0 1E 03LLAR PER ANN'JM, INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE.
TOAVAIS OA.:
Sflinr&nn XUoruint}, 3nnc 7, 185 U.
(Original ajjoctru.
EARLY STRING FLOWERS.
BY SYBIL I'AKK.
y, wire gathered where the sunshine fell,
In floods of golden light,
Am! ve have flung a witching spell
Around my soul to-night;
Till all the dreamy haunts 1 loved,
s, , :u frc-h about me still *.
T' c paths my childish foot-steps roved,
Reside the gushing rill.
The gladness of early years,
Will linger, O '■ so long.
Wlu'it- memory treasures not the tears
Tli.it mingled with each song.
lh! brightly beautiful the scenes
Keep rising to my view,
oi summer skies, of laughing streams,
And meadows wet with dew.
Our tears were then hut April showers,
That woke a brighter smile—
Alas: we've left the sweetest flowers
On i hildhood's sunny isle.
As Luther floats our tiny bark,
Adown the stream of time.
We cwr turn when clouds are dark,
To that fair sinless clime.
Dim are the paths our foot-steps tread,
Amid the fallen leaves,
V, • .| e's sweet blossoms, crushed, and dead,
Ale -j iiing to the breeze.
(111! full of sad, and bitter tears,
Is all the lonely way ;
A ! sim-hh.e with the ehanging years,
K> e;.s flitting fast away.
T. t. ve pale finds have power to bring
|: , from the hidden past,
T y which fell o'er life's young spring,
; ae hopes that did ii"t last.
i;t. -t i- v .or mission, < 111 1 be ours,
S'i [eiielv good as thine ;
Ami tin t! amid these earthly bowers,
Tin- sin.l will cease to pine.
TI.VVAM'A, L'A.
iifl)olution;u n S Itctcjj.
The Battle of Trenton.
Tin' following account of Washington's vic
• -A over the Hessians at Trenton, New-Jersey,
iutiic 'hit lt of December, ITTT, the day after
t: M celebrated crossing of the Delaware,is from
• v manuscript of Lieut. Archer, who was a
in rti i|:iiit in the conflict :
i had scarcely put my foot into the stirrup,
■ re an aid-dc-camp from the commandcr-iu
dii.-f galloped up to me with a summons to the
of Washington. The' General was already
•u: horseback, surrounded by his staff, and on
. ;>•'iiit of setting out. He was calm and col
'"! us in his cabinet. No sooner did lie sec
file than he waved his hat as a signal to halt.
i<ii ked my steed on the instant, and lifting
: luit. waited for his command.
" Yen are a native of this country ?"
" Yes. your Excellency."
"Yaw know the road from M'Conhcy's ferry
' Trenton, by the river and Bennington—the
by-roads ail
"A < well as I know my own alphabet,"
ami I pitted the neck of my impatient char
ger.
" Then 1 may have occasion for you—you
'•''ill remain with the staff. Ah ! that is a spirit
"ianimal you ride. Lieut. Archer," he added,
i ug. as 11.e fiery beast made a dcuiivolve,
Hi .' set hull' the group in motion.
" Your Excellency—"
"Never mind," said Washington, smiling
strain, as another impatient spring of my char
r cut short the sentence. " I sec the heads
the columns are in motion ; you will rc
-."tiibtr,'' and waving his hand, he gave the
• !■' his >teed —while 1 fell bewildered into
' ie ETafif. This was on the evening of Decem
*r 25, 1777.
hie ferry was close at hand, but the intense
,j' taaih' the march anything but pleasant.—
k'however hoped on the morrow to redeem
"country- Ly- >trikinjr the signal blow, and
"yii'Art In at with anticipation of victory.
1 :: ' after column of our little army defiled
■ ' i-rry, and the night had scarcely set iu
' : the last detachment had been embarked.
