smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1863

The Late Honticide.-An inquest was held
yesterday by Justice Nettles, Of Henrico
county, on the body Of Benjamin w. Reid,
who was shot on Saturday last by q man
named Colin Kitchen. AS stated in our last
issue, the difficulty was the consequence OF
too great intimacy between the deceased and
KS wife. We give the following substance
Of the evidence which was given Def ,re the
jury of inquest On Saturday last Kitchen
was observed passing up and down in front
of Reid's residence, and was heard to utter
threats against his life. Between five and
six O'Clock in the afternoon q man named
Lawrence called to see Reid, and while in
conversation at his gate Kitchen came up
and called him Or to one side, when, after
some few remarks, X. was heard to say,
"You are a id liar and id rascal"
Reid replied that he was without arms,
but would fight him fairly. Kitchen then
put his hand in his breast pocket and pulled
ont pistol, upon which X. opened his gate
and advanced towards him; approaching
within few steps the pistol was cooked and
leyelled at Reid, who grabbed at 1t, when it
Immediately went Off and Inflicted upon him
the wound which terminated fatally the next
day. Immediately after the discharge Of the
pistol the parties clinched and struggled for
a few minutes, during which time the weapon
fell to the ground, breaking into three
pieces. At the conclusion of the testimony
which was given, the jury returned the fol
lowing verdict: I'VE, the jury, certify that
according to the evidence given in the case,
the deceased, Benjamin w. Reid, came to his
death by pistol shot from the hands OF
Colin Kitchen"


The examination of Kitchen was post
poned by the Mayor till this morning, in or
der that he might satisfy himself with re
gard to his jurisdiction in the matter. The
prisoner was present in Court, and mani
tested very little concern about the situation
in which he is placed.
Year: 1863

1t is an interesting thing to see
how habitually, in this world, eX-
cellence in one respect is bal
anced by inferiority in another.
How needful it is if you desire
to form a fair judgment, to take
men for better or for worse
ThemistocIes, every one knows,
could not fiddle; but he could
make little city big one. Yet
the people who distinctly saw he
could not fiddle were many,
while those who discerned his
competence in the other direction
were few. So, it is not likely
that many people despised him
for his bad fddling, failing to re-
mark that it was not his vocation
to fiddle. Goldsmith wrote "The
Vicar Of Wakefield" and " Tie
Good-natured Man." yet he felt
indignant at the admiration be-
slowed by company of his ac-
quaintances upon the agility of a
monkey, and, starting up in an
ger and impatience exclaimed,
81 could do all that myself" |
have heard Of very great logi-
clan and divine who was dissatis-
fed that trained gymnast should
excel him in feats of strength,
and who insisted on doing the
gymnasts feats himself; and,
strange to say, he actually did
them. Wise men would not have
thought the less of him though
he had failed but it is certain
that many average people tho't
the more Of him because he sue
ceeded.-Frazer'S Magazine.
Year: 1863

The piles sustaining the Lon
don Bridge have been driven five
hundred years. In l845 they
were critically examined and
found to have decayed but slight
ly. These piles are principally
of elm. Old Savoy Place, in the
city of London, is sustained on
piles driven $50 years ago. They
consist of oak, elm, beech and
chestnut, and are perfectly sound.
The bridge built by the Emperor
Trajan over the Danube, affords
a striking example of the dura-
bility of timber in the wet state.
One of these piles was taken up
and found to be petrifed to the
depth of the-quarters of an inch
and the rest of the wood had un-
dergone no change, though it had
been driven 1000 years.


