Daily national era. [volume], January 14, 1854, Image 2

About Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854

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LITERARY MISCELLANY.
For the National Era.
THE LETTER 1.
BY LUCY LA&COM.
Child, how eagerly you look
From your dog'* eared spelling-book.
Why so glad and mailing? Why ''
" See?I've learned the letter I!"
Child, you'renot the first one yet.
That, of all tho alphabet,
Chose that latter for his tank,
Nor for deepur lor* would ask
Many an older child you'll find.
Who, to all save I, is blind.
'Tie as if that character
Stared upon him everywhere.
In each heart's unfolding book.
First for I he's sure to look,
Dreading anywhere to sea
Such a domoorat as WV,
, Labor will not ho to spoil;
Better loarn ono letter well.
So that beautiful, groat I
Spreads, and covers earth and sky,
And its gilded xha|>e is oast
On the future, grand and vast;
While tho pigriiy alphabet
Lies forgottou under it.
Poet or philosopher,
King or simple oominoner,
He may be, who only looks
For the I in all his books.
But, whato'er that poet's rbywo,
All his thoughts to self will chime
Such an Alp will climbers lind
Only Gulliver reclinod
Meanest of philosophy
T? the ego-sophistry,
Cutting the F.ternal plan
To the measuro of a man.
And the s<>n of humble lift*
Thus is armed for daily strife.
Joy expires, and Peace will fly
At the step of tyrant I.
Grown up children, further turn !
In life's book there's much to learn.
Would you see whore I belongs '
Road about vottr brother's wrongs,
Rend the hopes his soul that move ?
Spell the names of Truth and Love'
Students of the letter I, *
Once a worthier lesson try.
For the National Era.
MRS CBUPF8 CONTRIBUTION.
[concluded.]
Bal no master ol tho ball ever grew so dizzy
in arraying, steadying, guiding 1??m fnntastu;
toed subjects. The fun was old, before the ,
play l?egan ; and, nick at heart for the waited
day, I closed uiy eyes upon the mad rehearnrtl.
vowing to dream 110 more. But the next day
brought divers culls for money, which [ an- |
ewered with confident dignity, " Yes, I'll attend
to it," and then went to my room, to cry heart- j
ily, and turn over the three cents in the troas- I
ury; the dim copper* somehow suggesting ten j
talents, five, two, one. and a napkin. And so
a sordid glow came over the divino teaching,
and the temptation, shifting its side, whispered
in the other ear, "Try again?if these airy
nothings perriot in 4 moving after their own
sweet will,' puppets may be made to work by
wir^s, and to pay the showman "
This time. ? went to work. Rut.you are very
tired, and no wonder?and as for you, little
one, apologized my aunt, turning to Sue, "1 1
have been talking over your head for the last j
two hours."
The damsel threw up her bright brown
ourls. with an air that rather defied anybody ;
to talk over them, and protested. "I know pret
ty well what you are talking about, if I don't
understand all the long words?and they arc )
here on my slate, waiting to be looked out in
the dictionary." While ! politely intimated,
that to stop now, after bringing us by so long a
cirouitjuet to the verge of her story actual, would
be simply a 1caste ; knowing that, here? I had
Aunt Hepey '-on the hip"--ehe bad set her
lips firmly, but this opened them.
Well, then, if you want my prosing, yon
can have plenty more of it; for the outlines of
that long time ago are all sharply clear to me.
and the filling c mes back, strangely, as I
talk, to the smallest item?even the stratagems
by which I cleand the way to the first at- |
tempt at writing, the security I felt for fifteen
minutes, till the first interruption oocur
red, and then the ingenious succession of expe
dient*. by which my promised loug morning
was divided between literature and bouse- j
.wifery: tho very look of two or three dissatis
fied bwes that spurred me on, with the hope c-1 !
sometime ministering more freely to their |
whims, or answering more freely to their |
claims?I could tell every one of them on tny
fingers You o?f ht to be thankful to get over '
that really longest of forenooos, with so little I
description
I wrote rapidly; for, as I said, I went to j
work in lamest this time, and warned to it,
in spite of all hindrances. Hut, when it came j
to the reading over! A highly-figurative cler
ical friend, who moralised every thing, from a
tinder-box to a parallax, onoe assured me that
hie old sermons were "moral emetics" to him.
'Iho elegant metaphor fitted my novel sensa
tions at this ciisis. My grand ideas, the har
monious combination of characters, incidents,
and principle- nnd their embodiment "in the
rare,'' differed too grotesquely ? it wss too
much.
And then, to forego tho amusement of sqnib
bing at other people, hy going over into the
ranks, to be shot at myself?no: the experi
ment must kindle the kitchen fire?its light
oould no farther go.
And for?hwith a fierce economy seized me;
for my family, defrauded of the revenue which
my genius was to have supplied, were eutitled
to compensation in some lorm. I would not
pat into your young heads all the vulgar Amo
tions iha*. fitted mine, or all the pinching ways
by which I compelled myself to feel mean.
