Newspaper Page Text
mer friends, it will be by these canons that
they will judge him. They will not permit
him to form new and false issues. Their gul
libility « not equal to that.
In his zeal to defend Mr. Van Barer, and
the Democrats from abolitionism the Judge
is mindful to forget the manifold errors and
abuses of the Federal administration,—Us
levelling principles—its abuse of the doctrine
of instruction—its war upon credit, com
merce and trade—its new device for a stand
ing army—its imbecile conduct of the Florida
\Var, and its increase of nationaljexpenditure,
since Mr. Adama day, from twelve to neatly
forty millions. The people will not foiget
these things. I have endeavored to review
this circular in the light of truth and soberness.
Jud"e C’s. departure from us, is to me, cause
of no feeling but regret. I conclude with the
exhortation to him, of an ancient Philosopher
to his pupil: “when you would write, first
think—examine facts before you make infer
ences; and canvass both sides of a question
before you pronounce judgement.
VAN BCREN now and alwavs an abolitionist.
The following abstract from the proceed
ings of Congress, on the 12th inst., in the case
ofLieutenant Hooe, U. &. Navy, shows Mr.
Van Buren’s real opinion on the subject of sla
very.
He is loud and eloquent in denouncing ab
olitionists ; but mark how his denunciations
accord with his practice. A brave and high-
minded officer of our gallant navy is convic
ted, and consigned to ignominy, on the testi
mony of two negro witnesses. He objects to
such testimony, and appeals to the President
of the United "States for redress. The Presi
dent finds nothing in the proceedings which re
quires his interference. Will the South sanc
tion such am outrage upon their feelings as
this ] A white man, a brave young officer of
our Navy, accused, tried-, condemned, disgra
ced, on the testimony of negro witnesses, and
in a Southern port too. This is not to Le
borne with, and we trust that any man who
has a particle of Southern feeling or Southern
principles, will in future withdraw himself
from the support of this consummate hypo
crite, Van Buren.—Sav. Rep.
Mr. Botts, of Virginia, asked leave to offer
the foliowing preamble and resolution : ob
serving that he held himself, personally and
as a Representative, responsible for the truth
of every word and syllable contained in the
preamble, as established from a personal ex
amination of the records of the case.
Whereas by reference to the proceedings of*
a Naval General Court Martial, held in the
month of May, 1839, on board the United
States ship Macedonian, then lying in Pensa
cola Bay, for the trial of Lieutenant Georgo
Mann Hooe, of Virginia, of the United States
Navy, on chargesand specifications originally
preferred against him by Commander Uriah
P. Levy, among other irregularities complain
ed of 'by the accused, the following facts
will appear, which call loudly for redress, to
wit:
That, on the 30th day of May, James Mit
chell, the steward, a negro servant of the said
Commander, Uriah P. Levy, of the United
States ship Vandalia, was called and sworn
as a witness on behalf of the prosecution, to
testify against the said Lieutenant Hooe ; that
the accused objected to the examination of the
witness upon the ground that he was a colored
man : that the Court, after deliberation, did
not consider the objection a valid one, and or
dered the examination to proceed : that the
accused then offered the following protest,
which was at his lequest spread upon the re
cord :
“ The accused begs leave to state to the
Court, most distinctly, that he solemnly pro
tests aaainst the evidence of this witness be
ing received and lecorded. It is far from the
wish of the accused to object to any evidence
which the Court may deem legal ; but the
witness is a colored man, and therefore, in the
opinion of the accused, is not a competent
witness, even before this tribunal.
11 G. M. Hooe.
Lieut. U. S. Nary.
Whereupon the witness proceeded to deli
ver his evidence before the court; upon the
conclusion of which the accused offered the
following paper in writing, which, at his re
quest, was also spread upon the record :
*• The accused having protested against the
evidence-of this witness, on the ground that he
conceives this testimony to be altogether il
legal ; that he knovvsnt would he so consider
ed before the civil tribunals of this territory,
the forms and customs of which, he humbly
thinks, should be as closely followed by a mar
tial court, as possible; therefore asks to
spread upon the record the fact that he cannot
consent to, and has totally declined cross-ex
amining this witness.
-“ George Mann IIooe,
Lieut. U. S. Navy.
That, on the same day, to wit, the 30th day
of May, Daniel Waters, a negro cook, and
private servant of the said original prosecutor,
Uriah P. -Levy, was called, sworn and exam
ined before the Court: whereupon the accus
ed presented the following paper, in writing,
which, at his request, was spread upon the re
cords, to wit:
“ The Court having decided to receive and
record the testimony of colored persons, the
accused, in regard to this witness, can only re
iterate his objections as set forth in the case oi
Mitchell, the Captain’s steward. The accus
ed will pursue the same course with this wit
ness that he decided to take with the other co
lored man.
“ George Mann Hooe.
Lieut. U. S. Navy.
Thatrthe triatprogressed until Wednesday,
the 5th day of June, when the Court entered
up its judgement, of which the following is the
conclusion :
“ And the Court therefore hath, and doth
sentence the said Lieutenant George M. Hooe
to be dismissed from the West India Squad
ron, after having been reprimanded in Gener
al Orders by the houorable Secretary of the
Navy.
Which said proceedings are endorsed
“Approved, J. K. Paulding.”
That, on the return of the President of the
United States to the seat of Government, the
said Lieutenant George M. Hooe addressed
a remonstrance to his Excellency the Presi
dent, complaining of the irregularities of the
Court, generally, which remonstrance con
cludes with the following statement:
“ There is one other point in the proceed
ings of the Court, (touching their legality) to
which I invite the particular attention of your
Excellency. It respects a matter to which all
Southern men are deeply sensative—and, if
pot overruled by your Excellency, will assu
redly drive many valuable men from the Na
vy. In the progress of the proceedings of
this C.omt, two negroes, one the cook, and the
other .private steward of Commander Levy,
were introduced as witnesses against me. I
piolested against their legal competency to be
witnesses in the Territory of Florida, on the
ground that they were negroes. The Court
discharged my exception, and as the record
shows, they were allowed to be examined^
and to testify on ray trial. This I charge as
a proceeding illegal and erroneous on the
part of the Court, and if so, accoiding to es
tablished law and precedent, must vitiate and
set aside their whole proceedings. All which
is most respectfully submitted to your consid
eration and final decision by
Your obedient serv’t.
