smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1865

A correspondent at Macon, who has con.
versed with some OF the Andcrsonville prisoners,
sa Us that the horrible stories they tell OF their
treatment are beyond description. One OF IN
formants states that the keeper of the pri IN, a
black hear ted, snake-ey yed devil by the name of
Wir,z, would amuse himself by putting down
the number Of prisoners confined, and dividing
them by the average number of deaths per day,
and then chuckle, saying 10 them ''It wop,t be
long till all you id ankees are in hell"-
He would also grant thirty days iurlough 10
any one of the guards who would detecta prison.
er with his hauds on tho dead line and shoot him:
Some of the men were so weak from diarrhoea
and starvation tt at they would sometimes fall
on the dead line from sheer exhaustion, and cer-
tain death was the result. Wirtz boasted that
he was killing more Yankees than any regiment
in the field. During the winter the prisoners
suffered severely from lack of wood; They
would build small fire of splinSrs, and crouch
around il until flesh and blood could sand II no
longer, and then drop dead at the ieet OF their
compa mons. The only opportunity OF obtaining
wood, in addition to the scanty supply furnished
them, was by parties who carried out the dead
men, who would fill the blanket with wood, A
small piece OF this would sell for one hundred
dollars Some of the men, when they were dy-
ing; actually sold the privilege of carrying them
out for money with which to purchase cup
coffee or bit to eat
Year: 1865

From the address deIvefed by this gen.
tIeman in fremont Temple, Boston, We
make few extracts:


"And what of him in whose precious
blood this IN omentous lesson ID writ: Ho
sleeps in tho blessings of the poor whose
fetters God commissioned him to break
Give prayers and tears to the desolate wild.
ow and the fathorless, but count him blessed
far above the crowd of his fellow men. Fer
himself to G desim fgga .a1Hie He Mas permitted
which sent rebellion reeling to its grave
and then, holding bis darling boy by tho
hand, to walk the streets of its surrendered
capital, while bis ears drank. in praise and
Thanksgiving, which bore his name to the
throne of God in every form piety and graf
itude could invent, and then to seal the
sure triumph of the cause he loved with his
own precious blood. He caught the first
notes of the coming jubilee. and heard his
own name in every tone. Who among liv.
ing men may not envy him? Suppose that,
when a boy, he floated on the slow current
of the Mississippi, idly gazing at the slave
upon its banks, some angel bad lifted tho
curtain, and shown him that, in the prime of
his manhood he should see this proud en-
pire rocked to its foundation in the effort
to break those chains should himself mar
shal the hosts of the Almighty in the grand
est and hoiest war that Christendom over
knew, and deal with baf reluctant hand,
that :hunderbolt of justice which would
smite the foul system to the dust-then
die; leaving a name immortal in tho sturdy
pride OF one race, and tho undying graft
tude of another-would any credulity, how
ever sanguine, any enthusiasm, however fer
vid, have enabled him to believe it: For
tunate man ! He has lived to do it Jap
plause.] God has graciously withhold him
from any fatal r1isstep in tho great advance.
and withdrawn him at tho moment when
his star touched its zenith, and the nation
needed sterner hand for the work God
gives it to do"
Year: 1865

The published confession of Champ Fer
gusion contains many very extraordinary
revelations The following statements are
among the most curious:-


~ am in good health and spirits. My
sleep is undisturbed by dreams, and l have
just concluded to give myself up to these
good friends Of mine around here, and If they
are determined TO hang me it is all right.
would like to live for my family, for they
have lost all. leave them penniless am
not worth dollar. do moi fear death, but
love my family, and am grieved to leave
them on the world without means. have
a firm belief in God and the future A min
lister of the Presbyterian Church was here
to-day. l am pleased to meet and talk with
him. was not surprised when the sentence
of death was read to me. was looking for
it daily. If my family had plenty could
die without murmur


He said in answer to question, that if
he lived until the goth of November, he
would be A years of age, He remarked
that he had no choice of the manner of
death; it all amounts to the same thing in
VIC SuNs 10 Ntn. 1nOIQNS on
the letter or order sent to all armed bands;
me with the rest. l did not think they would
treat me as they have done, am the same
mani was before the war, and my intentions
are the same, and will be to the last minute
of my life.