Perhaps I was not quite equal to one of my
friends, whose intense economy deserves to be
held in memory, snd who, being just married,
and fully supplied with everything in the world
eh* could w.mt. oould only indnlge her e?g<.r
uess to make sacr.fioc' and help her hosband,.
by restricting herself of comfortable clothing,
thereby to s?ve washing Hut perhaps, too,
my expedients were not much more to the pur
p?*w ; f ?r, in my seal to take care of the penoe,
the pound* did take care of themselves, most
unaoeountahly. And the oonviotion returned
upon me, that, ! should never become "a treas
ure to my husband," by my saving of candle
ends and bite of I,utter So the writing mania,
no lunger n merry-thought. haunted me oge.in
And whon, at tnidsnmmer, my room was dark
ened, I lay in the old sur.shine peopled thick
with atones thai would lia\e told themselves,
eonld the h*nd > that laySdly on the coverlet
have hold a pen. Tho first leisure of health
wim to be giveu to their etehing; bnt that race
after leisure had in itself more funny items
than wonld !>ear any construction of probabili
ty in the telling, as successive experiences; and
when, nnder any extra imposition of ?o>ca)led
'help," I 'groaned, despairingly, " What nknll
[ do with her 1" " Put her iu the book," was
the only answer that gave me the least ootiso
iatioo Mouth1* of exjierimentt! and failures
in doim'stio economy, but rioh in specimen**,
b ought mo. oue day, to such an extreme case,
in the shape of a oook and a character, that 1
v. ad sure my fortune wa-< made Every day she
lived wilh me, it seemed a sinful waste of my
privilege not to be making a book to frame her
in, if for no other purpose J only, there was a
limitation about using her, as if it might be in
fringement of a eopyr.ght; for suoh an exagge
rated form of humuuity it was muoh easier
fancying as strayed out of a book, than as ever
b ?rn alive.
Relieved from kitchen superintendence, then
did 1 realize that an old-fashioned practice I had
of living with my children was not eminently
eunducivo to literary success. Pen, ink, and
I a per, were incontinently appropriated by
little fingers,' when the mother in full, "bands
and foot, and busy head," was not claimed by
the little people; and a slow suspicion dawned
upon me, that a woman, who would perform
"a special effort," must begin by quenching
her husband, strangling her children, and ig
noring her friends. But my will was up, and
i lie way must be found. So went we on, for
utonthti more, iu a very suppressed state?I
i ever daring to bo " as funny as I could;" but if
over a bright thing rose in my throat, clotting
my teeth upon it, to bottle it up, as, possibly,
live cents worth of "lightning" for "the book."
That Jaok-o-lantern book ! How it beckoned
mo on?how it tired mo?how many petty
wastes and small breaches were repaired by
its visionary proceeds, before it Could even
' borrow loave to be."
Working by inches, in odd oorners, between
t'alls and claims inuumerable?with aching
shoulders, quivering nerves, and painfully-com
pelled attention?in the midst of highly awa
kened bubios, dubty rooms, failing wardrobes,
and kitchen clamors, ull which were to be
renovated or beatified in some miraculous
way, as recompense?1 did, eventually, bring
(ho task to completion.
Stern, duly taking oounsel of my husband,
who, after patient reading and judicious pru
ning, thought it would do, the important man
uscript was offered to a respectable'publisher,
with whom wo believed its appearance might
be negotiated. Shall 1 ever forget the dead
weight of the packet that was brought to me,
a few days after, or the silly tremble of the
fingers that opened it? With my returned
manuscript lay a folded note, addrefsed to my
husband, under whose care the application
had been made. 1 have always remembered
its woids?they ran in large, easy text, and
short paragraphs?
'? Sir: We could do you no service by farther
detention of your manuscript.
" No experienced house would hazard the
publication of what must prove wholly unsale
able
" If your lady friend is not over-semitivo to
advice, allow me to rcccommend to her the
study of Proportion.
" Every member of her romance Buffers plot
t?c?niery-uguros, personal and illustrative, for
anatomical adjustment.
?? If, as is probable, the lady understands real
better than Jiotitious relations, she will do wise
,Iy to adhere to those, and will fiud nothing of
fensive in my freedom.
M With due respect, yours, &c.,
" Skilui & Co."
Slowly, and with becoming disgust, the con
demned manuscript was examined?strip after
strip, thoee disjecta membra read, and laid up
on the fire ; slowly the fallen thimble was pick
ed up, and fingers cold, but no longer trem
bling?fingers that never strayed toward the
broad road again ? resumed thoir stiching.
And this is the end, though not tho whole, of
my story about a story, my single contribution
to the '' calamities of authors.''
*'Thcn oame the black time," added Aunt
Hopsy, between two pauses, leaving mo to fill
tho silence with that shadow of death, which.
I knew, had wholly changed her life; M theu
my hands grew strong with desperation?not
hope; then this kind home was opened to me,
and siuce then "?my poor Aunty roused up
her crooked shoulders to the climax, with an
iuoongruous air of pride, that quite kept me
from crying?" I have, perhaps, done as much
sewing as any woman of my age."
Little Su? puckered her pretty mouth, and
muttered something?in very rainy whispers?
about the greatest shame, "and that hateful
publisher!" and " she knew it was a beautiful
story," while I fell to wondering, serionsly,
whether Aunt Hepey might not, even now, by
exchanging tbo net-die for the pen, liberalise
tho out of her mourning. Doubtless, it would
b? a private gratification, and, Jim suggests,
surely a public improvement.
ITEMS.
Rufua Choite is writing a history of Greece
Rev. Thomas P. Hunt,of Washington, D. C,
is delivering temperance lectured at Wheeling.
Small pox prevails a* an epidemic in Charles
ton.
There id a lady raiding in Philadelphia who
wad horn in 1744.
General Wool leaves for California on the
20th instant.
Carvajal and a number of other filibusters
have gone to (J *1 rent on, ts take their trial be
fore the United States court.
The flag of the Republic of Lower Califor
nia id composed of three stripes?red, white,
and red?with two stars un the white ground.
Judge Kdmond*, of New York, id engaged
in lecturing on spiritualism at varioua placed.
He recently vim ted Poughkeepsie.