George Mann Hooe,
Lieutenant U. S. N.
That, after an examination of the record,
the President returned the same to the Navy
Department, with the following endorsement:
“ The President finds nothing in the pro
ceedings in the case of Lieutenant Hooe,
which requires his interference.
“ M. V. B.”
And whereas the introduction of negroes
and private servants of the prosecutor as wit
nesses to testify against the characters of gen
tlemen of the Navy, in the service of their
country, is a practice, though sanctioned by
the President of the United States, that will
not be justified, and ought not to be tolerated
by Southern men or “ Northern men with
Southern principles'’ and if not corrected must
operate as a serious injury to the Navy, to the
humiliation of its officers, and to the infinite
discredit of the Government:
Resolved therefore, That the Secretary of
the Navy be required to communicate to this
House a copy of the proceedings of the court-
martial, held for the trial of Lieutenant
George M. Hooe, that his wrongs may be
promptly redressed, and the evils complained
of corrected without delay.
Mr. Dromgoole inquired what measure of
redress his colleague proposed by the intro
duction of this resolution.
Mr. Stanley called Mr. Dromgoole to order,
making some remarks, which, from the confu
sion which immediately arose, were inaudible
to the Reporter.
The Chair said the Resolution could be re
ceived oniy by genera! consent.
Mr. F. Thomas, of Maryland objected.
Mr. Botts thereupon moved to suspend the
rules, and demanded the yeas and nays; which
were ordered, and being taken, resulted as
follows :
Yeas—Messrs. Adams, Alford. John W. Allen, Banks,
Baker, Barnard, Biddle, Black, Bond, Bolts, Boyd, Briggs,
Brockway, ffn. O. Butler, Calhoun. Wm. B. Campbell,
Carrell, Carter, Chapman, Chinn, Clark, Coles, Connor,
Crnbb, Cranston, Crockett, Curtis, Cushing, Davies, Gar
rett Davies, Dawson, Deberry, Dennis, Dillett, Doane."Ed
wards, Everett, James Garland, Gates, Gentry, Goggin,
Goode, Greene, Griffin, Grinnell, Habersham, Hawes,
John Hill of Virginia, Hill of North-Carolinn, Hoffman,
Holmes, James, Jenifer, Charles Johnson, Kempshall,
King, Lewis, Lincoln, Lucas, .Mc’Gurthy, Mason, Mitchell
Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Calvary Morris, Naylor,
Nisbct, Osborne, Palen, reck, Pope, Randen, Rayner,
Rhett, Ridgway, Seigeant, Shepard, Simonson, T. Smith,
Stanley, Sorrs, Stuart, Wuddy Thompson, Jacob Thomp
son, Tillinghasl, Toland, Triplett, Underwood, Peter J.
lVagner, Warren, Edward D. While, Lewis Williams, J.
I, . Williams, Wise—95.
Nays.—Messrs. Judson Allen, Hugh J. Anderson, Ath
erton, Beatty, Blackwell, Albert G. Brown, Burke, Carr,
Clifford, W. R. Cooper, Craig, Crary, Cross, Dana, John
Davis, Doig, Dromgoole, Duncan, Karl, Eastman, Ely,
Fine, Floyd, Fornance, Galbraith,Gerry, Hammond, Hand,
J. Hastings, Hawkins, 'Hillen, Holloman, Ilopkins, Hub
bard, Jackson, Jameson, Joseph Johnson, Cave Johnson,
N. Jones, Jno. W.Jonrs, Kille, Kiem, Kemble,.Leadbetter,
Leet, Leonard, Lowell, McClellan, McCulloh, McKay,
Mallory, March and, Miller, Montanyn, S. W. Morris.
Newhard, Parish. Parmenter, Parris, Paynter, Petrikin,
Prentiss, Reynolds, Robinson, Edward Rogers, Ryall,
Samuels, Shaw, Albert Smith, John Smith. Starkweather
Steenrod, Strong, Swearingen, Sweeny, Taylor, Francis
Thomas, Turney, Vnnderpoel, David D. Wngener, Wat-
terson, Weller, Jared W.'Williams, Henry Williams, War-
ington.—85
So the rules were not suspended.
“ SELLING WHITE MEN FOR DEBT.’’
A concise statement of facts relating to Ike charge
against Gen. Harrison of “voting to sell while men
for debt."
The vote which has been the subject of so much mis
representation w-as given by Gen. Harrison in the Senate
of Ohio at the session of 1820-’21. Previous to that time
a law “ For the punishment of certain offences therein
specified,” (passed February II, 1815) had been in force.*
This act defined and punished ctimes or offences consider
ed It ss heinous than crimes which were punishable by im
prisonment in the Penitentiary: such as petty larceny,
house-breaking, rescuing prisoners, and offences of the
like grade. These offences were, by this law, made pun
ishable by fine and imprisonment in the county jail. "I his
law also provided that if the offender refused to pay the
fine imposed on him by the Court, and costs of prosecu
tion, and the sheriff could find no property of the offender
that he could levy on and sell to pay the fine and costs,
then he should imprison the offender in the county jail,
until the fine and costs should be paid. But it also pro
vided that the county commissioners might order the she
riff or jailer to discharge the off ender, imprisoned for the
non-payment of such fine and costs, from prison, if they
were satisfied that he was unable to pay the fine and costs.t
It was found in practice that the conviction and punish
ment of offenders under the act, added greatly to the ex
penses of the counties, and consequently served to increase
the burden of taxation on the people.
Most of these petty criminals had little or no propeity,
or adopted means to keep it out of the hands of the she
riff, so as to prevent effectually his collection of the fines
and costs imposed on them for the violation of the law.—
The result was, that in a majority of cases the cuunries
had to pay the costs of prosecuting these offenders, and of
sustaining them in prison; thus compelling the innocent
to pay for the conviction and punishment of the guilty.—
At the session of 1820-1321, a select committee was rais
ed in the House of Representatives to examine this sub
ject and report to the House what amendments, if any,
were necessary and proper.! This committee reported a
bill supplementary to the act above referred to. the princi
pal object of which seems to have been to diminish the
expenses imposed on the counties by the prosecution and
punishment of these offenders.^
This supplementary bill was recommitted to the Com
mittee on the Judiciary, and was afterwards reported buck
to the House by Air. Morris, (late Senator in Congress)
with sundry amendments, containing provisions for the
punishment of certain additional offences, not contained in
the original act, and containing also the obnoxious section,
authorizing the sheriff' to sell offenders to such persons as
would pay the fine and costs for which the offenders were
in prison, for the shortest period of service of such offen
ders. The bill passed the House, with this obnoxious sec
tion in it, by a vote of 42 nves to 21 noes; Thomas Mor
ris, late Senator in Congress, Thomas Shannon, now Sena
tor in the Ohio Legislature, brother to Gov. Shannon, M.
