Newspaper Page Text
Poor Abraham evinced such deep contri
tion under this lecture, (for be sobbed as
if bis heart would break.) that bis mother
deemed it prudent to conclude with a sua-
sive, which bIic did in the happiest man
ner.
Having thus restored Abraham’s equa
nimity in a measure, with a gentle, encour
aging smile, she continued ;
“And now Abraham, tell your mother
how you came to say a part of the seeond
prayer *”
“I couldn’t go to sleep till I said it ma’
am.”
“Well, that is a good sign at least. And
what part was it ?”
“God bless my father and mother.”
Mrs. Butler telt quickly for her haudker
chief. It had fallen from her lap, and she
was glad of it. She depressed her head
below the table in search ot it, and then
rose with a 'Countenance, suffused with
smiles and tears.
“Poor babes,” said she, “what an odd
compound of good and bad they are 1
The grand-mother returned just at this
time, and discovering some uneasiness at
Mrs. Butler’s tears, the latter explained.—
As she'concluded. “The Lord bless tli
poor dear boy,” exclaimed the venerable
matron, raising her apron to her eyes, ‘that
shows lie’s got a good heart. No danger
of the child that can’t slceo till he pray
for his father and mother.”
Franklin and Paine.
[The following relic of the past will be
read with interest as illustrating the force
of the great Franklin’s philosophy. It
was cut from a newspaper some forty years
ago,by a gentleman now residing on Green-
point, L. I. He has carefully preserved it
for near half a century, and now in offer
ing it to the press for a reprint, acknowl
edges that the Providence-which first brou
ght the article under his eye, at a most
critical period in the form ition of his own
sentiments on the subject of religion, was
the means of saving him from the rock on
which Thomas P^iinc made shipwreck.
\Ed Intelligencer.
When Paine waswriting his infamous at
tacks on the Christian religion, he submit
ted a part of his manuscript to Dr. Frank
lin for his inspection and opinion. The
foliowing is tie answer of that great phi
losopher and patriot :
Dear Sir:—l have read your man
uscript with some attention. By the ar
gument it contains against a particular
Providence, through you allow a general
Providence, you strike at the founda
tion of all religion. For without the be
lief of a Providence that takes cognizance
of, guards and guides, and favors particu
lar persons, there is no motive to worship
a Deity, to fear its displeasure, or to pray
for its protection. I will not enter into any
discussion of your principles, though you
seem to desire it. At present I shall only
give you my opinion, that, though you rea
sonings are subtle, and may prevail with
some rea'ders, you will not succeed so as
to change the general sentiments of man
kind on that subject, and the consequence
of printing this piece will lie, a great deal
of odium drawn upon yourself, mischief to
you, and no benefit to ethers. lie that
spits against the wind spits iin liis own face.
But were you to succeed, dp you imagine
any good will be done by -l'l *You your
self may find it easy to liveja virtuous life
without the assistance afforded by religion;
you have a clear preeeutionjof the advan
tages of virtde, and the disadvantages of
vice, and possess a strcngtlj of resolution
sufficient to enable you to insist common
temptations. But think lioVr great a por
tion of mankind consists of veakand igno
rant men and women, and t : inexperienc
ed inconsiderate youth of both sexes, who
have need of the motives of religion to re
strain them from vice,to support their virtue,
and retain them iu the practice of it till it
becomes habitual, which is the great point
fer its security. And perhaps you are in
debted to her originally, that is, to your
religious education, for the habits of virtue
upon which you now justly value yourself.
You might easily display your excellent
talents of reasoning upon a less hazardous
subjeot, and thereby obtain a rank with
our most distinguished authors. For among
us it is not necessary as among the Hot
tentots, that a youth, to be raised into
the company of men, should prove his man
hood by beating his mother. I would ad
vise you, therefore, not to attempt unchain
ing the tiger, but to burn this piece before
it is seen by any other person, whereby
you will save yourself a great; deal of mor
tification from the enemies it may rise
against you, and perhaps, a good deal of
regret and repentance. If men are so wick
ed with religion,what would they be if with
out it ? I intended this letter itself as a
proof of my friendship, and, therefore, add
wo profession to it; but simply subscribe,
yours, B. Franklin.
ored and revered name. Who were the
most racy, witty, and popular authors ot
this century ? Horace and Albert Smith.
Who the most original, pithy, and humor
ous preacher? Ilev. Sidney Smith. T«»
go further back—who was the bravest anti
boldest soldier in Sumter’s army in the
Revolution? A Smith. Who palavered
with Powhatan, gallivanted with Pocalion
tas, ami became the ancestor of the fiist
families in Virginia ? A Smith again.—
And who, I ask—and I ask the question
more seriously and soberly—who, I say.
is that man, and what is his name, who
has fought the most battles, made the most
speeches, preached the most sermons, held
tho most offices, sung the most songs, writ
ten the most poems, courted the most wo
men, and married the most widows ? His
tory says, and I say, and everybody says
John Smith.”
UairUiL
At the boardinghouse where Dave and liis
friends ‘put up’ there are a.number of ser
vant girls, and it is the idiosyneracy of
servant girls to take their share of toilet
articles, such as hair oil, perfumes, &c.,
while they arc rejuveiiafing the apartments
of the boarders. Dave and Robert were
very careful of their respective toilets, and
beiujg in a courting way bad been pay
ing extra attention to personal adorn
ments.
They were in the habit of getting a pint
of hair oil made up by the druggist at one
time ; and finding that a pint of this costly
hair oil would’nt last a week, and that all
the servant girls iu the house emitted the
same perfume that they did it was not long
before they came to the conclusion in the
matter. So one evening, when the liair
oil cruse was empty, they took the bottle
which contained it, and straigth they went
to the drug store. There was a whispered
conversation with a laughing clerk, and
mixing of various articles in a pint bottle,
and the following was marked on the pre
scription hookas the contents;
Of Lac. Asafcetida, which, for the infor
mation of onr readers we will state, is a
highly concentrated extract of that deli
cious drug—of this 1 oz.
Of Liquor Potasse, (a fluid celebrated for
its corrosive power, having the power of
tions bang heaviest, corruptions bang
loosest; and grace that is bid in nature,
as sweet water in rose leaves, is most fra
grant when the fire of affliction is put under
to distil it ouR”
Rebellion at Harper’s Ferry,
U. States Troops called out—Blood Shed.
Washington, Oct. 17.—Rumors reached
this city, this forenoon that a serious in
surrection lias broken out at Harper's Fer
ry, Va, The trains on the Railroads lead
ing there have been sfopped, the telegraph
wires cut, and the town and all the pub
lie works are in the bands of the insurg
ents.