A ' 1 wheeled my horse upon the bank above
hulling, ! paused an instant to look back
trough the obscurity of the scene. The night
'|.ark, wild and threatening—the clouds
Fuciied an approaching tempest, and I coidd
*<!' difficulty penetrate with my eyes the in
a' l!l n ?loni. As 1 put my hand across my
to pierce into the darkness, a gust of
" T sweeping down the river, whirled the
into iny face and momentarily blinded my
A ! '-t I discerned the opposite shore amid
u fecurity. The landscape was wild and
'' "• v ~; a few desolate looking houses were
■" dglit, and the floating pieces of iec in
now jammed with a crash together
' "iituijj slnwlj apart, leaving scarcely space
1 ''"at lo pass. The dangers of naviga
,l,lllll better lie imagined than described,for
' exertions could just prevent the frail
s of rafts from being crushed. Occa
.."V- a .-tray life could be heard whistling
" Winer-, mingling feebly with the fierce
Hie winds, and anon the deep roll of
•u would boom across the night, or the
1 .rimming ice would be heard like far
r The cannonicrs beneath inc were
-- .i piece of artillery up the ascent,and
( ' i were rapidly forming on the shore be
lt f; ';"'*' buttled. It was a stirring scene.
' distant a band of the regiment struck
'iiiiM ning air, and plunging mi* rowels
■ '"d. I galloped off to overtake the
,f al ai "l his stall.
IIA . 1 A •
now i o o'clock, and so much time had
that it became impossible to
f l " t iiiation before daybreak,audCOll
:i" • ■ rtaiuty of a surprise was over,
wa 'ln rcfore called on hor-e
THE BRADFORD REPORTER.
back, to determine whether to retreat or not.
A few minutes decided. All were unanimous
to proceed at every peril.
" Gcutlenien," said Washington, after they
had severally spoken, " then we all agree ; the
attack shall take place. General," he continu
ed, turning to Sullivan, " Your brigade shall
march by the river road, while 1 will take that
by Pennington—let us arrive as near eight
o'clock as possible. Put do not pause when
you reach the outposts —drive them in before
their ranks can form, and pursue them to the
very centre of the town. I shall be there to
take them in the flank—the rest we must leave
to the God of battles. And now, gentlemen,
to our posts. In five minutes we must be in
motion."
The eagerness of our troops to come up to
the euemy, was never more conspicuous than
on the morning of that eventful day. We had
scarcely lost sight of Sullivan's detachment
across the intervening fields, before the long
threatened storm burst over us. The night
was iutcnscly cold ; the sleet and rain rattled
incessantly upon the men's knapsacks ; and
the wind shrieked, howled and roared among
thd old pine trees with terrible violence. At
times the snow fell perpendicularly downwards
—then it beat horizontally into our faces with
furious impetuosity, aud again it was whirled
wildly 011 high, eddying round and round,
sweeping away on the whistling tempest far
down in the gloom. The tramp of the men—
the low orders of the officers—the occasional
rattle of a musket, were almost lost in the
shrill voice of the gale, or the deep sullen roar
of the forest. Even these sounds at length
ceased, and we continued to march in profound
silence, increasing as we drew near the out
posts ot the enemy. The redoubled violence
of the gale, though it added to the sufferings
of our brave continentals, was even hailed wit h
joy, as it decreased the chances of our discove
ry and made us once more hope for a success
ful surprise. Nor were those sufferings light.
I'hro' that dreadful night nothing but the lofty
patriotism of freemen could have sustained them.
Half clothed, many without shoes ; whole com
panies without blankets ; they yet pressed hea
vily on against the storm, though drenched to
the skin, and shivering at every blast, too of
ten marking their footsteps with blood. Old as
I am, the recollection is still vivid in my mind.
God forbid that such suffering should ever have
to lie endured again.
The dawn at last came ; but the storm still
raged. The trees were borne down with the
sleet, and the slush was ancle deep in the roads.
1 he fields that we passed were covered with a
wet spongy snow, and the half buried houses
looked bleak and desolate in the uncertain
morning light. It had been my lot to witness
but few such foreboding scenes. At this in
stant a messenger dashed furiously up to an
nounce that the outposts of the British were
being driven in.
" Forward !—forward !" cried Washington,
himself galloping to the head of the columns ;
" push on, my brave fellows, on
They started like hunters at the cry of the !
pack, as their general's voice was seconded by
a heavy lire from the riflemen iu the van ; and
I forgetting everything but the foe, inarched in
, silent eagerness toward the sound of the conflict.
