smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

Almost everyone who has had &C.
casion to buy farm and to have lie a
potion of the purchase money on
mortgage, must have felt the injustice
of being taxed for what he does not
really evn. A man buys farm for
say $4,000, and $4,000 remains, he
pays taxes to the full value Of the
$4,000, besides paying $500 in this
state or $3.50 in the west for the use of
the $4,000 remaining unpaid on the
land. But the government not only
makes him pay tax on the whole
$18,0e0, supposing the farm to be as.
sessed at the full value, but it comes
the second time and taxes the holder
of the $5, 700 he has out at interest. "
Now the man who has money at inter
est is determined to make six per
cent. at least. on his money. He
must do it to make it worth his while
to have money out at all. And SO he
looks about to see how he can so fix
things as to make it fall ON the holder
of the land, So he either takes it into
consideration in fixing the price of TIE
land, if he is selling, or if he is mere
lender on land he extracts a heavy
"bonus" or buys mortgage at dis
count in order to make him whole;
and in this way the one who is so un-
fortunate as to owe anything ON land,
pays taxes twice on his indebted por-
ton to one only when it is clear Of all
membranes. This is a curious an.
omaly in law, Ususally it is thought
to be the genius of good laws to favor
the honest, industrious, struggling
debtor; but in this particular case of a
tax on mortgages this law is made tc
operate in just the other way.


1t seems remarkable that any tax
should have ever been imposed or
mortgages under the head of property
If there be any tax on income, the
money derived from mortgages might
have there a legitimate place. But as
property tits clearly absurd ,as a mort
gage is simply the evidence Of debt. Il
is no more property then is duly at
tested receipt for mo ley paid. 1t II
indeed nothing but promise to give
property in case certain stipulations
are not carried out in manner and form
as aforesid. 1t is in no sense property,
yet as property it is taxed, although
the property which it covers is already
taxed in the hands of the one to whom
it has been decided.


IL came,up before the supreme cour


of California recently, by the objec
ltion of some mortgage holders to pay
this sort of property" tax. and th'
court decided in favor of the holders


And now what do other states say il


which this anomaly exists? Ger man


town Telegraph.
Year: 1876

The most common and best known
of all sea birds is the Petrel, of these.
there are three or four varieties, to one
of which our sailors give the appella-
tion of Mother Cary's Chickens. 1t
might be somewhat difficult to discov-
er the origin of this designation, but
the source of their more legitimate one
is we'll understood, and is tanciful
enough. Besides the faculty of swim.
ming this bird possesses the power of
supporting itself on the water by strik-
ing very rapidly with its feet, and
hence they have been compared to st.
Peter walking on the water, and have
got the name of Petrels. The French
call them Petit Pier re (Little Peter)
from the same cause. The stormy Pc
trel. or Mother Cary's Chicken, is not
bigger than lark, and altogether
brown in color except the posterior
portion of it. which is white. There


is also white stripe at the end of the


great wing coverts.
Year: 1876

MEMPHIS, Dec. .l9.-Y Yesterday morn
ing l.. S. Hill, an old and highly re-
spected citizen, living four miles north
of Shelby depot. was shot and killed
by Gally Bond under the following
circumstances: Bond had been pay
ing his attentions to Hills daughter
and visited Mr.. Hill an hour before
the shooting, and in some conversa-
ton said he would return in an hour.
Bond went and procured double
barreled shotgun, returned to Mr..
Hills and shot him through the door
of his own house, firing five pistol
balls through his body after he fell
from the first shot. After seeing that
his victim was down and dead, he
seized the young lady, actually drag
ging her over the dead body of her
father, and carried her by force be-
fore neighboring minister and de-
mand to be married to her. The girl
refused, when Bond threatened to
kill her. At this juncture party OF
armed men appeared, and the young
lady was taken from her captor and
locked up in room secure from any
possibility of his carrying out his
threat to kill her. Bond deliberately
shot one of the horscman, SO wound.
ing him that he fell from his horse,
which he mounted and rode to the
residence of Mr.. Parsons, few miles
distant and made forcible exchange
for a fine gray animal on which he
was last seen riding westward to.
ward the Mississippi river, making
good his escape from all pursucrs.
Year: 1876

We have in our dispatches another
everlasting interview with that ole
aginous demagogue, Tom Hendricks,
but we have neither the time or pa
tience to print it.


