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About Daily chronicle & sentinel. (Augusta, Ga.) 1837-1876 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 23, 1849)
jfr CHRONICLE & SENTINEL. 3Y WILLIAM S. JONES. BAIL'S TRI-WKEKLY WEEKLY OFKirK BUILDIyo TERMS — l>aily Paper, peran’m,in advancc»Slo Tri- Weekly Paper, “ “ “ *' .. 5 Weekly, (a mammoth sheet) ?“ “ .. 2 CASH SYSTEM. —In nocase willanorderforthe paper be attended to, unless accompanied with the money, and in every instancewhen thetimefor which the subscription may be paid, expires before the re ceipt <»f funds to renew the same, the paper will be Depreciated funds received at valuein this city. From the Pennsylvania Inquirer. The Philosophy of Kindness. A CASK lit POINT. “ Which seeks again those cords to bind Which human woe hath rent apart; To heal again the wounded mind, And bind again the broken heart.” “ The greatest attribute of heaven is mercy, And ’tis the crown ofjustice and the glory, Where it may kill with right, to save with pity.” We recently conversed with an esteemed friend —a gentleman of this city—who, for the last twenty years of his life, has been connect ed with several of our leading charitable insti tutions, and has also for a long period been an inspectorof one of our principal penitentiaries. In alluding to the causes of crime in the great majority of cases, he expressed his conviction that they might be traced to a weakness or ma lady of the mind, amounting to mental imper- I section, though not to positive insanity— to mis fortune, poverty, ignorance, or to intemper ance, evil associations and parental neglect. The cases of cool, calm, thoughtful and de termined crime, of a disposition to go wrong without regard to the laws of God or man, are few and far between. Occasionally such in stances will be found, but they are extremely rare. Almost all, even among the convicted, possess some meritorious traits of character. Many are generous, warm hearted, and would rather suffer for years than betray a benefactor. Harshness, vyhen met by harshness, produces sullenness, obstinacy and bate; while kindness is the key which, in a great majority of cases, unlocks the hearts of even the most hardened. The poor wretch who, after arrest, trial and conviction, is consigned to the cells of the penitentiary, is apt to suppose himselfloathed, contemned and hated by all mankind. He views himself as an outcast and an alien to so ciety, and looks upon the officers of justice as a species of beings who cannot feel for his con dition, and who are utterly dead to his misfor tunes, and who would not believe him, no mat ter how truthful the narrative he might detail. When, therefore, this error is dispelled— when he discovers that even within the gloomy walls of a prison are to be found kind and for giving hearts—officers and inspectors who are disposed to forget the past, and to manifest gen erosity, humanity and mercy, the better feel ings find “vent and way,” the stubborn nature is subdued, the confidence of the convict is won, and, while he deplores and regrets the errors and vices that have hurried him into a disgraceful position, hope revives, forgiveness of God and man is sought, and a resolution is taken to live more correctly for the future. This, we say, is often the effect of kindness. And this is the testimony of the gentleman, whose opportunities of observation have been so ample. But what is the prospect for the felon, who, having served out his first term, is sent forth into the world to commence anew 7 Let us suppose that his fall in the first case was through the force of circumstances, by adversity, by in temperance, pressing and fearful temptation, rather than by any settled and determined prin ciple of crime. Suppose also, that in leaving the walls of the prison, his penitence is sincere, his heart is changed, and his desire and deter mination are to walk correctly and to act up rightly. Will he be cheered on and sustained by his fellow-men7 Will he be encouraged and assisted in the work of reform 7 or, will the world point to him as a convict, whisper words of suspicion and distrust—avoid, shun, and ana thematize him 7 Alas! the latter policy is too often pursued. The victims of misfortune or of guilt are too generally the objects of re proach and of scorn, rather than of sympathy and generous pity. The Christian doctrine in this respect is for gotten and neglected. The spirit of forgive ness is outraged. Man turns away from his fellow man, and mocks at his appeal for assist ance. “ The fallen” are hunted and banned —and their penitence, however sincere, is dis trusted and ridiculed Thus their hearts be come soured, their feelings embittered, their necessities urging and pressing, and they again fall into the ways of temptation, and the meshes of crime. Alas! miserable beings, when de tected and convicted ofa second offence. They are then regarded as among the doomed and the hardened, and they are branded as infamous forver. And yet, even these second offenders might in many cases he saved. We know that it is difficult, in our present state of society, and with the eye of suspicion and the tongue of scandal, so watchful and vi gilant, to assist a fallen sister or an erring broth er, without a liability to censorious remarks. The motive is seldom considered as pure or disinterested. And yet it is the duty of some one to step forward on these occasions—the R solemn and sacred duty. What uobler incen tive than the hope of saving a soul 7 What higher inducement than the glorious reward of winning an erring child of humanity from the wrong to the right path ? How happy must be the consolation of the philanthropist, who, turning the eye ofmemory back upon the past, sees a rescued and now respectable member of society, who would have been lost but for his timely