smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861

"Why is not Fort Sumter attacked ?"
"Why don't they attack Fort Sumter P"
"What is the Governor about that he don't
attack Fort Sumter?" "The troops are
ready and willing and anxious to take Fort
Sumter" Such is the chat which is ring
ing through Charleston and the State
Now, I know no more why the Governor
does not order an attack upon Fort Sumter,
than the people who ask the question but
| know that the Governor is as brave and
patriotic as am, and I know there is not a
man more ready to die for the cause of S.
Carolina than am and yet if were Gov
ernor, I would not attack Fort Sumter just
at this time, if all the men in South Caro-


lima we're urging me to do it. Why would
1 not? Because every day is weakening
the fort, and Strengthening our power over
it-because nothing can be lost by delay
up to within eight or ten days before Lin
coins observation-disclosures l don't wish
to give the submissionists of the South an
apology for sheir fears-because l am sure
every one Of the seeding States would op-
pose the attack, not because it would be
wrong, but because it would embarrass their
observation-disclosures it would give abolition.
lists at the North power over our friends in
that quarter-because believe, as soon as
the Southern Confederacy is formed, the
forts will be delivered up without bloodShed
because am now sure no reinforcements
will be sent to Fort Sumter, and if there
should be, we could sink them before they
could reach the fort--because would have
South Carolina exchange views now with
her sister seeding States before she takes
any step which must involve their interests
because I would consider the possession
of the fort just now burden rather than q
benefit. Thu would act with my dim
lights. But surely the Governor, with his
sage advisers, knows better what he is a.
bout than Tom, Dick and Harry. His con-
duct seems strange to US. Why? Because
we do not know, and ought not to know,
what counsel he is acting under. The man
was never made who in his situation could
please everybody: and if he tries to do it,
be will share the fate of the old man in the
fable. When 1 was in Charleston, many
were for attacking Fort Sumter, while l
was supplying him with information from
a true friend of our cause, which showed
that he ought not to attack Fort Sumter


True, Mr.. Buchanan deceived my friend,
my friend deceived me, and [ deceived the
Governor; but was the Governor to blame
for relying upon this information in def
ance of the clamor around him? Well, as
school boys say: "cheating luck never
thrives.'' All came up right in the end
The Star Q, the West surprised us, and we
surprised the Star Of the West. Let us
wait the action of the Governor patiently.
Year: 1861

INTERESTING STATEMENT OF LIEUT..
HALL, OF THE ARMY.-One of our report.
ers gathered the following from Lieut..
Hall, in an interview had with him while
here on visit to a sick relative. Lieut.
Hall tarried in town about twenty.four
hours, leaving here for Washington on
Thursday night. He says Fort Sumter
did not fire on Fort Moultrie or Morris Is.
land, because Major Anderson did not
know that reinforcements had been sent in
the Star of the West. He cold only just
discover large vessel through the fog, it
being impossible to ascertain her character
or to learn her object or mission; it would
have taken Eve or six hours to destroy Fort
Moultrie, and half an hour or an hour to
stop their firing upon the Star of the West;
whereas this vessel could come as near
Fort Sumter as she could get in FIVE min.
utes. During the half hour, she would
have been in the fire from Fort Moultrie,
aud very likely have been sunk and many
lives on board lost Nothing would have
been gained but the immediate opening of
a civil war, and the loss of the ship and the
lives Of those on board. The men were all
at the loaded guns, with matches lighted,
expecting the word every minute to fire !;
but Major Anderson, after struggle with
his feelings, withheld the order to fire.
He says the inhabitants of Charleston, and
indeed of the whole State of South Caro-.
lima, have pledged all they have in the
world-property, honor, lives-to maintain
the independence of South Carolina. Some
of the better and more cautious people ad-
NIT that they have perhaps gone too fast,
but they will keep their pledges to sustain
her to the very last, even if they come out
of the contest ruined. The stores in Charles.
ton were all closed, except few candy.
shops and o,ision stores. Fort Sumter
does not need reinforcements; ship Of
the size of the Star of the West Could not
now get into the harbor, as vessels have
been sunk on the bar to prevent ingress.-
Ne,o York Herald
Year: 1861

