smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1867

expire the same year, and the citizens
are called upon to elect eight Aldermen
and Mayor at the ensuing election.
The canvass has already begun, and the
numerous aspirants for civic honors are
working vigorously for the coveted posi-
tions. In a municipal election party feel
ing is in a great measure, and rightfully,
laid aside ; and the question of whether
the candidate is a Democrat or Republi-
can, gives precedence to his capabilities
to discharge the duties of the Office for
the best interests of the city and the
public. Our knowledge of the approach
ing election leads us to the belief that
this motive will actuate the majority at
the coming election, and that the officers
will be chosen with regard singly to
their capabilities, character, and identi-
fcation with the interests of the city. A
number of our prominent citizens, hav-
ing looked carefully over the field, have
selected, as proper person to fill the
position of Mayor for the ensuing term,
Mr.. l.. G. Lee, the present efficient Chief
OF Police, who has consented to have his
name presented to the people for their
suffrages, with the explicit understand
ing that he is to be an independent, peo-
pies candidate, untrammeled by any
party, clique or faction and, if elected
by them on this avowal, will discharge
the duties of the office to the best of his
ability. We believe the selection to be
an eminently wise and judicious one,
and that majority of the citizens will
so decide at the coming election. Mr..
Lee is well and favorably known to the
people of the city. His interests are
identified with it; his character and
record are unimpeachable ; his capabili-
ties to discharge the duties unquestion-
ed while he will bring to the office a
more thorough knowledge of its people
of all classes than perhaps any other
man who could be selected. A citizen
of the place for three years, having la
bored earnestly in bringing order and
law out of the chaos of crime and tumult
in which it was involved and thorough
ly conversant with it's necessities and
requirements, the office would be be-
slowed upon one well qualified to dis
charge its duties, and whose labors for
the good of the city are unqUestioned
Each of the four wards have the select
ing of two Aldermen to represent their
interests in the City Council and as
the time is rapidly approaching when
the choice will be decided, it would be
well for all who have an interest in the
government of the city TO consider the
respective merits of the candidates be-
forehand and decide upon whom they
will support.
Year: 1867

We find in the Democrat of Thursday
a halEcolumn article devoted to this
paper, in which we are notified that,
hereafter, we will be made to toe the
mark" 1t is implied from this that past
offenses are forgiven, and we feel greatly
relieved. The recent annihilation of the
Gazette in seven articles of one issue of
the Democrat, had filled US with fear and
trembling, and we expected when our
turn should come, to get an entire broad
cross-trees and cook-house and felt very
much relieved when il proved to be only
a squib from the quarterback. We are
really sorry to see that the recent change
of editors (which we had thought was n
private business transaction, in which
our cotemporary was in no way inter
ested) has been to him a subject of such
profound solicitude. The statement is
made that many inquiries have been
instituted why the change of editors
was made, and the subject still appears
to be wrapt in mystery and bear heavily
upon the mind of our neighbor. Well,
we wouldn't want you TO remain in such
a deplorable condition we'll tell you
something. If anybody asks you why it
was done. You look very profound, shake
your head gravely, and tell them
you don't know. You see they won't
believe il, Major, and you will be called
a cunning old fox" and people will
say, che knows more than he will tel, :"
shes non-committal )" and they'll give
you credit for being great deal wiser
than you really are but don't, for gra-
cious sake, publish it in your paper
Somebody who is not acquainted with
you, might possibly see it and it would
ruin you. We are dodging the issue,
amt WEI Well, we merely "send you
these few lines to inform you =" that your
article is noted. We respectfully decline
the controversy you are evidently seek
ing. We can devote our columns to
better purpose, and are content to see
your paper and that of your Helena an
tagonist devoted to personal attacks and
recriminations. Please consider us cut !;
and, if il is not asking too much of a
favor, permit the Posi- TO do as it pleases.
If you really publish anything good on
us, however, we will insert il in our
columns so that people can read it.
Year: 1867

EDITOR Posi-: We confess to being
guilty of a dereliction of duty for the
past few weeks, but it is not to be at
tributed to an attempt to dodge the is
sue-raSher to lack of material for a
letter prior to the holidays.