81 was Southern man at the start. am
yet, and will die a rebel. / believe l was
right in all did. don't think 1 did any
thing wrong at any time. l committed my
deeds in cool and deliberate manner. I
killed good many men of course, l don't
deny that but never killed a man whom |
did not know was seeking my life 1t is
false that l never took any prisoners.
have taken good many and after keeping
them awhile paroled them. l will repeat
that die a rebel out and out, and nv last
request is that my body be removed to White
County, Tennessee, and buried in good rebel
soil. My own witnesses were true to me- {"


The rebel Magruder, whose execution at
Louisville has already been reported, was
the proven murderer of seventeen persons.
The following brief account of him is taken
from the Louisville papers,


Henry G. Magruder was born of very
respectable parents, near Lebanon, Ky. He
was just entering his 22d year. When the
rebellion commenced he, side by side with
thousands of misled Kentuckians, espoused
the armed cause of the South, and rallied at
the Syren call ofBuckner and other leaders
Entering the army at the age of seventeen
years, lie followed the fortunes of General
Butler until after the battle of Fort Donel-
son. Having escaped from that bloody field,
young Maguder joined the body-guard of
Gen. Albert Sidney johnson, in which SER
vice he remained until HE fall OF his chieitan
at Shiloh Subsequently, and up to a short
time before his capture, he continued iu the
legitimate profession OF arms But evil asso-
Citations corrupted him.
Year: 1865

A tavorite play with DR.. Whately was
penciling little tale on 3 piece of paper,
and then making his right hand Deighbor
read and repeat it in a whisper 10 the next
man, and so on until everybody around
the table has done the sama. But the LAST
man was always required 70 write what he
heard, and the matter was then compared
with the original rets1ned By his grace. In
many instances the matter was hardly Te-
cognizable, and DR.. Whslely would draw
an obvious moral; but the cream Of the fun
lay in his efforts to ascertain when the
alteration took place. Bis analytical pow
er Of detection proved as usual accurate,
and the Interpretations were play pill
loried. This Plsy is called Russian scam
dali
Year: 1865

A delegation from the colored men of
Richmond are in Washington to lay their
grievances before the President. That
they are great there can be no doubt. We
hope that the removal OF Halleck and the
downfall of "MsyOr" Mayo may be the in
augurAtion of a better state of affairs.
Year: 1865

The Nashville Dispatch gives publication
to the rumor that Robert Toombs had
ended his trsitorous career by cutting his
thIost. If true, it is fitting termination
to q violent and sinful life. Mr.. Toombs
was probably overcome by his inability to
carry out his threat that he would in the
future call the roll of his slaves on Bunker
Hill.
Year: 1865

v "The world owes me n living,
and I'm bound to have it," was the
remark of q great overgrown. idle
young man on our streets last week,
made to one of his companions as we
passed by. We took careful sur
vey of the individual, and after care
fully summing up his account con-
clnded the world might. probably
find it cheapest to board and lodge
him in the State prison. A large
number of gentlsmen Of his stamp,
are no luxuriating, in striped suit
and wholesome diet, with comfortable
quarters, all at the expense of the
world, and all furnished in liquida-
ton OF that living the world owes
them. Being bound to have it, of
course they Will succeed in getting
it. There are but few things re-
quired to obtain it. First. laziness,
secondly, idleness. The one begets
the other. The lazy boy, turns out
shiftless idle vagabond in manhood.
They cannot dig, TO beg they are
ashamed, and finally the one ides,
'that the world owes them a living
eliminates in their taking it by
stealth, or in other words they steal
what the world owes them, but refuses
to pay. And so it goes. on from day
to day. The great mass Of thieves
and paupers, are made 50 by being
brought up ip idleness. Prison dis
cipline is necessary to restrain them
from the commission Of every vice.


