smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1859

WE UNDERSTAND that several individ-
uals who are not willing to ask permission Of
Us to answer the article in Tuesdays paper on
usury, have expressed desire to do so To
those individuals we will say that our columns
are open for free discussion and answer to
anything we may write. provided the writer
uses language proper for one person to use to,
ward another. This subject of pleading usu-
| ry is becoming very serious affair. and we
are informed will be quite common with those
who may not be prepared to lift encumbrances
on their property, when they fall due. We
can see one effect it is going to have already,
and that is. it will drive away from county
all foreign capital, which has been sent hither
for investment. One gentleman has already
sent back .ix thousand dollars which he had
only received the day before, informing the
parties East that it would not be safe to loan
it here at present. Money brokers in this city
money 60 out Of their hands. unless they re.
ceive definite instructions so to do 1t will
not only have a tendency to keep away capt.
al, but it will send home whatever may be
here now, so soon as it can be collected It s
perhaps ss we'll that this money should 60
home. for it is certainly running those who bors
row it, and pay even ten per cent. interest.


The GRAND JURY.-We wish to pay
all due respect to Courts Of Justice and to those
who are entrusted with the administration of
the laws bat We feel bound to say that the
Grand Jury now in session is entaling vast
expense upon the County without comforting
the slightest benefit on anybody in return
Mr.. OConnor, the District Attorney, has left
Tor the term, and there is no one to draft or
sign an Indictment, even if the Grand Jury
should wish to present one. and SO they can do
no business, were there never so much to be
done. We are assured, however, that Mr..
O'Connor did not leave until he was satisfied
that all the business before the Grand Jury had
been finished 1t seems that there are some
men on the Grand Jury who regard their posi-
tion as q Job to be nursed, and who are deter
mined to hang on to their fee of two dollars
per day as long as they can induce any of their
associates to cit with them Accordingly, these
gentry have been most perseveringly stirring
up all sorts Of cases, and smelling with the
acuteness Of blood hound upon every trail
which promised to lead to lengthy examina.
tions of multtudes Of witnesses They have
succeeded in consuming three days Of the pres
ent week in fruitless inquiry into matter
in which Mr.. OConnor told them on Saturday
it would be a criminal waste Of time and mon-
ey to find bill This was done, we believe,
for the express purpose Of proonging the ses-
sion, and getting the fees. We do not mean to
apply these remarks to all the members of the
Grand Jury, for there are men in that body
who are above such contemplate peculation
but those whom this shoe fits may put
it or. Every day the Grand Jury is in
session it costs the County not les. than seven
ty Or seventy-five dollars, and therefore when
they get through their business they ought, in
decency, to adjourn.
Year: 1859

the trial the prisoner rcarcd out


from the dock, that he was guilty;
but the jury pronounced him ''not
guilty." The astonished Judge ex-
claimed-"Good heavens! gentle-
men, did you not hear the man him
self declare that he was guilty."
The foreman said-'.We did, my
lord, and that was the reason we
acquitted him, for we know the fell
low to be such notorious liar, that


he never spoke word Of truth in


his life, therefore we could not be-


lieve him on OATH" 4
Year: 1859

PApDY's description of a fiddle
cannot be beat: at was the shape
of a turkey, and the sine Ct a goose;
he turned it over on its back and
rubbed its belly with stick, and och
St, Patrick! how it did squeak"
Year: 1859

ASHLAND RACEs.-On Friday next, the
admirers of the sports of the turf are to have sn
opportunity of witnessing a;wo mile heat race
At Ashland for which there are thres entriss, all
Of whom are expected to start. If the weather
proves pleasant aud We hope is may, Ashla will
be delightful resort for those of our citizens who
have worn themselves down in the political contest
now going on, and who desire to rusticate day or
/ so before resumiDg the labors of their ordinary
busiaess There, too. the ladies can meet in the
large pavilion, TO witness the and srjoy the
delightful breszss of May morn. And TO those
who do not attend ''races." Ashland will be in
vtipg on the day designated. An extra train OF
cars will leave the depo; for Ashland on the morn
ing OF the race, aud as the members OF the Club
have the privilege of taking ladies with them
free Of charge it Is expected that the fair sex will
be well represeated on the occasion.
Year: 1859

