smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1864

The Louisville Joeynat says "the rebel SYM
Ipathizers talk about the taxation we shall have
TO endure if this war be prosecuted. Nodoubt
we shall be faxed heavily if we carry on the war.
but not half nor quarter or even a tenth part so
heavily ~ we must beif we give up the Union.
Year: 1864

On the night of the 22d inst, the bodies of six
deceased Federal prisoners were deposited in
the dead house of the hospital at Richmond to
await the coming of the undertaken with collins
The next morning one of the bodies was gone,
and the plank knocked from the house showed
the way the ghost went. He had been ''playing
possum," and was laid out among the dead only
to get up and run away when no one was Look
ing. og
Year: 1864

NlcK.A-JAcK CAvE.-A correspondent
writing from Bridgeport, Ala, to the Louis
vile Journal, communicates the following
concerning cave near that place:


"This cele brated cave is situated in the
most eastern corner Of Tennessee and is one
Of the most remarkable works of nature. 1t
is one hundred and thirty miles from Nash
Vile, on the Nashville and Chattanooga Rail
road. The adjacent station to the cave is
Shcllmound. The first look at this cave does
not impress one with its wonderful magni-
tude. The front is somewhat irregular, and
Of brown grayish granite rock. The OPEN
ing is about forty feet high and some one
hundred and thirty feet in width On enter
ing, You begin to think you are in the do.
serted residence Of giants. Nature tossed
everything about, as if in disdain and defiance
of earthly architects. The cave is said to ex-
tend nine miles back, but four miles is the
furthest any explorer has been known to
reach From the main road. if might so
speak, there are vast veins OF nice, soft earth,
in which may be seen salfpetre. mixed in
large quantities, and looking exactly like
sod,. The rebels ere they were driven from
this stronghold, worked the mine extensively
in procuring this, to them, invaluable article.
OAc hundred men were engaged. and the
traces of these excavations are fresh yet 1t
is estimated that they procured one thousand
pounds per week of pure saltpetre. with even
their rough implements and poor means of pro-
curing it. Through the cave runs pure.
clear crystal little river, from three to five feet
deep and from six to thirty feet wide. Sail
ing in little light canoe, half filled with wa
ter, you can paddle up the stream one mile
and half, when you come to solid granite and
stand still. The river gushes from out the
rock, and no one knows from whence. In II
are tiny little eyeless fish called Molly crawl
bottoms"
Year: 1864

WASHINGTON, July Z.


The President, in accordance with the
joint resolution Of Congress, has issued
proclamation appointing the first Thursday
in August next as a day of humiliation and
prayer for the people of the United States,
and commanding them to confess and
repent of their manifold sins and to i'm
plore compassion and forgiveness Of the
Almighty, and to pray that if consistent
with His will the existing rebellion may be
speedily suppressed and the supremacy Of
the Constitution and Laws Of the United
States be established throughout the States ;
that the rebels may lay down their arms
and speedily return to their allegiance,
that they may not be utterly destroyed ;
that the efiusion of blood may be stopped
and that amity and fraternity may be re
stored and peace established throughout
our border.
Year: 1864

WAsHINGIUN, July - p u.
The wags are telling that Sigel yesterday
turned his artillery on his ammunition
train, and sent word to the retreating rebels
that he would blow the whole thing up, if
they did not let him alone.


In regard to this and the sultry and en-
durable heat there is absolutely not one
word to stir the limb melted down COM
munity at the Capital.
Year: 1864

WALL STREET DIscouNFNS PEAcE.--The heavy
fail in gold and stocks which has been in pro-
gress for the last three weeks received an i'm
pstus yesterday which almost created panic,
not only on the Stock Exchange and in the gold
room but in commercial circles generally.
There was heavy fall in the market price of
produce, and merchandise of all descriptions
was pressed for sale at lower rates. Gold
dropped to 2Il-the lowest price il has
touched since the 22d Of June-and the
probabilities are strongly in favor Of con
siderable further decline. Wall street is
evidently discounting that peace towards which
our victories in the field are so rapidly paving
the way. Confidence in the restoration of the
Union is practically reasserting itself both by
the decline of the gold premium and the firm
ness Of national securities on the market, while
everything else is falling. Meanwhile. the
entire people are reaping the benefit of this
suspicious state of affairs by the reduction OF
the cost of all the necessaries as well as the
luxuries, OF life, or, in other words, by the in
creasing purchasing power of the paper dollar.
Year: 1864