The new nhip Flora Temple will shortly sail
from Baltimore on her first ocean trip. She
goes, laden with a heavy oargo, to Liverpool.
It it said that 50,000 copies of Col. Benton's
u Thirty Veard in the Senate " have hoen sub
scribed for, in advance of its publication.
The Crystal Palace Association recently voted
Captain Charles Henry Davis and Captain Du
ptait, superintendents of the Crystal Palace,
each a fervice of plate, ooeting Si ,000.
la Japan, if a man dies in office, deeply in
d>;bt, it is coocealod until the accumulation of
hid salary has paid his creditors?all things
goirg on ad if he were still alive.
A druggist id under arrest in Now York,
charged with putting up poison for a sick miui
in place of pr per medicine. There are many
druggists in New York who soaroely know the
difference between m^nesia and arsenic.
The New Orleans Picayune days, that on the
4th inst thelar/e quantity of thirty-four tons
of specio wbs convened up the river on board
the steamboat John L Avery. It was shipped
from the Mint in that city, and is to be taken
to that of Philadel| hia.
Rev. W. R. Strickland, pastor of Union
Chapel, M. E. Church, in Cincinnati, lately
performed a marriage for a couple, and receiv
ed in return for his servioes from the bride
groom the neat dum of f.50 in gold, and from
the bride, a deed to a city lot valued at $2,600.
Gen. Bankhead has been appointed to the
Kastern Division of the United Stated Army, in
place of General Wool.
Three thous ind children were present at i
Madamo Son tag's conoert in Cleveland, on
Thurnday.
More than six'y criminals have been execu
ted in the UnitedStates during tha year 1853,
and nine are now in prison under sentenoe of
death.
Francis Pigg, of Indiana, had run away front
Mm. Pigg and fo.ir little Pigg*. The Po*1 says
he is a Hog
Nothing.?That portion of a lady's head on
which her bonnet rent*.?Punch
0^7" The Daily Era can be had every morning
at the Periodical Stand of Mr. J. T. Batss, Ex
change, Philadelphia; also, the Weekly Era.
LC7" Mr. Jahk.h Elliott is authorized to receive
and rooeipt for subscription! and advertisements for,
the Daily and the Weekly National Era, in Cincin
nati and vicinity.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 1854.
M! 8 itEPRESE N i ATI ON CORkECTKD.
The National Era and the Albany Atlas
now insist on a faithful adherence to the Mis
souri Compromise. We admit that the Mis
tiouri Compromise was intended as a permanent
adjustment of the Slavery controversy. But
jet, if we have read history aright, no party
ever adopted that Compromise in itw creed;
and the only sanctity it ever had, was that
which it gained by a long period of acquies
cence.
But notwithstanding that long period of ac
quiescence, Free Soil fanaticism repudiated it
when Oregon became a Territory of the United
States.
When the bill to give Oregon a Territorial
Government was before the House of Repre
sentatives, Mr. Winthrop, of Massachusetts,
moved to apply to it the Anti-Slavery prohibi
tion of the Ordinanoe of 1787?which is word
for word the Wilmot Proviso. When that mo
tion was carried, many able and patriotic men
thought that it was a virtual repeal of the Mis
souri Compromise. But Mr. Polk signed the
bill with the offensive clause in it, on the
ground, as he stated in a special message, that
Oregon was north of the Missouri Compromise
line, whioh was intended to be a permanent
adjustment of the Slavery question, and that
the Winthrop Proviso was mere surplusage.
Free-Soilism, having gained thus muoh by the
Missouri Compromise, refused to abide by that
Compromise any further; for when the Mexican
treaty gave us California, and Now Mexico,
and Utah, every effort to extend the prinoiples
of the Missouri Compromise was most violent
ly resisted,, and that Compromise was virtual
ly abrogated, and its binding force denied and
repudiated. This abrogation of the Missouri
Compromise?this denial and repudiation of its
binding force, made it necessary that a new
Compromise should be made.
That new Compromise was made in 1850,
and it has been sustained to the present time.
But all on a sudden, the Free-Soilors, who have
pretended for the long space of four months
to be better and truer Democrats than the long
tried veterans of the Democracy, now oome
forth, and. speaking through their organ, the
Albany Atlas, spit on the Compromise of 1850,
which is recognised as a finality by the Balti
more platform, and insist that it must give
jtlaco to the Missouri Compromise of 1820!!
Washington Sentinel.
The advocates of Slavery seem inoapable of
making any correct statement of facte con
cerning the issues between them and their op
ponents. Expose their blunders as often as
you may, they will repeat them with as much
coolness as if they had never been detected and
pointed out.
The foregoing cxtract from an editorial in
the SeiUinel is a tissue of misrepresentations.
1. It is not true that "tho Missouri Compro
mise was intended as a permanent adjustment
of the Slavery controversy." It was simply in
tended as a device for allaying the agitation
against Slavery in 1820, to such a degree that
Missouri might be admitted into the Union as
a Slave State, and the price paid for this was
the perpetual exemption from Slavery of the
whole of our territory beyond the Mississippi
river, and above 36 deg. 30 min. It was pro
posed and advocated as an adjustment of that
particular controversy, but not as a permanent
adjustment of " the Slavery controversy."
2. " Free-Soil fanaticism," nor any other fa- I
naticisra, ' repudiated the Missouri Compro- |
mise when Oregon became a Territory of the
United States."
3. Mr. Winthrop moved the Anti-Slavery '
provision of the Ordinance of 1787 as an ;
amendment to the Iowa bill; the Oregon bill,
as reported by the Committee on the Territo
ries, embraced this Proviso.
