smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1872

To.,ao,inw- To the children the


mos, joyful day in all the year; while the young


men and lnaidens arc never on such pleasant


terms with each other; the middle aged and aged


ure equally delighted with each return of the glad


Christmas day, and participate In the pleasures
and happy greetings asfondly as younger people.
To wish ono s.MERRr CHRISTMAS" seems futile.


He 10 almost sure 10 have it whether or not. And
yet 1t is o good old custom that should not be
abandoned; and we shall record the wish and the
hope that each and every one OF our friends Will
enjoy tomorrow, and that il will be the most
pleasant Christmas day they have ever spent, and
The precursor Of "happy new year"


What happy groups will gather around the
sChrstmas Tree" And how delighted will each
little heart be at the sweet meats toys and nick.
nAcks so artfully arranged by each fond mothers
" sisters hands. II seems that the pleasures Of
Ito are never experienced SO fully AS on Christ
uaAs. The celebration of the birth Of the Babe OF
6ethlehcm Is 80 nearly universal in our country
that there are very few who do not observe it,
While 1t is true that nearly every one makes o
STRENUOUS effort to prepare something more than
ueunl for Christmas aud the tables of the rich and
well-todo are laden with '.good things" and
their little ones are made the recipients OF visits
from s.Santa Clause" and numberless tokens OF
regard and affection, it should be remembered
that there arc still in our mids; many very poor,
whose efforts have not been so fruitful, and to
whom and to whose little ones kindness extend
ed on Christmas, would seem one of the most
pleasant duties As the occasion Is the most aprro-
pirate we hope that none will neglect to bestow
some gift that will delight the recipient and be
productive of pleasant feelings in future as the
memory is awakened BY the joyous festival with
each recurring year
Year: 1872

The morning of the 9th was the coldest of the season, the thermometer standing at II Q below zero or railroad street.

 -Ehe exterior of the Dudley House is undergoing improvements by our celebra- ted painter Pat.

 Temperance meetings are held regular ly once in two weeks and much interest is manifested in them. Amongthe speakers from abroad who have favored us with lectures we are much indebted to John Q. Adams, Esq, of West Cornwall, who gave us very interesting address short time since.

 = There is apparently to be considera- ble change in the transient families and inhabitants of this village this spring. We dislike the idea of having 'fWill" of Hard ware notoriety leave us we understand he is to continue his business elsewhere, and that he is going to invest to some ex- tent in dry goods. Be that as it may, we wish him success in the highest sense of the word. ALEXIS.
Year: 1872

The American reply to Lord Granville's note objecting to the presentation of claims for indirect damages before the Geneva Conference, was sent off on Friday. It is understood that the Administration maintain their right to present such claims and will throw the burden on England of revoking their submission if they refuse to allow it to go to the arbitrators We cannot help believing, that however prop CT it may be to present such claims, yet that it is iniudicious to do so. No one seriously expects them to be allowed and the only effect of their presentation is to occasion ill feeling, and perhaps revoca- tion of the whole treaty.
Year: 1872

The orders sent to the U. s. Distric Attorney for New York, ,instructing him tc prosecute merchants who testified before the Senate Investigating committee tc having bribed Custom House officials. strike us as decidedly wrong move. It was proved in that investigation that those officials were so corrupt that merchants could not be accommodated without fee. ing them. Under such circumstances the fault is with the oppressors and not with the victims of an atrocious system Ehe true place for reform is in the Custom House itself, and if those who have risked a good deal to expose it's iniquities are to be prosecuted, it will certainly have the appearance of anything but good faith on the part of the administration.

 If Mrs. Rockers speech of Saturday evening last is correctly reported in the Courant, she 'shas the positive assurance of one of our wisest statesmen at Washing ton" that in case Connecticut goes Demo- cratic women may bNsure of plank in some presidential platform. That assu- rance could hardly have come from any but Democrat nor refer to any but Democratic platform We should be very glad to hear the name of that wise and rather sanguine statesman.

