smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1866




Of interfering with its constitutional right
but he felt like urging upon them aud upon
the country, that this mode of finishing the
work, 80 nearly completed in other respects,
was the only feasible one which had been
presented, and that it was impossible to ignore
the fact that the States were exercising theiI
rights, and enjoying their privileges within
the Union; were, in short restored in all
other respects, and that il is too late to aues
ton the fundamental right Of represents
ton. ,7..


then remarked to him that [ heard il
suggested that legislation could properly be
made by Congress, purely civil in its char.
acter, providing for the protection of the
freedmen by the United States Courts OF
inferior jurisdiction, in all cases where the
States did not do so themselves. He re.
Piled that such an idea could run exactly
parallel to his plan, but he had not thought
1t vet time to fix his own ideas of the pre-.
cisc mode Of accomplishing this. and be.
cause we had O margin of time lasting till
after the next session of Congress, during
which the present Freedmen Bureau could
continue in operation. If before that time
the Southern States should recognize the
necessity OF passing proper laws themselves,
and providing proper system of protection
for the freedmen, nothing further on our
part would be necessary. lfthey did not do
what they ought, there would then be time
enough to elaborate o plan.


He then referred briefly to the fact that
certain men who have been rejoicing over
his veto message, saying, that if these men,
in good faith, adopted the views of the
policy he had himself held and acted upon,
and which he had so fully elaborated in his
annual message, and explained to me that
the country surely could mot have no cause
for sorrow in that IF disloyal men and
rebels everywhere, North and South, should
cordially give their adherence to the con.
ditions of restoration he had uniformly in
sisted upon, he thought that was precisely
the kind of pacification loval men, every.
where would rejoice in. The tnofe they
were committed to such course the better
he should like it. for if they were not sim
cere, they would at least diminish their
power Of dangerous opposition in the fu-
turr. ..f' f....-t ...


HIS ,ohole heart 1ds Nth the body of true
men ,oho carried the country through the
soar. and he earnestly desired to maintain a
cordial and perfect understanding Dith them.
This sentiment and purpose he regarded as
entirely consistent with determined op-
position to the obstruction policy Of those
extremes who, as he believed, would keep
the country in chaos till absolute ruin might
come upon US.


Such, my dear sir, is the statement of the
President on this important matter, and if
you could meet his straightforward. honest
look, and hear the hearty tones of his voice,
as did, am we'll assured you could be-
lieve with me, that although he may not re.
ceive personal assaults With the forbearanee
Mr.. Lincoln used to show, there is no need
to fear that Andrew johnson is not sincere
in his adhesion to the principles upon which
he was elected. Very truly yours,


Signed. j. d. cox.
Year: 1866

ing rain, presented scene of the most wo.
ful and hesrt-rendiDg confusion" The wti


ter in llarper's Magazine adds: 1.-THE very
show Of an attack upon such an army, by the
unbroken Union force, must have defeated il


But there was in the mind of its commander
no thought Of an attack. When in the
morning, the Confederates looked up the
hill which they had so vainly attempted to
sea le, they saw not trace Of the grim bat
teries and serried lines which had confront.
ed them the night before. In the storm and
darkness the Union army had fed from
victory as though IL bad been rout. +"


The close comparison Of the two official
reports proves that the rank and file of the
gallant army Of the Potomac fought with
magnificent bravery and stsadiness; they
did share well; and nothing but the exc
cradle generalship of their leader was able
to snatch great victory from their grasp.
Year: 1866

Sadness. There is mysterious feeling
that frequently passes, like a cloud, over the,
spirits. 1t comes upon the soul in the busy
hustle Of life, IN the social circle, in the
calm and silent retreats of solitude Its
powers are alike supreme over She weak and
iron hearted At one time it is caused By
the fisting Of a single thought across the
mind. Again second will come booming
across the ocean of memory gloomy and
solemn as the death-kneel, overshadowipg
ali the bright h pes aud sunny feelings Of
the heart Who can describe it, and yet
who has not felt its bewiIdering influence
Still It is a delicious sort of sorrow; and
like cloud dimming the sunshine Of the
river although causing momentary shade
Of gloom, it enhances the beauty of return
ing brightness
Year: 1866

