Newspaper Page Text
a .
XV. NEW SERIES VOL. XII.
VOL..
31 i S C C 1 I
i i a a c o u .
ftvn the Saturday Press.
All about Shnk.penre
WiIIimStalr b0rn. APriI
. i .u .1, licbtful Tillage Avon oi
1st,
on the
ord He was commonly known among
" r - rates a- Hilly Shafcspeare (and some
o "'V C!Hd nim from b!s car"
'-. iih en 't fr til0 BtflRc-) 'Vncn bat a
lie evinced a rcmirkable talent for
. i-.Tsi-s, which occupation lie pur
"t.l the introduction of stone posts in
; uses. Tbe following naive remark
1 tJ iavc mado wben short of work ;
e' a li '!"' nry kingdom lor a horse,"
;t h i-liing to trade he was obliged to
.ituiitinn to poactiing. inis maruy
. r cxiit pursuit lie followed with indif
. vcs until lie was detected and fined
r . ps better found and detected) when
. i ,ncd his pursuit wisely concluding
irufr.s in any event were but deer.
. - j dint our hero begins to run
.! rspiJly, occupying his time in
, carousing, and play acting, until
concluded he was a bad Hill and
t pass in good society He likc
.: this time took to writing play
r.j Ticentatiun, and notwithstand-.-
wrjngdoings people very paradoxs
". he did write well,
r' standing his loose ways our friend
. .tp.s always noted for his firm ad
i truth ; 'the following anecdote is
-.ration f thw trait. "When quite
:- father piesented William with a
T Inning hatchet, and William in
:':u-h of j.iy incident on receiving the
i' . t into his 'ruber's garden and cut
, ; father's favorite pear-tree ; which
' r Finn after observing, called Willi
l,,m and said, " William, do you
win, cut down my pear-tree?" The
an ingenious and ingenuous smile
' i- uunlv countenance raising his head,
. - Father, I cannot tell a lie. Ben
- n . ut down the pcar-trcc.' His father
, . ; the lad upon his knee, potted his
. ;.n J said to hiui. " My son. I would ra
u would tell a thousand lies than lose
f,...r-tncs."' 11 jw many of William's
liful pcccadilocs will net this beautiful
, rente to ti uth ipc away !
i i r i.- a the-jrv that our lriend Sbake
i ttiii in (.listener ; it this is true, he
i. ,irr:ud at the ripe old age of 301
The theory is founded on his hist
,i ., - uhie.li are reported to have been, " 1
- .. !r. i'." and it being improbable that he
n ;i falsify under such circumstances, and
; .ung heard nothing to the contrary, it is
.- to rrcsume that he is not dead yet.
i. .ng tl e loUnipurarice and associates cf
.. ..(i, were Mine very remarKauie cnarac
- i v- u. t notorious of whom were a Mr.
'',!!: ti-, ;v butcher by trade, who was
..:.;( o with delirium tremens, and
. ul.out the course of an eventful life
. - n., u:,td bv visions ol dascers, witches
ji. He was finally killed in a box-
. iij.a-1., by an Irishman called I'at Me
;.!' His djing speech was, " Ley on Mc-
. .li ..i.u ino matter what Incomes ol biin)"
i o Cr-t sa-.s he's fit enough."
These words 1 hTe taken from Mr. Bull.
. PTwlU-nt edition of Sbaksneare's wrks.
i- the original are bo profane as to le ill-adapt-
. i ior general readers.
nutl.cr ol his friends was a certain Kich-
1 1!I , Ki , a fisherman from Gloucester,
, : , c ij-umf d most of bis career in sticking
Iks and smothering babies ; he gave up his
,., inn 'inK s attempt, to take lUebmond,
w'.i.-i v.J alterwardt, taken and held by one
' , i Hi.- last word were, I'm going to
! :: angel and with the angels dwell,"
bv commentators to be
. x
ica-tic-l.
, ..lln r of our hero's friends was a Mr.
! , . -.. i-.illed from a tccnliar expression ol
v t..ii.n ) he had a good deal of trouble
,n ii.n.r. u. a large family of daughters,
.". i ;.:,.uh LTive it un as a Lad iob and died.
ill- itt words were, " How sharper than a
'erjut's f.,ng 'tis to have a toothless cniw.
I,:n'a:n teeth with vulcanised rubber
:..ick- had not then been invented, or the old
geiitUman might still be alive.
Another was a contraband by the name of
ittieilo; bo was r. jealous old cues and
t thcrcd his wifc with a liolster, because
!.c lost licr pocket-bandkercbief. He final
iv killed himself and served him right His
'".-t word- were, " Although now a Moor 1
s." n 1 no more. Othello's occupa
tion's gone," (meaning be bad no more wives
to Muothcr.)
I will njt weary your patience with lur
thcr extracts, save to give one or two speci
mens of Sbakspearc's pxtry as indicative ol
his ttyle.
F.ir its vhid dcecrirtion and as a
eharm-
jng picture of domestic life the followin;
is
inimitable :
' There was an old nomin lived under a hill ,
If she's cot dead she lire there still."
The following will give you some idea of
our poet as a humorist :
" Hey diddle dnmpling, my son John,
He retired to rest with his nether habiliments
on :
One hose off, one hose on.
Hey diddle dumpling, mj son John."
The following Tor its great moral truths
:id excellent advice, has been and mil be
n ad by cjuntless theiusand :
Let dojrs delight to bark and bhe,
Fur Y. their nature too ;
li jt liti'.e children shouldn't let their angry
psssions rise,
Their little bands were never made
l- r to Mratch out each other's eyes out.
ti.. .:oi mJt of this charmine little
ono- rc su coarst that I have again sTailed my-
kelf oi Mr. Ballfinch's rendering as better suited
to the improved state of the morals of the ace in
-1 T-U li vrv la. va.
, ;.. rf un FT.mHTo-trader in Pc-
;ii.Ur;, Va., a few days since to a .trQt'
iuaa who was skinning a live catfish m the
market. -How ran you be so cruel .
i,r ' b mtf-lli-cnt contraband,
,1k i's ,fn ar Jr ,ipd tn do me. and l's
iiwinc to get even wid somebody."
Hie New York Paperr. have been furnished
from Washington, and publish a corapleic
list of the English statesmen and leading
citizens whose names appear on the rebel
bxiki as holders of confederate bonds at the
tinif of the last payment ol interest, in No-ve-mbcr,
lSOl, showing the amount with
vlue-ii each was credited and thoicof thtm
!jy whore the interest was drawn. This
latter class included more than two-thirds
u! the entire nuuilier, there being over two
i.uudiidof them among the wholo three
hundred subscriber, il.e list contains the
names of Mr. Gladstone, a member of the
British Cabinet, of Mr. Delanc. Editor of
the Ijndon Timts, and well known members
e,l the nobility, of Parliament and of the
Engliah mercantile community. Brief sketch
es of the priucipal ot these Britiih holders
of rebel stock arc also given.
The resignations ol Generals Batlcr and
Dix arc officially announrcd.