1t is just about like any one of the
other Hendricks interview we have
been publishing daily and weekly
for the past year. If you haven't one
of them before you, imagine tie oily
CANNON siding up to you, seizing
you with his oily paw, putting his
other hand over your shoulder, ask
ing you about the children, telling
you that the democratic party is the
only honest one in the country and
that Tom Hendricks is its prophet,
and that is all there is in a Hendricks
interview.
Year: 1876

The United States Senate, Feb.
1901, adopted the following rcsolu-
ton:


Resolced, That the Senate will be
ready to receive the House in the
Senate Chamber on Wednesday next,
at II O'Clock, for the purpose Of being G
present at the opening and counting
of the votes for President of the
United States; that one person be APP
pointed teller on the part of the
Senate to make a list of the votes for
President of the United States as they
shall be declared, and that the result
shall be delivered to the President OF
the Senate, who shall announce the
state of the vote, which shall be en-
tered on the journals; and if it shall
appear that a choice hath been made
agreeably to the Constitution, such
entry on the journal shall be deemed
a declaration thereof.


Ordered, That the Secretary notify
the House Of Representatives of this
resolution.


This was to meet case Of obstinacy
on the part of the House. The House
finally sent back an answering reso-
luton that it would attend as provid-
ed by the Senate resolution. 1t did
attend, and Mr.. Jefferson, President
of the Senate, counted the vote.-In-
ter-Ocedn.
Year: 1876

This calculation is based upon the
republicans carrying all the congress
sional districts Of New Hampshire.
Tho party in that state feel confident
that they can do this. There arc, how
ever, good many contested seats,
and from the high handed manner in
which the democracy proceed, it may
be rather expected that the present
democratic Clerk of the House, who
will call the roll of its successor, in the
organization, will contrivc to have a
majority on that roll by improperly
culling from tho contested cases, even
though the republicans have major
ity in fact.
Year: 1876

There is humor in suicides. Miss
Pixley, of South Lee, Mass, jumped
into river to drown herself, and
then pulled herself out by the bough
of tree under which she floated.
She writes an account for the papers,
saying: '.1f there is any one who
reads this foolish enough to want to
die before Gods chosen time, don't
jump into the river where there are
trees with limbs hanging in the water,
for if you do, no matter how determ-
ined you are to leave this world, you
will either have to make up your
mind to stay little longer, or else
try again, which latter you will not
be likely to do"
Year: 1876




Senator Mcdonald to have members
Of the returning board subpenaed,
the action on which was finally post
poned by the committee till to-mor-
row. The question Of taking the
deposition Of Eliza Pinkston, was
discussed for some time and finally
postponed until tomorrow.


Counsel for the republican side
stated they had some forty more wit
nesses to testify in regard to Ouachi-
ia parish. Democratic counsel stated
it would be impossible to have their
witnesses here before next Tuesday,
as they had been misled in regard to
which parish would be taken up and
had supposed their witnesses from
East Baton Rouge first.


Republican counsel stated that the
whole number of witnesses from all
the parishes would reach 500. Sem
ator Salisbury thought it best to
have an understanding at present in
reference to fixing q limit to the in.
quiry, as five hundred witnesses on
either side would consume the
whole time until March lst. The
Chairman thought the mass of evil
dence might be abridged by counsel
on either side agreeing as far as pos
sible to accept the testimony before
the returning board without either
side being expected to develop fur
ther testimony from these witnesses.
A lengthy discussion ensued in Ore
gon as to the best means of
reaching the object aimed at, viz !:
whether or not there was q full
free and fair election in the contested
parishes. 1t was the general opinion
that this could be best secured by ex-
amining and completing the parishes
separately and that the respective
counsel might sift the testimony of
their witnesses and leave out all ex-
cept the most important testimony
and thus avoid much labor and waste
of time. AS it appears from the tab
ulated statements furnished by the
Returning Boal d that the polls had
been rejected lin % parishes, the
labor necessary to determine the fair
ness of the election in these alone
would be very great. 1t was finally
agreed to proceed with Ouachita
parish,
Year: 1876

We have received from the wal


department, n pamphlet copy Of Sec
Cameron's annual report, which is
clear and comprehensive state paper
He estimates that the expenses OF
his department for the current fiscal
year, ending June 30th, next will cx-
cccd the revised estimates made last


spring, by Secretary Taft, something
near seven millions Of dollars.


