Daily national era. [volume], August 02, 1854, Image 2

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
LITERARY MISCELLANY.
Por the National Era.
HOLLY-WOOD.
BV ALICE CARET.
CHAP. Ill ? Continued
" 1 did not blush nor stammer, ae I exouaed
myself for having treepan.-od on bis moro aa
cred privilege, for I was too profoundly sor
rowful to be easily moved, even by the prcsonoc
and words of the man who from tbe iirut had
taken strange hold of my imagination ; and
turning in tbe direction indicated, I found a
grassy basin partly filled with clear rain water
My ablutions finished, I tied on my hood, and
watt about retracing my Btepe, when tbe gen
tleman joined me, begging leave to conduct me
by a more direot route. I thanked him, and
we walked along tho elope together. Ae we
did so, he pointed out tbe localities of various
alterations and improvements he proposed to
make, asking my opinion of hit plans, which
he said were the growth of very alight experi
ences; and he related some very amusing ao
counts of the mishajpe hia want of agricultu
ral knowledge oocasioned him. I referred him
to Mrs. Wilkinson, as tbe ablest counsel in
affairs of difficulty that I knew of; and, from
the serious oponing, our conversation flowed
into a light and lively vein. Many times he
turned aside from the direct path, to point out
to me some beauty of the landscape, or some
field to which he designed applying ? new
mode of cultivation, bo that it was qoite dark
when we reached . the white house. Miss
Pinchum stood on the poroh, bar arms folded
and her brows knit, evidently waiting ono of j
tbe parties before her.
" ? Really, Mr. Riohards,' she exolaimed, as
we drew near, 1 How yoa do try my patience!'
cSupper waiting?' he asked, and oontinued :
* Give ub the pleasure of drinking tea with you,
Miss Halstead, and I will then see you home,
if you will allow me.' ' Yes, little girl,' joined
Misa Pinchum, ' we shall be glad to have you;
we are bo lonesome, Harry and I, Binoe the
death of our little boy.' ' Miss Pinchum,' re
eponded Mr. Riohards, in evident displeasure,
' Bpeak in the singular number, if you please.'
And turning to me, renewed cordially his prof
fer of hoepii&lity. I declined, a little coldly, 1
think, and, assuring him that 1 was quite inde
pendent of his further services, took my lone
same way home.
I had been pleased, and the memory of his
forgetfulnest of me was softened, it may be, by
hie civilities; but my pride, as great as his,
would not suffer me voluntarily to become his
guest.
* Charley was not come home?Martha was
Bick with a head-ache, for the need, she said, of
something suited to her appetite. Hetty was
worn out with doing nothing, but afraid to
peep or move the wing, lest she should bring
down on herself her mother's displeasure; and
Doke, seated at tbe top of the aeoustomed
pole, was bellowing for his supper, no indica
tions of which had yet regaled hia eyes. in
vain he had threatened to swallow atones, and
put an end to hia life?in vain threatened to
kill Martha's cow. She was not to be moved,
and sat plaoidly with her head on her hand,
threaten and bellow as he would. He ought
to endure what she oonld, she said?they were
?offerers together. ' Well Mary,' said my fa
ther, ' I am glad you are come; your mother
is right tick ;' and, leading me to one side, he
told ae she thought she oould eat srme tea
biscuits ; and if 1 would make them, he would
buy me a new dresa tbe first time he went to
town.
" I said I would make the biscuits, aside from
the promise; 'but I wish, father,' I said, 'you
had never seen that womau!' He looked care
folly about him, and, feeling safe, replied in a
whisper, ' 1 wish so too.'
"Other homes are cheerful, thought I; why
may not ours be ? For onoe, I will exert all the
power I have. With a strong effort I put down
the repellant feeling, and, with more seeming
interest than I felt, and laying my hand on
her head, said, ' Mother, I am sorry you are
siok; a cup of tea will revive you, I hope.'
She shook off my hand as though it affected
her disagreeably, and answered, that nothing
would do hor any good, that she could have.
"' Don't be disheartened,' I continued, though,
for myself 1 was thoroughly so: and oalling
Doke to replenish the fire, I set about the bis
cuit-making, singing some pleasant tune the
while.
" Happening to look up from my work, I saw
my father gesticulating in evident agony. I
fu at a low for a solution at first, but soon
discovered that Martha was pressing her hands
to her forehead, as though to prevent it from
breaking.
" ' My music disturbs you,' said I, ' pray for
L give me.'
" 'No, ohild ; t^ing on, if you like,' she said,
' I shall soon get need to it.' I didn't sing any
more, but tried to keep up my flagging courage
by talking with Dolte, who sto >d beside the
Wble, watching ray moulding of the biscuits,
as intently as the eat watches the mouse
' How many do you think you shall require.
Doke,' 1 asked, ' one or two 1'
"'One or two bushels you mean,' he replied
' I wish I judt had all you're making?they're
suoh g?<>d stuff.'
" I laughingly assured him that he should
certainly d? sa tie fled, for that I was providing
with liberal hand. ' Don't b'lieve it,' he an
swered, grinning a horrible grin of satisfaction;
and, having punobed tbe fire to expedite tbe
baking, he raised bimeelf on tiptoe, and whis
pered he was glad Mr*. Halstead was ill, for
that be should get her share of tbe bisouits and
his own too. ' For shame/ said I, but be was
a stranger to that feeling, and grinning and
ohewing at nothing, in antioipation of the bis
cuits, be slipt out of the room. When he re
turned, J saw that be had been exchanging his
own ooat for an old one of Charley's; and on
inqirfringinto the strange procedure, he'replied,
4 Well, I teokon mine ae't big enough, when we
have good staff '
" T lighted two candles, an extravagance
with us, used tbe best table-linen, the prettiest
dishes, and all the plate we bad, and in all
ways mads the supper as enticing as possible.
