Newspaper Page Text
J. D. B. Deßow, Esq, haring recently
returned from an extensive Southern toar,
was summoned as a witness, a few days
since, before the Congressional Joint Com
mittee of Reconstruction. He testified np
oo several, leading points, we are Informed
very much as follows:
The Sooth Acquiesces.—Them seems
to be a general, nay, uo|veisalfi*qEiesceiice
in the results of the war, much dis
satisfaction prevai| ia reference to the
coarse panned by Congress. The people,
having fully and honestly tried the exper
iment of seceseion, are satisfied with the
result, and there is no disposition in any
.quarter, in any shape or form, to emb arras
the United States Government, or t|'refrail
from the performance of aU the duties of
citizenship. Those in favor of or opposed
to secession are agreed that it is onr best
interest to aeeept what the Government has
dose in reference to the negro, as well as
in reference to other matters.
The Freedman’s Bureau is universally
ttmpiaioed of aa a great evil to the whites
as well as to the blacks, and been the cause
of much heartburning aod • feeling of hos
tility which did not exist at|h* the time of
the eurrender. The hostility is not serious,
and would speedily yield on the adoption
of liberal measures by Congress.
• Military Force.—None whafcver it re
quired at the South) except whet the
°r
Treatment of Union Men.— There ia a
prejudice against these Ihu remained in
the South end pretended fealty to it, bet
* who now, for interested motives, set up
that they were always loyal to the Union.
Much deception of the kind il practiced.
Union mm, who left the country for that
reason, and took no part in the war, are
respected when they return. The preju
dice never amount* to hostility, and no
one would be molested in any manner on
that aooount. I know of no exceptions.
Such persons require no protection. There
might be some little unkindness of look or
expression towards them, and they would
not expect freedom of social intercourse.
jJjJgVjtempt would be made by any one to
interfere with their personal and political
rights—none whatever.
Treatment of Northern Men.—The sec*
ess ion men—the men who were in the war
are generally ruined and their families des
titute ; and there is, for this reason, a dis
position to sustain them if they undertake
any business. Actual sympathy with their
opinions must, of course, have Its weight.
On tbe other hand, there are many who
are in flourishing business—Northern men,
who came to the South during or since the
war, and who conduct the most extensive
aod lucrative operations. The discrimina
tion, where it exieta/U merely social. At
present it is well marked. I hare never
known it to take an offensive shape. There
ii ooolnees, reserve, but nothing mote. La
dies at part lea may not receive tbe •Men
tions of Federal officers, yet tbe festivities
go on in tbe same room, and no unpleat
neae occurs. The feeling is stronger than
it was. ft is tho result of polities! causes.
It will wear awa j.
, Wilt tbe Soath Support the Union
Against a Foreign Power?—Many young
men might be tempted to fight against the
flag; bet ninety-nine in the hundred of
the people are lick of war, and would sus
tain the United States, beyond a doubt;
if not from affection, at lesst from a con
viction of the overwhelming power of the
Federal Government. Alter the results of
the lete war, they would know any oppo
aition to be hopeless. Besides all foreign,
powers are hated anddespiaed, because? of
their course toward the Condederacy, and
would never be tms ted: and none am be
lieved tb be able to cope with the Uolted
States. J - r-* ■r-tmrr*—
Do the People Expect Pay for Their
Slaves!—This matter is sometimes discuss
ed, but no expectation of the kind exists.
It would be difficult of disoernment be
tween slaves and other property; and the
conflict between claimants would defeat
any scheme. The non-slave-holders—the
vast majority—would ask why pay for
•lave* aod not pay us for our property
too t
Political Elections in Future.—There
an to few men of the Union side from
whom the choice oould be made, and the
proportion of talent and worth it so over
whelmingly on the other side, that there
febnt little option. Other things being
equal, they would prefer men in sympathy
with them. There are many and notable
exceptions, and such [wjll become more
and mom frequent.
