The spirit of democracy. [volume], December 14, 1853, Image 1

About The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994

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i.! ;;jAS.,R..MORRIS, Editor and Proprietor.
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING.
TERMS $i,50 per Annnmi in Adrapce.
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VOLUME X.
WOODSFIELD, MONBOE COUNTY, OHIO, DECEMBEE 14, 1853.
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Fiom lha Southern Literary Messenger
i AtTTtTMN UCNES.
( Gone ia the golden October ,
j Down the twift current of time,
; Month by the poet called sober, -L
: . , Just for the like of the rhyme. -
v V TinU of vertnillion and yellow
f Margined the forest and stieam; ;
Poets then told us 'twas mellow.
How inconsistent they seem 1
Now, while the mountain in shadow
" Dappled and hazy appears, .
While the late corn in the meadow,
' ' Culprit-like, loses its ears.
.
-;
-:i
".' Get some choice spirits together
Bring oat the dogs and the guns,
Follow the birds o'er the heather,
" ' Where the "cold rivulet" runs.
'.'!: "'- Look for them under the cover,
Just as the pole star at sea :
' uAlwaya is sought by the rover,'
' Near where the pointers may be.
'Yet if your field-tramping brothers
i; ' Should not be lellows of maik,
d " Leave the young patridge for others,
r Only make sure of a lark.
i'- t Thus ahall thf charms of the season
. s.b- :-: -' Gently throw round you their spell,
X -: ll "Thus enjoy nature in reason,
' -n..i.-. - If tn the country yo dwell. -
''l -" ! V4 i! ' : '
- a 1 But if condemned as a denizen
,4ij'J- -lo treat town to reside. .
. J -v-it Takedown a volume of Tennyson.
lv Makahim do service as guide.
.., - Born upon poesy's pinion, ; , . : .
; RUe to the heighu that he gains,
Bane over Fancy's dominion.
-Walk hypothetical plains. , : .
to
Soon shall the wintry December
i
Darken above us the sky;
r:nia ttioir aI1 rntnm remtmber
Ir. .i,fv--A,?B- "P":0 lo 8'". ""6"-.
And. as they wail through the copses.
' Dirre-like and solemn to hear.
; " jji,re't owit grand Tharatopsis . '
" i ; Sadly shall strike the ear. ,.
, i v 'But all impressions so murky ".
.;--3iJ Instantly banish like care, v
" 'Turn to the hare and the turkey
Christmas shall shotly prepare ', ' - ,
y --tli i-.i i.-. ; "
. V i None than yourself csn be richer,
Jsfli i geated at night by the hearth, ;
- b 'With an old friend and a pitcher
f.'.-3 V j-Lending share of the mirth. .'
- :'- t Then to the needy be given - -
f-8-1 Aid from your generous boards,
' . i!-t:1' And to a bountiful Heaven i
'-3-tr ' ' Tbaoks for the wealth it affords.
a.javV.From the Columbian aud Great West...
PHHIEY'S PEPPER BOTTLE.
t
Bf WILUAir: T. COGGESHALL.
.-Pinoey.; - - ' ' '- ;
-v;'A very pretty village," I replied. MYou
JTe kdown it for many year?'? .
rZ7 If s came out AVest" from old Con
.necticut when it was all woods here; deer
tfcnd wild turkey a were as - plenty then as
..sheep, and chickens now.'
,iin tc YoUrOwn; large tracts of land; I pre
lum you had money in your purse when
.you immigrated!" . - ': ?
iu.l'Not five dollars io the-wtd,V answer
- .ferlMr.; Pinney, as ashadow crossed his
. features iwhusli seemed to me to be cast
linm, An inWtge of sorrow that dwelt in his
.haart..'.! r.i - '
.jJdare not ask leading questions, and
l r .tliere was a pause in our conversation
L"" ; .was riding with the richest man of-
t-townshiprin one of the northern oounties
-,tl He,, liftd reined in his horse at a point
near, the village where he resided. While
we conversed, we looked: down upon a
,valjeyt alongwhich lengthened shadows
yera creeping, .anddying,. while the tops
v ffii tle lo rest frees near us were giowmg ui
. le evening sun's farewell smite. . , v.
YwJVflenthe had answered my question,
.Respecting this wealth at the time he be
?C "'carof t an, Jmmigrant, -Mr, Pinney struck
" his horse , with ;. his whip, and we were
'yrhjjled through the village. I was intra
. UQed lo, M1Pinneys family af his farm
npuae for , such his -residence , was, v in
,(aiJtthough i stood upon a village street.
J$dM& ; it lay a large tract of. land, culti
; j'yaled under Mr .Pinney's immediate su-
; rjerintendenee,, - - ; , :
i, 'Supper over "Tea,", as pity ladies em-
'i . i . .1 e I
,fKy tae wora, w uov tanea aiiurm iiuuooi,
jJ Pinney,; , to 1 walk," in the
.lRa4en i.iu ;v--. 3 ' i '. -.
