smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1863

Where, where is the gate thas once used to di


vide
The old shady lane from the grassy road side
like not this gate so gay and so bright,
With its sltterng latch and its trellis so white
1t is pretty / own, yet, oh dearer by far,
Was the red rusted hi ges, and the weather


warped bar
Here fashion and form of modernized date,
But I'd rather have looked on that old farm


gate.
Twas there where my sisters would gather to


play
In the shadow of twilight, or sunny mid day.
How we'd laugh and run wild mid those hill


locks of sand,
Where temptations existed no child could with


stand
But to swing on the gate rails, to Chamber and


ride,
Was the utmost of pleasure, of glory and pride,
And the car of the victor or carriage of state,
Never carried such hearts as the old farm gate
Oh fair is the barrier taking its place,
But it darkens picture my soul longed TO


trace.
I sigh to behold the rough staple and hasp,
And the rails that my glowing hand scarcely


could clasp,
Oh how strangely the warm spirit grudges to
With the commonest relic once linked to the


heart
And the brightest of fortune, the kndliest fate,
Would not banish my love for the old farm gate.
Year: 1863

Slavery is War. This is the truth of


history-the necessity of human nature.


Our fathers died leaving war in the land


and we, when we were born, received


as our birthright Inheritance this days


legacy OF civil war. But we are coming


to Peace-the one and only peace-the


peace whose spirit is justice. The chains
shall be broken, and the oppressed shall
lift their hands TO heaven in gratitude


for deiverance. Great will be Meir gain
but greater still the nations. The ma
ton, tested in these trials, at last shall
stand proved. Passing out of these
flames, it shall be purer, like the gold Of
the crucible. These are brave days!
Do they carry TOO great sorrow =? They
carry also mercy. Out of the wrath Of
man rises praise to God. War has sub
lime comr ensations. Otherwise it would
be uncomfortable. But, by reason Of
these, it turns its cursing into blessing.
Are the times troubous They are for
putting an end TO troubles Are they
full of unusual burdens? =? They are for
making the yoke easy and the burden
light. We had been living commonplace
lives during a long peace. These great
events are Tor lifting us TO higher
thoughts for inspiring us with mere
Christian aims for sowing the land with
more generous ideas. We shall be the
richer in spirit for the struggle Of flesh
and blood through which we are now
passing. We shall be wiser for the les
son we are now learning. The moral
tone of the nation is to be quickened and
exalted. This is the harvest which shall
come when the fields now red with blood
shall grow green with peace.
Year: 1863

The WEATHER AND CRoPs.-The almost
daily rains of the last two weeks, with inter
vals of hot and sweltering sun, have materially
injured the wheat. 1t was for the most part
put up in very hasty and careless manner.
on account of the pressing demands of the
corn crop for attention. The consequence ha $
been, that it has sprouted badly. The crop
has been so large, however, that the amount
saved will far exceed the crop of any previous
year.


The same cause which has injured the wheat
has more than compensated US in the corn
crop. The heart of man could not have wished
for finer corn season. The most abundant
crops will be raised upon all the lands, includ-
ing the high sandy lands, which are always
ruined by drought


The fruit crops will be excellent also Never
in the memory of man has nature been so pro-
fuse in her bounties as at present. The star
vati0n policy of the Federals will be defeated
this year by the Almighty.
Year: 1863

For us, we cry success to this rank Abolition
movement II is fatfooted at least and means
something They hate us hea rtily, and we re-
turn it. They wish to part. Amen


1T is very dim work, this peering into the
future through all the sulphuI'ous smoke Of war
and the fumes of so many seething political
caldrons. No one can sec clearly, and the
wisest mistake phantoms for realities. But
we think we see the first appearance of peace
in the Abolition party. Ii Lincoln does not
adopt their policy, it woul no. be at all sur
prising to find recognition and Union the issues
Of the next political canvass, and Fremont, or
some other leader at the head Of all the Abo-
lition elements of the North, in favor of an
independent government in ,he South, whilst
those who now pretend to be our best friends
will camor for the stars and stripes and the
old Union as il was.
Year: 1863

