BY JOIIS D. BRATTON.
VOL. 40.
Official ‘Oorreepondenoe*
Letter ftom Sctrotary flathiie to Collector
DronSon.
) . Washington, Oot. 8, 1853.
To Iht Editor of Ihe Vnlon < , '
It oeoms the public.haTO obtained through the
proas an iriiperfeol statement of the contents of
my loiter to Collector Bronson and.the other ons
tom houßo officers'at* New York; and as the sub
ject Is a .public one, i place in your hands a copy
of the lelteiv which you are at liberty to make
pobtVc*
JAMES GUTHRIE.
Washington, Oct. 3, 1853.
Dear Sir:—Since the conversation we had upon
’the subject of ihe unfortunate division in the De
mocVatfc party in New York, I feel more and more
convinced (hat the present disorganization cannot
fail to endanger the success of the principles of
the parly there and prove injurious elsewhere.—
But ihe separation is effected. A conviction has
forced itself oh my mind* that, by Democrats
pledged to.each other upon a common platform of
principles, the division could and ought to have
neon prevented.
You are aware that the principles of the Balti
more convention, end (he policy intimated in the
inaugural address, the President and his constitu
tional advisers stand pledged to, before the world.
They have been, and arc, united as one man upon
these principles and that policy, and had reason
to believe that all gentlemen who consented to ac
cept office under the administration stood pledged
to the same principles and policy.
As the President understands the principles
avowed as the platform of the party at Baltimore,
all Democrats who joined in upholding and carry
ing out the same were entitled to be recognized ae
worthy of^the confidence of Ihe united parly, and
consequently eligible to official station.
Thai ail could not obtain office was manifest,
and that thejdlstribullon could not be exactly equal
amongst the 'different sections of the party, was
equally certain. Yet the distribution was intend
ed to bo so made as to give Just cause of complai nt
to no one section, and it is believed that this in
tention has been carried out, not only hy the Pre
sident himself, but by most of his appointees, in
respect to the offices under the latter.
It has so happened that your appointments have
been very generally made from that portion of the
party to which you adhere. This you thought
best calculated to secure union and harmony
That desirable object has failed to bo obtained,
and the other portion of the party feel that (hey
have not been fully recognized by you, and, as
things how' stand, may not do Justice to your mo
tives. I call your attention to tbia subject, and to
the fact (hat the President and his cabinet, with
entire unanimity, recognize that portion of the
party as Democrats distinctly avowing and firmly
maintaining the principles of (he Baltimore plat
form, and entitled to be recognized by appointment
to official stations In your department. Allow me
to express (ho expectation that you will so recog
nize them in the only way that will carry convic
tion with it
I have not hitherto deemed it tiQceck&ry lo rrialte
ftny particular inquiry as to iho section of the De
fnocratlft party to which persons nominated for
positions in the custom hqnse at New York be
ionged prior to the reunion of the party in-1849
which reunion was supposed (o have been thorough
ly cemented in the great and -triumphant contest
6f 1853. But as the present excited State of feel
ing among political friends who acted together in
1852, and who now stand unequivocally upon the
same platform of principles in .New York, ia sug
gestive of a discrimination of which the adminis
tration will not approve, 1 shall send a copy of
this Iptier to the Naval Officer and Surveyor of Iho
Port, iq order that there may bo no misapprehen
sion as to (he policy which the President will re
quire to bo pursued.
I am, very respectfully,
muss QU'nmirc.
G. C. DaoNSotf, Estj., Collector, New York.
Copies of the above letter were sent to the
Naval Officer and Surveyor, with the following
hole
Washington, O’er, 3, 1853.
Dear Sms—l enclose herewith n copy of a let
Jor this day addressed to the Hon. G. C. Bronson,
t will explain itself, and show you what the Pre
sident expects in relation to the distribution of pa
tronage In iho respective offices of the Now York
custom house, to Which yoO Will conform your
ofciion In any future nominations yoi/ may have
Occasion to make.
' 1 am, very respectfully,
JAMES GUTHIiIfI.
Mo. Cou/Ecrfon DtforfcoN •/■o' Mrt. Secretary
GlTTHhie.
Ngw York, (Jet, I?, 1853,
Sin Tho pressure of official business and ,
confinement too aick room have prevented on ear- ,
Her answer to your loiter of iho 3d instant.
You first atatft,’fn eubslancoi (hat t have been
ondef rf (fledge, which haa not been redeemed, to ,
distribute offices in my gift among different sec
tions of the Democratic party, and then proscribe
the course you expect mo to pursue in future. You
do not complain that my appointees are not proper
persons for tho places they occupy, or that (hey
ere not sound Democrats, sincerely attached to tho
principles of (he party, and firm supporters of the
National Administration. But you think 1 have
notpropeily regarded all sections of thonarty.
When Mr. Dickinson declined the Collectorsliip
of this port, In April last, 1 was asked by several
friends Whether 1 would allow my name to bo
mentioned to (he President for tho place, and an
swered in the negative. I thought no more of the
matter until two days afterward, when 1 saw in
the public prims a telegraphic despoteh announc
ing ray appointmoQf. I had two years before, re
signed my place as Chief Judge of the Court of
Appeals, with the intention of never again accept
ing a public qffice; and, grateful os 1 was for this
new mark of‘confidence, I should have declined
the appointment bdl for tho high opinion which 1
entertained of the. President and his principles,
and llio Bsquiacoo of,friends that he earnestly de
sired my acceptance of the trust.