The total value or the live stock in tho
loyal States is estimated at $0'JO,000.000.
Six persons were drowned on Thurday in
Maine, in the vicinity of Banjror, by the
bma-in- of ice on which thev were skating.
Ainon" them was an entire family of a man
his wilb and child.
A Fact is tub Hktoet or Secusiox.
lliil the veteran Unionist of Geor
"a, when he was at Washington recently,
stated as an important fact in the History ot
secession in his state, that the Union men
of the Georgia state convention held the
state from the tho vortex of secession until
Mr. Toombs came into the capitol with the
New York Jriiute in bis band, trinmphant
ly reading an editorial declaring that the
southern Etatcs had a right to secede and
tint the federal government had no right to
bold them. "That,-' said Mr. Hill, "over
threw usnd tbe state was rusebd out of the
Union."
JSP S'u lrtii!i'
BURLINGTON
FRIDAY MOBNIKQ DEC. 1C. 1S05.
I'resiflent Jobnoii's Tlrsl Mcnge.
Few messages have ever been looked for
with more interest than was this of Presi
dent Johnson. What will be say 'about
reconstruction? Will he own that his plan
was an experiment, and is a failure? Are we
ta see a collision between Congress and the
Prctidcnt over the admission of the rebel
States? What Etand will the Government
tako in reference to the controversy with
Great Britain and our relations with Mexico?
Will Mr. Johnson tell us what he is going
to do with Jeff. Davis? What about negro
suffrage ? How much protection may the
frccdmcn expect from the powers that be
in Washington ? What is the prospect for
the future seen from the high stand point
and central position of the executive head of
the Nation ? Such were the questions the
people were asking and for light on which
they looked to the message. What answers
does it return?
The President docs not own that his plan
of reconstruction has failed. On the con
tray he vindicates it, as far as it lias gone.
He owes it was ri?ky ; but he avers that he
took the smallest rick, and he does not own
that ho has been disappointed thus far in
its result. He iufists on the adoption of
the anti-slavery amendment to the constitu
tion, as a neccesiry requisite to union and
harmony.
He will have no controversy with
Congress over the admission or rejec
tion of the rebal representatives, for
he concedes fully to Congress the right to
dctcrmico wliat must be the qualifications ol
its members.
In regard to the frtedmtn, the President
believes he lmd no right to confer suffrage
on them, and sustains his losition by the
averment that if the Executive should confer
peculiar rights upon colored men in the
South and Southwest, lie must do likewise
in the States of the North and Not tb west,
a proposition which will not find universal
n t. Mr. Johnton has not felt obliged to
appoint a provisional governor for Vermont,
or told New IUmpihire she must adopt the
Constitutional amendment as a requisite to
a recognition at Washington, because he has
made such appointments and requirements
for South Carolina. Hut the people have
not exjected or demanded that the President
should proclaim the right of suffrage to the
freedmcn, and will pass by bis argument on
that point to dwell with pleasure on hi
pledge that the freed men shall be protected
and secured in their rights.
Jeff Davis, it is a fair inference, will be
tried for treason, as soon as a court can be
found, or fixed, to try him in.
Toward England, the President carries a
etiff upper lip, and his clear statement of
the wrong done to us by her conduct during
the war, and refusal to submit to arbitration
our claims for damages done by her pirates.
will create a stir abroad. It is plain tn
our Government will relax none of those
claims, but there is no threat of war, or
urgingof present attempt at redress: only for
the future tho friendship of the two coun
tries must rest on mutual justice.
In reference to Mexico, the Message deals
in generalities, which mean evidently that
the President docs not like a Mexican em
pirc any better than the rest ot u. and is
willing Maximilian should understand it;
but what he is to do about it be does not so
clearly see.
Thcfutmeofour country looks bopelul
and full of promise to the President, and he
cloccs with a prayer for divine guidance and
Westing, in which all devout and patriotic
hearts will join.
The Message, on tbe whole is lair, candid,
considerate, dignified end well written.
It is calculated to raise Mr. Johnson, we
think, in the good opinion of a majority of
tbe peojJe, and to satisfy tbera that tbe
reins of power are in the hands of no rash
headstrong, or narrow minded man. It is
received, too, with wide satisfaction. The
rtepublican prcej generally accord it high
praise. The A. V. World, alone, of onr ex
changes, declares that it Is " not quite free
from inconsistency and leaves someinin
be desiderated in vigor of tone."
to
Another Nail.
Georeia, one of the original ' Secession
States, has driven another aai! in the coffin
or slavery, by ratifying the Constitutional
Amendment A despatch from Gov. John
son of that State to the President, dated
Milledgcvillc, Ga.. Dec C, 1805, says :
" The Constitutional Amendment his passed
each branch of the LegislUure. The House
passed a resolution instructing the Judiciary
Committee to rrport a bill to protect persons of
Urican descent in their persons and prope"?'
'and also to allow them to testify in cases in
which they may lie mtcresiou.
A l'rcc Country
The ratification of the Constitutional
Amendment by three-fourths of the States.
and its consequent incorporation into
Constitution.has begun already to bear iruit.
In Kentucky a State which has refused to
ratify the amendment on Saturday, in toe
Jefferson Circuit Court, in the case of the
Commonwealth of Kentucky versus Major
General J. M. Talnicr, for aiding a slave to
escape, Judge Jonnston dismissed the indict
ment on the cround that ttie requisite aiiui
bcr of States bad adopted the constitutional
amendment abolishing slavery .before the in
dictment, and therefore all criminal and re
nalcctsof the Kentucky Legislature rela
five to slavery were null, and of no effect.
General Palmer has issued a proclamation
declaring that slavery has ceased in the State
of Kentucky. Ho also advises tnc ciorcu
people to promptly apply to the courts for
Trdrrsn. if tbi rnlilic conveyances shall dis
regard their richt to travel at pleasure,
provided they conform to reasonable regula
tions. Meanwhile the Legislature of the State
continues to sleep on and to dream of the
olden times, instead ot acting on the advice
cf Governor Bramlcttc, and ratifying the
constitutional amendment. On Friday, res
olutions in favor of a general amnesty to
rebels, and recommending the pardon of Jeff.
Davis, were introduced into that body.
Trouble in the Fenian Cnmp.
There stems to be a tiry lively little row
in progress among the chiefs of the new Fc
niin Ilcpublic. It is raid that the extrava
gance of President O'Mahoncy.and the way
lie was rushing things generally, has given
considerable dissatisfaction among the Broth
erhood. On Wednesday last, the r'enitn
Senate in session in New York, itsucd a no
tice, signed by the Vice President and ten
Senators, warning the brotherhood and the
public against taking any of a lot cf i'CS,
C00 Fenian bonds, about to be issued by
President O'Mahoncy, the tame, as they say,
being without tbe signature of the genuine
agent of the Irish Ilcpublic, but bearing in
stead tbe name ol a would-be agent, whom
they, the Senate, refused to confirm. Ihoy
luither publicly warned Colonel 0'
Mahoney that if ho persisted in putting out
the bonds, they should treat such issue as a
fraud.