MINUTE MEN.--We see that companies OF
minute men have been organized throughout
the counties of great portion of Mississippi,
and we may expect to hear of no more such
raids as. ..Grierson's in that quarter. 1t would
be well for US to profit by their experience,
and not wait until it trains so we can't" The
valley of the Red River is too important to
escape the attention of the enemy. Rely upon
it they will pay US their respects if we remain
unprepared for their reception. They Will not
do so if satisfied that they would meet organ
lied opposition in every neighborhood. We
feel anxiously on this subject and must con-
tinue to urge our citizens to effort. 1t can
certainly do no harm. The neglect of 1t may
be very DISASTROUS.


Providence has poured, and is pouring, into
our laps her horn ofplenty. The enemy could
not strike US more deadly blow than to de-
prive US of her bounties. If we protect and
care for them, we may..support our armies un-
til the invader is scompelled to retire from e1-
haustion.
Year: 1863

HIsfoRIoAL SocIErY.-The organization


and design of tn is society will be found upon
<the first page, ia ken from the True Democrat.
1t will be seer, that the editor of this paper
has been chosen one of the Vice-Presidents.
We cheerfully accept, and hope, by the assist
ance of all who take an interest in the preser.


walton of our history, to be useful.


The society is intended to collect facts, how


ever rude the for IN. Out of the vast material


so brought together, it will be the province of


the future historian to create the histories for
our libraries and centre tables. We shall be
happy therefore to receive communications
from any quarter, containing facts of the early
history of the country, either of a public or
private nature, or illustrative of manners and
customs. At present the most important work
is to collect and preserve the names of all who
have gone to the war, the battles in which thew
served, and the time and places of discharge or
death. We ask for such lists of each companv
They may now be easily made out whilst the
memory is fresh. 1t should be n labor of
love to their relations and survivnc comrad dos
to see that this is done. We will take charge
Of all which may be furnished, and place them
IN the archives of the society.
Year: 1863

BE FIRM AND STEADY.-The battle of free
dom is almost won. We may still meet with
reverses, bnt all our most trying sacrifices
have been already endured. Let each one be
ware of fainting just in reach of the GOAL
The North is falling into fragments. Discord
is doing the crowning work of exhaustion
amongs: them. All is hopefnl. The loss of
Vicksburg or Port Hudson or Charleston would
not materially alter the case, but we have high
hopes of defending them all.


We set out with the resoIute determination
of preserving all the States which had entered
the Confederacy, and of accepting nothing
short of the entire and unconditional indepen
dence of the South. We can never make peace
upon lower grounds, without conscious humii-
iation-without disgrace. We are conquered
in so far as we may be driven to accept OF
peace on other terms The labor we have al
ready spent will be in vain. The blood we
have shed will be a reproaca to us for assuming
higher demands than we have been willing to
maintain. Ii we have not been IN earnest in
pleuglDg our lives anu " tlC COHlplel
and unconditional independence of all the
South, we have deceived our martyred heroes,
and their blood will be upon our hands.


Let us impress it upon our Congressman and
Senators, and those who are entrusted with
our national affairs, that we hold them accoun-
table for this, if they should fail. 1t is the
one great political question. Southern inde
pendence for every slave State that chooses to
accept it. Independence complete, full, and
unqualified by concessions or conditions. Re-
cognition in its fullest sense, and the with
drawal of every hostile foot from every seaport
and county within our borders.


With regard to the border States, In accord
ance with the principles Of our constitution,
they have the right to withdraw from us again.
But we must insist upon free vote of the whole
people, 5eyond the fear of Federal or Confsd-
crate bayonets If then they choose to go,
let them. If they choose to stay, we cannot
cease the war until the enemy concede their
independence and withdraw from them also.
Otherwise we prove recreant to our promises,
and abandon them in their need to be trolden
under the foot of a vindictive tyrant.
Year: 1863

belligerents are not empowered to do violence
to her consuls and expel them from the coun-
try, whilst their e1equaturs exist, and are re-
cognized by the United States. And, to con-
clude the whole matter, she may claim that it
is just and proper that she should interfere to
assist the United States Government to re-


establish her consul in Richmond, and comnel
the insurgents to let him remain there in peace


AS the whole force of this argument depends
upon her own conduct in refusing the recopni
ton of our government, we cannot be expected
to give it any weight with ourselves. Yet she
will take it as sufficiently plausible to cause
her interference to our prejudice, in case she


should be so disposed.


