smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1863

geants commanding streets, to be distributed
to the men. By the time the men got it.
there was scarcely mouthful apiece, making
1t mere aggravation. The intentions of
the good people of Washington were the
very best, and they should be commended
for their kindness, but 1 am afraid their
Christmas dinner was but poorly appreciated
by the hungry soldiers.


During the last two weeks quite number
of gentlemen and ladies from Vermont have
visited US. The first one saw, was a lady
In search of her son; and by the way, for a
stranger to find a friend in this camp, is often
like hunting for needle in a hay-mow.-
Christmas, a couple of gentlemen from Cabot
were here; have since learned that surgeon
Phelps, and DIR Thayer are in Washington
making arrangements to have all Vermont
men not fit for duty to be either discharged
or sent home; while all fit for duty are to be
sent to their regiments. They have already
procured the names Of most of the men and
it is probable that an examination will be
had in few days. 1t is sincerely hoped
that they will accomplish their object, as
most men fit for duty had much rather be in
their regiment than here and it is certain
that this is no place for sick man. As an
illustration of the ratio of men fit for duty in
this camp, detail Of Is men was made, and
out of nearly 1900 men, it was impossible to
get the required number. Besides the Con-
valescent Camp there is the Camp of Distri-
button, or, as it was formerly called, Strag-
lers Camp, in which it is supposed the men
are all fit for duty and are sent to their reg
iments as fast as called for. Yet, for all this
is supposed to be duty camp, many are
totally unfit for service, and large numbers
get their discharges or are sent to hospitals
This camp comprises several thousand men
and is under the command of Col Belknap.


| learn that the I'd brigade is encamped
hCthl Oil loA SlutlOll Uul lldNt Uccu uIldDlt tO
visit them since their removal. 1t was rath-
er hard for them to leave their old quarters,
as they had spent many a hard days work
in fitting up winter quarters" 1t has been
rather sickly in some of the regiments and
quite number have died at Alexandria since
the brigade left.


While l presume you are having plenty
Of snow and cold weather, We are enjoying
if it may be said any one can enjoy them
selves here, the most beautiful weather.
There is not the least sign of frozen ground,
but the men sit out in the sun in their shirt
sleeves summing themselves. No fire is need
ed, and it has the appearance of pleasant days
for week to come but when the cold does
come then will come all the horror of men
freezing. G.
Year: 1863

O. The late Gen Mitchell once stated
that when he held $50 miles of the Tennes-
see River. he was enabled to do it because
he had intelligent slaves in his employment,
who kent him advised of the movements of
the enemy. AS reward for their idelity,he
gave his pledge of honor that they should
not be returned 70 slavery; but when he was
called to another field, Buell. forced them
right back into the hands OF their masters
and the suferings of many of them are over
now!
Year: 1863

afterwards separated them, as the pile was
too large.


Calender was convicted last June, after
full trial, and sentenced to be hung to-
day.


have since, at several interviews, heard
the prisoner repeat this confession snbstan-
TALLY.


OF late Rev. Mr. Field, an Episcopal
clergyman of this town, has been the spir-
itual adviser Of the condemned, but with
no very satisfactory results. The prisoner
would sometimes express much ccntrition,
but was always ready to swear and jeer a
few moments afterwards; but he has ad-
hered strictly to his original accusations
against his father.


Yesterday the father was arrested on va
rious crimes. He had an interview with
the son, and denounced him as malicious
liar.


This morning the condemned awoke at
four O'Clock, after a sound nights sleep,
but could sleep no more. He ate a hearty
breakfast, saying he had "got to take
damned long Journey" and he wanted
enough to stand him. As soon as the
crowd began to assemble about the Jail, he
joked with them for some time, indulging
in very free use of profanity.


He however admitted to the officers that
he was terribly frightened, and wished the
thing was over with.