T. Williams, late Surveyor General of the United States,
E. Whittlesey, late member of Congress, among others,
voting in the affirmative.||
\> hen this bill was under consideration in the Senate,
Mr. Fithian moved to strike out the 19th section ot the
hill ns it came from the House. This section, as has been
previously stated, authorized the sheriff to sell the servic s
of the offender who was imprisoned for the non-payment
of the fine imposed on him by the Court, and the costs of
conviction, to the person who would pay such fine and
costs, for the shortest term of service, and secured the of
fender from cruelty or abuse from the purchaser, during
the term of service, by giving him the same remedies as
are provided by law in the “ case of master and appren
tice.’"If
This section was stricken out in the Senate by a vote of
20 ayes to 12 noes; Gen. Harrison. Eli Baldwin, late Van
Buren candidate for Governor of Ohio, with others, voting
in the negative.** In nddition to the privilege secured
to the imprisoned offender, who should he unable to pay
his fine and costs, of being liberated by the county com
missioners, if thev considered it expedient, the hill con
tained, when this vote on striking out the selling section
was taken, a section providing that the offender might dis
charge his fine by labor on the public highways, at such
rates ns might he prescribed by the court passing sentence
on the convicted offender.tt
From this statement of facts it clearly appears—
1st. That the selling, so much complained of, was only
the selling of the services of the convicted offender for a
limited period of time.
2d. That the offender, during the period of his service,
was secured from injustice, cruelty, or abuse, in the same
manner ns apprentices are secured against abuse from
their masters.
3d. That, if the offender was able and willing to labor,
he might.discharge the fine imposed on him, for his viola
tion of the law. by labor on the public highways, ami thus
avoid being sold out to service.
4th. That, if he was unable to labor on the highways, and
poor and unable to pay his fine and costs, he might, in such
a case, be discharged by the county commissioners without
either paying or being sold for the payment of his fine and
costs.
From the National Intelligencer.
A Card.—The Globe of the 17th, in speaking of the
preamble and resolution offered by Mr. Botts, nulling for
i he proceedings of the.trial ofLieutenant Hooe, speaks
of it as another garbled statement sent forth to the coun
try bv that gentleman and his “ abolition brethren of the
committee," and adds:
“ He ("Mr. Botts) hurries off in this form, we are told,
at least one hundred thousand handbills, before the Sec-
retaiy, in answer to the call of ihe House, could send in
the record, showing the whole and true state of the case.”
Mr. Botts pronounces this statement a gratuitous false
hood from b ginning to end.
In the first place, the call was made on Fridsry, the 12th of
th e month, and was ordered on the 13th. This is Thurs
day, the 18th. The Secretary’s office is one mile from the
Capitol, and the proceedings of that trial have not yet
been sent lo the Speaker of the House, whether for want
of time or not, he cannot say. The papers were all in the
possession of Mr. Botts, and were returned to the Secre
tary on Friday moining, the I2lli inst., witii a note ad
dressed to the Secretary, and in his absence left with Mr.
Simms, the Chief Clerk, informing him that he (Mr. Botts)
should feel it his duty to call for the proceedings on the
first opportunity.
In the second place, so far from Mr. Botts having sent
off a hundred thousand handbills before the Secretary could
answer the call, he has not to this moment sent off one,
nor has any other person, to his knowledge; nor ha-s he
ordered one to be struck off.; nor has the executive com
mittee of which he is a member; hut as abolition prin
ciples, accompanied with certain groundless charges
against Gen. Harrison, are attempted to he made the test
question in the approaching Presidential election in the
Southern country by the friends of the present Adminis
tration, Air. Botts will not withhold his aid or his means
in spreading the facts of this case before the Southern peo
ple, and challenging the Administration party to single
oat any act of Gen. Harrison’s, during his whole public
life, that will bear a comparison with this instance of prac
Heal abolition and squality between the blacks and the
whiles on the part of Mr. Van Buren.
In the third place, Mr Botts has to state that his “ abo
lition brethren on the committee" cannot in the slightest
degree he implicated in this matter; the responsibility is
wholly his own ; they knew nothing of it. and have had
nothing to do with it, before or since; but he thinks it prob
able they will see to its publication indue time.
This is hut a fair sample, however, of the daily misrep
resentations and reckless assertions of that paper, and moy
be necessary to sustain the sinking and desperate cause of
that profligate press; but it should admonish its readers
to receive all that issues from the pen of its conductor
with a few grains of charitable allowance.
The false cry against the Whigs of extending the Bank
ing system beyond reasonable bounds, has been often ex
posed. The Kennebec Journal places itin a strong light.
During the eight years administration of Washington,
the banking capital of the United States increased from
21,200,000 in 1790, to 39,500,000 in 1796.
In the 16 years of the Republican administrations of
Jefferson and Aladison, the bank capital increased 85,-
322,422, amounting to 124,822,422, when Mr. Monroe
came into office in 1817.
During Mr. Monroe’s 8 years the increase was only
12,283,188.
Dining Mr. Adam's 4 years the increase was 8,081 653.
When Gen. Jackson came into office in 1829, the bank
capital amounted to 145,192,268. During the first six
years of his administration the increase was 106,683,024;
swelling the grand total to 251,875,292,
Something Valuable.—There is not in this country
at the present time a more accomplished and varied scho
lar than Governor Everett of Massachusetts—nor has
there been iu this or any other country during the present
or any other age a more conscientious gentleman, nor one
who would more disdainfully reject a candidate for office
who might be deficient in the requisitequalifications.^Hear
what Gov. Everett says of Gen Harrison from personal ob
servation.