Fraternity.—The country is so desolate,
there is so much distress, so much want and
suffering among the people of the South,
UMt they have no time for politics. They
are disposed to go to work to restore their
broken fortunes. If the exciting, annoy
ing, and irritating causes were removed, it
would not be six months before the feeling
between the Northern and Southern mem j
would be softened, and a restoration of j
harmony weald ,be haatened. The very
necessities «f oar condition require it; we
would find Northern"- men bringing their
capital and industry among ns, and they
would be welcomed. Labor and capital
We must have. The Negro is defective as
a laborer. There was even under the sys
tem a deficiency of labor at the Sooth.
Treatment of the Negro.—He is not
held responsible for wbat has happened.—
A kindly feeling exist* towards him. Tbe
disposition is to provide for his neceeeities
and secure his rights, and thus make him
a cheerful and reliable laborer. It ia be
lieved to be the interest of tbe employer to
do this. I know of some who provide
teachers and preachers. No outside inter
ference is necessary. This is no new mat
ter with ns. We have had free negroea in
all time. There were some three hundred
thousand at the South before the war, and
half as many at the North. Our treat
ment of them was never complained of.—
No charges of that kind came even from
tbd North When !wm at the bend of
the United States Census Office, in 1853,
I compared the condition of time people
in both sections, and publishsd the results.
The a#vantage to education and property
was largely io favorjif the Southern freed
men. Some of our friedrewi owned large
plantations and slaves, many were exclu
sive holders. If without outside pressure
this was the case then, why not now!—
Why should we change ? Wbat policy,
(o say no more, would be subserved f
We can do right now aa well aa then, and
will do it.
Emancipation aa Compared with Slav
ery,—lf tbe negro works up to tbe former
standard, the present system is cheaper.—
It is too soon to decide whether be will
work. A summer must come
They woik very well eo far generally,
though the women are not disposed to field
work. Upon the mere money question
the South would he benefited. If we can
gel the labor it will be cheaper to hire’than
to own the negro! A plantation conld be
worked with little outlay.
Effect upon the Negro.—Emancipation
will prove disastrous to him. I judge from
the experience of other countries, and not
from any we have yet had. I judge by bis
thriftless character,and disposition to crowd
into the citiea and tofena. It is what I see
all over the Sou;b. In the suburbs every
where you wilt see them crowded in mis
eralfle shanties, eking oOt a vary uncertain
subsistence. The mortality among them
has bean frightful.
dfil Righto to the Freedman.—Therein
a willingness to extend every right whatev
er except that of suffrage. He ia not
thought fit to exercise that. Were he to
vote bis idcli natfpp would be on the side
of hie employer; but that might, and peri
haps would be, counteracted by emissaries
sent into the country. Northern men who
have come to tbe South since the war very
generally think as we do in these matters.
They »sv they have found our experience
worth more than their theories. The negro
is not thought to be smoeptible of much
education. People rather smile at the at
tempt to educate them. There ia So oppo
sition to it, however. Schools for them are
multiplying. Under slavery they were
taught on the plantations Bible lessons,
payers, hymns, catechism, etc. The opin
ion is growing among ns everywhere that
it will afford every facility of education.
That it my opinion clearly.
Right of Secession.—l never doubted
the existence of tbit right, bnt am satisfied
by the results of the war, and regard it
utterly useless and hopeless to assert any
each right again. The event of tbe war
was a distinct pronunciation against tbe
right, and a final settlement of the question.
Our people are better satisfied since the ex
periment hat been made, and ha ve nothing
to regret They have lost everything, but
not at they think, honor.
I am perfectly satisfied that the people
of the South have gum up all ideas of
secession. Leadened people of all clas
ses of opinions agree upon that subject.'
A Canadian paper, under the head of
«A Screw Loore," advertises Alexander
Screw, a hone thief, who has broken jail.
THEaCTLFTORBpY,
■■■*— •
The following beautifiil versea ware quo
ted by Bishop Qnintard, in a sermon re
cently delivered in Jackson, Tenn.:
Chisel ia band stood a Sculptor boy.
With hi* marble bteek before him ;
And his eyo lit by with • gleam of joy,
Aa so angel drum passed orer him.
Ha carved thstdrssm on s shapolesa stone,
With many a sharp ioeisioo—
That Aegol draw ha had mad* Us ova,
He had esught that Angel-vision. ■£
Sculptors of lift) are vo aa wc stand, jg
With o«r aouia uocarved before oaf-
Waiting an hour, whan at God’a command,
.Our lifo-dream passes before us.
