smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861

STATE REFORM ScHooL.-In his recent an
nual message Gov. Downey recommends the
Legislature to repeal the act for the erection of
State Reform School, and thinks the object
contemplated by its passage can be effected BY
setting aside a portion of the State Prison at
San Quentin for the reception and instruction OF
depraved youth. The Monitor, an excellent
Catholic paper published at San Francisco, diff
fers from His Excellency, and says:


"Some money, it is true, may be saved to the
State by this course, but we believe it would be
fatal to the success of the institution or the re-
form of its inmates, to incorporate it with the
State Prison. The effect would be to reduce the
boys to the class and estimation of State Prison
convicts, the moral consequences of which would
follow them through life. The only chance for
such an establishment being productive of any
good is to have it totally disconnected with, and
free from, the character of penal institution in
any FORM"


We agree entirely with the Monitor. Besides,
repeating the act now, would be to entail a loss
of fifteen or twenty thousand dollars upon the
State.
Year: 1861

He OUGHT TO DO Ir.-Four washerwomen of
San Francisco, have addressed letter of grev-
ance and complaint to the Call newspaper, in
which, after stating that their children are grow.
ing ap in vice and idleness for want of proper
instruction, their husbands unemployed because
they can find nothing to do, and themselves
worked beyond their physical ability, to gain a
scanty support, suggest that they would like to
be furnished means to enable them to get into
the country, where they are in hopes of being
able to better their condition. They wish to
know if Thomas Starr King could not be pre-
vailed upon to give public lecture, the proceeds
of which should inure to their benefit. He ought
to do it.


0The Probate Court of Virginia City grant
ed two divorces at one of its recent sittings.-
Singular place to lodge the power of granting
divorces-in Probate Court
Year: 1861

THE SLAVE TRADE.-It is supposed that the
true cause of the secession movement in the
cotton States is, desire, after they have broken
off from the Union, to open the slave trade. If
such be the fact their revolutionary leaders must
be shallowpated and short-sighted Missionaries
not to see the impossibility of such thing. The
sentiment of the entire civilized world is in op-
position to the inhuman traffic. All the great Pow
ers are bound by treaty to discountenance and
break it up. Their vigilance would be doubly
exercised and their squadrons greatly increased,
when the fact had been ascertained that vessels
carried charter from the new Confederacy to
legalise and justify what the other nations had
pronounced piracy, and punishable with death.
1t is questionable whether their opposition would
stop here. So great is the repugnance of Great
Britain to the traffic, that if INDUCED in contrary
to the enlightened sentiment of the age, she
would seek to suppress it unaided, not only by
blowing the ships out of the seas which carried
slaves, but by carrying the war against those
who owned or licensed them. The cotton States
can never be successful in re-opening the slave
trade
Year: 1861

Since the ultra Secessionists have succeeded
in forcing an odious platform upon the Breck-
inridge party, there are some who seem to
think that the cooperation of the sound
Union men of that party, who have become
disgusted with the concern, can only be Sc
cured to the support of the Union cause 10y
a softening down in our State Convention OF
the strong Union resolutions under which
the Convention was called This is an alb
su. dity on its face. The staunch Union men
of the State will have nothing to do with a
slammerin2 haltiDg Union platform. They
will vote for men who stand upon platform
which declares that the allegiance of every
citizen is due to the Nation first, and to the
State in which he is domciled, nert They
are for coercion, and when they so declare,
they Go not say, "but we are afraid 2nr Gov
ernment is in favor of melting slave insur-
rections" True Union men of all parties
know well enough that under Republican, as
under Democratic rule, we are a civilized
nation; and that this present war will be
conducted in a civilized manner. AS for those
who think otherwise, they have party let
them go with that. Let the Fourth of July
Convention adopt platform before making
any nominations and let it be up to the loyal
sentiment of the country. Trimming or quail
lying would drive thousands into the Repub-
lican ranks The masses of the people would
much rather be called Black Republicans
than Secession sympathizers The cry Of
"mad dog" has new meaning it now means
that the man against whom it is raised is not
true to the Union; it once meant that the
victim was not prompt and ready in comply
ing with the demands of the Davis, Gwin
and Toombs school of Southern ultraists. All
who cannot stand upon good sound uncon-
ditional Union platform, can go over and
support the Secession party. In the language
ofDouglas "7here can be no neutrals in
Mis ~ar-only patriots and traitors
Year: 1861