“Having been familiarly acquainted with Gen. Harrison
at Washington during the four years of Mr. Adams’ ad
ministration, l have ample and personal knowledge of
“ his honesty, capacity and patriotism.” His talents are
of a high order, his general reading particularly in the de
partment of history extensive and accurate ; he is a good
speaker and a good writpr—£ witness his speech on the
Aborigines of the valley of Ohio in 1833 ;] his practical
acquaintance with public nff a i rs j 4 exceeded by that of few
men in this country, and his public services have extended
over a longer period I believe than those of any other man
now on the stage.”
The above opinion of such a conscientious and diserim-
inating individual as Gov. Everett, concerning the quali
fications, principles and public services of Gen. Harrison
is sufficient to weigh down the sixty wagon loads of sneers
and disparaging declarations put forth against the old hero
by hireling presses and by upstart politicians.
[ Raleigh Star.
It appeals, from an official report to Congress, that the
fees of the U. S. Marshal for the Southern District of Mis-
sippi, for 1839, were $37,150 dollars! This is monstrous,
and should be corrected by Congress.
5th and last. That the selling had no reference to honest
men, or to debtors, in the ordiuaty acceptation of the term,
but only to convicted offenders against the penal laws of
the Stale. And, even in these cases, it was only substi
tuting temporary service, in lieu of imprisonment, for an
indefinite length of time, in the noisome cells of a county
jail, where the offender could earn nothing to pay his fine
nor to support himself or family.
This hill was und^r consideration at a time of great pe
cuniary embarrassment in the State of Ohio. So difficult
was it for the people to raise money for the payment of
taxes, that the collections were inadequate To meet the or
dinary expenses of the Government. The Legislature
were engaged during a large pint of the session, in con
sidering various plans for reducing the current expenses of
theStnte, and a law was passed authorizing the Governor
to borrow the sum of $20,000, in aid of the proceeds of
taxation. During the pendency of the supplementary act,
(or the punishment of offenders, above referred to, attempts
were made in both branches of the Legislature, to substi-
tute whipping for imprisonment in the county jail, as a
method of punishing offences less expensive to the coun-
ties$- und the plan of selling the services of the convicted
offender, for a limited period, to pay the fine and costs
imposed on him as a punishment for violating the laws of
his country, was advocated by many respectable members
of both branches of the General Assembly, as a mode of
punishment less expensive to the public than that of im
prisonment, and less barbarous than that of whipping the
offender at the post.
Columbus, April 6, 1840.
Dear Sir:—Agreeably to your request, I have cure-
fully examined the journals of the General Assembly for
the session when the proposed measure “ of selling out
the services of convicted offenders against the penal laws
of the Slate, for a limited time, to pay the fines imposed
on them by the Court and costs of conviction" was under
consideration, as well as the statute laws of the State iu
relation to the subject, and have given you, above, a cor
rect statement of all the material facts and circumstances
in the case.
At my request, Wm. Miner, Esq., Clerk of the United
Slates Courts for Ohio, and Lvne Starling, jr., Clerk of
the Superior Court and Court of Common Pleas for Frank
lin county, have examined and compared the statement
with the laws and journals, and added their certificate of
its correctness. Very respectfully,
ALFRED KELLY.
To the Hon. Thom as Corwin.
At the request of A. Kelly, Esq., we have carefully exa
mined the foregoing statement, and compared the same
with the laws and journals therein referred to, and find the
same to be fairly and correctly set forth.
WILLIAM MINER.
LYNE STARLING, Jr.
I have often examined the laws, a3 above set forth, and
I know thev are accurately copied, and their effect, if the
proposed bill had passed, is truly stated.
April 14, 1840. THOMAS CORWIN.
* See Ohio Laws, vol. 13, page 239.
t See section 37 of same act.
! See Journal House Representatives, page 182.
$ See sections 11, 12, and 14, of supplementary act,
Ohio laws, vol. 1, page 197.
|| See Journal H. of R. page 320.
If The section proposed to be stricken out is, at length,
in these words—Senate Journal p. 304, sec. 19—‘‘Be it
further enacted, That when any person shall be imprison
ed, either upon execution or otherwise, for the non-pay
ment of a fine or costs or both, it shall be lawful for tho
sheriff of the county to sell out such person as a servant to
any person within this State who will pay the whole
amount due for the shortest period of service, of which
sale public notice shall be given at least ten days; and
upon such sale being effected, the sheriff shall give to the
purchaser a certificate thereof, and deliver over the prison
er to him, from which time the relation between such pur
chaser and the prisoner shall he that of master and servant,
until the time of servire expires ; nnd for injuries done by
either, remedy shall he hud in the same manner as is or
may be piovided by law in the case of master nnd appren
tice. But nothing herein contained shall be construed to
prevent persons being discharged from imprisonment ac
cording to the provisions of the 37th section of the act to
which this is supplementary, if it shall be considered ex
pedient to grant such discharge. Provided, that the
Court, in pronouncing sentence upon any person or per
sons convicted under this act, or the act to which this is
supplementary, may direct such person or persons to bo
detained in prison uutil the fine he paid, or the person or
persons otherwise disposed of agreeably to the provisions
of this act.”
The 37th see.tion of the act for the punishment of cer
tain offences therein specified, which is here referred to, is
as follows—See Ohio Laws. vol. 13, page 239.
Sec. 37. Be it further enacted, That, when any per
son shall be confined in jail for the payment of any fine or
costs that may be inflicted agreeably to the provisions of
this act, the county commissioners may, if it be made to
appear to their satisfaction that the person so confined
cannot pay such fine and costs, order the sheriff or jailer
of such county to discharge such person from imprison
ment, and the sheriff or jailer, upon receiving such order
in writing, shall discharge such person accordingly. Pro
vided, That the commissioners may, at any time thereafter,
order and cause to be issued an execution against the
body, lands, goods, or chatties of the person so discharged
from imprisonment for the amount of such fine and costs.
** See Senate Journal, page 30.
tt See section 16 of the supplementary act Ohio Laws,
vol. 19, puge 197.
The President's Message boiled down and translated
into plain Englisk.—— Fellow Citizens You are all cra
zy. The credit system ha3 made you all mad. In Europe
laborers get hut a six-pence a day. You get one dollar
for a day’s toil. That is entirely too much. You ore be
coming extravagant. It will not do. The Sub-treasury Bill
mu3t be passed. In twenty-two out of the twenty-seven
enlightened, free and happy Despotisms of Europe such
as Russia, Austria. Spain and Turkey, where the Kings
wear crowns, and their people rags—the Sub-Treasmy sys
tem is all the rage. I’ll pass the Sub-Treasury Bill, and
thereby bring your wages to twenty-five cents a day, so that
you may fairly compete with the serfs of Russia and the
slaves of John C. Calhoun, my late most bitter enemy,
hut now dearly beloved friend and cousin.