"'Come, mother!' I called, when all was
ready, placing the easy-chair tor her, but she
sat oblivious; and when I repeated my invita
tion a little louder, she answered she had no
oeoasion for a mouthful. I enumerated tbe
nice variety I had prepared, but she didn't feel
ae if she oonld taste of anything.
u' May be I was mistaken,' said my father,
in a fearful tone; 'but 1 thought you said you
should like some tea biscuits,' and he softly
drew her chair to the table.
"But all wouldn't do. Martha neither ate
nor drank ; if she bad bad tbe bieeuit last week
or yesterday, shs oould have eaten them. So,
in spite of my pains, that meal, liks all the
reet,was silent and uocomfortable. Only Doke
was happy?be soon found occasion to unbut
ton Charley's big ooat, and shortly after threw
bask hie head, lute a ohioken, when it gets a
mouthful too large to swallow, and breaking
off portions of bread, and adding incredible
qsantities of butter to each mouthful, be con
tinued to eat, and eat, and eat At last he
closed bis syca- eating on the same, and not
liU the lest biscuit disappeared did he leave
off; when, tumbling on tbe floor, he fell asleep,
mattering that he had bad almost as muoh
food stuff as he wanted, bnt that be wiehed
the table wm just rsady, and he was just go
ing to sit down, and that hs had two bisouits
bnttersd, and wae j osft opening his mouth So,
with the dog for a pillow, he fall asleep.
by the fire for a long time that
night?tried to make pioturt-s of a happy home;
but when all wan urraoged, it Beemed nut to
lequire Dr. Roberta to perfeot it, and by little
and little the pretty cottage would fade back
farther acd farther, and I would find myself
recalling all Mr. Richards had said to me
trifles, and lets than trifle*, yet of weight
enough to ctu.Kh into silence the earnest ^his
pere uf a devoted lover.
?4I did not attempt to define my emotions; I
was not aware of their tendency?it wii quite
impossible that my destiny should be influ
enced by Mr. Richards, nor did 1 wish it to
be; yet, in shaping out any course of life for
myself, my first thought was constantly, 'What
will he think of it?' and though judgment told
me he would not think anything about me in
any way, the conclusion would only be arrived
at that 1 might go through some new round of
speculation, and end with the old interroga
tion."
You think me very foolish, my friend, very
weak and ridiculous; but in spite of your wiee
sneers, if you give them to me, 1 fancy my
heart is much like the hearts of other women;
and if you would allow your own to epcak
honestly, it would make confessions not dissim
ilar to mine.
Women know little of the uses of reason?
their intuitions and prepossessions hate much
of the character of instincts; and what they
cannot stumble on in the dark, they rarely dis
cover by any prooees of calculation.
God gave us powers quite sulfiaient for the
spheres he designed us to occupy, and blessed
is she who remains contented in that sphere.
Immeasurably happier is she who is empress
of one heart, than she who rules continents. It
is a favorite theory of mine, that only they who
have no kingdoms of love over which to preside,
are driven to make war upon the beautiful in
stitutions growing out of the natural inequality
of the sexes.
But pardon my digression?I was betrayed
into it unoonsoiously, and, for myself, I am sure
this unsatisfied thirst, this pining and longing
and hoping for some imperfeotly-outlined good
are but the fever-dreams of a heart unpillowed
on the bosom of affection.
Where was 1??sitting by the fire in the old
house at home:
" Well, many a time I sat there afterward
till deep into the night, always alone now. for
Charley was scarcely home of an evening, and
when he was so, avoided me, or spoke only of
oommonplaces. My one little effort to make
home pleasant was never renewed^ and the
spring was only different from other springs
inasmuch as Charley assisted more about the
labors of the farm, and, though he talked little
to me, wore a more cheerful aspect. This gave
to my father new zaal, and repairs began wbioh
1 had never cxpeoted to Bee made in the old
place.
4,One afternoon toward the close of March,
I noticed the widow Wilkinson making her
way with brisk steps toward the house of Mr.
Riohards, arrayed in her tidiest mourning,
and carrying a small parcel in her liandti;
that she oontemplated a tea-drinking with
Miss Pinchum I could not doubt, and that it
would be greatly to the disgust of that notable
housekeeper 1 also felt; but I did not and could
not foresee the momentous conBequenoes which
would result from Mrs. Wilkinson's apparently
harmless designs.
" Once or twice in my visits to the post office,
I had seen Dr. Roberts, but our intercourse had
been limited to a simple exohange of oivili
ties, for 1 adopted a manner, from the day of
our casual meeting in the woods, which recog
nised only chance acquaintanceship, and one,
too, which I had no desire to cultivate further.
I undervalued him beoause I knew I could oast
him off and whistle him back at pleasure?a
strange perversity, common to human nature,
I believe, and not peouliar to mine. 1 would
not see any peculiar meaning in his melan
choly and inquiring eyes, and responded to his
deeply serious tones with playful and jesting
words, of wbioh the meaning was completely
neutralized by the manner.
" 1 will not extenuate one whit, and though
at the time I did not consider myself playing
a double part, 1 see now that my oonduct will
bear no other construction. Well, I have had
my reward, and the young man has had his, I
hope.