JACKS LOST We understand that two fine
jacks, belonging to the U. S. Government
and worth some four or five hundred dollars
each, have strayed away or been stolen from,
Nome Lockee ervation.-Nepdda National


Those jacks We're probably acquired by the
common blood and treasure during the ad-
ministration of Buchanan, and being unwill-
ing to live under the new administration
have seeded. We are opposed to their sub
jugation, and trust that their independence
will be recognized.
Year: 1861

cal treachery. on the part of Clay and Web
ster, to the principles and organization OF the
old Wing party Nor have any opprehen-
sion that the firm and unanimous support
which the Democratic leaders and masses are
now giving to the Constitution and the Union
will ever be deemed evidences of infdelity to
Democratic principles, or want Of loyalty to
the organization and creed Of the Democratic
party. If We hope to regain and perpetuate
the ascendency Of our party. we should never
forget that a man cannot be true Democrat
unless he is a loyal patriot.


With the sincere hope that these my con-
ecientous conviction may coincide with those
Of my friends, | am, very truly. yours,


STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.
To VIRGIL HIcox, ESQ,


Chairman State DEMOCRATIC Committee.
Year: 1861

THE GENERAL GRIEF The San Francisco
and Sacramento papers all do honor to the
memory of the lamented Douglas, and say
that the sorrowpg over his death is general,
among all parties. His unselfsh devotion to
the country and his prompt ahd energetic aid
to the Administration when black rebellion
beseiged the Capital, taught those who had
been his political enemies TO admire and love
him. Great confidence was felt in his ability
to prevent any gripping of the power of the
Government during the war. His Chicago
speech showed how r,joiced he was that the
war question was not to be the lass Of party
organizations in his loval State.
Year: 1861

Whether or not the following letter has
been hitherto published in its entirety in this
State, it cannot be kept too prominently be-
fore the people, while the compromise speech
OF it, illustrous author, delivered in January
hast, is being quoted by the Secession press
ofCnliornia in Justification oftheir Opposition
to the Government Mr., Douglas said in lis
January speech that compromise or war must
settle the great issue In common with all
good men he deprecated war, and to avert
so dire calamity he expressed himself will
ling to grant any reasonable guarantees to
those who had been deceived into rebellion
| by Infamous and false conspirators. lie
never believed that the present constitution
al guarantees were insufficient for the protec-
ton of southern rights in the Union, but he


recognized the fact that those who were Tor


disupon for the sake of disunion had suc-


ceeded in deceiving thousands Of Southern


men and inhaning them with fears for the
safety oftheir property under Republican
! Administrations His declaration that the
issue was compromise or war, did not mean
that he was in favor of a compromise that
would be dishonorabe or humiiating to the
nation of whose honor. perpduity and well


fare he was SO devoted a champion. lie
failed, with others, in elfecting II compromise
and the only other alternative presented it.
self The war came and then he said every
citizen must be patriot or q traitor. Did
any man in America doubt where he would
stand? The vilest calumny that can be ut
tered against the immortal fame Of the great
Douglas is that which would represent him
as throwing obstacles in the way Of the
Government, while it was defending itself
against the aggressive war opened 10y the
bonbardment OF Fort Sumter, simply because
the war policy must be determined upon by
Republican Administration. Those who
read the following letter can see the differ


ence between advocating peace and COM
promise while war wasonly threatened, and


landing by the Government anil It's couStitu-
ted authorities, (wihogt regard to the political
opinions of those in power, after the war ac
tuilly commenced. Inc small minds which
dare not be loyal for fear of being called
Black Republicans by armed traitors and
their sympathizers, are unworthy Of being
eountrytnen of Stephen a. Douglas. This
letter was written at the dictation of that
great man, during lis last Illness in reply to
letters from the Chairman of the Democratic
State Central Committee of Illinois, and is,
we believe the last chapter OF the brilliant
public record OF its author. Let the SANDER.
ers Of the dead read it, and cease to use his
name in connection with their treacherous
clamor5 for compromise, now "when war is
being waged against the United States with
the avowed purpose OF producing a perma-
nent disruption Of the Union and total des-
truction OF its Government"
Year: 1861