1 was anxious to give the conversation
jturn, -which would explain to me why Mr.
" Pinney had , appeared sorrowful when .. I
,epokeLof, his settlement in the township;
UJtfWunou.i. special aesign at me moment
asked: t,. , ' 1 ' ,-;
'7-V.Uaa. property changed hands often in
- :0rru'ta.0,' "wefed Mr
PLapeyilh a sharp glance at my ooun
' cji ol the old settlers as are here yet
. Am no doubt well : off in the world- Are
efe mnyothem?. " yeniured to in
.9,AoW?ball alvdozeq-r-noV more,':, re
'nlied RIT host'.' . 1 ' '. ' -
J, expressed iSOjmastonUhment . at this
jntolUgen. and Air., Pinney said;,; f
f. 'A We'll take , a., seat f and; arrange our
'business now, ba I wish to.show you my
tfarrn and atock,tn the morning, and then l
roiniaio cive you an outline of the his-
tnrv
of our villsget
t-t'i 1 r.
tVl nao'an wtnition that this history would
reveal the cause of jhe. sorrow J adsus
'neoted in Mr Pinney' heart, when saw
Th' ha.rlow which oassed over, his counte-
naoce, on allqding to his wealth, and I was
'rajeful, for, the, promise, "but not glad of
hepQgtporieaient accompanying k www
ever, 1 consoled myself with the practical
man's motto, Business before pleasure,"
and entered upon a calculation about val
ues and incomes, which did not permit
Mr. Pinney to show me to my chamber
till a very late hour.
I was called, however, betimes in the
morning, and immediately after breakfast
was out on the farm with Mr. Pinney.
When 1 had admired the manner of agri
culture and the beauty of the stock, and
been told the character of fruit in the
orchard, Mr. Pinney led the way toward
the farm house, and then said:
I have not forgotten my promise; and
if you still desire to know the history of
our little town, I will give you what I con
sider most important."
i assured him that I was much interested
in the promised sketch, and he began:
"My father was a merchant in old Con
necticut, and I was a wild boy from "the
land of steady habits." I left home when
t was eighteen years of age, because of
some restraints that had been imposed on
me, which ' 1 considered tyrannical. I
soon found that it was easier to endure re
straints at home than be my own mas
ter" in the world, and I wanted lo go back
to my father's house, but my pride rebel
led, and I joined a party of emigrants and
came "out West." .The emigrants set
tled here. They cut a road through the
forest forty miles, before they found a spot
that suited them I was not accustomed
to severe muscular labor, and -I was the
hunter of the expedition. " I had many an
adventure ' which delighted my romantic
disposition. I became hardy and vigor
ous, and was soon able to help the squat
ters in clearing up their (arms. We went
twenty miles to mill had no school for
five years, and never heard a sermon
preached (though there were many read,)
till we had put three crops of grain in our
log barns. Then other settlers came in.
and a Methodist preacher met those who
were disposed - to hear him, at one of the
log cabins, once a month. Meantime I
had taken a squatter's daughter for a wife,
and had a cabin and a few acres of ground
for which the Government had been paid.
( had been a hunter and farmer, wood
chopper and school-teacher about six
years, when I received word from Con
necticut, that a sm all stock ofgooda had
been consigned to me at Pittsburg. . 1
went out to the Ohio and up to Pittsbur
witiv an ox team, and when I returned I
opened a store in a log cabin, on the sprfi
where my son s store now stands, on the
corner opposite my house. ' It would make
a shabby appearance now-a-days, but ii
was a great alfairin our settlement. Iliad
a few groceries. nutmegs and spiceombi
and nails, garden seeds and calicoes,
thread and coarse cloth, candies and to
bacco. and a very small stock of either,
but there was no other store within a cir
cle of fifteen miles, and I soon did what I
considered a brisk trade.
"Some of the land had been low.' and
here and there were small marshes. When
the country was cleared up and it began
to look like farqung about here, there
came a sickly season, and in almost every
family some one had the, fever and ague,
and the doctor from the nearest town was
getting every body in his debt; but the
ague was not eradicated. There had
never been any whisky-sold in the settle
ment, but now it was needed for bitters to
keep off the chills, and when I sent for
goods I ordered a barrel, and had a lot of
drugs with it. and every body got a bottle
of bitters. When winter came, the ague
pretty generally disappeared, but the fash
ion of taking bilters did not disappear
with it. - ' - .'-
"The Pioneers had disheartening times.
and too many of them endeavored to cheer
their hearts ! with that which stole away
their brains.: 1 did not blame them much
in those days, but I see now, sorrowfully,
where I was to blame then. What think
you?". -
This was a strange question to me un
der the circumstances, but 1 answered it.