Parents who fail to teach their
children that idleness is the enemy
of our race. run a fearful risk Ii the
future prosperity Of their children,
The energetic business man Of this
age, was the active boy Of a few years
ago. 1t is as impossible to find 8
lazy man, in .o.e who was taught tc
be industrious in boyhood, as it is tc
ssd as INDUSTRIOUS man, who iu bis
Year: 1865

NThere is growing disposition
IN the loyal wing of the Democratic
party to put an end to the slavery
question by the only means possible
abolition. The Boston Post, the
ablest Democratic paper in the coun-
try, which while supporting McClel


Ian, professed to favor the war. says:


THE past cannot be recalled; we
must act upon the present The con-
vicuon appears to be general that
the Importance of the slavery issue
in its present attitude removes it
from the arena of party consideration,
and presents it to the calm reflection
of the country for decision. If this
consummatien be realized it will be a
happy one. We pray it may. The
indications in Congress, and from
influential Democratic men through
out the country, evince disposition,
an ardent desIre-that this great
national problem should receive a
solution IN accordance with the de-
mands ofjustice, constitutional right,
and the future welfare of the nation,
that it shall no longer be ball of
fire for political incendiaries, North
and South, to play with, but rendered
harmless to our future comfort and
progress through the wise action of
our people in eonquering their preju-
dices' and thinking only of the sal


vatIon of their country-the, conser-
walton of Its highest interests. Let
it be met in this spint-let the people
extend their appreciation to those
who are influence by such motives,
be generous in their judgments,
lii eral in their appreciation where it
Is merited, and union of sentiment
may produce Union of States which
will realize in the future all the bless
ings the founders Of the great Re
public anticipated as the reward Of
all their sacrifices" .z,aa 5s1 s1.
Year: 1865

OOLUMbUS, Z0In JuIy, 1000.


GENTLEMEN Your letter of yesterday,
inquiring what are my opinions upon some
of he.phases ofthe question of the recon-
struction of the Union, was received this
morning. You sign yourselves as "Com-
mittee." But have omitted to inform me
what body or organization your represent,
or to give me the instructions or resolutions
committing the subject to you. This acci-
since know you both to be members of the
Union party of this State, and, though we
have scarce seen each other for some years,
have believed you to be personal friends of
mine; but my relations to the Union men
of Ohio are such that it may become of some
Importance to know who are those with
whom yon are acting and for who you de-
clare that a hearty and honest concurrence
in the principles which you and the other
loyal people OF Ohio adopted In Convention,
on the 2lst ultimo, expressly as the basis of
united political action in the coming State
election, shall not be sufficient to secure
your votes. Ll Oil, G,.-.lL e.


Political organizations, like every other,
are founded upon a mutual waving of some
articles of personal belief for the sake of Sc
curing united and effective action upon
others which are avowed as the common
creed and the bond of union can hardly be
said to be kept in good faith when indivi-
duals ofa party PROFOUND as tests to can
didate questions which werenot acted upon
by the convention, especially when such
questions were notoriously excluded from
the list of those upon which community of
belief was demanded, because the opinions
OF loyal and patriotic men had not yet full
ly ripened or taken definite form In regard
to. them, and the time had not come when,
in the "logic OF events" it was necessary to
act upon them. In the political phase of
the great conflict we have upon us, as in the
military strife which has just ended, organ
ization will be found to be Of the first i'm
portance, and though guerilla warfare has
Its attractions, am well convinced that re-
Year: 1865

Of being their real friends by recognition Of their
manhood is unbounded as well a. their gratitude for
the smallest demonstrations Of goodwill know also.
of scores Of instances where the hndlest relations
already subsist between the freedmen and their late


masters and among some families OF whites and colorcd
who have grown up together there Is the intimacy and
friendship which exist among blood relations. 10
sever by any sudden disruption such ties and send
away by violent exodus these people from their old
homes would cause o weeping and great mourning,
such as heard in ancient Kama when Rachel wept
for her children and would not be comforted because
they were not.