The trains have been stopped on the sev
eral Railroads, and the employees kiilled.
The negroes on the plantations on the Ma
ryland side of the river have been seized,
carried over, and made to join the insurg
ents. All statements concur in saying
that the town is in the complete posses
sion of the rebels, together with the U. S.
Armory, Arsenal, Pay Office and bridges.
The insurgents are composed of whites
and blacks, aud are supposed to be led on
by Abolitionists.
It is supposed by some that the object of
plundering arms, ammunition and govern
ment money, is for the purpose of effecting
a general rioting among the blacks ot Ma
ryland and Virginia.
De Quincey.—The North American Re
view in an article on De Quincey, thus
describes the figure of the remarkable
writer “In person he is anything hut pre
possessing-being diminutive j’n stature and
awkward in his movements, with a shrive
led, yellow, parchment skiff His head,
however is superb, and liis fac i remarkable
sensitive and expressive ; the.eyes sunken,
but brilliant with the fire <jf genius and
the illuminations of the opium. In man
ner lie is a model of decorn.tn, urbanity,
and natural, unaffected gcntiljty. He is a
magnificent talker, and a fine reader—
which last quality lie notes as a rare ac
complishment whether atnonp; men or wo
men. He is genial and bos itable in liis
household. lie performs set asks of walk
ing, day by day, in his garde a, and marks
liis progress by deposits of stones. He iias
offered his body, after death, to tho sur
geons, for dissection, as his contribution
to physiological science. He seriously
believes that the dreadful gna virg of the
stomach, which arises perhaps, from the
collapse and impotent*}’ ofthat irgan,throu
gh the use of opium, is caused ,y the rava
ges of a living animal. He ff singular in
liis habits, often disappears from liis home
for days together—no inquiry being made
after him by h?s friends—and veturnes as
mysteriously as lie went. He lias two
daughters, one of whom is married to an
officer in the Indiau army ; the other and
eldest presides over the house, and acts as
liis amanuensis.”
The Smith Family.—“Gentlemen,” said
a candidate for Congress, “my name is
Smith, and I am proud to say I am not
ashamed of it. It may be that no person
in this crowd owns that very uncommon
name. If, however, there be one such,
let him hold up his head, turn out liis toes,
take courage, and thank his stars that there
are a few more of the same sort.
‘Smith, Gentlemen, is an illustrious name.
And stands ever high in the annuls ot - fame ;
Let White, Brown, and Jones increaseasthey will,
Believe me. that Smith will outnumber them still.’
“Gentlemen, I am proud of being an
original Smith ; not a Stay the, hut a regu
lar natural Sm it h. Putting a Y iu the
middle, or an E at the end, won’t do, gen
tlemen. Who ever heard of a great man
by the name of Smyth or S my the ? Echo
answers who, and everybody says nobody.
But as for Smith, plain. <S m-i-l h, why, the
pillars of fame are covered with that lion-
taking the hair off a dog in ten seconds,)
1 2 oz.
Of Balsam Fir, (the stickiest and gum
miest article known,) 1 oz.
Of Honey, 1 oz.
Of Alcohol, to make the ingredients flu
id 12 pint.
This was well ‘shuck’and deposited in
the usual place occupied by the hair oil
The next day (Sunday) Dave and Bob
dressed themselves for church, and after
finishing, travelled down stairs. But they
came up another way in a few minutes,
and secreted themselves iu a room adjoin
ing theirs, where, from a couple of panes
of gl. s over the door, they could sec
everything that went on. After the peo
ple of the house had gone, two or three ser
vant girls came into Dave's room.
Whist, Molly,’ said a large red headed
one—‘Misther Dave has some more of the
ile, and my hair is as dliry as powdlier;
let’s have a regular fix up wid the folks
all away,’ This was acceded to, and they
all went to oiling their locks, being very
lavish of the fluid, which was quite thin,
in consequence of the alcohol. In a few
minutes redhead says :
Whirra what smills so ?’ with her nose
turned skyward.
‘Sure it’« the perfume,” interrupted a
short and duinpsy specimen, with her hair
down her hack.
‘Parfnme, indade” says the redhead—
‘that’s not parfurnc—it’s the rale bad
smell.’
‘Mebby,’ says the dunipsy ; its the Patcli
Chewley. I’ve lia-ard folks say that Patch
Cliewley smills dreadful at fust ; a person
must get used to the sinill before they likei-
it. Slime it’s a paifume used by the qual-
ity.’
This satisfied red bead, and after a tlior ,
ougli ‘iling,’ they left the room. In about j
two hours the boarders came home from
church.
‘Good gracious, what is it ? Bless my
soul, Mr. G., I shall faint ? Oh ! my dear
I shall faint! Oh ! My dear there must
be an unclean animal in the room !’ and a
thousand other expressions were heard, as
the boarders got a sniff at the Patch Chew-
ley, when they entered the house. The
master and the mistiess of the house were
puzzled, confounded, indignant, and in
vaih endeavored to discover the locality of
the smell. At dinner time there were not
a half a dozen boarders at the table, and
those that were there were rapidly think
ing of backing out, as the three girls who
were ‘iled’ were waiting on them,
Finally dinner was given up. and with
doors aud windows opened, the inmates al
ternately froze and suffocated. The day
was a dire one to them, but it soon wore
away.
At night the three girls attempted to
comb their hair. The alcohol had evapor
ated, leaving the balsam of honey and fir,
and they might as well have tried to comb
a bunch of shingles. At the first dash the
red-bead made, her corn.b caught, and thro’
the influence of the potasse at the roots
the whole mass of the front hair came off
red head's cranium, which she discovered
with a yell that would have made a can
nibal envious. The same result attended
the rest of the hair, with the exception of
enough to do up a scalp lock, to ornament
with feathers, in Indian style. The other
two girls met the same fate, and about ten
o’clock that night they might have been
seen wrapping up their lost Patch Cliew-
ley locks in pieces of paper. The next
morning they were informed by the mis
tress that she did not desire to employ
bald-headed servant girls, and with their
‘cliists’ they departed in almost a scalped
condition.
