smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1872

WASHINGTON, August 6.-The third
tract of the series of rebel archieves
will probably be given to the public
within few day. They say that the nor
rible plans to burn cities, infect cloth
ing and cotton, and perform other afro
cies in the North, were not confined to
Jacob Thompson. During the last year
of the war, if the archives are to be
trusted, great number of chemical
tests were made on torpedoes. One
invention promised very well-that of
prepared Eliminates, to be used in navy
Yards, warehouses, hotels, and other
places on land. These were to be
thrown about on the floor, and upon be-
ing stepped upon would explode with
great havoc. Another preparation was
in the shape of liquid or fine powder,
and was only serviceable as destroy
ing agency upon being violently sha-
ken, when it would explode and kill
every body within reach and set fire to
the surrounding combustible objects.


A secret session of the Confederate
Congress was held for the purpose of
considering the claims of a noted chem
ist, who had invented, or discovered, as
he said, the most remarkable life-des-
troying agency that was ever known.
A committee of Congress was appointed
to confer with the chemist and test his
discovery. He exhibited to the COM
mittee a phial containing a colorless
liquid, which, he claimed, possessed the
most wonderful qualities ever known;
and, he said, that sitting in the gallery
of the House of Representatives in this
city he could east the phial into the CEN
ter of the hall and kill every man on
the floor in two minutes. The commit
tee were incredulOus, but when the
chemest offered to leave the room and
make bet that if the phial should drop
on the floor it would kill every one of
them they seemed satisfied, and respect
fully declined to make any such test.
The chemist then, as the report goes,
placed upon the mantle handkerchief
previously prepared, and the party left
the room. At the moment promised
the handkerchief was destroyed by
spontaneously burning. As still fur
ther test number of cats were placed
in an apartment and the phial of liquid
upset. All the eats were instantly kill
ed. The committee finally reported
that the test had been satisfactory, and
they were in favor of treating with the
chemist. Upon that bureau was form
ed and the chemist created Brigadier
General and placed at the head of it,
but the collapse of the war prevented
the use of the engine of destruction in
the Northern cities
Year: 1872

Max Adeler says that catfish fell
from the clouds, near fernando, a
short time ago. Truly these are rev.
olutionary times. If catfish are to get
into the habit of tumbling out of the
sky, We may rs well abandon angling
in the rivers, and stay at home and go
up OH the root and tie our fish-hoOks
to toy balloons and stand on our heads,
and fish out into ethereal space. And
if catfish, why not selfish? Why
shall not the fishermen rake the sedue-
tive oyster and scoopthe eontemplative
clam out of the clouds instead of dredg-
ing for them in the mud? And if things
are to be turned upside down, We may
as well expect hereafter to dive down
into the river when we want to go gun
ming and to persue the partridges in
diyino-bell.
Year: 1872

ring the period, and an anxious sur
vey of the present anomalous condition
of parties. with view to discover the
tendencies with which it is pregnant,
to shape the probable future. Unless
it is presumptious to have opinions at
all, it will not be considered arrogant
tn daclara tham
Year: 1872

And now, what have we on the other
hand? The Democratic party in the
disguise of Greeley and Brown and the
Cincinnati platform.


"The voice is Jacobs voice, but the
hands are the hands of Esau."


And what is the mess of pOttage for
which we are asked to sell our birth
Year: 1872

LIME HOUSE BURNED.-On Christmas night,
about nine o'clock a lime house at Auburn de
pot, on the side of the railroad track, some two
hundred yards south of the passenger station,
was discovered on fire and was entirely consumed
BY some means the rains had penetrated TO the
unslacked lime and the heat thereby created sci
the building on fire; q case OF spontaneous com
bustion Two other lime buildings were near by,
but no difficulty was experienced in saving them
as every thing was wet with the rain. The
bindings and lime belonged to the Mollett
Brothers, Of Cave Valley IN IL Dorado county.
The loss is not very heavy.
Year: 1872