"Assuredly, Mr. Pinney, you have had
. a. i 11 a
experience enough in tne worm ana op
portunities of observation enough to con
vince you that 'such' indulgence as you
speak of, to express my thoughts in com
mon parlance, "don't pay," but after all I
always exercise compassion for those un
fortunate men who never have a gleam of
joy in their hearts, unless tt is reflected from
the hre whion alcohol lights in the brain.
"Exactly. my idea," said Air. Pinney;
"but while we compassionate, we should
never forget to instruct. That's where I
went astray.' Now let me tell you the
consequence, many men haa lost their
wives many their children some both
they had been pious men but opportuni
ties for religious instruction or encourage
ment were not frequent, and generally
uninviting, and with hard work and watch
ing, men were worn out. I had kept in my
store a bottle of whisky, impregnated with
pepper, as a sort of guard against chills,
and sometimes I ottered a glass to my
most particular friends. ; They grew fond
of it. and mv bottle was often empty. The
popularity of my medicine increased, and
t soon found myself selling large quanti
ties of whisky and black pepper, and in a
few months drunkenness had widely ex
tended in our settlement; and did we
stop it?" ; ' . v , -
Mr. Pinney looked at me as if expect
ing an answer, but 1 was silent, and be
continued:, - ' .
:"No; farms were neglected every body
was in debt the farmers to , the shoema
ker. the tailor and the blacksmith, and all
these, to me; and when I saw the . evil, I
couldn't stop it, and in a few years I was
virtually owner of one-third of the farms
in the settlement,: and .all on account of
ague bitters and my pepper bottle. . Drunk
ards who owed me heavy notes for goods
to support their families,' died,, and the
farm, was given me to pav the debt; and I
felt myself doing a great wrong, but I was
getting rich; and if I had undertaken it. I
could not hare changed the . course of
events, j But a Yankee . school teacher
came into the settlement, and he hadn't
been here a mouth till he called a meeting
at the school house for a lecture, and the
school house was crowded, for it was a
great novelty, and to the astonishment of
every body, he exposed the liquor business
among us, and showed me to be a living
curse. Stones were thrown at him, and
he was interrupted, and the people would
have thrown him out of the school house,
but I forbid them, and declared that the
school master told the truth. Then the
people listened attentively; and the next
day 1 made a bonfire of my liquors, and
there was no more whisky sold in our
neighborhood till we had the canal built
within a few miles of it; and now no man
dare sell it in our village."
What have you to regret, Mr. Pin
ney?" I inquired.
"You ask that but to quiet my mind,"
he replied. "1 have no need of such qui
et. Every foot of land which could go to
friends or kindred here, I left unaffected
by my mortgages; some have been paid,
some have not; but when 1 die, the just
heirs will find deeds in their names, and
now all of the income of the property I
hold in my name, except a respectable
support for my family, is devoted to the
improvement of our village, and to the
promotion of religion and education a
mong our people; and yet I am a most
unhappy man. Pinney's Pepper Bottle
left an influence here which two genera
tions can not outlive, and tho conviction
rests upon me withjerushing force, that no
man who has for one year been instru
mental in making drunkenness in a neigh
borhood, can counteract the evil influence
by twenty years of devotion to objects ol
charity and reform, with an ample fortune
at his command; therefore, Bin I sorrow
ful whenever I think of what ague bittern
did here. Better disease better chilld
and fever and ultimate death on account
of them, than : poverty and degradation
and death from drunkenness. Am 1 not
right?" . ,
I could but answer Mr. Pinney in the
affirmative, aud then he said:
"Now, sir, I have never opened my
heart to any man out of my family as I
have done to you. I was led irresistibly
into my coufession, and it seems to me for
good. In reparation for what evil 1 have
done, I can do nothing more than I am
doing, but to set my wrong example and
the curse' of our settlement before the
world. You are at liberty, sir, to publish
my confession." '
' While Mr. Pinney was thus explaining
himself we had walked out of the garden.
through his house, an j I was about to take
leave of him. I thanked him for his hos
pitality, and promised that at the earliest
opportunity I should set his warning exam
ple before the world. 1 "
It needs no argument to convince can
did men atthisday, that one year spent
in the promotion of drunkenness can not
he atoned for in twenty years of earnest
labofin the promotion of religion or edu
cation. There must be a terrible reckon
ing for those who spend life-times promot
ing drunkenness. It is pitifuljndeed. that
few only are visited with such compunc
tions as changed the channel of Mr. Pin
ney's energies.
The Girl with the Tin Pail.
Earth's blossoms ihrire not In the shade,
Unblest by gentle showers from Heaven; '
But that sweet flower, by kindness made
To hud and bloom, will never fade,
And tr.ily are its odors given."
Some twenty-five years ago, I was an
apprentice bov in the then "city of mud,"
now the goodly city of Rochester. The
business of which I was obtaining a knowl
edge was conducted upon Exchange street,
though I boarded in one of the streets in
the western part of the' city.
