smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1866

Alexander F. Pratt, who in 1860 was a
prominent Douglas Democrat in Wiscon-
sin, says that Butler, though instructed to
vote for the nomination of Douglas at
Charleston, voted persistently for Jefferson
Davis.


:" At that tme,' continues Mr.. Pratt, g Seces-
sion openly advocated, and was plain to us
i'll the distance it is to all in the back
ground. Six or eight well drilled and well armed
and equipped companies were then daily parading
the streets of that city. Only by one were our
Northern delegates led into the private rooms Of
st. Andrews Hall by Butler and others, when they
met by such men Slidell, Mason and others,
who had their millions in gold to purchase the
| nomination Of Southern man. How much But
said before, the last speech ever heard from
Butler, and it probably will remain the last
less may have the good fortune to hear him
speak from the gallOWs, at a secret meeting
held one evening after he and the Southern dele
gates had seeded from convention. We OBJ
tanned admittance that evening, through friend
from Alabama, and for nearly an hour listened to
a speech from Butler upon secession.


I'm this speech Butler assured them that we,
the Douglas Democrats. were 'freesoiler,' that he
and others represented the Buchanan, the simon
pure Democracy of the North; that in case Of
collision of arms between the North and South,
that the genuine Democracy would be found de-
Tending the rights of the South. And when they
fired upon Fort Sumter they had as much faith in
the belief that Butler and the Northern Democrats
would sustain them as they had in their powders
igniting when they applied the fire to it,


And now the taithless and Infamous wretch
would hang those who relied on him and his allies
at the North to make secession peaceful
Year: 1866

STAY LAW VETO IN MIssIssIPPI.-Governor Hum
phries, Of Mississippi in his recent message Veto
takes the ground that the act is in violation Of the
State and Federal Constitutions, which are claim
ed to be emphatic on the point that no law shall
be passed impairing the obligation Of con-
tract. In the act in question stay is given to the
debtor for the payment of the debt extending over
period OF four years, and the Governor argues
that If this power thus to stay execution exists in
the Legislature he can see no limitation to it's
ercise except in legislative discretion. If it be
competent to stay execution during period Of
four years, it is difficult to perceive what there is
to prevent an indefinite extension. The Leglsla-
ture postponed the consideration of the veto mes
sage till January next.
Year: 1866

l bought a blossom for the garden bed,
Sweet was its fragrance, and its face red
But ere saw thee 1t pale and dead.
| found shell upon the leafy wod,
It's lips were soft-its dress was blue and gold
But ere saw thee all its dyes were cold.
My heart I bring thee from the inner shrine;
Breathe but one hope around it, it will shine,
And wear hue uuchanSingly divine
A drop Of amber fell upon tn" bee,
Ard thus preserved it from corruption Free
So would live in love that comes from theo.
Year: 1866

BY HENRY IlMROD.
The rain is plashing on my sill,
But all the winds of Heaven are still
And so it falls with the dull sound,
Which thrills us in the Church-yar ground
When the first spadeGul drops like lead
Upon the coffin of the dead;
Beyond my streaming window pane,
l cannot see the neighboring vane,
Yet from its old faml iar tower,
The bell comes muffled, through the shower
What strange and unsuspcctlng link
Of feeling touched has made me think
While with a vacant soul and eye,
l watch that gray and stony sky
OF nameless graves OH battle plains,
Washed by single winters rains ;
Where some beneath Virginian hills,
And some by green Atlantic rills,
Some by the waters Of the West,
A myriad of unknown heroes rest
All not the chiefs who, dying, see
Their flags in front of victory,
Or at their life-blood's noble cost,
Pay for battle nObly lost,
Claim for their monumental beds
The bitterest tears nation sheds;
Beneath yOn lovely mOund-the spot
Ay all save some fond few forgot
Lie the true martyrs of the fight,
Which strikes for freedom and for right;
Of them, their patriot zeal and pride,
The lofty faith that with them died,
No grateful page shall farther tell,
Than so many bravely fell
And we can only dimly guess
What worlds of all this worlds distress,
What utter woe, despair and dearth,
Their fate has brought to many hearth
Just such sky as this should weep
Above them always where they sleep;
Yea, haply, at this very hour,
Their groves are like lovers bower,
And natures self, with eyes unwet,
ObliviOus of the crimson debt
To which she owes her April grace,
Laughs gaily DER their burial place.
Year: 1866