SouNDNEss OF THE EXPRESS. The follow
ing cordial endorsement of Bolts and Hey
adopted at the skeleton State Convention
held in Sacramento last week, is taken from
the California Express of Monday last:


The platform of principles laid down by
the Democratic Convention at its recent ses-
sion, must receive the cordial appreciation of
every true Democrat 1t has the genuine
ring of the good old Democracy about it,
and is but the embodiment of the principles
for which Democrats have fought for the past
sixty years They have repeatedly received
the endorsement OF the American people. and
we see no reason why they should repudiate
them at this late day
Year: 1861

DowNEY DID NOT REJECT THE PLATFoRM.-
In the last hour of the session of the Breck-
inridge Convention a delegate from Nevada
Mr.. Conway, said he wished to correct what
he conceived to be an error in what he said
with regard to Governor Downey awhile
ago. Some gentlemen had understood him
to say that Governor Downey had refused to
recognize the action of the Convention or TO
adopt their platform. If he did say that, it
was not his intention to say So lie hoped
Gov. Downey would adopt their platform
and he had no reason TO believe that he would
not He only intended to say that the Gov
ernor had declined accepting nominatio,
from them that day
Year: 1861

LADIES GooDs-Having received large
lot of Ladies' Cloaks and Mantles from Sacra-
mento, Mr.. Dougherty will continue the sale
of these goods till to morrow, and to secure
the sale of the whole stock he has concluded
to put the prices lower than ever All who
are not supplied with these indispensable ar
tieles should call at As D street to-day. You
can buy at your own price
Year: 1861

The Law of Clothing in regard to VOIun.
teers received into the Confederate Ser


vice.


Much misunderstanding seems to exist
among the volunteer forces called into the
Confederate service. in relation to the subject
= of clothes and clothing, and yet the law of
Congress controlling the question is quite
clear, and admits OF no two constructions
Many Volunteer Companies and Battalions
and Regiments, entered the Confederate SER
vice with the idea that the War Department
would supply all Deficiencies of clothing
among them, and would moreover be pre-
pared with future supplies to meet the ac-
-cruing wants of the soldiers and are con-
.sequently. now suffering in this respect,
because of the want of proper information
In the beginning, which their officers and
the State authorities should have given
The law of Congress set forth in the act to
provide for the public defense." reads as
follows, t1-wit:


Said vos:T1ers shall furnish their own clothes
When called into active service, and while remain
ing therein, iastead of clothing every non COM
missioned officer and private in any company
shall be entitled to money, in q sum equal to the
cost Of clothing Of a nOn-co nmissOned officer or
private in the rcgular army Of the Confederate
States"


By this iaw. volunteers proride, at all
times, their 0,cn eiotAiag, qsd receive there
for, comssutation IN money, and IN the pass
age of the law, Congress evidently had in
view those public exigcncics requiring large
forces to be thrown into the field while yet
the Government was in its infancy and
stood provided with no regular Quarter
masters organization.


We have been thus explicit, because it is
highly desirable the matter should be thor
oughly understood, as well among those
troops already in service, as among those
who are daily expected to be called into
service. And we think it would be well
for the newspaper press. generally, to set
forth the subject in the light of the law and
the reason OF the law.-Aontyomery i'd
perkise-
Year: 1861

PosT-OFF1cE SrAMps.-The Montgomery
advertiser says there seems to be anxiety in
regard to postage stamps when the Confed-
crate Government, through the Post office
Department, takes charge Of the service
There need be no alarm on this score, for a
design has been selected, and contract par
TALLY made for a supply. The new stamp
is very beautiful, and quite in contrast with
the old. The size is trifie larger, and in
the center is an elegant steel engraving OF
Washington. "a front view, taken from
mis- well-known portrait. painted by Stuart


It will meet with universal appreciation,
and will probably meet the public eye early
IN June, or as coon thereafter as practicable
Year: 1861