Negro trsders-those who have violently broken up
families and such have been habitually base and
cruel (Which only small part Of the late slave.
owners)ar the only who have the unconquerable
aversion Gen. Cox speaks Of toward the black race
Whom We wrong and abuse we hate. Every year will
carry the memory Of these injustices into oblivion
The colored people hold no grudges. Their gratitude
for freedom has filed their hearts with forgiveness and
good will toward all. Only let the late masters meet
this uprising sentiment Of confidence and gratitude by


1.-THE Of justice and fair treatment and by the enact
mcn of laws for their equal protection with the whites
and the whole difficulty will be solved In day.
TWO HUNDRED HANDS TO BE EMPLOYED.
Dr. Garrott Ol EuKecouD Iouuty, "no was o '"'ko
planter and slayeowner, is now arranging with COL
Whittlesey for the employment Of 200 hands to work
his plantation for the year and half to come. con-
tract setting forth the hours Of labor each day; the
amount Of ratons to each adult man and woman with
farm vegetables od Hbiu the usual quarters, and the
price per month for male and female, old and young Is
signed by both parties. The wages range from u TO
$40 per month. He takes whole families, and allows
even children stipend for what they are able to do in
picking cotton other labor


The Doctor will keep supply Of such articles as the
people require in his place, and personally attend to
them in sickness. Col. Whttlesey was so favoraby
impressed with the fairness of the Doctors offer, and
wishing to encourage all such efforts TO solve, In good
faith the problem of free labor, he appointed bm cit
zen agent OF the Freedmens Bureau for three counties
and IL trying hard to procure the required number OF
laborers for his plantations.


The results OF this experiment will be watched with
much interest. Es
Year: 1865

for Governor, and will agree to 80 three months TO
the Dry Tortugas he does not sweep the State by an
overwhelming majority.


II there il any grave apprehension" among "loyh
citizens" at the "reckless manner Of pardoning the


great leaders Of the Rebellion in North Carolns such
as Graham and Others" there Is too much caution or
eordrdies to manifest It openly Nobody but The Prog
yess has ever uttered suggestion the subject and II
has been only in the most cautious terms 10 nave
given 1t the credit Of any such denunciaton' 90 Is
ferred to in the press report therefore wholly moor
rect 1t s also unfair in the press correspondent 10
write his dispatches at Newbern. and date them from
Raleigh; 1t is also improper to make The Prosre''
responsible for bis own statements concerning political
affairs In the State.


With few exceptions q party OF rsry small POLITICIANS
are making themselves conspicuous here They have
not the brains to conduct canvass for the election OF
New. York Common Councilman; have no ideas OF
sstesmanshp or for laying plans for the nIs security
and greatness Of the State. Their highest ambition Is
to get personally into office and to reenslave or keep
down the nigger who in point Of intelligence, piety
and moral worth would suffer in many cases BY CON-
parison with them.


Az soon az the present fermentation Is over these
incompetents win subside and the pardoned Rebels
including Vance will take the helm, and there Will be
some dignity mparted to the management OF public
affairs If there is no justice the really loyal ptoph OF
the State. b.
Year: 1865

While an ignorant lecturer was describ-
ing the nature of gas a .blue-stocking lady
inquired of a gentleman near her what was
the difference between oxygin and hydrogen ?
Very little, madam, y said he, '3by oxygin
we mean pure gin and by hydrogen, gin
and water. y
Year: 1865

In a negro class,mceting at Richmond,
Sam johnson was called on to pray, and be-
fore he had closed his prayer the leader
called out g Sam johnson, you may take
your seat and let Brudder Sugden pray he
is better acquainted wild de Lord dan you. y
Another was called to speak, and after speak
ing about five minutes was called to order,
and told if he could not speak more to de
pint dan dat he might take his seat.
Year: 1865

A NEW building is to be erected on the vacant lot
EAon Center street, next below McKenney's Photo
graph Establishment, which will be finished as de-
sired for respectable business applied for in sea-
son.


This is good location for a oonfectioner, Oyster
and Ice Cream Saloon Dentist, Milliner, OF almost
any other business. The lower story will be finished
tor store with tenement over the same of ten
rooms or will be arranged to accommodate occupants


The lot being 11S feet deep admits OF very large
building in the rear which be connected with the
store and and used for oor rooms If the rear lot is
not otherwise improved, it will be used for an ice
house or for storage, and win be let separately.
Il. ii. FASSETT, Architect.
Year: 1865

EXTENSION OF TIE BREAKwATER.-We are
glad to learn that measures are in progress
to procure from Congress an extension of the
breakwater in our bay. Mr.. Henry Rolte,
who is giving his attention to the subject,
informs us that an extension Of 1900 feet is
needed on the north end fully to proto ct the
lumber whaTves, while as much more will
be required in time on the south end to
guard the proposed improvements about the
Rutland dock and the iron works. If seeur-
ed, it is probable these additions will be
placed p 0 or 300 feet further out into the
bay than the present breakwater, thus leay-
ing intervals through which vessel, can pass
in and out
Year: 1865

Inc TTssress OF Reconstruction.