4 Good Substitute for Paink-For the
benefit Of our readers, both in the city and
country, We publish the following recipe
for making wash for fences and out-build-
ings, which is said to look almost as we'll as
paint We quote from the Chemical Gazette:
" Take clean water tight barrel or other
suitable cask. and pus into it half bushel
Of lime. Slack it by pouring water over it,
and in sufficient quantity to cover Eve inches
deep, stirring it briskly till thoroughly
Stacked. When Stacking is effected dissolve
in water. and add two pounds sulphate Of
sine and one of common salt These will
cause the wash to harden and prevent its
cracking. which gives an unseemly appear.
anee to the work If desirable, beautiful
cream color may be communicated 70 the
above wash by adding three pounds Of yellow
ochre, or pearl Of lead color by the addi-
ton Of lamp vine or ivory black For fawn
color add four pounds Of umber-Turkish
OF Amsrican-the latter is the cheaper, one
pound Of Indian sed, one pound Of common
lampblaek. This wash may Be applied with
common whitewash brush, and win be
found much superior both in appearance and
durability to the common white-Wash.
Year: 1866

No man and no woman is safe Who has
once formed the habit Of looking TO drink
for solace, or eheerfulnesa. or eomfors.
While the world goes we'll they will likely
be temperate: but the habit is built, the
railroads 70 destruction Is out ready for use,
the rails are lain down, the statiOn-houses
erected and the train is on the line waiting
only for the locomotive; It comes 70 Us; it
grapples US, and away we 20 in a moment,
down the line we have been years construct
ing like a fash Of lightning, to destruction.
Year: 1866




The Absent-Of all the exercises of the
unfettered mind, perhaps none is attended
with more benign influence than that Of
indulging in a kind remembrance of the ab-
sent Every loving word that fell from the
lips of the absent is treasured with tender
ness Each kind act is recoIleeted with af
fection. We look forward TO meeting with
unbounded happiness.


Have we parted in ang ~? {? Time suftens
US into quiet indifFereBce--as length into
quiet acknowledgement of past friendship.
Have we parted IN silence and arrangement
This, too, wears away, and we meet again to
forget the past in future coulmuni0nS. Have
we parted in grief2 The sorrow is mutually
borne, and tenderly consigned to the corner
Of our hearts devoted to the absent sharer.


Have we parted in lover No joy so great
as the remembrance Of it-no event so de-
lightful or sacred as the reunion.


Have we been parted by Death All, the
affection that travels with flown spirit 70 its
home IN the realms of light The changed
but ever increasing sacredness Of the love
that bound US on earth is now freed from
its ally, while the nnfettered spirit hovers
near, to watch over US and bear the incense
of truthful and purified affection on the
wings Of enduring love. Absent from sight,
to the spirit near-nO shade Of earth min
giles in the holy Office of ministering angel,
whose sweet influence is like the gentle dew
upon the fragrant flower, which exhales a
perfume unseen, but ever grateful to the per-
ception of the Unborn spirit. Absent, but not
forgotten, is a sweet and touching memorial
Year: 1866

the iorler grievances to still exist, and holding


the same enmity, the struggle might be renew
ed when they anticipated success? tits neces-
sary that some definite plan should be given to
insure future security, and it is nothing more
than fair that the adoption of this proposed
amendment should be demanded of the lately
rebellious States as prerequisite to their
admission to all the rights and privileges of the
Year: 1866

WHAT is LoYALTY?-The DaIv Ne,cs. in
leader in general approval of the late pro
Secession speech in Congress of Mr.. Harris of
Maryland, says:


: 1t is of no avail n01o to insist that the
right OF secession is one of the attributes ofthe
political system under which exist the United
States of America. That question has been
submitted to the arbitrament of arms and. SO
tar as the mere influences of physical force can
determine it, it has, for the time being. been
determined. The South accepts the result. in
respect to its present practical application but
that acceptance does not imply any abandon
ment, IN thought, of the principle upon which
the secession movement was founded"


1t IS OF the gravest consequence that the
People OF the United States should clearly un.
derstand each other on the question mooted. =
we say nothing as to the past: Let bygoDes
be bygones. But does an ex-Rebel, WHO'S now
swearing allegiance to the Constitution and
Unlon Stoedr to be faithful only till his STATE
shat see tit dSdtac to Secede?