FATAL AccIDENT.-C. Beckman, of Forest Hill
and one of the Supervisors of this county. met
with an accident on Christmas night by which
he almost instantly lost his life. 1t seems that
Mr.. Beckman who resides at the Green Spring
nine, had been up to Forest Hill ana before start
ing home, the night being dark and stormy, had
got a lantern from Mr.. Andrews. Investigation
shows that before getting to the Orc mine, where
the embankment is about one hundred and forty
feet perpendicular the trail passing near it, the
glass door of the lantern had fallen out and the
wind had put the light out, and, in attempting
to 90 on III tie dark, Mr.. Beckman stepped ovei
the embankment and fell the full one hundred
and forty feet killing him instantly. The acci-
dent must have occurred before eleven O'Clock,
as deceased had started home as soon as the
mail had arrived Deceased was a gentleman OF
more than ordinary talent and correct judgment
and was highly esteemed as citizen and official
MIR. Beckman was q native of Mecl1lenburg, and
was thirty-nine years old, and single man. 1t
Is understood that he would have soon been
married to an estimable lady in Sacramento We
are indebted to Mr.. Andrews, of Forest Hill, for
most of the above facts.
Year: 1872

TO put every candidate for Office to the inqui5i-
tiop, and allow no man to be voted for until
he had passed the ordeal of their secret Com
mittee. The Committee was merely another
name for Choate; but Choate made noise
enough for seventy, and fourished manifestoes
mt such n rate that many of us expected TO see
all the rascals take to their heels without more
ado. OF course, when Mr.. Choate made up bis
slate there wOuld be an end OF discussion. No
honest man would venture to contradict him,
and if all the rejected candidates did not i'm
medately retire from the canvass 1t would
only be because they had not sense enough TO
know when they were beaten.


Well. Mr.. Choate spoke. Strange to say, the
battle still goes on. We have not heard OF
anybody running away. On the contrary,
disrespectful public said, Pooh! and straight
way forgot all about ChOate. The Septuaglnt
being busy with other things could not help
him. Sixty-eight out of the seventy had be-
come candidates for Office, and the whole com
pany had caught the prevailing Generalization
and gone to bargaining with the Custom
house. ChOate stood aghast. Then he remon-
strated The rebelliOus citizens began to ask
who Choate was; John Thomas wanted to
know how he dared to oppose regular Repub-
lican nominations; and no less "reformaan-
"didate" than the son of ex-MayOr Opdyke
had the temerity to declare in print that he
did not believe ChOate to be intalllble, and
would not place his conscience or his vote IN
that gentleman's keeping. Finally one OF the
Septuagint itself cast up in Mr.. Choate's
teeth tho fact that he had sustained Mr..
James O'Bren as a model refOmer last year,
and was abusing him as a thief now Last
night the news was published that Mr.. Choate
found the preparation of his Complete Family
Ticket pretty heavy job. 1t was so tresome
and so expensive TO print ballots and put up
booths that he was afraid he could not be
ready in season; but he should do his best.
We regret to say that Choate is failure AS
Mr.. Opdyke expresses it, the wisdom OF his
action has not been in proportion to the ex-
cellence of his intentions, and there is just as
much difference of opinion among honest
voters to-day as if he had never constituted
himself the final judge of every candidates
character and fitness.
Year: 1872

The power claimed by Secretary Boutwell, to
initiate our Greenback Currency at his discre-
ton to the extent of FOrty-fOur Millions, is a
power TO make rich or poor whOmsOeyer he
will.


You are heavy buyer Of Pork, or Wheat
or Cotton, or Beef: the Secretary gives
his screw Il turn by drawing in Greenbacks, and
you are ruined by fall of your commodity
in price which you could not have foreseen
and provided for or you sell one of those
staples for delivery at a day specified when
you shall have returned from buying, and he
let's out food of Greenbacks and makes you
rich in day Your commodity is really worth
no more than before; you only pay for it In
reality less than you bargained to do, while
its nominal or face value was less than the
Secretary has made it.


If there il to be initiation or contraction it
should be effected on ample public notice, in
accordance with law. The Secretarys actual
course is despotism of the Turkish pattern
1t cannot abide discussion.
Year: 1872

ness grew dull, and on each occasion has re-
ceiyed somo new appointment as reward
for his versatility of convictions. In tho
course of this long career no one can point to
any substantial military or civic achievement
of this eminently respectable "utility' poll
tician. OF himself he is nothing. He takes
his Official character from his surroundings
What he would do as reforming Governor
may be surmised from the fact that he would
owe his nomination to Mr.. Weed and his
election to Mr.. Murphy.