4. California, New Mexico, and Utah, al
ready belonged to us when tho Oregon bill was
passed, instead of being acquired subsequently,
as the Sentinel represents.
5. Nor, u the time paper asserts, vu the
Miaaouri Compromise "virtually abrogated,
and its binding force denied and repudiated."
These erroneous statements of the Sentinel
are made for the purpose of con rioting the
Anti-Slavery Party of inconsistency?of main
taining in 1854 the binding farce of what they
repudiated in 1848 and 1850.
A oonoiee, bnt oorrect statement of facta will
?indicate its entire consistency, The Missouri
Compromise, as it is called, or, more properly,
the Anti-Slavery Proviso of that Corapromiao,
applied exclusively to the Territory of Louisiana,
acquired from France. Its language is?
" That in all that Territory ceded by France
to the United States, under the name of Lou
inanofwhioh lies north of 36 deg. 30 min. north
latitude, not included within the limita of the
State contemplated by this act, Slavery and
involuntary servitude, otherwise than for the
punishment of crime, whereof the parties shall
have been duly convicted, shall be, and ia here
by, forever prohibited."
No attempt was ever made to disturb this
Compromise, and it was suatained by the ac
quiescence of a whole generation.
In 1848, when it became neceesary to pro
vide a Territorial Government for Oregon, the
Proviso of tbg Ordinance of 1787 was embod
ied in the bill for this purpose; but this was
not an abrogation of the Missouri Compro
mise. any more than the act of Mr. Polk, who
insisted upon the validity of that Compromise,
in the very message in which he sanctioned the
bill. Our olnim to Oregon had been urged,
on several grounds, one of which was, that it
was originally a part of tho Territory of Lou
isiana. Had this been universally and abso
lutely admitted to be true, the Proviao of the
act of 1820 wonld have exempted it from Sla
very, jnst as it now exempts Nebraska. But,
as this was a disputed point, the friends of
Freedom justly held that tho relations of the
' Territory to Slavery should not be left in
doubt. Hence they inserted the Proviso of
the Ordinance of 1787. .If the Missouri (Com
promise was in force as it related to that Ter
ritory, this additional Proviso, being in harmo
ny with it, ooukl do no harm?it wonld be at
most mere surplusage. But if it were not in
foroe, then tho new Proviao was indispensable.
Manifestly, in neither eaee, was it an abroga
tion of the Missouri Compromise.
But the effort of the Pro-Slavery party wsa,
to engraft on the Oregon bill a new Comfro
mine, not to re-affirui the old one?that is,
adopting the old Compromise as a model, to
provide that thenceforth, in all territory of the
United States, whioh, owing to recent acquisi
tions, now reached the Paoitio ocean, there
bhonld neither be Slavery nor involuntary ser
vitude north of 36 deg. 30 min. The Missouri
Compromise was limited by it* terms to the
Louisiana Territory. Sinoe its passage, Califor
nia, Utah, and New Mexico, had been acquired,
and the title to Oregon seoured by treaty. The
proposition was, to adopt the same Compro
mise Line in relation to these Territories, whioh
had been adopted exclusively iu relation to
Louisiana. ThiB and this only was resisted
and defeated by the Anti-Slavery Party. It
did not oppose or repudiate the Missouri Com
promise, for no question was made concerning
that.
To Bay that the refusal to pro^lo for new
Territory, in one set of circumstances, a new
Law identical in principle with an old Law.
enacted for a Territory in another set of cir
cumstances, was a virtual repeal or abrogation
of the latter, is unadulterated nonsense.
As the Anti-Slavery Party did not repudiate
the Missouri Compromise in 1848 or 1850, its
determination now to nuetain it in relation to
Nebraska, when, for the first time since its
passage, the attempt is made to sot it^ii/la, is
entirely consistent with its principles aUfcoc
tion heretofore. It is the Pro-Slavery Party
which is criminal?guilty of inconsistency, bad
faith, and fraudulent intention, because, hav
ing admitted the validity of the Missouri Com
promise for thirty-three years, it now protonds
to question its constitutionality, and having
fully appropriated and secured all the advan
tages it gave to Slavery, now seeks to swindle
Freedom out of tbo single benefit it gained from
the "bargain," by falsely asserting that the
friends of Freedom themselves have abroga
ted it. ___
THE PEOPLE."
The Southern Quarterly Review for January
in an article on a new work, entitled The Peo
ple, indulges in divers remarks disparaging to
the Democratic Principle.
We oopy from the Washington Sentinel,
with the comments of that journal:
"That Review, however, we regret to say,
lays itself liable to severe animadversion. The
first sentence of it is?' We are glad to see that
"The People" are not always to be called
great and good. Republicanism is not always
to be trumpeted as the only Government un
der which good oan shelter itself. Liberty is
not to be throned as Juggernaut, to rido over
all prostrate 'kingdoms, principalities, and
powers.'"
" A fair tran?lation of this paragraph is?
that one Government is as good as another.
If it does not mean that, it means nothing.
" Again, it says: ' Our author dismisses, in a
few happy pages, the extravagant pretensions
in favor of the masses whioh have been set up
by demagogues, clamoring of the " inspiration
of the people," calling them prophets, glorify
ing their preoptions and their utterances, tor
turing the old phrase, "Vox Populi, vox Dei,"
and its kindred watchword', until the ele
ment of truth is lost amid extravagance and
absurdity.' (
'? Now, what is the meaning of al) this ? If
it means that tho People are not infallible,
and not perfect, everybody will admit it; but
if it means that a People's Government is
not the proper Government, every true repub
lican will dispute it.