This is an eminently practical question. Its
right decision is of mOmentous, vital import
Gould State formerly absolve her citizens
serving as officers in the army or navy of the
United States from the obligation of the solemn
oath OF fidelity exacted OF them on entering
that service? If she could rightfully do this
once, can she now? Does the oath NOR NEAR.
L will bear true and faithful allegiance until
my, State shall secede from the Union?' Let
US have a clear understanding on this head he
lore We educate any more Lees and Stonewall
Jacksons, at West Point. We cannot afford
to be trihed with.
Year: 1866




We make the following extract from a
letter from leading citizen of Eastern
Carolina, addressed to a member of the Con-
vention now in this City. The suggestions
contained in this extract are well worthy of
serious consideration:


81 was much gratified, in the interview I
had with you, to find our opinions agreeing
so well. [ was pleased to find that you ap-
preciated the sad condition of our people,
and felt desirous to do what you can for
their relief In this connection, 1 do not
refer to the General Government. I think
! we are better Off as far regards the gov
ernment, than 1 expected; and though L
would be pleased to see many things al
tered, yet have but little to complain of
We must willingly submit to be governed
by the victors. We have no right to pre-
scribe terms. But what 1 wish to refer to,
is the private Indebtedness of the people.
! You know their condition. Three-fourths
of the land-hoiders are hopelessly broken.
The profits of cultivating the land on thirds,
or with the present hired labor, will be
found very little; the tax on cotton destroys
the profits, and not one in ten of the debtors
will be able to pay the first installment, un-
der the stay law. In the fall of 1868, the
sales of land must be immense-and many,
very many women and children will be
driven from their homes, without a shelter,
and no means of support. 1t will produce
violence and lawlessness. There is no argu-
ment that appeals to mans heart like his
suffering wife and children, and when they
are deprived of Il shelter, he will be desper-
ate. You already know all about this, and
| will not rehearse it. AS far as honesty is
concerned, [ do not hold that money due in
1853 or 1859 is equal to money at present;
then credit was based on property that is
swept away, and [ do not feel that is honest
to demand u dollar now for dollar due
then. Some relief must be extended to the
debtor portion Of the people Any action of
the Convention will command more respect,
and be of higher authority than by the Leg
islature, and l sincerely hope the Conven-
ton will do something. l can make no
suggestion. The delegates feel the pressure,
and must judge of the remedy. One mode
of relief is fresh before the people, mean a
homestead law. 1t ought to have been
passed years ago; its necessity now is press
ing. The people demand, and will have it.
Secure to every man home for his wife
and children beyond the power of any cred
itor, and you iufuse new life the family
will be stimulated to enrich and beautify,
and the whole country will smile under its
benign influence. 1 beg to urge upon you
to aid in the passage of a homestead law
You may not agree about the details, but
pass one of some sort, and the people will
rejoice, and hail you as benefactors.'
Year: 1866

The representatives of the States should
be LOYAL MEN. willing to abide 10y and be
DEVOTED TO THE UNION AND THE CONsTITU-
TION OF THE STATES


ALL responsible positions and places ought
to he confined distinctly and clearly to men
who are UNMIsTAKABLY AND UNoUEsTIoNA-
BLY, YLoYAL.-Pyesident's Reply to the Virginia
C0mmittee.


/ hold it my duty to recommend the ad-
mission of every State to its share in public
legislation when it presents itself In the per-
sons of representatives whose LOYALTY CAN
NOT BE QUESTIONED under any eristlng con-
stitutionai or LEGAL TEST.-P1eslde1t's veto
-Nc&Sage.


The Constitution declares that no State
shall be deprived of its equal suffrage IN The
Senate of the United States without its CON
sent. Then, where do we stand All that
is needed to finish this great work OF resto-
ration is for the two Houses respectively to
determine the question. Oh but some one
will say, = \ traitor might come in - The
answer to that is that each House must be
the judge. and if a traitor presents himself,
cannot either House know that he is Il traitor.
And if he is IA traitor, can they not kick him
out of the door, and send HIM back, saying
to the people who sent him, You MIST
SEND Us LOYAL MAN p Is there any diff
Guilty in that ? If traitor presents himself
to either House. cannot that House say to
him, ''N No. YOU cannot be admitted into this
body. Go back. We will not deny your
people the right of representation, but THEY
MUST SEND \ LOYAL REPRESENTATIVE. -
Presidents 1d3re&S 10 the !SoldierS aild Satt0iS.