The discovery of Dave and Bob’s con
nection with the transaction was not known
till lately, but their toilet articles since
then have been as sacred from touch ns
the tomb at Palestine.
Additional from Harper’s Ferry.
Washington, Oct, IS.—The dying con
fession of some of the insurgents state that
Ossawatomie Brown was the soleconcoctor
of the affair. L Several months ago lie hired
* a farm in the vicinity of tho Ferry and
gathered around him several impoverished
Kansas discontents and fanatics,when they
laid a plan to seize the armory, hoping thus
to induce the concentration ot the slaves in
the neighboring counties of Virginia and
Maryland, and thus ignite a general wide
spread insurrection.
The insurgents stated that they would be
reinforced on Sunday by fifteen hundred
men. Many of the citizens and govern
ment employees were forced out of the
town on Sunday night by armed squads of
whites and blacks. The fugitives spread
the alarm, which caused the assembling of
armed men and the military of the neigh-
boiing towns, who concentrated around
the Ferry, thus alarming the negroes who
may have intended to join the insurgents.
The railroad companies offered every fa
cility towards transportation of the troops,
and before the rioters were aware, every
outlet of the town was guarded, and the
insurgents completely penned up. Previ
ously a portion of the Abolitionists had ef
fected a stampede of the negroes of the
neighboring farms, forcing them away
against their will; others had conveyed the
Government arms and ammunition to dis
tant hiding places, and it was also said that
they had plundered the pay officers of fif
teen or twenty thousand dollars. About
dark last night the local military made a si
multaneous attack upon the town at four
different points, and drove the insurgents
into the armory enclosure for refuge. The
fight in the street was very severe, and
fifteen of the insurgents and two or three
of the assailants were killed, and several
wounded ; matters thus rested until the ar
rival of the marines and the Baltimore
troops, when the armory was surrounded.
At daylight a demand was made to the in
surgents to surrender, which they refused ;
the Marines then battered down the door
of the armory, but were met by a brisk
discharge from the insurgents; one of the
marines was killed; and one, it is feared,
is mortally wounded ; two or three others
were slightly wounded.
The Marines after having forced an
entrance, took all the remaining living in
surgents prisoners, and liberated the pris
oners, whom the insurgents had previously
threatened to murder iftliey were attacked.
The number of prisoners taken was not
stated,but out of the original insurgents, fif
teen are dead, and two arc believed to
have been mortally wounded.
Amongst the citizens that were murdered
by the insurgents were Mr. Fountain Brcck
ham, a prominent and respected citizen; the
agent of the railroad company, Mr. Joseph
Bnrnly ; and George Turner, one of the
first men in that vicinity. The followii
were killed in the fight, Even Dorsey, a
railroad conductor; George Richardson,
and one M; irtinsburg. Several of the sol
diers were seriously wounded.
Latest.—Brown is not dead ; he may
Jive to he hung. Quiet has been restored
at the Ferry.
The Rangers under the President’s or
dors are now in pursuit of the fugitives.—
The District Attorney has gone up to Har
per’s Ferry to take charge of the legal pro
cecdings against the prisoners,
The arrangements of Governor Wise to
prevent the spread of the disaffection were
complete and admirably executed. Gov
ernor Wise arrived at the spot too late to
participate in the attack.
Seven companies of infantry, two of ri
fles and one of artillery, all with full ranks,
besides several local companies, were un
der orders and en route for the Ferry in loss
than four hours after the news of the insur
rection was received by him.
providing for them has imposed upon me
no small task. Besides, they are getting
discontented, and if not taken charge of
soon, will go back to Missouri. They
cannot be kept here much longer ; and if
any of them go back it will be a bad ter
initiation to your enterprise.
It. appears that tlie insurgents bad prin
ted a constitution and by-laws for the
provisional government of the United
States ; and also issued commissions from
their war office near Harper’s Ferry. The
following is a specimen :
“Whereas, W. H. Leeman has been
nominated Captaiu of the army establish
ed under the provisional government, now,
therefore, in pursuance of the authority
vested in ine by said Constitution, we do
hereby appoint and commission the said
Leeman as Captain.
“Given at the office of the Secretary of
War, this the lotli of October 1859.
“John Brown, Commander-in Chief,
H. Keys, Secretary of War.”
An anonymous letter was sent to the
Secretary of War at Washington, some
time since, of which the following is a
copy :
Cincinnati, Aug. 20, ’59.—Sir : I have
recently received information of move
ments of so great importance, that I feel it
to be my duty, to impart it to you, without
delay. I have discovered the existence
of a secret association, having, for their
object, the liberation of all the slaves in
the South by a general insurrection. The
leader of this movement i-t old John
BroivNj late of Kansas, lie, (Brown,) lias
been to Canada during the winter, dril
ling negroes, and they are only waiting
his word to start for the South and assist
the slaves. They have one of their lead
ing men,a white man iu an armory in Mary
land. Where it is situated, I am not able
to learn. As soon as everything is ready,
those of their number who are in the north
ern States, and Canada, are to come over
in small companies to the rendezvous which
is in the mountains of Virginia. They
will then pass down through Pennsylva
nia and Maryland, then enter Virginia
at Harper’s Ferry.
“Brown left the north about three or
four weeks ago, and .lie will arm the ne
groes, and strike the blow in a few weeks.
So that whatever is done must be done at
once, as they have large quantities of
arms at their rendezvous. Brown liasproba
bly distributed them already.
“I am not fully in their confidence and
this is all the information that I can give
you. I dare not sign my name to this ;
but trust you will not disregard the
warning on this account.”
Among the arms found at Cook’s house
are fifteen hundred pikes, made in Con
necticut ; the handles arc six feet long,
with a blade a foot in length ; there were
also found nine hundred Sharpe’s rifles,
a box of revolvers and a box of swords.
Brown denies that any others, besides
those at the ferry, are connected with this
movement. His wounded son, however,
say? that there are other parties at the
North connected witli it.
n ith authority from President Buchanan to
pursue and capture the fugitive insurgents
in any State or locality in the Union.
The United States District Attorney left
here this eveniug for Harper’s Ferry, to
bring on the immediate trial of the prison
ers.
Three hundred Virginia military arrived
here from Richmond this evening, but
found orders to return, as their aid was not
wanted.
Most energetic measures are afoot to fer
ret out and capture all involved iu the in
surrection.
Quiet has been restored.
Uses of Advers^y.—The poet has
sometimes sung tk'esweet uses of adversity.