 The exorbitant fares charged by the New York and New Haven railroad con- pany-are exciting great indignation along the New York portion of the line, although their charges in that State are lower in proportion than in this. Legislative in reference is talked of and the New York Mail says,

 'Tf the company will not see that it's own best interests, as far as increased To- cal travel can help them, can be best serv- ed by doing justice to the patrons of it's road, 1t must be made to see it. And the people of the towns referred to are adopt ing the means most likely to bring this re- suit about" @

 The substantial defeat of the St. Croix & Bayfield, railroad land grant in the House, last week, was a hopeful sign. The grant had been carefully lobbied and was almost successful. On the first day of the contest the passage of the bill was only hindered by persistent ''flllibuster- ing" The next day the friends of the measure yielded so far as to allow debate, and with debate came such explanations as made it's passage in the original form impossible. It will come up again, this week, bnt even if it passes it will be in 8 greatly modified and far less objectionable shape.
Year: 1872

We eled to hope that the time when pro- visions can be tackled upon railroad grants requiring the use of American iron has gone by. A Pennsylvania member who tried it last week was rebuked by another Pennsylvania man for bringing the whole tariff system into ridicule. Now when any scheme in the interest of Pennsylvania iron has come to seem ridiculous to Pennsylvania member of Congress, it is fair to consider it very dead scheme.
Year: 1872

A Maine Justice of the Peace recently experienced religion, and thereupon felt obliged to resign We think he must have mistaken either the requirements of his religion Or the requirements of his office.
Year: 1872

The strictness of the Connecticut rule of evidence in cases of bigamy, which re- quires direct proof of marriage, and will not admit the evidence of the legal wife, or receive as sufficient evidence the con- fession of the prisoner, often leads to a substantial defeat of justice. The bigam- ist Blake was discharged, last week, al- though his legal wife was present, and ad- missions of his that he married her could be proved.
Year: 1872

rAIR-The Water Witch Fire Company pro-
nose holding a fair In the Institute Hall, to COM
mcnce on the Goth of February next, and continue
several evenings. They will incur considerable
nense In the purchase of their new steamer, aid
his tair is to rlisc money to go towards paying
for the same A generous public who are indebted
to so great an extent to the Fire Department
.bould extend to them liberal support.
Year: 1872

The public can be sure OF always getting the .ull
value OF their money by dealing with this irm.
Thankful for the very liberal patronage of his
many customers. he hopes for continuauce of the
samc, and that they will not forget that tn
Year: 1872

ALAME girl. who had not for four
teen years once left the thiri-story
back room In which size lived, was
among those who participated In the
late children's excursion TO Philadel-
phla. When carried to the park she
asked what the trees and grass were.
and had to be told the names Of the
most common objects. She lay on the
grass all day drinking in the air and
the sunshine, and was seen to weep
softly every little while from pure joy.
Year: 1872

The commissioner of internal rev.
enue has received information that
several suits have been commenced
against his subordinates by State Off
GERS to recover the amount paid by
them as income tax on their salaries.
It is done under the recent decision OF
the supreme court on Massachusetts
case that the United States may not
tax State officials, because this would
give il the power to destroy the State
government by destroying the intsru-
mentalities by which they are main
fofuod
Year: 1872

Inc MOnItOF MAhOpAes


NORFOLK, March 10.-The monitor
Mahopac, lying at the dock at the
navy-yard took fire this morning In
the wooden deck from the galley
pipe. Considerable difficulty was
experienced In getting at the fire
which was not extinguished until a
considerable part of the iron plating
of the deck had been removed. The
Mahopac had been ordered out of
commission and was to have been
taken into dry dock In few days to
have her turret and deck removed.
The damage in view Of this fact Is not
considered serious.
Year: 1872

meet him in his room, whittier he
had brought barrel of the fluid,


which he at once proceeded to stir
with a red-hot poker. As he went
through the roof Of his house, accom-,
panied by his friends, he endeavored
to explain to his nearest conlpag'son
de voyage that the particular fluid in
the barrel had too much benzine in


it, but the gentleman said he had an
engagement higher up, and could not
wait for the explanation. MIR. Gray
continued his ascent until he met Mr..
Jones, who informed him that there
was no necessity for him to go up
higher, as everybody was coming
down so Mr.. Gray started back to
be with the party. Mr.. Gray's widow
offers for sale the secret for the man
ufacture of the non-exploslye fluid at
a reduced rate, as she wishes to raise
money enough TO buya silver handled
coffin, with gilt plate, for the late
Mr.. Gray. No cards.
Year: 1872

robbery, to which no manlis bound
in conscience to submit.


