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Circumstantial Evidence.
BY MRS. BELL SMITH.
One Sunday afternoon, some years since, about
the bar room of the only public house in the
little village of S , on Lake Erie, were gath
ered a number of gossiping idlers, sea-faring
men, and farmers. Although early in the af
ternoon, the heavy clouds of an approaching
storm so darkened the shore, that candles were
lit, and in their dim light the gathered crowd
listened to the beating of the waves upon the
beach, and the distant roll of thunder that an
nounced the coming strife. It was one of those
scenes that occur when a mighty tempest conies
down 011 Erie’s inland sea, and the dullest
seemed struck with its impressive grandeur. —
Sailors drank from their poisoned cups with
less noise, and the village politicians were less
f sorbed in the presidential election. One ot
i number seemed more uneasy than the rest,
young man, of mild prepossessing a’ppcar
ance with a rifle in his hand and a powder
horn slung over his shoulder, for he had but a
few minutes before come in from gunning,
paced to and from the door, looked at the trou
bled bay and cloudy sky, and frequently asked
an old captain of a schooner when he would he
able to sail—to-night?
‘To-night? No, sir 1’ he responded to one
of the inquiries; ‘nor to-morrow —nor next
day, j expect. This ’ere storm looks as if it
was going to lead off a dance for a good many
flirtin’ ones, and I didn't believe in puttin’ out
in such company—it corrupts good manners, as
the sayin’is. You seem to be in a great hur
ry, comrade ?’
‘I am. The Sea Gull brought me ill news
from home this morning, and I will double your
passage money if you will run me down to
G to night.’
‘Not I. 1 would’nt undertake it for four
times the money.’
Silenced by this reply, the young man re
turned sadly into the house ; and, sitting down,
thrust his hands into his pockets, with the dog
ged air of one who makes up his mind to be
content with a positive evil.
M W had been in S but a few
weeks, and although a stranger, had impressed
its inhabitants favorably—so quiet, retiring,
and, as all thought, kind tvas he in manner
and disposition. The business that brought
him to the place was by no means settled, and
the intelligence he had received must have
been of a very pressing nature to make one
naturally so timid anxious to brave a storm
that caused the hardiest sailor to shrink from
duty. He had been sitting with a look of dis
content but a short time, when the clatter of
horses feet were heard in the street, and a man,
pale and trembling, stood within the door way.
His first discordant utterance was the word
‘murder!’ No expression of pain or terror can
send the same deathly chill to the heart as that
one word of terrible import, and, paralyzed
with stupid surprise, the gathered crowd inquir
ingly gazed at i he breathless messenger of evil.
Before he could relate what seemed to choke
his utterance, the sheriff of tho county hastily
entered and arrested M W .
‘For what V faltered the young man.
‘For the murder of Millie Woods,’ was the
stern reply.
It wanted only this to swell the horrible sen
sation that had fallen on the crowd. Millie
W oods, a little girl tenor twelve years of age, I
was the only child of respectable parents living
within a mile of S , and in her sprightly
loveliness had won the affection of all the vil
lagers. The circumstances attending her death
were as follows :
The parents, as was frequently their custom,
left the house under the charge of Millie, and
had been the greater part of the day making
purchases and visiting in the village. Hurry
ing home before the coming storm, the ago
nized parents found their house robbed and
their only child brutally murdered. The news
spread rapidly, and soon the curious and cool
er neighbors were looking carefully on all
marks the violence ha<l left in the premises.—
The front door was found open, all the inner
doon unlocked or broken, every drawer, chest,
press or cupboard forced, and their contents
scattered over the floor. In the garret to
which place the poor little creature had prob
ably fled, Millie was found covered with blood
that’flbwed from a stab in her side, her little
hand grasping an old bed post, while around
her neck, a white handkerchief was slightly
knotted.
Upon the floor of the hall, one of the* neigh
bors picked up a squirrel with one fore paw
gone and its head scraped by a rifle ball. A
young man who had been chopping wood in*a
neighboring grove immediately recognized it
as one W had shot that afternoon ; he was
bv, and picking it up, remarked to W the
excellent shot he had made. W left him
in the direction of Wood's house, with the
sqirrel in his hand. The handkerchief unwound
from Millie’s neck had the letters m. w. in one
corner. True, these were the initials of Millie's
own name, but her mother positively avowed
she owned no such article. Satisfied with these
circumstances the officer at once arrested
W —. From the time the murder was
discovered to that of W ’s arrest was just
two hours.
The prisoner was hurried to the nearest ma
gistrate, and the evidence 1 have detailed, giv
en before him. In addition to this, spots of
fresh blood were found on his coat sleeve, and
as Woods had been robbed of some gold and
silver coin, of a peculiar character, two or three
of the pieces were found upon the unfortunate
man's person. This riveted tho final link, and
the crowd grew furious. Little Millie, so loved
and loving, all remembered as a child of their
own, and she to be butchered for gold—the law
seemed too slow and mild for vengeance; and
the great crowd, now swelled to hundreds,
swayed to and fro shouting angrily for blood.
A convict but lately from prison,"hastened
forward with a rope, threw it ever a post while
some of the citizens in answer to this mute sug
gestion, hurried the unfortunate prisoner to
wards the impromptu gallows.
The Rev. gentleman paid little attention to
the talkative official, as they paced along. He
was meditating upon the thorns that had lined
the way of the transgressor ; but lie calmly
meditated. Troubles of such magnitude touched
him as lightly as did the cold of the December
night his well protected person, and he looked
upon their trials as quietly as he did the patch
es of gleaming snow they passed, or the star
beams that struggled through the wintry mist.
‘Oh ! gentlemen !’ screamed the young man
frightened at what appeared his inevitable fate.
‘Have mercy upon me—l am innocent—indeed
I am—have mercy.’
His voice was drowned in a roar from the
crowd- ‘Who had mercy on little Millie ? kill
him ! kill him ” and again they pushed him to
ward the fatal post.
‘Oh, God,’cried the unhappy man in bitter
anguish and. trembling like a child, ‘will no one
pity me f I have a widowed mother—mercy,
mercy—wait a little while.’
