smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861

IL would be dltflcuIt 10 hnd IN the whole
range OF fiction a more affecting incident
than is contained in the following extract
from letter written by a British seaman 10
his wife. 1t was his first service as a sol
dier, he having been sent on shore with a
boats crew of mariners 10 silence a fort,
and take some guns -


"We dispersed at a few hundred yards
distance from The beach 10 keep the coast
clear while The boats crew made prizes of
the guns. The enemy had advantage of
the wood, and also knowing the country
well, and troop of them showed in ad-
vance. We were ordered TO fire. :ook
steady aim and fred al my man al about
sixty yards. He fell like a stone. At the
same time broad-side from the - went
in among the trees, and The enemy disap>
peared, we could scarcely tell how. felt
as though must go up TO him and see
whether he was dead or alive. He lay
quite STILL and | was more afraid of him
lying so than when he stood facing me
few minutes before. 1t is strange feel
ing TO come over you all al once that you
have killed man He had ulbuttoued
his jacket and was pressing his hand over
the front of his chest, where the wound
was. He breaihed hard and the blood pour.
ed from the wound, aud also from his
mouth, every breath he took. His face
was a white as death, and his eyes looked
so big and bright as he turned them and
stared al me. | shall never forget it. He
was a fine young fellow, not more than
five and twenty. | went down on my
knees beside him, and my breast fell so full
though my own heart would burst. He
had real English face and did not look like
an enemy What fell can never tell; but


if my life could have saved his. believe
should have given it. laid his head on
my knee and he grasped hold of my hand
| and tried 10 speak, but his voice was gone
could not tell word he said, and every
lime he went 10 speak the blood poured ouI
so. knew it wonid soon be over, | am not
ashamed 10 say that | was worse than he.
for he never shed a tear, and | coudn'i
| help it. His eyes were closed when gun
was fired from The TO order aboard and
that aroused him. He pointed 10 he beach
where The boat was just pushed off with the
guns which he had taken, and where ouT
marines were waiting 10 man the second
Doat, and then he poiated TO the wood where
the enemy was concealed Poor fellow
he little thought how had shot hun down.
was wondering how [ could leave him TO
die, and no one near him, when he had
something like a convulsion for a moment,
and then his face rolled over, and without
sigh he was gone. rust the Almighty
has received his soul. | laid hi head gent
ly down on the grass and left him. II
seemed so strange when | looked al him
FOR the last time. somehow thought oi
everything had heardabout the Turks. and
the Russians. and the rest of them, but all
that seemed so far off and The dead man SO
neat"
Year: 1861

AN aged clergyman in the western part
of this country, speaking OF the solemnity
attached to the ministerial office, said that
during the whole term of forty or fifty years
that he had officiated therein, his gravity
had never been but once disturbed in the
pulpit. On that occasion, he noticed a
man directly in front oi him leaning over
the railing OF the gallery with something in
his hand, which he soon discovered 10 be a
huge quid of tobacco just taken from his
mouth. Directly below sat a man asleep
with his head back and his mouth wide
open. The man in the gallery was intense
ly engaged in raising and lowering his
hand, taking an exact observation till, al
last, having got il right, he lei fall the quid,
and it went plump into the mouth OF the
sleeper below The whole scene was so
indescribably ludicrous. that for the first and
last lime iE the pulpit, an involuntary smile
fore ed itself upon the countenance OF the
preacher.
Year: 1861

A man was walked in the night and told
that his wife was dead He turned over,
drew the coveret closer, pulled down his
night-cap, and muuered as he went to sleep
again, ''Ah how grieved shall be in the
morning ~
Year: 1861

A young lady has discovered the reason
why married men, from the age of thirty
and upwards, are more or less bald. They
scratch the hair off in dismay al their wives
long milIiner's bills Yes, it is certain
You have all observed that when a genlie-
Year: 1861

u SOME doctor advenises TO this effect
"Consumptives, cough while you can for
after you have taken one bottle you can't"
We rather think we won't take any of that
doctors stuff until We find what he means
by the above rather equivocal extract from
his advertisement.
Year: 1861

From the Richmond Wing, OH inst.