There is much uncertainty
concerning the conditions insur-
ing the durability of timber. Ma
ny of the vessels built on the
lakes during the war Of l8l22I4
from timber then freshly cut, hav-
ing varied materially in their du-
rability, notwithstanding the fact
that their timber seems all to
have been cut in the same man
ner and at Che same season of the
year. Some of these vessels
were decayed in three or four
years, while one of them, which,
in the presence of numerous spec
tators, was permitted to pass over
the falls of Niagara within a few
years, was found to be perfectly
sound when picked up below the
falls.
Year: 1863

1t is we'll known that the present Vice
President of the Confederacy made a
speech strongly opposed to secession in the
Georgia Convention of January, 1861
The following extract will show clearly he
perceived the iniquity, and foresaw the re-
suits of the measure


"This step once taken could never be re-
called, and all the haneful and withering
consequences that must follow as they
would see) will rest on the Convention for
all coming time. When we and our pos
terity shall see our lovely South desolated
by the demon of war which this act of
yours will inevitably invite and call forth ;
when your green fields of waving harvest
shall be trodden down by the murderous
soldiery and every car of war sweeping
over our land; our temples of justice laid
in the ashes; all the horrors and desolation
of war upon us who but this body will
be held responsible for it and who shall
have given his vote for this unwise and i'll
timed measure as honestly think and be-
lieve shall be held to strict account for this
suicidal act, and by the present generation,
and probably cursed and execrated by pos
terity for all coming time, for the wide and
desolating rain that will follow this act
you now propose to perpetrate.


Pause, | entreat you, and consider for a
moment what reason you can give that will
even satisfy in calmer moments-what rea-
sons you can give to your sufferers
in the calamity that it will bring upon us.
What reasons can you give to the nations
of the earth to Justify it, They will be the
calm judge in the case, and to what cause
OF one overt act can you name or point, on
which to rest the plea of justification p
What right has the North assailed What
interest of the South has been invaded ,
What justice has been denied and what
claim founded in justice and right has been
withheld? Can either of you to-day name
one Governmental act of wrong, deliber-
ately and purposely done by the Govern
ment of Washington, of which the South
has right to complain challenge the
answer
Year: 1863

THE. RIGHT SORT OF DEMOCRACY
The indianapolis Sentinel, leading jour
nal of the Democracy of that State says;


every interest of the nation demands
speedy termination of the war, and the only
hope for peace now is in the overthrow of
the rebel armies. Let Hooker, Hunter and
Rosecrans follow the glorious example of
Grant, and then we may hope that the sun
light of peace may once gladden. the land" :"
Year: 1863

FAILURE OF OIL WELLs-A gentleman
of this city who recently made tour of the
oil region of Pennsylvania, states that many
of the wells which were noted last year for
the flow of oils are now dry or yield only
to the pump. He adds as his deliberate
conviction, that the time is not very dis
tant when oil will cease to be drawn from
the earth by process-that the supply will
be exhausted He thinks that the decline
in production will be so rapid in the
next three months, that panic will be the
result, and that fever of oil speculations
will break out beside which The late move
ment in that article will appear insignif-
cant. The examinations made by scientific
men INTO the subject except chat oil de-
psoits have been anything but satisfactory
and the world really knows nothing of the
subject except that oil flows in certain
places at certain times, and then it don't
Rochester Union.
Year: 1863

Now, for you to attempt to overthrow
such a Government as this, under which we
have lived more than three quarters of a
century, IN which we have gained our
wealth, our standing as a nation, our do
mestic safety while the elements of peril
are around us, with peace and tranquility
accompanied with unbounded prosperity
and rights assailed-is the height of mad
ness, folly aud wickedness, to which l can
neither lend my sanction nor my vote"
Year: 1863

The week opens with 10 imporian! change,
so far as We are at present advised, in the
relative positions Of the two armies in Mary
land. Lee, apparently, ia still seeking to cross
the Potomac, while Meade is pressing closely
upon bis rear either to bring him to battle or
harass him in his retreat. According TO one
account, the Rebel General has massed his
troops at Failing Waters, point-the ford
opposite Bedenton on the map-chosen with
his usual skill as most fitted for his purpose.
The river here makes bend in horseshoe
form, so that his army is protected on two
sides by the river tself, as he falls back to the
place where he proposes to cross.