Christmas and New Years days have
both come and gone as well with us as
the denizens of the metropolitan cities
of the Territory. The wheel of Time
has made one more revolution, and
marked its tally as well on the head
waters of the Columbia as on those of
the great Missouri and the occasion has
been celebrated with great ecLat among
the older citizens of this community.
Your correspondent was absent on
Christmas day, but learns that best of
all German customs was thoroughly OBJ
served 4. G. Christmas calls, and that
everybody was happy, the political
hatchet buried and all personal enmity
suspended for the day. Another pleas
ing feature connected with the occasion,
was no drunkenness, and consequently
no rows or fights.


On the 2Sth the grand ball of the sea
son was given at the Deer Lodge Hotel
by it's worthy host, j. A. Clarke, Esq.
1t was a perfect success In point of
dancing and supper, but on account Of
it's miscegenated propensities was not
quite so social rs it might have been,
had none but persons of either of two
races present been admitted; some of
the ladies and a few of the gents, not
having fully accepted as a fact the pro
visions of the bill giving civil rights to
certain persons within the jurisdiction
of the United States"


The demise of the old year and the
birth of the new was duly solemnized
and celebrated by cOnvivial party un-
der the auspices of Thomas j. Fay, our
popular p. NJ, where the wine-glass and
the " flowing bowl - circulated freely
amidst the many toasts, songs, rhetoric
and wit of the assembled guests of the
occasion. New Years day closed with
/ a ball at the Western Hotel, which Was
! largely attended and passed off TO the
entire satisfaction of every person pres
ent The supper was excellent. We
do not remember to have partaken of u
/ better one in the Territory.


Our rural denizens were somewhat
astonished at the appearance in our
midst of the "hermaphrodite rig" which
/ the Helenal local" declines in despair
attempting to describe. All we desire
to note, is it's peculiar facilities for trans
porting the mail. On going to the Post
office we found our letters quite wet,
and by inquiry ascertained they had
been deposited in the center of the Lit
tie Blackfoot by We conductor of We her
maphrodite, and that We conductor had
not missed We sack, and that the same
remained there until it was somewhat
! diluted.


The races are all over and the dog and
1 cock-fghts ended, and we have turned
over a new leaf with the usual number
of good resolves. The weather is fine !;
the mines promise well in the spring
the grasshOppers fail TO inspire any
dread, and healthy, pecuniary and ben
eficial season is anticipated. With high
hopes, we are yours, l.


Deer Lodge City, Jan. g, 1867.
Year: 1867

yet there is one more terrible. lti that
of a man flying from the land where he
was born; flying from the avenger,
Death from the body of his victim,
from the corpse of his mother on the
scaffold, seeking in vain TO lose himself
in the great world, and to blot his name
from the memory of man. This is John
Harrison Surratt, of whose equal guilt
in the crime there is no doubt, and by
whom, il is believed, much that il hid
den may be revealed"
Year: 1867