An article from the New York Tribune
gives some account of the progress which
the enemy is making upon the WATER
With the vessels, money and credit they
stole from us, they hope to be able to fit
out navy of tremendous force, which
will enable them to make predatory de-
scents all along our coast. There is no
doubt but that this is the sort of war
which they design wagng against u.s.
With the command of the sea and by
means Of gun-boats, constructed for shall
low waters, they expect to burn our cit
les, steal our property and paralyze us in
any aggressive movement we may medi-
tate. OF course, such warfare would
conquer nothing-it would be very little
different from piracy: but it would be
annoying and intolerable, We must ar
rest it-.and that soon-and the way
to do it is by bold, prompt and de-
cisive stroke at the heart of the
enemy. We can only stop this piratical
war, recover our portion Of the navy and
other property in the old United States
partnership, and conquer lasting peace,
ON the banks of the Delaware and Hud-
son. Thther we must go at all hazards
and at any cost.
Year: 1861

The Louisville Courier is of the opin-
ion that Gen. Prentiss, who had charge
of Cairo from the time of its first occupa-
ton by the Lincolnites, and is now un-
der arrest, is too honorable ard honest
to be any longer an officer of the Govern
ment. We copy the following from the
st. Louis Republican


Gen. Prentiss is at present in this city
1t is understood that the resignation OF
his Office as rigadier-GencraI was not
accepted, and that he is waiting orders
Whatever difficulty may have arisen as
to the seniority of rank of the Brigadier
General, will, it is believed, be settled in
few days by the proper department.
Year: 1861

Knowing that Good Bacon is indispcn.
sable to good living, and being Of thoso'
who have but little to buy with, we cam
not help but feel personally interested, !,
in our farmers converting their Pigs into
200 and 300 pound hogs in double quick.
time. We know they can do this if they
will but try. They are making good
crops, and should feed we'll and COM
mence noU. We know of some who are.
said to be good farmers, who never pre-
tend to raise their meat, but depend en-
tirely upon buying. This is not right, for
every farmer should at least raise his own
Bacon, and they must do so if they ever
expect to live independent of the North.


We hold to the doctrine that it is the
imperative duty of every man and woman
in the Southern Confederacy, to do all
that is in their power which will have o
tendency to bring about this desirable
result. We have been sending thousands
of dollars annually to the West for Pork
and Bacon alone, and now see what they
are doing with our money, which wa
ought TO have kept at home. They arc
converting it into powder and balls, to
send dessolaton over the sunny South.
And we have been furnishing them with
the sine'es Of ,car, 10 these many years.


Farmers, we beg you to think of this,
and call your hogs a little louder, until
all the big and little ones come up, and
feed them a little better and make them
grow little larger and get little .ta1er,
and keep your money little more at
hcme, and spend little less, and what
you do spend let it be among your friends,
and not yor enemies, and thereby grow
Year: 1861

B9~ Through the seven years of the
Revolutionary war, WASHINGTON nowhere
and at no time proclaimed martial law
The country was full of tories, but the
great chieftain took it through all the
trying events without suspending the
civil authority at amy point,
Year: 1861

l. Upon the demand of any three States legally as
sembled in their several conventions the Congress
shall summon convention of all the States, to take
into consideration such amendments 10 the COnsti-
tuition the SAID States all concur in suggesting at
the time when the said demand is made; and should
any of the proposed amendments 10 the Constitution
be agreed on by the said conyention-yoting by
States-and the same he ratified by the legislatures
of two-thirds of the several States, by conFen-
tions in two-thrds thereof-as the or the other
mode of ratification may be proposed by the general
convention-they shall thenceforWard form a part
of this Constitution. But State SHALL without its
consent be deprived OF its equal ia
Year: 1861

l. The citizens of each state shall be entitled 10
all the privileges and immuniIes citizens in the
several States, and shall have Ihe right transit
and sojourn in any State OF the Confederacy, with
their slaves and other property; and the right of
property in said slave shall not be thereby in
paired.