About three hundred spectators were
admitted to the Jail. The scaffold was
erected at the foot of one of the wards,
and the spectators assembled on the corri-
dors and the floor in front. The prisoner
was led in with his arms pinioned at the
elbows behind and the wrists in front. He
was chewing tobacco, and appeared per-
fectly cool. Rev. Mr.. Field read the
beautiful Episcopal service for executions,
and then bade the culprit farewell. After
the latter Lad stated that he had no COM
munication to make, Sheriff Root then
read the warrant for the execution, and
asked the prisoner if he had anything to
say. Calender had previously discovered
his father in cell only few feet off, and
turning towards him he repeated his ac-
cusation against him in firm voice, say
ing, II wish to repeat that my father is
as guilty as I am He got me full of rum,
and killed the children first, and now 1
have got to be hung and he aint-that's
the truth, and that's all I've got to say"
The father said-"Oh, James, how can
you die with such lie in your mouth"
but the prisoner made no response.


Mr.. Root then touched the fatal spring,
and the body fell dozen feet nearly, sus-
pended by rope which served at three
executions previously.


There was a little quivering of the
limbs, but it ceased in less than minute,
as the soul of the criminal left this mortal
frame for another arraignment before his
Judge above.


In twenty minutes the body was cut
down, the surgeons pronouncing him dead.


The mother of the deceased being un-
able or unwilling to bury him, the body
was given to the Medical College at Pitts
field.
Year: 1863

OLD ABE THE NEXT PREs1DRNT.-The
Presidents stories grow better and better.
One of the last was told to visitor who
congratulated him on the almost certain
purpose on the part of the people to re-
elect sold Abe I" for another term of four
years. Mr.. Lincoln replied that he b ad
been told this frequently before of late.
and that when it was first mentioned to
him he was reminded Of a farmer in 1li-
nois who determined to try his own hand
at blasting: After successfully boring and
filling in with powder, he failed in the ef-
tort to make the powder 60 of, and after
discussing with . looker-on the cause for
this, and falling to detect anything wrong
in the powder, the farmer suddenly came
TO the conclusion that it would not 90 of
because it had been shot before.
Year: 1863

The following from the NewYork Times,
an administration paper, is caudid tri-
butte to General Franklin.


"Ne publish in another column q state
mcnt Of the conduct of General Franklin
at the battle of Fredericksburgh, in reply
to an impeachment of it contained in q
letter from the Editor of the Times, writ
ten as Washington on tho 9Th of Janua,
ry. In that letter the impression was
given, as our correspondent states, that
Gen, Burnside intended his main attack
to be made by our left wing, under Gen
Franklin, and that the battle was lost by
Gen. Frruklin's failure to make that at
tack, with the force and vigor contem-
plated by his orders, and which were es-
sentinl to success.


sit is due to Gen. Franklin, as well as
to the public, to state that We have seen
the orders, reports and other documents
referred to. 1t seems to US clear, after
examining these papers, that Gen. Frank
lin not only Performed all tie Service en-
joined apOa linn IN has orders, but that
he did more than was contemplated by
them in pushing the attack upon the enc
my in his front. 1t is to be presumed
that the Government does not consider
his cond uet in that affair obnoxious to
censurc, or it would have given him a
Court of Inquiry, and ii this is the case,
he ought to be relieved from any implied
ccnsurc and placed in position where the
country can again have the benefit of his
unqueStioncd ability in the prosecution Of
the war"
Year: 1863

interests OF the country; for, while the


Constitution lays down the principles, the


citcumstantial application has a wide lati-
tude, Here is where men have differed.
Two lines of policy have been adopted
The one straining the Constitution to JUS
tify the exercise of doubtful powers, the
other holding to the evident meaning and
intent Of that instrument, and strict ad-
herencc to its requirements. The one to
concentrate the powcls of government in
certain departments ; the other to preserve
its constitutional distribution. Tho one
locking to the interests of certain classes
or sections the other to the good of the
whole country. The one tending in its
very nature to despotism the other to
original democracy The different poll
cies have found embodiment in different
parties. These parties have been in the
majority or minority according to the
changes that have taken place in the pop
ular mind. These parties too, have as
sumed different names, according to the
object they have had in view. The one
has been known by variety of names =,
as Federals, Wings, Republicans, &c.
The other has always retained the name
originating with the party. There are
really but two parties. All organizations
on outside issues belong to the same par.
ties, separating, it is true for awhile, but
converging again when q united effort is
necessary to accomplish soNo principal
object. They have all aimed to accom-
plish some one of the objects stated above.
The parties stand now, Republican and
Democratic, and to every thinking mind
the question arises, which of these parties
is right, and to which shall attach my
self? For no man can love his country,
with the right of suffrage, as we all pos
sess in this country, and not feel more or
less obligation to use that suffrage for his
country's good. Nor is it necessary to be
booked up in all the minutin of politics
in order to determine which way to vote,
for there are certain general principles, the
operation Of which is to decide which line
of policy is best.
Year: 1863