Meade has access TO him, therefore, in
that case from ono direction only and he
may be able to make good his defense there
until the main body Of his army is in safety
on the other side. The account Of our special
correspondent, who arrived yesterday from tho
front, differs from that sent us by telegraph
from Washington, and we are more inclined to
credit it. He says that the Potomac had
fallen FIVE feet, was then still falling, aud that
it was already fordable for horses. II this
be true, and unless it is again swollen
by the rains of yesterday few hours
would probably render it passable for infant
ry. In that case Lees escape seems
probable, if he does not choose to give battle,
except from such harassment to bis rear as
Meade may be able to make by a rapid move
ment. The account of our correspondent as
to the condition of the Potomac no received
from an officer from below, whose business it
was to know. That Lee had not crossed last
evening, however, seems certain, and az Meade
is still feeling his way with caution. the prob
ability is either that the river is still 10 full as
to forbid the attempt to cross it, or that Lee
awaits an attack.


The statement of our correspondent that the
Rebel army was concentrating at Falling
Waters he derived from q farmer, we'll
known and Trustworthy man, who arrived with
his family within our lines on Saturday. He
was not likely to be mistaken us TO the
fact that Rebel troops occupied the PENN
sula there made by the river, though he
may be as to their number. Another
report is that they are throwing up intrench-
ments at Williamsport, but there is no evidence
that this is any other force than that just driven
from Hagerstown. Both armies, it is evident,
are moving with great circumspecton-on
striving for q favorable position for defense,
the other for attack.
Year: 1863

In The Army and Nary Official Gazette,
the first number Of which has just ap.
psared. is statement by Surgeon.G General
Hammond of the relative ability of
the white and black troops to Withstand
malarious diseases; and scientific data
here, Of course, only fortify the universal
opinion that the former will suffer heavily,
while tho latter will almost wholly escape such
Year: 1863

We say to those who honestly desire an
early and honorable Pence, Confde ia your
Government, and do not embarrass it by fac
tious or weakening demonstrations. The Gov
ernment is as anxious for true Peace as you
can be, and will neglect no opportunity to Sc
cure it. But meetings or clamors for Peace
in the loyal States. while none are permitted
in the disloysI, will only serve to postpone the
contamination. by exciting false hopes and i'm
pelling the Rebels to hold out for better
terms. Already the word is passed around
among them, "If We can but maintain our
selves q while longer tho Democrats will
come into power in "a, and will give Us what
ever we ask" This calculation 10 every way
fallacious, but 1t il none the less mischievous.
Let the Rebels realize that they have nothing
to hope from European Intervention or North
ern sympathy, and they will soon DO ready
for q genuine and lasting peaoc.
Year: 1863

THE true conditions Of American 10y
atty are to be found in the laws of the
land in the institutions under which we
live; in the duties flowing from the Con-
stitutiOn of the country; in the political
system which we have inherited from our
fathers, with all its manifold relations,
through which we may trace the clear
dividing line that separates perfect from
imperfect obligations.


The text of our fundamental law is the
guide, and sole guide, in all ethical in
quiries, into the duties of the citizen. To
that source all must come, rulers and peo-
pie alike; to that fountain all must re-
sort. The vague and shifting standards
that are drawn from supposed dangers to
what is called the national Hfe,"- or
which spring from the conflicting iudg-
ments Of men respecting public necessi-
ties, can determine nothing, These things
can furnish no rule. I'VE must hare a
RULE, for Jqyaly as a MORAL DUTY; and
It mast therefore be capable Of definition.
A people whose national life" exists
only by virtue of written constitution,
and who can have no necessities that lie
out of or beyond that written necessity,
can find no rule Of loyalty in any of the
which their constitution of
does net cover. They may
find grounds Of expediency, in one or an
other supposed necessity for destroying
their constitution; but it would be ex-
absurd to say that this expedi-
eney could be made the object of their
g loyalty" Let US 60 then to the foun-
tain head-the source Of all our national
obligations.