2 A person charged in any State with treason
felony, other crime against the Laws Of sneh e
shall, demand OF the Executive authority of the
State from which he fied be delivered up 10 be r-
moved to the State having jurisdiction OF the crime
,. No slave other person held service OF la
bOr in any State Territory of the Confederate
States, under the lawxIhereof escaping lawfully
carried into another, shall in consequence of any
law regulation therein, be discharged from such
service labor; but shall be delivered up claim
of the party whom such slave belongs or To hOl
such service OF labor may be due.
Year: 1861

The next was an elephant race
which amused me much. They
were certainly much swifter than
horses, though they only walked !;
but what tremendous steps they
took, They shook the ground for
one hundred yards round, as with
the shock of an earthquake, every
time their enormous feet came in
contact with it; and with their
trunks pointed straight out like
the bowsprit of a ship, their ears
and tails distended, there was some
thing grand but still very clumsy
about their gait. They had hand
some cars, with four men in each,
on their backs, and two men on
each side to lead them. There was
great dispute which should come
in first and the space being rather
narrow for seven Of the enormous
animals to run abreast, those who
got in front were determined to
keep there, and they appeared to
know what game they were at, for
they did not exactly race, but heav-
lily and clumsily, yet quickly lodged
each other across the course; and
after a most amusing race or shut
file, the large white one came in
first, amid peals of laughter and
applause.
Year: 1861

A naval officer says u have
always felt some regard for q rat
since my cruise in Che Constella-
ton. We were fitting for sea at
Norfolk, and taking in water and
provisions; a plank was resting on
the sill Of ono Of the ports which
communicated with the wharf. On
a bright moonlight evening we dis
covered two rats on thep!auk COM
ing into the ship. The foremost
was leading the other By straw,
one end of which each held in his
mouth. We managed to capture
them both, and found, to our sur
prise. that the one led by the other
was stone-blind His faithfulfriend
was trying to get him on board,
where he would have comfortable
quarters duringa three years cruise.
We felt no disposition to Kill ei-
ther, and landed them on the
wharf. How many there are in
this world to whom The fidelity Of
of that rat roadetA a lcssony'
Year: 1861

The "income tax" says the New


York Journal Of Commerce, is levied


upon the annual income of every


person residing in the United
States, whether such income is de-


rived from any profession, trade,


employment or vocation, if such


annual income exceeds $500 per


annum. This tax is to be three
per cent. upon all such excess OF
income above $500 per annum,
with the following exceptions In
come from United States securities
will be taxed only q per cent; in
come of nonresident citizens is to
be taxed 5 per cent, except it is
from investment in United States
securities when it will pay l! per
cent; and income from property
otherwise taxed, will be allowed a
deduction from the rates named Of
the full amount Of all such local
taxes, which will give income from
all taxable property nearly or quite
Il full exemption. The income tax
is, therefore, to be LEVIED almost
exclusively upon income from labor,
instead of income property ; and as
even iii this department the cXcop-
ton Of all below $500 will exclude
nearly all employed outside Of our
large towns and cities, the burden
is chiefly levied upon salaried ard
business men earning an income by
their own talents and industry. In
this connection there is one feature
which will bear with great severity


upon those who arc likely to suffer
from the depression in business.
The assessment is laid up past in
come, and it is easy to see that such
past income, especially if only a
salary, may provide no present
means for the tax proposed. Thus,


the act provides that there shall be
due and payable during the next
year prior to the thirteenth day of
June, a tax upon the salary or in
come Of the year 1861. 1t is easy
to see that a man with a family
having S2,8OO income this year
might not have the $50 which will
be required of him next year, His
income may have totally ceased;
he may have broken down in bust
ness; he may have been a clerk
and lost his place through the fail
ure Of his employer; he may have
been a teacher, or in any similar
situation, and earned q good living
in 1861, but be broken in health, -!
and have neither income nor means
in June, 1862; but in either case
the law is inexorable. IF he earned
SO much in 1861, he must pay the
tax on it six months thereafter. If
he has not the means, his personal
effects are to be seized and sold ;
Year: 1861