Luxuries of Elizabeth’s time.—Hollinshed writing
in Elizabeth’s reign, talks of the increase of luxury in
England in several points, as expounded to him by “ old
men jet dwelling in the village where I remain.” These
tilings were specially noted by these living chronicles.
One was the multitude of chimneys lately erected—while
formerly in ordinary dwellings the smoke spread through
j the rooms without let or hindrance, (as in the case of most
I of the huts of the Irish pesantry to this day) and was sup
posed not only to harden the timbers of the house, but to
bo preserxalive of heuith The second was the great
amendment of lodging; straw had been previously the
material of the bed, and u good round log played the
part of bolster. If it were so that the father or the good
man of the house had a matress ora flock bed, and thereto
a sack of chaff to rest his head upon, he thought himself
to be as well lodged as the lord of the town, so well were
they contented. *• Pillows,” said they, “ were thought
meet only for women in childbed ; as for servants, if they
had any sheet above them it was well, for seldom had they
any under their bodies to keep from the pricking straws
that ran oft through the canvass, and raised their hardened
hides.” From this old use of straw for beds comes the
phrase of “the lady in the straw,” applied to a woman in
child-bed. The third point was the change of treen or
wooden plates into pewter, and wooden spoons into silver
or tin. Pewter plates long maintained their reputation
for elegance, and did not yield to earthern-ware till the
middle of the last century.—Medical Gazette.
the girl with a hole in her stocking.
“ Now dance up to that gitl
With a hole i’ the heel of her stocking.” Old Sony.
There’s a sweet pretty damsel who trips round the street,
With a lip that at sorrow seems always a mocking;
Any bright sunny day if this fair one you meet,
You will know by the hole in the heel of her stocking.
Her locks are the raven’s, her eye the gazelle’s,
And her foot is so short that it does not need docking;
Her Lust is perfection—but—shudder ye belles!—
There’s a devilfish great hole in the heel of her stocking!
When I looked on her first at Miss Fitzmagig’s rout,
Like a patent trip-hammer my heart was a knocking ;
But when I turned round as she passed, 1 cried out,
‘ Ye gods on Olympus !—a hole in her stocking !’
The next time I saw her—the sweet little dear
On her lover’s arm leaning, tlieir arms interlocking—
I was chilled to the heart, and shed many a tear
For that horrid great hole in the heel of her stocking!
Oh, would she were mine !—if it made me a corse,
I would buy her a bundle of green or gray hocking ;
I'd sit cross-leg'd a month, or I’d ride the Bronze Horse,
Till I botch’d up that hole in the heel of her stocking.
Ah, sweetest! enough are the woes of each day
To stir up this noddle, and set it to rocking ;
But if not for my sake, for charity’s, pray,
Buy a needle, and darn up that hole in your stacking!
Excerpt from Carlysle.—No man who has -once
heartily and wholly laughed can he altogetherirreclaimably
bad. How much lie3 in laughter, the cipher-key where
with we decipher the whole man ! Some men wear an
everlasting bairen simper; in the smile of others lies a
cold glitter as of icc; the fewest are able to laugh what
can he called laughing, but only sniff, and titter and snig
ger from the throat out wards ; or at best produce some
whiffling, husky cachination, ns if they were laughing
through wool; of none such comes good. The man who
cunnot laugh is not only fit for treasons, stratagems and
spoils, but his whole life is already a treason and a strata
gem.
Keeping Entertainment. Recently a gentleman
while travelling through the Creek Nation, in Alabama,
met an Indian, of whom he inquired how far it was to the
next boose. “ About two miles,” unswered the Creek,
“ but just beyond the house the road forks and the right
hand wifi take you to a very good house live miles further.”
“ Thank you,” said the traveler, and he pursued his jour
ney. In half an hour the gentleman came to the first
house. The worthy host was standing in the door.
“ Hallo !” cried the struoger.
“ Hallo, yourself!” responded the man of the house.
“ Do you keep entertainment here?”
“ Yes, sir.”
“ Can my hoise have some corn and fodder
“ No. sir, 1 ha’nt got any.”
“Can you let me have some bread and meat ?’’
“ No, sir.’’
“ Have you accommodations for lodging ?”
“ No, sir."
“ Why, then, how do you do?”
“ I’m quite well, I thank you, how is it with yourself?”
£“ Confound the fellow !” said the stranger, aside, and
again resumed :] “ Well the road forks, I believe, a short
distance from here—does it not?”
“ Yes, sir."
“ Wifi you be so good as to tell me where the right
hand goes to ?”
“ It ha’nt gone any where since I lived in these parts.”
“ Good day, sir, said the stranger.
“Good day.” replied the fellow, coolly, and walked into
his house.—N. O. Picayune.
Peruvian Intrigue.—A Marqnesa was walking to
wards her home one evening, concealed in the peculiar
dress of the country, called ‘sayay manto,’ and was spo
ken to by nn unknown young gentleman in a clouk, who
importuned her to go to a caffe and accept of some refresh
ment. She finally consented. After partaking of some
ices, cakes, costly wines, to an amount so great that she
thought her beau would not have money in his purse to
pay, she called the host—whom she well knew—and told
him nut to permit the gentleman to leave the house till he
had paid, nor to accept from him any other pledge than his
pantaloons ; for which service the landlord was to receive a
douceur. The young gentleman’s purse could not cover
one-half the amount of the charge, and ‘ mine host’ vowed
he must have the whole before he left. The young man
offered his watch in pledge, which was instantly refused.
The Marquesa grew impatient at the delay, and urged her
beau to make baste or she would leave him. The land
lord demanded the pantaloons. The young man was in
dignant, and referred the case to his fuir enchantress, who,
after some coaxing, persuaded him to yield his pantaloons,
roll his cloak about him, and accompany her home. He
consented. She delighted the victim of her sport with her
lively jeux d’ esprit, as they walked along, and at last
ushered him into a splendidly furnished room, occupied
by a brilliant party of ladies and gentlemen. The youth
would have escaped, but the fair one held him tight by
the arm, and conducted him to a seat. He drew his
cloak closer around him, and bent his feet under the chair.