" But the Review quotes from the volumo it
reviews, as follows: The progress of liberty
does not depend on any form ,< it may be im
peded, or it may be helped by any Govern
ment whatsoever.' The plain meaning of
which, if it have any meaning at all, is, that
one form of government is as good as another.
The 'Government of Russia, where there is no
liberty, is as favorable to liberty as that of the
United States."
Ws are glad to see this display of virtuous
indignation on the part of the Sentinel. But
the sentiments it oondemns are not uncommon
among the supporters of the peculiar system
of whioh that journal ia a champion. Chan
cellor Harper long ago ridiouled the idea of
government by a Democracy.
John C. Calhoun was accustomed to declaim
on the fallacy of tho dootrine of the equal
righta of all men. Virginia statesmen hare
held that the men who labor with their hands
are not the men to wield the power of Govern
ment Virginia editors, professed Demoorats,
have lauded the wisdom and beneficence of
the Despotism of Russin, denounoed the cause
of Revolution in Earope, and discoursed upon
the mischiefs of the emancipation of the Euro
pean masses.
Suoh idea* are th? natural growth of Slave
Institutions, which are unfavorable to popular
intelligence, tend to obscure our perception of
the saoredness of human right*. and to create
necessities utterly in conflict with the Demo
cratic Principle
Who are the " People " in South Carolina ?
The majority of them are Blare*; and of the
minority, a few constitute the ruling ola??
Representation is not apportioned according to
number*, bnt eo regulated a* to give to the
large slaveholder* or capitalists the oontrol of
the Legislature; aad the possesion of so muoh
land or eo many " negroe* " is required a* a
condition to eligibility to offico. The People
are aloo completely excluded from all partici
pation in votii^ for a President or Vice Presi
dent of the United State* ; the legislature, un
der the control of a small holy of land and
negro owners, reserving to iteelf the appoint
ment of elector*.
We do not say that anti-republican idea*
and usage* prevail alone in the South, ar are
fostered alone by alave institution*. Wealth,
wherever oonoentrated in a small ola**, es
pecially if united to a monopoly of political
power, generates habits and sentiments ropng-.
nant to Demoeracy, incompatible with a full
and oordial recognition of the sovereignty of
the People,
The Sentinel the other day declared its utter
abhorrence of ? Free-Soilers and Abolitionists.''
What is the head and front of their offending!
Devotion to Democracy?to the oaune of Equal
Rights?to the principles of Popular Sover
eignty, vindicated by the Sentinel in the fore
going extract against the Southern Review !
"The Free-Soiler" ituriwt* that the Territo
ries of the United State* shall be held *aored
to Free Institutions, which prohibit the ab
snlnte subjection of one man to the will of
another, which secure to the Laborer his own
earnings, which recognise the Family Rela
tion* as inviolable, which provide for the edu
cation of all the People, confer upon all equal
political rights, invest all with equal safe
guards, open to all equally the avenues to
fortune and distinction. Is he a Democrat, or
not? an Advocate of Popular Sovereignty, or
not f a Friend of " the People," or not f
On the other hand, the Sentinel insists upon
throwing open all Territories of the United
States to au Institution which subjects one man
absolutely to the will of another, robs Labor
of its earnings, subverts all Family Relations,
generates castes fiercely and unchangeably
hostile to each other, limits Education, Politi
cal Power, Fortune, and Fame, to the Few.
Is it for such a Journal to stand forth as the
defender of the People, of Popular Sovereign
ty, of Democracy?
AN IMPORTANT COBBECTION.
We extract from the Washington Sentinel
a most important correotion of tho Nebraska
bill, as it first appeared in that paper. It leaves
no doubt as to the intention of the bill to ab
rogate the Missouri Compromise. Language
oonld hardly be more explicit on this point:
" Before wo go further, we will quote those
sections of the bill whioh, because of a clerical
error, did not appear in the bill as originally
published They are in these words:
"'Sec. 21. And be it further enacted, That,
in order to avoid all misconstruction, it is here
by declared to be the true intent and meaning
of this act, so far as the question of Slavery is
ooncerned, to carry into praotical operation the
following propositions ana principles established
by the Compromise Measures of 1850, to wit:
"' First, that all questions pertaining to
Slavery in the Territories, and in tho new
Statos to be foimed therefrom, are to bo left to
the decision of the people residing therein,
through their appropriate representatives.
v 'Second, that " all cases involving title to
slaves" and "questions of personal freedom,"
are referred to the adjudication of the local
tribunals, with the right of appeal to the Su
preme Court of the United States.
' Third, that tho provisions of the Constitu
tion and laws of the Unitod States, in respect
to fugitives from scrvice, are to be carried into
faithful execution in all " tho organized Terri
tories," tho same as in the States.'
" If we understand this declaratory provision
rightly, it was intended to place the Territory
of Nobraska under the shelter and protection
of the Compromise acts of 1850, as if the Mis
souri Compromise had never been adopted
Without any special authority for saying so,
we have no doubt that the able and emineut
draughtsmen of the bill meant that the declar
atory section we have quoted above, Bhould
place the Territory of Nebraska in the portion
we contend that it should oocupy, with recur
rence to the Slavery question. But there are
those who think that there is still room for
misconstruction?that the positive enactment
of 1820 oannot be set aside or be weakened io
any manner except by a direct and specific re
peal. We say, therefore, that no room should
be left for doubt, or cavil, or dispute. The
honor of the Democratic party is pledged to the
Compromise of 1850 as a final settlement, and
Democratic Representatives in Congress cannot,
in our judgement, refuse to vote for any proper
enactment which makes the principles of that
Compromise the entire and the only finality to
the Slavery agitation in Congress or out of
Congress."