We are informed by observer who has had
extensive opportunities for surveying the condi-
ton and prosperity of negro labor in the Southern
States that it would be very liberal estimate to
say that the blacks performed One-hdf as much
labor as they formerly did when in slavery. Their
former habits (enforced habits, it is true) Of
steady and continuous work have, to a large ex-
tent given place to Incidence, and employers find
it difficult to rely upon them in those planting op-
erations where formerly their industry so ef-
fective. In places the condition of things is
exceedingly bad, and planters feel utterly discour-
aged. The question of compensating the blacks
has been one of the hardest of settlement. Owing
to the want of money last spring, great propor-
ton of the planters agreed to give the negroes
share in the crop but this mode is found to have
led to endless confusion and trouble, beside pro-
ducing discomfort on all hands and the plan will
be generally abolished hereafter, and that of week
ly or monthly wages in actual money substituted
There are very many grave and threatening diff
culties connected with this negro question in the
South, and those who think they can all be solved
by simply giving the black population the privi-
lege of voting, will yet find themselves greatly
mlstaken.-NeoC York Times.
Year: 1866

SUDDEN WEALTH.-The NewburypOrt Mass. }
Herald says that one day last week hard-work-
ing young man OF that place received letter from
New York announcing the death of aunt who
left large estate, full half million of which will
come to him. He appears to be very sensible,
on receiving intelligence completed his days work
as though nothing had happened, and after hav-
ing been to New York to confirm the facts in the
case, has returned to his daily labors, which he
viii continue till the administration Of the estate
In completad.
Year: 1866




We had two particular friends in the old United
States army the one born North of the Susque-
hannah the other South Of it. Both adhered to
the United States Government. The Northern
man took the feld and fought obstnately the
Southern kept out of harms way, but secured a
good paying position, as a teacher. After the war
we wrote the latter brief business letter. which
he refused to answer. The former, learning that
we had fallen into the hand of the blessed Bu-
reau" and other benevolent institutions sent us
kind invitation to bring the wife and little rebs
to spend the summer months with him. 1t is easy
in this case to answer the question: sc which now
of these two, tlinkest thou, is neighbor unto him
which fell among thieves
Year: 1866

Forth from its scabbard, pure and bright,


Flashed the sword of Lee
Far in the front of the deadly fight,
High DER the brave, in the cause Of right,
It's stainless sheen, like beacon light,


Led us to victory
Year: 1866

Flashed the sword OF Lee!
Far in the front of the deadly fight,
High DER the brave, in the cause Of right,
Its stainless sheen, like beacon light,


Led US to victory.
Out of it's scabbard, where full long


1t slumbered peacefully
Reused from its rest by the battle song,
Shielding the feeble, shifting the strong,
Guarding the right, avenging the wrong
Cleaned the sword of Lee
Forth from it's scabbard, high in air


Beneath Virginia's sky
And they who saw it cleaning there,
And knew who bore it, knelt to swear
That where that sword led they would dare


To follow and to die.
Out Of it's scabbard Never hand


Waved sword from stain as free,
Nor purer sword led braver band,
Nor Drawer bled for a brighter land,
Nor brighter land had a cause as grand,


Nor cause, q chief like Lee
Forth from its scabbardi how we prayed


That sword might victor be
And when our triumph was delayed,
And many a heart grew sore afraid,
We still hoped on, while cleaned the blade


Of noble Robert Lee
Forth from its scabbard! all in vain


Forth flashed the sword of Lee
'Tis shrouded now in its sheath again,
It sleeps the sleep of our noble slain,
Defeated yet without stain,


Proudly and peacefully.