The direct tax laid by the act is
to be assessed and laid on the value
Of all lands and lots Of ground, with
their improvements and dwelling
houses, which several articles sub
ject to taxation shall be enumerated
and valued by the respective as
SCISSORS, at the rate each of them is
worth in money on the first day of
April, eighteen hundred and sixty
two: Provided, however, that all
property Of whatever kind coming
within any of the foregoing de-
scriptions, and belonging to the
United States or any State, or per-
manently or specially exempted
from taxation by the laws Of the
State wherein the same may be
situated at the time Of the passage
Of this act, together with such
property belonging to any indi-
vidual who actually y resides thereon,
as shall be worth the sum Of five
hundred dollars, shall be exempted
from the aforesaid enumeration
and valuation, and from the direct
tax aforesaid. And provided fur
ther5that, in making such assess
ment, due regard shall be had to
any valuation that may have been
made under the authority of the
State or Territory at any period
nearest the first day of April.


Persons will be required TO give
written lists of lots and dwellings
liable to direct tax, in default Of
which, or in case of fraudulent re-
turn, the assessor will make such
lists; and in case of fraud, the
person offending may also be con-
victed before any court having
competent jurisdiction, and fined
$500.
Year: 1861

When any tax shall remain un-
paid for the term of one year, the
collector in the State where the
property lies, having first advertised
the same for sixty days in at least
one newspaper in the State, shall
proceed to sell, at public sale, so
much of the said property as may
be necessary to satisfy the taxes
due thereon; together with an ad-
dition oftwenty per centum thereon;
or if such property is not divisible,
as aforesaid, the whole thereof
shall be sold, and accounted for in
the manner hereinbefore provided.
If the property advertised for sale
cannot be sold for the amount of
tax due thereon, with the said
addition thereon, the collector shall
purchase the same, i'll behalf of the
United States for such tax due and
addition,
Year: 1861

On the second page Of tbis issue vii


be found an appeal by the Governor o


this State to the people thereof lie


represents that the State has issued


bonds for the purpose OF defraying


military expenses, that those bonds are


not negotiable outside Of the State, that


there have been debts contracted which


require immediate payment, that indi-


vlduals have loaned money to the State,


who should nov be reimbursed, and he


now asks the people that they come for


ward with that spirit Of generosity that
true patriotism prompts, and purchase
these bonds, and thereby relieve the
State Of its embarrassment. The bonds
will be sold at 92 cents on a dollar, while
they will draw interest at seven per ct.
per annum. Besides this the)bonds arc
not subject to taxation. Put all this to-
gcther, and handsome interest is real
ized on them. The investment is safe
and paying one. But, aside from such
considerations, there are other and
higher reasons why men should invest
IN these bonds. First, to preserve the
good name and credit of the State in the
present emergency, and, second, to
prove that Iowa patriotism is not Of
that baser sort whlcn Wits as soon as it
touches the pocket.


Patriotism is often expensive it calls
upon the rich and the poor to give &C.
cording to their means, and he who will
not do SO in case of actual necessity is
not q patriot; he loves his country
only second to his money. There has
been already plenty Of lip-patriotism
in Iowa. That will not pay dime OF
her debts, nor will it protect the COUP
Try. The case is very plain one.
Already the State is involved by this
war to the extent of about 100000.
That sum is actually due and payable,
and only about Sl9,5OO have been
raised. The balance must come, and
the people of Iowa must raise it. Get
ready, call your meetings and act at
once.
Year: 1861

disturbed by the existence of this mixed
class. Again. as has already been said
there is not, of necessity, any such thing as
the free hired laborer being fixed fer that
condition for life. Many Independent men
everywhere, in these States, few years back
in their lives were hired laborers The prudent
penniless beggar in the world labors for wages
a while and saves surplus with which 10 buy
tools or land for himself. then labors on his
own account, and at length hires another new
beginner to help him. This is the Just and
generous and prosperous system which opens the
way to all-gives hope to all-and consequently
progress and Improvement of the condition to ala
No men living more worthy to be trusted
than those who toll up or on from poverty, none
less inclined to take or touch aught which
they have not honestly earned. Let them be
sware of surrendering political power which
they already possess, and which, If surrendered
will surely be used to close the door of advance.
ment against such as thev, and to fix new disa-
bilities and burdens upon them till all of liberty
shall be lost


