TO the service.


We are gratified to see the following in the
Boston Journal of last evenings:


The summary dismissal OF an officer who
has so long and faithfully served his country is
to be justified only upon the fullest inquiry
and he should have an opportunity to be
heard in his own defense. Commander Preble
we are enclined to think, has been made the
scapegoat for the remissness of some other
officers of the blockadng squadron who have
really lacked vigilance, lault which is not
imputed to him, and however beneficial the
example may be to the service, we cannot but
think that there has been unnecessary severity
In dealing with him. The example would have
been sufficiently striking, in the case of so
old and valued an officer, had there been but
temporary suspension from duty"
Year: 1862

CRoPs.-From our observation during a re-
cent trip through some of the towns in the
valley OF the Kennebec, we should Judge that
the grain crop in that region is unusually
heavy Corn Is however an exception, it be-
ing hate and backward. Fruit is abundant, the
apple trees literally loaded. Plums are also
plenty. The Kennebec farmers have no reason
TO complain of Providence this year.
Year: 1862

A FEW UREFUL HINrs-A hot shovel,
held over vanished furniture, will take
out white spots bit of glue, dissolved
in skim milk and water, will restore old
Grape Ribbons of any kind should be
washed in soapsuds and rinsod. If your
fiat irons are rough, rub them well with
fine salt, and it will make them smooth
If you are buying carpets for durability,
choose small figures. Scotch snuff put
around the holes where crickets come out
will destroy them. Wood ashes and COM
mon salt, wet with water, will stop the
crack of a stove and prevent the smoke
from escaping. A gallon of strong lye, put
in barrel of water, will make it as soft as
rain-water. Half a cranberry bound on a
corn will soon kill it.
Year: 1862

The REFINEMENT OF PUSIsHMENT.-At the
recent sale, in New York, of the cargo OF
the rebel prize schooner. Stephen Hart a
large number of Confederate army buttons
were offered. They We're bought by the
Commissioners of Charity and Correction
with the purpose of compelling convlcts on
Blackwel's Island who misbehave Them
selves to wear them as mark OF disgfac
The knowledge of this intention having
come to the prisoners, they have put them-
selves ION their good behavior
Year: 1862

The democracy of PENNSYLVANIA will


aet in convention at Harrisburg, on the
a,h Of July, to nominate candidates for
auditor. general and encouragement and
to adopt such measures as may be deemed
necessary for the welfare Of the democratic
party and the country.
Year: 1862

A Coop DEFINITION OF SEcEssIoNIsT-
A secessionist is one who withdraws or
separates himself from the Constitution
and the Union. He may or may not
take up arms against those who maintain
the authority OF the former and the in
tegrity OF the latter 10 constitute man
secessionist, it is enough that his posi-.
ton is one of hostility to and reputation
of the Constitution and Union formed
under it"
Year: 1862

1t is her right to watch beside
The bed Of sickness and of pain
And when the heart almost despairs,
To whisper hopes Of health again.
Her right to make the hearthstone glad,
With gentle words and cheerful smile,
And when man is with care oppressed,
His wearied spirit to beguile.
1t is her right to train her sons,
So they may Senate chambers grace;
Thus is she with more honor crowned.
Than If herself had filed the place.
1t is her right to be admired,
BY every generous, manly heart,
When with true dignity and grace
She acteth we'll woman's part.
She hath dearer right than this
To be in one true heart enshrined
Who, though the world may all forsake,
Will cherish still and still be kind
And there is yet higher right,
Which also is to woman given;
'Tis hers to teach the infant mind,
Those truths divine which come from Heaven.
What should she more than to perform,
On earth le's holiest, sweetest tasks?
When you perfect woman find,
No other rights than these she asks.
Year: 1862




The New York World publishes very in
tcresting statement, obtained from Mr.. A. B.
Smith, the pilot of the Cumberland during the
battle, and who. having escaped from the sink
ing vessel, arrived in New York on the 10th
inst. We reproduce the narrative in full:


On Saturday morning the United States
sloop- -of-war Cumberland laid off in the Roads
at Newport News, about three hundred yards
from the shore, the Congress being about two
hundred yards south of us. The morning was
mild and pleasant, and the day opened without
any noteworthy incident About l o'clock a
dark-lookng oljcct was deserted coming round
Crancy Island through Norfolk channel, and
proceeding straight in our direction. 1t was
Instantly recognized as the Merrimac. We
had been on tho lookout for her for sometime,
and were as well prepared then as we could
have been during the last six months.


AS she came ploughing through the water
right onwards to our port bow, she looked like
huge half-submerged crocodile. Her sides
seemed of solid iron, except where the guns
pointed from the narrow ports, and rose slant
ngIy from the water, like the roof of a house
or the arched back Of tortoise. Probably
the extreme height Of the apex from the wa
ter's edge perpcndicularIy, was ten feet. At
her prov could see the iron ram projecting
straight forwards, somewhat above the waters
edge, and paIcntly mass of iron; Small
boats were slung or fastened to her sdes and
the Confederate flag toatcd from one staff,
while pennant was fixed to another at the
stern. There was smoke stack or pipe near
her middle, and she was probably propeller,
no side wheels or machinery being visible.
She is probably covered with railroad iron


GETTING READY FOR ACTION.


Immediately on the appearing Of the Merr-
mac the command was given to make ready
for immediate action. All hands were ordered
to their places and the Cumberland was
sprung ACROSS the channel, so that her broad
side would bear on the Merrimac. The arma-
ment we could bring to bear on the Merrimac
was about eleven nine and ten inch Dahlgren
guns, and two pivot guns of the same make.
The gunners were at their posts, and we wait
ed eagerly for her to approach within range.
She came up at the rate of four or five knots
per hour.


OPENING THE BATTLE.


When the Mcrrimac arrived within about a
mile we opened on her with our pivot guns,
and as soon rs we could bear upon her onr
whole broadsidc commenced. Still she came
on, the balls bouncing from her mailed sides
like India rubber, apparently not making the