In going to my tea, I was in the habit
of meeting, almost every evening, for many
weeks in succession, a small, well dressed
and good looking girl, with a pail in her
hand. At length my curiosity became ex
cited, and I resolved to ascertain, if pos
sible, the daily errand of the girl. -Hav
ing met her the following evening, I ac
cordingly turned on my heel, and followod
her at a distance that would not excite
suspicion in any one. I at length saw her
enter a small shoemaker's shop on South
St. . Paul . street. I subsequently learned
that the shop was. owned by an industri
ous young man, and an excellent mechan
ic, and that he was the young girl's hus
band. He had been married a few months.
and possessing no other capital , than a
good name and robust constitution, had re
solved to economize by hiring a house in
the suburbs of the city. .
..His breakfast was- always ready for him
by daylight, and taking his dinner with
him, he saved the hour each day which
most' persons spend in going and in com
ing from . that meal. Many economists
would have been satisfied with the saving
of so much time as this between the rising
and going down of the sun, but not so
with the young shoemaker. He also wish
ed to save the hour usually devoted to tea,
and therefore had that meal daily taken to
him by his pretty little wife. This arrange
ment enabled him to spend the whole day.
and as much of the evening as he chose.
in his shop.. ' , ,.i
The industrious habits of the shoemaker
were soon discovered and met with their
due reward. -. Customers flocked in upon
him, and he was obliged not only to rent
a larger shop, but to employ an additional
number of workmen. But the increase of
his business did not wean him from the
plan he had early adopted for the saying
of time; his third meal still having been ta
ken to him by his wife, in the tin pail. -
About this. time. I left the city, and did
not return for about twelve years. '.-1 had
not, however, forgotten the shoemaker;
having, from ' my first knowledge of him
discovered the germ ef success in his man
per of life-, l yiaited the place where his
eld shop had stood; it had given place to
a new brick blook; In vain 1 looked about
for the sign it was nowhere- to be seen
I was at length informed by a friend that
about two years previous he had. removed
"Do you know anything of his circum
stances?" 1 inquired.
"1 do. In the first place he took to Ohio
about five thousand dollars in cash, some
three thousand of which he invested in real
estate near Cincinnati; he has already
realized three times the amount. The oth
er two thousand he put into a pork estab
lishment, and the sum yielded him a large
profit. But if he had not resorted to spec
ulation," added my friend, "he could not
but have succeeded in life, so thorough
were his business habits, especially as
those habits are seconded by an industri
ous, little wife."
I have recently returned from a visit to
Ohio, and have seen again the shoemaker
and his wife. He is now in the prime of
life, and possesses ample fortune, and an
unsullied reputation for honesty and prob
ity. Never having any personal acquain
tance with him, I introduced myself as a
Rochesteronian. This was late in the af
ternoon. I very cheerfully accepted an
invitation to take tea with him. Improving
a moment of silence at the table, 1 remark
ed:
"I fear, Mr. II., you are not so great an
economist of time as you used to be."
"Why not?" he inquired.
"When I first became acquainted with
Mrs. II.. you could not afford to go home
to tea, and she used to carry it to you."
"In a little tin pail," said she, bursting
into b? laugh.
Exactly."
"Indeed, Mr. W., have you known us
so long?"
I then made myself known as the former
apprentice of Mr. R.. and was immediately
recognized by Mrs. H., as one of her ear
lier street acquaintances in Rochester.
"But the pail; what do you think has
become of that?"
"That I suppose has long since been
numbered with the things that were," I
answered.
"By no means," said he, ar the same
time tipping a wink to his wife.
She arose from the table, and left the
room, and soon returned with the identical
pail, as they both assured me. I need not
say that it bore palpable evidence of the
ravages pi time- . '
"But what is -our object in preserving
that pail?"
"Its associations. We look upon it as
one of the earliest instruments which con
tributed to our success in life."
I soon after took my leave of Mr. and
Mrs. II., and (heir interesting and happy
family; and not a day since then has my
mind been without its remembrance of the
Girl and her Tin Pail.
Schamil. the Leader of the Circ as-
' sians.
It is almost certain that the Circassians
will take an active part in any war accept
ed by Turkey against Russia; and it is as
certain that in such an event we shall hear
of daring exploits on the part of Schamil,
their brave chief. ' We have every reason
to believe that Schamil has succeeded in
bringing about a defensive union between
all the tribes of the Caucasus, and that he
possesses their unrestricted confidence.
Some accounts represent him as being al
most an idol, and the people as imagining
him to have a charmed life. Their enthu -I
si asm, indeed, may well have been stirred
by his past career.
1 he first time we hear of Schamil is in
1 832. In that year, a devout Mussulman.
Kasi Mollah, held a chief command in the
bands of Lesghians; Tehetchentzes, and
other tribes of the eastern chain, and the
steppes abutting on the Caspian and tra
versed by the Koisu. Kasi Mollah s repu
tation for sanctity was greater than that
which he acquired for the higher military
qualities, although a dashing leader, and
individually one of the bravest of the
brave. He was brought to bay in 1832.
by Gen. Rozen, at a place called Gumri.