" To return to the day of Mrs. Wilkinson's
visit at Mr. Richards'*. It was near the sun
sot, and I WMt putting the last stitobes in a
dress of fink gingham ; for, true to his proca
ine, my father had bought me a new gown, in
consideration of the tea-biscuit, albeit Martha
had not been pacified thereby. I was putting
m the last stitches, and?shall I confers it ??
with womanish vanity thinking how pretty it
would look, when the lively salutation of our
new neighbor (for the door stood oper) arrest
ed my attention. I was, as it rarely happened
with me, in a mood to be pleased. My new
dress tended, perhaps, to my good humor, and
the coming of fpring always inspires us with
new oourage. The long limb* of the sweet
brier, pinky with coming blossoms, blew al
most against my face at I sewed, and from
aoroaa the hill I heard the voicca of my father
fnd brother, talking as they worked. Smiling
something of the happiness I felt, I extended a
more oordial greeting to our neighbor than I
had ever done before. His usual vivacity was
heightened, and in the interchange of small
talk we spent a half hour most agreeably.
He had dropped in, he said?and bis manner
indicated thM he was in the habit of drop
ping in every day?to take Mrs Hulstead and
myself home with him to tea. His bouse
' keeper was entertaining the widow Wilkinson ;
and if we would be so obliging as to assist him
| in the sustaining of his part, he would be more
| grateful than he could say.
a Perhaps I was a little flattcrod by the
l higher position assigned roe than to the house
i keeper and her visitor; for, though we were
J explored to drink tea together on social equali
ty, it was with the understanding, on our part,
of a condescension. In that place, and at that
time, there were supposed to bo no distinctions
in socioty. Indeed, the hired man or woman
waa regarded with more deference than the
members of the family, and extra-nioe dinner)
I and suppers were served at such times as the
j farmers and theiT wives required atnstance ;
, for, till Mr. Riohards came among us, we never
j beard of urvonts. But oar provincial habits
| were novel to him, who had been born and
i bred under the inflaenoe of the most aristo
! oratio portions of our country, though he made
j at first vigorous efforts at assimilation, and
. with moet of his neighbors the seeming democ
racy waa genuine. So, that we should be in
vited to pass the evening as we were, was quite
natural under the circumstances.
[to be contihced.]
Ilf ALIENABLE RIGHTS 07 AMERICANS
The following are not enumerated in the
! Declaration of Independence :
To know any trade or business without ap
prenticeship or experienoe.
To marry without regard to fortune, state
of health, position, or opinion of parants or
friends.
To have wife and children dependent on the
contingencies of business, and, in oase of sud
den death, leave them wholly unprovided for.
To put off upon hireling strangers the lite
rary, moral, and religious education of ohil
dren.
To teaoh children no good trade, hoping they
will have, when grown ap, wit enough to live
on the industry of other people.
To enjoy the general sympathy when made
bankrupt by reckless speculations. <
To cheat the Government, if poenble.
1P To hold office without being oompetent to
discharge its duties
To build houses with nine and six-inoh walla,
and go feit the funerals of tenants, firemen, and
othoi h, killed by their fall, weeping over the
mysterious dispensations of Providence.
To build up citiett and towns without parks,
public squares, broad Btreets, or ventilated
block*, and call pestilence a visitation of God.
To license rum-selling, and deplore tho in
orease of crime,
To hold slaves, and prate of freedom.
To make Franklin Pieroe Autocrat of Kan*
aaa and Nebraska, and clamor about "popular
sovereignty."?Philadelphia Daily Register.
WASHINGTON, I). C.
WKDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 18S4.
CONGRESS.
In the Scnato, the Committee on the Judici
ary reported, through Mr. Butler, adversely to
the right of Mr. Williams to a Boat in that
body; the eeleot committee on the fcubject
made, through Mr. Fish, an able aud import'
ant report on the ubusea practiced by immi
grant vessels, the mortality aboard of them, &o.;
the Fortifioation bill was passed; the Post Of
fioe Appropriation bill was then taken up and
considered.
In the House, the report of the Committeoof
the Whole, non-concurring in a very large num
ber of the amendments of the Sanate to the
Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation bill, was
agreed to,
CUBA.
Those in the interests of Slavery Propagand
ism are confident in the expeotation that Cuba
is to be bought or oonquered by the Federal
Government at no distant day. It is stated by
leading Southern journals, that negotiations
are now actively going forward between Mr.
Soule and the Spanish Court, with reference to
this eubjeot; and it is believed that the Span
ibh insurrection will further tho design, by |
bringing the Government of Spain into pecu
niary embarrassments, demanding a supply of
money at any sacrifice. It is expected, also,
that in the event of the success of the rebels,
tho necessities of the new Government, in like
manner, will constrain it to part with the
bland of Cuba for " a consideration."
It is true that Mr. Soule most solemnly de
clared in the United States Senate, even after
be was looking to the Spanish mission, that he
would never consent to pay a dollar for the
island; that he looked upon its purchase as
dishonoring to the people of Cuba; and that
no terms of acquisition were to be thought of,
but those of peaceful cession or open revolt.
