smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the
Mississippi River Commission I trust
that my zeal for the promotion of the
interests of the Mississippi Valley, and
my desire to give voice to the senti-
ments of my constituents in Louisiana
upon the all important topic which
you are called upon to consider and
discuss, may be sufficient apology for
this address to you.


I hope that the remarks which I
shall submit, may carry sufficient sug-
gestions with them to prevent the por-
ton of your time, which I shall occu-
events, at the outset, must congratu-
late myself upon having so early an
opportunity of submitting to your hon
orable body, remarks, which, hope
will be found germane to the law Gre
ating the Commission which you COM
pose, aud for the carrying out of which
your organization is the first practical
step. It is not my Intention to test
your patience with a technical disqui-
sition. To do so would be work of
supererogation. I ask you to view
what I have to say in the light of an
expression, through me, from the peo-
pie of large section OF the country,
whose future is Immediately depend
ent upon the results of your labors.
And in presenting to you the appeal of
my people, I shall ask you to consider
any undue warmth with which may
seem to advocate their cause, as a re-
suit of sense of need made sore by
long neglect, or of an impulse of anxi-
ETY. sharpened by hope long deferred.
You will, therefore, Mr.. President and
gentlemen of the Commission, pardon
me, trust, if I occupy sme portion
of your time in presenting from my
standpoint, and from the standpoint of
the people whom have tie honor to
represent, resume of the history of
the circumstances which have con-
spired to bring about the creation of
your honorable body, together with
a review, as succinct as may be, of the
exigencies which you are expected to
meet. It is now something more than
eighteen years since the riparian States
of the lower Mississippi practically
abandoned the efforts they had been
making to protect themselves from the
annual floods of that mighty river on
the one hand, and to maintain its char
acter as highway of comme.ce on the
other. I need not go back to that
these States in this direction prior to





tention bestowed upon the subject by
the general government of tho Union
during the days of Calhoun and Clay,
and the other great lights that bllowed
is familiar to you all. Moreover, that
history fills volume, which, IN rela-
ton to the labor system then in force,
and, to all practical intents and pur-
poses is finished and closed, while we,
ebv the common consent OF all good and


aotic men stand upon the threshold
- eew epoch-an epoch to be fraught,
let us hope, with the result Of fraternal
cooperation; and to be blessed, let us
trust, with the fruits of the acts of peace


The riparian States of the lower Mis-
sissippi have definitely abandoned the
project, and surrendered the hope of
coping with the "mighty father of
waters:' The battle of Louisiana, Mis-
slsslPpl and Arkansas, with the cease
less torrents that were concentrated
upon them from the wilds of Dakota
and Montana, the forests of Minnesota,
Year: 1879




Just at this time, Captain Eads Ito
see whom a member of your honora-
BILE body, cannot fail to give profound
satisfaction to every one, who has the
interests of the country and the well
fare Of the Mississippi valley at hearth
came forward with proposition to
execute the first part in the grand pro-
gramme by permanently deepening the
mouth of the river. The nature of
Captain Eads' proposition, the favora-
BILE action of Congress touching it, and
the masterIy and successful execution
of the work itself by the great engineer
are too familiar to you all to require
description. Sufficient it is to say
that to all practical intents and pur-
poses the work of Captain Eads at the
mouth of the river is now done, and
the general government, by the crea-
ton of your honorable body, has en-
tered upon the second and far more
comprehensive part of its operations as
the proprietor, manager and controller
OF the Mississippi river.


1t requires but the most cursory
reading of the law, under the provi-
sions Of which your honorable commits
sion exists, and the most literal render
ing of the constitutional clause, upon
which the law is based, to show that
you are at once clothed with extraor-
dinary powers and placed under gigan-
tic responsibilities. The law says that
you shall


"Mature such plan or plans and esti'
Year: 1879

They belonged to church which is trying, in the face nf so much op- position, to break the chains which bind the millions, white and colored, in the South in substantial bondage to the will of the few. This was their chief offense.