COMMON SENSE AND PATRIoTIsM.-There
are both these admirable qualities in the
following extract from the Boston Courier
and we are happy to copy it, for it is not
often, now, that we find much, if anything
to approve in Northern paper:


Since peace must ,effectually follow up
on war, however protracted, it seems to US
the part of wisdom to count the cost of
war, and to determine beforehand what pos
sible gain could accrue to either party in
such contest. To be sure the disposition
to fight, SO far as it exists ON either side,
would thus be gratifed but after much
slaughter and misery, we can conceive of
no real advantage secured to either party


The fortune of battles, we presume, would
be various. as it usually is. The military
conquest of one part of the country by the
other could aaIa ssa6Gflo oh hfoRgsr Be- any eonsi


tutional union Of States. In nation OF
the consent of all the parties. The subjec-
tion of one to the other, would destroy the
whole character of our institutions, and
must change the entire form and spirit Of
our government. To one who chooses,
therefore. to look at the probabilities Of fu-
ture events, in forming his judgment of the
demands of the present, a general war could
only seem fraught with utter ruin to the fab
ric of freedom raised by our fathers, and
which has SO long shielded and blessed their
posterity. There might be yet modes pro-
vided for settling our national controversy,
either by q convention, which would agree
upon terms-or, in the worst event by am
ical separation, agreed to by all the parties
A general war would preclude the first
method, and we cannot see that it would
lead to anything but the second in the end"
Year: 1861

GA rough individual, whose knowl'
dge of classical language was not quite
complete, bad been siek. and on recover
ing va. told By his doctor that he might
take a little animal food. No SIR said
be; took your Cruel easy enough. but
hang me il cap 20 your hay and oats
Year: 1861

serve the Government itself Compromise Sc
is dead, and rebellion is alive and rampant
We intend to crush it and preserve the
Union, cost what it may But in the mean
time, while one army looks to its muskets,
let the army of farmers look to its corn
fields. The South cannot plant either cot
ton or corn as aforetime. Thousands who
cultivated corn are already flying from
their plantations. Every ship that enters
our harbors, every train that enters our
depots, is crowded with fugitives abandon
ing everything to save their lives. We
have full evidence that the slaves in many
places already hesitate to work as usual,
and cannot be lashed into it with the old
impunity. How many fields of grain al
ready planted will be trampled Under foot
of Northern armies, which continuation
Of this unparalleled rebellion must compel
US to march over in crushing it out ? Bear
in mind that more than forty forts, and
mints, and arsenals, and custom houses,
must be captured from the rebels, or sur
rendered at discretion. There is no mis-
taking the magnitude of the work to be
done, but were it thrise as heavy it would
be done nevertheless.


All this will require men-Northern men
men from the plow as well as from the
work shop and the mine. Never have far
mers been so imperatively called on to plant
every possible acre within their power.
The home market alone viii pay them.
The South must be fed by the North an
other year, and if the political troubles in
Europe should end in a general war, de-
mand must follow which will make our far
mers rich. Be active, friends, while the
season is before you! Double the size of
your corn-6elds-somebody will want your
crop-N Y Tribune
Year: 1861

THE APPROACHING CoMET-A commu-
ncation from Harvard Observatory an
nouncs that the comet is growing brighter,
and is already visible to the naked eye,
near the tail of Draco. 1t will pass across
the Greater Bear, and viii be near the
Bowl and Dipper in eight or nine days.
But the most remarkable fact about the
comet is, that it will on the 18th of May
be almost exactly where the earth was
April 10 so that if its perihelion passage
we're twenty three days earlier, the earth
would pass through the body of the comet.
-TrareLler.
Year: 1861

A PRETTY EXPERIMENT Prof Rogers
has solved the problem of seeing through
milestone. In a paper read before the
Scientific Association at Newport, he says
"Take sheet of foolscap or letter paper roll
it up so that the opening at one end shall be
large enough to take in the full size of the
eye and at the other end let the opening be
not half SO large. Take it in the right hand,
holding it between the thumb and forefnger;
place the large end to the right eye, and
look through it, both eyes open, towards
the light. You aciU see hole through your
hand


IF you take it in your left hand. and
hold it to your left eye, it will be the same.
You will in both cases be astonished to see
you have hole in your hand. The Illus
Ion is most complete,