Encircled on all sides, almost the last scrap
of food devoured, nothing remained, in the
opinion of Kasi Mollah, and about thirty
of his most zealous disciples, but to hew
for them a path through the Russian bay
onets, to freedom or to Paradise- -either
alternative to them was a welcome one!
Phis resolution finally taken, thev sudden
ly emerged from the fastness they could
no longer hold, and burst upon the Rus
sian troops with the shock of an avalanche,
and the furious distorted yells of a troop
of madmen. For one or two brief mo
ments, it seemed that they must escape, so
far through the beleaguering circle of their
foes did they cleave their desperate way,
before the momently recoiling l anks re
closed around them, and ih'oy fell by twos
and threes, wildly fighting to the last, rid
dled by musket balls and bayonet slabs.
Kasi Mollah "died with his hand on his
beard, and a last prayer murmuring from
his lips;" and his pupils perished with
him,,all save one, and he the bravest and
fiercest of them all, who broke through the
encircling bayonets, dashed at headlong
speed past the more distant lines of run
ning fire unharmed; reigned suddenly up
as he reached tho angle of a mountain
gorge, into which he knew none dared to
follow, shook his red scimitar, and hurled
a defiant execration in the faces of his
baffled foes, and the next moment, with an
exulting shout of "Allah, II Allah?" dis
appeared in the dark mountain pass. -
This fortunate horseman was Schamil.
the future Iman (preacher,) the prophet
soldier of the Caucasus, whose escape, as
just describe, many of his followers, to
this day, firmly believed was due to the
direct interposition of the angel Gabriel!
Schamil, who is one of the dark-eyed,
dark-haired, partly 1 artar race of Tehet
chentzes, was born at Tscliirsker, a place
of about 3000 inhabitants; and after his
escape, from: Gumri, he employed several
years in perambulating the mountains of
the Lesghain chain, preaching wherever
he went . with fervid eloquence upon the
sacred duty, devolved . by God,- upon .all
true believers to extirpate the intrusive in
fidel, and the paradisal rewards - which
death in so high and holy a cause must
infallibly insure. This prophet call, as it
was deemed, to battle from the cupolas
and minarets of the sublime and towering
Alps, gradually kindled the latent fanati
cism of the mountaineers to a flame, which
soon communicated itself to the dwellers
in the cities and steppes of Daghistan, and
the adjacent valley and plains. The story
of Scnamil's miraculous escape from Gen
eral Rosen, by favor df the archangel,
Gabriel, was repeated from - mouth to
mouth with endless variation and addi
tions his daring skill, and success as a
soldier confirmed the illusions of a credu
lous bigotry; and he gradually drew around
his standard, and to his sway, the multi
tude of rugged warriors whose swords
have inscribed so many victories upon the
backs of the Russian armies, and to this
hour presented an invincible front to their
dismayed, and practically discomfited ad
versarirs. '
Many well authenticated instances of
his daring are related in a number of
Chambers' excellent -"Repository," pub
lished some months since. One or two of
these may interest the reader at this junc
ture: r'
In 1830 Schamil found himself sur
rounded by General Grabbe, and 12.000
veteran Russian troops, at Achulko, a kind
of mud encampment perched upon the
top of a rock upon the banks of the Koisu.
The position of this place was so strong,
that the attr mpt to storm it was abandon
ed after the loss of 15.000 men; but
Schamil had soon a deadlier foe than
General Grabbe and his army to contend
with hunger; hunger, verging upon fam
ine, came before a week had passed
This was known in the Russian camp, and
the place having been strictly invested on
all sides, it was certain that the hour of
surrender could not be long delayed:
"On the last day' but one of August,
Gen. Grabbe learned, from an emaciated
Lesghian, whom his soldiers had caught
whilst attempting to crawl past the block
ading lines, that not a particle of food was
left in Achulko; that Schamil Bey propos
ed to escape that very night, with one or
two comrades, by means of a rope lower
ed down the face of the rock to the Koisu;
and Achulko, he added would be surren
dered immediately afterwards. A strict
watch was immediately ordered to be kept
at the indicated spot, and directions were
given to awaken the General at whatever
hour of the night the capture of the re
doubled Schamil might be effected. ', ;
"Just before diwn, one two three
men were seen to cautiously descend by a
rope, let gently down on the river side, as
predicted, who were of course instantly
secured, and hurried off to the General':)
tent. One of the captives admitted, in the
flurry of 4he surprise, as was supposed;
that he was Schamil; and this was con
firmed by the Lesghian, through whose
information tho important prise had beui
secured. General Grabbe was delighted,
and an estafette was forthwith dispatched
with the tidings, that the notorious rebel,
Schamil Bey, had been caught, and order
ed to be shot out ol hand. Whilst all this
was going on, the rope, which, had been
quietly drawn up again, was once more
lowered, and this time oi.Iy one man de
scended by it, who reached the river un
observed, leapod upon a raft that just i t
that critical moment swept by; and the too
hastily exultant Russian General was
aroused to a knowledge of the trick that
had been played him, by shouts of Scha
mii!" from the mud wall of Achulko, in
exulting reply to the waving of a small,
green flag by the true Schamil, as he swept
down the swift Koisu, in the dawning sun
light, presently to find himself amidst hills
and amongst friends, that would render
successful pursuit, if attempted, hopeless
impossible! ' '
"Achulko surrendered at discretion; the
huts were burned; and General Grabbe
retraced his step in very angry mood, with
a daring attack upon his rear guard, bv
the ubiquitous and indefatigable Schamil.