 The Southern leaders and their panders know this, and, now that they have captured the legislative department of the Government, are emboldened in their efforts to hedge up our way, intimidate our preachers and drive our people from the coun- try. But, thank God, the church is aefe with her colleges, her press and ministry, and once in awhile finds man, like yourself, who has the courage to speak out in the sec ular press in favor of truth and right; and if we should not, our children will stand upon the grave of the old spirit that flinders for opinions sake, and proclaim that the day of light and freedom has dawned 'the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

 They mistake the metal of the men with whom they deal. Although our enemies howl like wolves, and few Northern towards

 some of whom you have in Fort Smith living upon Federal patronage and supporting rebel sheets-'may go back on us" we will yet succeed in introducing in this country a new and better order of things in purifying society, Then. "with nal ice toward none, and with charity for all, but with firmness for the right as God gives us power to see the right" let us go forward in es- tablishing the great principles of righteousness, truth peace and liber- ty-the universal brotherhood of man-"victory is nighe' though it may seem dark at times, God will avenge Ills own. Yours for the right. I. $. FORD.
Year: 1879

It is a matter of the utmost impor- tance to all land owners that they file away and preserve the tax re- ceipts on their lands, especially this year, since there will be no publica- tion of the delinquent list and land owners will have DO opportunity to see if their taxes have been properly marked "paid'' on the tax books. Your tax receipt may in future years be the only paper and the only evi- dence which will save your lands from being wrongfully taken away from you by some sly land shark :; for under the present law if the col lector should fail to mark your taxes paid,--or if the county records should happen to get destroyed, your lands will be bounced upon by some greedy land grabber ( for whose ben eft the new law seems to have been specially framed and your tax re- ceipt will be the only thing that will save you from being dispossessed of your home.

 Take good care of your tax re- ceipts.
Year: 1879

We find the following to be the text of the homestead act of Con. gress, approved March 3d:

 Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives Of the United States of America, in Con. gross assembled:

 That from and after the passage of this act, the even sections within the limits of any grant of public lands to any railroad company, or to any mil itary road company, or to any state in aid of any railroad or military road, shall be open to settlers under the homestead laws to the extent of one hundred and sixty acres to each settler, and any person who has. under existing laws, taken home stead on any even section within the limits of any railroad or military road land grant, and who, by exist. ing laws, shall have been restricted to eighty acres, may enter under the homestead laws an additional eighty acres adjoining the land embraced in his original entry, if such addi tional land be subject to entry; or if such person so elect, he may surren. der his entry to the United States for cellation, and thereupon be entitled to enter lands under the homestead laws the same as if the surrendered entry had not been made. Any person so making addl- tional entry of eighty acres, or new entry after the surrender and cancel. lation of his original entry, shall be permitted to do so without payment of fees and commissions; and the residence and cultivation of such person upon and of the land embrae- ed in his original entry shall be con sidcred residence and cultivation for the same length of time upon any of the land embraced In his additional or new entry, shall be deducted from the five years residence and cutiva- tion required by law: Provided, that in no case shall patent issue upon an additional or new home stead entry under this act until the person has actually, and in conform ity with the homestead laws, occu- ped, resided upon and cnl,iyateas the land embraced therein at least one year.
Year: 1879

Be careful how you abuse and nal treat him, her or it. (So little is known of the animal; outside of the fact that it is quadruped some times possessed of a pair of heels which are liable without any provo cation to assume puck reaching out motion, that we do not attempt to class his, her or it's gender-you can have it masculine, feminine or neuter as you like.) You might-ln fact, are very liable, to get yourself into trouble if you don't treat your animal with that degree of consider ation now guaranteed to it by law.

 The DEMOCRAT, faithful guar dian of the peoples interests, true humanitarian, and an indispensable paper to every citizen of Pope coun- to who wants to keep posted, pub fishes synopsis of the recently en- acted statute for the prevention of cruelty to animals. A general knowledge of the law may save the poor brutes from great deal of cruel treatment, and at the same time may keep some thoughtless persons out of trouble.

