!eTs ........ J!
w 1 fl Tf
AY)I J Y ATES, Editor and Proprkitor.
Term f Siritifn The ee Dollabs, in advance.
CHARLOTTE, N. C, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1868.
SIXTEENTH VOLUME N UMBER 808.
T II E
"Western Democrat
I' l 'UI.IPIIED BY
WILLIAM J. YATES, Editor and Proprietor.
Ti.-r.ms Three Dollars per annum in advance.
Ai rPTt-EMF.NTs. For one square of ten lines or
I,. 1 will he charged for each insertion, unless
kept in fur over one month. Notices of marriages
md death published gratis. Obituary notices of
r.ver five lines in length charged lor at advertising
r.'ites.
Herrings, Mackerel and Cheese.
t Ah&h KOXES SMOKED HERRINGS,
JL H P 10 liarrels No. 1 Ronton Mackerel,
oO Roses Cheese, for sale by
ST EN HOUSE, MACAULAV & CO.
Bagging, Cotton Ties and Rope.
Tl p RALES HKAVV GUNNY RAGGING,
JL 2,1 MM) Elm. Iron Cotton Ties, various patents,
-0 Coils Rope, Mauilla and Hemp,
Vvr Hale by
STENJJOUSE, MACAULAY & CO.
January 27, 18('K.
THE DRUG STORE
OK
Kilgore & Cureton
Has been removed to the Store in Granite Row, next
tu the Express Office.
A large assortment of Fresh Drugs, Chemicals,
Faints. Oils, Dye Stuffs, Perfumery, &c, will be
t. m rid at this new establishment, and will be fold at
s low prices as any other house.
R. F. KILGORE, M. D.
Jan 18D8. T. K. CURETON, M. D.
GARDEN SEEDS,
(NEW CROP,)
At Wholesale and Retail.
A large supply of fresh Garden Seeds, consisting
of t-V'-rv variety of Seeds,
I'eas, Reans. Ac,
White and Red Onion Sets,
Clover Seed, &c, Ac."
Fr sale at SCAR 11 S DRUG STORE.
January 1 1H;S.
Charlotte Female Institute,
IIARLOTTE, N. C.
The present sesr-ion opened on Tuesday the 1st of
October, and will continue until oOth June, 1 8i8.
OFFICERS AND INSTRUCTORS:
Rev. R. Kurwell, Principal and Instructor in Men
tal and Moral Fhilosophy an 1 Ma t heuiat ies.
Jno. 15. r.urwell, A. M., Chemestry, Natural Phi-lo.-ophy
and Ancient Languages.
.Mrs. M. A. F.iirw t 11, English branches and Super
intendent Social iluties.
Prof A. r.ainnaini, Yo.'al and Instrumental Music.
1'rof. II. E. l'igoet, Drawing. Painting and Modern
Laaguajjs.
Miss l iry Ratte. English Rranehes and French.
Mrs Sally Wiiii-. English Rranches.
Miss M:try F. IVn'.i-k. Music on Piano and Guitar.
Mis Ella II. 'arson. Music on Piano.
Terms as heretofore. For Circular and Catalogue
CoiitainliiLr full particulars address.
Hey. H. RURWELL & SON,
Charlotte, N. C.
September 2:1, lSf,7.
COOKING STOVES,
or rui: n::.ii;st and must sipkkiok pattkus.
I. II. HYEKLY. Springs" Ruil ling. Charlotte, N.
'.. h.is fur sale Spear". Anti-Dust Cooking Stoves,"
nliicii. for every variety of cooking and great econ
omy in fii"l, cannot b surpassed by any Stove here
tofore ued.
Every bo-.ly who has used one of these Stoves testify
th.it. tor convenience in cooking, ilurability and clean
liness, they are far preferable to all other patterns.
'all and see them.
lb II. UYEKLY has also on hand a good assort-iii-nt
of Tin. Japan and Sheet-Iron Ware such arti-cl'-i
a are necessary for house-keeping.
TIN-W ARE made to order at short notice on
reasonable terms.
X-V" REPAIRING promptly executed.
" D. H. RYERLY,
Under the Mansion House Ruilding.
March 2"), 1H;7.
SADDLES AND HARNESS.
Robert Shaw & Son,
Third Jhior from ' Mmixioit llouxf.
RESPECTFULLY in
form the public that they
have a large stock of Sad
dles and Harness on hand.
which tliev offer to the
-'mm
SADDLES, HARNESS,
Bridles, Martingales,
t'OLLARS, &c.. will be furnished or made to order.