When I accepted;|ho plaqo,lhad never soon nor
had any communication with- the President, and
of course them were no pledges between us, 1 save
tsoch as may be i Implied between honorable men
holding (ho like’ relation to each other. Ho had a
tiriht to expect that I would diligently and faith*
tolly dlsdlrargo the duties of (ho office, and main
tale, in •all proper ways, the principles which fe
ttered IJioDemodrdliophrlyto power; and, ao long
]as )hht imp/lled obligation, riiadft
fright to oxpoct'tnai 'his coqfidpQCo in mo wpuld
not bo withdrawn. I hdvo novsr.cotnplolned that
<tho President haslet dUcbmrged hla part of ; (he
obligation, and am-not eonaeioua of having emit*
tod to discharge my; own*
You tell mo lhaUho Preaidont and :hla conhii*
tulianai advisers aland pledged heforo-tho world
to Iho,principles and policy laid,down In iUo Dal:
timoro platform <and tho inaugural address, «<and
had itQSon-tO'bbUova'tlmtiril gentlemen who eon*
•anted.to accept office under (Ho administration
stood pledged to the earao pHnojplcs and policyl**
Ivgiffto to that; 'and, (bough It Is but an implied
pledge, I admit Us full force. But It proves noth-
Ing to ihe present purpose, for there Is not one
word either io (ho Baltimore platform or the innu
gural address about distributing offices among dif
ferent sections of the party. If the President or
his appointees are pledged to any such distribution
you must look to some other document to find evi
dence of the obligation—some document which I
have never seen.
It may be inferred from the ac/« of the President,
that bo regards-as eligible to office all Democrats
who cordially united on the Baltimore platform in
1853, and are sincerely attached to the principles
of the party, althoughat some former period they
may have been out of tho way. That is a proper
rule. It is the one on which I have acted in mak
ing appointments to office—not because I was
under any pledge to do so, but because 1 thought
(he rule just in itself. But your letter proceeds
upon the ground that I should go beyonu the in
quiry whether applicants for office are good Demo
crats now, and ascertain to what section they
formerly belonged, and then make such a distribu
tion of offices between the different section that no
ono of them will have just cause of complaint, h
is not only impossible to administer such a rule as
that with success, but the consequence of adopting
|it must be that we shall never have one Democra
tic party, united upon a broad basis of principle,
'but a mere combination of different sections, held
I together by no belter bond than the love of office,
I and ready to fall to pieces the moment ono section
thinks itself aggrieved in the distribution,
i Notwithstanding what has been said 1 think it
would be found, on a proper ecrutiny, that the
1 section which has so loudly and bitterly complain
|cd of injustice has received its full share of the
offices which 1 have bestowed. It is undoubtedly
(rue that more appointments have been made from
one section of the party than from tho other; and a
single reason will be sufficient to show why it was
proper to pursue that course. Most of the Custom
House appointments for this port have always been
made from the counties of New York and Kings,
in which are three large cities which form a part
of the port. In 1848 the Democratic and Free
Soil votes in those counties boro the relation of
more than four for tho former to one for tho latter.
From the Free Soil vole should be deducted the
Whig Abolition vole, whicli went in tho same
I direction. After making tho proper allowance on
i that account, I think it safe to conclude that not
more than one out of seven of the Democrats in
those counties voted tho Free Soil ticket in 1848.
In this view of the matter, I think it will be found
that the Free Soil section is far from having just
cause for complaint. I have acted in this liberal
manner, not because 1 was under any pledge, but'
because I wished to do what I reasonably could,'
to promote the harmony and continued ascendancy |
of the party. |
It is possible that I am mistaken in supposing j
that the Free Soil section has got its full share of
the places; for, in distributing tho little offices in|
my gift, which have for (he most part gone among;
tho rank and file of the parly, I havo neither had ;
tho time nor (he inclination to do much by way of |
investigating the antecedents of men who were
supposed to be all right now.
In reference to your remark upon the recent rap
ture of the party at Syracuse, that “ the division
could and ought to have been prevented,” it - ia
enough for me to say that 1 not only had no agency
in bringing about that division, but 1 tried to pre
vent it.* My counsol was not only given in favor
of the united action of the Convention, but I sin
cerely hoped that harmony would prevail* If any
government officers are chargeable with What look
place at Syracuse, tho burden must rcSt on those
who were there—of twjom three were from this
city—and not upon thl Collector, who was at homo
attending to the dutieaofhis office.
I do not stale these\hlnga by of apology,
I for 1 havo none to make; nor by way of courting
favor, for 1 have none \h ask.
You speak of union of the parly In 1818,
which rn-union was* supposed to havo been
| thoroughly cemented in the great and triumphant
! contest in 1853.” Although I ardently desired a
| ro-union, if it could be effected upon principle, I
never approved the mode In which the attempt was
made to bring about that desirable end. 1 thought
(ben, and ihink, still, that (hose who had deserted
the Democratic standard in 1648, and thrown (he
Slate and National Governments into the hands
of the Whigs, should, If convinced of their error,
return again to our camp without exacting condi
tions, and should then be treated with (he utmost
kindness. The parly would (hen havdbeen strong,
and we should have heard no more about sections.
But a very different course was pursued; and the
Free Soil loaders oamo back, so far as they came
at all, under o league or treaty between them and
a few leading Democrats, with no stronger bond
of union than an agreement to divide the offices.