*Father Abram Ryan, of Knoxville, author
the celebrated lines on the Conquered Banner
Year: 1866

The Chicago Republican, in a letter
from its reporter travelling with the Pres
idential party, makes the following inter-
esting statements in connection with Gen.
eral Grants refusal to present himself to
the soldiers who attempted to call him out
in advance Of the Presidents arrival at
Cinc;nuatti:


The fact is, that General Grant knows,
as has been patent TO every one during
the whole Of this trip, that continued ef-
forts have been made to embitter, if poss-
ible, his relations with the President by
exciting the jealousy of the latter, or by
making invidious distinctions between
them, AID he is determined that no act
of his shall leud any encouragement to
any such contemplate proceeding on the
one hand, or those that have been made
with like persistency to identify him with
the political views Of the President On
the other. General Grant feels that next
to the President, he is the head of the
army of the United States, not the leader
of a political party. He does not con-
slider the army place fox politician,
Year: 1866

1t is fact of some importance, that
even the Democrats do not assall the terms
Of the amendment as oppressive or unjust.
They have generally contented themselves
with maintaining that no terms Of adnis-
sion could rightfuliy be demanded of the
Southern communities but since they
have endorsed the Executive plan Of Ec-
construction, that position is necessarily
abandoned. The only question that re-
mains, then, Is whether the terms propos-
ed by Congress are just and eSpedisut?
Undeniably they are. Can any man deny
that the equalization Of representation 80
that it shall stand upon common basis
all over the country, is measure of JUS
ticc? If slavery is really dead, as all
parties are SO voeiferous in maintaining,
ought the unjust, infamous, rotten-bor
oush system of representation based upon
it to be continued? Ought voter IL
Pennsylvania to have not one-half the in
fiuence in Congress that voter IN South
Carolina has? Does maguanimity to-
wards the late Rebel States demand that
we should give them an unjust sectional
advantage in the Union? If not, what
good reason can be urged why that tea-
ture Of the Constitutional amendment
should not be endorsed BY all parties


So, too, OF the clause excluding from,
Office the prominent and leading actors IL
the la.e Rebellion, is there anything hard
or oppressive about that? Consider for
moment what these meu have done, their
crimes against the liberties Of free peo-
pie, their endeavor TO revolutionize the
Republic, that they might rear great
slave empire on its ruins, the precious
lives they have wasted, and the moun-
tains of debt and taxation they have heap
ed up for US and our childrcn-and then
say whether :heir exclusion from positions
of honor and trust in the very Govern
ment they have endeavored to overthrow,
is hard condition ? Does not common
ordinary prudence demand that for the
future these men shall be kept in private
life? Is it a great hardship that we will
not make them our rulers


We think that the good common sense
of the American people will affirm that
the conditions imposed BY them are no;
only not unjust, but in the highest degree
maguanimous.


Why, then, should not the Rebel States
accept these conditions at once, and ter
inmate the contest? Tennessee did SO,
and her Representatives were Immediately
admitted Every Southern State might
do it, and have its Representatives in
Congress before the 1st day Of next jan
uary. Wha. better ground of comprC-
mise and settlement for this whole ques-
ton hare we than the Constitutional
Its adoption will terminate
the struggle, and give US peace. Is not
that what we all want? Why, then,
refuse so sure, so easy, so speedy, and 50
equitable plan of adjustment !-Fh7c-
deLphla Telegraph.
Year: 1866

A washington dispatch of February 10th
says: "Ihe sub Committee of the Recou.truc-
hon COMMITTEE, charged with inquiring ioto
the condition of affairs in Tennessee. have
finished their labors, and communicated the
result to the main Committee. The sub
Committee examined many persons of the
highest Character and standing. including
Generals Thomas and Fisk. all of whom
express the opinion that formal recognition
would greatly strengthen the loyal sentiment
in Tennessee, and for this reason they concluded
to submit 10 the main Committee, in their
report, bill admitting Tennessee into tie
Union. The bill is very ike those usually
framed for tie admission of new States. The
sub Committee rest their recommendations On
the ground that the rebellion has so thoroughly
disturbed the relations OF The seceded States
to the Union as to require Congressional action
for restoration, and by the bill submitted they
mean distinctly TO assert and exercise the right
of Congress to prescribe the mode of recon
struction. The members elect from Tennessee.
in their petition for recognition, presented TO
the Senate by Grimes, of Iowa. day before
yesterday, Enthusiastically acknowledge hat they
deem formal readmission by Congress neces
sary, aud they are willing TO accept the mode
proposed by the sab Committee, thereby
colneding with Congress. aud acting contrary
to the Presidents views. Nearly all the
members of the main Committee are in favor
of the admission of Tennessee in the manner
prescribed, aud it is expected that reports to
this effect will be made 10 the Senate and
House on Tuesday next, February Goth"