. We here take occasion too, to osay,
that the purchaser Of such property
is no better than the seller No
honest, and upright man VIII take his
.neighbor's property, without giving
him a fair, equivalent for it. Surely
the people who have fought galfantly
in defence of their rights and liber-
ties, will not allow their property
wrested from them BY adventurers,
from abroad or domestic robbers.


We declare to our countrymsn now,
as we have heretofore done, that they
must take care Of themselves. Other
people have their own business to
look after, and will not trouble them
selves about our welfare. Let US
protect ourselves.-Sumter News.
Year: 1872

SPIES AND INFoRMERs.-One of
the curses inflicted by Radicalism
upon our country is The great army
Of low black-guards, detectives, still
house spies, whiskey-smellers. sneak
ing informers, SC. Daniel Webster
once e said that We must look above
the law and beyond the law to the
prevalence of well-principled and
enlightened public sentiment" Laws
can only be enforced when they are
in accord with public sentiment;
Hence they must be wise, just and
impartial, to meet the support of the
people. The test oath prostituted
the Isacredness of the oath and led to
Unreasonable perjury. The unjust
tax upon the industry Of the country
has led to blockade running and eva
sions of the revenue laws So spies
are stuck about in every neighbor-
hood to watch and report those who
are trying.to dodge the unjust laws;
Then there is another set of spies 'ot
a higher degree to watch the spies OF
a lower degree. Then a third set
called supervisors, to watch the second
set, and SO on and so on. :;


All this scum is born Of Radical
ism. In the better days of the Re-
public, a detective was an unknown
monster. A spy would have been
looked upon with absolute horror.
The Bible denounces the whole dirty
class of informers Thcu shalt not
go up and down as a tale-be
among thy people" A system di-
rectly opposed to the Bible must be
all wrong, and this system has been
forced upon the country by Radical
corruption and villainy.-southern
Home.
Year: 1872

We referred in our last issue to the fact that
this Parish has had, for the last four years,
the largest representation of any other Parish
in the State, except that of Orleans. She had
for the first sessions of 1863, 1869 and 1870 two
Senators, Anderson aud offutt, both residents
here, and four Representatives and during
the sessions of 1871 and 1872, one Senator
lAnderson) and her quota of four Representa-
tiyes-all domiciliated here, and the special
guardians of her interests.-And yet this peo-
pie are left in utter ignorance, so far as they
have condescended to inform them, of what
has been done in their behalf, or what has not
any, individually or collectively, they took in
honest resistance to those Infamous laws which
now weigh us down and dishonor us: the
Election taac, the Constabulary Lase, the Printing
lao, the ra'ious e'aactmeats of fdisfranchisement,


the multiplication of Offices, increase of salaries


the cost of Justice, the expenditures in the differ
ent State Departments, the seizure and stsurpa-
ton Of the local governments of the Cities, Toacns
and Parishes of the State, and millions aspom
millions of public debt-much of it false and


fraudulent, the increased and iucreosin gIintcrest
upon rhich ace are annually tared to pay. In
all this, even in the absence of all proof, of
willful direeetion of duty ON their part is there
no cause or reason for distrust 2 or will you
delegate the redemption of your political and
material interests to those whom you have
deliberately chosen, both in your primary
meetings and in Convention-citizens fresh
from your midst, in no wise connected with
the past administration of the State Govern
ment-with clear heads and Of that order of
capacity and stern integrity demanded in the
present crisis of our affairs