The Marquesa introduced several of her female friends lo
him, after giving them u hint of her joke The young
ladies insisted thut he must be very warm, but he thought
that it was cold—they urged him to dance, but he could
not. At last the ladies became rude, and forcibly remov
ing the cloak from the young cavalier’s shoulders, exposed
him to the whole company, standing in his drawers and
boots; after being heartily laughed at, he was turned out
of doors!
Boa Constrictors.—At the New England Museum
are now exhibiting several boa constrictors. Yesterday,
it was announced that one of these monsters would feast
oil a rabbit. At the fashionable dining hour of half past
three, a rabbit nearly full grown was placed before him.
After moving about with his head towards the victim, for
about ten minutes, the Boa suddenly darted forward and
seized the rabbit by the nose, and involved him in his fold
for about five minutes, till the breath was entirely out of
his body. The monster then stretched his jaws, and grad
ually drew in the rabbit until he was entirely gorged.
This occupied about fifteen minutes. The serpent then
remained quiet, and apparently somewhat stupified and
sleepy, every few minutes gasping to the utmost extent of
his jaws. The keeper said he had not eaten any thing
before for about three months. Afterwards, a smaller
snake of about three quarters of an inch in diameter,
swallowed a mouse in the same manner.
We have often read of the power of snakes to charm
birds and other small animals, by the fascination of the
ej’es To our mind, this exhibition served to explain the
phenomenon. The serpent, while remaining quiet, was
continually brandishing his tongue, and as he thus sport
ed, the rabbit would run up to smell of the tongue, as
though it presented something to eat. Now it is not im
probable, that while a snake remains at rest, on the rocks,
brandishing his tongue, the birds approach mistaking it
for a worut, or other food, on which they prey. They
thus unwittingly approach the very jaws of the monster,
that is about to devour them. On this occasion, as the
poor rabbit approached to smell of the tongue, the Boa
darted upon his victim. This would be a very simple ex
planation of the mystery of birds and other animals being
charmed by the snake. ’ As to any fascinating power of
the eyes of the serpent over other animals, it is not within
the range of probability. At any rate, the subject is wor
thy of the attention of naturalists.
STATE SOTIREIGNTT,
RECORDER
MILLE DGEVILLE,
Tuesday, June 30, 1840.
FOR PRESIDENT,
WM. HENRY HARRISON, of Ohio.
FOR VICE PRESIDENT,
JOHN TYLER, of Virginia.
FOR ELECTORS OF PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT,
Hon. GEORGE R. GILMER, of Oglethorpe.
Gen. DUNCAN L. CLINCH, of Camden.
Col. JOHN W. CAMPBELL, of Muscogee.
Maj. JOEL CRAWFORD, of Hancock.
Hon. CHARLES DOUGHERTY, of Clark.
Hon. SEATON GRANTLAND, of Baldwin.
Gen. ANDREW MILLER, of Cass.
Gf.n. W. W. EZZARD, of DeKalb.
Hon. C. B. STRONG, of Bibb.
Col. JOHN WHITEHEAD, of Burke.
Gen. EZEKIEL WIMBERLY, of Twiggs.
FOR CONGRESS.
RICHARD W. HABERSHAM, of Habersham.
WILLIAM C. DAWSON, of Greene. * '
JULIUS C. ALFORD, of Troup.
F.DGENIUS A. NISBET, of Bibb.
LOTT WARREN, of Sumter.
THOMAS BUTLER KING, of Glvnn.
ROGER L. GAMBLE, of Jefferson.
JAMES A. MERIWETHER, of Putnam.
THOMAS F. FOSTER, of Muscogee.
Had the illustrious Father of his country been writing
for the present day, and describing the lamentable condi
tion of our affairs, and its causes, we ask the reader could
he have written more appropriately and more to the pur
pose than he doe.s, in the following passage which occurs
in a letter addressed by this great nnd wise man to John
Armstrong,dated 25th April, 1738—and which is found in
Spark’s work, page 353. If Washington deemed the single
fact of the monelary pressure of that day, to be conclu
sive evidence “ that there was something amiss in the
“ ruling political power,” w hat, we ask our renders, would
he think of the “ ruling political power” of this the pre
sent day of pressure and of pecuniary suffering? But to
the extract t
OPINIONS OF WASHINGTON.
The following passage occurs in a leter of General
Washington to John Armstrong, dated April 25, 1788,
(vol. 9, Spark’s W ashingto/i, page 353.)
“ In a country like this, where equal liberty is enjoyed,
where every man may reap his own harvest, which, by
proper attention, will afford him much more than is neces
sary for his own consumption, nnd where there is so ample
a field for every mercantile and mechanical exertion, if
there cannot be money found to answer the common pur
pose of education, not to mention the necessary commer
cial circulation, it is e\ idem that there is something amiss
in the ruling political power, which requires a steady,
regulating, and energetic hand to correct and control it.
That money is not to he had, every man’s experience tells
him, und the great fall in the price of properly is an une
quivocal and melancholy proof of it.”
the money has been expended ? One steamboat, i dredge -
boat and 4 schooners have been bailt or purchased, and fit
ted up nr the most tasteful style. I find, ,i r> t h aJ , h ere is
charged for furniture i» one of them, a mnhog n „ T
board, two splendid eard-iablcs, merino curtains, fine ciim-
seated settees, and other fur nit tire ro suit, eight patent-le
ver watches, one chronometer, costing $288, silver ware
and otnoerone other articles of the some description. Alf
this, sir, is for common mud-boats. And after expending
#291,000, the work is abandoned; and- the month of the
river is (low in a vVo8.se condition than before the work was
commenced.”