Is the contrast any less vivid between the
candidates for Lieutenant-Governor Mr.. De-
pew is one of the most brilliant young men Of
the State, thorough master of parliamentary
practice and traditions, an intelligent and hon
est practical politician. Gen. Robinson is a
gallant old soldier, MANNED in honorable ser
vice, aud literally provided for by grateful
country but a more totally unfit person for
Lieutenant Governor could not be found
among any hundred officers and gentlemen
In regard to both the first and second places
on the ticket the same thing may be said
The Liberal candidates are men of blameless
character in every respect, and far superior to
their opponents in special fitness for the ser
vice required. Should any voter who cares for
good government hesitate between them3
Year: 1872

South where the Administration has wrought
It's own hard will with the people and the
ofice-holders. Her citizens have not forgotten
(no citizen of the United States will soon for
eeD the w-Orleans Custom-house, garri-
soned by Federal troops and surrounded by
Federal cannon they have not forgotten the
Casey Packard conspiracy against popular
Coyemment-the stolen Republican COnyen-
ton. the dispersed Legislature, the rotous
streets, and the employment OF Uniteu
States vessel for the protection and safety
of the fleeing conspirators. The Presidents
brother-in-law has been kept in power and
place in spite of the indignant protests OF the
country. Senator Kellogg was nominated
for Governor in obedience to the man
date from Washington, so that the
Brother-in-Law could be sent to the
United States Senate. State offices were
parted among favOrites of the Presidential
Household and every Federal servant, down
to the humblest tidewaiter, has been drafted
into the political work of the Administration
party. All was vain. Vain were the
United States troops paraded in the Crescent
City, unneeded in the midst of the peaceable
voting. Louisiana has calmly but unanswera-
bly, asserted her freedom


Will this lesson be heededl VIII the lesson
of to-day be also read by those who have in
suited and oppressed the Southern States
Theft and disorder have succeeded war and
rapine, and horde of adventures licensed by
the Administration, have followed in the re-
treating footsteps of the Union Army; protests
have been mheeded, and revelations of official
corruption have been idly jested at by those who
are in power at Washington. Now comes
this final verdict of the people at the ballot
box. As in Louisiana so in all the Southern
States they reject the wicked, thieving rule
upheld by the Washington Ring. Louisiana
leads the way The cry for Reform has not
been in vain, and the first State in the Union
to vote in the Presidential election of 1872
gives ringing voice for Greeley and Brown.
Eight votes for Reconciliation and Reform!


And now, will the faint hearts at the North
consider Louisiana and take courage to bring
out their last voter We have strength enough
to win. viii you fail to use itf
Year: 1872

There are enough voters in this State who
want the best attainable men in all important
offices to elect whom they please, if they can
only agree upon q candidate. In the present
contest in this State, the political question,
though not without Importance, is entirely
subordinate TO the issue of reform in the ad-
ministratiOn of affairs. Yet by the force Of
habit, thousands of men who know that the
question Of good government is far more inn
portant than that of their party names. will
vote to-day for the men whom caucus has
imposed upon them. without any thought of
their fitness.


1t is against this indOlent and apatheiic dis
regard of civic duty that we once more pro-
test. 1t is incumbent on every man to ask
himself, "Who will make the best Governor
"whO the best Lieutenant overnor n and 80
on through the ticket; and then to vote as
his best information and honest convictions
direct him. If there were no such things as
parties and conventions, every one knows
how this question would lie answered. There
is no comparison between Mr.. Herman and
Gen. Dis as to strength of character
and capacity. There is no qualfca-
ton of good Governor which Mr.. Herman
does not possess. He is man of unstaned
integrity; of good education OF high pro-
fessiOnal reputation; of experience as q
lawyer and a law-maker; thoroughly &C
quainted with State and National politics and
legislation in the prime of life aud per-
lection of his powers. His opponent has been
an office-holdcr almost constantly for sixty
years. has changed bis pOitlca wbenever bUai
Year: 1872




1t is for the people of the North this day to
decide whether Southern voters-not Rebels
but Loyalists-with an unimpeachable claim
to exercise the right of suffrage, shall be per-
mitted to do so without molestation OF
hinderance.