This is all clear enough. A wayfaring man,
though a fool, need not mistake.
The design of the bill is to re]>eal the Mis
souri Compromise, and if, on discussion, there
should Beeui to be doubt of its efficacy in this
respect, an express clause of repeal must be
inserted! The Sentinel hints that Gen. Cms
will probably move this amendment. It saya;
" In this connection, it affords us pleasure to
call attention to the following lines, whioh we
find in the Baltimore Sun, which have refer
ence to the position of General Cass, and whioh
oomcs from a source which is generally under
stood to be well informed as to the intentions
of the eminent Senator from Michigan :.
"' That part of the Missouri Compromise
which might apply to Nebraska must be re
pealed. General Cass is determined to sepa
rate the goals from tho sheep.' "
Very good ! Let us have no double-dealing,
no fraud; leave no corner for dodgers or
doughfaces. Let the issue be fairly made : "if
the Lord be Lord, serve him, if Baal, serve him."
Lot the General lead off for Baal, and see how
many he can rally to that standard.
Mr. Goodell on the Law or Slavery.?
We have been publishing in our Weekly, for
some time, a series of artioloa from William
Goodell, of New York, on tho Law of Slavery.
The author, an honest man and a vigorous
thinker, holds opinions on the subject, enter
tained chiefly by the Hon. Gerrit Smith, and
thorn who are more especially associated with
him, but in which neither we, nor the Free
Soilern generally, as they arc sometimes term*
cd, are able to ooncur. We rofer, of oouroe, to
the opinion that Law sustaining or reoognising
Slavery is not Law, and that Slavery In the
States may bo abolished either by act of Con
gress, or by Federal judicial decision.
Wc deem this ex lan a turn due to many of
our Daily readers, who have had no opportuni
ty of understanding the differences of opinion
among Anti-Slavery moo.
Mr. Goodell wo allow to speak for himself,
for wc are opposod to g*g law. Our journal is
devoted to Free Discussion, and no one is ex
cluded from its oolumns simply on the ground
of holding sentiments not in harmony with our
own. There is at least one paj>or in this oity,
in which the Slaveholder and Anti-Slavery
man may meet together and compare or con
trovert opinions.
Thk "Affairs" at Madrid.?The influ
ence of tho Spanish and French Courts are all
arrayed against our minister, Mr. Soule, and
wore so from the moment of his approach to the
Spanish Conii; and we aooordingly find the
tervile press of the two capitals mis-stating the
real history of the recent quarrels at Madrid,
and their results. But the Knglish pre** seems
disposed to do justioe to the Messrs. Soule,
and, from their representations, we are strength
ened in the owviction that, aooording to the
approved punctilio, these gentlemen occupy a
tenable position.
A Paris oorrespondent of the New York
Time* writes:
" At a Christmas Kve party, f saw half a
d< r. ?n gentlemen, whom I knew to be entirely
opposed to the nomination, and whose informa
tion was not highly in favor of Mr. Sonic, nev
ertheless drinking his health, and his happy
issue ont of all his afflictions. This will give
yon some idea of American public opinion, as
manifested in this affair, in Paris."
And yet, regardless of its effect abroad, may
in this country whose political interests are ad
verse to the advancement of Mr. Sonle, appear
incapable, even at this delicate juncture of
time, to waive tkeir prejudice*, a?d acorJ to
him the verdict of their unbiased judgment,
and the protection of their sustaining voioe
M THE CITIZEN."
This is the title of a new weekly paper at
New York, edited by Messrs. John Mitohel
and Thos. F. Meagher. The lattor gentleman,
howover, it) on "his way to California, and we
niUHt regard the sentiments at present uttered
by the Citizen as those of Mr. Mitohel. They
may be learned upon one important subject,
from the following extract from the 2d num
ber of "that paper:
" J tuned Haughton is a merohant of Dublin,
a worthy and sincere man, but an amiable
monomaniac. He has published a letter, ad
dressed ' to Thomas Francis Meagher,' to whom
he ' wants to say a few solemn words uoross
the Atlantic.' The purport of these solemn
words is all contained in the extracts here fol
lowing:
Is liberty less the right of the black man
than of the white man ? If it be eo, prove it.
* * * , * Bo consistent, then, and,
while you are in a land of slave-drivers, sanc
tion not their denial of oivil and sooiai rights
to the colored people by your silenoo, or you
will hecome a participator in these wrongs ' *
" But what rigkt hat this gentleman to ex
poet Thomas Francis Meagher, or the others
whom he has named, to take up his wearisome
song, which they always refused to sing at
home ? Now, let us try to satisfy our pertina
oious friend, if possible, by a little plain Eng
lish. VVe are not Abolitionists?no more Ab
olitionists than Moses, or Socrates, or Jesus
Christ. We deny that it is a crime, or a
wrong, or even a peccadillo, to hold slaves, to
buy slaves, to sell slaves, to keep slaves to their
work by flogging or other needful coercion.
" ' By yoursilence,' says Mr. Haughton, 'you
will beooiue a parbioipat >r in their wrongs.'
But we will not be silent when occasion calls
for speech ; and, as for being a participator in
the wrongs, we, for our part, wish we had a
good plantation, well stocked with healthy ne
groes, iii Alabama. There, now?is Mr. Haugh
ton content?
'? What right has he to call upon Mr. Mitohel,
the moment ho sots his loot in America, to be
gin a crusade for a causo which, as Mr. Haugh
ton knows, was always distasteful to him in
-Ireland? Are we a Jonah, that we should do
thia thing?that we should tako up (whether
we will or not) Mr. Haughton's outcry against
Nineveh, that great city? Have we escaped
out of the whale's belly for this ?