President O'Mabony, thereupon, publiih
es a card.delaring that tbe" ten malcontents"
wbo have impugned the authority under
which the "Fenian treasury" has made its
(net appeals to the public, are no better than
a ' domestic faction instigated by corrupt
motives or by Hritisli gold," and forbidding
them admission to the Fenian headquarters.
Tbe Senate retorted by formally impeach
ing Col. O'Mabony, and Secretary Killian
of the Treasury, on a long list of charges, of
whieh tbe following against Mr. O'Mabony,
are specimens :
Having himsell usurped the position of agent
of the Irish republic, to which a salary of
twelve hundred dollars per year is attached, and
after being peremptorily rejected for said posi
tion by the Senate, having in defiance of tbe
Senate notification, duly served upon him,
issued bonds with his own rame as such agent,
in print, while the constitution requires them to
be signed by a confirmed agent of the I. II ;
having jncenstituUonally refused to lodge in tbe
hands of the general Treasurer, as heretofore,
the greater portion ol the money received for so
ciety purposes since the l'niradelphia Congress ;
having wastetully exrjended a large amount of
money by paying an imnwns rent, eighteen
mouths in advance, for a mansion on Union
square, and lodging another large sum for the
same period to provide against damages to the
said SuOding. thus depriving the Fenian Bro
therhood for a year and a half of the use of mo
ney badly wanted f,r Irish revolutionary pur
poses ; having aided the Secretary of the Trea
sury m malfeiuaBce; &e., &c.
The accused parties failing to appear for
trial, the Sonata pronounced them guilty,
removed them from their offices, and install
ed Colonel WUliam K. Itobcrt. the late
Vice President, as
President of the Fen ai
Brotherhood, on the understanding that the
office should be divested of all salary and
emoluments.
The new Preskkni has entered on his du
ties, but wc believe, has not yet got Colonel
O'Mahony out of bm fine quarters on Union
Square.
All this, somehow. looks like bad start
for tbe Fenian Republic ; but perhaps it wiU
all come oat right yet.
it eruption of the Ntntli U nttaliu
The Ninth Vt. Battalion, leit Richmond
on Sunday evening last and reached Bur
lington at noon, on the 6th, an nnora
ally quick trip. It numbers about 360 offi
cers and men, but only 253 men and 9 offi
cers came home on Wednesday, the remain
der being for the most part sick in hospital.
A salute of artiUerv rreeted tbe bat
talion on its arrival at tbe depot, where J
it was received by William Brinsmaid
Esq., and Alderman Flanagan, and
marched beaded by its own dram corps to
tbe City Hall. Here a multitude of eitisens
bad assembled to greet ' the boys." Arriv
ing at the Hail tbe battalion was baited,
formed in line and brooght to tho present
arms, by Capt and Brevet Major Branch, on
whom in the abfeuce of Lt.-Col. Seligaon
(wbo was accidentally left in New York) tbe
command devolved. They were then briefly
welcomed to the hospitality ol the city by
Mayor Caslin, who introduced Mr. G. G
Benedict, to make the more formal address
of welcome.
Ms. ItBcxnirr's Snoccn
Capt. Bra nek, and cfictrt and cf iht
.Vinth IV. Datialio :
Short speeches, as I am well aware, suit sol
diers best, especially at dinner time, and I shall
not detain you long from the welcome of good
cheer, which our citizens have provided for yea.
If I succeed in making you understand that we
are glad to see you one and all; that we are
proud of you as of all our soldiers, and that we
give you as heart; awekome to your,8tate and to
our city, as ever mo a received, it will be enough.
Von oome back to as, almost the last to return
of the thirty-five thousand good men and true,
sent bv Vermont to the wr. One more regi
ment, the 7th, is jet to come heme, and then
tbe military record of our State in the war for
the Union will be closed and pass into History,
and it will be a pge of which wc miy all be
proud. It it a very intelligent pruic mat er
moaters at home have taken in our soldiers in
tbe field. It is because we A-nctr you, because
wc have followed jrou through all your chequer
ed career, from the gloomy time after McClel
lan's retreat from Richmond when tbe Ninth
went out under Col. Stannard, a name honored
by all Vermonters, till now ; because we know
how you behaved at Yorktown, and Newport,
and Chapin's Farm and wherever you fought
or were stationed. ne snow mat u was me
Ninth Vt., that was pronounced in official or
ders tbe best drilled and disciplined regiment of
a crack division of twenty regiments. V'e
know how, when jour comrades came boms iu
the full flush of victory, you were requireu to
remain behind to remind our southern brethren
which side it was that whipped in the war, anu
to still enforce, if need be, tbe lesson of submis
sion to rightful authority, and how by your good
order, courtesy and soldierly virtues you won
ib nr at all wherever vcu wera stationed.
For all this we are proud of you and for all -we
thank you. You come back to us on the eve of
a National Thanksgiving, when millions of
hearts are rising in gratitude for the triumphs
won and results secured by the labors and trials
of the soldiers of the Union, iu which you have
had so honorable a share ; and it will add to
our causes for thankfulness, that so nwny more
of our brave boys are borne from the war. I
wish you each a safe and happy leturn to tbe
homes that are awaiting you, and now once more
invite you to the entertainment which our citi
zens have provided. ,
The soldiers reepoudid with three hearty
cheers for the Mayor and citiiensof Burling
ton, three for Major Benedict and three and
a tiger lor "our old Green Mountnin State,"
and then marched into the Hall, where they
were received by the ladies with smiles and
waving handkerchiefs and found tables
spread with an abundant collation, to which
they did ample justice ,after which with three
cheers Tor tbe ladies, they took their way to
quartcis nt the Hospital.
The following ore the officers of the bat
talk n:
Lt. Col. Herman Seligson,
Ae't Rct'l Lt. G. C. Chamberlain.
Ac't Rcgt'l Q M., Lt. E. W. Bird.
Co. A Capt. Chas. F. Branch, 1st Lt.
E. W. Bird, 2d Lt. E. B. Palmer.
Co. B Capt. P. Hobon, 1st Lt. J. W.
Thomas, 2d Lt. 0. N. Bripgs.
BURLINGTON, VT FRIDAY MORNING,
I Co. C Capt, E. L. Brownell, 1st It
K. Bacon. 2d Lt. II. Vancor.
Co. D Cant. 1$. Cowdcry, 1st Lt. G. C
Cbamcrkit,, 2iLlO. W. Newell.
Our account will be incomplete without a
notice of some highly enthusiastic and patri
otic remarks made to the battalion after they
stacked armi in front ot the Hall, by Mr.
John Stephens, Shoemaker in tho employ
of .V. Prouty.of whose speech we regret that
we hate not an accurate report. He closed
by inviting the soldiers into the "Hall of
justice" to what he pronounced the "most
finest reception ever given," after which l c
proposed and gave, unassisted, three chews,
and rctircd evidently well satisfied with his
efforts.