An ancient writer wlioes words we are
about to quote, has unconsciously pro
duced a sonnet in prose upon the sub ,
ject :—
“Stars sliine the brightest in the darkesj i
night; torches are better for the beating :
grapes come not to the proof till they come to
the press ; spieessmell sweetest when poun
ded; young trees roq$ the fastest for shaking:
vines are the better for bleeding ; gold
looks the better for scouring; glow worms .
glisten best in the dark ; juniper smells
sweetest in the fire ; pomander becomes i
most fragrant from chaffing ; the palm tree i
proves the better for pressing ; camomile,;
the more you tread it the more you spread ’
it. Such is the condition of all God’s
children ; they are triumphant when they
are most tempted ; most glorious when
most afflicted ; most in favor of God when
least iu man’s esteem. As their conflicts,
so tlieir conquests ; as their tribulations,
so their triumphs. True salamanders, they
live best in the furnace of persecution ; so
that heavy afflictions are the best beuefac- your freight,
tors to heavenly affections. While afflic
Additionalfrom Harper's Ferry— The Fay
office not robbed -Several partus impli
cated—hellers and Documents found.
Washington, Oct. 19.—At Harper’s
Ferry at noon to-day, no signs of the fu
gitives had been discovered.
The Chanibersburg and Bedford rangers
were searching the mountains.
Yesterday morning a detachment of the
-marines and volunteers visited Brown’s
house and fouqd a large quantity of blan
kets, boots, shoes, clothes, tents, and fif
teen hundred pikes with long blades affix
ed, together with a carpet bag containing
documents which throw a good deal ot
light upon the affair. There was in the
carpet bag a printed Constitution and by
laws of the organization, showing or indi
cating ramifications in the various States
of the Union.
The letters were from various individu
als at the North, and one of them was from
Fre» Douglass,containing ten dollars from
a lady ; there was ali?b'one f^m Geiiritt
S-vu rif about money matters,and a check or
draft by* hiifi for 100 dollars, .endorsed
by a cashier of a Now York, bank.^lie
mime not recollected. All of these are in
possession of Gov^Wise, wliqjias issued
a proclamation offering one thousand dol
lars reward for the arrest o^ Cook. Large
numbers of armed men are now scouring
tile mountains in pursuit of him. Cooie
tiok tea at his father in law’s house
the Ferry on Monday night, only a'Tew
hours previous to the arrival ot the ma
rines. It was reported that lie was seen
on Tuesday morning, only three miles ofl.
Two wagons loaded with Government
arms have been reco’vered. 'Ihe insur-
surgenfs did not rob tlie pay office as was
reported ; a large amount of money was iu
the office. t
Among the letters found at Brown s
bouse, the following is a s^cimen :
Dear Sir : I have iieeri disappointed in
not seeing you ere this to* take charge of
They have been here two
weeks, and as I bad to superintend, the
Still hater from Harper's Ferry— Juris
diction of the Prisoners Settled-—hist of
Killed and Wounded Rebels %
Harper’s Ferry, Oct. 19.—The prison
ers, taken in the late conflict with the
insurgents at this place, have been
committed to tlie jail of Charlestown,
(Jefferson county, Virginia,) to await
the action of the Grand Jury. They
will he indicted and tried in a few days.
The arrangement about jurisdiction has
been settled in this way, the local author
ities to try the prisoners for murder; mean
while the U. P. authorities will proceed to
try them on the charge of treason. Gov.
Wise said to tho United States Attorney
General Oulu, that he had no objections
to the General Government proceeding
against tlie prisoners, if anything be left
of them by the time the Virginia authori
ties get through with them.
Brown is better. lie has made a fuller
statement, in which be says that be rent
ed the farm from Dr. Kennedy, six months
since, and that he has paid the rent for it
until uext March. He says that he never
had over twenty-two men at the farm at
any one time, who belonged to liis organi
zation ; but that he had good reason to
expect reinforcements from Maryland,
Kentucky. N*and S.Carolina,and thc 4 Cana-
das. Ho states farther, that he had arms
and ammunition sufficient for fifteen hun
dred men ; that he bad two hundred re
volvers, two hundred Suarpf.’s rifles and
one thousand spears, which were left there
at the farm, where lie liad also an abun
dance of powder and fixed ammunition.
He brought all bis arms from time to time,
from Connecticut and other points in the
Eastern States, to Chanibersburg, Pa; they
were directed to J. Smith A Sons, Kenne
dy Farm, (his assumed name); and were
packed in double boxes so as to deceive
tlie parties who handled tliim in transport
ing them to the farm. He says that lie
made one mistake in either not detaining
the train on Sunday night, or in permitting
it to go on unmolested. This mistake, lie
seems to infer, exposed liis doings too soon,
and prevented his re iuforcements from
reaching him.
Tho names of all bis party at the Ferry
on Sunday night, except three whitemen,
whom Brown admits were sent away on
an errand, arc as follows ; with their prop
er titles under the provisional government
affixed : Gen John Brtjwn, Commaiider-ijjL-
Cliief, wounded but'Vill recover ; Capt.
Oliver Brown, dead ; Capt. Watson Brown,
dead ; Capt. Aaron C. Stephens, of Con
necticut, wounded badly, lias three balls in
liis body,''and cannot possibly survive;
Lieut. Edwin Coppice, of Iowa, unhurt ;
Lieut. Albert ILizlett, of Pennsylvania
dead ; Lieut. Wni. Leeman, of Mai^
dead; Capytin John E. Cook, of Connec
ticut, escaped ; Capt John Kagi, of Ohio,
(raised in Virginia.) lead ; Lieut. Jeremiah/
Am^rson, of Indiana,' dead ; priyates/^-
Stew,art Taylor,Canada, dead ; Charles
P.Tood, of Maihe, dead; JYm. Thompson,
fef New York dead, and Dolpli Thompson,
of New York, dead. These, wilt the three
previously sent off, make seventeen whites.
The negroes'were : Dangcrficld Andy, of
Ohio, raised in Virgytia, dead ; Emperor
of New York, raised in Soplli Carolina,
not bounded, a prisoner—the latter was
cleet^d a member of Congress of the pro
visional government, somo time since;
hewis heary, of Ohio, raised in Virginia
dead ; Copeland, of Ohio, raised in Virgin
ia, not viounded—a prisoner at Charles
town.