II we espre it then eo a shapeless atone
With many a sharp ioeisfeu—
That AugeMream Shall be oar own—
Onr own that Angel-vision
FORT SUKTBB.
A correspondent, writing from Charles
ton harbor, gives the following animated
description of that famous iooulity:
In tbe center, ia the mid channel, like a
grimpontinel, stands Fort Sumter, bowed,
broken and deeolate. A shapeless pile of
earth and sand, and brick, it bears no like
ness to its former self. Where the new
cross of the Confederacy nod the palmetto
flag of General Ripley were so proudly
flying in April and July of eighteen hun
dred and thirty..three,only one one single
banner, and that the red, white and blue,
now waves.
Scarred aod cracked, its walla seem ready
to fall. The face toward Cumming’sPoint
ia erushed and broken into a steep bill of
mingled sand and brick and shot and and
shell. Tbe fees toward Fort Moultrie by
a solid work of interwoven palmetto logs.
Yet the structure of tbe fort is scared and
cracked and broken above and behind
these additional defense*. Tbe casemates,
closed hnd covered by immense framework
of heavy beams.and this again thick with
earth, can be entered only by winding pat
sages, damp aod dripping with moisture.—
The casemates onoe entered, it would hard
ly seem possible that any human being
could have lived any length of time within
them. The guns we. > slimy and mouldy,
and the carriages wete swosting with «>li-
extending one io
the palmetto logs, you oonld look down
around the base 6f the fort, where tbe cease
less tide bad woven over each of the stones
a mantle like, thick green, wet flats, and see
fragments of sheel and broken bolts. You
could look to tbe right and see where the,
wall had crumbled and fallen into thrift.
You could look above aod see tbe logs rent
and gashed, and the brick wall with groat
scare and ragged cracks and wide seams,
aa though a little more of the storm of iron
shot would have, beat it down beneath the
surface of tbe sea. You would look to the
left and see the closed posts, the rough re
paring, the broken parapet
In the interior the sandy earth was sup
ported in its irregularity by numberless
fasoines and gabions, and dotted here and
there by dark boles which admitted ns into
the damp cavorns. What bed been tbe
parade was now green and slimy with the
stagnaut moisture, over which were scat
tered pieces of an old exploded gun, scraps
of iron hoops, a few decayed btrrei stoves,
iron and leaden shot scattered from shrap
nel, and bits of soiled clothing end broken
bay oasts. From the toll flagstaff in the
center a small Union banner was waving.
And this was all that remained of Fort
Sumter. *
— l —-ah«. m
Tan s Brnsvoixxc*.—Tree benevolence
inspires with the love of justice, and prompts
him in whose boeoui it glows, neither to
oppress the weak, to impose on the igno
rant, nor to overreach the unwary; but to
give every man bis due, and with steady
and undeviating steps to walk in the hal
lowed path ot equity. Deceit and dissim
ulation, fraud and falsehood, are far from
the humble worshipper of God; integrity
is enthroned in bis heart, truth dwells on
his lips, and an enlightened sense of doty
regulates the whole of his conduct He
faithfully performs every promise, and ful
fils every engagement. Others reepeotand
trust his word, because he ret ports and
bolds it sacred liimslef. His life is charac
terized by the simplicity of troth, and the
dignity of virtue; and, in dealing with him,
they who have an opportunity of knowing
his character plaoe unbounded confidence
in his justice and faithfulness.
About the worst Fun eves made,—
If a man at table takes a pull at the ham
and eggs, should that be considered a good
eggs ham pulT? (example.)
A THRILLIHG IHCIDRIfT.
No. 2," with the following incident of the
battle of Gettysburg:
“When General Longstreet advanced np
on tbe Federal Jeft,.lta first pot was Carried.