l will put an end to the Freedmen's Blu
reau lust as soon as the South. by proper
action for the PROTECTION OF THE FREED
MEN. make it unnecessary.-Pre In
terrieto arth GoceIu0r Cor.
Year: 1866

shall hold any office under the United States,
or under any State, who, having served in
the federal Congress, or in any State Legls-
lature. or as an executive or judicial officer
of any State, or as an officer of the United
States, and taken an oath as such to support
the Constitution of the United States, after
wards engaged in the rebellion, giving aid
and comfort to the enemies of the United
States Two-thirds of Congress may remove
this disability. The question therefore IS,
whether certain persons shall be excluded
from office and the Union shall be restored;
or whether, on account of these persons, and
because we may not want to exclude them
from Office, we are to remain indefinitely out
of the Union. The people cannot hesitate
one moment as to their choice in this mat
ter. The chaff is to be separated from the
wheat; and if any of the wheat should be
about to be blown off with the chatf, Con-


rress will interpose as chief winnower and
save every sound grain


1t is our deliberate opinion that the above
terms are the very best the Southern States
can obtain. If these terms should be reject
ed, heavier and more stringent terms will be
required Delay in this matter will be dam
gerous.


1t is provided by the Constitution that
thereto may be ratified by the
or by Conventions of the States,
- as the one or the other mode of ratification
may be proposed by the Congress" If Con-
ventions, as well Legislatures, should be
allowed to ratify, our Convention now in
session might at once ratify the foregoing
and thus take the lead in the
great work Of restoration.
Year: 1866

Our neighbor of the Sentinel would have
US to know that he ecW pray for u.s. and be


to us, until he finds out it is an of
fence to God" We regard this ''as the
most unkindest cut of ALL" Our neighbor
will certainly call down upon us an awful
doom if he perseveres in this business. He
prayed for years for Mr.. Davis and Governor
Vance, and the result was the former found
himself in Fortress Monroe, and the latter in
the old Capitol prison.


We are told that ".tasting and prayer"
should go together. If our neighbor would
eat less beefsteak his prayers would have
more strength. The injunction is, Fast and
pray, lest ye enter INTO temptation.'
Year: 1866

eieit,en hundred thousand bales can be pos
si6ly raised this year. If there should be an
early frost, or any very great extremes OF wet
or dry weather, it will fall short OF tnat
amount Indeed, there are so many acci-
dents likely to affect the growth OF tne plant,
that il would be extremely hazardous TO
make an estimate of the crop, save upon tho
grounds which we have taken.
Year: 1866

We learn that the Court adjourned on the
3oth ultimo, for ten days, to enable the de-
fence to prepare their argument The case
will be closed by the 18th instant There
has been no adjournment since the prosecu-
ton closed, except at the request and for the
benefit of the defence, to procure attendance
of witnesses.


All the expense of the trial, with the ex-
ception of fees to the counsel, are betrayed
by the government.
Year: 1866

in 1860. Thus we have for the production
of the present crop but a little over one-half
the labor employed in 1860.


growing crop, we should also bear in mind
ployed as compared to that of 1860. The
experiment of free negro labor is yet to be
worked out. We believe that they arc so far
dong much better than the most hopeful
mad anticipated. No one with whom we
nave communicated, however, rates them as
full as efficient laborers as under the old sys-
tenn Something must be allowed for this
oenclency IN the character of our present la
por Ihls, as matter of course, is a mere
matter OF conjecture. Some say they are only
malt as efficient as formerly-some think they
oo ABOUT tWo-thirds the labor they accom-
Phsned before the war, and some put it q lit
LIE higher still. But estimating each hand
employed, as good as in 1860, and we cannot
under the most favorable seasons expect
more than half crop, or 100000 bales


There cannot be more than one-half the
land planted, which was cultivated in 1860
For want of effective stock, and the compel
led use ofinferior implements, the prepara-
ton for the crop has been very imperfect
The scarcity and consequent high price of
seed has compelled our planters to put too
little seed in the earth-their planting will
be the cause of bad stands. The condition
OF the plough animals is very poor on &C
count OF the great scarcity of corn, resulting
from the failure of the negroes to work and
house the last crop.