assistance and friendly aid. The occa sions too are so numerous. The poor and the frail are tempted on every side. Not a week, not a day goes by, that hun dreds of human beings do not hesitate at the two paths, tempted by poverty and necessity to choose the wrong, and yet urged by the still, small voice within, to adhere to the right. It is at such moments that kindness, sympathy and assistance are all powerful. Only a few days since, an aged citizen of Philadelphia was waited upon by a stranger, who asked to have a few moments of conversa tion witTi him in private. The opportunity was aiforded with great cheerfulness. The West ern merchant—for such, iu fact, he was —was ushered into the parlor of the Philadelphian, when something iike the following conversa tion took place: “ You seem to forgotten me, Mr. H. ?” “ 1 have an indistinct recollection of having seen you before, and the tone of your voice is not unfamiliar ; but beyond this my memory fails.” ** My name is Charles B and twenty years ago I was an inmate of a Philadelphia prison, of which you were a frequent, a be nevolent, a kind-hearted visitor.” “I remember, I remember,” said the other, brightening, smiling and grasping the hand of the stranger; “you look so well, have improv ed bo greatly, that I hope, nay I feel satisfied that all has gone right with you.” A tear trembled In the eye of the other at so cordial and kindly a recognition ; his voice fail ed for a moment—but then rallying again, he proceeded to tell his story. At the age of fif teen he was a neglected orphan, and with fine natural talents, a cheerful disposition, and a good heart, he was thrown into the society of the vile and dissolute, in one ofihe most wretch ed sections of Philadelphia county. There, in connection with several other lads, equally de serted or misled, he committed, was arrested for, tried and convicted of, petty theft. While in prison he was visited again and again by the Philadelphia philanthropist, who succeeded, not only in eradicating the vicious views he had imbibed, but in showing him the folly of vice, and the certainly of its punish ment, and inspiring him with a determination • to act correctly, the moment he should be re i leased. The visitor was satisfied with his sin cerity, and gradually took a deep interest in hiscase. At the expiration of his sentence, he r provided him with means, and having stated all the facts in a confidential manner to a friend in the West, obtained him a situation in a flour -3 ishing city of that section of the Union. The 1 youth was overwhelmed with gratitude. He 2 had found a friend for the first time in his brief career. His course from that moment was on l ward. He speedily won the confidence of his , employer, on whose death, ten years thereafter, he succeeded to a large share in his business. . “lam now,” he said, “an equal partner in i the reputable and prosperous house of &. Co., of , and I have visited Philadelphia, not only on businesss, but with the object of seeking out and returning my heart-warm ac knowledgments to my early, my ever cherish ed, ray often remembered benefactor.” The old merchant wept with joy at such a reform, and acknowledged that this single inci dent had repaid him for the hours and days and weeks he had devoted, always prayerfully, to the blessed cause of kindness and prison re form. £S)nmide auif Sentinel. AUGUSTA, GA; TUESDAY MORNING, OCT. 83, 1849 Free Schools. We believe that we can do our readers and the State of Georgia no better service than to throw w r hat light we may on the subject of free, Common Schools. If all the citizens of this Commonwealth can not well enjoy the price less advantages of these institutions, a large majority of them surely may. Free Schools should be so organized and supported that no tax whatever shall fall on property and citizens not directly benefilted by the same. This arrangement is not only just in itself, but it will avoid much opposition to the system which would be likely either to de stroy it outright, or greatly impair its usefulness. Experience has demonstrated the superiority of free shools over all others, in every State and county where they have been fairly maintained. This fact will have much weight with persons who regard experience, and the long testing of the two systems side by side, as furnishing conclusive evidence of merit. In thecitiesand villagesofNew York Schools of this description have been in opera tion several years, and with most satisfactory results. The system is soon to be extended to each of the eleven thousand school dis tricts in the State. As the law and manner of doing this will fill not much space in our col umns, we copy the act below and commend it to the attention ofthe friends of popular edu cation: NEW FREE SCHOOL LAW.—CHAP. 140. An Act establishing Piee Schools throughout the State ; passed March 26, 1849, “ Three-fifths be ing present.” 'Phe People of the State of New York , repre sented in Senate and Assembly , do enact as fol lows : —Sec. 1, Common Schools in the several school districts in this State shall be free to all persons residing in the district, over five, and under twenty one years of age. Persons not residents of a district may be admitted into the schools kept therein, with the approbation, in writing, of the trustees thereof, or a majority of them. Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the several boards of supervisors at their annual meeting, to cause to be levied and collected from their respective counties, in the same manner as county taxes, a sum equal to the amount of state school moneys apportioned to such counties, and to apportion the same among the towns and cities in the same manner as the moneys receiv ed from the state are apportioned. They shall also cause to be levied and collected from each of the towns in their respective counties, in the same man ner as other town taxes, a sura equal to the amount of state school moneys apportioned to said towns re spectively. Sec. 3. The trustees of each school district wiihin thirty, and not less than fifteen days preceding the time for holding the annual district meeting in each year, shall prepare an estimate of the amount of mo ney necessary to be raised in the district for the en suing year, for the payment of the debts and expen ses to be incurred by said district for fuel, furniture, school apparatus, repairs, and insurance of school house, contingent expenses, and teachers’ wages, ex clusive of the public money and the money required by law to be raised by the counties and towns, and the income of local funds, and shall cause printed or written notices thereof to be posted for two weeks previous to said meeting upon the school-house door, and in three or more of the most public places of said district. The trustees shall present such estimate to such meeting, and the voters present who are of full age, residing in such school district, and entitled to hold land in this state, who own or lease real proper ty in such district, subject to taxation for school pur poses, or who shall have paid any district tax within two years preceding, or who owns any personal pro perty liable to be taxed for school purposes in such district, exceeding fifty dollars in value, exclusive of such as is exempt from executions and no others, shall vote thereon for each item separately, and so much of said estimate as shall be approved by a majority of such voters present, shall be Levied and raised by tax on said district, in the same manner as other dis trict taxes are now by law levied and collected. Dis trict collectors shall in all cases, before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, give security to the satisfaction of the trustees, for the faithful dis charge of their duties; and all moneys collected by them shall be paid to the trustees of their respective districts. Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the collector, upon receiving his warrant, for two successive weeks, to receive such taxes as may be voluntarily paid to him; and in case the whole amount shall not be so paid in, the collector shall forthwith proceed to collect the same. He shall receive for his services, on all sums paid as aforesaid, one per cent., and upon all sums collected by him after the expiration of the time men tioned, five per cent.; and in case a levy and sale shall be necessarily made by such collector, he shall be entitled to travelling fees at the rate of six cents per mile, to be computed from the school-house in such district. Sec. 5. If the trustees shall neglect to prepare the said estimate within the time herein limited, or shall neglect to post the required notice, it shall be lawful for the meeting to adjourn to such other time as will be sufficient to prepare the said estimate and give the said notice. Sec. 6. When the said voters of any district at their annual meeting shall refuse or neglect to raise by tax a sum of money, which added to the public money, and the money raised by county and towns will support a school in said district for at least four months in a year, keep the school-house in proper re pair and furnish the necessary fuel,, then it shall be the duty of said trustees to repair the school-house, pur chase the necessary fuel, and employ a teacher for four months, and the expense shall be levied and collected in the manner provided in the third section of this act. Sec. 7. Free and gratuitous education shall be giv en to each pupil, in each of the common, public, ward and district schools in the respective cities of this state, now incorporated or hereafter to be incorporated, including the schools of the public school society in the city of New York, according to any law now in force in said cities. And by each city, where such free and gratuitous education is not already establish ed, laws and ordinances may and shall without delay be passed providing for, and for securing and sus taining the system in each of their common, public, ward or district schools. Sec. 8. All laws and parts of laws inconsistent with the provisions of this act, other than those rela ting to free schools in any cities in this state are here by repealed. Sec. 9. In case any trustee or other school district officer shall use any money in his hands belonging to such district, and shall not apply the same as directed by law # he shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be punished by fine, not exceeding five hundred dollars, or be imprisoned in a county jail not exceeding six months, or by both buch fine and imprisonment. Sec. 10. The electors shall determine by ballot at i the annual election to be held in November next, whether this act, shall or shall not become a Jaw. Sec. 11. It shall be the duty of the state superin i tendent of common schools to prepare and furnish to the several town clerks in this state, forms of the I poll lists, returns and other necessary proceedings to carry into effect this act, and he shall also furnish, at the expense of the state, to each school district in the state five copies of this act with the forms prepared by > him. ! Sec. 12. The ballots to be deposited in the ballot 7 box shall be in the following form. Those cast in fa vor of the adoption of this act shall contain the follow i ing words: SCHOOL. FOR THE NEW SCHOOL LAW. Those cast against the adoption of this act, shall contain the following words ; SCHOOL. AGAINST THE NEW SCHOOL LAW. And the ballots shall be so folded ps to conceal all the words except the word schc A, which latter word shall not be concealed, but shall appear on the ballot as folded. Sec. 13. The inspectors of election in the