terday morning, directed his Ulcers 10 arrest aud
bring before him all women of color found in the
public stree cts refusing to give the sidewalk fO


ladies. when meeting or passing them. He has
declared his determination to punish oil nsgresses
however finely dressed, who offend against the
ordinances Of the city, and TO let them know their
proper places. Complaints had been made 10 him
of rudeness to ladies on Main and Broad streets
by certain mulattoes, and be is bent on finding
them out aud giving them q few lessons in good
manners.
Year: 1859

thoroughfare as soon as the paving is completed
but until then, the east eBd will continue In bad
order. This improvement 10 to DO a great advan-
tsge to the shipping, and ought to be finished az
far as possible, by fall.
Year: 1859

made, admit that your candidate is guilty
of acts the relation Of which amounts to
a prostitution Of the press? Verify, if
this is not pouring cold water down his
back we know not what to term it. But,
pour on. no one will cry about IT, He
treated the Democratic candidate for the
Legislature last year in the same way
He told VIM. Shirley and others that he
thought as little of the gentlemen as they
did, and was opposed to the nomination
of any of tile clique, but as they were nom
inatcd he would vote for them-and would
vote for the desH if nominated by Dom


ocratic conventions. i7af .eluii-tI.
Year: 1859

people who have l1at control of the Gov
ernment and its legislation on this subject
mp to this time, with the single attempt to
fasten on an unwilling people cJnstitu-
ton which they had no voice in making.
but which, fortunately for free government,
they were defeated and overwhelmed.-
But if they have been so short-sigbted here
tofore as to defeat their own objects, am
disposed to distrust them in future and pre-
fer to let matters renal in as they arc, rather
than to disturb the peace of the country,
or run the risk of making them cease by an
attempt to make them better. There is no
degree of Unconstitutional protection l would
not always give to the right of property
where it lawfully and constitutionally ex-
lists, but beyond that, | recognize no claim
of the institution of slavery upon the Fed
eral Government farther than has already
been extended to it by the law for the re-
covery of fugitives slaves, it being local
institution, looking only to the ler loci for
protection; for, if the Constitution protects
it in the Territories where it does not exist,
as it is not less binding in its operations
in the States than in the Territories.


The decisions of the Supreme Court
regard as the supreme law of the land; the
political opinions Of its Judges, whether ex
pressed on the bench or in the street,
treat as DO those of other political parti-
sans.


With these views am against any de-
mand for congressional cole for the pro-
lection of slavery in the Territories and all
further legislation of every description on
this subject by the national legislature
These are my opinions. No necessity has
seemed to exist for giving them publicity;
shall always be prepared to furnish them,
without the least desire for concealment.


| am, with much respect, truly yolrS.
JOHN NJ. BOTTS.
Year: 1859

But seriously ladies. have You ~ yet thought
Of any appropriate way Of celebrating the
goth Of Februaryf We would propose tha t
you give Ball to the gentlemen Of Davenport
on that evsntful occasion. and you can then
decide which. out of the many "brave m men"
who will most certainly Be in attendance. you
would chooss ~ your life partner. We have
not the least doubt but what the ladies Of this
far city could far eclipse the gentlemen in the
getting up Of pleasant party. and we there's
fore shall hold up both hands for LEAP YEAR
BALL.
Year: 1859

The City Council will meet this after
noon, and au important meeting it will be-
Mr. +. Cook h IS resigned his office of Mayor,
and it will now devolse upon the council to
appoint q day On which to elect his successor.
But this is not by any means the most impor-
tant Gueetion TINT will come before them. The
city has her JAM .ary interest to pay on the let
of next month. and Al, yet nothing has been
done towards raising the wherewith to meet it.
What is to be done? Is our city going to ro-
test for want of meaneto take up the coupons
on her bonds! 1t certainly looks rather du-
bious at this time, and should nothing defniIe
be done to-day, we may safely calculate that
the holders of our city bonds will have to wh.s
tie for their interest until prosperity once
more visits US. We do not know where the
city is to obtain loan to meet the January
interest. Our capitalists are all tied up by the
recent heavy failures. and have no money to
loan the city, or any one else. Some few of
our money men have the wherewith, but they


have declared their intention TO hold on to it


for the present, and see how the cat will
lump. We are certainly in fair way to 60 to
protest unless our wise city fathers adopt SO e
means to avert the calamity. The matter will
stare them in the face, and they must not at~
tempt to dodge it. The eyes Of the citizens Of
Davenport are upon the actions of the council
! today. Let them act wisely.