General Brown received nine wounds,
but none, it is thought, would prove fatal.
There was about a bushel of letters discov
ered from ^11 parts of tlie country. One
from Gerritt Smith, that informs Brown
of some money being deposited at a batik
in New York, to the credit of J. Smith &
Sons.
The letter appears to be one of the ma
ny, that informed him from time to time,
as the money was received.
Pursuit of the Fugitive Insurgents—Prompt
Action of flit President—Immediate Trial
of the Prisoners.
Washington, Oct. 19.—A company of
mouutcd men left Baltimore this afternoon
The Squatter Sovereignly Issue.
THE ONLY PRACTICAL QUESTION.
Some the Southern supporters of Judge
Douglas affect to treat tlie question of
Territorial sovereignty as “an abstaction,”
and protest against the euormiiy of distract
ing the “great Democratic party” of the
country on a more abstraction. The
truth is however, this is the only phase in
which tlie slavery question can come up be
fore Congress for its decision. Indeed it
is already “up” in this shape, and the
next Congress cannot avoid a decision up
on it. In all probability it will be the
engrossing excitement of the next session,
and may occupy most of its attention.
The adoption aud presentation of the
new Constitution of Kansas brings up i
distinct and well defined questiou of Pop
ular or Territorial Sovereignty,as oppossed
to Congressional supervisions ; aud hercii
is presented precisely the issue which
Judge Douglas makes. Indeed it comes
up in a shape more odious to tlie South
than the simple question whether a Terri
tory can exclude slavery by its Territorial
action, because, in the case of Kansas,
Congress had expressly forbidden an}' ac
tion of the Territorial Legislature prelimi
nary to this consummation, until a certain
event which has not yet transpired. By
the English compromise, it forbade tlie
Territorial Legislature to call a conven
tion to frame a Slate constitution until a
Federal census bad shown that Kansas
had the representative population ; and the
action of the Territorial authorities in dis
regard of this mandate presents a question
of contumacious ’Territorial sovereignty,
tlie more objectionable to the South because
it infringes a compromise upon the faithful
observance of which she consented to the
defeat of the Lecompton pro-slavery con
stitution.
The issue being thus inevitable and
practical, the position of parties in refer
ence to it become an important query.—
We have very little doubt of the triumph
of Territorial sovereignty. Judge Doug
las and liis friends will of course sustain it
with all their energy and zeal, for if Terri-
al sovereignty is repudiated, he is repudia
ted with it and goes over to the Black
Republicans. The Democratic party in
our opinion, will sacrifice everything like
principle before they will take a step that’
must unqueslionably divide and defeat
them in the Presidential contest. Their
Representatives from the (South in the
House may oppose the admission of Kan
sas to save themselves at home, and know
ing that the hill will pass tlie House with
out tlieir aid ; but in the Senate, where the
National Democracy have a clear majority
of eight or ten votes, and in which body
they can defeat the Wyandotte Constitution
if they choose, we may expect the most de
cided getting out of the way or backing
down. Kansas will he put through, in spite
of her contumacious exercise of Squatter
or Territorial Sovereignty, and in the teeth
of a positive prohibition enacted by the
last Congress to gull tlie South. Let the
reader mark this prediction, and com
pare it with the result next winter. And
when it is put through, Douglas will ex
claim, as Cass did on the passage of the
Kansas Nebraska bill, “1 congratulate the
Senate on the triumph of Squatter Sover
eignty !” It will indeed be a triumph of
Douglas—a victory won by him over a
party that could have defeated him.and his
banting, but which preferred to sacrifice
the rights of the South and the principles
of tlie Constitution rather than jeopar
dize its success in a Presidential election.
And the “abstraction”Territorial Sover
eignty will thenceforth be the authorized
expedient for excluding slavery from tlie
Territories and cementing the fraternal
bonds of the “great National Democratic
party.— Col. Enq.
The Caloric Engine in Printing—The
Northampton (Mass.) Gazette thus records
the triumph of its new caloric engine :
It goes “like a clock.” Puffing and
blowing, it tugs away at ils work like a boy
at liis stent. Hundreds of people have been
to see it. “What makes it go V’ asks one,
“Where is the water?” asks nnother.Wiiat
the duce won’t they get up next?’ And on it
goes! “What’s that blowing off?” That is
the escape of hot air. When more heat is
generated than is needed to drive tlie press,
it is passed off through tlie escape pipe. No
water is used. A fire is built in the little fur
nace and the wheeUset in motion, and awav
it goes. It needs no attention any further
than to keep the fire burning. Any boy
can tnanngo it. And besides driving tlie
press, it gives all the heat necessary to
w r arm the room in,tlie coldest weather.' It
can consume but little fuel and therefore
cannot cost much ^.to run it. -Tt^is the
cheapest power iifilie world. When first
set up the draft \^£*fiot good, and it failed
to show its po\ver>but that difficulty has
been overcome*'and now it “goes like a
top.” Three cheers for the caloric printer!
Sir John Franklin.—The following
from tlie Canada’s mails is fiTlIer than the
telegraphic report :
The screw steamerJTox, Capt. McClin-
tock. sent by Lady*Franklin tw the Arctic
regions in seaicli of tlie traces of Sir John
Franklin’s expedition, bad returned to Eng
land, having been completely successful.
At Point William, on the northwest coast
of King William’s Island, a record was
found, dated April 25, 1S48,signed by Cap
tain Crozier and Fit/. James. The record
says the Erebus and Terror were abandon
ed three days previously in the ice, five
leagues to the N. N. W., and that the sur
vivors, in all amounting to one hundred
and five,*\vere proceeding to Great Fish
river. Sir-John Franklin bad died June
11, 1847, and the total deaths to date had
been nine officers and fifteen men.
Many dgeply interesting relics of the
expedition were found on the western shores
of King William’s Island, and others were
obtained from tho Esquimaux, who stated
that after their abandonment, one ship was
crushed in the ice and sunk, and the other
forced on shore, where the remained. Tlie
Fox was unable to penetrate beyond Bel-
lot Straits, and wintered in Brentford Bay.
Minute and interesting details of the ex
pedition are published. Several skeletons
of Franklin’s men, large, quantities of cloth
ing, etc., and a duplicate record up to
tho abandonment of the ships, were discov
ered.
A1E1DIBXTS OF TIB BEVEICE LAWS.