at the head of a large body of horsemen,
exasperated to fury. The Iman was beaten
off with difficulty; and tho victorious gen
eral's march , was sullenly resumed, and
concluded without further molestation.
Labor and Money Power.
The Rev. Mr. Chapman, who is, per
haps, the most eloquent pulpit orator in
the Union, thus discourses of the achieve
ments of labor, He asks: . "Who can ad
equately describe the triumphs of labor,
urged on by the potent spell of money? It
has extorted the secrets of the universe,
and trained its powers into myriads of
forms of use and beauty. From the bos
om of the old creation, it has developed
anew the creation of industry and art. It
has been its task and its glory to overcome
obstacles. Mountains have been leveled
and valleys been exalted before it. It has
broken the rocky toil into fertile glades; it
has crowned the hill tops with fruit and
verdure, and bound around the very feet
of oceans, ridges . of golden corn. Up
from the sunless and hoary deeps, up from
the shapeless quarry it drags its spotless
marbles, and rears its palaces of pomp.
It tears the stubborn metals from the bow
els of the globe, and makes them t'uetile
to its will. It marches steadily on over
the swelling flood, and through the moun
tain cliffs. It fans its way through the
winds of oceans,- tramples them in its
course, surges and mingles them with
Hakes ol hre. Civilization follows in its
path. It achieves grand victories, it waves
more durable trophies, it holds wider sway
than the conqueror. His name becomes
tainted and his monuments crumble; but
labor converts his red battle-fields into gar
dens, and erects monuments significant of
belter things. It rides in a chariot driven
by the wind. It writes with the lightning.
It sits crowned as a queen in. a thousand
cities and sends up its roar of triumph from
a million wheels.. It glistens in. the fabric
of the loom, it rings and sparkles from-the
steely hammer, if glories in shapes of beau
ty, it speaks in words of power; it makes
the. sinewy; arm strong with .liberty, the
poor man's heart rich with content, crowns
the swarthy, and sweaty brow with honor
and dignity, and peacev-V;.; ..j
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
Fellow Citizens of the Senate '
and of the House of Representatives :
The interest with which the people of the
republic anticipate the assembling of Con
gress, and the fulfilment, on that occasion,
of the duty imposed upon a new President,
is one of the best evidences of their cM
pacity to realize the hopes of the founders
or a political system, at once complex and
symmetrical. While the different branches
of the government are, to a certain extent,
independent of each other, the duties of all.
alike, have direct reference to the soured of
power. Fortunately, under this system,
no man is so high, and none so humble,
in the scale of public station, as to escape
irom the scrutiny, or to be exempt from
the responsibility, which all pthcial func
tions imply. ' '
Upon the justice and intelligence" of the
masses, in a government thus organizod,
is the sole reliance of the confederacy
and the only security for honest and ear
nest devotion to its interests, against the
usurpations and encroachments of power
on the one hand, and the assaults of per
sonal ambition on the other. ..
The interest, of which I have spoken, is
inseparable from an inquiring, self-govern
ing community, but stimulated, doubtless,
at the present time, by the unsettled con
dition of our relations with several foreign
Powers; by the new obligations resulting
trom a sudden extension ol the field of en
terprise; by the spirit with which that field
has been entered, and the amazing energy
with which its resources for meeting-the
demands of humanity have been develop
ed. -5. -.'',.:' "
Although disease, assuming at one time
the characteristics of a wide-spread and
devastating pestilence, - has left its sad
traces upon some portions of our country.