While it is Ku-KluH offense as III
North Carolina, to belong to Greeley
Club, there is no Republicanism worthy OF
the namo in that State. That the game oil
intimidation has been played there, as eise-
where. we have ample evidence. There may
have been no oath; there may have been no
association called Ku-Klux by name; but
there has been and Is an association OF the
Grant voters, for the purpose of frightening
voters and especially colOred voters, ont OF
their intention of voting the Liberal ticket.
The Grant party treats the Southern voters
as if they belonged to the President. Soldiers
employ the terror of arms; Federal officers
exercise their influence; and threats OF muir
der, of Imprisonment, Of he destruction OF
property have been freely dispensed.


What the Grant party can do successfully in
the South it can repeat in the North. 1t has
the will, as events in this city have already
demonstrated. Let those who would still Sc
cure for electors liberty Of choice be found
voting to-day upon the right side. If they
are not it is possible that ere long they may
not be permitted to vote at all.
Year: 1872

1t is little more than a year since that re-
spectacle body of seventy citizens, popularity
known as the Septuagint, was organized at
the great reform meeting in this city. 1t
promised to set everything right that had
ever gone wrong; to give US u new charter
to break up the immOralities of the caucus
system; to prevent the nomination of bad
men; and to put stop to stealing. When
tho excitement and hurrahing of the campaign
had died away it was found that the achieve
ments of the Septuagint amounted to just two !;
they had sent Mr.. James O'Brien to the Sem
ate and they had given us Choate. The cleo
tiOn of Mr.. 0'Brien was certainly not thing
to be proud of, but o great many respect
able people have clung to the hope that
ChOate at least was boon. If he
has never done anything particularly wise,
and if an immense majority of his fellow
citizens do not know exactly who lie is, it is
at any rate great comfort in these perplex-
ing times to have a cock-sure person of this
ssrt, who will tell us just which way to walk
and just which candidates ought to be voted for.
Here we have John Thomas putting up can
didates on purpose to be beaten, and black
guarding the very men whom his party means
TO vote for. Here we have Apollo Hall shout
ing for Grant, and the CUSTOM house support
ing Ring Democrat for Mayor. Here we
have Mr.. George William Curtis throwing
mud at Mr.. Hank Smith" at the very time
when Mr.. Hank Smith is lending his coun-
tenance to the Administration, and assessing
policemen so apiece for the benefit of Grant
and Wilson Here we have all sorts of re-
formers making all sorts of corrupt bargains
With any rogue who viii help them in beating
Mr. Greeley. la such a chaos comes Joseph Ii.
ChOate to show us the way out How glad
we ought 10 bc


A little wbilo ego tho SeptuAsiat promised
Year: 1872




We ask those who are accustomed to read
and trust TIE TRIBUNE to vote to-day for
Horace Greeley for President of the United
States


Because he is the best man for the place.
He is incomparably abler, better informed,
safer than his antagonist.


Because his election would mean reconcilia-
ton with the South, an end of the war, re-
vival of Southern industry increased markets
for Northern products, homogeneous cOun-
try, with consequent safety and prosperity.


Because his election would mean reform at
the NOrth-an end of Government patron
age in elections, an end of administering the
Civil Service, not to do the Government work
but to defeat one party and help anOther-an
investigation of the cOrruptiOns which have
seemed to pervadc all branches of the National
Government, and have made the rule at
Washington as much worse than Tweed's rule,
as its scope was wider and its power more re-
sistless.


Because his election would mean an end of
carpet-bag governments at the South, propped
up by Washington interference for yet longer
robbery of already bankrupt communities


Because, in word, it would secure those
great ends of Reunion and Reform for which
the Cincinnati movement was begun, and the
triumph of which, whether to-day hastened or
DELAYED, is as sure to come as the Republic is
fo endure
Year: 1872

II will be decided to-day whether a Pres-
dent of the United States can purchase re-
election. 1t is safe to say that without the
Federal patronage, without direct appeal to
the pocket-books of citizens, without an
enormous expenditure, Grant would this day
be without the ghost of a chance. We have
never had party canyassing in so mercenary
d manner before; and may we never have
such an exhibition of debasine appeals again |!