Bnt the enemy being-- hesiilj reinforced,
rallied, and in turn drove ear position oftbe
line (Anderton’e brigade) from fits pod- j
lion, as well as other brigades on onr right
and left. Again we. charged and again
were driven back, ffliis was a critical mo
ment for us ; nearly all of our general offi
cers were kilted or wouqded. Our heavy
line hadcrambled to a mere bandlul, and
the flower of Longstreet’s corps lay welter
ing in blood. We were slowly retreating
leaving many of our dead and wounded in
the bands of the exuldgg foe. The hosts
of the enemy came on like the mighty
tides of the ocean, and the pseaDs'of victory
were already rising from their haughty lines.
Tbe bine bilk in their rear were bristling
with bayonets, and pouring torrents of
reinforcements down their winding slopes.
Now, when, we should have been reinforc
ed with 80,000 troop*, General Lee bad
not a man to send us. Officers broke their
swords apon the rocka, and many of them
wept. Our dead and wounded comrades
lay around us by tbonsands, and it seemed
as if there was no hand to save the shatter
ed remnant from destruction. Bat aid did
not come—a man—a solitary man threw
himself before the juggernaut of Federal
power, and alone and unaided, sought to
stay its onward progress. I, remember, ss
if it were but yesterday, the zouave cap
and iroa gray beard of the stranger. None
knew him, but ail idolized him for his brav
ery. He moved through the awfal storm
with a steady step, and his unlisted sword
seemed to say to tbe advancing foe “thus
far ahalt though come and no farther.”—
H# rend nothing, bnt his godlike example
made a hero of every man who saw him.—
Soldiers looked in the hot of their com
rades, and the question came simultaneous
ly to their blackened lips, “Who is he?”
echoed right and left, far up and down the
line. * Tbe enemy came on like a tornado,
and tbe proud hero stood enveloped in the
smoke, of their muskets like a lion at bay.
Men forgot to reload their pieces or conceal
themselves behind the rocks, but stood atu
pified with wonder. “Who it he ?” men
groaned—“ Who is he V* officers repeated
until the cry became fearful. ‘‘General
Lee,” someone shouted, and tie word ran
along the Ikie like an electric flash. “Gen
eral Lee, forever !" above tbe
battles roar, and as one msn our gallant
soldiers rushed like a thunder bolt upon
the astonished foe ; "follow General Lee !”
cried our wounded comrades, as they lay
upon the trampled earth and tossed up their
bloody caps. No 1 body of men on the
broad green earth could have pithstood the
terrible impetuosity of this onset. The
Federal troops, though they fought desper
ately, were compelled to give back, and at
last to retreat ia confusion to the heights,
leaving their dead and wounded in our
hand* * ® v 4 I ' h.sJC-4
But where was tbe stranger ? “Alas t
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.”
Tbe war is over now, and tbe brave men
whom ye met that day as deadly enemies
we now meet as friends. We wonld not
detract one ray from tbe military glory that
adores each of their heroes, bnt would do
justice to our lamented dead; and if, by this
imperfect sketch, I can add one flower to
the cbapletof a fallen hero’s feme, I shall
feel myself amply rewarded. And that he
ro—“who is he ?” The answer comes up
from the graves of Geftysburg—Gea. Paul
J. Semraea.
Vietub. —“Save your blushes,” said a
distinguished Italian to his young relation,
whom he saw issuing from a place of ill
report; “you should have blushed when
yon went in.” Vice should excite shame
for its own sake, ai)9«not tbe censure
which it. may incur from others. Tbe
virtue of him who is guarded from tempt
ation only by the fear of the world and
tbe probaMNlr cl detection, is certainly
fortified by feeble defences. And if such
an one has the good fortune, through the
various vicissitudes V>f his life, to preserve
the blessing of a good conscience and the
jewel of a good name, he may well con
sider that life a series of miracles.