TIE CTY INSPECTOR on THE FAT BomNo
NUIsANcEs.-ln reply TO the communication Of a
number Of gentlemen Of the Twentieth ward,
with reference to the disgusting and unhealthy
nusances in that region, Mr. Boole answers that
he has done all within his jurisdiction to abate
the nuisance, and that the officers under him
have done their duty faithfully; but be adds
that nothing short Of total prohibition of the
fat boiling business In the city will remedy the
evil, and that can only be done by the Board
or Health, Of which Mayor Gunther is chair
man. Mr.. Boole says that the Mayor has been
called upon 70 summon the Board Of Health
for that purpose, and has declined to do 20.
Mr. Boole advocates the measure OF the Com
mon COUNCIL constituting itself temporarily .
Year: 1864

TAAMANY HALL AND THE CRY NoMSATroSs.-
What is Tammany Hall doing towards making
the nominations for Congress and the city officers
to be elected this fall. We have been anxious
ly waiting to see some move Of the managers
to call the primary meetings or some step to-
wards placing ticket 10 the field. But why
oil this delay Are the managers waiting to
make bargains again, or is this delay for the
purpose of permitting certain persons agreed
upon to pack the primary meetings and nom-
mating conventions II the managers Of the
Tammany faction expect to succeed this fall
they must conduct their nominating conventions
in an open and liberal manner and make the
nominations early. We want no eleventh hour
barter and sale ticket or clique nominations,
but ticket composed Of some Of the ablest
men in the city, nominated by the democracy
In fair and honest convention, and no Jug
glery. With ticket nominated in that way,
made up Of the right materials, Tammany can
20 into the fight, rallying its supporters under
tho Mcclellan banner, and success will be GER
tain The nominations however, must be made
at once. Every days delay strengthens the op.
posing factions in the party.
Year: 1864

The SLAVERY QrEsrroS.-All discussion OK
the question of slavery during this political
canvass is useless. IL 10 dead issue and we
are live men. II would be just as sensible to
drag the old tariff question, or the old Maine
Liquor law question, into the present contest
We have gone beyond all these little contro-
versies, and are brought face to face with the
great national issue Of Union or no Union.
That Is the question which must decide the
Presidential election. The slavery question
has nothing TO do with y
Year: 1864

. AN for striking at Slavery, the cause OF all
our woe, and the progentor of this gigantic re-
bellion, with every power under our control.


and thus, also, obey
the Divine injunction, "to break every yoke and
let the oppressed go free. -.


Thus speaks the Hon. Schuyler Colefax, in
recent letter addressed to the Congressional Con-
vention Of the Ninth District of Indiana. And
he might have added think, with entire
truth, that this nation will not know peace, or
be relieved from its present heavy burden and
great tribulaton until the people composing it,
and by common consent. obey the manifest Di-
vine purpose to q break every yoke, and let the
oppressed go free" The seal of condemnation
is upon the giant cause Of our present calamities
and when that is fairly rooted out. we may look
for the clear light and genial rays of the of
peace to once more shine forth over our land.
Year: 1864

BAD OPINION OF FATHER BELLOWS. The pious,
honest, and immaculate Yankee renegade of the
San Francisco Confederate Press has no conf
dence in Father Bellows. He says:


'The Sanitary Commission has given some
responsible service to the sick and wounded sol
liers but we know of none of its agents with
whom we would entrust money without some
other than their own personal assurance for its
proper application.
Year: 1864

A ToUCHING lycIDEST.--The following pa
thetic story is based upon actual incident
that occurred on the battlefield at Gettysburg


A rebel prisoner asked clean shirt for his
young comrade, whose fresh blood-stained band
ages told of recent amputaton just above the
knee. One of the Sanitary Commission gave the
Shirt but said the boy must be washed. - Oh,
any of those women yonder." kind looking
woman from Phiadel phia was asked if she was
willing to wish rebel prisoner. @ Certainly"
was the prompt reply, - have son in the Union
army, and would like to have somebody wash
him