SUBSCRIBE for mag zines and news
pspers at Starr's, % LIE Claire Row. He offers
nd
Year: 1859

MONEY FOUND.-A man called ut our
office yesterday and informed us that he had
say that, if the loser would leave description
of the kind of funds. de-, and state reward, he
"ould again call and deposit the money with
US. The finder did not give us his name.
Year: 1859

writer in Of the London scientific journals
has some peculiar notions in reg ,rd to the effect up
on railway travelling Of the earth's rotation. It
is well known that as the earth revolves on its axes
once ia twenty four hours, from West 10 East, the
velocity Of any point its serfsee greater
and less further from it, in the ratio Of the
cosine Of the latitue Thus according to this ratio
tha difference between the relative velocity Of the
earth IN surface motion at London, and at Liverpool
is about twenty eight miles per hour; aud this
amount of lateral movement is TO be glined or lost
as respects the locomotive, in each journey accord
ing to the direction travelled in from one place to
another-and in proportion to the speed will be the
pressure against the side of the rails, which, at
high velocity, will give the engine a tendency to
climb the right hand rail in each direction.
Year: 1859

MARY JANE BUTLER (colored) stopped a
little peddler girl on the street, day before
yesterday, and under protenco of wanting to
purchase several articles, succeeded in steal
ing a pair of socks, and paper of pins.
The little girl saw her conceal the stolen
goods in her bosom, called officer Jones, and
had her arrested. She was sent to the County
Jail for the term of three months, by the
Police Judge yesterday, to be kept at hard
labor
Year: 1859

HERMAN FICKEE went over the Rhine night
before last, and took little too much beer.
Herman became weak in the knees and laid
down in an alley, where he was discovered by
a policeman and taken to the watch house.
He was fined So and costs by the Police Judge
yesterday.
Year: 1859

spec.al attention of our readers TO the lecture 20
be delivered to night at Mechanic Institute Hall,
for the benefit the Union Benevelent society and
the Male and Female Orphan Asylum of th is city,
by Hon. EDWARD EvERlTT. The subject selected Tor
the occasion, sthe early days Of franklin" is one
that will prove highly Interesting to al, handled as
IL will be by ono OF the master lecturers OF the age
As an additional attraction to VISITORS all the chill.
drep from the Asyiums neatly attired, viii be
seated on the stage near the Speaker, to whom q
motion of his remarks will be addressed.
Year: 1859

only valuable for stock raising, as the short
ness of the season viii prevent any extern
sive culture in grains, although a sufficient
quantity for their own supply may be CAL
culated on. This is the headquarters on this
side, of the Central Overland Nail Company,
one of whose stages passed US on the road,
loaded down with passengers, two of whom
were females. A gentleman of Salt Lake,
Mr.. Holiday, who has 10000 head of cattle
coming across the plains, bought of the
government contractors bringing supplies to
Salt Lake, recently paid the Stage Company
500, to land him at Placervills in six days,
which feat was accomplished.


have been shown specimens of cinnabar,
which l believe to be as rich as that of the
New Almaden mines. l was desirous of CO.
ing out and examining the ledge, but the
owner of the ledge could not go then, but
promises to do so on my returnto this place.


The price of beef in California must cer-
tainly decline considerably after the present
season. There cannot be less than 10000
head to arrive and that are now grazing in
these mountain valleys. This; in addition
to what California herself produces, must
have the effect to reduce the price within a
year to five cents. A. j. E.
Year: 1859