Suoh was the hollow language of Mr. Soule,
only a short month or two before he received
the appointment of Minister to Spain. But if
any one doubts the readiness of a champion of
Slavery to eat bis words, in order to pro
mote the interests of the institution, he shows
great ignorance of the true character of the
men and their principles. Slavery requires of
its votaries that they muBt act upon the maxims
that "the end justifies the means," and that
" no faith is to be kept wit? heretics;" and
the man kwho is not willing to come up to
this standard cannot be rcgardq^s " sound on
the Slavery question." The passage of the
Nebraska Bill, the repudiation of the Declara
tion of Independence as "a self-evident lie,"
and the bold advocacy of a revival of the Afri
can tlave trade, arc cases in point, which serve
to illustrate the remark. We have seen the
" honorable men " and the " chivalry " of the
South repudiate all the maxims of the fathers
of the Constitution, and the compacts into
which the North and the South entered, in re
gard to a division of the territories; and we
oan never be surprised at any act of perfidy,
any amount of falsehood, or any crime, into
whioh the nation may be precipitated, while it
is ruled by tho foul spirit of Slavery Propa
gandism.
The tamcncss with whioh Northern presses
and politicians receive the proposition to pur
ehase Cuba, at a oost of from one to three hun
dred millions of dollars, at the moment when
the South would not consent that the British
Provinces should oome into the Union without
charge to the publio treasury, is amazing! It
is coolly proposed to buy an Inland filled with
savage negroes, and moro savage Spanish mas
ters, all speaking a different language, and
profeming a different religion from our own, at
a cost greater than that of the American Rev
olution , and the domineering slave interest, in
the same breath, with unparalleled impudence
and effrontery, deolare eternal hostility to the
peaceable annexation of a free, homogeneous
people, although it should not oost the Federal
Government a dollar. Are we a free Repub
lic, or are we the bondslaves of the three hun
dred and seventy-five thousand lordly negro
drivers of the South 1
Some Northern men, even Anti-Slavery mon,
have spoken of the acquisition of Cuba as de
sirable, on the ground that it will bring the
Spanish system of Slavery under the human
izing influences of our higher civilisation.
This, in our judgment, is a great mistake.
With the single exoeption that a oonstant
stream of barbarism has been pouring into
Cuba from the ooast of Africa, whioh has kept
down the standard of negro civilisation, we re
gard the laws of that Island as far more favor
able to the slave than those of our Southern
States.
In Cuba, every slave has the privilege of
emancipating himself, by paying a price which
does not depend upon the selfish exactions of
the masters; but it is either a fixed price, or
else is fixed in each case by disinterested ap
praisers. The consequence is, that emancipa
tions are constantly going on, and the free peo
ple of color are beooming enlightened, culti
vated, and wealthy. In no part of the United
States do they occupy the high social position
which they enjoy in Cubit.
Is it not certain, that in the event of annex
ation, these humane, legal, and social regula
tions, will be overturned, and that the intoler
ant spirit whioh pervades Mississippi and Geor
gia will be substituted ?
But another invinoible objection, with every
honorable and humane man, must be the im
pulse whioh will be given to the slave trade
between our shores and those of Cuba. No
man oan pretend, that a traffio in Christian
negroes and mulattos* is a whit better than
that whioh is carried on from the coast of Af
rioe to Cuba, in ignorant savages. Indeed,
proridtd the latter were legalized, and the na
tive# vere not encouraged to go to war to
make dare?, we are clearly of opinion, that it
Lt lend oriminal than the infamous domestic
trade. The latter, equally, with the former,
disrejprdu all the moot sacred and endearing
tied of family, of parent and child, and of hue
band and wife. None but the vilest dema
gogues in politics, or hypocrites in religion, will
deny afaot so notorious; and unless the Chris
tian people of the United States are willing to
eee a tlree fold augmentation of thia itfernal
traffic, they should never listen to the propor
tion of annexing Cuba while Slavery continues
there aad here in its present form.
Demagogues will pretend that the annexa
tion of Cuba will stop the Afrioan slavo trade;
and in this way they hope to satisfy the con
sciences of Northern men. But do we not see
the champions of Slavery demanding the revi
val of the African slave trade even for this
Continent ? And although Bome of them scru
ple a little on this point, booause they fear
that its odium may injure more practicable
and pressing schemes, will they not, after ac
quiring Cuba, demand the eontinuanoe of the
Africab slave trade, whioh already exists, as in
dispensable ? They are endeavoring to acquire
the Amazon valley, for the purpose of oarry
ing Slavery to it; and with such a demand for
slaves as will follow, it is the height of oredu
lity to believe that the oonscienoe of the ruling
class in the South will higgle at the idea of
reviving all the horrors of the slave trade,
against whioh the good moi^ of this oountry
and of ?ogland have contended for seventy
yearB, and whioh is now nearly destroyed.
We intend to advert to this subject of the
slave trade again in a day cr two, and we
shall show that events are rapidly tending to
an open issue in this oounjry upon the policy
of its revival. G.
Forth* National Bra.
TOIL.
BY BLANCHE BENNAIRDE.
What is toil ? A mine of wealth,
Filled with vast and varied treasure.
What is toil? A fount of health,
Pare and clear, imparting pleasure.
What is toil? The poor man's friend,
Bringing food for his to-morrow.
What is toil? Wherewith to send,
Rich relief, to those in sorrow.
What is toil? A flower that yields
Fragrant odors, giving gladness.
What is toil? Behold the fields,
?Ripe and full*, dispelling sadness.
Wtat is toil? A boon to earth,
Bringing health, and wealth, and powor.
What is toil? A gem of worth,
Making bright the darkrst hour.
What ia toil? The student's light,
Crowning him with fame and glory.
What is toil? A ship in sight,
Laden?rich?no fabled story.
What is toil? Man's trusty guide,
His defence?his path of duty.