The issues of veal or woe to the future of our
State involved in the pending contest for its
control, hangs in no inconsiderable degree
upon the choice OF your Legisature.-It sto
them we are principally to rely for the regen-
GRAFTON of our State, and our restoration to all
the rights of freemen. Let no consideration
other than the public good influence us in cast
ing our votes; let us cast them in spirit of
public and paramount duty, and all will be
well with us.
Year: 1872

am candidate for the Office of Sheriff of
the Parish OF st. Landry at the election to
be holden in November next. For what the
people of st. Landry may expect of me in
that official capacity in the future, / refer to
my past snrvices as the executive Deputy of
the present Sheriff. G.. C. DUSON.
Year: 1872

The Supreme Court of the United states, III
February 1870, decided, in the celebrated
Hepburn case from the Kentucky Court of
Appeals, that the Legal Tender act was in
valid in respect to debts contracted prior to
the date of the passage of the act-February
25 1862 In this decision five of the Justices
cOncurred, and three dissented, the Court then
being composed of eight Justices. Since tLat
time the Court has been practically reorgan-
lied it now consists of nine Justices, and of
the five who in 1870 united in the decision
one has since died The new members of the
Court, therefore, added to those who were
previously i'll minority, are now able to
overrule the previous decision, and the Court
on Monday reversed that of 1870. Five Justices
of the nine concur in II decision that the Lee
gal-Tender act does apply 10 preGxisting
debts The four Justices who agreed in the
original opinion adhere thereto, but are out
voted in consequence of the reorganization of
the Bench.


The reopening of the case has been earnestly
opposed on the ground that any further agi-
tation was disturbance of the settled judg-
ment of the country; that it was q positive
hinderance in the progress now making toward
n return to specie payments, and that 1t would
shock public confidence in the tribunal which
is considered the chief bulwark OF the lives,
liberty and rights of the people. The orig
inal Act was designed to meet II certain do
fined and supreme emergency in the cxiStence
OF tho nation. In the decision that 1t could
Year: 1872

While the crowd gathers this morning about
the statue beneath our windows. in Printing
House square, it Is worth while TO turn back
for a moment to the character of the man
whom it commentaries.


1t is the greatest regulations alone which
increase with passing years. 1t is only the
sterling and efficient characters that have in
fluenced the course of civilization who require
distance for their full appreciation. What
Landor said of Shakespeare is applicable to
them the concurring verdict of successive
generations stands as the agreement of indi-
viduals. We are too young a nation to count
many of these sure immOrtalities. But one of
the most unquestionable is certainly the phil
osopher and statesman whom his fellOw-crafts-
men agree to honor to-day.


No figure of our great revolutionary epoch
has gained more in dignity and importance
since those days. The cloud of calumny and
detraction which pursued him so vindictivoly
in life has entirely passed away in the light
of authentic history. All there was of doubt
full or questionable in the record of his acts
has been cleared off by the pens of inves-
tigators like Parton and LOm6nie, Bancroft
and Bigelow. At each addition which is





by which we became nation, the
part he bore in the great work becomes
more clearly revealed and gains in signifi-
cance. Every advance which Is made in ma
terial science bears witness to the wisdom
and sagacty of that self-taught savaDt whose
robust common sense grappled success
fully with the most intricate problems OF
nature. His contributions to the science
of government are even to-day well wOr-
thy the best consideration of statesmen.
The whole world is enjoying to-day the prac-
tical results of his scientific insight and labor,
and even the crowning glory of the telegraph
was withheld from his ardent research and
given to Morse only because the world was
not ready for it generation ago. When we
see the marvelOusly accurate approaches which
he made Ito that miracle Of science, we can
fancy the hand of Providence laid upon the
eager eyes which were about to surprise the
secret of the next century.


So many-sided was this wholesome genius
that there seem to he many Franklins in the
worlds memory. There is "a scholar whose
work is cOextensiye with civilization. There
is a statesman whose hand is seen in the firm
foundations Of the great Republic. There is u
dipl0matist who achieved the most important
results ever accomplished since heralds went
on embassies. There is "a homey philosopher
and mOIalst whose simple and chatty counsels
are the daily gospel of thousands offresides. Yet
it is not "a character Of contrasts OF surprises.
In its rounded symmetry we see the natural
Development. Of great iltoIl3c! guided aud
Year: 1872