The Act of 1821 haring made it the duty of the
Comptroller General to accompany his annual Re
port with such recommendations of changes in the
revenue laws, as are in his judgment best calculated
to produce economy, and insure the prompt and
faithful execution of said laws, X shall now proceed
to the discharge of this duty.
The Action of the last Legislature.
The last. Legislature did well in passing acts
carrying out some of the suggestions in my ] as t
Annual Report. The result, to some extent, has
far exceeded my most sanguine expectations. By
these Acts, the State lias not only realized about
$5,00U additional tax from Lotteries, Insurance
Companies and Railroads, but property has been
more uniformly rind fairly valued, and a rcry tutor
increased return, in value of property, has been
made this year, over last year—thereby authoiiz-
hi" a further reduction of the per cent, on property
subject to taxation, and also lessening the tax, too,
upon poisons w ho have heretofore given in their
property at a fair valuation, or the market value.
Last year it required 7£ cents on the §100 to raise
ihe tax required by law. In consequence of this in- '
creased refc^ n, this year it required only tij cents to
raise the same amount. In addition to this, this
more uniform and fair valuation of property, pre
sents the.Slate, at home and abrgad, in a still more
elevated position—for ail States and Governments
aie . judged ot and respected much on account of
their wealth and resources and progressiveness
and as the late return approximates nearer than
any other, to the true condition of the State, the
causes which produce such a result cannot but" be
approved. 1 lie return of the whole amount of
property on the Lax Digest this year, is $609,581),-
S7fi against $-)39,U.)5,J J4 last year, showing an
increased return this year over last, of §7ff534,7»>2.
But, while these good results have ensued, by
reference ti> the tables acccompanying this lie-
port, it will be seen that one of the objects sought
to be accomplished by the last Legislature has not
been fully attained—at least iu relation to one
class of property. For instance, Bryan count v, one
extreme, returns this year its slaves at only an
average'value of 844“, while Lincoln, the other
extreme, returns its slaves at on average value of
$'52. The average value in the return of the
wholeState is ; showing Bryan county to
be 8170 below the averge value in the whole
State, But it is doubtful whether it can be more
equalized under the nd valorem system. Under
this system, were Assessors appointed—while
some counties would put one valuation, others
would in all probability put another and no more
equal valuation than the present. It will be seen,
too, that slaves are valued lowest iu the lower part
ot tlie State near tlie seaboard. It may be possible
that the slaves in these counties are not as valua
ble as those in the upper part of the State. But,
however, this may be, even were there Assessors,
saves would be" valued differently in different local-
iiies, and it is questionable whether tiie inequality
would be less, by further Legislative action at
present, so long as the ad valorem system is con
tinued. The State Tax of Georgia is so small,* I
cannot believe that any county or body of citizens
in *.lie State, desire to pay less than their propor
tionate share. When, then, the citizens of the va
rious counties of the State (now below the average
value in the State.) find any of their properfv re
turned below the average value of similar property
in other poitions of the State, and discover that
either they or their Receiver of Tax Returns have
returned tlieir property at a smaller value than
oilier portions of tlie State, is it not reasonable to
suppose that next year, and thereafter, they will do
better, and see that tlieir Receivers discharge their
duty, and t.iat they will themselves come forward
and return their property at something like the
value put upon similar property by their fellow
citizens of other counties, and that they w ill thus
bear their fair proportion of the Taxes ot the State ?
I cannot but think they will. If, then, the Legis
lature should concur with me in tin’s view of the
matter, perhaps it- would be best for the present not
to disturb the existing mode of giving in and valu-
property
Tar. on Lotteries, Insurance Companies and Express
Companies.
Either in “amending” or “enrolling” the Act
of JS5S, taxing Lotteries, Insurance Companies
&c., two or three important omissions occurred.—
The original bill, if I mistake not, required insu
rance Companies and Lotteries to make their an
nual returns to the State Treasurer on the 31st of
December, in each year, but in the enrolled Act in
the Secretary of State’s office, the time for making
their returns is not stated. As no particular time
was fixed in the Act, the Treasurer called for these
returns on the 31st of December last. But t
as above state*. If, then, the Lew .
a revenue from this source, I
al law for ibis purpose be adopted. ’ “""'t
Tax Uectiter’s Bond.
Strange as :t may seem, neither •!, ,■
the late Tax Digest or my^u claH C >
whatever requiring bonds from v h '" ; a
Returns, tx., p t lu Cll „ D j
however, hav e herctulu, e bee,, n v
V ,,l 7 supposed auth„r; t 'vTr ’ i - V
of 1004. making Receivers and Cm 1
sible to the Executive Department U?? *
to such rules in conducting the ant; 4 *"*
spective offices, as the Ex^uh- ^,^-
sary and proper." I would thereW U, ' k '
the passage of an Act requiring ,’ m . *
given. Ihe Acts of lso 4 and Wzimu**
to the Bonds for Tax Collcctois but ? ?r - T
whatever is made fur bonds from R,i
Returns.
Making Title to properly sold lo,„ v T
I would respectfully call the .. 11
islature to the difficulty of determii ill? ° ft '
is the proper persons authorised to . ' * S :
title to property sold under a Tax '
cution tor lax. Before the act of l--.f r ’
tors w ere authorised to sell and mako ’c’ ’ 1
Act of that year directs the extent!,., 1 'f s :
ered to the Sheriff and Constables ,'t V
levy the same, but it does not sav ul •
ano make titles. As tlie SLeiitls ai .!'°p :
are subject to a rule for the pior, t , ; , : ‘
a is reasonable to suppose that the \ct
tended to confer upon them the
make titles to property sold for tax • i' '
are doubts upon the subject,.would ’it m
to Lave the law more plain upon the 'ri
' la
Let urn of Tux Bayers by Justices oj th, r.
Eecnvers of Tax heturns "
t request complaints have been n „c e u
fice by lax Wciveis iu relation to if.
I'eace not returning the Tax Pavers -
fuels to tlie Receiver, as the law dir, -i '. '"
ledgod that in some Dist’s. in some ."f •}’ i:
tics, (in consequence of there being ' '
tices.) this duty is wholly neglected I
if 4 ' R’akcs it the “duty ot'tlio Jitstv A
1 fcate in each Captain's District in ,: s :
make returns to the Receivers of T* x t '
ail persons liable to pay taxes in their -
Districts, on or before the first of l; ar -
every year.” But there is no penalty V
failure to discharge tins duty, 'j ] ie ., ( - ■.