"Mr. Haughton is a good sort of man,
-though a monomaniac. Why will ho persist
in making himsolf an objoot of terror to his
acquaintances? Why will he compel his
friends to wish that some monster in human
form had plundored his cradle when he was a
baby ??
All this may be very pertinent, very olo- j
quent, very philanthropic, and very revoren- |
tial, though we do not think so. But we are i
only concerned in so far as that The Citizen |
has revealed itself as it is to the people of this |
country, and impressed upon thoir minds a !
conviction of the genuineness of the devotion to j
the cause of universal freedom that led these j
u patriots" to put thoir lives in jeopardy in
their native country.
The Citizen may prove a profitable business
enterprise; and, if so, Mr. Mitchel will no ;
doubt bo satisfied. Should it prove otherwise, j
however, there are many wide fields in the sun
ny South, whither all such ''patriots" and
"champions of freedom" may go, to realise the
liberty they love eo well?thn liborty " to hold j
slaves, to buy slaves, to sell slaves, to keep slaves
to their [bis] work by flogging or other needful
oorreotion!"
Have the friends of freedom in New York no
new and still more expressive testimonial of ap
proval and admiration in store, for this recent
ly bclioned refugee from British thraldom ?
THE CATASTROPHE OF THE STEAMER BAN
' FRANCISCO.
We record with emotions of sorrow tho ter
ribly truthful information that hu reached ua
respecting the fate of thi* ill-fated vessel, and
its unfortunate multitude of passengers; and
yet not without a feeling of deepest gratitude
for the deliveranee of the many who escaped
from the awful perils that far a time seemed so
inevitably before them.
The ship Three Bells arrived at New York
yesterday evening, with one hundred and xiity
person* saved from the San Francisco, which
foundered at sea on the 5th of January.
They inolude about one hundred offi -ers end
soldiers, and most of the crew of the ill-fatod
steamer. A number of other passengers were
taken off the sinking ship by the barqne Kilby.
bound for Boston, arid many by tho ship Ant
arctic, bound fur Liveipool.
Most of the cabin passengers, together with
as many soldiers as it was doemcd prudent for
her to take, numbering in all about one hun
dred persons, are on board the barque Kilby.
She nas probably gone to Bermuda, having
parted company with the steamer during a
gale on the nignt of tho ?9th December, f>ur
days before the Three Bells left. The shift
Antarctic has on board the residue of the
troops, and Captain Watkins, of tho San Fran
cisoo, who hu prooeedod to Liverpool with
them, to see that they are properly provided
for.
In the gale of the 23d December the San
Francisco broached to twice, and was much
disabled. On the 24th all her spars and sail*
were blown away. At one o'clook in the
morning of the 25th, the engine stopped in
oonseqnenoe of the breaking of the piston-rod
and left the vessel totally unmanageable, the
sea at the time striking her tremendous blows
under the guards, tearing up the planking fore
and aft on both sides, and oaueing tho ship to
leak badly. The troops were then organised
into bailing parties. At nine o'clock on thft
25th a heavy sea struck the steamer amidship*
carrying away both smoke stacks, all tho up
por saloon, staving the quarter dock, and wa?h
ing overboard a large number of persons, be
sides killing three of the ship's crew. On the
28th the barque Kilby was spoken, and laid
by the stoamer until three o'clook in the after
noon of the 2fHb, when a number of the
*etigers .were transferred to the barque, which
let go her hawser at ten o'clock at night, and
nothing hss since been heard of her. The
gale continued throughout the 30th and 31st,
a number of the men being sick, and some in
a dying condition. In the evening of the 1st
of January the British ship Three Bells win
spoken, and laid by the steamer until the 3d,
when her boat was got alongside. On the
same day tho ship Antarotio discovered and
bore down for the steamer; and on the 4il?
both shipi oommenned taking off the pan-ten
gers, together with the necessary provision-*
and water, which was accomplished by nit
o'clock in the evening. The next morning
they took off the officers and crew, Cants ii
Watkins having been the last man to leave
the ship, whioh had been with difficulty kept
afloat for ten or twelve days.
Those lost overboard are Col John M
Washington, Major Geo. TayMr and his wife,
Capt. H. B. Field, Lieut. R. H. Smith, thne
civilian* and two ladies whose namw are not
reported, and seme two hundred and thirty >f
the troops. Of the erew of the ship, there we' e
eleven deaths from the time who was dit-abl- d
till the gth instant
Major Wyse and Lieilt. W. A. Winder me
amongst the passengers who have arrived io
i New York. Col Gates, Col. Burke, Major
I Merchant, Cant. Judd and wife, Lieut, rre
monfc and family, Lieut. Looser, Lieut. V anvort,
and tbo ladioa and children, an- on board the
barque Kilby. Cant. WatkiiiB, Lieut, Chan
dler, and Lieut. C. 2$. Winder, are on tbe abip
Antarctic. ?
It is said that, after all had left, tbe San
Francisco was scuttled and eunk.
Monuments.?Knud Iveraon, a poor little
Norwegian boy, was drowned by bin compan
ions, because he would not join thorn in steal
ing fruit: and Emanuel Denou was whipped
to death, by the father who bad adopted him,
because he would not tell a lie. These are
veritable truths, and demand our commenda
tion and sympathy. All that can be learned,
iudeed, about thcso noble little boys, should be
written down in a proper manner, and printed
in a little book, with, if possible, the engraved
portraits of the boys Such a book might bo
made profitable to many young persons, as an
illustration of the beauty and loveliness of
truth and integrity. But let us hear no more
about monuments?oostly marble monuments,
fhey would Berve but to tell to our children
how rare amongst us are the virtues exhibited
by these martyred boys, without impressing
upon the mind tbo lesson to be derived from
their example. A beautiful book should bo
written, and it should bo produced in elegant
style, as a suitable gift for every child who
would emulate their example.