Everything is grist that comes to the Free
Trade MILL In harmless bill to fix the sal
aIy of "a United States Consul at Chinese
city, the House of Representatives. was COM
pclled to see powerful argument for a re-
peal of the duty on iron used in shipbuilding.
A learned Congressman, fresh from the
Flowery Land, saw a golden opportunity to
air his newly-acquired learning, and so used
the results of his observation to argue that
we can never have cheap ships until we can
import them. OF course, there was tho usual
amount of the laughter of the gods, but the
upshot of the whole matter was that the
House was edited with much novel wisdom,
yet went about its business of raising salaries
Just as though nothing had happened.
Year: 1872

The action of the Administration in refusing
to detail military aid to the disputants In
Louisiana will be applauded by all friends of
civil and popular rights. There has been too
much military interference in municipal affairs
already, and the people regard these encroach-
ments upon their liberties with jealousy and
suspicion. The scandal which attended the
garrisoning of the Custom house last Summer
has not yet died out, and the appearance of
its repetition would exaSperate all parties.
Just now, any such attempt to reinforce
either side with the military force OF the
nation would be most inopportnc. The
Custom-house faction has become diSin-
tegrated both branches of the Legislature are
in full working order, and we hope we have
heard the last of the Louisiana conflict
Year: 1872

When the Custom house investigation began,
it was airily said that there was no evidence
worth the least consideration; the affair would
soon blow over. But it has not blown over,
and thc evidence is accommodating SO fast that
there seems to be no immediate prospect OF
an end. The Committee, therefore, have been
Obliged to institute night sessions i'll order to
get u the bottom of the subject in reason
ably short period. The evidence yesterday
was, like most that has preceded it, conclusive
A. TO oi ginal charges of mismanagement, and
excessively uncomfortable to implicated par
ties and heir defenders.
Year: 1872

Did The Times happen to observe The evil
dence of Mr.. Van Cleft2 This is one of the
witnesses named. in the worthless testimony
from THE TRIBUNE Office the other day, be
fore the Senate Committee, as able to testify
that the late Collector had carried his use of
patronage and interference i'll local politics
so far as to reach over to the Brooklyn
Navy-Yard, and throw out of Office
naval officer owing him no subordi-
nation at all, because of refusal
to obey his orders about a NewYOrk Primary.
Well; like every other witness named in this
testimony who has yet been called, Mr.. Van
Cleft more than confirms the whole story,
swt caring to it of his own knowledge and
giving also the names Of other witnesses.
Does The Times think a black beetle could be
convicted on evidence like that? Or is it, by
this time, so stunned that it no longer has
any thoughts on the subjcct9 If not, suppose
it give its mind also to the evidence taken
yesterday of Mr.. De Camp. Capt. Grant,
and others, whose names and Che
substance of what they could
tell were first given the Committee, in The
TRIBUNE testimony. Would Mt it be well to
have another article, showing how worthless
all that "hearsay story" was '
Year: 1872

Moe Investigations for municipal bureaus in
this city. The Clerks Office and Registers
Department are to be overhauled in search of
excessive charges and oppression of clients.
This is the right course to pursue, and the
only one which will reassure the public mind,
now kccnly alive to every suspicion of dis
honest practices in Office.
Year: 1872

conceded It at last only in the products in
which she was an Over-match for the wor'o'
BE patient foreigners just leave the Ameri-
can Tariff alone for ten years, and Eng'ahu
and the rest of manufacturing Europe VIII
get all the Free Trade out of us they want
and n great deal more.
Year: 1872

general aud intense. that Notwithstanding the
extensive and well-managed police arrange
ments constant vigilance and frequent persuasion
as well as occasional force on the part of officers
were necessary 70 keep the assemblage at distance
sufficiently remote to insure the unobstrncted
efforts Of the fremen.


Among the spectators were many ladies and gen.
tlemen who were returning from the various thea
ters at the time of the discovery of the fire.


The ladies seemed no less interested than the men,
and all gave frequent expression to sincere hope
that the endangered building would be saved from
extensive injury, and especially. though in vain'
that the con6agraton might not be accompanied by
manning or loss of life. .