several election districts shall furnish aseparete ballot box into which shall be placed all the ballots given for or against the new school law. The inspectors shall canvass the ballots and make return thereof in the same man ner as votes given for the office of the governor and lieutenant governor are by law canvassed and re turned. Sec. 14. In case a majority of all the votes in the State shall be cast against the new school law, this jict shall be null and void: and in case a majority of all the votes in the State shall be cast for the new school law, then this act shall become a law and shall take effect immediately. The following is the third Section of an act amend ing the foregoing act: Sec. 3. The trustees of any school district, or a majority of them, may at any time after the adoption of the act by the people, and prior to the first annual meeting thereafter, if they deem it necessary, call a special meeting for the purpose mentioned in the third section of said act, and notice of the same shall be given at the srme time and in the same manner as is required by said section in relation to the estimates therein mentioned. We venture to predict that three-fourths of the votes cast in the State at the approach ing election will be in favor of Free Schools. Georgia Railroads. “ The large investments which the people of Geor gia have made in extending their railroad communi cations from the seaboard to the interior, have proved a most judicious outlay. Already the traffic on the road is yielding a handsome return, and the increased value of property is everywhere apparent. The pro perty of Savannah has been greatly advanced by these communications, and the interior counties have shared fully in the advantages of the improved mode of intercourse. The railroads leading to Savannah will soon reach the navigable waters that flow into the Mississippi, and when this is accomplished a great increase ot business must follow. The Georgia rail roads are built in a most substantial manner, and laid with heavy iron. If it requires some boldness to project railroads through the populous valleys of New England, swarming with inhabitants, rich in busi ness and resources, and sure of a great local travel, it is certainly a much greater undertaking to push these vast arms of internal commerce into the interior of a sparsely settled agricultural and where they must depend upon the long travel and upon mer chandize for their main support, until the roads them selves build up a business around them, “This the people of Georgia have done, and their honorable enterprise has long ceased to be an experi ment. Its success and its results have surpassed the hopes that were formed of it, and will continue to add, in an increasing ratio, to the wealth and power of the State.”— Railroad Journal. There are those among us who affect to be lieve that it is better for the interests, and more to the honor of Georgia, to send her citizens, her laborers and her capital to New Mexico or California, never to return, than to retain them to construct and support railroads, flourishing cities and villages, in this sparsely settled State. Our opinion is that, it has neither citizens, talent, enterprize, slaves nor other property, to spare. Suppose we export the half of each of these elements of wealth and of civilization now in the State of Georgia ; and that they settle permanently west of the Rio Grande. What will this commonwealth gain by their expatriation, except more deserted plantations —moredilapidated school-houses and churches, more broken bridges and other evidences of decay ? With less than a million of inhabi tants to nearly fifty millions of acres of tillable land, the major part of which is a state of na ture, we have neither men nor capital of any kind to spare, if we intend to improve, not de solate and finally abandon this beautiful por tion of the American continent. New York Democracy. —The Evening Post copies and endorses a letter from Joshua Leavitt, a celebrated member of the Free Soil party, which contains some slight revelation of the policy the Free Snilers intend to establish through the coalition. Joshua writes upon this point as follows ; “ I have made inquiries until I am fully satis fied that our friends in the Stale of New York are sound and true, bold and wise; that they have neither deserted us nor the Buffalo plat form, nor the Free Soil party ; andltaat they will stand wiih us, shoulder to shoulder, until vic tory crowns our efforts in the freedom of our country from its worst evil and greatest dan ger. They have been called to act in an occa sion calling for the exercise of the most con summate political skill and courage ; and they believe that they have been carried through the difficulty as the skilful mariner, who makes even cross currents and adverse gales speed his ship to port. They know what they are about, and are abundantly responsible for what they do. Let us wait and judge by the result. If they should be disappointed in the issue (which I think hardly possible), they are pledged to stand by the Free Soil cause, and they will do so, be the cost what it may. But if they succeed (as I think they will,) you can judge as well as I, how much advantage it will be in 1852, to have the Empire State already enlisted in our ranks.” These abolition and free-soil hopes are doom ed to disappointment. The coalition will fail, as the ides of November will soon verify. From Hayti.