One alone answered this last appeal, a young
lawyer of eminent ability, and personally pop*
| ular, sprung forward, severed the rope, and then
in a clear, silvery voice that rung out high a
bove the tumult, said
‘My friends, be careful of your acts. You
are about to do what in this man you condemn
I ~-an awful murder. Chain him down, do
I what you will to-secure the criminal, but respect
the law— ’ ‘And give ’Squire B a chance
| to clear him,’ interrupted the convict I have
t mentioned.
‘To that man fresh from the cells, I have*
1 j nothing to say. But to you, my companion*-.
’ neighbors, and friends I appeal—earnestly ap
\ peal. Why will you do this cruel thing ?
J f What right have you to commit a murder ?-
Ilow will you answer to the great Giver of all
good for this ?. Where is your authority ?’
‘He who ehedeth man’s blood, by man shall
his blood be shed,’ responded a harsh solemn
voice, and the crowd turning, saw where a
torch waved over a stern, unfeeling face, the
countenance of their preacher. It was a time
when the gathered feeling checked by some
great obstacle, pauses in its rash career, and
for a moment there seems a doubt which wav
the tide will flow'. The awful passage so solemn
ly quoted, fell on the crowd at that moment,
when the slightest word would have turned them
from their purpose, and stimulated as it seemed
to them by a command from heaven, they once
more seized their trembliug captive, when the
‘old captain, whom W had importuned for
a passage, claimed to be heard :
‘Comrades,’ said he, ‘Squire B thinks we
had’nt ought to hang this fellow. Well, I’ll
tell you what we’ll do. He wanted to sail with
me this day. He shall do so. We'll take him
out side the Bay —tie him an open boat and
set him adrift. Then the Lord have mercy on
him. What say you V
A shout of approbation was the only re
sponse, and they hurried W to the shore.
In the meanwhile the storm grew loud, and
when in the dark night, their torches beaten
out by tho wind and rain, the crowd heard the
angry waves dashing over tho rude pier, their
courage failed; seven only were found ready
for the enterprise. Clambering upon the deck,
with their victim in their midst, the cables were
cut, and the little bark, like a frightened bird,
flew out to sea.
Perhaps no scene ever painted itself on the
canvass of real life so startling, weird and
strange as this. While the stout-hearted skip
per steered the bark, the convict, assisted by
four of his companions, tied W to the
open boat, and the preacher kneeling upon the
deck, was heard between the pauses of the
thunder, far above the waves and w ind, calling
upon heaven to bless tbeir unholy act.
The open lake was gained and the wretched
man, regardless of his entreaties and screams,
was given to the foaming waters. In a glare
of lightning, that was followed by a deafening
peal of thunder, they saw their victim rise upon
a huge wave, then plung into the darkness and
death beyond.
Short time had the executioners to dwell
upon their ruthless deed. Their lives were in
jeopardy. A storm so violent has seldom been
equalled, and the little craft was worked, save
the skipper, by unkillfnl hands. Desperate ef
forts were made to regain the Bay, but the en
trance was narrow and intricate, while com
mands grossly misunderstood, were promptly
executed, so that the bark ran upon a ledge of
rocks and quickly went to pieces. Two only
of this strange crew were saved— the clergy
man and the convict together reached the
shore.
Some three years after these strange events,
the Rev. M. 11 was awakened one night
by request to come immediately and adminis
ter religious consolation to a prisoner who in
attempting to escape from jail, had been mor
tally hurt. The llev. gentleman, folding his
cloak about hitn, and accompanied by the jailor,
threaded their way through wintry streets to
ward the prison. The demand for a clergy
man, and Mr. II in particular, by the con
vict, the jailor informed his companion, while
on their route, astonished him greatly. The
prisoner was one of the most hardened offend
ers that it had ever been his fate to meet
with. Twice in the State prison, and sentenced
for a third time, he had attempted to escape
by filing off his iron, forcing a lock, and climb
ing to the roof of the jail, intending to lower
himself by means of bed clothes into the street.
But the roof being all ice, he lost his footing,
and was thrown thirty feet upon the frozen
ground.
They found the prisoner writhing in pain
upon his bed, in the glomy eoll lit by a single
candle, and alone, for the surgeon ha<l pro
nounced his ease hopeless.
‘You’ve come at last,’ lie growled, as the cler
gyman approaching the bed, took from beneath 1
his cloak a Bible, and began the duties per
taining to his sacred mission. ‘You’ve come
at last. 1 thought I’d go out before you came.’
‘The Lord spares you for repentance, let us
lose no time.’
‘No, he don't; I’m bound to go down—down
down. Don’t be fooling—l didn't send to
you for that.’
‘The sands of life are running fast. In a few
moments you will be in the presence of your
Judge, and repentance will be too late !’
‘lt’s a space too late now— ’
, ‘Think of your past life—think of the eter
nal* punishment awarded by an offended
Maker —’
The answer to this was an impatient roar of
oaths, that made even the jailor’s blood chill.
‘I will not remain, said Mr. B , sternly,
‘and hear this awful blasphemy. I warn you
now, beware.’
‘Well, listen then—stop your cursed palaver
—don’t you know me ?’ The clergyman held
the candle to the convict’s face, and started
with astonishment.
‘O ! you know, do you ? You will listen now.
You remember that night we tossed W
overboard —how he howled and prayed. Oh,
oh ! look to yourself!’
‘I did my duty as a minister.’
‘All, ha! you did, did you? You did your
duty in drowning a poor devil for a murder he
never committed ? Do you hear that? for a
murder —a murder he never did?
A tremor like an ague ran through the
preacher’s frame, and then he stood as one dis
mayed to dumbness.
‘He never did the thing. I murdered Milly
Woods! I chased her to the garret, and killed
her. I was there robbing the house, when
W came. I heard him speak kindly to
the child, give her the squirrel, and then leave.
A minute after she was a dead baby, and W—
had the blame.’
‘Lord have mercy on me!’ groaned the di
vine.
‘How I laughed to see you run that poor W.
down, when I slipped the gold in his pocket.
How he prayed and begged poor devil, for
mercy !’,
The preacher wrung his hands in agony,
and still groaned, Lord have mercy on me.
-Yes, yes 1 it’s our time now ! I won’t beg—
I won’t! I’ll die game, but you howl—he said
he had a mother, a widowed mother—we all
went under—but you and I, parson, came up
together, now we go down !’
The divine twisted his gaunt fingers, and
moaned as one afflicted in his sleep.