'l’he arrangement was baaed upon no principle.—
The Free Soil leaders were left at liberty to adopt,
the course which (hey pursued; and, instead of
again hoisting tho National banner, they marched
into the Democratic camp with (heir own sectional
colors flying, and thus became an independent ,
olementln the party. Indeed, your letter proceeds 1
upon the ground that tho party has all along boon
divided into sections; and consequently, that ac
counts must bo balanced between (hem In (ho dls- '
trlbullon of offices. All experience proves that
such acoaltlon as was formed in 1840 can never ]
be thoroughly cemented. Sooner or later it will
fall to pieces. Tho cohesive power of patronage
cannot long save that which has within itself the
elements of dissolution. It is hot, therefore, any
matter of astonishment that the “ ro-union” was
dissolved at the late Syracuse Convention.
After tho league of 1849 had been broken, and
tho two sections had again become separate parties
in form as well as in substance, it became neces
sary for mo, as a citizen of Now York, to make
my choice between the two tickets which had been
nominated. My reasons for preferring ono .and
rejecting the other are before tho public; and no
ono has the right to Imnluo to me any other mo
tives thon those which 1 nave avowed. 1 rejected
! one ticket because the nomination had boon effect
j od by moans which no honest man could approve,
and because the nominees hod been brought for
ward by men who had been hostile to what I
doomed the best interests of the State in relation
I to the canals. 1 approved the other ticket because
the nominees woro right on tho, question of State
policy, and because those who supported luyoro
I “contending for tho principles which rcaloretriho
Democratic parly to power, and placed Franklin
Pierce at (ho head of tho government.” I presume
I there oan bo no objection at Washington to my
I maintaining now, as 1 havo always done before,
the principles on which the National Admlriislro-
I lion stands; and with questions of more State pol
-1 ley, you must allow mo to say the Administration
has no rightful concern.
What consequences:will follow Ito rcconl brcak
! in the.party Is more than I can loll; but 1 feel roa
kpnably.confident that If. the National Democrat?
hati a fair field, iand the FroeJSoil Democrats were
■ not fighting under false colors, their ticket could
i not gel-votes enough to help tho Whigs through
with.thoijr nominations, ilutwo have not goto
, fair field. The lyathinglonUtrionivtUWo profess
ing to speak' the -sentimentsof thd Administration,
Has thrown Us weight on tho side of UioF reo Soll
ticket, .it has ‘ undertaken to dedido upon tho re
gularity of our corivenUonß. and to oil in judgment
upon questions of more State policy. It takes thd
side of >those'who have onco prOVqd falthlSss ,(p
the parly, and put the Union in jeopardy, and do-
"OUR OONTRY—MAY T ALWAYS OB RIGHT—RUT BICHTOR WRONG, OUR COUNTRY.”
CARLISLE, PA., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1853.
Bounces those who have all along supported the J
principles which restored the parly to power. It,
is now a co-laborer with tho Free Soil prints ini
(his State, some of which it so lately read out of,
the Democratic party. Though that print |fl noli
in itself of great importance, yet when it professes, '
without rebuke, to do these things as the orgqri ofi
the Administration, much mischief may be done.-]
It matters little what disclaimers there may he in i
private circles, so long as there is no public decla- J
ration that the paper speaks without
However unfortunately the election may terminate, 1
the responsibility will rest upon others, and not'
upon me. |
Lei mo now notice the lime, tho manner and
motive of your letter. 1 ;
. As to time. It was after the rupture and domina
tion of two tickets at Syracuse, and the two ratifica
tion meetings in this city, after tho Collector had been
denounced by the Free Sail leaders and presses, and
the President had been called upon to remove him ;
after hungry office seekers end bitter politicians had
visited Washington to misrepresent aud traduce that
officer, and to whoso clamors, as you well know, ho
never made any reply, after the Union had , taken
ground against tho ticket of tho National Democrats,
and in favor of the ticket of their opponents, (hen it
was that yon first discovered cause for complaint of
any kind against the Collector. You bad approved
all his nominations with a single exception, and ia
that ease (ho office was abolished. Down to the re
ceipt of your letter of tho 3d inst., you had never in
timated to the Collector, in any form, that you dis
approved of hie appointments, or of the manner ia
which they had been distributed.
As to tho manner. You did not pursue tho usual
course, and issue a circular laying down a uniform
rule for tlje government ofoll Custom House officers
havingpalronage to bestow, but confined your instruc
tions lo Iho port of New York alone. If the doctrine
of the latter is a sound one, it is obviously proper
that it should bo opplied in other places as well as
hero, and it should regulate (ho conduct of all classes
of government officers having patronage to bestow.
Marshals, Postmasters, Districi Attorneys and others
should act upon it in tho selection of their deputies,
clerks and other agents.
I will hero mention another fact of no little In
significance. The next day after the letter was writ
ten, it was fallowed by another requiring mo lo sub
mit for your approval the names of alt clerks propos
ed to bo employed in tho bonded warehouses and
public stores. In this matter you not only departed
from the practice of all former Secretaries of the
Treasury—who had left those appointments to the
solo discretion of tho Collector— but, so far as I have
learned, you again departed from the usual course of
issuing a circular lo all the Collectors at our great
ports, singled out the Collector at Now York, and
i prescribed a now rule for him alone. Those facts
I need no comment—they speak for themselves.