As we are regular mechanics, we think it will be
to the advantage of all to buy from us. We warrant
our work.
Kt. REPAIRING neatly executed at short notice
an 1 on reasonable terms. R. SHAW.
W. E. SHAW.
Oct. 14, 18u7. Cm
A HALES,
Watchmaker Ok, and Jeweler.
Jut lor to the Mansion House, Charlotte, X. C.
If your Watch needs Repairing,
Don't get mad and goto swearing;
Just take it into HALES' shop.
He will fix it so it will not stop.
He warrants his work all for a year.
When it i used with proper care,
lie will lo it as low as it can Vie done,
And do it so well it's sure to run.
January 1. lSt'.S. y
B. M. Presson,
Keeps everything in the Family Grocery line, and
v ill sell as cheap as the cheapest.
February 10, ISoH.
Catawba English and Classical
HIGH SCHOOL,
XKWTOX, X. c.
The next Session will commence the 1st Monday
in January next. No pains are spared in fitting
pup. U thoroughly for the best Colleges in the country,
an. I in giving them a thorough business education.
.Special attention gWen to Mathematical Tkaisim;.
Tuition per Session of 20 Weeks from $i to $22.50
in currency.
Hoard in families from $8 to $12 per month ; in
.club at about half these prices.
For Circulars and particulars, address J C Clapp
Newton. N. C. J. C. CLAPP. A. 15.
Dec. 9, 18o7. S. M. FINGER, A. B.
Piano Tuning.
1 would resnectfullv inform the eitiien nf "!...
1 v 1 - 1
b:te ami surrounding country that 1 am prepared to
1 une and repair Pianos. Yiolins, Guitars, etc., at the ;
J.... i an-? siuu Mioriesi nonce.
(.'all at R. F Davidson's Furniture Store.
Feb :j, 18tl8 lmpd KDWARD YOERGE.
Ed
2
Setting Out Trees.
A London builder says that if people planting
orchards would give orders to mark the north
side of the trees with red chalk before they are
taken up, and when set out to have the trees put
in the ground with their north side to the north,
in their natural positions, a larger proportion, it
is said, would live; as ignoring this law of nature
is the cause of many transplanted trees dying.
If the north side be exposed to the south, the
heat of the sun is too great for that side of the
tree to bear; therefore, it dries up and decays.
m m
The Crops. The tables in the report of ag
riculture fur January show the average yield per
acre of the crops of 18G7. There is a marked
reduction in Georgia, the Carolinas in corn, and
Virginia in wheat. The average of winter wheat
exhibits an increase in some of the Southern
States; in Xorth Carolina of forty per cent.
Quality of Wool Influenced by Feed.
Sheep prefer upland pasture, and a great variety.
It has been proved that the pasture has a greater
influence than climate on the fineness of the wool.
Fat sheep yield heavier and coarser fleeces The
fine flocks of W extern Pennsylvania, when taken
to the prairies of Western Illinois, in the same
latitude, will, in a few years, change their char
acter. The quality of fleece, and the size of the
sheep will increase, but the fineness of the wool
will not be retained. Sweet or upland herbage
is the best for fine wool. National Agriculturist.
EXCELSIOR.
The iElna Life Insurance Company,
(Col. E A- OSBORNE, Agent at Charlotte,)
Has proved itself to be" one of the solid Institutions
of this country. It was Chartered in May, 1819,
more than 48 years ago, and has survived and
flourished until January, 18C8, after pnying all losses
promptly, and to the large amount oi $17,485.94.17;
and at the Office of the (ieneral Agent in Raleigh has
been paid !?:":,00U to widows and orphans'in the
past two years.
The Official Record for the year 18G7 is gratifying
to the 4o,000 policy holders.
Income for the year jxitt, 5,000.000
Axret irell Srcuntl, 8,000000
Ncir Members Insured, 16,000
The rapid growth of this institution shows that
where it is well known and its system of operations
understood, it is a favorite and highly faxored Com
pany. The Officers and Managers have neither the
time or taste to notice some of the unjust and mali
cious attacks made by one or two rival Companies.
Jly referring to the Report of the Insurance Com
missioners of Massachusetts it will be seen that the
-Ktna's ratio per cent of expenses of cost of new
business is less than that of any other Company :
and that the ratio per cent of increase in assets is
greater than any other Company, and more than 4
times the average of the 42 Companies reported.