Proclamations and messages, and reports
from high officials, follow each other now-a-
days, with a rapidity almost bewildcring,
and many of them of length entirely be-
yond the limits of the smaller papers. Sec
rotary Seward has, by order of the President,
addressed dispatches to the Provisional Gov
ernor and Governor elect of Georgia, similar
to those directed to the same officials in Ala
bama, by which the former is relieved from
dutyand the latter ordered to enter upon the
discharge Of his gubernatorial functions.


While Congress is laboring under the i'm
preston that the question OF reconstruction
rests upon as action, and is taking its time
to consider on what terms the rebel States
shall be admitted, the President and Secre-
tary Of State, in the Proclamation announc-
ing the adoption of the Constit utional amend
ment, place seven of those States in the list
Of States in the Union have fully remittsd
to the charge Of their own citizens, or of the
Governors chosen by them, the government
of two of those States, and will doubtless
at once take similar action with reference to
every seeded State that has adopted the
amendment. The question naturally occurs,
if those States are in the Union sufficiently
to cooperate, and secure official recognition
with the rest in that most important action,
the amendment of the Constitution, and to
be allowed the choice of their governors and
the conduct Of their own affairs, why are
they not in, sufficiently to have a reprcsen
tation in Congress Are we to have States
Of the Union, without representation in the
National Legislature That seems to be
possible, for Congress has the sole control OF
the admission of its own members, and may
decline to be crowded along any faster than
it chooses, by President or Secretary. Still |
it would be 4 painful anomaly, and ono
which no patriot can desire to see continued !
a day longer than is necessary.
Year: 1865

The PHOTOGRAPH GALLLERIEs.-The Pho
tograph men tell the simple Truth when they
say there Is no more acceptable present to
true friend than good likeness of your
countenance, be it plain or handsome. 1t is
also true that there is probably not place
of its size that has more handsome and more
convenient Photographic establishments,
than those Of Burlington. STYLES beauti-
full gallery is but step up from the side
walk, and is worth call whether one wants
q picture or not. We warn all visitors,
however, that the attractions in the shape of
large and varied stock of photograph al
buns, pictures of well known citizens 30
life-like as to tempt any one to sit down and
Year: 1865

REPORTS AND BILLs IN PRosPECT.-The
House committee on the Judiciary have de-
cided to report in favor Of SO amending the
constitution as to prohibit any assumption
in future Of the rebel debt.


Mr.. Alley of Mass, chairman Of the post
Office committee, will soon offer a resolution
10 the effect that the government shall take
possession Of the telegraph lines of the cOun-
try, and con1uct them as it does the postal
service.


The House committee on appropriations
have made reduction OF several millions
from the naval appropriations and the
committee on bankrupt law have unani-
mously agreed to report the bill offered by
Mr.. Jencks of Rhode Island.


The Judiciary committee Of the House has
agreed to report in favor Of constitutional
amendment which shall provide for a repre-
sentatiOn based on the number of voters.
They will not make the report, however, till
after the holidays.
Year: 1865

The Boston Journal says; "A gentleman
in travelling along the coast Of Florida and
Georgia found a woman who did not know
what newspaper was. She had several
children and pipe IN her mouth" Rather
n capacious mouth for a woman.
Year: 1865

Z" l do not feel that the difficult problems Civ
en- me have been solved, nor do hope for CON-
plete and satisfactory results in the work Of this
bureau. Yet firmly believe that the same just
God that conducted US to freedom, will so conti-
nue. to direct US that we shall be able to keep
the pledge we have made, that that freedom
shall be a substantial reality


In consequence of the remarks in Gen.
Grants late report, Gen. Howard has issued
an order calling the attention Of Assistant
Commissioners to that report, and saying
that the most thorough inspection will at
once be made, and the evils complained of