Tin CosniTiox or the Fbbedu fn A r
cent circular Ir-n Mr. Geo. Whipple, Secre
tary of tire American Missionary Associa
tion, lias been plaoed inourlumdi, from
which we take the following extrast :
From tbe superintendents of the schools,
from officers appointed by Government and
others, alarming reports relative to tho condi
tion and prospects of the freedmen bvve claimed
our attention, and demand immediate action.
The restoration of aban loned and confiscated
lands is fast renderijg houseless and humcltss
and helpless thousands of these families. In one
district ot Virginia, tbe r resent superintendtnt
says that probably fifteen thousand of these peo
ph) will be turned away from their homes and
left with no means of support. On one plan
tation or farm called Acretown, because each
family had one acre assigned it, were three hun
dred fmi:ies, many of them wives and children
or widows and orphans of colored soldiers. This
farm is order-! to be cleared.
In other districts of Virginia it is esUmated by
thuee best qualified to know that not less thMi
twenty thousand persons will thus be ma le
homeless, and tEe Superintendent of tbe Schools
of thst State under the Assistant Commissioner
of the Bureau sajs, that in Eastern Virginia, at
a U-w estimate, the nnruber who are thus being
ejected from the firms, which are beiog repos
sessed by late rebel owners, cannot be less than
70,iOO, an 1 that the gTcal majority of them will
be left not only utterly homeless, but without
any possible me-ins of support, jost at the be
gmmng of winter. l).sease and death have al
ready commenced their work, and we dare not
rust ourselves to state the number of those who,
it is estimated, must perish before the opening
of Spring unless the kindness of Government or
an abounding chirity bring swift relief.
Contributions for the Freedmen wire
taken up in the various churches on Thanks
giwng day, and we arc glad to see that tbe
ladies arc also moving in the matter.
Wool Grower's Contention.
A National Convention of ilanofjwluma
and Wool Growers was to be hulden at Syra
cuse, X. Y., on Wednesday, Dec. 13, lt'65.
Tne Convention is to bo composed of dele
gstes from tha several States Agricultural
fnd Manufacturing organisations. The
President ol the Vermont State Agricultu
ral Society has requested tbe billowing nam
ed cratlemen to represent Vermont in t'.e
Convention :
Hon John Gregory Smith. St. Albans ;
Hon. Elwin Hammond, Middlebary ; Gen.
Stephen Thomas, Fairlee : Henry Clark.
Esq., Poultney ; Hon. John Gregory, North
field : Wm. R. Sandford, Esq., Orwell ;
Geo. Campbell. Esq , Westminster ; Hon.
Hampden Colts, Bradford ; Daniel Kimball,
Esq., Rutland ; Dr Henry Boynton, Wood
stock, and Xatbio Cashing, Woodstock.
Tns Fim at Essix Ji:stwx Tbe north
woodshed of tho Central Railroad, together
with al out 500 cords of wood, the water
Links and a small portable engine for saw
ing wood, were wholly destroyed bv fire
Friday. Tbe otLcr long shed containing
600 curds of wood was saved with great ef
fort, and in si ite of great scarcity of water.
Estimated loss $3,500. Ethan Allen Engine
Co. Nu. 4, was ordered out, a stated by us
above, but did not leave town, word be
ing received, before transportation could be
secured, that the fire was checked.
Fias it Essrx Ji ict rios. One of the long
wood sheds at Essex Junction, containing
some 1500 cords of wood, took fire about 1
o'clock, Friday, and was wholly destroyed,
together with tbe water tanks and other
buildings adjoining. At three o'clock it was
announced by telegraph that the other shed,
containing as much more wood, bad caught,
and that the Depot and other building near
by were threatened. Assistance was called
for from our Fire Department, and Kthan
Allen No, 4 was promptly dispatched.
Tai LtXTCBS FaiDarEyESiti.-Thc lecture
by Chaplain Mcrwin, Friday eve'f. drew but
a thin audience, owing, doubtless, to the
cold weather and to the fact that t!.c lecturer
was littlo known to tbe public. It was a
fair lecture, containing some passages of
considerable pathetic and descriptive jow
r as wlicn the lecturer described the en
durance of the heroes ol the Andorsonville
prison, and tbe gallantry and fortitude of
the Ycini"nt soldiers in the Wilderness,
which were liberally applauded and was
listened to with much intereet to tbe end.
Close or Navigation. The Lino Boats
Canada and United States Itavc gone into
winter quartcis.
The Steamer Memtrral wiil continue on
the ferry between this and Plattsburgh
leaving here at 9,30 A. M.
Cold Snap. The tbemotneter stood at
5 at 71 Satnrdsy morning.
Com-ibt. P.-jf. John Baker, tho capable
leader ot the Burlington .Musical Union,
proposes to give a Concert on Friday evening
of next week, assisted by a number of his
punilsaud other eminent amateur talent.Prof.
Baker is himself a fine singer, nnd with the
musical resources at his command, will t-e
able to get up a very attiactivc entertain
ment.
. ,
As!L!:ouV Ornra. Asjcssor Xoycs lias
taken the rooms over the Commercial Bank
for his office
Horse Trot. A trot lor $25, mile heals,
best two in three, took place on the Fair
Grounds on Saturday afternoon, between
Joseph Bacon's "Plumbob," and a 4 year
old black gelding, owned by Chatlcs Miller
and Julius Fay, the latter taking the purse
in two straight heats. Time, 2.54 , 2.53.
Official intelligence from the Alabama Leg,
islaturc states that they have ratified, by an
overwhelming vote, the Constitutional anti
slavery amendment.
ArroiNTJiENT. K. D. Cilley has been ap
pointed Policeman for tho North Ward rire
E. II. Trick, resigned.
II.! U. S. Assistant Assessor. Tho appoint
ment of CjmIus Novcs En-, as Assistant
5W.fec- ror this district is offiehllyannaunc-
.q anoUjcr T,)13 gupcr
apcrccduro of
Mr. Strong, who has held the oEce hitherto,
we understand to be the result of n request
lor a change on tho part of some of our busi
ness men, which Mr. Assessor Adams has
not felt at liberty to disregard. Mr. Strong
has aimed we think to do his duty but has
been, we suspect, somewhat too apt to de
cide all points of doubt against tho tax pay
er, and too unbending when onco a decision
was made. It is charged also that he has
allowed personal prejudices to influence his
official conduct. What fact if any sustain
sneli a charge, wc do not know.
Tlie office is ono which no man cm
administer to suit all tho parties with
whom he has to deal, and it is very
important for the Government as well as tho
community, that it be filled by a man of
courteous manners and open to reason and
remonstrance, as well as a man ol capacity.
Mr. Nojos, ibe new appointee is a leading
citixen, the president of one of our banks,
familiar with tbe bufincM and business men
of b distriet, and thus well qualified to per
form tbe responsible duties of tho placs ca
pably and acceptably.
Aurk or Fire. Too steam propeller Ig
natius Tjlcr, employed in towing lumber
boats, caog'at fire at tbe Central dock Fri
day, ocw!iouiog an alarm. The engines
started out promptly, but were stopped be
fore reaching the spot by the ann uncemcnt
that tbe fire wis out.