As to the motive of this movement, lot others
(judge.
| This is, I believe, the first instance in which a
( member of the Cabinet lias interfered with the die
of a collector, marshal, postmaster or any
I oilier government officer having patronage lo bestow,
. and laid down a rule for his government In the sc-
I lection of his deputies, clerks or “other agents, a nd it
cerloinly is tho first instonco in which a public officer
has been instructed to go into an inquiry about sec
tions, and see that a just distribution of offices was
made between them. You have a right, by law, to
give instructions on many subjects connected with
tho collection of iho tokcnnfc, end such instructions
it will bo my duty to follow. But when you go be
yond that, and undertake to direct in manors which
the law has confided to my discretion) no such obliga
tion exists.
As lo some officers of tho dtistoms, (ho Collector
has (ho right of nomination,* and iho Secretary the
right of approval or rejection, and, as to (bo other
offices, (he power of oppoinlmonl is vested in the
Collector alone. I shall not interfere with tho ex
orcise of your powers, and 1 trust you will render
the like justice to roc. If you or any other high of
ficcr of the Government, desired tho appointment of
a particular individual, I need not say (hat it would
give mo great pleasure to comply with the wish
But I respectfully deny (hat you have any right to
issue instructions for the government of my conduct
in making selections for office.
So far os relates to the mere dispensation of pa
tronage, without regard lo my responsibility for
tho able of the persons appointed, 1 would gladly
transfer the trust to another. I have no taste for
such matters, and my comfort—aspirations I have
none—would bo greatly promoted if some one else
would perform tho service for mo. Bat (ho law end
ry commission have cost tho burden upon me, and
cannqt surrender it to another without a dereliction
of duty.
As you liovo given your Idler to the press, saying
'the subject Is a public one,’ 1 shall givo tho same
direction lo tho answer.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GREENE C. BRONSON.
Hon. James Guthrie, Secretary of Treasury.
Washington, Oct. 23, 1853.
Sinl have received your letter of (ho I7th
Instant.
/l {s not my purpose to respond to (ho many. p 6
silions of (hat letter, because most of them boar (heir
contradiction upon Its face, and others arc too unim
portant to require refutation, and also because, white,
in several phrases of it, admitting your Implied obli
gation, as a man of honor, to act In accordance with
the known policy of (lift Administration, and, trio'rc
ovo*, recognising tho propriety ond justice of that
policy by declaring that you yourself deprecated and
endeavored to prevent tho divisions now existing in
(ho Democratic parly In your State, you neverthe
less indulged in a tenor of remark, as to various ref
lations of the subject, which not only impugns my
motives, but, indicates an attitude on your part wholly
incompatible wlib harmonlbu's co operation between
us, and the proper conduct of the business of the gov
ernment.
One suggestion appears in your letter which de
mands animadversion. You allege, by implication,
that 1 bavo desired you to appoint Froo-So|lors .to
office, and, in doing so, you strangely misunderstand
op misinterpret my loiter of the 3d instant,
entertained nor expressed such desire. ( It has been
my pleasure and rriy- duty, hot to inquire Into tho
opinions which may have boon hold by yourself and
others as far back os Uio year 18‘/8, but (o regard the
claims to conflidorqtion of all who have acted; with
fidelity to the principles ond organization of the Dcm
ooratic parly, since the Convention at Baltimore, in
1853, and (jiqsoopjy.' And with these View*, I must
condemn yOur-courso whon in (his letter you inform
me that yort htvo selected Froo Sellers for with
out mo tho notice of (lift fad, which
would -liffW enabled mb to withhold my approbatlori
from any such oppoiclmohts. I will add, that the
imputation that 1 hava required you to act with reft
oronco Co controversies of a loon| or Stale character,
is wholly gratuitous. My lollop war intended (o
guard yoo against distinctions between Democrats,
founded Upon local politics ond lodal divisions’.'
The concluding portion of your loiter has IpA.mo
no alternative.but to lay'the whole matter before'the
President, dnd toko his direction concerning It.
You assume that in relation to,certain things you
arc lo roooivo instructions from this J)opar(mbnl) and
in others (fiat you mo lo proceed without,or contra
ry (o such inslcuotlons.' Thjs.cannol bo admitted in
any'branch of tho public service,Tor where tho De
partment id not expressly empowered to give instruc
tions lo subordinates, It has the authority lo do so,
as inherent in (ho power to remove a rofraolpry offi
cer.
Yqu also assume (hat you n;o (o appoint the [vari
ous,persona employed in (ho Custom Jiousopspiae,
as you admit, subject tq my approval, ttnd other?, as
you softm’lo conceive, brt’yoarfrolo authority. 1 can
not but regard it ai(lingular (hat a gentleman ftryour
legal aqquUempnls *,nd'«xporlonGft .should have JaUon
Into aticn error. The Consli,lqllpp pC,tUft,UnUed ,S
-has empowered Congress' lo confer the appointment
l of inferior officers 'ln the Provident alone, in (be
courls pflaw, or in (ho Hoads ot Departments.’—
Congress has.nol attempted, nor if it had, coaid it
have effected any modification of this provision of
1 iho Constitution.
| Those who are employed under you in Iho Custom
House/10, both by Iho Constitution and laws, derive
their appointment and.thoir authority as public offi
cers from (he Secretary of tho Treasury alone.
[ WhaVtho language ond temper of yoar loiter would
I hayo rendered embarrassing those unwarrantable as
sumptions, marked as they are by a manifest spirit
| of insubordination, render impossible—namely, your
odntlnpsncO in (bo office of Collcrlor *pf tho District
| ofNewY-ork. I am, thcrofbre, directed by (ho Fresi
dcnl tojroy'f thal your successor in (be office will bo
prpmptff^ppoihtcd.