With towel and water in q tin basin, she
cheerfully walked through the mud to the tent
Careful not to disturb the amputated leg, she
gently removed the old shirt and began to wash
him but the tenderness of mothers heart
at work, and she began to cry over him,
saying that she imagined she was washing her
own son. This was more than he could bear.
He, too, began TO weep, and to ask God to bless
her for her kindness to him. The scene was too
much for the bystanders, and they left the North
Mother and Southern Son to their sacred
grief, wishing that tears could blot out the sin
of this rebellion and the blood of this unnatural
Year: 1864

A. g. Rayburn is a sold er +; he is of Southern
birth, his father is Judge Rayburn, of Sonoma
county, and is of the persuasion called Cop
perhead." Rayburn, the soldier, thus writes
from camp in Arizona Territory:


g do not wish to promote civil strife on this
coast, but think that traitors ought to be made
to know that we in earnest ! would like
to know what the California Volunteers were
called into service for. Was it to preserve
peace, for the benefit of the mean, sinking,
cowardy, Northern, dough-ficed, blue-beliied
Yankee Dixie Secesa symplthizers in California
or were we called out to protect the lives and
property OF Union men, to punish ana put down
treason, let it come in whatever shape it might,
TO defend and uphold our Government, and to
protect that dear old starry flag from insult, and
preserve it in all its glory and honor?


If it was the last mentioned object, we have
Tell Tar short Of it, for treason to-day is bolder
and more outspoken in this State than it the
day we enlisted, and no man that prctends to
know anything can deny it. We have seen our
officers, (who should be above suspicion, J drink,
carouse, and be hale fellows well met with noto-
rionS secessonsts. We have been paraded and
drilled for hours just to please certain things
calling themselves ladies, who when passing
one OF us on the street would turn up their deli
cate little secesh noses and hrt like spoilt
child,


Soldiers have been insulted by Secessionists
and upon resentng the insult as he should do
by knocking traitor down, they have been re-
ported by said traitor as being drunk and insult
ing citizens, and cur officers have actually
punished the soldier and let the traitor go un-
molested. Such has been the experience of some
of the California Volunteers, and truer and bet
ter soldiers never lived. Is it a wonder, then,
that they have not re-enlisted? We are Just as
patriotic as ever and have undying filth in the
Government and Administration. Although the
first breath ever drew was in an atmosphere of
slavery, do most sccerely hate the accursed
institution from the hottom Of my heart, ana |
will fight it as long as | am permitted to breathe
the breath of life -
Year: 1864

PICTURES. A room with pictures and q
room without pictures differ about as much
as room with windows and a room with
out windows. Nothing is more melancholy,
particularly to person who has to pass much
time in his room, than bleak walls and moth
ing on them; for pictures are loop-holes OF es-
cape for the soul leading TO other scenes and
spheres. 1t is such an inexpressible relief to
person engaged in writing, or even reading,
on locking up, not to have his line of vision
chopped OIL by an odious white wall, but to
find his soul escaping, as it were, through the
frame OF an exquisite picture, to other beau
tiful and, perhaps, heavenly scenes, where the
fancy for moment may revel, refreshed and
delighted. Thus pictures are CONSIDERS of
loneliness; they are relief to a iaded mind
they are windows to the imprisoned thought
they are books they are histories and sermons,
which we can read without the trouble Of turn.
ing over the leaves.
Year: 1864

FRANKLIN AND HIS PAPEB.-Soon after
his establishment in Philadelphia, Franklin
was offered piece for publication in his news
paper. Being very busy, he begged the gen
teman would leave it for consideration. The
next day the author called and asked his opin-
ion of it. "Why. air, replied Franklin, u am
sorry to say 1 think it highly scurrilous and
defamatory. But being at loss, on account
Of my poverty, whether to reject it or not
thought would put 1t to this ksae--at night
Year: 1864

AN INCIDENT OF THE BATTLE ZELDA
writer in the Congregationalst gives the fol-
lowing incident;