We scarcely know, indeed, which course
upon her part will be best for us. Her pre-
tended neutrality is at present injurious, and
we have ne great additional burdens to appre-


hend from her hostility-much, indeed, to hope
| for in that event. We are impregnable in our
sea ports. The assistance of the vaunted
| navies of England would be of little use, we


imagine, to the Federals, against such places
as Charleston and Savannah. We do not
think the land troops she could afford to trans
| port and keep up in the heart of our country,
| would add very greatly to our task of self de-


fence. On the other hand, the hostiities of
| Great Britain would procure us at once the
recognition and assistance of France. The


help of the French navy would far outweigh
all the injury which could be inflicted upon us
| by land by English troops.


| In any event, we cannot but admire the
| calm, resolved conduct of President Davis in


this affair. Our dignity must be protected at
all hazards. The Southern Confederacy were
little worth to US without it. Come veal or


woe, we must be not only free of the Federal
Government, but proud with noble and proper
pride, before the nations of the earth. Let us
/ glory in all acts of courteous forbearance, but
scorn one prompted by fear. Otherwise our ma
tionality is already lost.
Year: 1863

A GENTLEMAN WHO RAISED CROP OF
a broom Corn last year. has large quantity Of SEED
Tor sale Price So 20 per bGste! One dollar extra when
bag is furnished Printed directions for the cultivation
of broo corn will sent all who desire to rsea crop
All orders sent to WILLIE J. PALMER Principal of the
Institution for the Deaf aud Dumb and the Blind will re.
ceive prompt attention.


Raleigh Feb. 90, lS63 l6-'n..
Year: 1863

for these are indeed the "times that try mems
souIsp Lest il might be considered that intended
70 include the whole town Of ShelbyvilIe in my re-
marks permit me TO say that Notwithstanding we
have many hitter and yindictiVs enemies there yet
there some Of the truest Southern citizens, male
and female in the State residing in that place. The
brightness Of their example is increased by the very
darkness which surrounds them.


CONFEDERATE.
Year: 1863

No CHILDHooD.-We talk of Adam and
Eve, says an exchange, rs having been before
the Fall in n very happy condition but one
thing they missed-thcy never were children
Adam never played hockey. he never
drove tandem Of boys with a string; he
never skated on pond, or played ball, or
rode down hill on a hand sled. And Eve
never made play house and she never took
tea with another little girl, from tea table
set out with the tea things; she never rolled
a hoop, or jumped the rope, or pieced baby
quilt or dressed doll. They never played
blind mans buff, or pussy wants corner, or
hurly-burly, or any Of the games with which
childhood disports itself. How blank their
age must have been within no memories of
early youth came swelling up their hearts
no visions of childhood floating back from the
long past no mothers voice chanting lul-
laby to the ear of infancy in the still hour Of
night; no fathers words of kindness speak
ing from the churchyard where he sleeps.
Adam and Eve, and they alone of all the
countless millions of men and women that
have ever lived, had no childhood.
Year: 1863

The following truthful passage is from &
speech delivered by Hon. Charles Gibbons
at National Union meeting held in Phila
delphia some time since. Let every ono
read and remember it:


This is war on our part for the poor
man. because it is war for the maintenance
of the only government on earth that freely
opens to him and his children the way to
prosperity and honorable distinction. The
school-housc is free. Conscience is free.
Every business avenue is free. He finds
no gates to exclude him from any of the
high-roads to fortune or to fame The
doors of every profession open at his sum
mons, and his children are welcomed at
every portal. No privilege is denied him
that is accorded to the rich--no restraint
imposed upon him from which others are
exempt. 1t is here, under protection OF IA
government now besCt by armies in the
South and traitors in the North, who try 20
conceal their hostility under the broad man
tel of Democracy, that every poor man may
raise, if he will, to the full sta tIrc of his
manhood, and, Il man among men, II SOW
ereigu among sOvcreigns, breathing the in
vigoratng air Of liberty, may lead lis chill
dren forth, free as the tledgcd caglets of
the mountains, to try the strength of their
pinions, upward and still upward in the
pure atmosphere of Il republic. The career
of President Lincoln illustrates the argu-
ment. Beginning life as poor and friend
less boy; III early manhood a laborer in
fields by day, and student at night by the
dim light of II talow candle; then re-
spccted member Of an honorable profes-
sion; next II faithful representative in Con-
eress, and now the highest ON earth-the
President of the United States of America.