—Schooner William Putnam, Capt. Cook, from Aux Cayes Sept. 21st, at this port, with logwood, re[ trts that the island remained quiet so far under the imperial away. Capt. Cook states that twelve years ago the condition of the<blacks was enviable compared with their present state ; and that during that period their deterioration has been de plorable. When Capt. Cook arrived there was said to be not more than 40 barrels of flour in the place ; bread was also very scarce. The new crop of coffee came in slowly, and was exceedingly hard to be got. —Boston Post. Such are the natural effects of premature emancipation. England has inflicted almost irreparable injury on both races in her West India Colonies by her hot-haste to change slaves into hirelings. In the latter condition, they refuse to work, preferring to beg or steal to labor for wages. There is, of course, no law to compel negroes to work on any island where they are free. Florida Election. —ln this State (says the Tallahassee Floridian of the 13th instant) there were five Senatorial vacancies to fill. In those districts, the Whigs had four, and the Democrats one. The result of the election is a gain for the latter of three. This gives the Democrats a majority of one in the Senate. Hon. Jared Sparks has resigned the pro fessorship of History in Harvard University, which he filled previously to his election as President of that Institution, » A Fire broke out last night about 12 o’clock, in the Carpenter Shop of Mr. Goodrich, j which it entirely destroyed. i —— ) A Tragical Event. Bennett Dozier an inmate of the Hospital r to this city, said to be laoormg under delirium tremens, stabbed and killed Mr. Thomas Hada [ way and severely wounded the Keeper of the Hospital, Mr. Charles T. Rich, yester day) morning. Dozier has been arrested. Mr. Rich, we are happy to learn is likely to recover. I Mr. Hadaway was 23 yeais of age and leaves a wife to mourn his sudden and tragical death. This deplorable casualty results from the barbarous practice of carrying knives and oth t er weapons, which every good citizen in the community should discountenance. I Mansion House. Messrs. Hogrefe & Schneider open their new and elegant establishment to-day, and in vite their friends to give them a call at 11, A. M. We invite attention to their card. The drawing of the Georgia State Lottery, ■ Regular Class 24, will take place at the corner of Broad and Washington-sts., This After noon at 4 o’clock. See advertisement. The Western Mail failed yesterday be yond Atlanta, owing probably to the high water caused by the recent heavy rains, which have been very general throughout the country. one of the two Northern mails due came to hand last night. The New York papers continue their telegraphic accounts by the Niagara, but they do not differ from those we have already given. We find but little other news of interest. Much interest attaches to the action of the Convention now sitting in Kentucky to revise the Constitution of that State especially in re gard to its treatment of the Slavery question. We find the following paragraph concerning it in the Editorial correspondence of the Louis ville Journal: “ The committee on slavery have agreed to report the provisions on that subject of the old constitution, exceptas to emancipation. They propose that masters shall not emancipate their slaves upon the soil, but shall be bound to re move their emancipated slaves. This will nearly put an end to emancipation, for few slaves will be willing to have freedom on these terms, and few masters will compel their slaves to take freedom on terms that would make the boon an injury. The committee will not pro pose the incorporation of the negro law in the constitution. The same committee is charged with the subject of the mode of amending the constitution, but they are not yet prepared to report on the subject.” Correspondence of the Charleston Courier. Washington, Oct. 17. —Among the stran gers in the city to-day, were Vice President Fillmore, Governor Johnson and Mr. Lewis, of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Holmes and Mr. Colcnck, of South Carolina. From present appearances the city will doubtless be thronged with visiters, and persons connected with the Government. The old residents say ihat it will not be what was formerly called a gay sea son, for there will be but few persons here, who will be inclined to venture upon balls, suppers, and soirees. All eyes are now turn ed upon the new Congress. Their tone in regard to general politics and party questions, cannot be fixed until they have met here and consulted. The Senate will be jealous and watchful, and will scrutinise appointments and removals. The nominee will often be rejected, not so much on account of his own demerits, as of the merits attributed to his predecessor. Arrangements have been made, as I under stand, to contend for an independent organiza tion of the House, in opposition to a party or ganization, such aswauld be dictated by either a Whig or Democratic caucus. The reluctance of Mr. Clayton, to make even a partial disclosure of his instructions to our ministers to England and Central America, in regard to the Musquito question, has sur prised and puzzed both his friends and oppo nents. He has, at length, however, given the public to understand that he has authorized those Ministers to declare the purpose of the United States Government, to resist any new acquisition, by any foreign power, of territory, on this continent. Lord Palmerston appears to be equally decided with Mr. Clayton, on this question. The New Partner of the Barings.— Merrimac, the worthy and well informed Bos ton correspondent of the Newburyport Herald says; The mercantile class here have been quite gratified to learn, that Mr. Russell Sturgis of this city, while in London on his way overland to India, received very liberal overtures from the banking house of the Barings, to become a partner in that celebrated establishment, and has accepted the offer. It is understood that Mr. Sturgis will be the reception partner, the position occupied by Mr. Joshua Bates for ma ny years. Mr. Sturgis has resided in India in former j/ears; he is one of the numerous fami ly bearing the name, who hail from New Eng land, and whose sagacity and enterprise have been strikingly manifest during the last half century, as they have been the pioneers to new marts of commerce, and have been respected at home and abroad for mercantile honor and integrity. Anderson, S. C.