Py Insuring in thcUtnayou get nearly twice the
amount of insurance for the same amount of money
that you would by insuring in an all Cash Company.
For instance a man has just $100 to spare annually
for Life Insurance and no more. He wants it to buy
all the insurance he can possibly get in a first class
Company. It buys !?o,000 in an all Cash Company
and $10,000 from a Note Company (50 per cent note).
Now suppose the man dies the first year, his family
gets $". 000 from an all Cash Company, and $9,900
from a Note Company Note being deducted. S. T.
of Kinston. N C, insured in the ..Etna in I860 for
$10,000. He paid in cash SI GG and note $1GH. A
few mouths after he died and his family received
SI 0,000 less his note. Here I will state that only
one Note is ever deducted from the Policy, though
the party may have lived many years. The dividends
prevent an accumulation of Notes, and they are re
turned regularly to the party insuring Had he in
sured in an all Cash Company and paid S1GG his family
would have received only So,0O0. This shows a
difference of nearly S".000 in favor of the yEtna.
Persons contemplating insurance will find it to
their interest to investigate the advantages of the
.Etna. W. H. CROW,
Office Raleigh. N. C, (ien'l Ag't for the State.
Col. E. A. Osborne,
Local Agent at Charlotte, N. C.
January 27, 1808 ow
North Carolina Land Agency.
Having associated myself with Gen. J. D. Imboden,
of the City of Richmond, Ya., to whose card below 1
refer the public, for the sale of Lands. Mines, &c ,
in North Carolina, I invite those persons in the State,
having such property for sale, to address me at Reids
ville, N. C, and steps will be taken, at once, to call
the attention of Northern capitalists to all such pro
perty. D. W. COURTS.
Virginia Central Land Agency.
1 have very recently perfected the organization
necessary to conduct, on the largest scale, the busi
ness of selling
Lands, Mills, Mines, Furnaces & Water-Powers-
My partner. Col. R. J. Page, is in charge of our
ofiice in New York. In Philadelphia and Baltimore,
1 have Associates of the highest respectability and
responsibility.
And for the sale of Lands, Mines, Sic, in Xorth
Carolina, I am associated with I). W. Courts, Esq , of
Reidsville, for many years State Treasurer of N. C.
The facilities this Agency offers for the ale of
Lands are not surpassed in the South. In regard to
Mines of all kinds, I have made contracts with par
tics in the cities North of this, who make that branch
of the business a speciality, both in this country and
Furope, securing to me the widest possible field of
operations, and in thi9 city I have the aid and ser
vices of that accomplished Mineralogist and Assayer,
Col. William Gilliam, for the prompt analysis of all
minerals that may be sent to mc thus determining
the value of all mines, before they are offered for sale.
Tkrms: For selling lands, five per cent commis
sion on all sales actually made, but no chargo what
ever, unless a sale is elfected. For Mines, an addi
tional contingent fee, the subject of contract in each
case, and payable out of proceeds of sale.
Reference is made to public men generally through
out the State, with most of whom 1 have the pleasure
of being personally acquainted.
Feb. 3, 1868 3m J. D. IMBODEN.
State of North Carolina, Mecklenburg County;.
Sufriur Court of Law Xjccial 2'erm, iJrc , 1SG7.
D. G. Maxwell vs. E. S. Wright J. S. Phillips vr
H. P. Ackerman.
It appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that
the defendants in these cases are non-residents of
the State, and cannot be reached by the ordinary
process ef law, it is ordered that publication be made,
for six weeks, in the Western Democrat, a newspaper
published in the city of Charlotte, in the said State,
commanding them personally to be and appear at
the next term of this Honorable Court, to be held at
the Court House in Charlotte, on the 9th Monday
after the 4th Monday in February, A. D , 1808, then
and there to plead, answer, or demur, to the attach
ment in this case, otherwise judgment final will be
entered against them for the amount of the plaintiffs'
debt and costs, and execution issue accordingly
for the same.
Witness. E. A. Osborne. Clerk of our Superior
Court of Law at office, an the 9th Monday after the
4th Monday in August, A. D., 18:;?, and in the 02d
year of American Independence.
Issued Febmarv 17th, 1SG8.
K7-'.vr fadv. $10 E. A. OSBORNE, Clevk.
The Flowers Grape.
WniTEViiXE, N. C, Jan. 30, 1868.