Acted !;-04, which was repealed bv the i •
required the "commanding officer’’ in ”
tain’s District, to make his return, with ***
83'J tor each refusal or neglect to do so' 4 ^
Tax Payers net on the Tux Di* tst
It frequently happens that persons, onarr-
absence from home, or some other rei
cause, fail to make a return of their;-,
the Receiver before be close; his Boi k 'j '•
tending to be in default they come forsrsr ’
after and of their ow n accord propose V
their returns. Previous to gu ^ ' ’
w ere authorized to make their returns to o',
of the Superior Court, and that office
w ould respectfully suggest that the Act be imme
diately amended, that there may be no mistake, so
as to make it require these returns on the 31st of
December in each year. And, as there are but one
or two express companies doing business ,n the
State, and as only the Principal office of each is re
quired to make a return, for the sake of econemv,
as well as to disencumber the Tax Books of this
item, or column, I would respectfully suggest that
Express Companies be required to make their re
turns directly to the State Treasurer by the 1st
of April in each year. And, in case of default, the
parties to be subject to the same penalty as the Act
of 1858 prescribes, with the right <>n the part of the
State, to enforce the payment in the same manner
as is now provided lor collecting from defaulting
Banks.
Tax on money loaned out of the State.
As tlie ad valorem Tax Act of 1853 requires each
citizen to pay 'Tax on w hat property he ow ns, and
as some tax payers did not construe notes, bonds,
and other evidences of debt, or money due from
persons or corporations, A c., of other States, in
tluur possession, as liable to taxation; ihe last Lec
ture enumerated said property in the oath to be
tasen by persons giving in tlieir taxable property.
Wince then, I have been informed that instances
have occurred, where tax payers who have hereto
fore made small rerui ns (and leaving out this,much
larger portion of their property) have absolutely
refused, upon being called upon by the Receiver, to
give in any of their property at all; thereby throw
ing the Receiver only upon the small amount of
visible property in this State to be double taxed.
Even perhaps if this property be double taxed
for the first year, trebled taxed tlie next, and so on
for many years, tlie State would not then get its
due tax. To prevent this evasion of the law and
withholding from the Slate its due, by persons hold-
this class of property, aud who absolutely refuse
to make tlieir return when culled upon by the Ilcccic-
e.r, would it not be well to pass an Act fining them
heavily 1 The taxes of Georgia are very small,
ilniost. nominal or not one fifteenth of one percent-
uid the citizwi of Georgia, of wealth, who enjoys
equally with all others the blessings of our State
Government, who uses the most of his property in
buying notes or bonds, or w ho loans his money in
and to citizens of other States, and is protected in
his right to this class of property, the same as any
^thcr. and who tints attempts to defeat the law and
deprive the State of its small pittance of tax upon
the same—this class of persons ought to be reached
in some way.
Taxes on Nominal Slaves and Slaves hiring their own
time.
My observation, for several years past, teaches
me that the present law in relation to the Tax on
nominal slaves, and slaves permitted to hire their
own tinm is wholly defective, and unprofitable as a
revenueNneasure— and in my judgment not much
better as a police regulation. If intended to raise
a revenue, tlie tax ought to be reduced. If intend
ed as a police regulation, the law would be much
more certainly and beneficially carried out by
making it more stringent and giving the whole con
trol of the subject, and the taxes, to the Inferior
Xlourts of the several counties—the taxes to go to
educational or pauper purposes. There are no
'doubt hundreds of nominal slaves iu the State,
aid perhaps as many slaves permitted to hire
their time, and tlie tax on the first is J50 dollars,
and on the latter $100. Yet none are given in—and,
but one or two of the former and five or six of the
latter are annually returned in de/aalt on the Tax
Books. And then, either by the affidavit of their
owners, nominal or otherwise, and other evidence,
and through the recommendation of the Inferior
Courts, they almost universally escape taxation.—
The tax is so large no one wi 1 give in—and when
defaulters are returned, the matter usually results,
*Motk.—With the slight glance T have been able to
give the late Tax Arts, within my reach, of several
Southern States I ti id, that in South Carolina, upon
laruts iu cities, towns, villages, boroughs, &e.. ihe lax is
lei cents on lhe-SlOO, and upon oilier lands it is 60 cents
ou the 5100, ami slaves pay 70 cents per head. Ia
Kentucky, real and persona! estaie is taxed at V0 cents
on the 5100. In Texas, lv’i cents on the 5100. In
Mississippi, 16 cents on the 5100, ou lauds, 20 cents ou
money, Ac . and 40 cents on each slave. In Arkansas.
Ini cents on the $100. In Florida. 164 cents on the
$100. In Virginia 10 on the $100 on real and per
sonal estate, and $1.20 oil each slave. In Alabama, 20
cenia oothe $100 on real estate and other property, 50
cents on money at interest. aiD an average tax ot 60
cents on each slave, (those between 15 and 30 jearsof
being $1.10 each.) Iu Tennessee, it is I3J on the $100.
In Louisiana, it is 29 cent on the $100, while in Geor
gia the tax on 1 tnd and slaves and other property, (ex
rept Bank A Railroad capital,) it is now but cents on
t e *100.
It will therefore be seen that while the tax in Texas
watc s but i rent on the $ 100 of being double our tax, the
per cent tax in various olher Southern Stales above
oamed is more than doutde that of Georgia, while Alaba
ma and Kentucky are more than three times larger;
Louisiana is more than four times larger, and the per
cent, lax in Virginia is more than six tiuses larger than it
is in Georgia.
In Wisconsin it is 12J centson the $100,nearly double;
New Hampshire and Maine, it is 20 cents on the $100,
over three times as large. In Peungylvauia i:is 25 on the
. „ „ , , . . i a , $100, nearly four times as large, and in Minnesota it is
A New York artist has p unted a COW and cab- g6 cents on the $100, being four times larger than our tax.
lu Ohio, the per cent., 31 cents on the $100, is nearly
five limes larger, and iu Illinois the per cent, isx, 67
cents on the $100, is over ten times larger than it is iu
Georgia.
Thus it will be seen that the tax in Georgia is so fat
below that of other States, that it may be termed almost
a nominal tax.
bageso natural, that he had to separate them before
they were finished, because the cow commenced
eating the cabbage.