From this and other experiments he con-
eludes that an impression made on the re-
tina of either eye cannot of itself enable Us
to determine on which retina it is received.
and that the visual perception belongs to
the part of the optical apparatus near or
within the brain which belongs in common
to both eyes.
Year: 1861

Treason has given birth to rebellion, and
rebellion has broken out into open war.
Men have been taken by thousands from
workshops, factories and mines. Some
factories are doing nothing, because the
whole force has quit work and Joined the
army. Mining is given up in various quar-
ters from the same cause, and the dimin-
isned shipments of coal already indicate
the extent to which labor has been diverted
from its accustomed employment. The
war must operate in precisely the same way
on agriculture Thousands of Northern
farmers have already quit plowing for drill
ing, and thousands more will follow at the
first call for more men. How long this
war may continue, no man can say, because
the outraged nation has long account,
running over thirty years, which must all
be settled up before it is closed We de-
mand guarantees for the future quite as
imperatively as the South, and we intend
to have them, But be it long or short. it
will be long enough to make serious inroads
on that great Northern staple, the corn
crop, unless our farmers look to it in time


It has broken out in good seasen for them
to put in more corn than they have ever
done before. All North of Maryland are
in good season for planting We entreat
our friends throughout this vast region to
take heed and act. Let them double
their crop-it will all be wanted. Weeks
ago the cry throughout the South was to
plant less cotton and more corn. Let US
not be caught napping-get in the crop
anyhow, it will be sure to grow, and may
be harvested in peace. In times of high
excitement like this. the agricultural dis
tricts feel it as keenly as the cities, and
are quite as likely to neglect their farms as
we are to leave our desks and workshops


Look at the condition of some portion of
the South even now. Illinois has saved
some parts of Mississippi from starving,
for they had raised all cotton and no corn.
The whole rebel region is, in fact, at this
moment dependent on Northern granaries
for food. Cut off their supplies and they
must perish or succumb,


Most happily, tee North is beautifully
supplied with food of all kinds. But our
-four, and grain, and beef, and pork, are
constantly leaving US for Europe in large
quantities We shall probably this year
export more food than in any similar pc
riod in our history. England alone wants
every bushel of grain and every barrel of
meat We can spare. This drain must emp
ty our granaries and our warehouses, run
ming up prices even higher than at pres
ent, and making the coming crops our sole
dependence for the future. Every idle
acre should therefore be planted, now.
while time and opportunity permit it to be
done. Every bushel of corn raised will
be wanted. No one knows but half a
million men may yet be needed to finish
up this rebellion in way to make the
peace as lasting as we intend it shall be.
The country has resolved that it will no
| longer have its industry blasted every few
wears, either by compromise or rebellion.
! Remember, friends, we are fighting to pre-
Year: 1861

THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER.
Oh! say can you see by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at twilight's last


cleaning
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the


perilous fight,
Ger the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly


streaming;
And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting
in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was
still there:


Oh say, does the star-spangled banner still
wave,


Ger the land of the free and the home of the


brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mist of the


deep,
Where the foes naughty host in dread silence
reposes,
What is that, which the breeze o'er the towering


steep,
AS it fitfully blows, halfconceals, halfdiscoses?
Now it catches the CLEAN of the mornings first


dream,
LII 4u1i SiOI 1SueCteu uOM eulueS vi tne stream
'Tis the star-spangled banner, 0 long may it


wave.


Ger the land of the free and the home of the


brave.
And where is the band that so yaultingly swore
That the havoc of war, and the battles confu-


sion,
home and country should leave us no more
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps


pollution
No refuge could save the hireling and slave,
From the terror of fight or the gloom of the


grave


And the star-spangled banner in triuu ph doth


wave,


Der the land Of the free and the home of the


brave.
Oh thus be it ever when freedom shall stand
Betwa en- their loved home and wars desolation
BLESSED with victory and peace, may the Heaven


rescued lard,
Praise the power that hath made and preserved


US a nation.
Then conquer we must when our cause it is Just
And this be our motto-'' In God is our trust ~
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall


wave.


Der the land of the free and the home of the


brave.