I As tlicy emerged from the woods, the scene
burst upon them.
The town lay but a short distance ahead,
just diseernuble through the twilight, and seem
ed buried in repose. The streets were wholly
deserted, and as yet the alarm had not reach
ed the main body of the enemy. A single
horseman was seen, however, flitting a mo
ment through the mist—he was lost behind a
clump of trees, and then re-appeared, dashing
wildly down the main street of the village.—
I had no doubt that he was a messenger from
the out posts for a reinforcement, and if suf
fered to rally once, we knew all hope was gone.
To the forces he left, we now turned our at
tention.
The first charge of our gallant continentals
had driven the outposts in like the shock of an
avalanche. lust aroused from sleep, and taken
completely by surprise, they did not at first
pretend to make a stand, but retreated rapidly
in disorder Wore our van-guard. A few mo
ments, however, had sufficed to recall their
reeling faculties ; and perceiving the insignifi
cant force oppo.-ed to them, they halted, hesita
ted, rallied, poured in a heavy fire and even
advanced cheering to the onset But at this j
moment our main body emerged from the wood, J
and when my eye first fell upon the Hessian
grenadiers, they were beginning again to stag
ger.
"On—on—push on, continentals of the "
shouted the officer in command.
The men with admirable discipline still fore
bore their shouts, and steadily moved on
against the now flying outposts. In another
instant the Hessians were iu full retreat upon
the town.
" Hy heaven !" ejaculated an aid-dc-camp at
my side, as a rolling fire of musketry was all
at once heard at the distance of half a mile
cross the village, " there goes Sullivan's brig
ade—the day is ours."
" Charge that artillery from a detachment
from the eastern regiment,"shouted the Gener
al, as the battery of the enemy was seen a lit
tle to the right.
The men levelled their bayonets, marched
steadily up to the mouth of the cannon, ami
before the artillery could bring their pieces to t
bear, carried them with a cheer. Just then
the surprised enemy were seen endeavoring to
form in the main street, ahead, and the rapid-1
Iv increasing lire on the side of Sullivan, told
that, the day in that quarter was fiercely main
tained. A few moments of indecision would
ruin all.
" I'rcss on—press on there," shonted the
commander in-chief ; " cliarge.tliem before they
can form—follow me !" The effect was dec- ;
trie. Gallant as they had been before, our j
brave troops now seemed to be carried away
with perfect enthusiasm. The men burst into (
a cheer at the sight of their commander's dar
ing, and dashed into the town, carried every
thing before them.
The half-formed Hessians opened a desulto
ry fire, fell in before our impetuous attack, wa-
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY AT TO WANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. O'HEARA GOODRICH.
vered, broke, and in five minutes were flying
pell-mell through the town, while our troops,
with admirable discipline, still maintaining
their ranks, pressed steadily up the street,
driving the foe before them. They had scarce
ly gone a hundred yards before the banners of
Sullivan's brigade wore soon floating through
the mists ahead—a cheer burst from our men
—it was answered back from our approach
ing comrades, and perceiving themselves hem
med in from all sides, the whole regiment we
had routed laid down their arms. The instant
victory was ours, and the foe having surren
dered, every unmanly exultation had disap
peared from the countenances of our men.—
The fortune of war had turned against their
foe—it was not the part of brave men to add
insult to misfortuno.
We were on the point of dismounting when
an aid-de-eamp wheeled around the corner of
the street ahead, aud cheeking his foaming
charger at the side of Washington, exclaimed
breathlessly :
" A detachment has escaped—they are in
full retreat on Princeton road."
Quick as thought the commander-in-chief
flung himself into the saddle again, and look-
I iug hastily around the troop of officers, singled
I me out
I " Lieut. Archer yon know the roads, Col.
j C will march his regiment around and
i prevent the enemy's retreat. You will take
them by the shortest route."