Be the result to-day what it may, the Lib
eral party will survive, and we shall not again
have the scandal of an Administration doing
exactly as it pleases, with no opposition to
keep il sweet and decent.
Year: 1872




If there were no other reason for going to
the polls to-day, the pleasure of voting for
Mr.. Samuel s. Cox against Mr.. Lyman IRE
main would be q sufficient inducement. He is a
man of deep convictions, unsullied character,
brilliant abilities, and distinguished record.
He was an unhinching War Democrat, the
Congressman whom Mr. Seward credited with
greater share of the glory resulting from
the passage of the Constitutional Amendment
abolishing Slavery than that accruing to any
other man. He is a thorough parlamentarian,
a keen and ready debater, full Of intelligence
and resource. He knows Congress as well as
his own library, and has never been tainted
with the suspicion of job. He is one of the
most valuable representatives whom any con-
stituency could select to transact its business
and guard its interests in Washington.


His opponent is an ofiice-seeker pure and
simple. He has no profound convictions on any
subject He was Southern sympathizer before
the war began, and has vacillated backward
and forward ever since "a the chances of office
frightened or faded. He was making up his
mind to join the Liberal movement when the
Custom house party, whom he had publicly
denounced as dishonest and incapable, offered
him this nomination, which he promptly ac-
cepted. He has no experience in public af-
fairs. IL he were sent TO Washington it would
fake him the rest of his life to learn what
Mr. Cox already knows, and when he had
learned it he would make no such effective
use of Il as the eloquent and quick -witted
metropolitan member


A first-rate State like New York should be
represented by fiIst-rate man. Lyman Ire
main does not ill this requirement. and SAM
uel S. Cox does. Vote for him and you will
never be ashamed of the Member at Large
Year: 1872

Real civil service reform insists that honesty
and efficiency of the employees of the Govern
ment shall be among their first qualifications.
Mr.. Joel c. Green, late clerk in the Treasury
Department "a statement of whose case is
elsewhere printed, was dismissed for refusing
to settle an illegal account without making
protest In other civilized lands this would be
called dismissal for being honest and eff
clcnt.
Year: 1872

The horse distemper has so far disappeared
from this city that the streets have not only
regained their wonted activity, but are unusu-
ally crowded. Business, brought to partial
stand-still by the epidemic. seems making up
for lost time. Outside the State the disease
has reached as far south as Virginia, and ex-
tended westward beyond the Lakes. But it
is curiOus, as well as encouraging. TO note
that the decrease of the disorder follows like
wave hard after the rim which is extending
over the country.
Year: 1872

IN the thirty counties of Western New York,
Liberal Republicansm early found cOngenial
soil and growth. Before the Cincinnati move
ment had gained shape, the progressive men
of the Republican party formed very large
element of dissatisfaction with the existing
order of things. How these men have been
by turns fattered and threatened is told by a
correspondent of THE TRIBUNE whose letter
is elsewhere printed to-day. This sturdy band
have stood by their guns; if the Liberal Dem
ocrats will do as well, the State is all right
for the Cincinnati nominees.
Year: 1872

The proposed constitutional amendment, on which
the last ballot is TO be cast is for extending the term
of the Commissioners of Appeals. The ballot for
against the act TO supply deficiencies in former APP
propriations. and 10 pay the indebtedness of tho
State on account of the canals involves doubtful
constitutional question. and the probability has
seemed that the vote would ultimately prove OF No
effect whether il should result fer against tho
Year: 1872

The Liberal Republicans and the Democrats Of the
New and Reformed Tammany have nominated Peter
Woods for Assembly. The Committee of Seventy
have felt constrained to adopt and recommend him.
The opposing candidate is the notorious Jim Irving
who was compeedt resign his seat year before last
in order to avoid expulsion. He is supported by the
rump of Tweedtes who have lost power in Tam.
many, by the 0Brien Apollo Hall organization aud
of the Grant party as can be traded of. All good
citizens will unite in defeating such "a m0nstToas
combination in favor of a very bad candidate. They
will vote for worthy and honest citizen in Peter
Woods, who for ten years has been active enemy
of the old Ring,