»-t haVrob'e honor to bo, vortr rospectfully
' •' A 'JAMES GUTHRIE.
Greece C. Bronson, York.
-I* ovittcal.
Farewell to tub swallows.
i
BY THE LATE THOMAS HOOD,
Swallows, silting on (ho loaves,
See yo not tho falling loaves 7
■i See yo not (he gathered sheaves 7
Farewell!
■'j' Is it not time to go
To that fair land yo know?
} Tho breezes, os they swell,
Of coming winter tell,
] And from the trees shako down
Tho brown
■ l And withered loaves. Farewell \
Swallows, it is time to fly,
Sco yc not tho altered sky?
Know yo not that winter’s nigh 7
Farewell!
Go, fly In noisy bonds,
To those far distant lands
Of gold, and pearl, and' shell,
And gem (of which they tell
In books of travel strange,)
And range
„ In happiness. Farewell!
Swallows on your pinions glide
O’er tho restless, rolling tide
Of tho ocean deep and wido.
Farewell!
In groves, far, far away,
In summer’s sunny ray,
L In warmer regions dwell,
Mt And (hen return lo (oil
JsL Strange talcs of foreign lands,
wr In bands,
Perched on tbo loaves. Farewell!
it '.Swallows, I could almost pray
*5 That I, like you, might fly swny,
i ' And lo each coming evil soy
j Farewell !
Yoi, his my fate lo live
Here, and with troubles strive,
And I some day may toll
flow they before me fell
Conquered, then calmly die,
And cry
“Trials and toils, farewell I”
My Woodland Home.
rMy Woodland Home—how dear lo mo
Is every voice that speaks of thee,
Thy hollow glens and sky olad hills.
Thy peaceful vales and flowing rills.
In sanny climes I long have strayed
Out memory still, where erd I.roam
Recalls lk° bright and happy days
f’vo passed within my Woodland Homo,
My Woodland Homo—my Woodland Home.
'the heart, 1 own, may oft be gay,
Though lost to all il once hold dear.
But scones like these over fade away
Aa quickly as their beams appear.
But oh ! how bright is pleasured beam,
In after years of care w 6 corao.
To that sweet spot in fancy’s dream,
Which wo have loved to call our homo.
My Woodland Homo—ray Woodland Homo.
jWtoCcrimT?oito*
Tllß BRIDAL WINS CUP.
A THRILL!NO CRETCII.
■Pledge with wine—pledge with wine,’cried the
young and thoughtless Harvey Wood. ‘Pledge with
wine,’ rang through the brilliant crowd.
Tho beautiful bride grow pale—the decisive hour
had come. * She pressed her white hands together,
and (ho leaves of her bridal wreath trembled on hoi
pure forehead; her breath camo quick,and her heart
boat wilder.
‘Yes, Marion, lay osido your scruples for once,’
said (ho Judge, in a low tone, going towards his
daughter, ‘tho company expect It.’ Do not so seri
ously infring upon tho rulce of etiquette, in your
own homo act sv you please, but in nfino fot (his
once ploasft mo.’
Every eye was turned towards (ho bridal pair.—
Marlon’s principles wore well known, Ilonry hod
boon ft-convivallst, but of Into his friends noticed the
change in his manners, the indifference In his habits
—and to-night (hoy walchod lo see, as they anoor-
Ingly said, tf ho was tied down to a woman’s opin
ion so soon.
Potfring a brimming beaker, they hold il with
templing smiles towards Marion. She was very
pale, though moro composed, and her band ebook
nbt, as, smiling back, slio accepted the crystal temp
ter, and raised il to her lips. Scarcely bad she done
so, whan every hand was arrested by hot piercing
exclamation ofoh Kow terrible!’
•What is H 7’ cried one and all thronging togeth
er, fur slio bad-slowly carried tbo glass to arm’s
length, and regarding il as though it wpro oooio
hidcQua object. ,
*\Vai(,’ she answered, while an inspired light
qhono from her dark eyes, 'wait and I will tell you. 4
'1 see,’ eho added slowly,pointing one jeweled finger
at (ho sparkling ruby liquid, a sight (hat beggars
description, ana yo listen,—l will paint il for you if
t cam
•Itia a lonely spot—(all mountains, crowned with
vordorp, r)so in awful sublimity around j a river
runs' through and bright flowers grow lo the water’s
edge. There is a thick, warm mist that (ha sun
sacks valply lo plorco. Trees, lolly and beautiful
waive to (ho ttlry motion of the birds; but there—a
group of-lndlans Is gathered, (hoy flit (a an fro with
pomolhing like sorrow upon their dark brows. In
their midst lips a manly fo/m. but his check, how
deathly, his eyes w(ld with tho fire of fever. One
friend standi beside him, nay, I should say kqoolfr,
for sopyho Is pillowing that poor bond upon Ills
breast.