m , _
."There’sonr Gersbom,” said Mr. ®iot
well, “he must go off to tbe city, to get
his Jiving by his wits.” "Well, bow did
he make out U asked a friend, •‘Ah,” said
the old man, with a sigh, tapping his fore
head significantly, "he foiled for want of
capitaL”
'■
Tub Vaults or ttt Bakes or
Frascev—The walls of these vaults are of
stupendous thickness. On descending the
steps leading to their entrance, the fires
obstacle we find is an iron locked
with three keys, one which is In the bands
of tbe Governor of tbe Bank ; the second
Mpept.by the cashier, and tbe tired by tbe
censor so that the door cannot be opened
-wfeheet the *fem ton eons consent of them*
three functionaries. We fens gain access
to the first compartment containing tbe
funds for ourientuae. Tbe safe kept here
is so curiously constructed, that if yon do
not knew the secret oi its construction, the
slightest touch anywhere will set a noise
alarm agoing loud enough to startle all
the inmates of the establishment. The
next compartment is circular and /ailed
the serree; it cannot be entered without
the same ceremonial, and is fitted np with
fire-proof shelves. It contains aU impor
tant deeds, notes and papers belonging to
the Bank, aUoAhe deposits of private per
sons. Hare tire Duke of Brunswick need
to leave his jewels, previous to going on a
journey. Mademoiselle Mare used to send
her diamonds there; the lingot d’or was
deposited -in the same place. After tbe
serree came the vaults properly to called,
tbe entrance to which is closed by aa iron
door, secured by several combination locks;
it turns on central pivots, like Italian doors.
It gives access to a wall-hole contsituog
a winding staircase, admitting bat one st
a time, and leading to s subterranean gal
leries four hundred end twenty metres in
length. These are filled with iron casks
containing ingots and coin and labelled
according to thoir contents. By way of
additional security, the wall-hole might be
filled up with clay, and the vaults with wa
ter, at a moment’s notice, if the safety of the
treasure were menaced in tbe slightest de
gree.
A stuttering boy who bad become
familiar with the round-faced figures on
tombstones supposed to represent cherubs,
seraphs, and other heavenly creatures, hap
pening to shoot an owl one day exclaimed,
“Well, th-th-there,snow ( if I hai-haint abo
sho-shot a cherubim
An editor announces tbe death of a lady
of his acquaintance, and thus touchingly
adds: "In her decease tbe siok lost an in
valuable frieod. Long will she Beam to
stand at their bedside, at she waa wont,
with the balm of consolation in one hand,
anda cup of rhubarb in the other*
Two sorts or Bi.essisos.— ‘lt is a great
blearing to possess wbat one withes,” said
someone to an ancient philosopher, who
replied, “ It is a still graatar blessing still
not to desire what one does not possess P*
u Thais so* broke in an old bschelor,
with a sneering glance at the philosophers’
wives.
A prudish spinster, In describing wbat
king of a man her husband wonld have to
be, said that she should require him not
only to be “strietly religious,” but also of
“good character.” f i ||f|& ¥
Against the
miss,” said a knight of tbe birchen rod,
“can yon decline a hist ?" “Yes, sir," said
the girl, dropping a perplexed courtesy, “I
can—but 1 hate to, most plaguilv.”
“My son, yon should always respect the
old.” “No, sir, ps, I can’t respect vegeta
bles.” “Vegetables, »y son 1 What do
mean ?” “Why, doeen’t a man belong to
tbe vegetable kingdom when age and ex
perience have made him sage 1”
A Freucb officer, quarrelling with a
Swiss, reproached him with country’s vice
of fighting on either side for money ; “while
we Frenchmen," said he, “fight for honor."
“Yes, sir,” replied the Swire; “every oae
fights for that he most wants.”
“Don’t yon think Mr. K. a speaker of
great power ?” asked a gentleman, in ref
erence to a pompons, long-winded lecturer,
who spoke in a high-keyed, drawling voice.
“Yes; kigh-drt»l-Hs power,” was tbs re
ply of tbe peyson addressed.
Every man has bis price, so said Wal
pole ; but be never said as much of women.
The fact is, Walpole judged the ladies only
too correctly, for he knew that many of
those dear creator** are beyond all prise 1
In the Malay language, fire same word
signifies women sad flowers. So for so
good. ButHunx, the old bacbejdr, says
“it is a delicate nsj ofinlimating that each
is remarkable for Ha (sjtalk.”
A farmer, when flagellating two st bis
oldest boys, was asked what he wai doing.
“Thrashing wild oats,” was his reply.
rs - The great Fair at BaltisMV* for the re
lief ST the destitute of tbe Bouh hta been a'
greet tuccese—o T er $70,000 has already been ,
realized. *