Police Court.
Before Recurdsr Read on Wednesday, Jen
nie Abbott was tried $10 aud costs for har
lotry, and Jane fitch ie $5 for intoxication.
Before Kecordei Read, on Saturday, Ed
ward Morin was tied $20 and costs for theft
of $5 in money. ,
City Coonrlt.
COSMtt ootrxciL.
lissruT. Dec 4, ISC,'-.
Tba CojbcU met parstant to standing rule,
the 1' resident in the Caair.
1 'resent CouBcQmea A-thnr, Ballon, Beck
with, Loomis and Walker.
CoeacUasaa BaDsa, for Un Committee on Or
dinances, reported in relation o j iint resolution
relstiag to vehicles laden win wood, &c, ite
oinmecdiog the passags of an ordinance sub
mitted with the report as an aaendment to the
joint resolution.
The ordinance provides that all chicles laden
with wood, hay, straw, lumber, tiulxr, or other
building materials, shall be under -he direction
and supervision of lbs police officers ot the city,
as instructed by the Mayor.
The Mayor is also given power to give sotie-e
by prochunation of such place as be shaa des
ignate to be occupied by vehicles ladcu as ifcre
saiel. If any person, after sue-h notice, duly pub
lished, or after special orders frcm ny pvlice
officer, shall lsavt standing any vehicle Ia ienu
aforesaid, at any other than the places so des
ignated by tbe Uayer. or by special order of a
police o nicer, at soau wikh hu pj iur wu
and every sack offence, not lsss than one nor
more than twenty debars.
The report wss adoptcJ, and, cn motion of
Councilman Loomis, tbe resolatiion as amended
A commas icatiori from the Chief Enguiser of
the Fire Departmealwas received and read, and
on motion of Councilman Arthur, referred to
the Joint Committee on the Fir Department.
The repeat is follows :
To Iht Mmwr aid Common Council of Iht
Citf of Burlington :
Though a report from the Chief Engineer o
the Fire Department is not by law required at
this time, still it stems fitting, immediately af
ter the annual ineprctien, to report the condi
tion of tbe Department.
The llook and Ladder Company, and the En
gine Companies, "Boxer" and --Lilian Allen,"
are all in eood eondition and fully manned. Tbe
engine companies are lacking in gm J, reliable
host, having in all not over CUO feet, while they
should have at least 1200 feet.
This deficiency should be made- up at once.
The repeated aud oft made calls f r h - for the
department needs an explanation, for unex
plained it would seem as thoogh the hose be
longing to the department was not well taken
care of. The fact is, the place provided for
storing hce is so damp that it is impossible to
keep dry a: d preserve it.
It is proper to report tl.at the hose whieh wss
ordered at tbe last annual meeting of the late
Fire District, was never procured by the Pru
dential Committee.
The " Volunteer '" Engine Company was pro
perly warned to appear Icr anuutl inspection
with the otber fire oompanir, but did not ap
pear. This neglect of duly is only to be accounted
for on the ground that tbe Company dislike to
exhibit their antiquated and comparatively ute
lecs apparatus to the public, dislike in which I
tolly sympathize with them. The city should
furnish them with a good apparatus, as it can
perform little or no service ss an engine compa
ny, aud no service proportionate to the expense
of keeping up tbe organization, especially when
we consider that it is. at the present rate of tax
ation, at an expense of about five dollars to each
fireman exempted from full tax by virtue of his
being a fireman.
Occasionally complaints are made to me be
cause there is no convenient and ready mode of
getting funds for the inautntal expenses or the
companies.
These matters require some proper arrange
ments to be made, or an ordinance passed,
which shall meet the wants ot the companies.
C. L. NELSON,
Chief Eaginter.
A mcssaee wss received from the Board of
Aldermen non-concurring in tbe passage of an
ordinance relating to tbe vehicles, Ac
On motion of Councilman Arthur the Board
aJjourned.
COABIl or ALDFXXRN.
SeiuKDAT, Dec 9
lite Board met. No quorum present. Ad
journed to Saturday next at 2 V M.
The iweaenec of Mr. Ilaymond in Wash
ington, ami his connucniiai relations wim
Speaker Colfax, give especial significaucc to
the statements in reference to the commit
tees ol Congress, which we copy below from
tho correspondence of the X. Y. Times.
The Committees of Congress.
Washixoto.v, Dec 7
The speculations of Washington correspond'
ents about the composition of committees in the
House, would be ot more value it tney wouia
bear in mini certain established rules from which
the Speaker is never likely to depart. One is
that the Chairmen of the most important com.
mittecs are always selected from old members
and another is, that promotion on committees
is almost as much a matter of course as it is in
the army cr navy. Any member of this Hons;
who was Chairman of a committee in the last
Congress, is morally certain to be Chairman of
the simc committee in this, exceptions are pos
sible, but the chances are ten to one against
them. It ia reasonably certain.therefire. that Mr
Stevens will be this vear.as he was last.chairman
of the Committee on Appropriations which ca
ries with it tbe right to introduce Dins in regiru
to appropriations, and to have the floor in ex
planation of them, at any time. This is what is
meant by "the leadership of the House," and
is all that is meant. Naturally enough tin
Speaker gets in the habit of recognizing that
committee or us crtairman, wnencver nc rises to
speak so practically he U not fettered in get
ting the floor by tbe roles that restrict all other
15 I8G5.
members. But nobody is bound to accept his
s pinions upon any subject, and, as a matter of
fact in the case of Mr. Stsvecj, very fow do ac
cept his Tiews or follow his lead upon any snb
j;ct, except that of the specific appropriations
upon which his committee may haye decided.
So also, it is morally certain that Mr Morrill,
of Vermont, will be Chairman cf the Committee
on Revenue now technically called the Commit
tee on Ways and Meaas, since the division of the
old committee into three parts. He is the oldest
member of that committee, and has Riven spe
cial attention to the subjects of tbe Tariff and
Internal Revenue. VTho will be Chairman of
the third branch of the old committee, that on
Currency, is not to clear, as that committee is
now created for the first time.
Of the Committee on Foreign Relations, Hen
ry Winter Davis was Chairman last year, and
Mr. Gooch, of Miss., was Sicocd. Neither of
these gentlemen is now in Congress; and in the
natural course ot things, Mr Pomeroy of N. Y.,
(the third member) would succeed to the chair
manship. Possibly he may prefer some other
position. It is understood that the friends cf
Gen. Banks are urgent for his appointment to
that place, and it is also understood thst Mr.
Raymond, whose name has also been mentianed
in connection with it, declines ts bo a competi
tor for it. Gen. Banks has been a member and
speaker of the House, and Governor of a State,
has rendered distinguished services in tbe frsld,
and has a national reputation which entitles him
to any position he may desire. If he should de
sire the chairmanship oi Foreign Relations, he
will doubtless receive lt, and Massachusetts rill
then have the chairmanship of four of the most
important osmraittccs in the Uoose those on
Elections, (Dawes being Chairman,) I'ostoffiees,
(Alley.) Naval Affairs, (Ities.) and Foreign
Relations.