From the NeE Orleans kicRyuoe. "a


The correspondence which follows, has been
placed at our disposal by merchant Of this city,
to whom the opening letter was addressed. by q
gentleman in business in the city of New York.
The reply was not prepared with view to publi-
cation. but by the consent of the writer we have
been permitted to give it to the public through our
columns. It will thus more certainly reach the
correspondent than if it were committed to the
keeping of President Lncoln's mails, and may pos
sibly be of some service in other quarters in stat
ing the principle of action, and the purposes of the
South on their true basis.
Year: 1861




association with the Northern States.


There is another proof that you utterly misn-
terpret the Southern people whea you identify the
movement of the day the fruit OF an old conspl-
racy against the Union, commenced thirty years
AGO in South Carolina I might easily retorr, and
show with color of truth, that the North is now
banded to consummate the designs against the South
which originated quite long ago, with the Garr-
sons and that sort, who are now the guerrlllas OF
the grand army marching at the same end. But
choose to confne myself to the remark, that the
sfiIiation of so many States with the class which
have been so long marked out among ourselves, fer
avoidance because disunonists, is fact Of no small
moment in considering the position of the South.
So long as there was conservative power IN the
North sustaining us in the hearty support of the
constitutional Union, we could laugh at these few
men, and put them down at the polls. The spread
of their opinions kept pace with the decay OF that
Northern support. The men have grown into con-
fieence as the proofs accumulated that they were
far-sighted. Even if their motives were as We
thought them, we have been made to respect them
as prophets It is not by them or their doings, but
BY an irresistible current of events that we have
all been brought up sbreast with the men whom we
might still be holding have been rash politicians,
if they had not been made leaders Of hosts BY the
rashness and obstinacy of the North.


7 Ihaye with some prolixity, fear, endeavored to
satisfy your mo uirles into my opinions the state
of feeling in the cotton States. desired, however,
to be explicit The old Uni0n is not only renowned,
but might say, without exaggeration, that it IS
hated. The desire for independence Is intense and
universal The determination to support it is ixed
and the ida that you suppress it BY your armies
is rejected as an imprscticable chmera and the at
|. tempt to do SO az revolving wiekedness.


This being the condition Of the public mind South
the why that il is SO, is but secondary matter in
the momentous question OF war which you threaten
us from the North. We hold that what we have
decided upon with 30 much soemnity aud resolve
you have no moral right to oppose. We believe
with all the great founders and apostles of Ameri-
can freedom that all just powers of government
flow from the consent of the governed, and that q
people has the right to alter its government and to
establish new ones whenever it shall decide that
happiness or security demand the change. We
claim to be people with the right and the capacity
70 Judge for ourselves We are now ten states
soon to be eleven perhaps fourteen, with certainly
six millions Of free whites, who have agreed WIN
entire unanimity that their happiness and secuFly
require new form of government Eight OF tnsu sln
have already formed one, and put it into operation
with entire harmony among themselves Ine Fes'
Year: 1861

The Commissioners appointed to Instructions in
the of the river report that their operations for
year have been limited in consequence their resour
being confined exclusively to the auction duties
which for the last few years have amounted only
$l4 900 per annum About one hundred and thou
sand cubic yards have been during wear
and believed that after the operations of another
son, the new channel will be buoyed off through its en-
tire length and available for vessel drawing twenty two
feet.
Year: 1861

The new insurance statute OF Tennessee requires
a deposit with the Comptroller of twenty thousand
dollars of six per cent State bonds, both by domes
tic corporations and agents of foreign companies
The recent legislation of the State is causing
stampede among the agents.
Year: 1861