It will be remembered that direct


ly after Sec. Belknap's trouble occur


ed, a great hue and cry was raised


against his estimates already made in


his annual report, and that the press
of the country, without respect to
party, and with its characteristic in
clination to give man going down
hill, akick, made SO much hullabaloo
over these estimates, that Sec.
Taft was compelled by the clamor
and the Confederate House, against
his own judgement and that of his
trusted and well informed subordi-
mates, to revise and reduce General
Belknap's estimates. Secretary Cam
eron's report of expenses incurred and
likely to be incurred, for the rest of
the fiscal year, show that his depart
ment will be short just about the
amount the Confederate House coerc-
ed Sec. Taft to reduce Sec. Belknap's
estimates. OF course this amount
must now be made up in the deficien-
cy bill. But it was q good enough
Morgan until after the election.


What cares the Confederate reform
ers Of the fact that they were robbing
Peter to pay Paul; that they were
cutting oil ut one end of the garment
to patch ON to the other, SO that they
could herald it to the country that
they had reduced the expenses of the
war department by one master stroke
Of reform nearly seven million Of dol
lars


Now that they have made what
capital they could out of the matter,
they will quietly vote to supply this
deficiency. And this is what they
call reform craftsmanship.
Year: 1876

Inc TICKS adOpted by sO-called
Spiritualistic mediums to delude the
credulous, are being exposed in many
places. esprit forms" which prove
SO amazing to spectators, are evolved
from piece of white and black
cloth, cut in the outline of human
form and stitched together; the black
side is first turned to the audience in
a darkened room, then it is slowly
turned, showing the white side and
representing weird appearance,and
is often recognized by spectators as
the form of their friends. The form
disappears simply by turning the
black side to the audience in the same
slow manner.
Year: 1876

Mr.. FRYE, Of Maine, endcavored
on the 18th inst, in the House, to
have a resolution considered to in
vestigate the election held in the
fourth congressional district of Mis-
sissippi. The democracy Of the House
refused to give it hearing. This is
the district now represented by the
colored member, Lynch, in the pres
ent House. The total voting popula-
ton of the district is about $4,000, and
heretofore it has been republican by
about 1900 majority, the colorcd
voters outnumbering tho whites six
to one. In the last election the demo-
cratic candidate was declared elected
by some 5000 majority. The demo-
cratic candidate thus declared elected
was General Chalmers, the second in
command Of the rebels at Fort Pill
low at the time of the terrible mas
sacre of the colored troops after the
surrender. 1t is no wonder that the
dishonest democratic side of the
House do not want an investigation
of the election in this district. 1t is
clear that the history Of elections by
the people can nowhere furnish O
more stupendous example of rascality
than that in this district furnishes.
Had there been q single instance of
republican unfairness in the late
elections, which presented a tithe of
the swindling and wrong that is ap-
parent in this district on the part of
the democracy, il would be utterly
impossible for the party to obtain the
support of one in hundred of its
members to any such devilish work.
Per contra, if the democratic hosts
were not largely too ignorant to learn
the truth or too much impregnatcd
with disloyal rabidness and hatred of
universal freedom and citizenship.
which led them into rebellion or to
sympathize with it, no such rascality
as that committed in the said fourth
district in Mississippi, could be ex-
cused or palliated by it.
Year: 1876

San Antonio Herald: The cham
pion liar of the State is in our county
Jail. "A kind-hearted Clergyman asked
him how he came to be in there. The
fellow said with tears in his eyes that
he was coming home from prayer
meeting and sat down to rest, fell
aslecp,an while he was asleep there,
the county built the Jail around him,
and when he awoke the jailor refused
to let him out.
Year: 1876

We were informed bya farmer yes
terday that he had never lost hog
from cholera, and had no fears of the
disease. He and many of his neigh
bors feed their hogs salt and ashes in
the proportion of one part of the for
mer to two of the latter, and it has al
ways proved cfiicacious as preven-
tive. 1t is certainly harmless and
worthy of trial.-Conacil Bluffs Non
pariel.
Year: 1876