—The prospects of our vil lage are brightening every day. Although the sudden denouement of a portion of the Direction of the Greenville & Columbia Rail road Company in favor of an offset at Dr. Brown’s, cast a damper over our spirits ; yet it was only momentary, and annually produced no faltering among our citizens in their plans of improvement. We are certain of a Rail road, and that soon, —the trade of the surround ing country will do the balance for us. Our buildings of recent construction, will compare favorably, in.point ot elegance and durability, with those of any other town in the back country. The two Hotels on the public square, are stately buildings, of suffi cient dimensions to accommodate a large num ber of boarders. Brick Range is universally admired for the taste exhibited in the design and execution. Two of our young townsmen, (merchants) have it in contemplation to erect dwelling houses in the course of the ensuing winter and spring, on the street leading to wards Andersonville, near the Presbyterian church, with the style and dimensions of which we are well pleased. Building materials of every description are in demand. An indus trious mechanic told us the other day that ho had moulded and burnt a lot of 550,000 bricks since last spring court, most of them already bespoke. We do not know of a single vacant house that can be obtained for the next year. All are occupied or engaged.— Anderson Ga zette. The Steam Ship Ohio. —This steam ship was seen on the Bar, by one of our pilots, about 4 o’clock on Saturday morning The weather at that time was very foggy, and she proceeded on, as a Telegraphic dispatch from savannah gives us the intelligence that she landed and received her mails at that port, at 5 P. M. on Saturday. A steamer was sent out from here with the mails on Friday and Satur day last, but did not fall in with the Ohio.—she therefore missed taking on the mails from this place. We are informed that the Post-Master will forward this morning by the land route to New Orleans, the mails for California, from which place they will betaken by the steam •hip Falcon, for Chagres. The’Havana Mail will remain here until the first of next month, to be forwarded by the steam ship Isabel.- 1 Charleston Courier, 22d inst. ’ From the Baltimore American —By Telegraph. ’ Tlie Railroad Convention at St. I.oiilg. St. Louis, October 16. Phe Convention assembled at twelve o’clock 1 yesterday, and was organized by the appoint* i ruent of Judge Ellis, of Vincennes, as tempo rary chairman. A committee of one from each State was ap -3 pointed to designate officers of the Conven * tion, after which it adjourned until 9 o’clock . this morning. There is a very full attendance. At 9 o’clock this morning the committee, 3 pursuant to adjournment, reported as perma nent officers for the Convention the following * named gentlemen: A. Douglass, of Illinois, President. L. Totten, of Penn.; S. Foster, of Ohio; 3 Samuel Emmerson, of Ind. ; H. J. Easton, of Kentucky; J. Williams, of Iowa; C. Brane ker, of Wisconsin; Henry S. Geyer. of Mis souri; J. Riddle, of Michigan; B. K. Williams, r of New York; Bryce Stewart, of Tennessee, Vice Presidents. W. G. Minor and A. B. Chambers, of Mis souri, A. S. Stewart, of Illinois, and W. H. Wallace, of lowa, Secretaries. * The Hon. A. Douglass was conducted to the , chair; he delivered a short but eloquent speech, r There was much discussion on a motion ■ from the chair to appoint a committee on reso lutions. The motion was finally carried, and the chair appointed three from each State. The resolution having been introduced call i ing on Congress to act promptly in relation to the Pacific Railroad, Mr. Benton rose and read a letter just received from Col. Fremont, eta > ting that the convention should designate no road across the Rocky Mountains. He believ ed the pass between the head of the Arkansas and the Del Norte the most practicable and 1 nearest to the Pacific. Gen. Smith had sent out an exploring party with a view to report a route before the termination of the next Con gress. He dwelt long and eloquently on the importance and nationality of the road. He was repeatedly and loudly cheered. There are four hundred and sixty-four dele gates present from Missouri; 17 from Penn sylvania; 3 from New York; 20 from Ohio; 13 from Tennessee ; 35 from Indiana; 3 from Kentucky; 264 from Illinois; 47 from Iowa; 3 from Wisconsin, and 5 from Michigan. After the recess, and on the re-asserabling of the Convention, Mr. Lathrop was admitted as a Vice President, being a delegate from Lou isiana. A resolution was passed, that a committee of one be appointed from each State, to draft a memorial to Congress, presenting the objects designed by the Convention. Judge Birch presented a resolution recom mending the fourth parallel of latitude as the best route for the proposed railroad. He was replied to by Governor King, of Mis souri, very warmly. The project being, he said, opposed to that of Benton. A political division of the Democratic dele gates from Missouri here manifested itself. Mr. Clarke, of Missouri, interfered to quell dispute, and was followed in the most forcible manner by Judge Williams. On motion of Mr. Lathrop, of Louisiana, the resolution was laid on the table, and harmony was temporarily restored. Letters from distinguished persons in various parts of the Union were read and ordered to be printed. The report of ihe Topographical Engineers on the various routes were referred to a com mittee, and the Convention adjourned. Second Despatch—October 17.