‘See! see!’ shouted the convict, half rising
with the delirium that ushered in death —‘there
he rides, howling—don’t hurt me, O? please
don’t—there I choke her—hear him—now,
hear him—a widowed mother ! We strike !
we’re going down—down !’ he cried, and
throwing his muscular arm round the preacher
and pulling him to the pillow—‘down, down,
we go, down’—but his hold relaxed ; the voice
ceased ; a shudder ran through his frame, and
the wretched criminal was no more.
* * * * * *
In lime the village of grew to a
[city. Many of its old citizens had emigrated
or were dead, and among the remaining, the
Levents I have narrated had faded into an al
■nost uncertain legend, when, one sunny after
noon, an elderly gentleman of staid, respecta
ble appearance, accompanied by his wife and
‘children, made his way from the evening steam
er to one of the principal hotels. After secur
ing rooms, he walked into the streets. He
•arnestly scanned the signs as he passed. He
stopped before one that read‘Attorney at Law.’
He pushed, and then, with a start as if the de
termination had a spice of the desperate in it,
he ascended the stairs and entered the office.
An elderly man was seated at the table sur
rounded by books and papers. Inviting the new
comer to be seated, he peered at him, through
his spectacles, and enquired his business.
‘Mr. B , you do not remember me V
‘I cannot say that I do,’ answered tho Attor
ney, slowly, as if in doubt.
‘Do you not remember pleading ia behalf of
a poor fellow about being lynched for a murder
some thirty years ago V
‘Mr. M W exclaimed the
lawyer, joyfully. ‘Can it be possible? I never
forget a face and yours I saw in frame work that
night that ought to impress it upon my memo
ry forever. But I thought you dead years ago.
Sit down—sit down and tell me all.’
‘After I was thrown from the vessel that
night,’ said W , seating himself, ‘I was so
frightened that for some time I had no con
sciousness of what occurred. On becoming
more collected, I found my little boat half filled
with water, riding the short heavy waves, and
every second I expected to go under, or be cap
sized and so drown. This not occurring, I be
gan to look about me. I found the cord by
which I was tied, passed over my shoulder. I
managed to get it in my mouth and soon gnaw
ed it apart. This loosened my hand, so that in
a few minutes I freed myself and sat up. With
an old cup that I found in the boat I bailed out
the water, and then breaking up one of the
seats, I managed so as not to ship any more of
the waves and in this way rode out the storm
and the night.
‘By morning the wind had somewhat subsid
ed, but so exhausted was I by fear and fatigue,
that I was forced to lie down, and was soon fast
asleep. When I awakened, the sun was setting,
and far as I could see on every side was a drea
ry waste of water. Strange as it may sound,
l was greatly relieved, I feared nothing so
much as falling again into the hands ot that
terrible mob.
‘The full moon came out, making the scene
as light almost as day, and a gentle breeze
springing up, I took my coat, fastened it on to
tlie broken seat, and this for a sail, drifted, as
near as I could make out by the stars in a north
easterly direction. I knew sooner or later, 1
must strike the Canada shore, but how far I had
been carried in the storm, could not, of course,
determine. Through that long night I floated
on. I saw the moon go down and the stars fade
into the cold gray light of morning, and then
the sun came up with the clear, calm day, but
no land was to be seen —nothing but glittering
water. I imagined at one tim’e seeing in the
dim distance a sail, but if one, it immediately
disappeared. About noon I noticed something
floating near me, and on paddling my boat
alongside, found it a bale of goods, carefully
corded together. I fastened it, almost without
motive, to my boat, and again lying down was
sound asleep. I was awakened by a shout and
starting up, found I was running in close to a
wooded shore and a number of men staring in
wonder at my appearance. In answer to my
request, one of them waded in and pulled my
boat to the land. I learned, to my great relief,
that I had reached the Canada side, within a
few miles of . It was supposed that I
had been shipwrecked, to which my bale of
goods at once give coloring, and secured for me
a kind reception. On opening my bale, the
next day, I found it filled with costly silks and
velvet, and so admirably, the water had not
damaged them. This had probably been lost
from some wreck in the late storm, and noting
the address- with the intention of repayment
some day, I sold the contents, and with the
proceeds made my way to New York, where
I, after my mother’s death, joined an expedition
fitting out for South America. In this
new home I married, and engaged in merchan
dize. There I lived until I learned, a few
months since, my innocence, of that cruel deed,
had been made known by the confession of the
real criminal.’
‘I knew you were guiltless at the time of the
murder,’ said the lawyer, when W had
finished recounting his strange escape. ‘The
circumstances were too evident against you. I
have succeeded in my profession, by some lit
tle knowledge of human nature, and it lias
taught me to be very suspicious of what is
known as circumstantial evidence. It is a max
im much relied on in law, that circumstantial
evidence is the very strongest evidence. So it
is if read correctly; but what convinces a com
mon mind of one thing, lends a more acute one
to an opposite conclusion. The criminal would
leave no trace, would not deepen his own tracks
or write his own name in blood for justice to
hunt along; but he will, if it can be done, write
characters that all who run may read to the
abuse of others. Therefore the stronger the cir
cumstances appear to an ordinary mind, the
more evident the innocence of tho accused to
a reasoning one. Above all, when a man has
lived through half a century a good husband
—affectionate father, and blameless citizen—no
discovery of a mutilated body steeped in blood,
or death-painted knife, should set aside the cir
cumstances in his favor, that make the commit
tal of a great crime seem miraculous.’
The lawyer ceased abruptly, and catching
W by the arm, pointed to the open win
dow. He looked and saw a tall gaunt figure,
with sunken eye, pale cheeks, aiul long gray
hair, in the gloom of the evening, muttering as
he passed along, as if the mind was not in the
present, and ill at ease. ‘That,’he said‘is Mr.
11. Since the night of the criminal's confes
sion, his intellect never very strong, is a perfect
wreck. Every evening he hastens to the lake,
and looks anxiously over its waters. If stormy,
no entreaties can in luce him to seek a shelter,
but hour after hour he paces along the shore, as
if every moment he expected some revelation
from its troubled water.’
‘Ah !’ added the lawyer with a sigh, ‘lie is
not the only one in our broad land, who has suf
fered from misunderstanding of that awful
text.’
Meeting oflhc Constitutional Union Par
ty of Bibb County.
Macon, March 2. 1852.