'Genius in ruins! oh,.tho high, holy looking brow 1
yVJiy should death .tnark-U,and ho so young 7 Look
how ho throws back (ho damp curls! See him clasp
his hands! hoar bis thrilling shriojc for life I hiark
hp w; ho.clutches ot the form iff his pompamon,; im
ploring.to ,bo saved. Oh !,.hoar biro call piteously
for his falhor’s udnio, sfto him twine his fingers to
gether os he dalls for his sister, the twin of his soUl,
weeping for 1 , him in Ink distant native.land! t
‘See !*,i she, exclaimed, .while the bridal • parly
shrank Wok, tho.untested wiuo troubling In (heir
faltering grasp, and (ha Judge fbll overpowered upon
hla seal,—‘aoo. his antis aro lifted lo llosYon, ho
prays, how .wildly for moroy,’ Jiol fovor rushes ihro
hta vftiris. TboTriond bftildo him is weeping, awo*
stricken; tho dark men rtofra silonfly away. «nd
leave .tho Jiving and dying together. .
There nißh In (be prlnoJps! parlor, broken
by only what' seemed a smothered sob from same
manly bosoim
Tho bijdostood upright, with quivering lip, and!
tears stealing to (ho outward edge of her lashes.— ,
Her beautiful arm bad lost its tension, and the glass
with its little troubled red waves, oarno slowly to
wards the range of her vision. She spoke again;
every lip was mute. Her voice |wos low, faint, yet
awfully distinct—eho still fixed her sorrowful glance
upon (ho wine cup.
’lt is evening now, (ho groat white mooa is com
ing up, and its beams lay gently on his forehead.—
Ho moves not, his eyes arc sol la their sockets;
dim aro their piercing glances, in vain his friends
whisper (ho name of father and sister. Death is
hero. Death, and no soft hand, no gentle voice, to
bless and sooth him. His bead sinks back one con.
vuisivo shudder, ho was dead !’ j
A groan ran through the assembly. Qo vivid
was her -description,so unoarlhy her look, so in-'
spired her manner, that what she described seemed
actually to have taken placo then and there. They I
noticed, also, that the bridegroom hid his face in his 1
bands and was weeping.
'Dead!’ she repeated again, her lips quivering
faster,and her voice more and more brokon.'and
(hero they scoop him a grave, and there, without a
shroud, they lay him down on that damp, recking
earth. Tho only son of a proud father, Iho only
idolized brother of a fond sister. And ho sleeps in
(hat distant country with no stone to mark (ho spot.
There ho lies, Mr father’* bon, my own twin broth,
bb ! a victim to this deadly poison. 'Father,' she
suddenly, while (he (oars ran
down her beautiful cheeks, 'father shall I drink it
now 7'
Tho form of the old Judge was convulsed with
agony. lie raised not his head, but in a smothered
voice ho faltered—
I *No, no, my child, in God’s name, no.'
She lifted the glittering goblet, and lotting il full
lo the floor it was dashed into ton thousand pieces.
Many a tearful eyo watched her movement, ond
instantaneously every wine glass was transferred
to the marble table on which il Bad been prepared.
Then, after looking at (ha fragments of (he crystal,
she turned to Iho company, saying, 'lot no friend
hereafter, who loves mo, tempt mo to peril my soul
for wine. Not firmer arc the everlasting hilts than
my resolve, God helping mo never (o touch or taste
that terrible poison. And ho to whom I have given
my hand, who watched over my brother’s dying
form in the last solemn hour, and buried the door
wanderer thereby the river in that land of gold,
will I (rust, sustain mo in that resolve. Will you
not, my husband
His glistening eyes, his sad, sweet smile, was his
answer.
Tho Judge loft the room, and when, an hour after
he returned, and with a more subdued manner, look
pert in (ho entertainment of the bridal guests, no
onotcould fail to road that ho, too, liodjdeterminod (o
banish the enemy at once and forever from his
princely homo.
Those who were present at (he wedding can ocv.
cr forgot (ho impression (list it made. Many from
(hat hour foreswore the social glass.
DISCOVERY OF AN ANCIENT PYRAMID,
Travellers upon the Colorado and its tributaries
have long since spoken of the existence of ancient
ruins in different localities, embraced by tho great
American desert, lying on both, though principally
upon the west bank of tho Colorado, and between il
and tho California range of mountains. Ev, n Ba.
roo Von Humboldt, daring his researches upon the]
American continent, discovered unmistskublo evi
dences of tho existence, at some greatly remote
period, of a race of people entirely unlike, and ap-*
paronlly superior to those inhabiting (ho continent
at the time of its discovery by (ho Europeans.
Those evidences ore becoming every day more
and more conclusive, as the energy, love of (ravel
and novelty of tho American people, leads them into
earth's. Wildest fastnesses, and, over its must forbid
ding,' and Inhospitable -waters. Wo remark,
as above, on perusing an article from the pen of oar
Sjn Bornarinu correspondent, giving an account of
an ancient pyramid, lately discovered upon the groat
desert ofrtho Colorado, by a party of adventurers,
five in number, who attempted to cross (ho desert in
a wcalerly dircclion from a point on tbo Colorado,
at least 200 miles above its confluence with the
Gila;—
San Bernardino Valley, June 23, 1853.
There Ins been no little excitement hero of late
among the antiquarians and the curious, arising
from tho discovery of an ancient pyramid upon the
groat Colorado desert, and which fixes the probability
beyond all dispute of (he possession and occupancy,
at some greatly remote period of lime, of Iho Amer
ican continent by a roco of people of whom all ex
isting history is silent.