We take the following from the Nhion-
al Mtel'gens', in which piper it appeared
as one of series of Letters to the Pre-
sident.'


To AbuLam Lincoln thc president Of the


Unitcd States:


RESPECTED My object in these
letters, be it distinctly understood, is not
to commend slavery as a desirable insti-
tuition, nor to migigatc in the least the
crime or the penalty of the Southern re-
bellion but it is, by the light of truth,
to disarm, in some degree, a set of North
crn fanatic, whose insane hatred of ala-
very make them equally hostile to our
glorious Constitution. 1t is to show the
honest people of the free States that, as q
political question, they arc not responsible
for it, and have no rightful control over it,
and that, as moral question, there is
nothing in it which justifes their inter-
ference by virtue of any 'higher law than
the Constitution of their country Rebel
masters may be dvested of their right to
the labor of their slaves as punishment
for their treason, just as far as they may
be divested of other analogous rights, and
no farther but for the United States TO
abolish the institution because individual
shareholders head the rebellion, would be
as gross an usurpation as sweeping act
to divorce all wives from their husbands
ana free all children from their parents in
all slaveholding States for the same rea-
son.


Not from any other motive than to bring
home more wildly to the minds of the
reader the Bible truths developed in my
last letter, address myself to a Reverend
representative of u class.


say to him, do you, in common with
all or most Christian teachers, recognize
Noah as a prophet of God who spoke by
inspiration! If so, it was God himself
who doomed the descendants of Ham to
perpetual servitude. If, therefore, slav-
cry be sin, G cd in this case is response
bic for it; and when you attempt on that
ground TO rescue the African from slavery
you assume to be more wise and just than
God Is it not so!


Abraham bought servants with his
money, and had hundreds 'born in his
house lie was Il special f4yorito with
God, who not ouly hcapcd blessings upon
Year: 1863

The Constitution Of the United States
contained the principles it was intended
should govern the country. it contained
the sum Of the power delegated by each
State for the good of the whole, and there
the delegation ended. The remaining
powers were preserved to the States re-
spectively' Or to the whole people" This
reservation OF power to each State, is lin


tied to its own internal affairs. The Con-
sttution defines the powers of each de.
partment OF government, and limits each
to its own sphere of action. All laws
made by the legislative department of the
general government must be within the
range ol the powers given by the Cons,i-
tuition. The judicial is to explain and
define the powers of the Constitution, and


determine whether the acts of Congress
are according thereto. And the executive
is to give practical application to these
laws, and thus execute the will of the peo-
pie as expressed in the Constitution. II
would seem that the government of the
United States is plain and simple after all


and it needs only that each State and each
department Of government understand its
duty and do it. The only difficulty there
can be is in applying the principles of the
Constitution to the extended and varying
Year: 1863

Col. LEVI L. TATE Our Govern
ment was founded, by our forefathcrs, to
pcrpetuate our blood bought liberties 1t


was small matter to have gained our
independence, and TO have broken off the
yoke of tyrants abroad, if We were 10 put
on one equally heavy at home to refuse
to bow down to strangers, and then be-
come the slaves of our friends. And
revolutionary blood was spent in vain to
gain our liberty, if that liberty was to run
into licentiousness. Hence, that unborn