What is toil? The poet's bride,
Wreathed with flowers, and bright with beauty.
Philadelphia, Pa. .
POLITICS nr MI880UE1.
The Anzeigtr des Western is published at
St. Louis, in German and English, there being
a separate edition in each language. It sup
ported General Pierce for the Presidency, and
lew than a year ago it was pronounced by the
Washington Union to bo the "leading and
moet influential paper in the West." But it
saw proper to take ground against -the Ne
braska bill, and that obliquity has effaced all
remembrance of its virtues from the mind of
the editor of the offioial organ ; and the An
seiger is charged, among other offenoes, with
" preaching Abolition dootrines in their most
destructive form." This charge is denied in
empbatio language, and the Anzeiger goes on
to define its position, as follows: G.
" For more than a year we have not said a
word about the question of the Abolition of
Slavery, therefore we have neither preached it
in n destructive nor any other form; and at
this moment wo have enough to do to oppose
the extension of Slavery. However, we will
not hide our views regarding the abolition of
Slavery. We are Abolitionists, because we
are men, bocause we are Republicans; but wo
are Abolitionists in the same sense a* the
founders of the American Republic, and in
that sense in which Washington, for instanoe,
was an Abolitionist, when he wrote to Robert
Morris:
M ' I may say, there is no man living, whose
wishes are more upright for the abolition of
Slavery, than mine. Hut there is <nly one
proper and effective manner in whioh this
abolition can be carried out, and that is in the
way of legislation ; and to this my vote, in as
much as it oan contribute, shall not be want
ing.'
"Or to General Lafayette:
" * To set the slaves free at once, would, in
my opinion, lead to many difficulties and disad
vantages. But it can and oortainly ought to
be carricd out by degrees, through legislative
authority.'
" From this point of view alone, and apart
from the shameful violation of truth and faith
whioh was perpetrated by tho adoption of the
Nebraska bill, we had to oppose the extension
of Slavery into the new Territories; for the
extension of Slavery is the perpetuation of
Slavery. Slavery is a real pestilence for the
State of Missouri. No one disputes this, and
no one can be in doubt but that creation of
new slave States on oar Western borders will
make the abolition of Slavery in our State
more difficult, if not impossible. We are for
the abolition of Slavery In Missouri, of oourse
in a legal manner, and in a way which will do
justioe to all eitiaens of the State. When this
measure should be taken an, and what steps
should be taken to prepare for it, wo will not.
investigate now. But we repeat, it is our
opinion, (of oourse only our pergonal opinion)
t.bat Slarery must oease, sooner or later, in
Missouri, and therefore, as free reflecting Mis
sourians and honest friends of the welure of
our State, we raise our voice most loudly against
the law whioh is calculated to oreato new slave
States on our borders; and therefore we request
of the Northern States, to our own interest,
that henoeforth they will dispute every inoh
of ground whioh it has not yet aoquired, with
all constitutional rights. If tho Washington
Union wants to term these principles Aboli
tionism in its most deetraotivo form, we oan
have nothing against it; it is that Abolitionism
whioh Washington openly professed, and whioh
every reflecting man and every frmnd of lib
erty proteoses.
Dxath or Cktt. Vaw Bureh.?Werogret
to learn, by the most reoent advices from Tex
as, that Captain Van Buren, who was wound
ed in an enoounter with the Indians, has died
of hit wounds.
OUB KKLATIOIB WITH 8PAI*.
Id the Senate, yesterday, a resolution wan
proposed by Mr. Mason, and adopted, to wtuoh
the following response was made, to mstanti!
Resolutions, bills, and reports?all things leg
islate except votes?may be, and probably
are, manufactured at tho Presidential mansion.
Votes, it is by many honest men believed, are
often influenced at this corrupt fountain ot
power.
To the Senate of the United States :
I hasten to respond briefly to the resolution
of the Senate of this date, requiring the Presi
dent to inform the Senate ? if, in his opinion,
it be not incompatible with the public inter
est, whother anything has arisen since the date
of his message to the House of Representatives
of tho 15th of Maroh last, concerning our rela
tions with the Government of Spain, whioh in
his opinion may dispense with the suggestions
therein contained, touching tho propriety of
provisional measures by Congress to meet any
exigency that may riee in the recess of Congress
affecting tho* relations."
In the message to the House of Representa
tives referred to, I availed myself of the oooa
sion to prosent the following reflections and
BU$h? view of the position of the Island of
Cuba, its proximity to oar coast, the relations
which it musfc ever bear to our oorameroial
and other interests, it is vain to expeot that a
series of unfriendly acts infringing our oom
meroial rights, and the adoption of a pohoy
threatening tho honor and security of these
States, can long exist with peaceful relations.
" In case the measures taken for the amica
ble adjustment of our difficulties with Spain
should unfortunately fail, I shall not hesitate to
use tho authority and means which Congress
may grant, to insure the observance ot our just
right?, to obtain redress for injuries received,
and to vindicate the honor of our flag
ticipation of that contingency, which I ear
neatly hope may not arise, I suggest to Congress
the propriety of adopting suoh provisional
measures as the exigency may seem to de
mand."