be too radical" and have determined to
fight it out on that line" with every
prospect of it's taking them all sum-
mer." Not satisfied with the overthrow
of rebellion, they are hedging the ma
tional ark with bulwark for future de
fense not content with emancipation,
they ars investing the negro with more
privileges than his late master and pre-
cipitating upon the Territories, at least.
laws which are at variance with the will
of the people. While many of the meas
ures adopted meet with appreciation from
every loyal man, we think that in fore
ing upon the citizens of the Territories
(who have not, to our knowledge COM
mitted any overt acts of rebellion, or pc
titioned for the leading of the vanguard
of the host, in favor of negro suffrsge,)
the acceptance of this most ultra radical
measure, Congress has done us injury
and injustice. They have vested in them
the privilege of making all needfil laws
and regulations for the government of
the Territories but this enactment
would scarcely come under that head !;
and we, as sovereign citizens thereof,
should have the privilege of deciding
whether or not there should be "a de-
nial of franchise on account of race or
color" They have already passed par
alel law in the District of Columbia.
Over this, Congress has exclusive legis-
lative power, and if they are desirous of
inaugurating a mixed form of govern
ment in that model republic, let them do
so, and we wish them joy. But this
foisting upon the Territories-whose ap-
peals for necessary enactments and pro-
lection are passed by heedlessly-an
irrevocable edict entirely uncalled for
and odious to a large majority of their
inhabitants, is an assumption of author
ity which even the progressive spirit of
the times will not warrant. When the
States from which these liberty-loving
radicals come, have admitted Africans
to these rights and privileges when the
Southern States have been placed in the
same ranks; when the people enact it of
their own free will and accord, it will
have been time enough for the enigrat-
ing freedmen to stand side by side with
Americans at the ballot box in Montana.
Although this act of Congress has no
doubt ere this received the approval of
the President, and stands law upon the
statute books, we repeat, that it is dis
graceful imposition upon the people,
void of any beneficial effects, and will do
more injury to the Republican party in
the Territories than any previous action
of Congress, or any principle advocated
by the party. If, as we presume, it was
intended as a precedent for the estab-
lishment of negro suffrage in the South
ern States, when they shall have been
reduced to a territorial basis, we would
thank the honorable law makers on the
Atlantic seaboard to try their expert
ments on some other people; and if they
cannot take cognizance of our necessi-
ties, to forbear taking advantage of the
authority vested in them, not for the
purpose of clothing them with arbitrary
powers to thwart the will of the people,
but to assist them in developing and civ
ilizing the country.
Year: 1867

The annual election of City officers
will take place in Virginia on the first
Monday in February. In the amend
ments made to the City Charter at the
session of the Second Legislature. by an
the term of all the officers
Year: 1867

been so commanding. Local jealouHies and


geographical distinctions Will be lost in the at


fractions OF a common country. Then, Indeed


there will be no North, no SOUTH no East. no
point OF the compass, but the whole horizon.
will receive our regard. Not the Scu h,
ern Cross, flaming with beauty; not even
the North star, so long the guide OF
the mariner and the refuge to the
dying bondmen, but :the whole star.spre nd
armament will be our worship and delight.
AS the nation stands confessed in undivided
sovereignty, the States will not cease to per-
form their appropriate functions. Interlaeed
interlock ed, aud harmonized, they will be q IN.
genial parts of the mighty whole, while liberty
and equality will be the recognized blrthright
of all, and no local pretension can interfere
against the universal law. There will be a
selEgovernment, which is the pride of our in
stitutions, will be reconciled with the supre-
macy in the maintenance of human rights and
the two together will be the elemental princiBle
Of the republic. The state will exercise minute
Jurisdiction required for the convenience of all:
the nation will exercise the other paramount
Jurisdiction required for the protection of ALL
begun, will embrace the people, who forgetting
past differences. will feel more than ever that
they are one, and it will invigorate the still
growing republic whose original root was little
more than an acorn, so that II will fnd new
sire myth to resist the shock of tempest or time,
while IL enriches the continent with It's gene
rous shade. Such at least is the aspiration In
which all may unite.


Firm like the oak, may our blest nation RISE


Nc less distinguished for its streng than size;
The unequal branches emulOus unite


o shield and grace the trunks majestic height;
Through long succeeding years and centuries live,
no vigor losing from the aid they give.
Year: 1867

The editor of the Eureka Union
relates, as follows, how he fell in love
and "got the mitten:" a1


We were never, kind readers, "des-
perate in love" but once, and that
was with a red-no, authenticated
girl with a freckled complexion,
and who had but few pretensions to
beauty; but then she had such really
beautiful eyes-deep, liquid orbs,
through which her soul in moments
Of tenderness looked out with pas
sionate fervor, and in joyous mirth
flashed and sparkled with the light
Of a thousand dew drops-diamonds
We were going to say, but VIC never
saw a thousand diamonds. Her
name was Laura-which, when
breathed softly, by very soft love,
is very soft name; and her clear
ringing laugh fell all around you,
like a shower Of silver bells. More
over, she wore dark wine-colored
dress, trimmed with lilac-eolored
velvet and black fringe, with neat
little white collar of white lace,
which is the pretticst of dresses, and
has the effect to make very plain
girl look absolutely charming. She
never perforated her ears to hang
thereby q pendulum of glass and
brass; and the only ornament on the
little white hand, which needed none,
was a plain gold ring, sacred TO the
memory Of maiden promise.