generations might enjoy the fruits of the
great struggle, 1t was necessary not only
to maintain our independence of foreign
nations, but to guard against anarchy and
despotism at home. a government was,
therefore, necessary 10 protect the people
from oppression at homo and abroad. A
republican form of government, with good
laws, faithfully administered, might have
accomplished this end, but the close of no
revolution ever found people so peculiar.
ly situated as were the Americans at the
end of the war. Here were thirteen
States, having joined together to gain
their independence. In this object they
made common cause, but this obtained :,
each one fell back to enjoy its share of
the independence gained. No one was
willing to be governed by the other, and
all were unwilling to consolidate and bury
their independence in Que nation. Yet
all saw the necessity Of some kind of
union for mutual protection, a protection
of each against all of the rest, and the
protection OF all against foreign foes
his then was the question that came be-
fore the trainers of our general govern
ment: How to form one great nation Out
OF many, and yet preserve the identity of
each how to protect the rights and priv


ilegos of all and yet not encroach upon
any D.! There was one thing more that
added to this already horculean task
These States were situated in different
parts of widely extended territory, and
had been settled by people from all parts
Of the world, bringing with them, more or
less, Of their native tastes and habits
Some were situated favorably to commerce,
some to manufacturing, and others to 40


ricultural pursuits; these last the most
numerous, embracing different degrees of
climate, and varying greatly in their pro-
ductions according to their locality. This
variety of interests was to be protected
and watched over. BESIDES all this; there
were large territories to be peoplcd and
States TO be made. Thes were to be pro-
yidod for, and brought in as they arose,
and to be placed precisely on an equality
with the rest. Here then were the elc-
mcnts of great nation, if they could
only be harmonizcd and made to help each
other. And this was the task of the
trainers of our government. TO accom-
pish this it would seem that human wis
dom was inadequate, but it was done, and
that it was done would seem to argue Di-
vine assistance. Confidently they threw
their banner to the breeze, and its open
ing folds revealed to q waiting world
Il H'uiblS Unum, as the result of their
arduous labors. The great experiment OF
human liberty, on a gigantic scale, began.
Year: 1863

OhilsiduSJ Wudt ulVislOuS VI cnuICuos
what sectional antipathies what excite.
mcnt and connections and, finally, what
desolaion, bloodshod and mourning have
your unchristian teachings aided in bring.
ing upon our lately powerful, prosperous
and happy land


And, not content with the aid you have
given traitors in involving your country
in devastating civil war, you arc now
moving earth and hell to prolong it, to
render it more bloody, and perhaps in
sure the success Of the traitors-certainly
to afford them the only chance of success
by converting the war for the Constitu-
ton into war against slavery. You are
as hostile to the Constitution as the rebels
themselves, and you prefer their success
TO the preservation of the Government
transmitted 10 US BY our fathers, simply
because the Government recognizes an in
stitution which God has sanctioned, and
the rights of masters and the duties OF
servants, as prescribed by the apostles Of
Christ. In short, you are not willing to
live under Government which protects
| SHAREHOLDERS, though it does not know
them in that character, and has no power
over the institution.


wonder that you do not openly rebel
against the government of God because he
'sendeth his rain on the just and on th C
unjust


To be consistent you ought to object to
living on the same earth and under the
same sky with shareholders, 10 being
warmed by the same sun ard breathing
the same air. And surely you will pray
for heaven by yourselves; for those who
think that STAKEHOLDER cannot be fit
associate for them in Christian church
cannot be happy in heaven peopled with
such shareholders as Abraham, Isaac and
jacob, Moses, David aud Solomon and
such associates Of slavery as Paul and
Peter. How can you be happy in that
heaven whore that God is who expressly
authorized lis people of old to buy slaves
and hold them in bondage forever. or
that Christ, an essential part of whose
religion is the cheerful obedience of the
slave to his master!


Yes, in your 'doting about questions
and striies of Words you not only pro.
mote revolution and bloodShcd in your
country, but you arc sapping the founda-
tlons Of your country's religion. When
you prove that slavery is in itself sinful
relation, you prove that the Bible is false
that the God of the Bible is Il God of sin,
and that Christianity, as taught by the
disciples of Christ, is but cloak for the
sum Of all villainies.' Truly has it been
said on another occasion, 1T is hard to
believe such men sincere. If not infdels
already, they are on the highway to that
bourne