I drop you an item of history in connection
with the Flowers Grape. This grape which is
now so anxiously sought after and extensively
cultivated for wine-making, is a native of Robe
son county, N. C, and was discovered prior to
1816, by Willutm Flowers (Jcnoicn as pipen Hil
ly) in Flowers' Swamp, from whence it derives
its name. In 1816 Mr Giles Williams, who is
now living, visited the parent vine, for the pur
pose of obtaining cuttings or plants. The vine
then had the appearance of being ten or twelve
years old. The precise spot where this famous
grape was first discovered is sixteen miles South
of Lumberton, N. C. From this one parent
vine many thousands of plants have been carried
to all parts of the country, North and South, and
the FlowerstOrape of Kobeson county is now
competing with standard grapes of the old coun
tries. Many thousands of plants and cuttings
of this grape are now shipped by Express and on
the Itailroads every Winter, by the citizens 0
Columbus county, N. C, where this grape is now
more extensively grown than in any other part of
the United States.
Among the many excellences which this grape
has to commend it to wine-makers, " besides ma
king the best wine in the world, is the time oi
ripeniug and the fact that the entire crop ripens
at one time, and never fall from the vineii until
destroyed by frost they must have been frozen
before they fall. Very light frosts do not cause
them to fall. This grape commences ripening in
September, and first changes slowly from its
green state to a dark red or brown color, and con
tinues a gradual change until fully ripe. When
the last of this reddish color disappears around
the stem, the p-ape being coal black, which is
proof of its being quite ripe. The stem itself is
one marked peculiarity which distinguishes this
from any other grape; as the stem ent .-rs the
grape it branches into three prongs, like a tri
pod, which reach near the centre of the fruit,
and never give way or pull out till the grape is
fully ripe. Wine makers who engage in the
business extensively will find this their best, grape,
and while they use the Scuppernong and other
varieties, and have to employ force to pick and
work them, when these are finished up they fiud
the Flowers' all hanging on the vines, waiting,
after all other varieties have been gathered and
worked, so that the hands may not be idle, but
can just be changed over to the Flowers vine
yard, when the best wine will be made last.
Very respectfully,
( 1F7ot. Journal.) . T. S. MEMORY.
Judge Nelson has delivered in the Su
preme Court at Washington, the unanimous de
cision of that body in the Georgia and Missis
sippi cases. It is a very lengthy and exhaustive
opinion, and declares that the court has no juris
diction in cases of a political character between
the general government and individual States.
In effect it gives to Congress complete supremacy
in the political affairs of the country.
State of North Carolina, Mecklenburg County.
Court of Equity, Fall Term, 1867.
R F. Davidson vs. L. R. Smoot and Win. M. Keblinger.
Original Bill.
It appearing upon affidavit that the defendants in
this cause are non-residents of this State, publication
is ordered to be made, for six weeks, in the Charlotte
Democrat, notifying the said defendants, L. R. Smoot
and Wm. M. Keblinger, to appear at the next. Term
of said Court to be held at the Court House in Char-
lotte, on the I'th Monday after the last Monday in
February, 1S68, to plead, answer or demur, or the
Bill will be taken as confessed and heard ex parte.
Witness, Clement Dowd, Clerk and Master of said
Court at office in Charlotte, this 5th February, 1808.
800-Gw adv. $10 C. DOWD, Clerk.
State of North Carolina, Mecklenburg County.
Court of Equity, Fall Term, 1807.
J. M. Davidson vs. L. R. Smoot and W. M. Keblinger
Original Bill.
It appearing upon affidavit that the defendants in
this cause are non-residents of this State, publication
is ordered to be made for six weeks, ;n the Western
Democrat, notifying said defendants, L. R. Smoot
and Wm M. Keblinger to appear at the next Term of
said Court to be held in Charlotte, on the Vtth Monday
after the last Monday in February, 18H8, to plead,
answer or demur to the said Bill, or the same will be
taken as confessed and heard ex parte
Witness, Clement Dowd, Clerk and Master of said
Court at ofiice in Charlotte, this oth February, 1808.
800-Gw adv. $10 C. DOWD, Clerk.
State of North Carolina, Mecklenburg County.
Court of Equity, Fall Term, 1867.
Thos. II. Brem and Wife vs. John Robertson and
Wife and others.
Petition for Sale of Land for Partition.