A parly of men, five in number, had ascended (ho
Colorado for nearly 200 miles above tho mouih of
the Gita, their object being to discoverer possible,
some largo tributary from the west, by which they
might make the passage of the desert, and enter
California by a new, mofo direct, and. easier route,
inasmuch as there aro known (a exist humorous
small strcarqfl upon tho coelom slope of Iho moun
(ofns, tf/al are either lost in the sands of the deserts
or unite with tho Colorado through tributaries
heretofore unknown. They represent tho country
on either side of the Colorado as almost totally bar
ren of every vegetable product, and so level and mo
notonous that any object sufficient to arrest tho at
iontiun, pouosscS mure or loss of curiosity and In
terval; and il was (his that led to Iho djscovcry,
and examination of this hitherto unknown relic of a
passage.
An object appeared on the plain to tho west, hav
ing so much lha appearance of a work of art, from
tho regularity of Us outline and its isolated position,
that the parly determined upon visiting U. passing
over an almost barren sand plain, a distance of near
ly five miles, they reached tho base of one ot the
most wondcifut objects, considering its location, (it
being tho very homo of desolation,) that tho mind
can possibly conceive of; nothing loss than an im
mense stone pyramid, composed of layers of courses
of from eighteen inches to nearly throe feet in thick
ness, ond from five to eight feet nt length. Il has
a level up of more than fifty foot square, though It
is evident that It was unco completed, but that some
great convulsion of raturo has displaced Us entire
(on, as it evidently now lie* a huge and broken mass
upon ono of Its sides, (hough nearly covered by (ho
sands.
This pyramid differs, in aomo respects, from tho
Egyptian pyramid. Il is, »r was, more slendcr
polhlod, and while those of Egypt nro composed of
slops or layers, recoding as they rise, the .American
pyramid was. undoubtedly, a moro finished structure.
Tho outer surface of tho blocks was evidently cut to
an angle, that gave the structure, when now and
complete, a smooth or regular surface from lop lo
bottom.
From tho present level of tho sands that surronnu
it there are fifty two distinct layers of a(ono, that |
will average at least two fool! this gives Us present
height, 104 foci, so that before tho topwas displaced 1
it most hove boon, judging from angle oflts sides. ■
is 20 fed higher than at present. How far il oxleiid* 1
beneath iho surface oflho sands, «l is impossible lo '
dolorntlop Without labor,
Suoli Is tho'ago of this Immense structure, (hoi «
the perpendicular joints between the blocks aro wo*n 1
away to (be width of from five tq.lcn inches at the '
bottom of each joint, and tho entire of the pyramid
so mooli worn by (ho tlorros, tho vicissitudes, and
Iho corrodlnge-ofconturlos, a* to make il oney of
assent, particularly .upon one of Us sides. Wo say
one of its sides, bftqauso a singular ftot ftonnoctcd
with (his remarkable sUuolurq, is (hat it InfcllnOs 1
nearly (on degrees (o oho side of (Tie Vortical or
perpendicular. . - 1
There is not tho slightest probability (hat U woe (
(lifts orftCtod, but tho cause of its Incllooliftn is not
pa?ily accounted for. t ßy ,wJ)om, ( Bl of Iho
tvorld, and for what purpose, this was croct
od, will prohobly forever remain a Mdderi rtiyslery.
The parly, in their unsuoosas(iil«u*mpUo>erosstho
desert at this point in their wanderings, discovered
other evidences, of a nature (bat would seem ib
AT $2 00 PEB INNDH
NO. :il
make it certain that portion ofthecpuptrjr tippn’fbs
Colorado, now the moat was pQOQ a ihVg*rdeik
and granary .of the comment, arid the atiodb of iqU*
lions of our raoo.
FLASHES OS' HUMOR.
'Mrs. Jenkins,* said o littlo fed Reeled girl, with
o pag noBQ and bare feet, *tpolber, Bays you will
oblcogo bor by lending her a stick of 6re Wood,'fil*
ling Ibis ernot with vinegar, putting a lilllo soft soap
in this pan, and please not let jo«ir turkey roost on
our fence.*
When Sigourney, a notorious wag of Boston, wu
expiring, a servant colored and informed (he attend*
ing physician that a triao hap fallen down ihe well.
Tlie dying man overheard lhpjervsnl,aDd inquired,
with scarcely an audible whisper, *1 say, Dootor,
did ho tick the bucket V
An Irish officer of dragoons, on (ho continent' on
hearing that his mother bad been married shufe bs
quilted Ireland, exclaimed: ‘By B(.Patrick,’there
is that mother pf.mine married again. I hope thaf
she will not have a son older than mo, for if she hn
1 1 shall be out of my estate.'
‘Mother you must not whip nlo fbt running away
rom school, ony morel' *
•Wby 7’
‘Because my school book eays that ants are the
most industrious beings in tbo World; ain't 1 a true.
ant ?*
‘Polly, box his oars "
Thoro is a gentleman in Boston, who gives twenty
five cents to some dharltabjo Institution every (late
ho swears. During (bo paet six months he hi*
d *d a now steoplo, weathercock and all, on (be
Third PresbytorianChurch, and is now engaged fa
‘cussing up 1 a donation tor tho benighted heathens
ofTimbucloo.
A man has cured, his wife of an attack of‘bloom*
orism.’ Ho watched bor 'fixing up/ and said noth,
iog. His wife wont out in full rig, whereupon he
assumed her cast of shirts, end when she came.back
ho was hnilling or trying to knit a stocking. She
took (ho hint and the Turkish arrangement was pul
aside immediately.
•Ma, has your longue got logs?*
•Got what, child ?’
‘Got legs, mu t*
'Certainly not ; but who do you ask that foolish
question ?'