The Constitution of the United States
itself prescribes the full meaning of our
loyalty in these words


This Constitution, and The Jacs of the
United States, sghich shall be made IN pur-
suaace thereof and all treaties made or
Year: 1863

Nor long ago, a Methodist local preacher
in one of the coal-mining towns Of England
was brilliantly discoursing to an audience of
considerable size. He proceeded to wind up
with perOraton of great force, and in his
iervor raised himself even above his natural
hight, which was not diminutive The front
OF the pulpit was not high, and the preacher
oEerbalanced himself, and down he went,
head foremost, into the singing pew, fairly
turning summersault, and landing upon a
music-stand in sitting position, with such
force as to shiver the wood work in a terrible
manner. The female portion of the auditory
screamed, and even the men were disconoer-
ted; but the preacher rose to his feet, declar-
ing that if he had fallen twice as far the Lord
would not have allowed him to be killed-and
then went on with his sermon with no less
fervor than before.
Year: 1863

,0hich shall be made, atnder the authority


ofHe United States, shall be THE SUPREME


LAW OF THE LAND: and the judges IN e.


cry State shall be bound thereby, any thing


IN the Constitution or za,os of any other


State to The contrary notwithstanding"


Observe how precise as well as how


comprehensive this great rule of our du-


ty is. Tt expresses without ambiguity


the whole of our obligation to the Fede-


raj government 1t makes a supreme


law; law paramount to all other human
laws-an obligation transcending all 9TH
er political obligations. It leaves no
room whatever for the intrusion of ano-
ther or a rival claimant to our civil obe


dience. That claimant can neither be a
person invested or uninvested with Office,
nor an idea of public necessity, nor an
imaginary national life beyond or apart
from the life created under the Constitu-
ton. The only possible claimant of our
obedience is the law; and as that law is
made supreme, all other demands or de-
mandants upon our submission are of ne
cessity excluded.


What then does this supreme law EN-.
brace2 The text on which 1 am com
menting itself furnishes the answer.
+" This Constitution, it says-what this
Constitution contains and the laws that
shall be made in conformity with it,
these shall be the supreme law of the
land, 2 rising in authority above other
laws. No public necessities, save they
are embodied in the Constitution; no
g national life, save as it exists under
the Constitution; no legislation that is
not in accordance with the Constitution-I
is the supreme law; but what the Consti-
tuition .ordains or authorizes, that is the
public necessity, that is the national life,
because it is the supreme civil obliga-
ton.


Such is the fundamental character of
our political system and so perfect is it
in its consistency with itself and with the
rights of all who are subject to it, that it
contains a machinery by which the con-
'oFmity Of all acts of the government with
he principles of the Constitution may be
tested, without forcible resis-
ance. If the acts of the government are
of as unconstitutional, they
nay be brought to q judicial test, or the
people may themselves pass upon them
It the ballot-box through the instrument
ality Of frequent elections George T.
CARTS
Year: 1863




A tanner had large mastiff to guard his
premises from thieves. The foreman Of the
yard regularly fed the dog, and the two were
on the best terms, The owner suspected the
foreman of dishonesty, and discharged him
In this he was probably not mistaken, for a
few weeks after the man determined to steal
a load of hides during the night. He knew
the premises perfectly, and felt sure his old
friend the dog, would offer no resistance. He
accordingly drove cart near the fence, climb
ell over. and threw the hides, one by one out
of the enclosure. The dog appeared pleased
to see him, and did not offer to prevent his
operations. When the man was ready to go,
instead of unbolting the gate and passing out,
he started to go as he had entered, climbing
the fence, so as to leave no clue by which he
might be detected This unusual proceeding
aroused the dogs suspicious, if such a term
may be applied to an animals ideas. He at
once sprang upon the thief, seized him by the
leg, and held him until the owner came to his
and secured the culprit.
Year: 1863

A GOOD Mans WIsH.-I freely confess to
you that I would wish, when I am laid down
in the grave, to have some one in his manhood
stand over me and say, There lies one who
was real friend to me, and privately warn
ed me of the dangers Of the young; no one
knew it, but he aided me in the time Of need. !"
Year: 1863

ONE of our smallest business men-a
little bit Of fellow-at the dinner table
Of the Baird House few days ago was
jokingly proposing marriage to a great
big fat woman, about six times his size.
No" Indignantly replied the big wo-
man; When I marry I don't want to
marry man SO small that I'll have to
shake the bed clothes in the morning to
find him"
Year: 1863

THERE are enlightened people down
South. One Of our bold Zouaves asked
an old farmer in South Carolina why he
did not take a newspaper? because, y
said he, when my father died he left me
a heap Of papers, and I've never had time
to read EN- yet.
Year: 1863