A Washington dispatch gives what purports
to be the testimony Of General Lee before the
Reconstruction Committee He said, US far
as he had opportunities Of learning the people
of Virginia had accepted the result of the war
in good faith, and were anxious for a restored
amity in the Union. This sentiment was much
stronger just after the close of the war than
now, for there appeared TO be some impatience
among the people because men who had been
identified with the waz in the South should be
prevented from representing their States in
Congress. He declared there was disposition
to treat freedmen well cut Of regard for their
interests as well as for those of the whites He
expressed the hope that the Government nigh,
endure for all time. He regarded the course
| of President johnson and trrant toward the
South as liberal and humane.


| Another telegram says there is ground fol
asserting that the evidence taken before The
sub Committees concerning the condition o
affairs in the rebel States is such as to preclude
the admission Of any Of them iu the same way
as Tennessee during the present session.
Year: 1866

lists. Lam of the opinion that this sec
ton of country will be all right for Ben
Smith in October next. / think radical
ism has seen Its best days, and is about
dead in the shell. We intend to rally
all our forces and come up boldly to the
work, and show the radicals that we will
have our rights. They seem determined
to rule OF ruin, but there is no telling
the luck of a lousy calf, for they will live
all winter and die in the spring. We
say hurrah for President johnson and all
other Johnsons of the same kind. Our
President will soon straighten out all
negro lovers or negro equallzatlonists,
and let them follow the stencil.


In my last letter through your paper,
/ had to give the representatives from
Writ and Doddridge counties praise for
their efforts in regard to making negroes
competent witnesses, but their last acts,
in the same Legislature, were so diamet-
rically opposite with what they set out
with that I was sorry that l had said
anything, but in the future all such men
will get lost in the fog.


Now, another thing is, that we have a
good nomination in our county for State
Senator in my old friend, Major Simpson.
l think that he is perfectly sound on the
goose question" or, in other words, he
is no radical. He thinks white man, II
he behaves himself, is as good as a negro.


No more, but hoping you may prosper
ia the good cause you have been adyo
eating so long, and continue. to fight
them long and hard, for perseverance
will oftan rennVe mOnntains.


Yours truly, CITIZEN
Year: 1866




September Is, 1866.


Editors OF the Register:


Having been subscriber to your val
liable paper for long time previous to
this, | have felt very much at loss
lately by not having it to read. You will,
therefore, do me the kindness of sending
me your weekly paper. | am now To-
Gated at Kanawha Station, Baltimore &
Chic railroad, which is one of the best
points for business in the State. The
facilities for making it a business place
are at hand. 1t is the nearest accessible
point on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad
to the famous land of grease, viz:
Burning Springs in Writ county and
Standing Stone OF Oil Rock in the same
county. At the latter place there is, at
this time, two OF the finest oil wells in
the world. They will yield just as much
or as little as you desire. They are per-
fectly controllable, and either of them
can be made to pump fifteen hundred
barrels of oil per day. The famous
Burning SpIlISo dlS a4SO AOAOAuS SICdt
quantity of oil. Every one who bores
down to the depth of eight hundred or
one thousand feet succeeds in getting a
good well. There is great deal Of
busi ness being done In this part Of the
country. 1t is the best point for enter
prisipS, industrious business men that
can be found. We have two lines Of
coaches running daily from Kanawha
Station, via Oil Rock, to Burning
Springs. We have also one or two hun
dted teams on the same road, hauling
merchandise and oil. There is being
shipped weekly from Kanawha TO Balti-
more. Philadelphia, Parkersburg and
other points, fifteen hundred or two
thousand barrels of crude oil. Every
peTson desiring good business locality
would do well to lock this way, as
Ksnswha bids fair to make a good oil
depot, for most of the Burning Sring oil
will be shipped by the Little Kanawha
river to this point and reshipped from
here to all points in the United States.