Mr. Sickles says a borrespondent of a Charleston
paper, is unalterably determined to take bis seat
in the uext Congress.
to furnish the Collector and this office wi h 1
the return. The Legislature of ai ,j
posing this stiff to be the law. required tl-'
tor alter the 15th of August to search out
turn all persons and property in default or T
en in by that time. Bat upon examinant
that this law has been repealed. The r -
tliat these persons, who did not intend to be
fall!: and who voluntarily and quiekiv c .
w ard to correct tlieir oversight or etT r
protected against the double tax. To ei,.-.' -
then, to proieet themselves from a donbi• ■
would respectfully suggest that they lV Y
until the 15th of August to make their r -,
Clerk of the Superior Court, who can be au
to receive them iu the same maimer re< •
the Receiver. Aud asa compensation ton
fur his trouble and as a small penalty
persons for their failure to make *a *rt
the Receiver during the three or furrY
he is engaged in receiving taxes, the
might be authorized to charge aud rut; ■
each person returning property the sum •
cents.
The §290 Deduction to Nun-Residents.
The present tax law authorizes a dedi ••
§200 ou the property of “each l ax Paver,
provision was no doubt made for the pur,
lieving from taxation, on prop-a v, ad n.ia
Georgia not owning uvei $Z0U worth oft- ■
But persons not being in the estate freqttim,v
property in Georgia, and as no distiucL ,. .
made, they too are relieved. I would, ik-
respectfully suggest that the Act 1852 besuw,
ed as to deprive non-residenrs of the State. :
§2( 0 deduction.
Term of Office of Receivers of Tax Returns an:
Cutlet tors.
Before closing these suggestions or “n
mendations of such changes or amendment- -
revenue laws of this Slate, as in his (mv)opi
may teud to insure tlieir mure prompt at'iu
execution,'' &e.,I cannot but allude to the pc
short term for which Receivers of Tax Kt, ■
Tax Collectors of tlie 8tafe are elected. A.at
there are no laws in w hich the people are nit*
terested than the proper administration tit ;k
Jaws, still front the frequent changes ma 1 ia
Officers selected to carry'them out. it vt
that less care than usna! is felt by tho peype.
tlieir proper and faithful execution. Ihe il-
of Tax Returns is quite an important ua
it: the administration of the fax laws. !:
not only bis duty to receive the returns
to bint by the various tax payers, but
also liis duty to see that propt rtv is r
to him at a fair and uniform valuation, ;u.l
required too, to see that aii :!;>• propt-rr
to taxation be taxed, if not given :u i-_\ a.
or agent, lie is to hunt it up. or £i,d i; out.a
turn it on his hook as in default, a.id dost
the same. In discharging this duti well;:
“prompt” and “faiihfu!” manner, lie out to b
acquainted with the tax laws. JSut L tv is
our present system ? The Ret eivet iseiecteib
ly on the Jst Monday in January in each vs:
\Vithout knowing any thing or but little
Laws he is to, execute on the Jst of April M
or thereafter, he proceeds to the disclwrpe
duties. As lie progresses with his work, v*
questions as the law come up, and nut b< 'n:
familiar with the various provisions fur tacit
cularease, he has to hunt it up. Even if it
read it before. It" does not know where to t
readily and at tlie time he may not find it ai
looks it up at another time. 'Thus he goejoa.
ing the law and becoming more famiii-r *
for three or four months, and by the time acg
understand it and his duties tolerably veil-1
gone through the county the legal number of
and the time for closing and making up -
and forwarding it to this office, lias at rived. 3
want of a proper knowledge of the law I e msjl
committed errors, and overlooked prupertv r
to taxation in different parts of the cuuutj. bit
has not time to visit those sections again w*
make tlie corrections. But then knowing
and understanding better liis duties, were L
reiver longer, he would not fail to discha ;
duties more efficiently and beneficially tut '•
the next year, and thereafter. His term >7-
out, however when his book is received -
cepted by the Comptroller General, and p.e:h
tho next election he is defeated—then, life
sor is in the condition that lie was when be d
menced his duties. Can the public int -*
promoted by this state of things ? My ex'p f
for the last four years in this office, has sain**'•
that it cannot be. Iu most, if not in all cfc“ ’ j
Receivers of Tax Returns have been in offices.
than one year, 1 not fatly find their eigW’.'l
up more correctly ard intelligibly, but 1 q
duties generally letter disciiarged. In *“:•!
out the late Act as to receiving returns. Ij
in most cases, the largest increased rotrr’-’q
been furnished by Receivers who have
held the office. And why should not r.lltinsuc
If a person in the habit of handling ait aw--
or a hoe, or a jack plane, can make betto use
same, and is more profitable to his einpl 1 '. "
one totally unused to such things,I cantut --.
the same advantage would not- resu-t in -
ing and executing the duties et f
a faithful officer. If “practice makes Ef
fect,” and if an Overseer or I aimer
and does better and better every f c4r j f ,
has more experience, or if * -a,' <
has had practice, and is familiar wjj 8 *' i
is deemed the safest and is more re.t 1 --
a “prompt” and “efficient" discharge
ty. than one with no practice and nu ‘J
with the law, then I can see no reason*
office that attends to his business, who ;;
of right and is faithful, and who ‘ ia -' ‘ j
ambition, should not also improve from “ ■ ,
and be better able to serve those who ,
employ him, than one altogether ineip e
such matters. . r &
With these results then, and belie'" - ^
•‘mote prompt” and “faithful (Y Y.D
“revenue laws” will be “ensued
not but express the opinion that the p ^ ]
in the administration of the tax 1 Y s i ce iifl
promoted by prolonging the term ot <■' L
ceivers of Tax Returns to two or ‘U Eg I
There is not ihe same necessity f«rpw‘* J
of the Tax Collector, as the dunes o.
are not so complicated as those of tne
Still, I have also found ? -it i npr°' e ne ;
Collectors who have served more ^
and if the Comptroller Genera! P^P .
his duty, even under the present l*w*q j„i
the State could come from the c ,‘Ycou?^
tion to this, every two years all °, . , t tiY ]
cers are elected, and the people « ^
more careful in the selection ot fTir v ■=
wherereas, under our present syste^^^l
year none are then elected, except
Collectors. The consequence is, Los>
but little interest is taken iu these e ,, 4
many of the counties not half ot ", vgffi
or vote for these two last n ‘ l!ll | ter ii ,li; '
Should the Legislature, therefore-“j
prolong the term of office of Recta