THE GARDEN is bound volume of agrf.
cultural life written in poetry. In it the
farmer and his family set the great indus
tries of the plow, spade and hoe in rhyme.
Every flower or fruit bearing tree is green
syllable after the graceful type and course
of Eden. Every bed OF flowers is an acros-
tic to nature, written in the illustrated cap-
itals of her own alphabet. Every bed Of
beets celery, or savory roots or bulbs, is .
page of blank verse full OF bellies lettres Of
agriculture. The farmer may be seen in bis
garden 1t contains the synopsis Of bis
character in letters that may be read across
the road. The barometer hung by bis door
will indicate certain facts about the wea-
ther, but the garden, lying on the sunny
side Of the house, marks with greater pre-
ciSion, the degree of mind and heart-cul-
ture which he has reached. 1t will embody
and reflect his tastes, the bent and bias Of
his perceptions of grace and beauty. In il
be holds up the mirror of his inner life to all
who pass; and. With an observant eye they
may see all the futures of his intellectual
being in it. In that choice root of earth, hs
records his progress in mental cultivation
and professional experience. In it he marks,
by some intelligent sign, his scientific and
successful economies in the cornfeld. In it
you may see the germs of his reading, and
can tell almost the number and nature of his
books. In it he will reproduce the seed
thought he has culled from the printed pages
of bis library. In it he will post and an
swer to the question whether he has any
taste for reading at all. Many nominal
farmers house has been passed by the book
agent without call, because he saw a blunt.
rough negative to the question in the garden
or yard.-Elihu Burritt.
Year: 1859

L1rH's CoNTlSGENcIEs.-From the cradle
to the grave our lives are governed by those
rare thought jewels which sparkle among
the musty tombs of antiquity, and which
receive the general designation OF proverbs.
The world is full of wild maxims which were,
doubtless, intended to serve as finger-boards
along the highway Of existence, to show us
the direct course to earthly success and hap.
piness. These old maxirns are priceless
legacy bequeathed to US by the experienced
sages of every age, since the world began.
They are the beacon lights of wisdom, to
warn US of the dangerous rocks which lie
beneath the surface of the ocean but alasi
they only serve US as guides over one old IA.
miliar channel. They are of but little use
to those who have encountered adverse
storms, and have drifted far out into the un-
known deep. To drop the metaphor, the
worlds advisers and proverb makers have All
studiously avoided to make the necessary
allowances for life's contingencies. 1t is an
easier matter to discourse about flying ms
chimes, but the practical application of those
things is quite different matter. Thus IL
is with proverbs, maxims, or any species Of
advice 1t is marvellously easy to point out
the way to prosperity, and if no accident in.





followed, the object will invariably be at
tanned but unfortunately, those dreadful,
unexpected contingencies will arise. Sick
ness and sorrow; fire and food; pain and
death, and the thousand innumerable ills
which flesh is heir to, constantly occur to
thwart our purposes and blast our hopes OF
prosperity. We are alike subject to these
contingencies, and all know from personal
experience, how hard it is to surmount
them and vet we are all so grossly un'
charitable that We rarely give each other
credit for our misfortunes. If we are in
good luck, and good health for few sue
cessiye days, we cannot, for the life of US,
perceive why others are not equally fortu-
nate. If we are in possession of a rich min
ing claim, we Immediately arrive at the con-
clusion that the whole earth everywhere is
full of gold, and the only rational reason
why our neghbors do not find it, is because
they are either lazy or improvident. If
man is unfortunate in business, we immedi-
ately set him down as bad manager. II he
is reduced to beggary and starvation, we ac-
cuse him of his former prodigality, and
spurn him away
Year: 1859

Prosperity effectually fetters the generous
impulses of our hearts, and selhshness be.
comes thearuling principle of our natures.
How infinitely better would it be if men
were capable of properly estimating each
other as brothers. and having a full concep-
ton of the painful contingencies of life to
which we are all constantly exposed, we
should occupy ourselvesin pouring the heal
ing balm of consolation into the wounded
hearts of each other


"And learn the luxury of doing good"


PlaceruiIle Observer
Year: 1859

g15-The Rochester papers notice most sin


gular case Of insanity. The subject is an Irish


man, about thirty-fve years Of age. He has
an idea that he has two men in his head and


body, who are constantly working at cross
purposes with him. He says they entered his
head one night when he slept in hay-stack,
stealing into the orifce of the ear in the form
Of hay seed. They indulge in levity, and do a
great many things he does not approve Of,
among other things obliging him to do the
work Of three men, while they eat all the food
given them, including his share. He expresses
desire to engage in some avocation that will
afford him a livelihood, but declares that it is
of no use for him to try to support this triune
existence. He is confident Of his own sanity,
and thinks it strange that any one should doubt
Year: 1859