This the grandest railroad enterprise of modern


the times up to the present moment. The value of
its chartered rights to say nothing of its property
is incalcuable and yet, owing to the eXigency
of circumstances, it must have money, or be sold,
and lost to those of its stockholders who refuse to
assist in this hour of need. There are judgments
against the Company that will compel a speedy
sacsof the road and its franchises unless they are
paid. These judgments are comparatively small
in amount, but yet sufficient to consrain a sale
unless they are lquidated. If every stockhodcr
would increase his shares one-ffth, and pay
promptly for the same, the debts would not only
be extnguished, but the contract for fifty miles of
additional road would be completed, and the Com
pany would then have seventy-fve miles of finished
road, which would be selfsustaining and self.
extending. But much to our surprise, we learn that
enough money has not been paid into the hands Of
the agent, Gen. R. Y. Richardson, to accomplish
either ofthese resus-in fact not enough to pay the
debts, to say nothing of carrying ont existing con-
tracts In consequence of this unexpected state of
affairs Gen. r. has given fair and earnest warning,
through his card published in the city papers this
| week, which may be found in another column of
the Crescent, of the necessities and dangers which
| press Immediately upon the Company. OF the five
hundred stockholders in this State we are informed
that only one hundred and twenty have subscribed
to the new stock, which, as yet, has produced a
sum far below that which was allotted to New
Orleans and louisiana This being the state of the
case, we recall to the memory of Stockholders the
positive and emphatic pledge of President Steven
son, that in tho event sale of this road should
take place, that all who had subscribed to the new
stock should be protected both in their old and
new subscriptions; and he assured all stockholders
that he had the ability to make good his pledge
OF this we have never entertained the smallest
doubt. He is man of honor, and his character
has never been assaed, much less impeached In
addition to this President Stevenson's great prac-
been uniformly successful in the conduct of several
large enterprises of the kind, enabled him to speak
advisedly, and gave surer guarantee to his pledge
of honor, were such thing possible.


His reported policy of rGorganizing new com,
pany from new elements, and such of the old
stockholders subscribe at this juncture, is sound
policy, such as is required by the times and the
circumstances and will lead to an ultimate success
which will display vastness of wealth that will
astonish the world.


For these reasons, we trust all the neglectful
New Orleans and Louisiana stockholders will at
once come forward, subscribe, pay up, and save
| Tue Company with themselves. If they will not do


this and the road is Sold its property aud fran.


chses pass into other hands, and they lose what


they mad previously invested, they will have
| nobody to blame hut, themselves. The Office of
| the company Is at No 81 Common street.
Year: 1861

HoNoRs TO THE GALLANT KESruoKIANs.- There
il call in our columns this morning for meeting
OF our citizens this evening, in Lafayette Square
at T o'clock, to suitably receive the gallant Ken
tuckians who have taken up arms and nobly
responded to the South in the cause Of her rights
and honor. See the notice, signed by some of our
best citizens.
Year: 1861

TnANEs,--We refer with pleasure to the card,
elsewhere published, rendering thanks to various
parties for timely assistance rendered IN the get
ting up Of the Military Fair at Odd Fellows Hall
Year: 1861

GaEscEET RIFLES Company C.-Business Of un-
usual importance will be brought before this gal
liant body this evening, and Captain Gilman and
Orderly Talbot notify them of all that is necessary
at this time in our columns this morning.
Year: 1861

Some people are very apt to
use harsh, angry words because
they think they will be obeyed
more promptly. They talk loud,
swear and storm, though after
all they are only laughed at; their
orders are forgot. and their ILL
temper is remembered. How
strong is a kind world 1t will do
what the harsh word or even the
blow cannot do; it will subdue
the stubborn will, relax the frown
and work wonders. Even the
dog, the cat, or the horse, though
they do not know what you say.
can tell when you speak a kind
word to them. A man was one
day driving a cart along the street.
The horse was drawing a heavy
load, and did not turn as the man
wished him. The man was IN
iII-temper, and beat the horse;
the horse reared and plunged, but
either did not or would not go in
the right wav. Another man
who was with the cart, went up
to the horse, and patted him on
the neck, and called him kindly
bv his name. The horse turned
his head and fixed his large eyes
on the man as though he would
say, 81 will do anything for you
because YOU are kind to mel" and
bending his broad chest against
the load, turned the cart down
the narrow lane, and trotted on
briskly as though the load were a
plaything. Oh, how strong Is a
kind world
Year: 1861

Who ever is not prepared To sacri-
fee party organizations and plat
forms OH the altar of his country
does not deserve the support and
cOuntenance of honest people. How
are we to overcome partisan antipathies
in the minds of men of all parties so as to
present united front in support of our
country? We must cease discussing
party issues, make no allusiOns 10
old party tests, have no crimina-
tions and recrimina atiOns, indulge in
no taunts one against the other, as
tn who has been the cause of these
troubles.