Agreeably to previous notice, -the Constitutional
Union party of Bibb county met this day at the Court
house in Macon, for the purpose of appointing delegates
to the State Convention, to he held in Milledgcville at
such tint© as the Central Union Committee shall de
signate.
The meeting was organized by calling lion. C. B.
Cole to the Chair, and Gf.ouoe Patten, Sec’y.
On motion of J. J. Gresham, Esq. a committee of
five was appointed by the Chair, to report the names
of suitable delegates to the meeting, viz ; J. J. Gresh
am, A. 11. Chappell, W. Poe, J. B. Lamar and L. F.
XV. Andrews, Esqs.
On motion of Dr. Andrews, the same committee
was authorized to prepare a series of Resolutions ex
pressive of tho views of the Union party of Bibb
county on the existing issues of the day, and to report
the same at an early period. [Resolutions next week.]
Col. J. B. Lamar offered the following resolution
which was adopted:
Resolved , That we have an abiding confidence in
the correctness of the principles of the Union party of
Georgia, and that our delegates to the Milledgcville
Convention take such measures as. in their judg
ment, are best calculated to enforce those principles,
and make them the permanent policy of the oountry.
The Committee of five reported the names of A. 11.
Chappell, J. YV. Armstrong, T. G. Ilolt and J, J.
Gresham, Esqs. as delegates to the Sato Convention.
The report was adopted.
On motion of \V. Poe, Esq. the Committee was
authorized to fill any vacancies that may occur iu their
body. The meetiug then adjourned.
C. B. COLE, Chm'n.
George Patten, Sec’y.
0O Miss Frederika Bremer will soon publish, in
England, her work on. America,, called ‘Homes in the
New World.,’
COURT CALENDAR FOR 1852.
REVISED BY THE SOUTHERN RECORDER.
Superior Courts.
JANUARY.
Monday, Chatham
4th Monday, Richmond
FEBRUARY.
Ist Monday, Clark
2d Monday, Chattooga
Sumter
3d Monday, Campbell
Floyd
Meriwether
\Tytlton
4jh Monday, Baldwin
Carroll
Jackson
Monroe
Marion
Taliaferro
MARCH.
Ist Monday, Coweta
I.aurens
Madison
Morgan
Paulding
2d Monday, Butts
Cass
Crawford
Llhert
Greene
Gwinnett
Harris
Polk
Randolph
3d Monday, Cobb
Favette
Hall
Newton
Putnam
Twiggs
Talbot
Coin mbia
3d Thursday, Bulloch
Monday after, Effingham
4th Monday, Gordon
Macon
Early
Washington
Wilkes
Franklin
APRIL
Ist Monday, Cherokee
Murray
Pike
DoKalb
Warren
Wilkinson
Camden
Thursday after, Rabun
Friday after, Wayne
2d Monday, Forsyth
Whitfield
Dooly
Decatur
Glynn
Habersham
Hancock
Montgomery
Thursday after, Mclntosh
and Tatnall
3d Monday, Lumpkin
Walker
Baker
Henry
Jones
Liberty
Oglethorpe
Pulaski
Emanuel
Thursday aft.. Bryan
4th Monday, Union
Dade
Houston
Heard
Jasper
Lincoln
Stewart
Fcriven
Telfair
Thursday aft., Irwin
MAY.
Ist Monday, Gilmer
Lee
Upson
2d Monday, Bibb
Chatham
Troup
Muscogee
3d Monday, Spalding
Burke
Taylor
4th Monday, Thomas
Monday after, Lowndes
Monday nft. Lowndes, Clinch
Thursday after Clinch, Ware
.Monday after Ware, Appling
Editorial Convention. —Tho Editors and
Proprietors of most of the papers in Maine, re
cently hold a convention at which t he fol’ow
inic excellent resolutions, among others, were
unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That it is for the interest of the
people that the country press shall be sustain
ed, and some regard should bo had In Congress
to its rights and welfare in the construction or
amendment of the pAstage laws.
Resolved, That \{it consider the present
scale ol |\<i3tuges tipTu regular papers, as an
improvement upon ihj’ former law, and are
willing to retain thetli as they are; and we pro
test against the amendment now pending in
Congress, which goes to establish a nearly
uniform rate upon papers forall distances.
Resolved, That the present postage law
should lie amended so far a< the rates upon
transient papers are concerned, and graduated to
harmonise with the liberal rates contained in
the last postage law; and the prepayment re
quired upon them should be abolished when
scut from the office of publication.
Resolved, That the uncertain nature of the
relations usually subsisting between publishers
and their apprentices, calls for some systematic
regulation of the subject, which while the rights
of the latter shall be suitably guarded, will al
so secure to the former tho more faithful fulfil
ment of the engagement between them.
Resolved, That the practice of giving em
ployment to the individuals who have clandes
tinely left their employers, is injurious alike to
the interests of the publishers and to those who
have served out their engagements faithfully,
and tending to degrade the entire professsion.
Resolved, That we pledge ourselves not to
employ apprentices who have not faithfully ser
ved out the time for which they contracted
unless they have been regularly discharged by
their employers.
ITEMS.
05” The Providence Mirror announces the mar
riage of Mr. James Bee, to Martha Ann Flower of
Athens, Pa.
Well hath this little busy “Bee”
Improved life's shining hour ;
He gathers honey now all day
From one sweet chosen “Flower !”
And from this hive, if heaven please
lie’ll raise a swarm of little “Bees.’’
‘Spell cat,’ said a little girl of five years of
age, the other day, to a small one of only three.
‘I can’t,’ was the reply.
‘Well, then,’continued the youthful mistress, ‘if you
can’t spell cat, spell kitten.’
05” The New York Sun contains the following,
addressed to Rooster-hearted men ; “ Wanted imme
diately, a travelling companion in a light business,
which pays immensely. Address A. 8., Chatham
Square I’ost Office, stilling where you can be found,
or addressed. N. lI.—No chicken-hearted man, with
a hole in the bottom of his pocket, need apply, neither
must his elbows be out!
Minnesota is about four times the extent of
Ohio, and reaches G 75 miles from southeast to north
west, and lies between north latitude, 42 deg. 30 min.
and 50 dogs. The centre of tho territory is about
1,2000 miles in a direct line from each ocean, 1,000
from the Gulf of Mexico, and 300 from Hudson’s Bay.
£5?” The Lawrenceburg Press states that Dr. J. G.