•O, nothing; only 1 hoard pa say thqtyour tongue
was running from morning (ill night, and 1 was
wondering how it could run without Ibgs—(bat's
all ma.’
FaCe of the Apostles*
SI. Mathew is supposed Is have suffered martyr*
dom, or was slain with (ho eword at the city of
Ethiopia.
St. Mark was dragged through thb Streets of Alex*
nndria, in Egypt, till ho expired.
Si. Luke was banged on an olive tree Ip (Greece.
St. John was put Into a cauldron of boiling oil el
Romo and escaped death, Ha afterwards died, a
natural death at Ephesus in Asia. V.'.””
St. James tho Great was beheaded at Jeroealeln!
St. James tho Loss was thrown from a piniclo 'it
wing of the templo, and ibon beaten lb death ivllh
a fuller's olub. '
St. Philip was hanged against a pillar, at Hlera*
polls, city of Phrygia.
St. Bartholomew was flayed alive by the command
of a barbarous king.
St. Andrew was bound to a rto«>, whence be
preached (o tho people til) he expired*
St. Thomas was run through (ho body with a lance
at Doromnndal, in tho £asl Indies. M -.
St. Jodo was shot to death with arrows.
Si. Simon Zealot was crucified in Persia.
■6t. Matthus wai first stoned and then beheaded
Boya Oet Ahead* . ,
When wo see young men sporidin g all they make,
as fast as (hoy make it, and when wp consider (ho
gro&t importance of a little oash qapital tq the Tatars
prosperity, wo are amazed that thoir own common
sense docs not urgo with sufficient importunity Ibe
duly of trying to save if It bo over so little, from
present earnings toward a future capital.
Wo onco hoard a gentleman who had rjsen from
poporty to wealth and influence, by Ms owp, pru
dence and Industry, enforcing the Bating plan in
this way. Suppose, said ho, you had six. eggs to
live upon daily. Now, it is clear if you oat. all (ho
eggs every day, you will never have any ahead .Co
depend upon. But if by self denial, you can save
one of those eggs to day, or this week, end another
next day or week, you can soon have besides, your
six eggs daily, ouo, two or more hens, that will give
you one, two or three dozen eggs, instead of tho
half dozen you had at first. ,You will not suffer in
any respect from (ho little actf denial necessary at
first, ond when once you have set ip train the egg
producing influence, it goes on of itself, as It wore.
Tho one egg saved, gives you a hen which produces
Indefinitely, qnd fjjoq, if you choose you can oat
your half dozen cg’jfs daily,'arid still bo saving from
tiro first gaining;
Wo have often llioughl.of (Ms simple illustration
as comprehending m an egg aboil
political economy, and rocomjpend it to our young
renders as worthy of study and practice.—People’s
Organ.
••TIME FLIES l»»
Wus the remark of one who had sccri yotae floating
yours pass away and marked the change that took
pluco in the world's affairs. , Tltal this .simile of tho
rapid progress of time is a just one, the experience
of every testifies. ta the mqrnlqg man rises
from bis couch of repose, refreshed by the slumbers
of the night, and his body rolnvlgoralod and nerved
for the duties of the day. Ho commences Mr labors
or Ins ploaou'rca, pursues thorn, perhaps, with eager
ness and tool, but ore bo is aware the sun is declin
ing in the western horizon, the shades of evening
gather around, and his aims unaccomplished, be must
again forgot the fact of his existence in sleep.
Thus, in the beautiful language of tho Roman poet,
■doy (roads upon day.* Weeks are multiplied, month*
accumulate, and (ho years are gone. Mon’s life, com*
posed of these days and months and years, Is .toon
drown out toils longest span, and before ho ii'awaro
ho Is burno on (altering limbs, and anon stumbles
Into tbft grave.
It has always been thus. Since the ushering In
oftimo by (ho first appearance of (ho sun rolling
through the heavens, the doya have been rapidly
numbered, and since man's creation, his life hi»bpen
only a vapor, enduring for a wry little while, and
then disappearing forever. *
These reflections are suggested by (he present
season. Summer caul its radiant beams upon US',
loaded (bo fields of the farmer wilh.ao obundsnlstore,
clothed (ho forests with leafy robes and madeoosnt
(css flowers to delight out eyes, but In how short *
lime did that season pass into nulumn I ’How soon
did (bo g/con leaves of the.woodland begin to withes
and the flowers ot the'field fade '. A change has
come over the face of nature, and a creature of in.
(olllgonco now looking abroad for the first time, wolftM
hardly dream that over summer had been. Autumn,
(bo, la fast merging into Winter, whoso
ojroady whitened many hills of our Own falrSlatoAk
And while Iho cqld beginning to
blow, the warm and cheerful firo la. enkindled upon
(ho hearth, and Uib famlly'draw more closely arourid
it as the long evenings bring them together. And
now, when (ho nob, and, thdso upobwhom' fortune
■ baa Bmflod, aro in tho-enjoyment-of ovary ooro/orl
that the heart can desire, who remembers, tho poor \
(The frosts jilto. ?nd tho cold winds benumb* their
tfntfiaff limbs, thoTtro goes out on their rude hearth
alone, their slock of food becomes exhausted, and whd
cares far them.?- Now is the time far opening. the
hosr.t to boedsof bonevblonce~for discharging those
duties totsuflurlng humanity which make 1 lbs son)
i allied in its aspirations to anffals—which willsmboth
| the pillow of death when all (he years of,lift 4f9
> fled.