When we shall have rescued the Gov
ernment and country from its perils. and
seen its flag floating in triumph over eve-
rv inch of American soil, it will then be
time enough to inquire as to who and
what has brought these troubles upon us.
When we shall have country and Gov
ernment for our children TO live in peace
and happiness. it shall be time for each
of us to return te our party banners ac-
cording TO our own convictions of right
and duty Let him be marked as no
true patriot who will not abandon


Ertract from the last speech Of Senator
DOUGLAS.
Year: 1861

A number of journals, of that
class which advised the advance
of General McDowell's army to
Bull Run, are making a clamor
about General Fremont, and tor
menting the administration to
have him removed. Some Of
these same papers We're eager to
have hlm placed in high com
mand. and most eXultant when he
was sent to Missouri. While we
have never praised Gen Fremont
as a military leader, hut were
content to wait to see the result OF
his first campaign, we are also
not going to join In the present
outcry against HIM, prelerrlng to
wait to see whether he will not
retrieve the disaster at Lexington.
Our Generals have suffered from
indlscrlmlnate praise as well as
indiscriminate abuse, and the
administration has been subjected
to all sorts of sharp criticism for
appointing such man to a com
mand aid refusing to appoint
others. 1t is not likely that the
/ President and War Department
have time to notice the newspa-
per pressure directed against them
in this way. But it is the duty
of loyal papers, while maintain
ing their independence on subjects
OF general importance, to show
confidence in the government and
its General. The President
knows more about Gen. FreTont's 5
case than any of the editors that
are condemning him, and we are
sure he will remove him, if he
proves unfit for his position. AT
any rate he is now in command oil
the most important army. 1t ne
were superseded while in the field
we should be sure to suffer a
terrible defeat within a few days.
His letter, published to-day,
shows a spirit of determination to
be victorious, and he is entitled to
our confidence and best wishes.
Instead of our censure.- Phlla.
delphia Bulletin.
Year: 1861

We have already stated that a
communication Of divine wisdom
was made to the sacred penmen,
by which they were led to preserve
the narrative portion Of the Scrip
lures. But when we speak Of tie
"Great things of Gods Law
things not previously known to any
of the human family, we are bound
to assert, that more than commu-
nication of divine wisdom was
necessary. The truths revealed by
jehovah to his servants, were to
item new s)lrci Of inlorma-
ton, and required both kind and
degree Of knowledge to commune
cate what was revealed, which none
but God himself could impart.
The Apostle asserts that both he
and his coadjutors received their
knowledge of what they preached,
direct by the Spirit Corinthi-
ans i. 10; Galatians i. II, y


Much of the contents of the Bible
is of such q nature that none but
God could reveal them, and bring
all into effect - stamp and sea-
them as His attributes and works
for ever. Both the Old Testament
prophets and the apostles were as
truly conscious oftheir owninspira


ton, as they were that they hao


consciousness at all; and whel


they spoke, they spoke as the.


were moved by the Holy Ghost


A third degree of inspiration o
which the Bible informs us, wa
an overpowering influence, or di
vine possession, by which til


prophets and apostles were brough
under the entire control of the di
Year: 1861


In convention at Topeka, in Jdly, 1857,
Lane made a speech in which be used these
words. he was speaking Of the Democratic
party, and in perdicting its downfall, said
81 don't know, Mr. President, that l shall
live to see the day, but before God I believe
shall, when this black and brutal party will
be broken to peiees and when, from the wa
tsrs Of the Yellowstone on the North, to the
warm waEas Of the Gulf on the South, one
large line ef free States shall rear themselves,
an imPenetrsble barrier against which the
western waves of this curse of Slavery shall
dash in vain. GntiJ that time an a crusader
for freedom.