Dunn, of that city, had discovered a chemical combi
nation by which he can change the surface of any kind
of stone or brick so as to represent the most beautiful
and substantial marble or granite. It is simply a pro
cess for crystallizing lime, and is capabio of being co
lored or monied by any tints whatever.
ft-sf ‘Experience,’ says Coleridge, ‘is like the
stern lights of a ship, revealing dangers only after we
have passed through them, and shining on bars and
breakers after we have become imperilled among them.
A leading medical practitioner at Brighton,
England, has lately given a list of sixteen cases of pa
ralysis, produced by smoking, which came under his
own knowledge within the last six months.
05” A writer in the Southern Press says of Ohio :
“ I am not surprised at any folly, absurdity, or ex
travagance committed by this great lubberly State,
which has increased so fast that it lias outgrown its dis
cretion. At this moment it breeds more pigs and pig
headed politicians than any State of the Union.”
Ilezekiah says if his landlady knew beans .
she wouldn’t buy the article called “burnt and
ground coflee.'’
JUNE.
Ist Monday, Jefferson
4th Monday, Richmond
AUGUST.
2d Monday, Chattooga
Sumter
Clark
3d Monday, Campbell
Floyd
Meriw r ethcr
Walton
4th Monday, Carroll
Monroe
Taliaferro
Marion
Baldwin
Jackson
SEPTEMBER.
Ist Monday, Paulding
Coweta
Madison
Laurens
Morgan
2d Monday, Polk
Cass
Crawford
Randoipy
Butts
Elbert
Greene
Gwinnett
Harris
3d Monday, Cobb
Twiggs
Newton
Fayette
HhII
Putnam
Talbot
Columbia
41 h Monday, Gordon
Macon
Early
Washington
Wilkes
Franklin
OCTOBER.
Ist Monday, Cherokco
Murray
DeKalh
Warren
Wilkinson
Tuesday after Pike
Thursday art., Rabun
2d Monday, Forsyth
Whitfield
Dooly
Decatur
Habersham
Hancock
Montgomery
Thursday aft. Tatnall
3d Monday, Lumpkin
Walker
Raker
Henry
Stewart
Emanuel
Jones
Oglethorpe
FulasKi
4th Monday, Union
Dade
Houston
Heard
Jasper
Lincoln
Scriven
Telfair
Thursday after, Irwin
Thursday before last
Monday, Bulloch
Monday after, Effingham
NOVEMBER.
Ist Monday, Gilmer
Lee
Upson
2d Monday, Bibb
Troup
Jefferson
Muscogee
3d Monday, Ppnlding
Burke
Camden
Taylor
Friday after, Wayne
Ith Monday, Glynn
Thomas
Thursday after, Mclntosh
Monday after, Lowndes
and T.iberty
Thursday aft. Bryan
Monday aft. Lowndes, Clinch
.Thursday aft. Ulinch. Ware
Mondhy after. Ware, Appling
LETTER FROM COLUMBUS.
Columbus, Feb. 26, 1852.
Dear Citizen :—We liavs some news of interest
to import, and for once, our city has redeemed herself
from the obloquy of being styled a place where home
talent is permitted to go unnoticed and unrewarded.—
Let us explain and cite the instance. On Friday even
ing last the Histrionics , a body composed of intelligent
and moral young men of our city, performed to an
intelligent and densely crowded audience. The lead
ing plav chosen for the evenin'* was “the Golden Far
j * ~
mer.’ Let it suffice in part to say that the characters
were well represented and the spirit of the play so well
sustained, that the wholesome moral it conveys was sent
home to every heart. The nett proceeds of the exhi
bitions of the Histrionics arc to be applied, we under
stand, to charitable purposes. Our strictly, tight
skinned religious citizens may attempt to urge serious
and seemingly sincere objections to this mode of raising
the funds which is to be given in charily, yet they
wholly forget (unintentionally we suppose) that they
have lent their aid and countenance to fairs, the pro
ceeds of which were realized by a cute and unhidden
plan and scheme of double distilled extortion. For
proof of this ask those in our midst who paid their
dollars for articles not worth as many pennies. The
Histrionics deserve much credit for the manner in
which their exhibitions are gotten up. It should now
be their first and highest aim to retain their hard
earned reputation. They have used much mental ex
ertion to amuse our citizens and we trust their labors,
if ever conducted with a view of exerting a sound
and wholesome moral influence among our citizens, will
meet that kind reception and substantial appreciation
which true merit alone deserves. Success to the His
trionics, whilst they bear in mind, that,
“ The stage, if true to virtue’s power,
A moral breathes o'er pleasure’s gayest hour. ’’
On Saturday evening there was another show’. It
was not at Concert Hall, but in Temperance Hall. It
was a spontaneous response to the call issued from the
office of the 6by 10, a few days ago. Tluj Hall was
well lighted, and the seats ready for occupants, but an
eye witness says that there were not more than a baker’s
dozen at most if all the dirty faced boys with clubs,
were counted.
This was a thinly veiled plot of the disunion demo*
ciats, and it was not even treated with common notice.
These chaps can never get the true democracy of
Georgia to allow them to unite with them until they
swear allegiance to the Georgia Platform. Wolves in
sheep clothing are common in this latitude, and we can
discern their species without procuring the aid of a
naturalist. The meeting was an effeminate squib, and
hardly that. When will the day arrive when humbug
shall be no more ?
In the last issue of the ‘Sentinel’ we observe that
the highly esteemed and talented authoress, Mrs. Caro
line Lee Ilentz, is engaged as the literary conductor or
editress of that paper. What a glorious treat it must
be to the readers of that once dull sheet to know that
the pen of such a winningand graceful writer will con
stantly contribute to its columns ! Will it not be a
perfect feast after so long a famine ? e are pleased
that this effort lias been made to procure the services
of Mrs. Ilentz to our community, and we are at last
constrained to agree with that old antiquated Sage
Seneca, when he says : “ The greater the evil, the
greater the virtue in overcoming it.’’