I bowed in humble submission to the sad
dle how, and perceiving that the Col. was at
some distance ahead, went like an arrow down
the street to join him. It was but the work
of an instant to wheel the men into a neigh
boring avenue, and before five minutes the
muskets of the retiring foe could fie
the intervening trees. I had chosen a cross
path, which, making as it were the longest
side of a triangle, entered the Princeton road
a short distance above the town, and would
enable us to cut off the enemy's retreat. The
hard struggle to attain the desired point, where
the two roads intersect, was short but fierce.
We had already advanced, and although the
enemy pressed on with the eagerness of des
| pair, our gallant fellows were on their part in
spired with the enthusiasm of conscious vic
tory. As we were cheered by finding our
selves ahead, a bold, quick push, enabled us
to reach it some seconds before the foe, and
rapidly facing about as we wheeled into the
road, we summoned the discomfitted enemy to
j surrender. In an hour I reported myself at
i head quarters as the aid-de-camp to Col. C—,
to announce our success.
The exultation of our countrymen on learn
ing the victory at Trenton, no pen can picture.
One universal shout of victory rolled from
.Massachusetts to Georgia. The drooping
spirits of the colonies were re-animated bv the
news, the hopes for a successful termination
of the contest once more aroused, and the euc
iuy, paralyzed by the blow, retreated in dis
order toward Princeton and New 1 !runswick.
A LITTI.K QUAKERESS IX A ITUKRY.— An
amnsintr matrimonial story is told ot the olden
time of New Kn&ttid. It so fell out that two
young people attached to each other,
as young people sometimes do The young
woman's father was a wealthy Quaker, the
young man was poor but respectable. The
lather could stand no such union, and resolute
ly opposed to it, and the daughter dared not
disobey openly. She met him by moonlight,
while she pretended never to see liiin—and
she pined and wasted in spite of herself. She
was really in love, a state of sighs and tears,
which women oftener reach iu imagination
than reality, iso the father remained inexora
ble. Time passed on, and the rose of .Mary's
damask check passed off. She let not con
cealment, like a worm in the hud, prey on that
damask cheek, however, but when her father
asked her why she pined, she always told him.
The old gentleman was a widower and loved
his girl dearly. Had it been a widowed mo
ther who had Mary in charge, a woman's pride
never would have given way before the impor
tunities of a daughter. Men are not, however,
so stubborn in such matters, and when the fa
ther saw that his daughter's heart was really
set upon the match, he surprised her one day
by breaking out: "Mary, rather than mope
to death, thou hadst better marry as thee
chooses and when lliec pleases."
Aud what did Mary 'i Wait till the birds
of the air had told her swain of the change, or
till her father had time to change his mind ;
again ? Not a Lit of it. She clapped her neat j
plain bonnet on her head, walked directly in- :
to the street, and then as directly to the house j
of her intended as street could carry her.— j
She walked into the house without knocking—
for knocking was not fashionable then—and
she found the family just sitting down to din
ner. Some little commotion was exhibited at
| so unexpected an apparition as an heiress in
the widow's cottage, but she heeded it not.—
John looked up inquiringly. She walked to
him and took his hand in hers : "John, says
she, " father says* I may have thee." And
John got directly up from the dinner table and
went to the parson's. In just twenty-live mi
nutes they were man and wife.
STRONG ARGUMENT.—A negro preacher,
strong in the faith, was holding forth to his
congregation upon the subject of obeying God.
Says he, " Brcdrcn, whatever God tells me to
do in dis book, (holding up the Bible,) dat
I'm gwinc to do. If I sec in it dat 1 must
jump troo a stun wall, I'm gtvine to jump at it.
Going troo it 'long to God, jump at it 'longs
to me."
A Norn, ANSWER.—A few Sabbaths shtce
in a town in the vicinity of this city, a teacher
of a Sunday School was engaged in question
ing his pupils upon subjects connected with
their previous studies in the Bible. At last
turning to a young Irishman, a member of the
class, he asked " What Adam lost by the
Fall ?" Bat for a few moments was apparent
ly in a brown study, but at last his face bright
ened as lie interrogatively replied An' was
it his hat, sir !''
" RESARDLBSS OF DENUNCIATION FROM ANY QUARTER."
The Voice of the Ancient Dominion.
[From the Petersburg Intelligencer.]