These last words express the spirit in which
the men Of Kansas are entering this fight.
Il also tells the secret Of Lanes power over
them. They know that whatever he may
or may not be, be is true to the idea which
hes grown with the growth Of Kansas, and
which may now be expressed in a popular
slogan, thus 'Ceqh to traitors and freedom
for al mankind" Again in the State Con-
vsntion that nominated the present Governor
tnle5e, Lane is reported as sayiag in one of bis
iudescribable sensation speeches, while speak
ing of Whist Kansas had taught him, that: at
was with shame that he acknowledged it
but when be came to Kansas, he cared moth
ing about this question Of slavery. The only
point with him was whether the soil would
grow hemp or not; but, Mr. President, Che
continuedl the seed which, since then, Kan
Gas has planted in my heart, and watered by
the blood OF martyrs, has grown and grOvH
and aR0HEl until the tree is large enough tC
make ties for The Underground railroad
Year: 1861

ALMOST MS LAST DrvE.-On Monday morning one
of the divers engaged in raising the cargo oil the
ship John Trucks, made very narrow escape OF
his life. While down in the hold & OF the vessel,
some of the cargo rolled on the ar tuoe' ana press
Gg dEer gave % the signal draw him up
but all exertions Of those above were frutless, as
he was perfectly fast Another diver, who hap
pened to be dressed in his submarine armor, imme-
who would have perished if allowed to remain in
this critical position thirty seconds longer.-Phil.
Press,
Year: 1861

A GREAT THOUGHT There are worse things
than war. Deterioration and moral cowardice
are worse than death and when it becomes nee
essary to die for great truths and principles, how
sweet and how beautiful is the sacrifice. Let no
one imagine that this is our day of deepest dark
ness. Twenty millions of people rising as one
man, thrilled by one impulse, swept by one spirit
of self sacrifice holding right and justice to be
dearer than life, and that life for these may be
and shall be offered up, will appear in history as
the brightest omen OF the century. Civilization
and free government are not to fail here, but to
come forth more glorious aud secure from trial.
This is the clear pointing of the finger of God,
and for this he strikes the awful hour and sum
mons men to their duty Meanwhile we hope
that from the altars of religion will be breathed
the hoest and most select influence into the cause
of constitutional liberty as the cause of Cod
Religious Magazine.
Year: 1861

Once this soft turf this rivulets sands,
We're trampled by a hurrying crowd,
And fiery hearts aud armed hands


ENCOUNTERED in the battle cloud.
All never shall the land forget


How gush'd the life blood of her brave
Gush'd, warm with hope and courage yet,
Upon the soil they fought to save.
Now all is calm, and fresh, and stll
Alone the chirp of fitting bird
And talk of children on the hill,


And bell of wandering kline are heard.
No solemn host goes trailing by


The black mouth'd gun and staggering vain
Men start not at the battle cry


o be it never heard again.
Soon rested those who fought but thou
Who minglest in the harder strife
For truths which men receive not now,
Thy warfare only ends with life
friendess warfare lingering long


Through weary day and weary year
A wild and many .weapon'd throng


Hang on thy front and flank, and rear.
Yet, nerve thy spirit to the proof


Aud blench not at thy chosen lot.
The timid good may stand aloof,
The sage may frown-yet faint thou not
Nor heed the shaft too snrely cast,


The kissing, stnging bolt of scorn
For with thy side shall dwell at last,


The victory of endurance born.
Truth. crushed to earth shall rise again:
The eternal years of God are hers;
But Error, wounded, wrthes with pain,
And dies among his worshipers.
Yea, though thou lie upon the dust,


When they who help'd thee flee in fear
Die full of hope and manly trust,


Like those who fell in battle here.

Another hand thy sword shall wield,
Another hand the standard wave
Till from the trumpet's mouth is peaid
The blast of triumph DER thy grave.