Returning we saw a newly opened grave
1t was for Michigan boy of eighteen, who
had been shot down at the side Of his father,
who was a private in the same company.
The father sat beside the grave, carving his
boys name upon rude head board 1t was
his first-born. took him by the hand and
gave him all my heart; offered a prayer, which
Brother Holmes followed with appropriate
words. There was no coffin, but few pieces
of beard were laid In the bottom OF the grave,
between the body and the bare ground
Wrap him in this blanket" said the father,
"it is one his sister sent him. All, me, how
will they bear it at home! What will his poor
mother do! She must have lock of his
hair"


| stopped to cut the lock with my pen
knife, when a soldier came forward with
pair of sissors from bis little housewife p
My heart blessed the Sabbath school child
who had made that timely gift. And so, hav-
ing rendered the last Office Of faith and affec-
tion, we laid the brave boy in bis grave, while
the cannon were still roaring the doom Of
others young and brave whom we had just
left on the field.
Year: 1864

From the Philadelphia Age Of Thursday.l


The uprising of the people at the late
spring elections in this State, against the
traitorous conspirators at Washington and
the unhappy Abolitionists who support
them, seems to have been very general.
There appears to be no exception to it in
any part of the State. We have given the
particulars of some of the instances in
which marked changes have taken place in
favor Of the Democracy and the cOuntry's
preservation since last fall, in counties,
townships and boroughs, and might occupy
columns with similar details. If the facts
were reversed, and the Aboltionists had
been able to find, in these untrammeled
verdicts of the people, half such an express
sion of confidence in the Administration as
has been given to the Democracy, the
telegraph wires would have flashed
the information to every part of the coun-
try, and the whole land would have rung
with the civilizations of those who are eager
to tear down our national edifice. Even
when the Administration is enabled, by
falsehood, fraud and force, to wiring from
our unwilling people stimulation ofvictory
at the polls, proclamation is made of it
every where as another evidence that the
necks of free white Americans are bowed
and ready for the yoke which the traitorous
hands of their unfaithtul and disloyal pub
lic-servants are preparing for them. But
the free will offerings of the people in be-
half of the Constitution and the Union--the
vcrdicts rendered in the absence of bayOnets,
and rendered honestly because the iron hand
of the Administration was not present as
1t was last fall to enforce an endorse
ment of high treason against our re-
publican institutlons-these do not arrest
the attention of those who control the tele-
graphic bulletins, and who have perverted
the electric wires from their Legitimate
uses and rendered them mere media for the
dissemination of falsehood. The fact-the
great fact-that Pennsylvania has indicated,
at the late elections, q majority of certainly
not less than FIFTY THOUSAND for the Demo-
cratic. party, is not blazoned as an opposite
result would have been, but is left to be
disclosed, IL at. all, by the slow process of
scattered letters or details in local journals
to be gathered in the course of many days
or r.weeks after the election. y = - fsqt. -
But though the great fact that the voters
of Pennsylvania have pronounced by an
overwhelming majority against the Admins
istration, may be tardily promulgated 1t
cannot be entirely suppressed or continue
to be'cencealed from the peoples with whom
their present servants seem afraid to entrust
the truth on any subject, whether military,
financial or political. It was fact too
grand In its proportions, too mighty in its
signifcance, too portentous of issthe coming
wrath" to the traitors in high places, too
pregnant with welcome promise to the
conservatives Of the country, l, to be
Year: 1864

poverished people, neglected FARMS abandoned work
shops, and destroyed commerce, will be but another
name FOR repudatou; and repudiation, if it should


commence in earnest, may sweep away all State Sc
curitieS. 1t is the interest therefore as well the
duty of every citizen and especially those who hold
State and Bank securities stand by the Treasurer
in his work of economy and REFORM and aid him in
reducing the State debt as much as possible The
State should be liberal her soldiers and liberal to
the poor, and just to her public officers in her ap:
proPrations; 9ut not one dollar should be wasted
or unnecessarily expended. Every channel into
which money is extravagsntly or uselessly flowing,
should be stopped We must carefully husband our
resources or weshall soon have none Remember,
gold is still the standard Our debt must be paid in
gold or its equivalent Let US think of that, and
act accordingly, when hundreds of thousands and
millions asked for. Mr.. Worth thinks oft, and
hence the wise suggestions contained in his Report
Year: 1864

hear, that most of the important work of Congress
is being cut outin secret session. We fear that the
liberty of the citizen and the rights of the States are
in imminent peril from these secret sessions.
Year: 1864

l pidity that it was impossible to follow every 1 movement. < At length there was g pause again the hands and arms were stretched ont again they pointed, and, it seems to me now, Tn bitter mockery, to the bed, and then the body swayed and bent backwards. and the head was thrown up in one loud burst of up- roarous laughter. 1t seemed to me that could heor the mocking sounds even above all the noises in the street. do not know if l turned away for moment. or if the figure crouched down. but reriiember my surprise at finding that it had left the bedroom, and was again standing at the window of the ante. room. From thence it passed out into the passage, and saw no more of it,.