—The Delega tions from Virginia and New Jersey arrived to-day. Lieut More, of Virginia, and Robert Chambers, of New Jersey, were announced as Vice Presidents from those States. Various resolutions touching the routes, were referred to the Committee on Resolu tions. A resolution was introduced, asking that Congress should be memorialized, to favor the immediate commencement of the road, at a point west of the States, and continued to San Francisco. The resolution, caused quite an excitement, and Senator Smith, of lowa, opposed the re solution in a speech of an hour’s length, setting forth its impracticability. He said if it was un constitutional for Congress to have authorized the construction of the whole road, Congress should he memorialized to amend, so as to meet the object in view. Mr. Douglass is ausweriug, Mr. Smith, at length. During the debate, allusions having been made to views expressed by the President of the Convention at amass meeting, held last night, caused him to resign his seat, and Mr. Henry S. Geyer, Vice President, of Missouri, was installed President of the Convention. Joseph P. Elder, of Maryland, was appoint ed a Vice President from that Slate. Mr. Darsie, of Pennsylvania, was appointed President of the Convention, vice Mr. Geyer, withdrawn. Franklin Steele was appointed Vice-Presi dent, from Minnesota. The committee on resolutions reported a se' ries of resolutions for the consideration of the convention, setting forth that the object and spirit of the convention were truly national subserving neither party, sectional, or local in terest, and recommending that Congress make immediate provision for constructing a great trunk road to the Pacific, in California, with a branch for Oregon, from such point on the Mississippi frontier, as may be found eligible — that all eastern lines now tending west may be considered part of the same—that Congress es- 4 tabliah posts on the route for the protection of and emigrants, and that grants of land be made encouraging population—that Con gress be memorialized to construct telegraph lines on the route —that a committee of five be appointed by the chair to prepare and publish an address—that the people of the Union urge incorporation, and the procuring action of Congress. Hon. J. W. Thompson, of Indiana, address ed the Convention in an eloquent manner for two hours on the resolutions, and offered the following amendment: That the grand trunk Railroad be constructed with branches to St. Louis, Memphis and Chicago, and that a com mittee of fifty be sent to the Memphis Conven tion, requesting the co-operation of that body. The resolution, re-amended, passed unani mously. Third despatch — Oct. 18.—The great Rail Road Convention adjourned at noon to-day, to re-assemble at Philadelphia in April next. The Convention adopted resolutions recom mending the Memphis Convention to do the same. Senator Benton is expected to deliver an Ad dress to the citizens of St. Louis to-night. The Weather. —.For some lime past, the weather has been of a variable character, and there were several days within the past fort night, so cool that an early frost was looked for, and indeed daily calculated on by most per sons. It afterwards moderated, and on Satur day became warm. In the afternoon, it rained heavily for a short time, and during the course of that night and yesterday forenoon there were frequent and heavy showers, and no ap pearance of clearing up last evening. The Thermometer, at 7P. M., stood at 77. There are hopes that after this rain, the weather may become cold, and Jack Frost make his appear ance. He would be welcomed with gratifica tion, as the exterminator of the fever. After writing the above, we have to state that rain again commenced falling, and at 12 o’clock last night, there was no prospect of a cessation. — Charleston Courier, 22 d inst. Gen. Duff Green, it is stated, has gone to Nashville, to get the Legislature to grant him Banking privileges, to enable him to raise the means to continue his work on the East Ten nessee and Georgia Railroad. Items. We arc informed that the Bank of the State of Missouri to-day refused to redeem some five thousand dollars of their notes in the legal currency of the United States. The bank in sisted upon the right to pay out foreign coin in the redemption of their own bills, at the same rates at which they receive them on de posite, and refused to pay them out by weight. The right of the bank to do this was question ed, and the notary making the demand refused to accept foreign coirs in payment except by weight, as established by the laws ofCongress. It is well known that much of the foreign coin in circulation is received, and passes in ordina r ry transactions for more than its legal value by ' weight, which in large cash operations becomes an important item.— St. Louis New Era, 6th inst. » f Death of Professor Catlin. —We regret to announce the death of this distinguished mem ber of the taculty of Hamilton College, where , he had for many year been at the head of the mathematical department. He died on Thurs day night of dysentery, after an illness of a bout seven days.