The Biginnlnc and tub End or tbi Wait.
The following passage, in reference to the
recent war, occurs in Itev. Henry Ward
Beeeber's Thanksgiving sermon :
Tbe suddenness of the end cf the war hss no
parallel except the suddenness of its beginning.
It opened with a sweep of fire, whirled with a
rush like Autumnal Lcllowings on tbe prairie
Its close is as rapid as when streams pour down
from tbe lurid skies, and in one rush quench
every spark of smoldering fire. The end is com
plete and peremptory. No fiery edges of war
remain; no spiteful guerrillas; no decs and lairs
of a scouted soldiery; the shock is over, and
peace is established, to the confusion of every
foreign prophet, who predicted a long and te
dious issue. How grateful :s peace, and to none
msre than to those wbo saw that war must be
waged ? War should be peremptory and peace
should be peremptory. By two bitter years we
learned that war eould not be carried on on
peace principles. In far less tune we have learn
ed that peace cannot be maintained on war prin
ciples. War is medicine, not food, lt sur
gery, not calisthenics. It is judgment, not mer
cy. In war, sternness is tbe true kindness, and
mercy is cruelty. That whieh closes it, brings
its end, is kindness. Stroke upon stroke, ex
plosion upon explosion, battle upon battle, let
war travel fast, be done and dose thoroughly,
and let there be no more of it. And soil hss
to pass.
Tub Tbeasiry. The Secretary of tbe
Treasury believes that a decided movement
toward the contraction of the currency is not
onlv a public necessity, but will speedily
dissipate tbe apprehension tbat the effect of
such a policy will be to make money scarce
and diminish the prosperity of the country.
He earnestly urges a redae'tiiin of the cur
rency, reviews the cause of the present infla
tion and states! that tbe country is far in
advance, in real wealth, of what it was in
1S57, wben tbe last severe financial crisis oc
curred. The people are comr&raiuery free
from debt. Tbe banks are regarded general
ly as solvent. Tbe paper circulation of the
United States on October 30th, was $734,
21S, 03S being daily incTcased by notes is
sued to national banks. On the 30th of
Veptemt cr the de-posiu of the national banks
were $554,1 jO.llM. Their loans, including
investments in United States securities, a
miHini to $l13.04j.C2y. The secretary re
commesds that Congress declare that com
pound interest notes shall cease to be legal
ten-ler fro the date of their maturity , that
the sec re tan ot tbe treasury be authorized.
at his discretion, to sell United States bends
bearing interest at a rate not exceeding C
per cent, and redecmalde nnd payable at
such a period as may be conducive to the
interest ot the government, for the purpose
of retiring the compound interest notes and
the legal tenders.
Tbe statement of the public debt. October
31. 1x65, was $2,740,800,475. They esti
mated receipts for the year ending June 30,
1-ioi, are $390 ,000 ,000. and tbe estimated
expenditures $2S4,317,1S1. Secretary Me
Cullocb rccommsnds tbe revision of tbe re
venue system to accommodate it to the
changed condition of the country. He re
gards the reciprocity treaty nitb Canada,
which expires on the 17th of March next, as
embarrassing the arrangement of the reve
nue. Tbe attention ot Congress is called to
the subject of our mineral lands. The work
ing of tbe marine hospital system is not re
garded as satisfactory He recommends
tbat authority be given the department to
sell such hospitals as are not needed On
tne olst ot October, 1WI Hants nau csen or
ganized under the national banking act.
Tbe recommendation ol Comptroller Clark
that national banks be eompelled to redeem
their notes at one of tbrtc cities Philadel
phia, Boston or New lork is heartily in
dorsed. Ho regards the establboaient of
the national banking system as one of the
achievements of the age, and it is not proba
ble that tbe increase in circulation, limited
by law, will be required.
The Cibbbsct. The report of the comp
troller of the currency. Irscman Clark of
Xew York, states that the entire number of
national banks November 1 was 1601, em
bracing 679 new banks and 922 conversions
from State banks. The number of banks
organized within the year is 2S3 ami the
number ot conversions is i oi. une oaiiK,
the First National bank at Columbia, Ho.,
has voluntarily gone into liquidation, and
one, the first national nans at aiiicb, -i.
Y., has railed during the year, the amount
of national bank notes in'circulation October
1 was 5171,321,903, of state bank notes
$78,867,575, or legal tender notes and frac
tional currency $701,5.S4,C58, ot national
bank notes not in circulation 219 525,152,
ol national bank currency yet to be issued to
banks $109,152,945, making an aggregate
of $1,3,452,233. Deducting from th a
tho state bank circulation outstanding
(578,867.573) which will be retired as fast
as tbe national currency is issued, and the
$14,417,329 ot compound interest notes con
verted inta five-twenty bonds since Oc'.o1 e.-
1. tho available currency of tho country is
$900,107,920. and deducting from this sum
the national currency not in circulation and
not delivered, the legal tender notes held by
the banks, the compound interest notes held
as investments and tho currency in the trea
sury and there is remaining -10U,M J.--J
as the actual active currency of the country.
In view of the urzent demand that will to
made for an increase of the national bank
circulation and to secure the further reduc
tion of the volume ol lcc.il tenders. Mr.
Clark suggests an increase of tho limit of
bank circulation from $300,000,000 to $400,
000,000, and such an additional issuo of 0
per cent Bvc-twcnty bonds as will bo requir
ed to secure this additional circulation. The
urgent necessity of a speedy return to a re
deemable currency and the advantages tbat
would result botii to our home nxd lorcign
traic arc pointed out, and aa the first step
toward the reduction of the government ii
eucs used as currency, he recommends the
conversion of all the interest bearing legal
tender notes, into 0 per cent five-twenty
bonds. He also recommends that the rate
of duties on foreign importations bo increas
ed in proportion as the price of gold and
foreign exchange may recede, eo as to keep
up the cost of importation as high as at pro
sent. He estimates that, from a few sources,
sufficient revenue can be raised to puy tho
interest on tho public debt, meet the ordina
ry government expenses, and contribute
$30,000,000 annually to a sinking fund,
that will extinguish the national debt in
thirty-two years and a half. His estimates
of possible revenue ore aa follows : Tariff,
S120.000.000; whisky, $100,000,000;
malt liquors and domestic wines, $1000
000; tobacco, $15,000,000; stamps and li
censes. $35,000,000 ; orcmiura on surplus
government gold, $10,000,000; cottoa (a
tax of 10 cents per pound on 2,500,000
bales) , $125,000,000. Total revenue, ac
cording to these estimates, $105,000,000.
The question of taxing the government se
curities, which form tho invested capital of
the national banks, is argued at length, as
well as the proposed taxation of the national
banks, and both theso measures are believed
to be inconsistent with public polie'y and
constitutional right. In lieu of this, he sug
gests that the banks pay a tax of 1 par cent
on their capital (Irrespective of the amount
invested in public stocks) and ono half of 1
per cet on their circulation.