 Read the law and be careful. It is a good law and we hope to see it's provisions. enforced both in the let ter and in the spirit.

 The poor dumb brute deserves better treatment than he sometimes gets, and we believe this law will secure it.

 P. S.-Rcmember when your mule takes his heel away from you and
Year: 1879

The Supreme Court of the United States has very recently rendered decision of much importance to the tax payers of cities and incorporated towns. Under this decision the hedge is drawn a little closer around about the liability of city to meet it's obligations, and the duty and power of the city is little more clearly defined as to the leyying of taxes to pay debts. The lesson is that debts must be paid that more prudence and caution Tn the manage ment and conduct of our city gov ernments must be demanded by the ax- payers. The mourning of debt is. the curse of our cities, and the sooner 1t is known that there is no loophole of escape from the fair and honorable discharge of just debt the better it will be; for perhaps taxpayers will then be more careful in the selection of prudent and skill ful men to administer their city governments.

 The nature and effect of the Su. preine Court decision above referred to, is thus stated by the Saint Louis Republican of the 7th inst:

 The U. s. Supreme Court, in the case of Morris Ranger against the city of New Orleans, decided an in teresting point touching the authori- ty of municipal corporation to levy taxes without special grant there for The city defaulted in the inter- est on bonds issued to the New Orleans, Jackson and Great North ern railroad. The legislature had authorized It to issue the bonds, but had not authorized it to levy taxes to meet them, and after suit was brought on the coupons and judg ment obtained, the plaintiff asked for a writ of mandamus requiring the authorities to levy tax to pay it. The city pleaded that it had no authority from the legislature to levy and collect taxes for such a purpose. The court below held this to be a good defence, and refused the writ. The Supreme Court, how ever, reverses this judgment and re- mands the case with instruction to issue the mandamus. It holds that a judicial order to municipal cor poration to levy tax to pay it's debts is not an assumption of taxing powers, nor an encroachment on the legislative domaIn; that when the legislature authorized the city to create debt by issuing bonds, 1t intended the city should pay that debt; that where power to contract an obligation is granted the cores, bonding power to pay it is grante also, by implication; and su

 plication cannot be overcor

 by express words of limit

 The payment of thilt (

 left to the pleasure

 was made duty: an

 ing neglected that d

 ought to issue to pei tn formance of it. S

 The decision 7, serious one tc the people Of flew Orleans, for it involves tue necessity of paying $636, 900, and the annual interest on the bonds issued to the railroad, be sides. Some of the papers declare that the city IS not able to meet the responsibilities which the decision imposes; that the authorities, will, of course, levy the tax, in obedience to the mandamus, but the citizens will not, because they can not, pay it, and that will have to be the end of it. St. Louis Republican.
Year: 1879

you get yourself picked up and your bones re set, that the aforesaid mule is no exception to the law. You must obey the law and give him an extra handful of fodder, thereby re- turning good for evil and fulfilling both the civil and divine law.
Year: 1879

The shooting of a man by the name of Todd, at this place on the night of the 26th, seems to have eau sed some excitement and many false reports. In the Gazette the statements made show that Todd is pastor of the ..Methodlst church at this place, and that he was shot by some would. be assassin, while return ing from church, and that he is res pected by every one.

 In the Democrat the Rev. Pollard s statement shows that they were met by two men who displayed pistols arrested them, taking them to sa- loon, and afterwards putting them in jail, and all without excuse for it.