Now many weak minds, having been
first imbued with the dogma that slav cry
is in itself sin and a crime, when they
come 20 find that from Genesis TO Rcycla-
tion it is recognized as a lawful and not
unchristian institution, will be induced to
reject the whole Bible as fable, and the
God OF the Bible as an imaginary being,


AMOS KENDALL.
Year: 1863

Henry j, Raymond, editor of the New
York Times, (Abolition) in recent
speech, said:


1--WE are about played out as a party.
We played the Maine law, good enough
Morgan for the time being--but it was
played out, and SO Abolitionism is played
out. It may last Lincoln S time out-but
if we hold on till then, there is not one Of
us living, that will ever get into public life
again. Weed is wisely getting out of tho
scrape. Greeley is fol enough to hang
on. The only hope there is for any Of
us, is to keep on the war until the Union
is SO thoroughly split up, that it never can
be got together again. A reunion with
the South on any terms is death to all
this generation. But, at any rate, the
taxes, which the people have not bugun
to feel; the debt, and the conscription,
not yet begun, but to come, will damn
every man concerned iu levying them.
Year: 1863

DURING the last year nearly thirty
tn uSand people aScended tho winding
stairs of Bunker Hill Monument. The ad-
mission fees to the monument are applied
To the Improvement of the premises, and
the amount thus derived is sufficient to
Keep them in excellent order.
Year: 1863

SUPPORT TIE NEGRO. is not general.
" known, but white men ought to know
it, that there is a law, passed by the pres
cnt Abolition Congress and signed by
President Lincoln, requiring the Quarter
masters Department to issue supplies to
runaway negroes, whether they work or
not. They are enticed away from their
masters and fed at the public expense,
and white men are taxed to pay the bill
Will some Of the Abolition WORTHLESS in
the Legislature, who indOrsed, in indecent
haste, the Presidents infamous cmanci
patton proclamation, point out the law
providing for the support of the poor
white man, or even the wives and chill
dren Of the soldiers engaged in the war !?
No such law is TO be found. The end of
the present Abolition Congress is near,
and when it expires all white men should
rejoice. Since its first meeting it has
done nothing but ltsi,late FOX the negro
and cplirss white men.
Year: 1863

The Cleveland Herald heard the other
day Of man apply ing for exemption
from the draft because he had an old
mother who needed his ohorishing care.
To show how much feeling this AAeo-
tiOnate son has for bis old mother, bis
neighbors say be has had her coffin In
the house for over two years He came
70 town with lJad Of wood one daV, and
being unable TO sell IL he oontriVed 10
trade il of with an undertaken for a
cotin--his mother being old might die
suddenly, and then, as TOodl,s says,
show handy It would be TO have IL Ia tho
house" Being Of frugal as well as an
Ingenious turn Of mind he put tho oof-
fin in he cellar TO keep turnips in, against
such time az the old lady might "drop
of"
Year: 1863

A very remarkable disease seems TO
have made its appearance IN Illinois. In
some portion Of Schuyler county quite
number Of people have recently died Of
IT, The victims are attacked with pains
In some part Of the body, generally In
the hand or arm, and m two or three
days they are dead. One Joung lady
died ia two days, hrr only pain being in
her fingers A man aEa his wife also
died within q day or two OF each other


10 is called by some the spotted fever"
Year: 1863

What else but treason to HE mother
country could be eexpeoted from the mis-
erable cur who suffered his own natural
mother to subsist upon the charities Of
strangers while he was living in luxury9
The transition from iilial ingratitude 10
treason is short, easy and natural
Year: 1863

There are many ways in which this
could be effected, In substance.


l. By increasing the representation
from the South, either according 60 actual
population, which would be temporary,
or,


2 By increasing the representation
according to area, which would be per-
manent.


3. By making a two-third vote neoes-
sary TO pass laws in Senate or House, or
both


Pray do not resign and thus give up
position which may give essential ad
vantage hereafter. just the same demon
stration can be made If you please by
refusing TO sit after March 3D.; that
Toombs and others make by resigning
to take effect then. If you resign you
leave the way open for some one by some
intrigue TO get into the Senate. BIZ
holding on you are master Of the situati0n
No one wants a resignation from you as
q proof of your devotion. Healer men
may haze 10 giue sign. None is required