We leave the reader for this tfect- to what we
have given foi.it of tlweconotnical doings of thievery econo -
mical E'dmimsSi'MHtii,
There is great atisfefy oi (Tie part of faestfotAri.-rt ration-
and its friends, to clear fhc shirts of- Mr. Van Keren from
all participation with the fertred Standing Army scheme
of the Secretary of War. Tee Secretary Hitself 5 , to rcs-
• cue his loved chief, has volunteered,- or mors prohablv
has been drafted into the service,- and trier to show
that Van Buren had no knowledge of toe rnonstrctis bid 1
which he offered to Congress; and all fair in the f;*ee of
Mr. Van Buren’s own message, in which he says - he can
not recommend too strongly, to the favorable c'etisideratinn
of Congress, the plan of the Secretary—the racfisirotis
bantling of his folly, and worse, far worse than full\-, -rhich
he had the hardihood to propose to the represemativeVof
that people whom he wished to convert into a grand na
tional army, and which he finds too late, is reprobated by
the people, from one end of the country to the other. But
all wont do. Mr. Van Buren approved the scheme as far
as he could approve a measure, in his last aiinual message,
and he shall not be permitted to throw off' the odium of it
even on the shoulders of his dearly beloved and most
obsequious Secretary of War, who is not worthy of our
| shot, and in regard to whom we have nothing to say. We
look to the responsible head to bear the responsibility, and
Van Buren must abide the verdirt of the people, whom he
has endeavored to enslave. In relation to this odious, un
constitutional and high-har.ded measure, that veridict,
we believe, has been already tendered. Judgment wifi be
entered up next November.
The reader wifi be startled by the congressional extract
in the case of Lt. IIooe of the Navy, w hich wifi be f" I
in another column. That negro testimony should be pu-
mitted, and that too within a slave holding territory,
against a citizen of the country, and the gallant officeis of
our Navy, rendered liable to disgrace and death on such
testimony, is a state of affairs which we, in common with
our fellow-citizens generally, could not have been at a.I
prepared to expect ; and Mr. Van Buren, it seems, on an
appeal to him in reference to this point, returned for an
swer, that he found nothing in the case to call for his in
terference-. Nothing iu allowing negro testimony against
our officers, to call for his inSerfence * indeed ! This is go
ing much further than his advocacy of the negro right of
suffrage, and in perfect accordance with his views on that
subject. But Mr. Van Buren, if we are not greatly mis
taken, wifi receive a rebuke at the hands of the people of
the Sooth, on this matter, which, we presume, will be
effectual in its application, although Lt. Hooe was not i a
his.
We see the u Dirty Sheet” attempts to apologize for ibis
offence, and wkh its- usual audacity, to-turn popular or
party indignation in another direction; and for which, as
the render w ill see by the card- of Mr. Botts, he has been
signally exposed by that gentleman. We leave the whole
matter to- live-reflection of the reader, without further com
ment.
THE LAVISH EXTRAVAGANCE AND CRIMINAL PRODIGALITY
OF THE VAN BUREN ADMINISTRATION—continued.
Let us take up some of the details of the expenditures
of this Administration, in connection with the Florida
war. By a document from the Quarter-master’s depart
ment, to Congress, it appears, “ tliat there were chau-
“tered, during the year 1837, thirty-five steamboats,
“ forty-three schooners, two sloops, twenty-five hrig3, six
“ ships; making in all, one hundred and eleven vessels
‘ chartered during the year 1837, for the prosecution of
“ this Florida war—this war, which we, a nation of mil-
“ lions, have waged for years with some 500 naked warri-
“ ors. And, besides the one hundred and eleven vessels
“ chartered, we find upwards of one hundred contracts
“ some of them of a very large amount, for transportation
“ of troops, forage, arms, horses, &c., during that year,
“ for this war.”
From the same document, we find the followingextraor-
dinary charge : “ For transporting 100 cords of fire-wood
“ from New Orleans to Fort Brooke. East Florida, and one
“assistant surgeon, $2,000.” Here is charged twenty
dollars per cord for carrying fire wood from New Orleans,
besides the-original cost and other expenses; and that,
too, to a country where thousands of cords of wood could
be cut in sight of the fort to which this wood was sent.”
Is not this paying for wood at a pretty price; and that, too,
in a country where it could be had for the cutting ? But
it all comes out of the people’s pocket, and not from the
purses of the office-holders, or we should see a different
order of things. But we pass on.
In a letter to Congress by the Secretary of War, he com
municates a report from the commissary of subsistence, bj’
which it nppears that the Government after purchasing an
unnecessarily la>-ge amount of provisions for the Cherokee
country, ordered it to he sold under the Sub-Treasury sys
tem of hard money currency; and what is the result ? Why
that the supplies which cost upwards of two hundred and
sixty thousand dollars, were sold lo specuators for the sum
of fifty-two thousand dollars. This is the wise and frugal
and economical doings so much talked of by Amos Ken
dall nnd others, and always arted out, as we show in the
case on hand. In reference to this corrupt waste of the
public funds, one of our public men exclaims :—“This, sir,
is the manner in which the money of the people is wasted.
I wifi ask the gentleman from Virginia, if it was possible for
any honest man to anticipate such unjustifiable squanderings
of the public money? It seems, sir, that the 28,181 pounds
of soap were not needed by the army. It ought never to
have been sold, sir. It should have been shipped to Wash
ington, and would have served as a fraction of the. quan
tity requisite to cleanse this foul Administration.”
But we pass to another purchase and sale under the
hard money system, and for the sole benefit of specula
tors in the Cherokee country. Corn was unnecessarily
accumulated in Cherokee to avast amount, which cost the
Government from 1 50 to $2 per bushel. Well here is
one account of sales by this economical Administration
of ours :
“8,331 bushels corn,
at 17 J
cents per bushel
“5,275
do.
at 11|
do.
“ 4,990|
do.
at 10£
do.
“ 400
do.
at 3}
do.
“ 4,2394
do.
at 13$
do.”
and this is only a fraction of the quantity sold. Oats
purchased at double price were sold at three and a half
cents a bushel, and so of other supplies to an indefinite
amount. But we pass on.
In a speech delivered recently by Mr. 1’roffit, from
which we have liberally drawn in this article, we find the
following most striking instance of unlawful extravagance,
made in the very teeth of Congress. Says Mr. Proffit.