If the poor man would find better friend
than such II government as this, am sure
he must seek him in another and higher
sphere than any within the dominion of
mankind. And if he would find worse
enemy than the party demagogue who
seeks to divert him from his loyalty by
stirring up evil passions and criminal pre-
judices against the friends of universal lib
erty, who freely offer their property and
lives for the defense of the government, he
must seek him, not on earth. but in the
lowest depths of he'll. He must drag up
from the bottom Of the burning lake, him
who first made


"Impious war in Heaven,
Year: 1863

We should cherish the friendship, and
with all our hearts love those who every
day practice the precepts of the GoGpel.
No matter how lowly they may be in the
eyes of the world, they are exalted high in
the estimation Of God, angels and pure
spirits.
Year: 1863

lJohp Brougham's Tread light, for my heart is
under your feet love- is oGlipsod by the following
from skating lover, who indulges in the some
what cruel thought of crushing in Lis lady's heart
Her heart is like frozen lake,


On whose cold brink l stand


Oh, bncklo on my spirits skate,


And take me by the Land


And lead thou, loving saint, the way


TO where the ice is thin,


That it may break beneath my feet


And let a lover in.
Year: 1863

A young man on a visit to his brothers and
sister. at Hilton township, Bucks county, Pa,
gun. The sister laughed and the matter passed
of Presently he picked up a gun and pointed
it at her. She demonstrated and said she did
not like such fun. Scarcely were the words out
of her mouth when he pulled the trigger. and
sent the load into her neck, from the effect of
which she expired almost instantly. The con.
duct of the young man, whose name was George
Haring, was rather mysterious. He left the
house Immediately after the affair, and did not
arrive at the place where he wished until four
in the morning. He did not appear to be at all
affected at the sad occurrence He was subse.
quently arrested on the charge of murder.
Year: 1863

The following is an extract from late
Morris Island letter:


Deserters state that the submarine ap.
paratus in Charleston Harbor, which was in.
vented by an ingenious fellow from the
North, who found himself in the enemy's
lines at tho beginning of the war, and since
then unable to effect his escape. has got to
the bottom, greatly to tho regret of tho re-
lief authorities, who hoped by its means to
blow up tho lronsdes. anc drive all the flee.
from tho roads. Thoy report that tho in.
ventOr OF the machine took the liberty of
cruising around with it about when he
chose. and frequently, unbekrown to the
rebels, made submarine trips down the har-
Dor. By some means or other suspicious
we're excited in the mind of sumo of the on.
envy that all was not going right, and watch
was placed on the yankees" movements.
The deserters report that he was caught one
night at work clearing away the distractions
in tho harbor, in order to give our IRON clads
access to tho city. He was Immediately
deprived of his command. arrested, with all
his crew, and thrown into Charleston Jail to
be tried as a traitor. What has become of
him my informant could not state. His
machine was placed in charge of an officer
and five men, and an attempt was made to
operate it. but with partial success. The
last time il was tried the Lieutenant aud
his crew of five men got into it, adjusted
the machinery, through which flowed the
water necessary to sink the machine to the
proper depth. 1t gradually disappeared
from view, and up to latest accounts had
not come up again. Sc the machine and
the Lieutenant and Ave men found grave
together in ten fsthoIns of water, aud have
probably passed from the sight Of men for
ever,and Commodore Ingraham is busily in
venting some other apparatus to drive thu
navy from its anchorage and from his sight
Year: 1863

The Richmond Enquirer. of the 10th
uU., in an editorial upon peace" SAYS:


save on our own terms, we can accept
no peace whatever, and must fight iii
doomsday rather than yield an iota Of
them; and our teams are


"Recogniton by the enemy of the in.
dependence Of the Confederate States.