It may not be considered as a wide deviation from
truth to say that our city newspapers pay little attention
to, or care little for, those subscribers who sometime
wish a repast of literature. Tue evil might bo reme
died we suppose if advertisements were not inserted
more than advertisers pay for, and the space supplied
with some good reading matter. Until some efforts are
made to carry out the thought of the bard of Avon,
when lie said:
“ Let the mind feast though the body
our newspapers will never be of much poenniary bene
fit to the proprietors or of much real interest or utility
to their patrons. And, too, the editors ought to bear
in mind that people delight not wholly, in dull and stu
pid political articles. Wenreone of those non-descripts
who would rather read a good selected article from
some talented writer, than to have to bear the punish
ment of reading or listening tosome incorrigible block
head attempting ‘to make the worse appear the better
reason 1’ It has always been my bumble opinion, that
some other commodities than type, paper and ink, are
wanting to make a good paper. Talent, taste, industry
and liberality are the quartette required to fill the void.
\\ e have unusually pleasant weather, and if it should
continue, the trees will begin to bud anil birds begin to
sing. “There is, however, many a slip between the
cup and the lip,” and we may yet expect a blast from
old Boreas from the North Polar Regions.
The manufacturing spirit is on the increase in this
city, and Columbus will he upheld by her manufactures
alone, ten years hence, if they proportionately increase
as in that period past.
Our market is fully supplied with groceries and dry
goods of every kind, and for the lowness of prices Co
lumbus cannot he undersold. Our streets present
quite a business appearance, and things seem to “ wag
well.’’
The health of Columbus is unusually good, and
from the way the people generally patronise ‘horse
theatres,’ they seem to have a desire for fun and laugh
ter.
Let me here state that there yet remains some of
those toadish chaps who exhibit their breeding by
crowding the church steps every Subbath morn and
night. Their gatherings would not prove so intolera
ble did not some of them freight the adjacent air w ith
the fumes of cigars made of the meanest tobacco.—
Now,boys, you know it is a bad habit to smoke; but
if you will smoke and swear, in the former procure good
cigars (drop the 1-2 ct. churoots) and if you are so
degraded as to do the latter, always swear grammati
cally. It snuffs better, and it sounds more distinctly 1
Let all try the cap whom it doth fit?
Dear Citizen, allow us to conclude this epistle by as
suring you of our best w ishes for your welfare.
COLUMBUS.
From the Baltimore American.
The Conservative South.
The Union party of the South stands on high ground
as the worthiest political organization of this age. It
is much too noble to be an insirumont far base ns;s.
It is above other pai ties in its principles and purposes,
and it is only requisite that it should bo true to itself
and to the country to hold a decided control over all
other parties. A Macedonian phalanx never carried a
more certain prestige of victory.
In holding itself aloof from the Conventions, both
of Baltimore and Philadelphia, the Union pirty of the
South does not intend to make a show of indifference—
still less to manifest a sectional spirit. 11l all probabili
ty, if we may venture to speak of that party according
to our understanding of its spirit, a Southern man will
hardly receive its support for the Presidency. That
such a a party should exist, so independent in its posi
tion and so powerful in its resources, we hold to be a
matter of congratulation ; and instead of designating
it as sectional, we cannot but regard it as thoroughly
and essentially national, It is eminently so in its pur
poses, no matter in what quarter of the Union it may
have its location.
The objection has been raised that a Union party will
have no adversaries —inasmuch as no party will take
disunion ground, and that therefore it is useless to keep
up an organization of Union men. The objection has
relation to words only. The worst of traitors have
been those who warred against the throne in the King’s
name. So the most formidable enemies of the Union
and the Constitution are to be found among those who
profess attachment to both. The Union men of the
South, however, had to meet more open adversaries;
and at this moment there are efforts in progress, sys
tematically devised and unremittingly pressed, to or
ganize a sectional Northern party on the avow ed ground
of hostility to Southern institutions, and in direct vio
lation of the spirit of the Constitution and at the risk
of periling the union of these States. It would be an
idle waste of words to charge either party, Whig or
Democrat, with being enlisted, one more than the other,
in this movement. The New York Evening Post and
the New York Tribune may settle with themselves
their relative claims to bo regarded as Democratic or as
Whig—the real sympathies and influence of both be
ing alike vested in another and a common cause.
The organization of the Union party at the South is
defensive and conservative. It will give its support to
the candidate whom it may approve, not on account of
his political title, but from an abiding confidence in liis
patriotism and worth.
The Arctic Expedition.
Subjoined is the petition of Mr. Grinnell, mention
ed in our telegraphic synopsis of the proceedings of
Congress in yesterday’s Courier.
The Memorial of Henry Grinnell , to the Con
gress of the United Slates, respectfully showeth: —
That his tw’o vessels, the Advance and Rescue, of
the burthen respectively of 92 and 144 tons, were pur
chased and prepared for an Arctic expedition, sent
into the Polar seas to s,id in the search of Sir John
Franklin and his comrades, and also to promote the
cause of science through new discoveries in that un
explored region. They were found to be well suited
to the peculiarities of the navigation, and since their re
turn to New York have been in duck, under the care
of a sbipkeeper, and need but little expense to put them
in condition for anew voyage, with the same objects.
The British Admiralty, the officers of our own ex
pedition, and a large portion of the civilized world, are
deeply impressed with the belief that no good reason
exists for assuming that Sir John Fronklin’s expedition
is lost, but that having in a mild season passed into the
open sea beyond, through the barriers of ice which oc
cupy only a belt of the Arctic region, it is now unable,
composed as it is only of sailing vessels, to make its
way out either toward the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans.
It is now well asceitained, that it remained up to
August, 1846, its first winter, at Becchy Island, in the
region of Arctic discovery—that before reaching it,
provisions were added, contemplating a possible ab
sence of seven years— which have not yet expired—
that means exist in all those seas for obtaining further
supplies—and that human life there may long be con
tinued. It seems wrong, therefore, to assume that the
expedition has been destroyed.
It was undertaken by Sir .John Franklin and his
comrades for objects, likely to result—as bad bis pre
vious and pther expeditions—in advantage to all man
kind ; and having thus made himself as it were a citi
zen of the whole world, he has become an object of
deep interest to all, to those who are concerned in navi
gating the ocean, and lias entitled himself to com
mon protection from the navies of all the civilized na
tions.
Your memorialist, therefore, humbly requests that
the Government will be pleased to accept without
compensation, his two vessels, the Advance and Rescue,
for the service to which they have been dedicated by
him, and that Congress may authorize a propeller and
storeship, each from 300 to 500 tons burthen to be
purchased, which may be done at small cost, and that
lire whole may be put in compie condition for that pur
pose, and manned with not exceeding one hundred of
ficers and men, all told, of the ordinary naval force,
and sent in the ensuing Spring upon anew expedi
tion.