Thb Post Orncz The report
of Posl-
master General Dtnnison says :
The revenuis of the Department for the year
ending June 30 were S14,6ofi,loS; expendi
tures, 13,091,729, leaving a surplus of $861,
430. The rate of increase of revenue was 17
per cent., and of expenditure S per ccat. com
pared with the previous year. The estimated
expenditures for the current year arc S13.C7S,
000. and the revenues 13,470,543, leaving a
defictof $1,207, I-j7. For this deficiency no
special appropriation will be required, as the
standing appropriations for the last three years,
amounting to $2,100,000, are unexpended.
Postage stamps to the value of 12,099,787
were sold daring the Last year: alio S721,13o
worth of stacired envelopes; 23,315 stamped
wrappers! in all 12,8-17,187 an increase of
1,673,108 over the previous year.
The mail service at the close of the service em
braced 6012 routes of the aggregate length of
112,340 miles, costinz S6,L'46,ai, (exclusive
of compensation to route and other agents,amouat
ing to 556,602). The numbr of routes or
dered into operation in States lately in rebellion
is 211; their length 18,010 miles; and compen
sation 721, .19; a reduction, compared with
former cost of service in these States, ol S$1,
109 per annum. This, however, results ia part
from reduced service.
Tho fr ilflirrrv sTStftn has been discontinu
ed at 22 of the smaller offices, and is now in op
eration in 45 of the principal cities.
The number of dead letters was 4,368,0?7,
an increase of 80J,262 over the previous year.
Tba number containing money, arid renmled to
owners, was 42,151, with indosares amounting
to $211,173.
The number of unpaid and misdirected letters
was 1CR.125. The number of ordinary dead
letters returned to the writers was 1 ,183,599,
and the number not delivered wss 2,,7,301, be
ing aKut 23 rer cent, of the whole.
It is recommended that prepaid letters be re
stored to tbe owners free of postage. The num
ber of letters conveyed in the mads during 1865
Is estimated at 4C7.591.00O. The total number
lost or destroved was 2.352,121, or one in every
two hundred mailed for transmission and deliv
ery. Fully three-fourths of the letters returned
as dead fail to reach the parties addressed
through faults of tbe writers.
Tbe number of nostal money order offices is
1 19, which is to be increased by the creation of
55 more. 1 he aumoer oi money oners isjusu
rfnrin- the vcar was 7 1 .27 . . of the vsJue of tl
niM.l!. The revenue from this branch ot the
service was 11 5U0. Its cost to the govern
niit was 318.5&1.
Tbe estimated amount of claims of contracted
and others residing in the Southern States .chiefly
those lately in insurrection.fcr services rendered
nrvTintu to the rebellion, is not less than one
million ot dollars, but none paid.
It is for Congress to decide what shall be done
in regard to them, lances were uue irem
southern postmasters at the outbreak ot the re
bellion amounting to 300,027, few of which
have been paid. Means are being employed,
through courts and other agencies, to collect the
amoantj due to the zovercment
The maximum annual teceipts of this Depart
ment, previsos to the rebellion, from all the
States, was S8.518.067, which was exceeded in
tbe mm of S6.088.091 by the receipts of the
W rear from the loval States alone. The rev-
naa durina? the nast four years amounted to
46,458,022, an average of 11,614.505 per
annum. Compared with tbe receipts of the four
vears immediately preceding, wntoh amouaieu
to 882.322.640, the annual average increase ot
revenue wasso.ouO.?4o.
The Postmaster thinks that in a few years the
letter postage may be reduced to the maximum
adopted by lireat lintain.
King l)aid a Craut.
The readers of Bible History will be inter
ested in the essay below. We have only to
sav tbat if the writer is correct, and he
seems to prove his point, the fittnrts have
all been wrong, time oat of mind.
For tbe Free Press.
Dm id.
David is often spoken of as of small size when
he killed Goliath, as thoazh be were a half
grown lad, whom, by a miracle, God enabled to
overcome the Philistine. From tbe sacred writ.
ings, however, it seems qahe dear that he was
a full grown man a young mas, indeed, but
precocious in mind and body, and there is noth
ing; to indicate to the contrary. Inferior to
Goliath in size and ace. be was nevertbeless,
himsrlf a young riant in size srsl muscular
power, being about twenty-one years of age,
and probably seven feet or more in height and of
Herculean strength at the time of tbat re
markable dueL
Hit agt. He was thirty years old when be
came tu the throne. He had beta in exile about
tea years. Th most reliable accounts and tra
ditions differ, bat make him, I believe, twenty
when be was anointed bySarauel, whieh was
before be met Goliath. I therefor pot his age
about twenty-one at that time. Other UnXs in,
d teste that he was not a bey. His father u
an old man, 1 Sam. xvii, 12. He was an ac
complished musician, "cunning in planing,"
(I Sam. xvi. 18,) a fit musician fsr the royal
presence. He was "prudent in matttrt," sa
gaeious.wary," aigktu valiant man," "a max
of war." (MJ.) He was the keeper ot his
father's sheep in tbe wiWtrness, infested by
bears and liens. (1 Sum. xvi. 11, and xvti. 23
33.) He was thus a sua of judgment and ex
perience, though a young man. Saul indeed,
calls him a "stripling," "a y," "a young
man," (1 Sam. xvit. 51, 56, 5S.) "lit tea'
hut a youth and ruddy and of a fair counlta-
antt.iUid. V2, and xvi. 12.) This mode of
speaking of persons not old was common Saul
is called "J ekoict young man and a goodly."
(1 Sam. is. 2.) when he had a son, Jonathan,
old enough to be tbe kader cf a thousand sol
dters, ibid. Xlll. 2. and sec 2 Sam. i. 2, 5,
6, 18, 15,) Siul gave David the chief command
"tttkim over tkt mtn of war." (1 Sam. xvur.
5.)
Hit ttrtnatk. His strength was like that of
Samson. As Samson killed a young lion (Jcdg.
xiv. 5, 6,) ss David, 'while a shepherd, killed a
hungry lion. He took the prey out of his mouth,
He canght him by the beard, and slew him. (1
Sam xvii. 35. 36.) He also killed a bear un
der like circumstances. His strength in bis
bacdsand arms must have been enormous, thus
to have handled these powerful beasts. In thoso
periods when the bow was the great weapon of
war, men of great strength had bows of steel.
David's strength was sa great that he could
break one of those steel bows, with his arms, (2
Sam. xxit. 35.) His Strength, as well as his
size, enabled him to handle tbe sword of the gi
ant with case, a weapon not be handled by a boy.
11 Sam. xvii. 51. The use cf the giant's
sword cn that occasion, would est, perhaps,
prove so much; for in that moment of excite
ment, he might well have swung a sword which
at other times would have been too heavy for
him; but we find, a year afterwards, when he
was fleeing unarmed from Saul, he asked Ahim
elech fur a spear or a sword for his cwn use,
and was told, ''Thtre it no.it but the taord of
NUMBER TWENTY FIVE.