 The bed was, as usual occupied, but do not remember noticing any movement on the part of the occupier. si'

 Early in the summer evening returned from my daily work. and sat at the window to watt oh the sun as, like a solitary eye of fire glowing through mist and smoke with dim angry light it. sank down into the heart of the great city The blinds of the room opposite were drawn down. and the windows were closed, and they remained so on the following morn ing. But in the evening. as l watched from my window in the dusk, I saw two men coming down the street, bearing on their shoulders a cof1n. They stopped at the house opposite, and into that room with the bed, which was opposite to mine. I saw the shadow of it cast upon the white window blinds, for some 6ne went first carrying candle.

 And then knew that there was death in the room. and that tie antic which had mocked and made sport of the previous day, had mocked at the dying of the dead.

 The following day was Sunday, and was again at my window when the plain deal cof in was carried down stairs and put into . shabby hearse. This was followed by a street cab, and one small person sprang quickly in. to it, closely mufied in a 'ge black cloak. I could not tell whether this person was young or old, and could only guess whether it was a man or woman but something in the rapid resoluie movements at once recalled the sheeted figure which had startled me three days before. l could not watch that house again-it was 100 terrible; and onsthe following day when I returned home, saw that the bel had been removed. the windows were wide open, aud there were new bills announcing that the rooms were ''To Let uneurni he'd"
Year: 1864

The golden calf is on the rampage in Wall
street to-day. The defeat Of Mr.. stebbin's
proposition 10 authorize the sale Of all the gold
held by the Secretary Of the Treasury raised
the price from 1es! to 100, the quotation at
one O'Clock this afternoon. Mr.. Boutwell's
amendment, which passed yesterday, provides
that the Secretary Of the Treasury may pay the
interest payable in gold in advance, will en-
able him to throw large amount OF gold into
the market and cxtingulAh so much Of the pub
lie Indebtedness. This power Of the Secretary
will tend to check mere speculation TO q con-
siderable degree, while on the other hand, II
the Government were to sell out all Its gold,
the spectators might raise Its price hereafter,
so that Government would be compelled TO
purchase at an enormous premium, and thus
become great loser. -hI
Year: 1864

NEW YORK, March s.-Gold advanced TO
lO4 on the news of the defeat OF stebblns's
gold bill.


Supervisor Booth, of Brooklyn, Just returned
from Washington, has officially Informed the
Board OF Supervisors that call for two hun
dred thousand more men would soon be made,
and that the draft would soon be enforced. He
was so Informed by Secretary Stanton, who
advised him to keep on recruiting, as all over
plus would be credited to tho county in the
forthcoming draft.
Year: 1864

The argument in the quicksilver mining
case, before the Supreme Court OF the United
States, closed this afternoon, and all that re-
mains is the decision of the court, which will
not be made for several days.
Year: 1864

PRAIsING AND BLAMING.-Bulwer,
in his volume Of Essays, comments on
the effects Of dispensing praise as well
as Of inficting habitual consure, and
says, with the air of a true philosopher,
at seems to me that the habit Of seek.
ing rather to praise than to blame ope-
rates favorably not only on the happi-
ness and the temper, but on the whole
moral character Of those who form it.
It is a great corrective to envy, that
most common infrmity Of active in
telIeots engaged in competitive strife,
and the immediate impulse Of which is
always toward the disparagement Of an
other it is also a strong counterbalanc-
ing power to that inert cynicism which
is apt to creep over men not engaged in
competition, and which leads them tc
debase the level Of their own humanity
in the contempt with which. it regards
what may be good or great in those who
are so engaged In short, a predisposi-
ton to see what is best in others nec-
essarily calls out our more amiable quail
ties !; and, on the other hand, pre-
disposition to discover what is bad keeps
in activity our meaner and more malig-
nant propensities.'