 We will endeavor to give the facts as we learn them from reliable gentlemen. The two men, Todd and Pollard, came here about three weeks since, and called on Rev. T. H.sHow- ard, the pastor of the M. F.. church at this place, telling him that they were preachers, and, were trying to organize churches known as the Northern Methodist. Mir. H. told them he did not think they would find many of that denomination here, but, at the same time, invited them to his house during their stay in town. They left saying they had Q room at the hotel for the night, but would be around next day. Next day they called, but had concluded to leave town, and asked if Mir. H. could take care of trunk for them, which he willingly agreed to do, but the trunk not coming, and hearing nothing from them, he supposed they were gone. They are next heard from stopping with negroes in and around town. In the meantime Mir. Kelly the Marshal received mo- tice that some parties were wanted Tn Missonri for murder committed there, and as these men suited the description or the parties want ed he concluded to arrest them and have an examination, and after re- questing the magistrate to remain at his room until his return, he and a deputy went to negro house where the two gentlemcn(?) were stopping, but, not finding them, they returned, and on their way back they found them in company with l2 or 15 negroes. They were arrest ed, Mir. K. telling them at the time, that, if they were not the parties wanted, they would neither be mo- tested or detained. After starting to his room with them Todd attemp- ted to escape and was fired at by both the Marshal and deputy, one of the shots striking him in the thigh. The marshal then turned to Q gen tleman who had come up requesting him to take charge of Pollard, while he went in pursuit ofTodd, and the gentleman walked up to the saloon with him, fearing he too might es cape. It is not true that they were put in jail, as there is no jail here.

 If boarding and associating with negroes on intimate terms would en- title them to the respect and conf dence of the community, they cer. tainly are deserving, of it. But our people do not think such course calculated to elevate the negro, but to degrade the man who does so.

 Todd is stopping with negro and we learn getting we'll.
Year: 1879

ment for its officers to interfere when the
principles break out into overt acts against
peace and good order" This has served as a
foundation for subsequent notable utterances
on the meaning Of the constitutional prohl-


bition Of Congressional interference, and


would indicate that this prohibition was


never designed TO cut off any regulation of


social relations deemed necessary to preserve


good order and maintain the forms and


authority of government. The marriage re-


lation is not only one of the most sacred but


also one Of the most useful clements in


society and government, and oil tho States


Of the Union at all times have prohib-


tied the practice of polygamy as SUBJ


versive Of good order, public morals,


and the welfare of the community.


The same considerations demand of the


General Government similar regulation as
to territory under its exclusive jurisdiction.


Congress has the same right to prohibit po-
lygamous marriages that it has to pass any
other law of general police character to
prevent results that are deemed hurtful to
society and the State. Having passed such
law, which is approved by the practice Of all
the States and by the experience Of all civili-
zation, religious conviction cannot be plead
ed as an excuse for the violation thereof; if
that doctrine were admitted, then MI laws
could be violated with impunity under q sim
liar plea, and the General Government might
as well abandon the effort to regulate and
control the local affairs Of such people MS
should elect 10 reside IN United States terri
tory not yet organized into State Govern
ment. The Supreme Courts decision is
founded in reason, and must be made the !
basis Of 3 crusade against .A1ormonism; but !!
such crusade, sure to succeed in the end, can
afford to bo tolerant of what has transpired
while beng strict as to tho future.
Year: 1879




One Of the bills before the Legislature in


which Chicago has lively interest is that


introduced by Senator BASH, providing that


the Park Commissioners. with the consent


Of the Common Council, may acquire the


same control over some one street leading to


the parks as they exercise over their own
bouleyards and driveways. There ought to