Taking all these things into consideration
we do not believe that crop of more than
Year: 1866

BITTEN BY A MAD Doe.-A little girl and
boy were bitten by a mad dog, in Norfolk,
on Satuarday The Norfolk papers call for
prompt action in regard to the canine race o.
the city, in consequence.
Year: 1866

Making total of four hundred and twenty
five thousand hands withdrawn from the
production of cotton. To these must be ad-
ded the rumber who have died during the
war These have been estimated as high as
one,tourM Of the entire black population.-
Without stopping to enquire whether this is
fair estimate of the entire mortality of the
black race, we think that we may safely esti-
mate the mortality among those between 10
and 60 to be at least one hundred thousand.
Then we have the following figures
Year: 1866

The New York correspondent of the


Loudon Spectator tells the following pleas.


ant tale: A lady whom / knew had rath.
er an unpleasant experience in an attempt,
some years ago, to disregard this tact un.
derstanding among the sex in regard to
dinner dress at hotels. She belonged to an
ultra fashionable set, and having married
South Carolina planter, soon adopted
what we call plantation manners, and
affected no little corn Of simple mannered,
reserved New England folks. She was at
Newport, our great seaside watering place,
and having just returned from Europe,
took great airs upon herself. One evening
at The teatabe gentleman sat down near
her, aGd the butter. plate before him hap
pening to have no butter knife by it at the
moment, he, instead of calling the waiter
and waiting for one to be brought, used


bis own perfectly fresh bright kuife 10 take
bit of butter. He was a man of culture
and social standing. but Yankee, and one
whose social pretention she wished to hout


She seized the opportunity, and calling a
waiter said, in an elaborately subd1ed but
decided tone, Take away that butter
That gentleman has bad his knife 10 it,
He took no notice Of the remark, which
drew ell eyes upon him and upon the lady !;
but by and bye she stretched out her hand
and took from the plate some Clipped dried
beef, which stood between her and her vic
tim. This was well euough, of course |;
but be turned at once, and calling waiter
said, only as if he was asking for more tea,
Take away that dried beef, this lady has
had her fugers iu it. In this encounter,
such as il was, he was thought to have the
best of it, and she did not forgive or forget.
So few days afterwards II should have
mentioned that there was the slightest pos
sble acquaintance between ,hem) they
heing at dinner, she, conspicuous 10 the
full dress she had adopted since her tour to
Europe, aud which was SO full that 1t would
have attracted attention under auy circum-
stances, took one from q dish of fresh fgs
before her, aud putting it on plate, handed
it 10 him with an expression If complais.
ance, but saying in tone f unmistakable
significance, which could be heard by all
around her, fig for you, SIR He accepted
it graciously, and taking in his turn leaf
from the garuiture of The dish, offered it to
her with A fig leaf for you, madam. She
fed from the table, and kept her room
until her intended victim left the hotel. 1t
was generally agreed that he had done
what gentleman would sh;ink from doing;
but the provocation was such that he was
held guiltless Of offence, and applauded for
his wit (; aud body, except perhaps few
of her slaveholding friends rtied her. This
is the last instance that know of, of a
lady's appearance in full dress at public
table But am told that within the last
three or four years it is coming more in
fashion amoug the fastest sets at the height
Of the season at Saratoga, and one or two
others Of our gayest watering places.
Year: 1866

A BEAUTIFUL LEGEND. Jesus and two
or three of his disciples went down one
Summer day, from Jerusalem to Jerico.--
Peter-the ardent and eager Peter-was,
as usual by the teachers side. On the
road to Olivet lay a horseshoe, which the
Teacher desired Peter to pick up, but
which Peter let lie, as be did not think it
worth STOPPING for. The teacher stopped
for it, and exchanged it in the village for a
measure of cherries These be carried Gas
eastern men now carry such thiDgs) in The
bosom folds of bis dress. When they had
to ascend the ridge, the road lay between
heated rocks, and over rugged stones, and
among glariag white dust, Peter became
tofmented with the heat and thirst, and
fell behind. Then the Teacher dropped a
ripe cherry at every few steps; and Peter
eagerly stoopsd for them When they
were all gone, Jesus turned to him, and
with smile,-


He who is above stoopiug to small
thing. will have to bend bis back to many
lesser things