— N. Y. Com. Adv. United States Sloop of War Preble. —By a letter from San Francisco, we learn tna. the U. S. sloop of war Preble was spoken hy the Ohio, about the 10th of July, in longitude 144 44 W., latitude 38 15 N. She had been out 60 days from China, and out of a complement of 150 men, 44 were sick with a violent form of dysentery ; 16 had died on the passage and 14 were not expected to live. Capt. Strib bling of the Ohio, ordered the Preble to be taken to the Sandwich Islands. — Philadelphia American. Good News to a St. Louis Mechanic. —A Mr. John C. Carey, of our city, who has. for the past four or five years labored incessantly at the carpenter’s business, and who has never been able to earn more than the necessaries of life, called for and received a letter a few days since, from Pennsylvania, containing the joy ful intelligence that he was the only heir to an estate valued at from SIOO,OOO to $200,000. — St. Louis New Era. Sugar Loaf Cotton. —Capt. Wiley Harri son, of this District, has exhibited to us speci mens of this new species of cotton, which may be seen at the Post OlHce, and at the store of M essrs Christie & Williams, of this place. The yield of the cotton is certainly more than that of the ordinary cotton of the country. On one branch, containing two little prongs, we counted a dozen bolls The staple is said, ■ also, to be superior.— Edgefield Advertiser. Mr. Ewing left the seat of government yes terday morning on a short visit to Ohio, and D. C. Goddard, Esq., chief clerk, is appointed by the President acting Secretary of the Interior. Washington Republic. The Attorney General, Mr. Johnson, who has been confined to his house for more than two weeks by severe illness, has so far recov ered, we are happy to learn, as to be’able to travel, and has, by the advice of his physician, left town for his country seat near Baltimore, where it is hoped he will soon recover his health and strength.— Nat. Intel. Appeal of Americans in behalf of Kos suth. —Some eighteen or twenty Americans in Paris have united in an earnest letter to Mr. Carr, the American representative at Constan* tinople, urging him to do what he can to sus tain the Sultan in his refusal to surrender the Hungarian refugees, and to offer them a shel ter in our Mediterranean fleet. A pamphlet recently published at Boston furnishes some interesting statistics respecting the distribution of capital in Boston and in Massachusetts. It appears that there are two hundred and twenty-four individuals in Boston who are worth in the aggregate $71,855.000; the average wealth of these individuals is $321,- 781, and it is generally supposed that this esti mate is below, rather than above the truth.— The assessors’ valuation of the property in Massachusetts in 1840, was $299,880,338; it would appear therefore by the above estimate that —allowing three thousand other individ uals in the State to be worth each $30,000, which from statements given appears to be the fact—three thousand two hundred and twentv four individuals own more than half of all tlie property in the State, A Splendid Brussels Carpet was, last Saturday, shipped at New York for Washing ton. It is for the President. It contained 500 yards and cost $3 per yard, and is to go on the reception room of the White House. The ma terial, having been purchased, was sent to the Apollo Rooms to be matched and joined. The pattern was as fine as'the material was rich. Advices from Port an Prince to the 20th ult. received at Philadelphia, state that in order to do away with some discontent which existed among the merchants, the Government had resolved upon the bold step of closing the ports of Miragoane, St. Mary and Port Paix, against all imports and exports in foreign ves sels, at the expiration of thirty days after the issue of the Imperial decree. The measure gave great dissatisfaction, but was not likely to be repealed. Exercise. — Fresh Air — Health. —Down ing's Horticulturist expatiates on the advantage to our women of often seeking the air and using abundant exercise, as the true means ofpreserv ing health and imparting to beauty a more cap tivating freshness. An excellent article hereon finishes thus; A word or two more, and upon what ought to be the most important argument to all. Exer cise, fresh air, health-are they not almost sy nonymous? The exquisite bloom on the cheeks of American girls fade in the matron much soon - er here than in England-not only beca use of the softness of the English climate as many sup pose. It is because exercise, so necessary to the maintenance of health, is so little a matter of habit and education here, and so largely insisted upon in England; and it is because exercise, when taken here at all, is too often as a matter of duty : and has no soul in it; while the English woman who takes a lively interest in her rural employments, inhales new life in every day’s occupation, and plants perpetual roses in her cheeus, by the mere act of planting themin her garden. A Wife in Trouble.—“ Pray tell me my dear, what is the cause of those tears?” “ Oh, such a disgrace i” “ What—what is it, my dear? Don’t keen me in suspense!” “ Why I have opened one of your letters, supposing it addressed to myself. Certainly it looked more like Mrs. than’Mr.” “Is that all? What harm can there be in a wife’s opening her husband’s letters?” “N o harm in the thing itself. But the con tents! Such a disgrace !” “What! has any one dared to write me a letter unfit to be read by my wife ?” “Oh, no. It is couched in the most chaste and gentlemanly language. But the contents! the contents!” Here the wife buried her face in her hand kerchief, and commenced sobbing aloud, while the husband eagerly caught up the letter and commenced reading the epistle that had been the means of nearly breaking his wife’s heart. It was a bill from the printer for nine years’ subscription ! Turkish Method of Treating Horses.— The late Commodore Porter, when envoy of the United Statesat Constantinople, had a horse cured offounder by a Turkish farrier in the fol lowing manner; “The Turk said the horse must be bled in the inside "f his diseased leg, He put a nipper on his nose to keep him steady -then took up the left leg. and crossing it over the gave it to an attendant; he then struck his lancet into the vein, a little above the fetlock joint, and toofc from it about three and a half pounds of blood. The vein bled freely. He now said he had taken enough;he then went to the very opposite side of the leg, and striking