we have still the most abundant cause for
reverent thankfulness lo God for an accu
mulation of signal mercies showered up
on us as a nation. It is well that a con
sciousness of rapid advancement and in
creasing strength be habitually associated
with tn abiding sense ot dependence upon
Him who-holds in his hands the destiny
of men Bnd of nations. :
Recognizing the wisdom of the broad
principle of absolute religious, toleration
proclaimed in our fundamental Jaw. and
rejoicing in the benign influence which it
has exerted upon our Social and political
condition, I should shrink from a clear du
ty, did 1 fail to express my deepest con
viction that we can place no secure re
liance upon any apparent progress, if it
be not sustained by national integrity, rest
ing upon ihe great truths afiirmed and il
lustrated by divine revelation. In the midst
of our sorrow for the afflicted and suffer
ing, it has been consoling to .see how
promptly disaster made true neighbors of
districts and cities separated widely from
each other, and cheering to watch the
strength of that common bond of brother
hood, which unites all hearts, in all part
of this Union, when danger threatens from
abroad, or calamity impends over us at
home.. . ' . . , - o
Our diplomatic relations with - foreign
powers have undergone no .. essential
change since the adjournment of the last
Congress. With some of them, questions
of a disturbing character are still pending
but there are good reasons to believe that
these may all be amicably adjusted. V;
ror some years pa&t, Great Britain has
so construed the first article of the conven
tion of the 20lh of April. 1818. in regard to
the fisheries of the northeastern coast, as
to exclude cur citizens from some of the
fishing grounds, to which they freely re
sorted for nearly a quarter of a century
subsequent to the date of that treaty. ; The
United .States have never acquiesced in
this construction, but have always claimed
for their fishermen all the rights which they
had so long enjoyed without molestation.
With a view to remove ell difficulties on
the subject to extend the rights of our fish
ermen beyond the limits fixed by the con
vention of 1818, and to regulate trade be
tween the United States and, the British
North American Provinces, a negotiation
has been opened, with a fair prospect of a
favorable result. 1 o protect our fishermen
in the enjoyment of their rights, and pre
vent collision between them and British
fishermen, I deemed it expedient to station
a. naval force tu that quarter during the
fishing season. - : ;
Embarassingquestioits have also arisen
between the two governments in regard to
Central America. Great Britain has pro
posed to settle them by an amicable, ar
rangement, and our minister at London
is instructed to enter into negotiations on
that subject. . r ; . ;
A commission for adjusting the claims
of our citizens against Great Britain, and
those of British subjects against the United
States, organized under the convention of
the 8th of February last, is now sitting in
London for the transaction of business.
It is in many respects desirable that the
boundary line between the United States
and the British provinces in the northwest,
as designated in the convention of the 15th
of June, 184G, and especially, that part
which separates the I erritory of Washing
ton . from the British: possessions on the
north, should be traced and marked. I
therefore present the subject to your notice.
With France our relations continue on
the most friendly looting. 1 he extensive
commerce between the United States and
that country might, it is conceived, be re
leased from some unnecessary restrictions,
to the mutual advantage of both parties.
With a view to this object, soma progress
has been made in negotiating a treaty of
commerce and navigation.
Independently of our valuable trade with
Spain, we have important political relations
with her, growing out of our neighborhood
to the Islands ef Cuba and rorto Rico. I
am happy to announce, that since the last
Congress no attempts have been made, by
unauthorized expeditions within the United
States, against either of those colonies.
Should any movement be manifested with
in our limits, all the means at my com
mand will be vigorously exerted to repress
it. 'Several annoying bectirrenceil1 have
taken place at Havana, or in the VrcfrHtjr
of the Island of Cuba, between bur citizen :
and the Spanish authbritier. ,! m ll
' Considering the proximity of that isitftiS -.
to our shores lying, "as' it 'does;-ftf 'tl -track
of trade between some of 'our1 trV
cipal cities and the suspicions vigilihoe
with which foreign intercourse, partictitaV-'
ly that with the United States, UalheHe
guarded, anfepetition of such occurrerieea .
may well be apprehended-'"As fitMdfpW
matic intercourse is allowed between'Otif :. .
consul at Havana and the Captain Genet- . .
al of Cuba, ready explanations Oannbt'to
made, or prompt redress afforded"wnere
injury has resulted. ;,; AH com plaint 'orttltB .
part of pur citizens, onder lhe present at ,
rangement. must be, in tho first place, pr- .
sented to this government, and then Tew-
red to Spain. Spain again refert IF to Iter'
local authorities in Cuba for investigation,
and postpones an answer tifl ehe has-hafd
fiom thoso authorities.1 -To avoid? theie
irritating and Vexatious delays, a proposi
tion has been made to provide for Hrel
appeal for redress to the Captain -GneTal .
by our Consul, in behalf of 'eur tinjureki .
fellow-citizens. Hitherto tia: government -;
of Spain has declined to enter" intowiy
such arrangement- This- course' ow; ir
part is deeply regretted; for , withoqt some i
arrangement of the kind, the goOdwftief
standing between the two countries may
be: exposed to occasional interruption.
Our minister at Madrid is instructed tore
new the proposition, and to press it again V
upon -tho consideration of her Catholic :
Majesty's government, r' .:?- jfWarfJ tnii ;
For several years Spain has ben ball
ing the attention of this .Government;!.
claim for' losses by some of her suljecta,
in the case of the schooner .MAmistadl."