It appearing to the satisfaction of the Court, that
the defendants, John Robertson and wife Rebecca,
D. D. Oatcs and S. M. Lowrie, reside beyond the
limits of this State, it is ordered that publication be
made, for six weeks, in the Western Democrat, noti
fying said defendants to appear at the next term of
said Court, to be held in Charlotte, on the 9th Mon
day after the last Monday in February, 18C8, to
plead, answer or demur to the complainant's petition,
or the same will be taken pro coufesso and heard ex
parte as to them.
Witness. Clement Dowd, Clerk and Master of said
Court at office in Charlotte, this 5th day of Feb., '0b.
800-6w adv. $10 C. DOWD. Clerk.
B. M . PRESSON,
Wholesale and Retail
OC33 DEL
and Dealer in Family .Supplies,
Trade Sireet, under the Mansion House,
AT THE SIGN OF THE "ELEPHANT."
Lard! Lard!! Lard!!!
Bv recent arrival a very superior lot of Lard at
J BRESSON'S.
Extra Side Bacon.
riease call and examine my Bacon. It is excel
lent, at - PRESSON S.
Good Coffee
Ready sale, at -o cents per pound, at
PRESSONS.
Sugar! Sugar!!
Excellent Sugar at PRESSON S.
Salt! Salt!!
Salt, of the best Liverpool, at PRESSON S.
Crocks, Jugs and Jars.
of them etill left at PREif SON'S.
borne
Bagging! Bagging!!
On sale, extra heavy Guuny-Baggsng at
' ' ' - " - PRESSOR'S..
N. C. CONVENTION
; The following proceedings took place in. the
Convention on Saturday, 15th, on son' 3 impor
tant subjects :
Distillation of Grain Prohibited.
Mr Welker's ordinance, prohibiting the dis
tillation of grain, was reached. The question
recurred on a motion to postpone indefinitely,
made by Mr .McDonald of Chatham. The vote
was taken upon the motion to postpone, which re
sulted : yeas 26, nays 31 not a quorum voting.
Mr Itich then moved, as the former vote was
illegal, to lay the whole matter on the table.
The yeas and nays were called and the vote stood:
yeas 39, nays 55.
'Mr Colgrove moved to amend by inserting
"November, 1868," instead of "January, 1869
Carried. '
Mr Welker moved to strike out the provision
in relation to imprisonment. Carried.
The question recurred upon the adoption of
the ordinance, as amended, and it was adopted.
Bill of Rights The State Debt.
The question recurred upon section 6th, pledg
ing the laith of the State against the repudiation
of the o'd State debt.
M r Tourgee said there was an evident dispo
sition (unintentional, of course,) to misrepresent
him. If any one presumed to differ with them
on this matter, he was called a repudiator. He
bad not taken grounds for such a measure. He
only contended that the debt of an old State,
that had completely lost its Statal organization,
should not be assumed by the new State now
coming into existeuce.
Mr Jones of Washington, said the gentleman
intended to make this Convention a marked era
in his history. He (Tourgee) seemed deter
mined to impress upon this body his code of
morals and his own peculiar philosophy. Mr
Jones then drew a parallel between that gentle
mac and the famous Knight of Wind-mill noto
riety. Mr Jones adverted to the great losses the
State had incurred during the war, saying that
though she had lost her wealth aud her former
hijk rank among other States of the Union, yet
she still clung to, and intended to keep, her
honor unspotted and unstained. Mr Jones
wished to know of the gentleman, if Congress
recognized this as a State, with certain bounda
ries, how did he get the idea that this was not a
State ? In 1861 this State became a part of a
dcu(to government j and her political relations
lotto Federal government were merely suspend
ed during the existence of that tie facto govern
ment. When the South felt unable to carry on
the struggle and the war ended, our functions as
a tate and a part and parcel of the government
were resumed. Every line of the reconstruction
acts, all the language of Congress, treat each one
of these rebellious States as a State with its civil
functions suspended. Hence, those reconstruc
tion acts were to provide a government for those
States, until we frame a Constitution and provide
a civil government for the State. Mr Jones said
the measures of those gentlemen were nothing
more or less than rank repudiation, and, notwith
standing the ingenuity of their arguments, all
the waters of the ocean could not wash out the
damning blot.
Mr McDonald endeavored to speak, but was
ruled out of order by the Chair, and he took his
seat, saying he was always ruled out of order.
After some little talking, Mr McD. was allowed
to occupy the floor, and the gist of his remarks
was that Mr Tourgee had convinced him that
scctiou 6 had no business in the Constitution.