TREMENDOUS CLAP or THuEDER,-A singular
thunderstorm occurred in Norfolk on Wednes-
day. The Day Book says:


Everybody was more or less shocked, about
four O'Clock, by a sudden and tremendous clap
of thunder, which was as sharp and quick as
the report of an immense gun, that appeared to
have bursted Immediately over the city. There
was no reverberation, no sullen or distant NUT
terings of the king, but this enc sharp.
distinct and terrible peal, which lasted only fol
an instant, and was followed by a flash Of
lightning, which was as quickly gone as was
the peal which preceded it. This flash Of the
electric fluid seriously affected many persons
A lady living on the north side of the creek
and not great distance from Mr.. Barrett''
residence, was so severely shocked that hel
right side became instantly paralyzed
Another lady living in the upper part of thu
city had her nervous system so affected that i
is feared she will not recover; while numerou
instances of excessive fright have reached US
Year: 1859

GAME AND CUNNING IN CECIL County, MD.-
The rail, or sora, as it is called in Virginia,
is now abundant in the marshes along Elk
River, and hundreds if not thousands arc
killed within a few miles of Elkton on every
high tide. A single gunner not unfrequently
kills from one hundred to two hundred on a
single tide. The red-birds arc also begin
ming to come, and in few days will be here
in abundance. On the 1st Of October the
law permits the shooting of partridge, and as
they are quite plentiful, the gunners will
have fine sport.
Year: 1859

FAMILY LOVE- wonder, do sisters
ever love one another Not after our
fashion, out of mere habit and long ia.
miliarity, also certain pride, which, how
ever we differ among ourselves, would
make US, | believe, defend one another
warmly against strangers, and out of vol
untary sympathy and affection. Do fam
lies ever live in open-hearted union, feel
ing that blood is blood, closer than ac-
quaintance, friendship, or any tie in the
world' except marriage? That is, it
ought to be. Perhaps it may so happen
once in century, as true love does, or
there would not be so much romancing
about both.


WEDDING Probably there are
few of us who have not speculated on it
a little, as the day which, of all others, is
the most decisive in a woman's life. I
am not ashamed to confess having occa-
sionally thought of mine. A foolish dream
that comes and goes with ones teens
imagined paradise of utter impossible joy,
to be shared with some paragon of equal.
ly impossible perfection-I could sit and
laugh at it now, if the laughter were not
bittercr than tears.


FRIENDs.-And yet is it is not the
seeing ones friends, the having them
within reach, the hearing of and from
them, which makes them ours, many a
one has all that, and yet has nothing. 1t
is the believing in them, the depending
on them, assured that they are true and
good to the core, and therefore could not
but be good and true towards everybody
else, ourselves included ay, whether we
deserve it or not Il is not our deserts
Year: 1859

The WANDERER CONDEMNED. The yacht
Wandercr was condemned by the Admiralty
court of Savannah for being engaged in the
slave trade and ordered to be sold on the
10Th of March. The proof was positive that
she brought 400 or more slaves from Congo
river on the coast of Africa and LAM ed them
on Jekyl Island Besides the admission of
Capt. Corrie to the pilot James Chubb, who
brought the ship in from outside the bar,
and liorato Harris, who was employed by
Corre to Look up pilot for him, as to
the character of the voyage, the ship
charts were produced, showing the course of
the vessel from Charleston, S. c., to Congo
River and along the west coast of Africa,
and from thence back again to our coast.
Year: 1859

SAMPLE LETTER TO A MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
The follywing letter, which is published
verbatim, will give our readers an idea of
what kind of labor Members Of Congress are
sometimes called on by their constituents to
perform
"will you please to inquire in the patent
Office for me for patent rat trap that goes by
weight like a clock that will catch from to
10 rats at one running down thin has to be
wound up before it will catch any more;


wish to know if there is such patent thare
when it was patented & and when the tune
expires also the name of the patentee his
post Office addres.


4 thus oblige yours
Year: 1859

An FRESHMAN who had just landed said,
.'The first bit OF mate | ever ate in this coun-
try was a roasted rotato-boled yesterday.
And if ye don't behave me, | can show it
to ye, for have it in me pocket