This claim is believed to rest on therobli-"
gations imposed by ohi existing treaty
with that country . Its justice was admit
ted, in our diplomatic correspondence wkU .
the ' Spanish Governments aa earlyv. . '
March, 1847; ' and one: of ray; predecne- v
sors, in his annual message of that yrar, :
recommended ' that . provision- should be '
made for its payment.--. In JanuaryWtblt .
was again submitted; to. CongretabyHbe V
executive.; 1 1 has received a fayoraWefta
sidoration by committees of both breaches
but as yet there has been : no final atrt&ti ;.
upon - it. I - conceive that good; ifeiih - r '
quires its prompt, adjustment, Md 'pfw-
sent it to ycur early and favourable consul
eration. ', TtPr&Attvaptt .
Martin Koszta. a Hnngnnan by- btrtli,
came to this country in J850f-and .declar
ed his intention, in dde form of; law, &
become a . citizen . of the Ueited rStal.
After remaining here nearly two;yipt
visneffTurkey.' " W hilerrSnWf ffj;$tf
was forcibly . seized, taken on; bosrAfen "
Austrian brig of war, then lying in lite-Mr- ; "
bor of that place,:. and thereeonfiaed ;in ; :
irons, with the avowed design to leke iug t :
into the dominions of Austria.- -Our,)-8ul
at Smyrna and legation ij Const an ti- -no
pie interposed for his release, buk thejr .
frffort were ineffectual.. While i thus,sn-..:
prisoned, Commander Ingrabam.'witihtUe :
United -States ship ,of-war. St,LLoujs4't- -rived
al .Smyrna, and. after inquiring. injtj
the circumstances of the. case, came to fim
conclusion that Koszta was entitled 1o, Ur
protection - of this ; government,- and toeje. v
energetic and prompt measures for JiU- ; :
lease.' -Under an arrangement between -.
the agents of , the United. States -and of
Austria, he was transferred jo -the custody
of the French consul-general,: at Smyrna,
there to remain Until he should Ae diepos- "
ed of by' the mutual agreement of the Con
suls of the respective governments at, that . .
place. ?; Pursuant to that agreement ba
been. released i and is how-on his; way 4o .
the United States; iV-'.?.'fcH&rw.'i; f'''
The Emperor of, Austria has-,fnado; the -.
conduct of our officers , who. look, part irt
this transaction , a subtecl of grave corn- ' ;
plaint: Regarding Koszta aa still his.autf-
ject, and claiming a righMor seize'Jnni -
within; the. limits of the .Turkish empire,
he has demanded of this .-government U
consent lo the surrender of the prisoner :
a disavowal of the a eta of its agents, nrt -
satisfaction for the alleged outrage., , AftT
a careful, consideration : of the,cae, -J ..r
came to the conclusion that. Koszta-was '
seized without legal authority at Smyrna;
that he was wrongfully detained ton poerd - 1 ' '
of the Austrian brig of war; thettetbe '
time of his seizure, ;he was clorned frithv
the nationality of the United States; nd ; -
that the acts of our officers, under the ctrF ;
cumstances of "the case,., were justifiable, '
and their conduct has been fully,. apprav-
ed by me, and a compliance with the sew-v
eral demands of the Emperor - of Vu'slrja
has been declined. T :- -,. - V v(f.j
For a more full account of this transact L
tion and my views in regard to vj,fef$r'
to the correspondence between the charge "
d'afiairs of Austria and the. Secretary af '
State, which is herewith transmitted,. , Thf -principles
and policy therein maintained . - ;
on the part bf.lhe United States,', will. - .;'
whenever a . proper occasion occurs, be J
applied and enforced, '.X.J'--
The condition of. China, at. this time, '-.
renders it probable that some, important
changes will occur in that vast empire; 'V
which will lead to a more unrestricted in- "
tercourse .with it. The commissioner ''lb
that country, who has been .recently p- ' :.
pointed, is instructed to avail Itimstlf of
all occasions to open and extend. our com- : . ;
mercial relations, not only with the empire r3
of China, but with other Asiatic nations.
In 1852, and expedition was sent to'Ja- ;
pan, under the command of Commodore '"'.!
Perry, for the purpose of opening comroer-' ,
cial intercourse with that island. ' Jntellf- ?5
gence has , been received of ; lus ' arrival; , ;
there, and of his having made kown to the
Emperor of Japan the-object of his' visit; s;v
but it is not yet ascertained how far' the ' '
Emperor will be disposed to abandon his V
restrictive policy, and open that populous v ,
country to a commercial intercourse with
the United ; States. , ; v ' ' v
It has been my earnest denire' to tnain-"
tain friendly intercourse with the, govern -"
ments upon ibis continent, and to aid them ,
in preserving good understanding" emoDs; ; ' . . - r, . .
themselves.'.'.' With Mexico, a disputi h v" ii; :;i 1"
i"'
- i
? .' .