A Baltimore school girl closed a
composition 81 am tired of school
and hope to leave it soon," whereupon
the Principal, who was woman,
took her at her offer and refused to
have her in that department any more
The School Board is investigating the
case.
Year: 1876

Garfield offered resolution direct
ing the appropriation committee to
report in the deficiency bill provi-
sion to pay to the widow of Speaker
Kerr, sum equal to the pay and
mileage of the Speaker from the time
of his death to the end of the present
GanOpnss Adnnfp1
Year: 1876

The Contested Election Case.-In the Am
bers contested-election case the appeal was
docketed on Yesterday, and after argument
upon the question whether Mr.. Fitzpatrick,
not being party to the record, had the
right to be represented by counsel in the
case, the Court decided that he was SO emit.
tled-this being proceeding in the behalf
of the public and not merely contest be-
tween two candidates itappearing from
this that other citizens of the county had
also employed the same counsel in the case,
Mr. Samuel D. Davis was thereupon admit
ted to appear as counsel for Mr.: Fitzpatrick
and Others, and the appeal will be decided
ON its merits some time during the term.
Year: 1876

Ho,p to Vote.-A party presenting him,
self at the polls to vote will select card
from those in the hands OF the ticket
holders, upon which is printed the name OF
the party Tor whom he desires to vote ior
Mayor, and place it in an envelope which
will be handed him. Having picked his
man for that office he will proceed the same
way until he has card for every candidate
for whom he desires to vote. The envelope
he will then hand to the commissioner, VINO
will place it in the ballot-box.
Year: 1876

IMPROVEMENTS ON LOWER MAIN STREET.
At three points between Eighteenth and
Twenty-fourth streets old and dilapidated
wooden houses have been recently pulled
down to make way for substantial brick
buildings to suit the modern tastes
Year: 1876

SHIPMENT OF PETRoLEUM.-The German
bark Concordia was cleared at the custom
house yesterday by the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railroad Company for Elsinore with cargo
Of 2,719 barrels Of petroleum. This is the
first cargo of this article ever shipped from
Richmond by sail. There are ut present
three other large foreign vessels in port
loading petroleum for other European ports.
This new article OF shipment promises fair
to largely increase the commerce of Rich
mond.
Year: 1876

RETURN OF THE PEABODY CLUB TO BALTI-
MoRE.-The Peabody Baseball Club, of
Baltimore, returned to that city yesterday
afternoon by the York River line after q
stay OF nearly week in this city. Every
thing possible was done by their friends
here 80 make the time pass agreeably, and
they have doubtless carried back with them
many pleasant recollections of Richmond
and her people.
Year: 1876

PICTURE OF HENRY CLAy.-Po olice-Justice
White has Just finished o picture OF Henry
Clay, which he proposes to present 70 the
State Library. It Is said to be Q good ike
ness, and the work is remarkably good for
Year: 1876

WAsMSGroS, Nov. 16 1870
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF CO.


LUMBIA.


The Joint Congressional Committee to frame a
form of government for tho District OF Columbia
holding daily sessions at tho Capitol Roprosen taons
on various subjects continue to be made before
them by single individuals and by commit
liquor prohibition and return TO the Old
municipal system have been heard Delegates from
Georgetown say that rather than have a consolidated
for the entire District they prefer tho 70
PROCESSION of the territory OF to Maryland
Senator Spencer has prepared two bills the govern
Of the District-one fixes the relations OF the
United States government TO tho District and pro
vides its government BY Board OF Supervisors and
! Council. Tho other bill provides for ordinary
entire District


The committee to-day decided that the government
Of tho District should be administered by three COM
mlssioners, now. Tho mode OF selection, whether
by apponmcntor election, Is to be decided . SUBJ
scquent meeting


THE REORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY.
Tho Board to arrange plan for tho reorganization OF
the army mot at the War Department today, all the
members being present except Senator West and Rep
resentative Banning. Those who In attend dance
gave their views upon the subject before ihem and
was agreed adjourn until Monday when fuller and
explicit understanding will be had OF the OF
all the members alter which the commission will com.
merce the preparation OF q report
Year: 1876