Withdrawal Of Yankee forces from every
foot Of Confederate ground, including
Kentucky and Missouri


"Withdrawal Of Yankee soldiers from
Maryland until that State shall decide, BY
a free vote, whether she shalt remain in
the old Union or ask admission into the
Confederacy.


Consent on the part Of the Federal Gov.
eminent TO give up TO the Con 'ederacy its
proportion OF the navy rs i! stood at the
time OF secession, or 10 pay-for the same.


Yielding up all pretensions on the part
OF the Federal Government to that portion
OF the old territories which lies ives of the
Confederate Sta,ea.


Gan equitable settlement, on :he basis
Of our absolute independence and equal
rights, OF all accounts OF the public debts
and public lands, and of the advantage
accruing from foreign treaties.


These provisions,we apprehend, com
prise the minimum OF what We must re.
/ qulre before we lay down our arms. That
is TO say the North must yield all: we
nothing The whole pretension of that
country to prevent by force the separation
OF the States must be abandoned which
will oe an equivalent TO an avowal that
our enemies were wrong from the frsl;
and. ol course, as they waged causeless
and WICKED war upon us, they ought in
strict justice, TO be required, accoi ding
TO usage in such cases, 10 reimburse to us
the whole Of our expences and losses in
the course Of that war. Whether this
last proviso is to be insisted upon OF not,
certain we are that we cannot have any
peace at all until We shall be in position,
not only tc command and exact, but also
TO enforce and collect the treasure for our
own reimbursements out of the wealthy
cities in the enemy's country. IL other
words, unless we can destroy or scatter
their armies and break UP their govern
ment, we can have no peace, and if we
can do that, then we can, and ought no
only 10 extort from them our own full
terms, and ample acknowledgment o
their wrong, but also handsome indem
nifty for the trouble and expense caused
10 US by their crime"
Year: 1863

The Union State League OF Massachu-
setts recently held meeting in Boston.
to appoint delegates to the National
League Convention, which is to meet in
Washington in December. Gen. Butler
and William Claf1in were chosen delegates
at large. The Transcript SAYS:


General Butler addressed the meeting
at length, taking ground with those who
believe the seeded states have annihilated
themselves as states, while the power oil
The general government still remains in.
TACT owes their territory. He opposed the
position Of a member Of the Cabinet tn at
that the rebel commonwealth by throw
ing down their arms should be received
into the Union with unimpsired rights,
and with their old local institutions. His
reasons for debating terms, before allow
these hostile sections, sprang from con.
siderations vitality affecting the interests
and safety OF the nation.


"lf the Confederate States are read =
mi.ted, and their representatives take their
seats in Congress before some radical
change is effected, what guaranty is there
that the federal national debt will not be
Regulated or made 10 stand upon the
alternative that the Con federate debt
must likewise be paid. Let this question
come before Congress. and all the appli.
ances OF corruption would be set in mo-.
ton to secure such decision as would
place the federal and rebel Indebtedness
upon the same footing.


General Butler contended that the
rebel states must be regarded as destroyed
or it would be almost impossible to choose
another President, for the reason that no
candidate likely to be selected would re-
ceive such support in the North as TO
give him majority OF the whole electoral
college, constituted of all the states, both
loyal and rebel. Transfer the question
to the House Of Representatives, where
each commonwealth casts only one vote,
and majority Of such votes is required,
aud the difficulty will be greatly increased
The policy OF safety and justice was TO
restore the Union in the South only as
fast as the principles of freedom and 10y.
atty are extended over the now rebel do
main"
Year: 1863

a@ There has been no war news
worth recording the past week All the ar
mics seem to be taking rest after the hard
labor performed during the fall months. 1t
appears to be pretty generally concluded that
military operations will be limited during the
winter, and that more attention will be given
TO filing up the regiments already in the
field, SO that next spring opr armies may be
prepared 10 eater upor vigorous campaign.