“We have been told, sir, that the public buildings are
“ another source of ‘extraordinary expense. I wifi, sir,
“ for a moment refer to this matter, and in that moment
“ convince the committee, that another high-handed and
“ unjustifiable act of this Administration has cost the peo-
“ pie, unnecessarily, three hundred thousand dollars. I
“ refer to the Tost Office building. The Committee on
“ Public Buildings of the House of Representatives, in
« order to ascertain the actual cost of the building pro-
posed to be erected, made a demand for a detailed esti-
“ mate of the cost of a split granite building. It was
•‘furnished; and amounted to two hundred and eighty
“ thousand dollars. But sir, no sooner had Congress ad
journed, than the President ordered the erection of a
“ marble building—a perfect palace, which is now esti-
•• mated, even by Administration gentlemen, to cost six
“ hundred thousand dollars■”
But we pas3 on to the last instance we wifi give this
week of the reckless and wicked profusion of this Admin
istration, hoping to continue the subject to the conviction
of every unprejudiced man, that a change of rulers is es
sential to the country. From the same source we take the
following instance of shameless robbery of the public
purse:
« Congress ordered a survey of the mouth of the Mis
sissippi, and made an appropriation for improving the
channel at the Balize. And how do you suppose, sir, that
In »n address which Gen. ifarrison recently delivered to-
his fellow-citizens at Calamhvs, Ghio, he than nails te the-
coualer, one ef the b:*se standees, which are now the or
der of the day. against thisfaithfol old patriot,.who is thus-
rewarded by very- many, for fighting their bottles, and oth
erwise devoting himself to the interests of the eeantry,
for forty or fifty of the best yea>« of his fife. This very
illustrious ar.d most credible affidavit of some vagabond,
doubtless, we have seen inserted with notes- of exultation,
even by some of the Van Buren prists ir> eur own Stale.
Alas? alas, for the parity of the press—the dignity of our
profession t
“ He referred to a very peee-nt story—got up in his own
“ neighborhood'—and sent forth to-the world, corcohated
“ by the sanctity of an affidavit—which represented him.
“ as confessing to a young man en a steamboat that be was
“ an abolitionist, and that, although he voted against re-
“ strirtions on Missouri, Be did so in opposition to rhe sag-
“ geslion* of his coussienae, Sic. Ho said the narrative-
“ tore on its facs the proofs of its absolute fttlsity—and!
“ when he pronounced it a fabrication without the semblance
“ o? a ffict or word for its basis, it was not because he
“ lb-ought h required- a> contradiction, but te evince tlie
“ recklessness and desperation of his- political enemies,
“ who seemed to have given up every ground, of hope,
“ save thut which t-hey foundio viUifyinghis name.”
The-(bDowing-remnrks-of Gen. Han hon, from- tbesame
speech,and in continuation of those inst quoted, are so
just, so>liberal, so every way pnopes, anti so honorable to>
the foaling* of oar candidate for the Presidency, sha-t we
lay them before our renders with peculiar pleasure. How
unlike the course pursued towards him by Mr. Van Borers
and his allies, is the coarse resommended by Gen. Harri
son I Will not oar opponents feel the blush af shame
mantling their cheeks- as they read the following generous-
sentiments of the- man they delight to vilify and -.sperse
and will they not take a lesson from so graceful an exam
ple, and- at least do-justice, liberal justice, to ebe patriotic
old soldier, opposed as they twa<y be to Kis success, over
tbei-j own candidate. We should rejoice for their own
sokes- to wiiness a change of conduct on theis part, so
just and hsnosahle. But to the exiract t
“"It ifr a> melancholy feet, fellow-citizens.” said Gen.
“ Harrison,“ that the advocates of Mr. Van Buren should
“ so-far forget what belongs to-the character of an Ameii-
“ ctxi citizen, and. do so much violence to the nature ot our
“ free insiitiiliins, ns to place the great political eontest in
“ which we a-re now striving, upon-an issue sueb as rbis. I
“ would not accept the lofty siatioa, to which, some of yon
“ are proposing to elevate me, if it came to me by such
“ means. I would, not, if I had the power to prevent it.
“allow tlie fair fame of my competitor to be unjustly a-
“ sailed and wonnded even- for the-attainment of that lofty
“ aim of a noble ambition. Nay, I have uGen defended
“ Mr. Van Buren against whut I believed to be the mir-
“■ representations of my own mistaken friends-and others.
“■Fellow-citizens, if Mr. Van Boren be the belter states-
** roan, let us say so—I shell be the last man to- raise an
“objection against it, or to desire to impose restraints
“upon tlie utmost independence of thought and action.
“ and the freest expression of feeling and opinion. I love
“ a frank and generous adversary—such a man I delight
“lo embrace—und will serve him, according to my ability.
“ as- cheerfully as my professed friend. But that re'it ■ -
“warfare which seeks success by fool detract.’.*.,
“strives for ascendancy by tlie ruin of personal character,
“ merits tlie indignation of honest men, is hateful to every
“generous- mind, and tends too surely to the destruction oi
“ public virtae, and, as a consequence, to the downfall ot
“ public- liberty.”
It became our duty o» a recent occasion, lo eozrect the
mistakes of oar neighbor, the Standard, in relation to
Virginia, Mr. Tyler, «&c. ; ami in doing so, we showed the
Standard that in ks mistaken condemnation of ou? can
didate for the Vice Presidency, he had completely pr 06 *
trated by his own shewing, his own candidate for the T re ~
sidency. A similar daty again devolves upon us; and fa
obviating his charge against onr candidate for the Vres:d< ®*
cy, we shall shew that our aeighhor has by hri aom. condem
nation of Gea. Harrison, completely upset himsell, ot fa
other language, orrr neighbor wifi realize the force of th
expression, “he has fallen into tho pit, which hiaasei.
digged
The Standard charges Gen. Harrison as a culprit of >
high order, a seller of white men, and all .hat kind
thing, because the General voted foe the punishment
condemned felons, by letting them out to service foi a c
tarn period, instead of subjecting them to other, and, a-
betieved by almost every body, mi eh worse punish.nr •
in every way. IVell, a similar law lias been fa oper-t-
almost every State in the Union, and Georgia among thenn
This Law continued iu Georgia from 1788, till: the or
ganization of our Peniteatiary codo in 1816. Now tj-
only difference between the two laws, is, that Gen. I an -
son’s law only extended to convicts condemned by * j'”- v
of their countrymen, whereas the Georgia law seib or 1
out to. service vagabonds, as it caHs them, ana
without even a trial by jury, but on the mere"
a Judge of the Comt. So much far Gen. ar ^
white men, selling—if he is lo blAOT e » we oor .
have been much more so. But that i>noi the
especiaflv have in view at this time, whether Gen. Ha
son and own fellow-citizens of Georgia were to b « £
judge ; but our neighbor we will not so allow to escape.