The State, beyond much doubt, will re-
sumo control of the penitentiary. The
terms of the lease seem to be invalidated,
and the public is chatting under the arrange
ment with the lessees, as j, is now being
carried out. In view of these facts it be-
comes matter of immediate imp, rtance to
establish some plan for dlsposing of the
couvicts to the advantage of the State.
Representative Hutchins, of Hays county,
thinks the convict labor can be temporarily
disposed of for building the International to
the West, and letter has been addressed
TO the yice-president of the company, now
at Palestine, inquiring whether any such
disposition of convict labor can be effected.
The idea is to allow the company to use
this labor, paying for the same with their
non-taxpaying land certificates. This
would, it is claimed, give the State a
chance TO reduce the amount of non-tsx-
paying lands in the State, and permit
the company at once to utilize theil
land grant. OF course no action
can oe taken upon TINS particular PROPOSE
ton until the disposition of the company
is known.


1t seems to US that better plan would
be, upon the States resuming control Of
the convicts, for State board to be com
missioned to hire to companies, prosecuting
works Of internal improvement such
force as may be required. Suct
companies should be required to pay
sufficient cash to feed and cloth.
the convicts, and the wages could either h,
paid in cash or by first mortgage bonds
upon the works Such plan would grad
ually build up large fund in the treasury
Il would be similar 70 the plan adopted be
fore the war Of loaning the school fund y
Year: 1876

The Supreme Court Of Tennessee has set
aside q conviction for murder obtained in Q
singular manner. The marks Of peculiarly
formed naked foot were found near the
body OF the murdered man. At the thai 4
pan Of mud was brought into court and the
prisoner was ordered 20 put his foot into II.
Very naturally he declined to do 30 and
eliminate himself, and the jury accepting
his refusal as a proof Of guilt, convicted
him. The Boston T'rdUelLer suggests thatthis
is perhaps the first instance on record In
which man has put his foot into it" by
refusing TO do 90. al
Year: 1876

The alabama State Journal refers to Mrs.
p. C. Goodwin as lady elecutionist of un-
usual merit. Examples of pure style and
literary selection are of great value in illus
trstng the taste of people, and we always
welcome such development as is indicated
in the following paragraph:


1t requires mind Of strength, as we'll as
a critical judgment of human nature, to in
terpret the language of others "To hold
the mirror up to nature" according to the
Interpretation OF another is not SO easily
done. But We have never witnessed more
faithful conception of some of our leading
authors Than in the reading of Mrs.
P. C. Goodwin Of selections from
Dickens, Poe, LoDgstreet and others.
She has read them diligently and inter-
enjoyed more delightful evening than that
Goodwyn, and We should be 6erelict in our
duty did we not thus publicly add our own
cheerful cOmmendation and applause to
that which she received from her delighted
audience.


There is something almost divine in the
perfection of her renditions. She has, no
doubt, devoted rigid care and study to her
authors. They are as familiar to her as
"household words" Her audience on Mon.
day evening was refined and critical, COM
posed of many of our most cultivated and
h0nOred citizens.


We do not know that the lady proposes
tour in this direction, but she would no
doubt be welcomed by an appreciative and
audience.
Year: 1876


Gather them close to your loving heart


Cradle them on your breast;
They viii soon enough leave your brooding
Soon enough mount youths topmost stair


Little ones in the nest
Fret not that the children's hearts are gay.


That their restless feet will run;
There may come . time in the by and bye
When you'll sit in your lonely room and sigh


For q sound Of childish fun;
When you'll long for q repetition sweet


That sounded through each room.
OF Mother :" Mother" the dear love-calls
That will echo long in the silent halls,


And add to their stately gloom
There may come q time when you'll long tc


The eager. boyish tread,
The tuneless whistle. the clear, shrill shout,
The busy hustle in and out.


And pattering overhead
When the boys and girls are all grown up


And scattered far and wide,
Or gone to the undiscovered shore
Where youth and age come nevermore,


You will miss them from your side.
Then gather them close to your loving heart,


Cradle them on your breast.
They will soon enough leave your broodine
Soon enough mount youths topmost stair


Little ones in the nest