The two Houses of Congress may have an
ticipated that the hope then expressed would
be realized before the period of its aojourn
ment, and that our relations with Spain would
have assumed a satisfactory condition, bo as to
remove past causes of complaint, and afford
better security for tranquillity and justice in
the future. ,
I am oonstrained to say that suoh ib not the
fact. The formal demand for immediate rep
aration in the case of the Black Warrior, in
stead of having been met on the part of ^ pain
by prompt satisfaction, has only served to call
forth a justification of the looal authorities of
Cuba, and thus to transfer tho responsibility
for their acts to the Spanish Government it
Mean while, information not.only reliable in
its nature, but of an offioial oharacter, was
reoeived, to the effeot that preparation was
making within the limits of the United States,
by private individuals, under military organi
sation, for a descent upon the islaud of Cuba,
with a view to wrest that oolony from the do
minion of Spain. International oomity, the
obligation of treaties, and the express provis
ions of law, alike required, in my judgment,
that all the constitutional power of tho Execu
tive should be exerted to prevent the consum
mation of such a violation of positive law, and
of that good faith, on which, mainly, the ami
oablo relations of neighboring nations must
! ^^"conformity with these convictions of pub
1 lie duty, a proclamation was issued, to warn all
persons not to participate in the contemplated
enterprise, and to invoke the interposition in
! this behalf of the proper officers of tho Govern
ment. No provocation whatever can justify
private expeditions of hostility against a coun
try at lie ace with the United States. Th?
power to drolare war is vested by the Constitu
tion in Congress, and the experience of our past,
history leaves no room to doubt that the wis
dom of this arrangement of constitutional
power will continue to ba verified whenever the
national interest and honor shall demand a re
sort to ultimate measures of redress.
Pending negotiations by the Executive, and
before the action of Congress, individuals could
not be permitted to embarrass the operations
of the one and usurp the powers of the other of
these depositories of the functions of Govern
ment. . ... *.
I have only to add, that nothing has arisen,
since the date of my former message, to dis
pense with the suggestions therein oontamed,
touohing the propriety of provisional measures
by Congress. Franklin Piercx
Washington, August 1, 1864.
"The Baptists number, in Eastern Virginia,
44,000 colored members. '?Exchange.
These figures may be oorreot. The Baptiot
denomination of Christians has surely done
much good for the African race in many of
our States. But, as nono of the white people
of that denomination live in adultory, would it
not be well for them all to unite, in a compli
ance with the requirements of their religion,
and shield tho negro from the necessity or
temptation of doing to? It is a mockery of
religion, to call men and women Baptists, who
disregard the primary mandatos of Christian
?ty
Cholera. ? The deaths at Buffalo, fur the
week ending at midnight on Saturday, were
seventy-one, not including those at tho Poor
House. Sixty-six were foreigners, one traveller,
and four American residents. The dispropor
tion of immigrant to American victims seems
to bold good everywhere i^ the land.
At Niagara Falls, thero were eleven deaths
on Friday and Saturday. No report from tho
Suspension Bridge.
Tiik Mormons.?A treaty has been con
cluded between Brightim Young and the Pap,
Utah, and Pawnee Indians, which provides
that on no oooasion whatever are Indians to
make an attack on Americans or Mormons, and
that they will use all their infloenoe to prevent
depredations on the property of emigrants or
settler?. Tho weather had been unusually
cold.
An Over-issue?The stockholders of the
Harlem Railroad held a meeting at New York,
yesterday, and appointed a committer, to re
port to a meeting on the 14th, what course
should be pursued with reference to the fraud
ulent issues of stook, amounting to 4,131 old
?hares, and 1,389 preferred.
Barbicoe on Senator Douglas's Farm.?
The Southern (Mias) Journal gives a descrip
tion of a barbeoue given by Mr. Strickland,
the agent and overseer of the plantation of the
Hon. Stephen A. Douglas, on the Pearl river.
There are one hundred and forty adult slaves
on the plantation, belonging to the Senator
from Illinois, and about forty little darkies
greeted the eyes of the editor, rolling about
"on the old oabln floors." The feaat was of
the raoet abundant and inviting oharaoter.
PRACTICE VEBSU8 THEOKY.
There wm a little passage in the debate on
the Deficiency bill, in the Hoaae, yesterday,
to whioh we think fit to refer to-day.
The amendments increasing the number and
salaries of certain offioers in the household of
the President, being read, Mr. Flagler pro
posed to amend, so as to leave those expendi
tures as authorised by existing law. He pro
oeoded to say, that this addition of some $7,000
to the national expenditure was not in aooord
aooe with the desires of the Executive, it
looked like an attempt to implicate that high
functionary in the vast enlargement of the ex
penditures now being made in almost every
Department of the Government. The Presi
dent was in favor of economy, as the following
plain reading of his Inaugural will show :
" la the administration of domestic affairs,
you expect a devoted integrity in the publio
service, and an observance of rigid eoonomy in
all departments, so marked as never justly to
be questioned. If this reasonable expectation
bo not realised, I frankly confess that one of
your leading hopes is doomed to disappoint
ment, and that my effort?, in a very important
particular, must result in a humiliating failure."
Mr. F. said he should be glad, if in order, to
offer this extract aa a substitute for the pro
posed enlargement of expenses at the White
House! But the Chairman (Mr. Orr) ruled this
out of order, when Mr. Flaglor added, that he
merely desired to say that he acquiesoed in
this decision of the Chair, as he was abund
antly satisfied, on reflection, that an economical
proposition like that just read was not in har
mony with the plethorio proportion cf the bill.
He thought it a pity, however, that it oould
not be embalmed and laid away in so fitting a
sepulchre.
LITERARY NOTICES.
Flora Lindsay; or, Passages is an Eventful Life
By Mrs. Hoodie, author of" Mark Hurdlestone,"
" Life in the Clearings," " Roughing it in the
Bush," ?to. New YorE: De Witt A Davenporc.