We are exceedingly sorry that Mr. Brooks
dirtied his cane by laying it athwart the shoul
ders of the blackguard, Sumner. We regret
that he did so, not because Sumner got a lick
amiss, not because he was uot justly entitled
to all he got and more beside, but because the
nasty scamp and his co-scamps will make capi
tal for their foul cause out of the affair. They
will raise a howl which will split the public ear
about the violation of the privileges of debate,
Southern babyism, Ac. Master Horace Gree
ley iu particular will jump out of his boots and
breeches, have about four thousand fits, and
thus put up the price of asafcetida and burnt
feathers throughout the country. Disagreeing
withe The Richmond JVhig as to the effect of
Sumner's thrashing, we entirely concur with it,
that if thrashing is ihc only remedy by which
the foul conduct of the Abolitionists can be
controlled, that it will be very well to give Se
ward a double dose at least every other day
until it operates freely on his political bowels.
It is true that the cunning rascal is a little too
smart to violate the decorum of debate, but
his adroit deniagoguism and damnable doctrines
are infinitely more dangerous to the country
than the coarse blackguardism of the perjured
wretch, Sumner, who will, to his dying day,
remember that his Brooks is not the "running
brooks " that one Shakespeare found " books"
iu.
[From The South-Side Democrat, May 21.]
A VIRGINIA VIEW OF THE ASSAULT ON SENA
TOR SUMNER—JUSTIFICATION OK BROOKS.—The
telegraph has recently announced no informa
tion more grateful to our feelings than the
classical caning which btfs outrageous Aboli
tionist received on Thursday at the hands of
the chivalrous Brooks, of South Carolina. It
is enough for gentlemen to bear to be compelled
to associate with such a character as Sumner,
and to be bored with the stupid and arrogant
dogmas with which his harangues invariably
abound ; but when, in gross violation of sena
torial courtesy, and in defiance of public opin
ion, the unscrupulous Abolitionist undertakes
lo heap upon the head of a venerable Senator
a vulgar tirade of abuse and calumny, no pun
ishment is adequate to a proper restraint of
his insolence hut a deliberate, cool, dignified,
and rhissir/il caning. The only regret we have
is that the chastisement was not postponed un
til Sumner had left the Senate. The Senate-
Chamber would thus have been prevented from
being the sceuee of such an exhibition, and the
cowardly Abolitionist would have been favored
with an opportunity—of which there can be no
doubt he would have availetl himself—to make
his escape.
[NOTE. Tlic Kilitor of 77 tr South Side Democrat was
the reiriilnr Democratic candidate for Clerk of the House
in the late organization at Washington.)
Mr. Sumner's Statement.
WASHINGTON-, May 24, ISM;.
The House Committee of Investigation wait
ed on Mr. Sumner to-day, and took his testi
mony with regard to the assault. He was al
so cross-examined, lie was iu bod during the
examination, and has set up but little since the
assault, lie is still weak, and tlie physicians
counsel him not to attempt to go out of the
house during this week.
The following is the statement of Mr. Stnu
iior, under oath :
I attended the Senate as usual on Thursday
the 22d of May. After some formal business,
a message was received from the House of
Representatives, announcing the death of a
member of that body from Missouri. This was
followed by a brief tribute to the deceased from
Mr. Geyer, of Missouri, when according to
usage and out of respect to the deceased the
Senate adjourned at once. Instead of leaving
the Senate chamber with the rest of the Sena
tors, on the adjournment, I continued in my
seat, occupied with niv pen, and while thus in
tent, iu order to lie iu season for the mail,
which was soon to close, I was approached by
several persons who desired to converse with
me, but I answered them promptly and briefly,
excusing myself for the reason that I was
much engaged. When the last of these per
sons left me I drew my arm chair close to niv
desk, and with my legs under the desk contin
ued writing. Mv attention at this time was
so entirely drawn froui all other subjects that
though there must have been many persons in
the senate, I saw nobody. While thus intent,
with my head bent over my writing, I was ad
dressed by a person who approached the front
of my desk ; 1 was so entirely absorbed that
1 was not aware of his presence until I heard
my name pronounced. As I looked up with
pen iu hand, I saw a tall man whose counte
nance was not familiar standing directly over
me, ami at the same moment caught these
words : " I have read your speech twice over
" carefully ; it is a libel on South Carolina,
"and Mr. Butler, who is a relative of mine."