Well, one evening-it was NOON
light in the summer time--wc sat
alone in the porch by the cottage
door, holding that little white hand
in a gentle pressure; one arm had
stolen around her waist, and silent
song Of JOY, like the music Of the
night was in our soul. Our lips
met in sweet, delicious kiss, and
bending softly to her ear, we whis-
pered a tale Of passionate DEVOTION
We proposed. In a moment she tore
her hand from ours, and with a look
Of inciiable scorn, she said in a voice
trembling with suppressed rage,
"Whatl marry an editorl You Oil
OUT" We slid.
Year: 1867

ASTONISHING WoMAN.-A dashing widow
is now the leader of fashion in London. An
English paper says she is al taA, handsome
looking woman, with profusion of light hair
and jet black eyes," She is certainly remark
able woman think of a profusiOn Ofjet black
eyes g
Year: 1867

HARRY CoMlf, +AcIlnS Slerk-


Report received


Mr. Comfy chairman of the committee on Federal Re
latiOns, reported as follows, to-wit:


Mr. Speaker: Your committee Federal Relations
whom referred certain portions of the Governors


All that portion of the said message which refers
currency of the country and all that portion which re
fes to the annument of the laws of the last sessions
of the Legislature of Montana by of Congress- and
which last appears in said message in the following Ian
guage;


with submitted annued the laws of the Territory pas
sed at the sessions of March and November 1885, and
February 1867 Without discussing the which
led to this interruption of the laws passed by the will of
the people, and only remarkng that am it the
result of political feeling alone hope the legislature
heretofore passed. not prohibited by act OF Congress OF
March I'd, 1867"


Would respectfully report that they have examined
with due care and deberation the aforesaid portions of
the message of Excelency Governor and respect
fully submit the following their opinions concerning
the matters therein referred to-


With all due respect for the Executive of this Terri
tory compelled after careful examination of all
the points involved disagree with him In his
daon concerning the currency of the Territory for the
following reasons, to-wit.


First The change recommended would be changing
circulating medium which convenient for all purposes
of trade and which has intrinsic value IN one
which is many ways inconvenient and has no lntrln
sic value whatever and to violent Quotations
in representative value owing to the uncertain status OF
national affairs.


Secondly, The laws passed by the Congress of the
United States recognize the soaed legal tender notes.
commonly called geenbac the currency of the whole
the doubtful powers exercised by
Congress in enacng these laws and the Supreme court
of this Territory composed of Federal appontees uphods
far we have been able to learn the validity and
constitutionality of the aforesaid laws


Your committee have therefore deemed it futile and
and unnecessary any laws this subject which
would merely be placing upon statnte books laws of
the United States which Notwithstanding their doubtful
eonstitutionality are in full force amongst us


Thirdly, Your committee of the opinion that to
enact any law making anything gold and silver
legal tender in payment of debts would be in direct vio
ation the stpuaons contained in the tenth section
of the first article of Constitution of the United States
which among other provisions contains the following.


No State shall make anything but gold and silver coin
tender in payment of debts


Notwithstanding, however that the gold dust winch
the basis of value and the circulating medium of this
eount deemed by your committee far superior to the
Year: 1867

How CATTLE KILL TREEs-It is q
noticeable fact that q tree ever 30
thrifty, and Of whatever kind, to


which cattle gain access, and under
which they become habituated to
stand, will very soon die. 10 the case
Of "a solitary shade tree in q pasture
or by the roadside, this is of common
occurrence. The query may have beer
suggested ito what ia this owing
In the first place, rubbing a tree By
Year: 1867

VoLTAIRE ON MARRIAGE.-Although fear
fully unsound on religion, Voltaire was emf
nently sound on the question Of marriage He
said:


"The more married men you have the few
er crimes there will be. Marriage renders
man more Virtuous and more wise. An un-
married man Is but half of a perfect being,
and it requires the other half to make things
right and it cannot be expected that in this
imperfect state he can keep the straight path
of rectitude any more than boat with one
oar, or bird with one wing, can keep straight
course. In nine cases out of ten where mar
ried men become drunkards, or where they
commit crimes against the peace of the CON-
munity, the foundation of these acts was laid
while in single state, or where the wife is, as
is sometimes the case, an unsuitable match.
Marriage changes the current Of a mans feel
ings, and gives him centre for his thoughts,
his affections and his acts. Here is a home
for the entire man, and the counsels, the affec-
tions, the example and the interest of his bet
ter half keep him from erratic courses, and
from falling into a thousand temptations to
which he would otherwise be exposed. There
fore, the friend to marriage is the friend to So
ciety and to his country"
Year: 1867

ENccURAGNG.-Every mail brings us q list of new subscribers and words of encour. agement and cheer. The people Of the Ter ritory seem pleased with our efforts to make the MINER tirst-class newspaper, and are contributing literally to its support. Demo crats and Republicans admit that change for the better has taken place in the paper since il has been under our control It is our purpose to continue improving il, and we hope every man who has the interest of the Territory at heart will come to our aid and help us to place the MINER in the front rank of Pacific coast journals. Every man in the Territory should subscribe for a copy and send it to his friends in California and the East, so as to inform them of the advantages offered by this Territory to labor and capital. The paper has ceased to be the organ of one man and will hereafter turn its attention to making known the want of cur people, the richness of our mines the fertility of our soil, and the unsurpassed excellence of our climate
Year: 1867

The Arizoaian has great deal to say about the negative attraction of the Prescott mines" which, "just now causes a general exodus from there," (herel and claims that the mines of Cababai district are the richest in the Territory. Then, why the thunder don't you work them. We do not doubt the richness of your mines, but it looks little strange that, with your cheap peon labor, and the low price of provisions in Sonora, you cannot make them shell out some of the gold and silver which they arc said to con tain. You do not claim to have seen old Exodus down your way, and talk as though everything was lovely and adobes cheap a, dirt, yet your little old mud town has not improved much in the last eight or ten years. What can the matter be z" You certainly must be waiting for the capital, and the wind

 instruments that accompany it to toot the horn and inaugurate a new era
Year: 1867

A whole family in Philadelphia was dis
covered last week in almost the last stages of
starvation, and the horror of the scene was
heightened by the dscovey of the appalling
fact that the father of the family, who had
uled ten days ago, was still unburied, from
lack OF the necessary means to defray the ex>
penses of sepulcure.
Year: 1867

In assuming that negro suffrage is inevitable,
the Petersburg hadec says:


''It is our reason that recoils, not our sensi-
bilities. We had rather the Southern negro
would vote than not, if he would vote intelli-
gently-obviously because, thereby, the infu-
ence OF this section upon national legislation
would be immensely enhanced


Being confronted, therefore, with this mat
ter it is the duty Of the South to lay aside pre-
judice. which was based upon vanished order
of things, and deal with the present thoughtful
yand dresolutely, bravely too, for moral courage is
necessary to the adoption of thiscourse tolabor
earnestly and diligently to educate this race up
to capacity for right discharge of this new duty,
right exercise Of this new privilege. Itbehooves
u.s., as guardians of the interests of the present
and coming generations of our own people, so to
elevate the minds and improve the temporal
condition of this other element of our community,
that they shall recognize in their minds the
wisdom, and feel in their pockets the Importance
OF SO voting as to secure tranquility and pros
perity for the State and section in which they
live and for those people with whom their lots
are unavoidably cast


They have shown their willingness, under
trying circumstances, to abide by laws neither
unquestionably established, nor strongly ad-
ministered. When we regain the power to
legslate, if ever, let such regulations be put in
force as will convince them that our interests
are Identical and not antagonistic


It is problematical whether their minds be
capable of the culture and development neces-
sary to the formation of what should be, in this
century of civilization, considered good citizen,
but let the experiment be made We can lose
nothing by trying, and may lose everything by
neglecting it.