From the first taking of our national census tc
the last are 10 years, and we find our population
at the end of that period eight times as great as
II was at the beginning. The increase OF those
other things which men deem desirable has beer
even greater. We thus have at one view what the
popular principle applied to government through
the machinery of states & the Union has produced
in given time, and also what If firmly maintain
ed it promises for the future There are already
among US those who, if the Union be preserved
will live to see it contain $50 600, 600 The
struggle of to day is not altogether for to-day Ii
Providence all the more firm and earnest let u:
proceed in the great task which events have de-
volved upon US. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
| Washington, Dec. 2. 1861.
Year: 1861

The sutlership of a regiment is regarded and
probably is very lucrative position. The APP
pointment of sutIer is properly within the province
of the Colonels Of regiments. Is it not little
singular that in great many cases the Cover
nor has reserved this appointment in offering
a regiment, or indicated the person to be selected
for that postionf In one case we understand
the sutler was the first appointment by the
Governor in the regiment, without even consult
ing the persons whom he expected to make its
field officers. We hear that in another instance,
an editor, fiavorite of His Excellency, received,
or was promised, $500, and another special friend
$3.50, for securing sutlership. Are such the
considerations which induces the Governor TO
make the appointment of suffers part of his
patronage? If not, why is it that the Governor
has insisted upon naming the suffers in so many
instsncess Why should he deprive the Colonels
of regiments the patronage properly belonging
to them9
Year: 1861

The Journal says that the allegation that the
Governor has been offered the appointment of
Major General and that he was holding it under
advisement for several selfish considerations is a
sheer fabrication. And the Governors organ
further states that His Excellency has not cat any
time desired it, or in any way sought for it." We
guess the ogan does not speak by authority this
time. Will the Governor explain what consider
tiOns induced the President to withdraw the ap-
pointnent OF General MoRRIs to the position of
Major General after he had announced that be
had made il? What influence stood in the way
of that appointment other than the Governor 5
aspirations? The charge that His Exceency
never sought or desired the Major Generalship, is
'sheer fabrication" 1t is well known that three
months ago the Governor desired that position.
Then he had project of organizing legion, as
he termed it, of some IL. 900 or 700 troops well
equipped in every respect, placing himself at the
head as Major General, with able regular officers
under him. The Governor is exceedingly anx-
ious for military distinction, as his friends can
testify. He would not hesitate for a moment to
don the Major Generals uniform if he was not
afraid of the fire which would follow in his
HIS Excelency does not want an exposure of
his administration at present, and therefor his
fears in regard to the latter may overcome his
ambition to display his handsome person (of
which he is very vain) in regimentals. The
Journal charges that "cabal" has been formed
to abuse the Governor. We pity him. Weknow
of only one "cabal' in indianapolis. and that is
composed of "the beauty" and "the beast''-the
Governor setting for the portrait of one and the
JOnrHGI man for that of the other. No other
two individuals in the State are better fitted ''to
cripple his administration and dishonor the State
as the printing contract of the Journal man will
illustrate in his case, and the many queer schemes
and acts of the other since by accident he became
acting Governor will tell in his
Year: 1861

The Chicago Times says Abolitionism will
have it that Democrats and other conservative
people object to the emancipation Of the four
millions of negro slaves out Of consideration for
the rebel owners No Misrepresentation could be
more atrocious. Democrats object TO emancipa-
ton out of consideraton-frst, for the loyal
white people Of the whole country; and, second,
for the negro slaves themselves If nobody but
rebels were concerned, the AbolitiOnists might
emancipate the negroes and welcome, so far as
Democrats would care But the future of the
North as well as the South, and the future of the
white race on this continent. are concerned in
emancipation. The rebellion is only question
of to-day. 1t can be put down. Emancipation
is question for all time. The deed once done,
it can not be undone. The South once converted
into a St. Domingo, it must remain so until a war
of races shall exterminate the blacks.