Mr Hodman said he wished to say only a few
words in regard to Mr Tourgee's allusion to our
institutions in regard to slavery. That institu
tion existed in the Northern States before it did
here, and, when abolished there, it was on ac
count of the unprofitableness of the institution,
not on account of morality. And the slaves that
should have been emancipated by the laws of
those States, were brought down South and sold.
Mr R. characterized Mr Tourgee's theory as a
feeble and second hand imitation of that of cer
tain men in the French Revolution. He would
not follow in the wake of those revolutionary
steps. He would never turn his back upon the
example and teachings of those ancestors whom
he revered, as he wished his posterity to respect
him. This was a new era, a conflict between
capital and labor, and he trusted in God that the
laborer would fare as well in this conflict as he
did in the" old.
Mr Heaton closed the debate in favor of the
section, and concluded his remarks by calling the
previous question.
The call was sustained, the section put on its
passage, and the vote stood : yeas 71, nays 9.
The following is the section of the Rill of
Rights as adopted :
Sec. 6. To maintain the honor and good faith
of the State untarnished, the public debt regu
larly contracted before and since the rebellion,
shall be regarded as inviolable and never ques
tioned ; but the State shall never assume or pay
any debt or obligation, incurred in aid of insur
rection or rebellion against the United States, or
any claim for the loss or emancipation of any
slave.
Social Equality.
Sections 25 to 33, inclusive, of the Bill of
Right?, were adopted.
Mr Durham moved to insert an additional sec
tion, to coine between sections 33 and 34, to read
as follows :
"The Caucasian and African races are distinct by
nature and eolor; therefore, all inter-marriages be
tween the Cancasian, or white race, and the African,
or black, are forever prohibited."
Mr Durham called the yeas and nays, and the
Secretary had commenced to call the roll, when
Mr Sweet arose and said that as he, at the time
the amendment was offered, was entitled to the
floor, on a privileged question, he would now
move to lay the amendment on the table.
Mr.Durham called the yeas and nays on that
motion. The House refused to grant them.
Mr Durham said his was an amendment to the
bill itself, aud not to any section, aud that if it
was laid on the table, it would carry the whole
bill with it. He was not surprised to see the
Radicals resort to every dodge to shirk going on
record in this matter. But if they did shirk it,
he would show to the people that they did bo in
the face of all parliamentary law and justice.
The Chair decided the point against 3Ir D.
Mr Sweet's motion to table was then put and
I carried, rirf vvct,
Intemperance as a Disease.
1 The theory that intemnerancA is . dlcoicA
Pwhich has been maintained in a lecture delivered
by Dr. Parrish, of the Asylum for Inebriates in
Delaware county, Pa., lately noticed in our col
umns, has no doubt a good deal of truth in it.
It may be, as the lecturer contends, a hereditary
disease, or implanted by the mother in adminis
tering remedies to her infant, or may be acquired
as other diseases are, through improper diet, &c.
But when Dr. Parrish maintains that the vic
tims of this disease "can no more help it than
they can help an attack of the cholera, yellow
fever or consumption," that it is "a very bad
habit to denounce it as a criuiej to rate it among
the vices," he teaches, in our opinion, what is
false in fact, and most demoralizing and yicious
iu tendency. If we admit the authority of di
vine revelation, drunkenness is a crime and a
vice, and human laws, not less than divine, treat
the drunkard as a responsible moral . agent.
There is no tribunal of justice in the land fthich
would presume to admit the plea of druukenness
in defense or even extenuation of murder, or any
other crime. Though the criminal may be tem
porarily insane, as drunken men generally are,
and therefore may commit acts which he would
not have committed if in full possession of his
senses, yet he is held by the laws to have volun
tarily put himself in that condition, and to be
justly responsible for its consequences. We
should like to seo the advocate who would ven
ture to set up a plea for a murderer who had
taken life in a fit of drunkenness, that "he could
no more help" the condition in which he was
'than he could an attack of cholera, yellow fever
or consumption."
The equity of human and divine laws on this
subject is entirely consistent with the theory
that the appetite for strong drink is often the re
sult of a bodily disease. But it can just as readi
ly be proved that other injurious passions and
appetites of human nature are the result of de
fective physical organization, and often trans
mitted from parents to children. Man is en
dowed with reason, will, and other attributes
and spiritual aids, for the very purpose of con
trolling aud regulating his physical passions, and
therefore is not irresponsible, like the brutes.