Now, Mr.. Editor, l have not seen any
of your opinions in regard TO radicalism
.ately, but have no doubt in regard to
your position, for l believe all our name
sakes are true constitutional men, at
least l am in hopes that none of them are
black enough to be radicals or abolition
Year: 1866

one we refer to would be, and let them
rise up now while they have the power,
and prevent the great calamity. Let
them vote down every man who hints in
the remetest degree at unconstitutional
violence and civil war. Let the infant
hydra be seized and crushed now before
his strength shall defy destruction.
Year: 1866

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 1S.-A heavy rain
storm has prevailed here and throughout
Central Indiana since Sunday night.
The streams are higher than were ever
known here. Young's creek, a small
stream passing through the lower part
of this city, completely flooded that part
of town, doing immense damage. Many
of the railroads have sustained heavy
damages by bridges being washed away
and tracks destroyed. Communications
on several roads centering here have
been entirely suspended for the present.
The damage in this city cannot be esti-
mated, but is undoubtedly heavy both
to business aud private property. The
water rose so rapidly this morning that
many store rooms were filed with water
before the goods could be removed.
Nearly all fhe railroad tracks in the city
are submerged and the bridges washed
away. There was water ID the Union
depot at noon a foot deep. Many fami-
lies living in the vicinity of the creek
have been compelled to leave their
houses The rain still continues almost
without iltermission, but the water in
the streams is subsiding. Reports f.Om
other parts of the State indicate severe
damage by high water. Two men and a
boy were drowned here.
Year: 1866

A friend sends us this extract and
requests its publication. 1t is taken
from the columns of the New York
News:


Flowers, like music, are indispcn-
sable to the existence of a cultivated
and refined people, and a mind that
cannet enjoy the beauty and fra
GRANGE of a flower, loses much of the
higher and exquisite pleasure 81 life.
To these beautiful things of earth
we are indebted for many of the best
poems in our language, and the blind
god of the divine passion has coined
the sentiment of flowers into the Ian
gua9e of love. OttentimCS a bouquet
is the vehicle in which some passion
ate lover conveys to his sweetheart
those tender thoughts which can be
expressed in no other way. Flowers
mingle with our sad as well as our
gay thoughts and reflections. When
We lay away the last loved ones, and
they sleep the sleep that knows no
waking, what is so appropriately
beautiful as to wreath the body with
sweet flowers! They seem like ten
der links between death and that
undying love we cherish for those
who have gone before.
Year: 1866

The desires of a man increase with
his acquisitions. Every step which
he advances brings something with
in his view which he did not see he
fore. and which as soon as he sees it
he begins to want. When necessity
ends curiosity begins, and no sooner
are we supplied with everything that
nature can demand, than we sit down
to contrive artificial appetites.
Year: 1866

WOMAN'S LAUGH.--A woman has


no natural grace more bewitchine


than sweet laugh. 1t is like the


sound of flutes on the water. 1t


leaps from the heart in clear, spark
ling rill; and the heart that hears
it feels as if bathed in the cool, ex-
hilerating spring. Have you ever
pursued an unseen fugitive through
trees, led on by her fairy laugh, now
here, now there, now lost, now
found? We have, and we are pur-
suing that wandering voice to this
day. Sometimes it comes to us in the
midst Of care, or sorrow, or irkSOme
business; and then We turn away
and listen and hear it singing through
the room like a silver bell, with pow
er to scare away the i'll spirits of the
mind. How much we owe to that
sweet laugh 1t turns the prose OF
our life to poetry; it fings flowers Of
sunshine over the darksome wood
IN which we are travelling; it touches
with light even our sleep, which is
no more the image Of death, but is
consumed with dreams that are the
shadows of Immortality.
Year: 1866

PosrNAsTERs.-There is at present
great need Of persons, on all the lines Of
railroad all over the South, to be post
masters, and the reason is that but few
men can be found who can take that &C.
cursed test oath. There is but one way
that We can see to remedy this that is 10
get some lady-as in North Carolina.
where this plan has been adopted and
works suecessfully-to take the postmas-
ter's oath and let her appoint some
gentleman TO take charge OF The poslof-
Zee. The above method has been tried
and works well at other places; let it also
be tried smong US, for a while at least.
A failure will be no worse thsn il il a.
~.