Goliath." David says, "TAere u none like
that; gire it me," showing that thatjpoa ou a
weapon was well adapted to his power, and iust
the thing for him for self defence. 1 Sara. xxt.
8, 9.
Now as to Au lize. In those times of baud
to hand fighting, personal prowess, great size
and strength were the qualities for a leader; and
for the Israelites, who were then in abject sub
jection to the Philistines, size and strength would
be specially sought for in the choice of a king.
Saul was evidently chosan for hia great size by
Samuel, and for tbe same reason the choice was
ratified by the people with enthusiasm. When
he stood among the people, he teat higher than
any of the people from, hit thoalders andvp-
vard. .lm( Samuel taid to all the people. See
ye him uAon the Lord hath chosen, that Lhere
it none like him among all the people . ,inf
all the people tkoutcJ, and taid, God
tare the king. 1 Samuel, x. 23,24.1
The same qualities were looked for in a succes
sor. It is quite evident that the sire of Jesse's
sons attracted the attention of Samuel, and be
fore seeing David, the height of the stature "
of Qhb, the eldest, led Samuel to suppose that
he must be the chosen of the Lord. (1 Sam.
xvi.,.) David was the armor-bearer of Saul.
who was ;rom the shoulders upward higher than
any other Israelite probably more than seven
feet; no " little " David could have carried his
armor. hen David volunteered to meet Goli
ath, Saul offered his own armor to him to wear,
and gave him his sword, perhaps because no
others were large enough for him. David put
them on, but quickly took them off, not because
they were too large, but because he was not used
to armor. Saul would never have offered his gi
ant armor to any " little" David, nor would a
shepherd Lid have put it on. (1 Sam. xvii. 38, '
39.) He must have been as tall as Saul, and
strong in proportion to his sire Goliath himself
seerns David because he was young, armed only
with a ttaff, but does cot speak of his size, cr
any other deficiency, except his having uo arms.
as rendering him unfit to accept the eiant's
challenge, " Cire mc a man, that we may fight
together.
Hit prudence. The stratagem of David waj
characteristic of his sagacity and wariness. To
deceive the Philistine he went into the field as a
shepherd and cot as a man of war; "Ae took hit
ttaff in his hand," he put the stones "in kit
tktfhcrd't bag wkitk he had," and his sling
was "in hit hand" concealed in his hand. Go
liath was thrown off his guard. (1 Sam. xvii.
40. 42, 43.
David's great strength and skill being consi
dered, the overthrew of Goliath was to be ex
pected. Ilia death was certain. The sling, in
those dajs. was a wonderful weapon in the
hands of those who were skillful in the use of it,
especially if they were men of great muscular
power in the arms. The precision with which
stones were thrown as well as the velocity, is
almost inconceivable to us. The slingcrs were
tbe sharpshooters of the early wars of the Jews.
In the tribe of Benjamin alone there were
" hundred choten men, left-handed, erery
one of whom eould iliugttontt at a hairbreadth
and not mitt." (Judg. xx. 16.)
According to Pliny, the people of Palestine
were not only the first to adopt this powerful
weapon, but were also the most skillful in the
use of it, and from Diodorus and Vegetius, we
learn that the inhabitants of the Balearic is
lands (Majorca and Minorca) were also great
slingers. They compelled their children to go
hungry till they could bring down game far
their food, with their slings. A man cf great
strength, weuU killan enemy, encased in ar
mor, at the distance of thirty rods, withoutshed-
diag a drop of blood so great was the shock
and they rarely missed. EncyL art. Fronde.
David thus used a weapon which the giant
could not parry nor fly from, and which his
brass-clad forehead could cot resist.
David's feats of strength are nowhere repre
sented as miraculous, or anything mere than
great but natural exhibitions of strength and
bravery, with the blessing of the Divine Provi
dence the blessing of success upon the use of
appropriate means. E- C. B.
Masonic. At - regular commumcai oa ot
" Washington Lodge No. 3 F. et A. M."
held Dec. 6th. the following officers were
elected :
Cbas. W. Woodhouse. Master: Edward
A. Jewctt, Ssnior Warden; Homer M.
Phelps, Junior Warden ; Joseph W. Iloby.
Trtasurtr; W. H. S. Whiteomb, Secretary;
P. D. Ilallou, Senior Deacon; William
Hrinsmaid, Junior Deacon; Geo. W. Hcck
wtth, Marshal ; William llrinsmaid, James
Urquhart, Sletcards ; James Urquhart, Ty
ler. I'ernouul.
Capt A. Austin, A. Q. M., or Colchester,
has been breveted Major, Tor faithrul scrvicci
during the war.
Kcv. S. II Elliott is supplying tho pulpit
ef the Congregational Church in Winooski.
Kev. Mr. Maynard has been called to tho
pastoral charge of the Congregational Church
in Y llliaton, and & Council is called to in
stall bini, on Wednesday next.
"P. II. W.," the cornepondent of the
IVrmonf Record, gives the following biog
raphical sketch of Benjamin H. Steele, th?
newly appointed Judge :
'Judze Steele is about thirty years old, a
native of Stonstead, C. E., but the son of Ver
mont parents temporarily in Canada. From his
youth up, he was in advaace of his years in
schoiarsaip. .n tee age oi louriveu, ue com
menced school teaching, and had pupils ia Latin,
French, and the hicher mitacmatics. His clas
sical education was begun at St. Peter's College,
Chambly, Canada List, continued at Norwich
University, and finishd at Dartmouth Collect,
which he entered in the Sophomore class, and
wa graduated, with high credit as a scholar, in
1857. It was a noticeable feature of bis course
in College, that he was not absent from, nor
tardy at, a single exercise of any kind at which
his presence was required.
He studied law at the Harvard Law School,
Cambridge, Mass., and after graduating there,
soent some months in the office of Hon. J. S.
Stanborn of Shtrbrocke, C. E., studying French
law. He was admitted to the Orleans County
Bar, at the June term, 1865. and established
himself in business at Derby Line, practising in
Canada as well as in Vermont, and arguing his
cases in French or English S3 might be necessa
ry, lie speedily proved himself a well bred
lawyer and an able advocate, took tbe lion's
. - - ., , . .. .
hare of the business ta his own c nnty, and
was ranidlr iraininz business in the adjoining
counties. That he will sustain himself on tho
bench as honorably as he has done at the bar,
his friends have not the shadow of a doubt.
The latitude of Derby is very favorable to the
early development of judicial qualities. Judge
Redfield was practising there when he was elect
ed Judge, in the 32d year of his age.
Tub Prbsidknt's Doctrine. It (the U.
S. Constitution) has power to enforce the
laws, punish treason, and ensure domestic
tranquility. In case of tho usurpation of
tho government of a State by one man. or an
oligarchy, it becomes a duty of the United
States to make good the guarantee to that
State of a Republican form of government."
President Johnson's Messaje.
!
i