When intemperate habits, or any other evil habits,
become formed, they may be irresistible; but, in
forming them every man is a free agent, and it
is worse than nonsense in a public teacher to
proclaim to the youth of the land that intemper
ance is a thing that "can't be helped any more
than cholera or consumption." There is no
such paralysis to the efforts of a man struggling
to resist the peculiar temptations of his nature
as to make him believe or even apprehend that
the tendency he struggles against is irresis
tible. There is no such pretext for those who
wish to go astray as the consolatary idea that
they can't help it; no such inspiration and help
to virtue as the insurance that it can triumph if
it will. The latter-day philosophy, which ia get
ting so much in vogue, that man is a mere nia
chiue, which must run as it was made, commits
the fatal error of ignoring the engineer, whom
the same hand that made the machine has sta
tioned in charge of the works, to avoid collisions,
collapses and running off the track.
At the same time it must be conceded that
those who have permitted themselves by con
firmed habits of indulgence to become the mis
erable victims of the disease of intemperance
ought not to be cut off from human sympathy
and care, and that asylums for inebriates present
the most practical method which has yet been
devised for their relief, and possibly for their re
formation. Baltimore Sun.
Narrow Escape from Death of Two Children.
Every reader remembers the ancient Venetian
legeud best told in Roger's poem "Ginevra"
of the bride who playfully hid away from her
lord on the wedding day in an old oaken, chest.
It closed with a spring, and she was thus en
tombed alive; the mourning friends and inconsol
able lord never saw her face again, and he,
"weary of life,
Flung it away in battle with the Turks."
Years afterwards, when the bride's mysterious
disappearance was almost a fjrgotten tale, the
discovery of a few mouldering bones and ashes
in the fatal chest, with long locks of Jaded hair,
and rings, and wedding trinkets, revealed the
sad story of the doom that had suddenly snatched
her away from happiness, light and lite.
Precisely such a fate two children of a well
known family in this city narrowly escaped on
Wednesday last. They Were at play in a yard
near the dwelling, where a number of boxes and
other things had been placed, among which was
a very large chest with a hasp on the outside,
closing down over a staple so as to be secured in
the old-fashioned style with a padlock.
In their play the children a boy of eight and
his sister of six years got into the chest, and the
lid, which was heavy, fell, and brought the hasp
over the staple, fastening the lid down so secure
ly that a strong man could not have bursted it
open from the iuside.
Near nightfall the mother of the little pris
oners missed them, and not finding them in the
yard, supposed they had, against orders, strayed
into the street. She happened to pass near the
chest, and fancying that she heard a strange,
moaning sound, stooped and opened it, and there,
to her great surprise, she found her little darlings
crushed down by the heavy lid, and so nearly
suffocated that they were speechless. A little
longer, and the chest would have been their
coffin.
The bry, it appears, had a stout and pious
heart; he told his mother that when he fuund
they were fastened iu, he prayed that she might
be sent to open the chest, and he believed that
she had come in answer to his prayer. He then
got out his little pocket-knife and felt about for
the hinges of the chest, which he vainly endeav
ored to cut loose, telling little tister Daisy to
pray in the meantime with allher might. That
boy'ti life was undoubtedly spared to some good
end. Mobile (Ala.) Register Jan. 24.
Daniel Webster in a discussion , on the influ
ence of the Press, spoke as follows : 'Every
parent, whose son is away from home at school,
should supply him with a newspaper. I well
remember what a marked difference there was
between those of my schoolmates who had and
those who had not access to newspapers. The
first were always superior to the laBt in debate,
composition, and general intelligence. '
The Dog Question.
When will our legislators learn wisdom, and
impose a tax on the worthless race of curs ? In
these times of high taxes, when the revenue
needed by the government is so great as to com
pel the imposition of a tax on almost every arti
cle kept either for ornament or use, there is no
good reason why the dog should escape, amid tho
general onslaught of the tax-man if he is an arti
cle, of use, the same as the cow or horse, why
should he be favored more than either of these?
If he is kept for ornament, like gold watches or
pianos, let those who can afford to keep him pay -for
the privilege of possession, the same as for
other useless, worthless, and ornamental ginv
cracks. . :. .... .
A correspondent of r tho Agricultural Depart
ment, thus gives 3 statement of the general opin
ion in many places. ' - "I wish you would urgo
Congress to pass a "dog law." Negroes who
have not a months rations on hand, keep from
two to five worthless curs. My nearest neighbor
has three families living with him, and I am told
there are 15 dogs on the place. As the produc
tion of cotton will probably continue to fall off,
it is important to encourage the growth of wool.