While these words were still passing from his
lips, he commenced a succession of blows with
a heavy cane on my bare head, by the first of
which I was stunned so as to lose my sight. I
saw no longer my assailant, nor any other per
son ©r object in the room. What I did after
ward was done almost unconsciously, acting
under the instincts of self defense. With head
already beut down, I rose from my seat—
wrenching up my desk, which was screwed to
the floor—and then pressing forward, while
my assailant continued his blows. I had no
other consciousness until I found myself ten
feet forward iu front of my desk, lying on the
floor of the Senate, with my bleeding head
supported on the knee of a gentleman whom 1
soon recognized by voice and manner as Mr.
Morgan, of New-York. Other persons there
were about me offering me friendly assistance,
but I did not recognize any of Llictn. Others
there were at u distance, looking on and offer
ing no assistance, of whom 1 recognized only
Mr. Douglas, of Illinois, Mr. Toombs, of Geor
gia, aud I thought also my assailant standing
between them I was helped from the floor
and conducted into the lobby of the Senate
where I was placed upon a sofa. Of those who
helped mc here 1 have no recollection. A 1
entered the lobby T recognized Mr. Slidcll, of
Louisiana, who retreated, but I recognized no
one else until I felt a friendly grasp of the
hand, which seemed to come from Mr. Camp
bell, of Ohio. 1 have a vague impression that
Mr. Bright, Bresident of the Senate, spoke to
me while I was on the floor of the Senate or
in the lobby. I make this statement in an
swer to the interrogatory of the Committee,
and offer it as presenting completely all my
recollections of the assault and of the attend
ing circumstances, whether immediately before
or immediately after. I desire to add that be
sides the words which I have given as uttered
by my assailant, I have an indistinct recollec
tion of the words " old man hut these are so
enveloped in the mist which ensued from the
first blow, that I am not sure whether they were
uttered or not.
On the cross-examination of Mr. Sumner,
he stated that he was entirely without arms of
any kind, and that he had no uotice or warn
ing of any kind, direct or indirect, of this as
sault.
In answer to a cross-question, Mr. Sumner
replied that what he had said of Mr. Butler
was strictly responsive to Mr. Butler's speeches,
and according to the usages of parliamentary
debate.
Letter from Col. Benton.
Col. THOMAS 11. BENTON* has written the
following reply to an official notice that lie
had been nominated for Governor of Missou
ri :
G ENTLEMEN : T have received your letter on
the subject of the nominations made bv the
Democratic Convention at Jeffcaon City, and
am greatly pleased with the whole of them,ex
cept the one which relates to myself. That
takes me by surprise, and must remain under
consideration until I returu—which will be
soon, as I am nearly through the occupation
which has detained me here. In the mean time,
if any other person was thought of for the Go
vernor's nomination, in the event of my inabili
ty to accept it, I would wish him to be brought
forward at once, without awaiting any further
answer from me.
It is my intention to speak on the state of
public ulluirs when I get to Missouri, but not
iu the way of a canvass, nor as a candidate for
any office, but to do my part as a citizen, in
trying to preserve the peace and harmony of
the Union, and to keep agitatiou and sectional
ism out of our borders—two evils now besetting
the whole United States, and our own State
above all.
1 consider a slavery agitation, (and its na
tural off-spring, sectional antagonism,) the
greatest curse, both socially and politically,
which could befal our Union ; and that curse
is now upon us, and brought ujion us design
edly and for the worst of purposes. The Mis
souri Compromise line, the work of patriotic
men, had stood above thirty years, and there
was not one among those contriving its repeal
who was not upon the record, (in votes or
speeches), for its support, up to the time of its
abrogation ; and Mr. Calhoun himself, as late
as 1818—only two years before his death,and
after lie had broached the doctrine of no pow
er in Congress to legislate upon slavery iu Ter
ritories—repudiated the idea of repeal, and de
clared that the " nil tmpC to do so would "dis
turb the pence and harmony of the lonian? It
has been attempted and accomplished, and the
peace and harmony of the Union has been de
stroyed.