THE value of the real and personal
property of the seven States where alone
taxes could, for the present, be collected
by the rebels-according to the last cen
sus-is $3.O91 100000. Now the rebel
chiefs propose to raise by taxes over four
hundred millions the present year, on
this property, much of which consists of
negro slaves and real estate, both unpro-
ductive now They propose to seize one
tenth of all the property Of the South for
taxes, that is to say. It is easy to see
that this is impossible.
Year: 1863

THIS work is of high moral tone written in chaste


yet thrilling language, and appeals directly to the
moral consciousness of ALL, PARENTS and GUARD
IANs especially, detailing scientific and reliable aids
and treatment for


1t will be sent by Mail receipt of TWO t3) cent
STAMPS.


10 PARENTS AND GUARDIANS fail not to send and
obtain this book.


DJ- YOUNG MEN! Fail not to send and get this book.


0J~ LADIES! You too should at once secure copy
of this book.
Year: 1863




Whether the Chief Baron WAS paid by
the Confederates for his bung!ing interpre-
taion Of the law, or not, is Of very little
moment Suffice it to say that even the
British Government, which has always
rendered us IN injustice, and done US
grievous wrong when she could hide her
self under a!plausib1e mask-could not
stand this, as being too gross violation Of
ralpable Law. So the Attorney General
has been instructed to take exceptions to
the judgment, and the case will have to be
tried over again. As the British law
stands, at present, the rebels may build, in
English dock yards, as many unarmed
pirates as they hke-clear them out for
another vessel after them with
their armaments, hoist the Confederate
Gag, prey upon cur commerce, and get of
scot free, the old British hypocrite rejoicing
at the smartness Of the trick!
Year: 1863

who has been so brave" said the moth.
er The act has apparently removed
him TO distance, and set itself up as 9
question of right against me. He is moi
mine, in the sense l have regarded him
Higher duties than those Of a son are
laid upon him /; and must give him to
his country in degree not understood
when he went forth at his country's call
l pray, now, that God will make him
equal to his duty under all circumstan.
ces. To lose him would be fearful
thing; but, to find him a weak coward
in the day of battle, would be more fear
full still.'


"To hear such words from your lips
from whence has come this new spirit
this new courage ?


"As our day is, so shall our strength
be-" replied Mrs. Irwin. God gives
the spirit of endurance and our time Of
need of it and this is our time of need,
/ do not fatter myself with the hope that
my heart and home will be red-that
my boy will pass unscathed in the ordeal
Of battle But come what will, trust
in God, and be will lay no sorrow upon
my heart too heavy TO bear If l had
ten sons, feeling as I now do, I would
give them all for this contest, and send
them forth in Gods name"


And to thousands of mothers hearts
strength and spirit OF selfsacriice
have come in this time Of trial as it came
to the heart of Mrs. Irwin ; and like her
their souls are in the cause, and their
brave hearts giving courage and endu.
rance to tens Of thousands Of brave sons
now battling for right and their country
1t is the old spirit of the Revolution, and
by virtue Of its sacred fires our armies
must prevail.
Year: 1863


tBy the author of I" the Patience of Hope. ~
When have said my quiet say,
When / have sung my little song,
How sweet, methought, shall die the day
The valley and the Hill along,
How sweet the summons, come away ~
That calls me from the busy throng!
thought beside the waters flow
Awhile to lie beneath the leaves;
thought in autumn's harvest glow
To rest my head upon the sheaves.
But 10 methinks the day is brief
And cloudy flower nor fruit, nor leaf
bring, and yet, accepted, free,
And blest, my Lord, | come to Thee
What matter now for promise lost
Through blast Of spring and summer rains
What matter now for purpose crossed,
For broken hopes and wasted pains ?
What if the olive little yields
What if the vine be blasted :? Thine
The corn upon a thousand fields,
Upon thousand hills the vine
Thou lowest still the poor-oh blest
In poverty beloved to be
Less lowly is my choice confessed,
| love the rich in loving Thee.
My spirit bare before Thee stands,
bring no gift, ask no sign,
l come to Thee with empty hands,
The surer to be filled from thine