Should the hog cholera continue, and no remedy
be discovered, wc must grow beef and mutton
instead of dogs."
Who can doubt that the wealth of the country
would be increased by millions, by the destruc
tion of all dogs? Statisticians estimate the
number of dogs in the United States to be two
and a half millions ; to feed this vast array must
require no inconsiderable amount.' Allowing to
each two meals per day, worth say three cents
each, and the total cost would be but a trifle
short of fifty-five million dollars per year? a sum
which, if expended for improvements in the way
of railroads, canals, or similar public works, might
be made of incalculable advantage to the coun
try ; but which now, the greater part at any rate,
goes to utter waste. Besides this amount, there
is also a great loss to the country by the dis
couragement to sheep growing, caused by the
ravages of dogs.
In view of all this, I do not over-estimate the
case when I say that the dogs of this country
arc a tax to the people of near one huudred mil
lions of dollars per annum.
Are the blessings of dog-dom commensurate
with their cost 1 Some good qualities they no
doubt have, as we are taught to believe that
"nothing is made in vain," and we may yet find
some purpose that dogs can serve. But, when
their limited services are secured at a price bo
great, do we not "pay dear for our whistle ?" -Amcricun
Stock Journal.
Capt Semmes in Self Defence.
Admiral Raphael Semmes, formerly of the late
Confederate navy, has published a card, from
which we make the following extract :
"The New York Times, I understand, for I
have not sceu the article, is quite merry over
the fact stated by mo iu one of my lectures, that
when I captured the California steamer Ariel I
did not permit the passcugcrs to be despoiled of
any portion of their money or personal effects,
limiting myself to the capture of the steamer aud
her freight. While I struck sturdy and hearty
blows at the commerce of tho cuemy, as was my
duty, this was my constant practice at sea, and
I contrasted, iu the lecture referred to by the
Times, this practice with the shameful robberies
perpetrated by Sherman and his 'bummers' upon
the women and children of the South, burning
from over their heads the houses which shelter
ed them from the storm, and robbing them not
only of their jewelry, but their food and clothing.
Will the Times cease a moment its abusive rbc.
toric and deny the facta stated by me '( If so, I
call upon the five hundred passengers whom I
captured on board the Ariel to contradict it,
Y ill it object to the contrast I have presented of
my own conduct upon the sea where private
property is subject to capture, and the conduct
of the vandals I have mentioned upon the land,
where private property is not subject to capture?
It dare not. It is time, then, that all this sense,
less clamor about the piracies of the Alabama
had ceased. Her commission was as legitimate
as that of Generel Lee, and no one but an ass
will seek to draw any distinction. A slander
ous Northern prep has poisoned the public mind
as to the career of my ship, and believing in the
fairness of the American people, I design at my
leisure, and an opportunity may offer, o present
to my countrymen tho fact dhotiO stubborn,
things at which all the Radical pack, Blanche,
Tray and Sweetheart may bark in chorus, but
not one title of which can they alter."
J5The following marriage anecdote is from
an obliging correspondent at Shelby ville, Indiana:
We had an eccentric old Justice of tkaJVac,
who soon after his first election, was called upon
to unite a couple in the bonds of wedlock. J.
P. was not ported in the ceremony proper for
such an occasion, but nothing daunted, launched
off confidently, thus :
J. P. "Hold up your right hands, both on
you."
The would-be bride and groom, both held up
their right hands.
J. 1. then proceeded as follows: "You and
each on you both do solemnly swear aud promise,
in the presence of all these here witnesses, that
you will both on you love and cherish, honor and
obey each other, tpeak the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing ehe but the truth, so long as ya
both on ye fehall live. So help you God-
Amen."
Then placing one foot on his chair, he threw
himself back on his dignity and ' capped the chV
max" thus:
"Bv virtue of the power and authority yetd
in me by the State of Indiana, 1 do hereby pro
nounce you both on you husband and wife."
m
Tiie Best Advice. The best rule for "hard
times" is to go to work. Get up two hours earlier
in the morning, and stick to your calling, if it is
an honest and useful one. Mind your own busi
ness, and with all your might let other pecple'a
alone. Live within your means. Sell your
fancy horses. Eat and drink with moderation.
Be careful. Be yourself all you would see in
others. Be an honest man work, and nevtr
despair. ' tm ' '
$ST An experienced breeder of ebeep says,
that a number of sheep in any flock wearing
behV, will keep away dog.
0