For sale by Franck Taylor, Washington, D. C.
This etory is an auto-biography of the au
thored, under the alight disguise of a fictitious
name; giving the history of her lifo beforo she
left England, and the oauses which led her
and her husband to leave the land of their
birth, and transport themselves to the unculti
vated wilda of the Western world. |
The Iron Cousin ; or, Mutual Influence, By M?rj
Cowden Clarke, author of tho " Girlhood of Shak
speare's Heroines," "TheComplete Concordanoe,"
Ac. New York: D. Appleton & Co. For sale by
It. Farnbam, Washington, D. C.
This work has received tho highest enoo
ruiums of the press. $
The Ru&so-Turkish Campaigns of 1828 and
1829 ; with a View of thq Present State of Affairs
in the East. By Colonel Cheaney, R. A., F R. S.
With an Appendix, containing the Diplomatic Cor
respondence between the Four Poseri, and the
Secret Correspondence between the Russian and
English Governments. With maps. New York;
Rtdfield. For sale by Taylor <t Maury, Washing
ton, 1) C.
This work oannot fail to be cf deep interest
at the present time, Bince it explains the causes
which have led to tho war between the con
tending Powers of Europe. t
Classic and Historic Portraits. By James
Bruce. New York: Redfteld. For sale by Tay
lor A, Maury, Washington, D. C.
This work contains bhort biographical no
tices of Bome two hundred eminent men, in
cluding moat of the classic heroes and sages. ?
Graham's Magazihs. For July.
This number is beautifully illustrated, and
has the usual variety of Btories, biography, &o.
DEATHS.
On Tuesday, the 1st inst., Mr. John W. Fer
guson, in the 421 year of his age.
Yesterday morning, in the fourth year of his
age, France Pinceney, son of R. W. Latham,
Esq , of this oity.
At Georgetown, (Ga,) July 20tb, Robert
Lovvky Moore, a native of Washington, and
eldest son of lha late James Moore, of this oity,
aged 42 years.
At Pdteroburg, Va, on the 20th ultimo, Mrs.
Sarah Melleville Hollinu, aged 41 years,
oonsort of Robert B. Boiling, E*q.
At "The Cave," Jefferson county, Virginia,
on Friday, the 14th July, Mrs. Anne R. Sel
den, wife of John Selden, and daughter of An
drew Kennedy, in tho 29th year of her age.
I BY H0USV8 PRINTING TELEGRAPH j
; TKLEGRAPUIC CORRESPONDENCE
FOR DAILY NATIONAL ERA.
? From JVew York?Fatal rfffrny at the St.
I Nicholas Hotel?Arrival of the Her
mann, Sec.
New Yore, August 2.?In tho bar-room of
the St Nicholas Hotel, last evening, in the
oource of some exoiting words between a
Southern gentleman, named Dr. Graham, and
j a gentleman recently returned from Califor
nia, by tbe namo of Lowrif, reaort was bad to
i deady weapons. Lowrie was killed.
The families of both the combatants were
inmates of the St. Nicholas Hotel at the time
i the affray took place.
Tbe steamship Hermann arrived at this port
i at noon, from Bremen, via Southampton. Her
news is not as late as that brought by the
I Canada.
Another exoeasivoly hot day. Thermometer
| at one o'olock, 96. There is no abatement in
the ravages of the cholera.
The steamship Indiana arrived last evening,
with Havre dates to tbe 16th ult.
Arrival of the, Black Warrior.
New York, August 2.? The steamship
Blaok Warrior has arrived, with lat?r date*
from Havana.
Tho political news is not important.
The yollow fever was abating.
Arrival of the Canada.
Boston, August 2.?The steamship Canada
| has arrived. Her mails will be sent South,
this afternoon.
Illness af the Honduras Minister.
New Yore, Aug. 2? Gen. Barrundia, tbe
Minister from Honduras, is dangerously ill
I here.
Ytllovo Fever at Norfolk, ftc.
Baltimore, Auo. 2?-Several cases of yel
low fev?r have been taken to the Hospital at
Norfolk, brought by a Frenoh steamer, whose
offioers gave a false report of the health of the
vessel on their arrival.
Floor here is heavy, and wheat dull. Corn,
65 a 70 oenta. Stooks improved. Cotton un
changed.
A severe storm oooorred at Buffalo laat
night. Many vessels were damaged.
CONGRESS.
THIRTY-THIRD CONQREHS FIRST SKSSIOM.
Senate, Wednesday, August 2, 1854.
Mr. Brown moved to take up the bill for the <
relief of Abigail Stafford. Lout.
Mr. Slidell submitted a resolution, that all
unfinished business of this session be continued
over until the next session. Adopted.
Mr. Seward reported a bill, obanging the
name of the American-built brig Glamorgan,
to the Wizard; and the tame wiw, considered,
and passed.
Mr. Butler, from tie Judioiary Committee,
to which was referred the question of Mr. Wil
littmo'u right to retain bid Beat, aw a Senator
from New Hampshire, reported that ho was
not entitled to his Beat. The report was laid
on the tablo, and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Fieh presented the memorial of Ameri
can oit Zens, whose property has boon destroy
ed by the recent bombardincut of San Juan,
praying indemnity for the loeseB sustained by
them. Referred.
Mr. Fish, from the Belect committee on the
subject of khe great mortality on board emi
grant vessels, reported a.bill for the better pres
ervation of tho lives of; asetugeis on emigrant
ships arriving in the United States.