be no opposition to the purpose Of this bill,
and it should be passed just as soon as the
Legislature is satisfied that it Is in shape to
secure the end in view most expeditiously
and cheaply. The people Of Chicago hope
that the bill may mature into law early
enough to enable the South Park Commits
sioners to extend their jurisdiction over
Michigan avenue and provide re-
spectacle driveway for next summer. The
Cook County delegation, and such out
side influence as can properly DO
brought to bear, should assist Senator BASE
in passing the1neasure at the earliest moment
possible. The people of Chicago have spent
enormous sums of money on their various
parks, and, with the single exception of Lin-
N1A4 4 AAh3 eAE4o 40 uUt tu6 tuAL CHI D9
reached without enduring personal torture,
aud risking life and limb in the effort to 20
there over di1apidated payements and through
elongated mud-holes. It has come to be
universal conviction that the only way in
which 4 respectable and comfortable ap-
proach to these parks eau be provided and
is by making some one street in
each division Of the city p& Of the park
system, SO far us police regulation is con-
cerned. This is the only practicable method
for protecting such thoroughfaro from the
rapid destruction Of heavy teaming, which
seeks the particular street that has
been most recently improved It is use
less to- expect the owners Of abuttine
property to renew pavement every year or
two for the benefit of park-visitors: they
1ill not do it. Nor is there any authority
:or doing this ut the expense of tho city, and
t would be unwise to establish any such
;ystem. The Park Commissioners, however,
Ire able to keep their own dzivewnys in ad-
nirable condition at small outlay by ex- |
iuding heavy teauaing, and by constant
yatching and timely repairs. The streets
hat would be selected for park approaches,
uch as Michigan avenue in the South Di-
ision, aro already filed, graded, and curbed,
nd the cost of improvement would be CON-
small in the first instance, and |
carcely an appreciable addition to the gen.
raj park expenses thereafter. The unanim-
y with which the people of Chicago de-
land the privilege asked by Senator BAsHs
i'll, along with the fact TINT the matter does
OF specially concern tho remainder Of the
tate, ought to secure the prompt passage Of
IL measure.
Year: 1879

The recent decision OF the Supreme Court
affirming the constitutionality of tho United


States statute prohibiting polygamous mar


riages in tho Territories has gwen new i'm


petus to the Mormon question, and seems to


open the way at last for the ultimate extinc-


ton Of the Mormon practice of one mans


marrying several wives, at least so far as the


jurisdiction Of the United States Govern


ment reaches. The law prohibiting this


practice has been OF the statute-books ever


since 1862, but the attempts to enforce it


have been only spasmodic, and never till


now has it enjoyed the force Of an approval


by the Court of last resort. The result will


be demand for additional legislation, urged


on the one hand to make the prosecution Of


the Mormons unsparing, and, on the other,


to extend some sort Of immunity to those


who have already contracted polygamous


marriages under the toleraion of the au-


thorities, and to legitimatize the offspring of


such marriages. While the Supreme


Courts recent decision ought to be


used to place A1ormonism 's in the
course of ultimate extinction by a
vigorous enforcement Of the penalties for
all polygamous marriages contracted in th 9
future, there arc many considerations of
humanity and public policy that suggest q
certain immunity to the families that are
already organized on the polygamous basis.
A justification OF the latter course may be
found in the neglect Of the Government to |
enforce its own law in the pasta neglect |
which has resulted in tho formation Of |
alliances which it would be cruel t
to disturb under such circumstances. Thou |
sands Of poor. deluded, and dependent |
women would become outcasts, and tens of I
thousands of young lives would be bl,ghted !
with infamy, by any sudden and universal |
disturbance of the polygamous relations in
Utah. Public policy also requires con-
Of the responsibility that may be
thrown upon the Government in case gen.
eral disruption Of Mormon families should
make pHupers OF numerous class of help
ess women and children. Congress cannot
AXE further action on this question without
living these matters proper consideration.


The most interesting feature of the Su-
irene Courts opinion is in regard to the
onstitutionality of the statute, as it involves


discussion of the extent to which religious
onvictions can be set up as defense for
iolation Of law. Congress shall make no
aw respecting an establishment of religion,
T prohibiting the free exercise thereof" is
he first clause Of the first amendment to the


constitution. But the Constitution nowhere
efines what is meant BY the word ssrelig-
~" Chief-Justice WAITE reverted to the
arIiest authorities and State papers for the
lost trustworthy construction Of the term in !
S relation to the State. In the preamble Of ,
act introduced in the Virginia
ouse Of Delegates before the American !
eclaration OF Independence IVES adopted ]
|ere WIS protest against the interfer- {
ace of the State with religious liberty,
I'd it was added: "It is time enough !
r the rightful purposes OF civil govern ! T