Our whaling vessels now penetrate into the Arctic
seas, and may be aided by an expedition. It w ill add
to the skill, courage and energy of our naval officers,
give fuller information of our own continent, enlarge
the bounds of discovery and of science, secure for our
own navigators in misfortune the friendly services and
efforts of other pow ers, and especially of those to w hom
we are indebted for vast discoveries in knowledge and
science.
These objects come within the range of naval du
ties in time of peace, and are dei nred of sufficient im
portance to warrant this country in dc-spatcliing anoth
er expedition to the Arctic seas,
HENRY GRINNELL.
New York, February, 1850.
Speech of Mr. Stephens at Baltimore.
The speech of the lion. A. 11. Stephens, of this
State, at Baltimore, on the occasion of the anniversary
of Washington's birthday, is highly spoken of by the
papers of that city. We find in the Baltimore Sun the
following sketch of his remarks;
At the hour appointed last evening, an immense
crowd assembled at the Hall of the Maryland Institute,
composed of ladies and gentlemen, who bad come up
to do honor to the memory of him, who was ‘first in
war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his country
men.’ On the stand we perceived His Honor Mayor
Jerome,with many members of the City Council, Joshua
Yansant, Esq., President of the Institute, with Mana
gers of the Institute, besides other distinguished gen
tlemen of the city. Several members of the legisla
ture were also on the stand.
Prominent was the orator of the evening, tile Hon.
A. 11. Stephens of Georgia, who, when presented to
the audience, was received with great applause.
The ceremonies were commenced with ‘Hail Colom
bia’ by the Band. This over, Mr. Yansant stepp'd
forward and introduced R. S. Matthews, Eq., to whom
had been confided the duty of reading Washington’s
Farewell Address. He stated briefly that it had been
deemed best only to read those portions of the address
which were peculiarly applicable to the occasion, and
he commenced in a clear, full voice, and concluded
with the applause of the audience. The address was
exceedingly well read. At several points the audience
broke forth into applause.
The reading was followed by Washington’s March,
by the Band, after which Mr. Yansant introduced the
Hon. Alexander 11. Stephens, as the orator of the
evening. His address occupied nearly two hours, and
was listened to with the most intense interest by the
crowded auditory.
lie commenced by saying that it was perhaps need
less for him to state that be appeared under some em
barrassment ; lie bad expected to be preceded by ano
tfier gentleman ; and lie was further admonished by the
recollection that he who would bring offerings should
have them worthy of those to whom brought. He
would present some crude thoughts, such as the time j
and the occasion suggested, lie had been applied to
to meet the citizens of Baltimore, and at firs', declining
lie determined that if no one else would be present, lie
would, and he was here. He was determined the
birth-day of Washington should not go a begging for
someone to speak in its behalf. He would take as
bis theme, ‘Our Country, our whole Country, and no
thing but our Country.’ lie spoke of the Farewell
Address of Washington, just read, as his will, the
legacy of the Father of his Country; there were les
sons of wisdom in it, and lie proposed to ask what it
becomes us as citizens of the Lnited States, to do in
regard to these lessons ? He would first speak of their
author, and then say something of the lessons.
In delineating the character of Washington, lie asked,
who would dare approach it ? Many say he was
great as a statesman and warrior; others say he was
the creature of circumstances. lie was a great man,
and the surest test of greatness is when intellect will
control intellect. Great as were the men of his days,
and they were the giants of the age—great as were
Lee, Jay, Madison, Hamilton, Jefferson and others, yet
was Washington the great centre sun, around which
they revolved as vatellites. What gave him the influ
ence he exercised ? Not art —not design ; it was his
simplicity of manners; there was none of the trickery
of small politicians about him. Contemplate him any
where, in the field, in the camp, in the parlor with his
social relations, and all who approached him would reel
that they were in the presence of a man. It was his
intellect that raised him superior to all others,
Sir Christopher Wren did but little manual labor to
ward the erection of that magnificent creation of genius,
St. Paul’s, but his intellect planned, and he used all that
he could employ to rear that immense dome. So with
Washington. lie planned ; he brought all of ti>e in
tellect of the age to aid him ; he was the architect of
this glorious dome of American freedom, “hat were
the peculiar characteristics of bis character? Hones
ty, integrity, forbearance, physical and moral courage,
economy, patienoe, perseverance, truth, frankness. Is
there a virtue that was wanting? \\ as there a vice?
The sun has blemishes or spots—if he had blemishes,
they were all like those on the sun ; if you look you
can’t see them. It has been said by some from across
the water that he had one vice; he could not see
straight, and it had been left for foreigners to find it
out.
Tne speaker said it was sometimes profitable to stu
dy character,; and he proceeded to an illustration, re
ferring to Addison and Walter Scott, to Napoleon.—
Tamerlane and Genghis Kahn. In Washington you
saw ail the excellencies—he was devoid of ambition or
selfish feelings and it seemed as if upon him “ every
God had set his seal to give the world assurance of a
The lessons of Washington had reference ‘
our domestic and partly to foreign relation* *
was a time peculiarly appropriate to consider ffi
He referred to the Union, and said he wash/ ‘’
vocate the Union of these States 111 10 Sd ’
lo.dapptac followed by ,hree oU-Lh”? *
lie gave a brief history „r, h e fom„i„ of c ”">]
and asked what has the Union done for Us > ! m ° n ’
arc the United States in the condition thev v
Because we have paid attention to the W ‘ ‘ ,** ?
ington. To preserve the Union we must
zeal usurp the place of knowledge. ti„ let onr
Union of the States to the Union of tlm C ° mp3red *ho
The Union of the Sla.e, 1,„ a 15""""“’
like the physician who undertakes t 0 d’ * a “<l
cal frame, the man, the patriot must
to preserve it. The Union was for peace ‘ **
and prosperity—the objects !ibe rtv C( J*' J J"****”
tv. In the lesson of Washington ,oßa * llber *
down indignantly every attempt to ff ° Wn
of the Union from another \v- V** ia ' eont P°Nion
ternal feelings wrong on one
to alienate it, and lie would proclaim ‘ tCnd ”
frown down the foul attempt. He bei° ‘! WwW t 0
.n boloii— ,no ,ei™. where,er ho tad
found patriotism Mi.-™,.,, h., h „
mountains of Vermont, the Barannab, of „
the pra.r.es of the West. We were
henied the fame of common battle-fields and coined
Why then shoold U*n.
cultivation of fraternal feelings? “ a
But, besides the lesson in relation to fraternal f. 1
mgs, there was another, warning Us against interference
,‘ 7 n HMt proud, a, A„ Mi “
that tin.* first attempt to do violence ,o lI,U ’
uu.de by ..on of America—net ere,, ,h I” T
Y" n I* found firs,
a„ abandonment of o„r H i C y. „ £
reserved for of another olime. Seme J .