? 4
Norton's Literary Rjcsistsr, for
1854, published by Charles B. Norton, agent
for Libraries, 71 Chambers street, Now York,
contains 40 pages descriptive of Libraries; tbo
entire journal of the proceedings of the Libra
rians' Convention, held in Philadelphia in Sep
tember last, covering mere than 40 pages; 16
pages of Library Statistics; 10 pages of a
Register of Education in various countries; 55
pages of American Publications in 1853; and
a few pages of nterary and artists' advertise
mcnta. It is a desirable volume, and we thank
tbe publisher for tbe copy ho has pent us.
Q^" Charles Dickens, whose mercenary
spirit led him to write a book disgraceful to
himself on the United States as. he saw
ub, but who did not merit all the no
tice that was then taken of him by tho
American press, has recently said somothing
in our commendation that appears to excite
an equal degree of feeling, but of an opposite
character. This sensibility to the opinions
of others is oertainlv a great wo:ikue.-9 iu the
American oharactcr.
Our newspapers are fond of allitera
tions. A writer in tho Pittsburgh Gazette
speaks of Kuba, Kan ad a. and the Konstitution.
Mississippi Senator?Onr information that
Hon. A. V. Brown, and not Hon. Jt'ff*rson
Davis, has been nominated by tbo Democratic
caucus as iw candidate for tho United States
Senate, will be found correct, notwithstanding
all the reports to the contrary. Our informa
tion, at least, rests u{k>u very high authority.
Miss Lucy Stone.?It is said that this
lady made a hundred dollars by eaoh lecture
she delivered at Loo'mfffle. She is tb?s week
lecturing at Pittsburgh, and the Gazette, aftri
speaking of her overflowing houses, says:
" She appears to have no difficulty whatever
in saying what Bbe has to say. With a fine
voioe, modest and youihtul appearanoe, an
ea*y, lady-hke address, and an eloquent com
mand of language, she will succeed, whwover
she goes, iu securing a faithful hearing.
Large Robbery or Custom-Housf. Goors.
The New York Evening Post, of yesterday,
says: . '
? Rumors havo been afloat for some time or
an extensive system of frauds practiced on the
United States' Government, by certain smug
glers, to the amount of *200,000. Rich paek
agt s of Canton good-, by the British mail
steamers, hare been carefully rifled and re
closed, by evidently experienced hands A
watch has been kept up lor somo time, and
Abraham Van Buskerck. United States inspect
or, brought before Justice Osborne a minute
description of abstracted at tides, and eouie too
timony bearing on tbe ca*v Thereupon a
search-warrant was issued for tho store of Lev
ison & Brothers, of John street who wero sus
pected of having the smuggled goods.
"On making tho search, were found dia
mond stone*, watches, t<onrls, and other costly
foreign articles of jewelry, claimed to bo smug
gled through during the late voyages of the
steamships, valued at about *^,000.
property has been deposited with Collector Red
tield. to await further action in the matter by
the Government. Anothor ca*e of smuggling
was brought U> light yesterday afternoon, by
custom-house officer Godfrey, who traced the
parties to Jersey City, ami ellected a S"ixnre of
a large amount of jewe tv. which was landed
without |?aying duty. The good" in this in
stance are de cribed as consisting of nearly 100
fine watcho", a douhle-handlul of diamonds,
and somo other materials of great value.
A Great Fall.?-Tb? No# York Commer
cial ?,Advertinr of yo?t?rday afternoon nay* :
"It in reported that in consequence of tha
rapid thaw and heavy rain of y*wtctday moru
| inn, undermiuing the brick work of the new
i went wing or externum of the Pavilion Hotel
at Rock* way?a building about 100 feet long,
35 feet wide, and 8 atone* b'gh?it gate way,
and ia now a total rain. Thf>. hotel i? owned
by Mr. Bainbridge, of New York, whore lowi
rnuat be Urge.
A ivrr Remark.?A writer in the New York
Time* aaya:
" The wealthy and educated, and especially
the faahionabla peojde of all civilised x-ountrie^
are now no nearly alike in their ordinary man
ner* and outtoma, that the observation* of ?
naming traveller upon thtm most ooinuionly
be of much too sopleiflotal a character to War
rant him in deducing from them, with confi
dence, any important o ^elusion*. I have ?pent
an evening nt the plantation r?*id?nee of a
gentleman in T?ouieiaua, in whiwh there wan
very little in the conversation or eusfcrnts and
manner* of the family to distinguish them
fr.vm <>th?r* whom I bare visited iu Masaachn
! setts, Kngland, and Germany."
No MoreQvackery.-?Ttic Norriatown (Pa.)
i Olive Hramk refuses to publish quack medi
cine* on any term*, believing that they do great
injury, and that much coffering i* caused and
many live* lost by these pemicioua compounds.
We congratulate Dr. iVloyer npon hi* determi
nation to exclude this vile traah from hi* paper.
The quack* will go to the wall, or l>e eom
pelleq t<> labor for a living like honeit mm, aa
! soon a* the column* of tSc pro** are elided
against tbem. The last palace we hope, haa
beien built Ivy funds obtained fr*un tbe credu
lous and ignorant, who put money in the pursoa
I of theao charlatans ?Chester (Pa.) Republican.