Mr. Dodge, of Iowa, reported a bill granting
. the right of way to the Benic:Aand Muryavillo
Railroad Company, through certain public
grounds in California; and the eamo was con
sidered, and passed.
The Fortification bill was taken up.
1 Mr. Hunter opposed any amendment of tho
bill, as tho House would not pass it again.
Mr. Wcller moved an amendment, which
received only eight votes.
The bill was then passed?yeas 3{f, nays 9.
Mr. Hunter moved that the Senate proceed
to the consideration of tho Post Office Appro
priation bill.
Messrs. Mason and Seward opposed the mo
tion, they desiring an Executive session.
| Mr. Hunter's motion was agreed to?yeas
19, nays 17.
Mr. Rusk moved an amendment, omitting
I throughout the whole year the mail between
Charleston, Key West, and Havana. Adopted.
Also, an amendment allowing the postmas
ter of Washington city a commission of one
mill per pound of the public documents which
Eass through that office annually, out of which
e shall pay his cmployoes $250 eaoh per an
num. .
This was debated, atd agreed to?yeas 27,
nays 11.
Other amendments were offered and debated.
A proposition to establish a daily mail be
tween Cairo (lllinoit) and New Orleans, waa
undor discussion when our report closed.
House of Representatives, August 2. 1854.
Mr. Faulkner, from the Committee on Mili
tary Affairs, reported book Senate bill grant
ing the right of way over, and depot grounds
on, the military reservation at Fort Gratiot,
Miohigao, to the Port Huron and Lake Michi
gan Railroad Company; when it was read tho
third time, and passed.
On motion by Mr. Walley, the amendment
of the Senate to the bill providing accommoda
tions for the courts of the United States in tho
districts of Massachusetts, N. York, and Phila
delphia, wero concurred in.
The Speaker stated the question before the
House to be the motion of Mr. Barksdale,
to lay on the table the Senate's amendments
to the Civil and Diplomatic bill, the effect of
which, if agreed to, would be to defeat the
bill.
Mr. Barksdale withdrew his motion.
Mr. Wheeler renewed it, and it was reject
ed.
The Clerk then procoeded to read oat tho
numbers of the different amendments, and
upon such as there was any objeotion to, sepa
rate votes were taken; the others were reserved,
to be agreed to in\the aggregate.
Among the amendments concurred in were
the following: '
For furnishing htmps and lamp poets from
Sixteenth to Seventeenth streets, on Pennsyl
vania avenue, in front of Lafayette square,
$500.
.To reimburse the expenditure made by the
Commissioner of Public Buildings for the re
pair of the Potomac bridge, when injured by
fir?, $4 500.
For altering the streets and repairing in
front of the east wing of tho Patent Offioe, put
ting up iron railing, flagging footways, putting
in order yards, painting new saloons of the
Patent Office in fresoo, $14,250.
For iron railing and flagging in front of the
old portion of the Patent Office building, for
altering windows, dressing the granite to mako
it oonform with the front, &c, $5 720. ?
Among the amendments non-concurred in
were the following:
For repair and renewal of tho gas pipes
through the Capitol, and fixures neoewwry for
the lighting of such committee rooms therein
as need it, at id lighting E?t Capitol stroet,
from the Capitol to Third street, $7 000.
For continuing the work for a supply of
water to the cities of Washington and George
town, five hundred thousand dollars: Provided,
that no part of the sum herebv appropriated
shall be expended nntil the Corporations of
Waibington and Georgetown, or either of
them, shall appropriate and pay an amount
equal to one-fourth of said sum for the samo
purpose, and shall agree to pay, in like man
ner, the same proportion of all future appro
priations; and full power and authority are
nereby given to said Corporations, respectively,
to raise, by loan or otherwise, any sum of
money that may be neoet-sary to enable tbem,
ot either of them, to make the appropriation
herein required; and the said Corporations of
Washington and Georgetown, and the inhabit
ants of said eitios, respectively, or the Corpora
tion making the appropriation, and the inhab
itants of such city, shall be authorised to use
the surplus water whioh may be brought by
the Washington aqueduct, afoer supplying the
Government establishments in Washington,
under euoh general rules and regulations as
may hereafter be prescribed by Congress; and
each of paid Corporations shall have the right
to charge, and collect of tho inhabitants of
suoh city, such reasonable tax or rent for the
use of the water as will provide for the regular
payment of the interest, and the gradual pay
ment of the principal, of any m< ney which
may be raised, under the authority hereby
given.
For completing the bridge over the Potomao
river, near the Little Falls, $75 000.
For completing the improvement of Pennsyl
vania avenue, west of Seventeenth street,
$9,000
For grading dons by order of Ignatius Mudd,
late Commissioner of Public Building*, in res
ervation number seventeen, between 1 hird st.
east and New Jersey avenue, $484 89.
The amendment appropriating $300,000 for
the purohsse of the olaims, rights, and inv
ests, of the Hudson's Bay Company, in the Ter
ritories of Washington and Oregon.
After all the amendments, eioept that to tho
title, had been considered separately, ?
Mr. Letcher, as a test vote, moved to lay
them on the table, (and, in effect, the bill also )
This motion was deoided in the negative?
yeas 70, najs 113.
Tbe title was then agreod to, as was the
whole report of the oommittee.
The Alabama Railroad bill, postponed for
the consideration of the Civil and Diplomatio
bill, was then referred to in order, on the mo
tion of Mr. Cobb to suspend the rales for its
consideration ; and the House refused to sus
pend the rules.