“>*<'< *e had a polity, „l,irh , h ”
had b~o.ollow.ngfor ,i„y year.; and, throne, he,,l
polity
The allusion, of the speaker were generally under
stood to refer to Kossuth and hi, mission. H e CII
larged on the subject of foreign intervention,nnd
he was not prepared to listen to the teaching of ,>
publican ism from those brought up under thtTdw.astW
of despotism. By pursuing onr established p.licv
had come to be the first nation of the world \V e
should cease to be so, if we neglected it If we take
upon ourselves the task of fighting for the liberty 0 f
mankind, we may be very apt to lose our own
It was a popular error to say that the nation who
wdls to be free can be so. Ti.l.re is something want
mg besides the wish—knowledge, political information’
education, and a certain adaptedne* of circumstance
He referred to France as an illustration. She had the
will, but could not become free— she lacked the mate
rial—she wanted political information. She had tried
three times to be free, but had not yet succeeded. The
best ‘material aid’ the nations of Europe could have
woul.l be a reconstruction of their institutions.
Alluding to intervention, he said he would not doubt
the right of this country to interfere in foreign quar
rels; any man can raise a fight if lie pleases, but it is well
to look to consequences and results ; any man may in
terfere in another man’s business, but the’ie is not much
to be made at it. He sp..ke against intervention and
said America should be the grand example, not the re
former of the world. He referred to Hungary and
expressed the belief that if there were a wall around
it so hiofli that a Russian could not scale it, or with foun
dation so deep that a Russian could not mine it, that
in less than two years, like France, she would have a
king.
Passing onwards, ho said it was just one hundred
and twenty years since Washington was born, and lie
made a rapid review of events which have transpired
since. He believed that Providence had some great
destiny in store for us. He instanced the special eras
in our history, when, as it were, tiie wisest and best
patriots had apprehensions that the ship of State would
| not survive, but in the darkest hours a superintending
j Provide nee seemed to come to the rescue—the spirit
“I compromise would rest upon all, saving in the lan
guage of the Savior of the world,‘lt is I, be not afraid.’
11; concluded wi ll a beautiful allusion to the mother of
\\ ashington as an example for the mothers of our day,
and with the declaration that the course of the Ameri
can 1 nion was one of progress, upward and onward,
sat down amid a perfect storn of applause.
The Band then gave the Star Spangled Banner, and
the audienee dispersed, are are sure not one regretting
the time spent in partaking of the rich intellectual h ast.
We of course do not pretend to give more tlian the
merest sketch of the eloquent speaker’s remarks. We
have never seen an audience more attentive—many <’f
them stood up during the whole time, which aft get her
was over two hours.
GEORGIA CITIZEN.
L. F. W. ANDREWS, EDITOR.
MACON, GA. MARCH, 6, 1851
To C'orrespondrnis.
‘Admirer’ may send on his Critique if he will pitch
his pipe to a short metre tunc.
jT‘Psychology in Utopia,’ partially in type, and
will appear in our next.
‘Shad ! Shad ! s•> for a Shad,’ is a racy con-,
tribution, but a little out of season, for the ocasiou,
Complimentary. —The Editor is in luck this
week, certain. On Monday he was presented with
as fine a specimen of fronted fruit cake as he Ik*
seen for many a day. As the merchants say it ‘ui'fotd
rich,’ and was duly appreciated by the juveniles of the
household. More of the same sort can be had
at the new Confectionary spire of C. 11, Freeman, No.
12, Cotton Avenue, to whom we tender cur acknowl
edgments for the favor conferred.
£3j’ On Thursday morning, we received a couple
of splcndid fish from a friend in Savannah, whom wo
would be prouJ to name, but for fear of subjecting
him to all the pains and penalties of the ‘Shad Ordi
nance’ of that eay. It is a clear case of vjulatioß of
the provision prolubiiing any one from buying more at
one t.me than he can consume i/i his own family ,
nevertheless we forgire the offence on the ground that
the ordinance aforesaid is dearly contrary to the cna
stitution and laws of gastronomy as well as common
politeness.
Impostors. —There was a ‘Corn Doctor’ in this
city, a few days since, that has a patent method f
eradicating those painiul cxercscenccss called Corns or
Bunnians, which sometimes attach to the pedal •
tremitiea of humanity. lie applies a salve composed
of potash, arsenic, <fcc. (ns is inferred from the effects)
which swells and inflames the whole foot and leg soa&
to render it impossible for the patient to wear tight
boots or shoes for a coon's age! The cause of the
disease is thus radically removed, though at the ri*K
of losing the limb affected with corns I
Another Renconnter. —w have heard of
two more fights with the Tiger since our last, one of
them resulting in the laying out of an adventurous
Mimb of the law’ who ventured within the magic ring
of King Pharo—the other resulting in the loss, on the
part of liis Royal Highness, of one of his largest fangs,
by an adroit lick, front the hand of the ‘Gineral’ whose
defeat in the first rencounter we recorded in our sL—
This was tit for tat, or what may be called an evn
game of knock down and drag out, though it is
that the Tiger had a sore head for several days afb'f
tho bout with the ‘GineraP and was only recuperated
by liberal doses of mint julep, or California heart s-y-
Our cotemporary of the Central Georgian ca l
us to ‘cage the animal,’ but we can assure hhr tha‘ s“ c ’
is the condition of the beast already. All tha l -
cessary is, for visitors to the menagerie to keep h l “
off and oomo not within reach of the critter t p ttS
The South is a unit upon the M ashinib^
. . . . , ... „ u -a busi
doctrine of non-intervention or mind your
ness’question. Hence neither Douglass nor ( 155
shine in this latitude.