Out of the repeal of this Compromise has
sprung forth a ncic test of Democracy, which
consists in exacting party allegiance to the
principles of the Kansas-Nebraska bill. The
first inquiry upon the virtue of this new test is,
to find out what those principles are ? and the
result is diametrically opposito, as it comes
from one side or the other of the Botomac 11 i
ver. From the North the answer is, Squatter
Sovereignty ! as being the inherent right of
the people of the Territory to decide the ques
tion of slavery for themselves, and to have it
or not, just as they please. In the South that
definition is held to be rank demagoguery, and
that the people of the Territory, no more than
Congress, have not a particle of power on the
subject ; that the Constitution carries slavery
with it into every Territory, as soon as acquir
ed, overriding and controlling all laws against
it, and keeping it there in defiance of the peo
ple, or of Congress, until the Territory becomes
a State, and excludes it.* Thus the advocates
of the test are as opposite as light ami darkness
iu telling what it is, and surely they ought to
agree upon it before they require others to lie
lievc in it. It is impossible to believe in both ;
and I believe in neither. I believe in the old
doctrine, that the Territories are the property
of the United States, and under the guardian
ship of Congress, and subject to jsuch laws as
Congress chooses to provide for them, (or to
permit them to make for themselves,) until
they become States ; and after tliat (the chil
dren arrived at 21 years of age) they are out
of guardianship, and have all the rights of
their fathers. That is my belief, and has been
the belief of the whole United States until late
ly, and especially the belief of those who now
deny it, and who are upon the record (and that
often and recent) against their own denial.—
Witness (to go no further back) the bill for
the admission of Texas in 1840, oil which all
who voted for that admission voted for the rc
establishinent of the Missouri Compromise line
in that part of it south of the Arkansas lliver
where it had been abrogated by the laws aud
Constitution of Texas. Witness also the de
bates and speeches ou the. Oregon bill in 1818
—also the attempts to extend the Compromise
line to the Bacific in 1 SAO —also the votes of
some of these advocates iu favor of the Wiliuot
Broviso ; aud, above all, the protest of the
* " Hut 1 ileny Unit the laws of Mexico can have the ef
fect attrilmted to them, (that of keeping Slavery out of
New Mexico. California and Utah). As soon as the trea
ty between the two countries is ratified, the sovereignty
and authority of Mexico, in the territory acquired by It,
become extinct, and that of the United State- is snbstitu
tod in its place, carrying with it the Constitution, with
its overriding control over all the laws and institutions of
Mexico, incoir-i-tent with it." Mr. fattn-ni'* Oregon
Sjiiirh, )- 4s.
VOL. XVI. NO. 5-2.
ten Senators against the admission of the State
of California in IS.iO, ljecau.se Congress would
not legislate upon the subject of slavery in the
territory which was to compose it. With all
these authorities and evidences in favor of the
old doctrine, and against the new test and it*
authors, I think the old democracy may be al
lowed to dispute its binding force—at all events,
until its advocates can agree in telliug what
it is. Respectfully,
THOMAS 11. BENTON.
Appearance of John Hancock.
One who saw Hancock in June, 1782, re
lates that he had the appearance of advanc
ed age. He Ir.ul been repeatedly and severe
ly alllieted with gout, probably owing in part
to the custom of drinking punch—a common
practice in high circles in those days. As re
collected at this time, Hancock was nearly
six feet in height and of thin person, stooping
a little, and apparently enfeebled by disease,
His manners were very gracious, of the old'
style, a dignified complaisance. IJisfuce had
been very handsome. Dress was adapted
quite as ranch to the ornamental as useful.—
Gentlemen wore wigs when abroad and com
monly caps when at home. At this time, about
noon, Hancock was dressed in red velvet cap,
within which was one of fine linen. The lat
ter was turned up over the lower edge of the
velvet one, two or three inches. He wore a
blue damask gown lined with silk, a white sa
tin embroidered waistcoat, black satin small
clothes, and red morocco slippers. It was a
general practice in genteel families to have a
tankard of punch made in the morning and
placed in a cooler, when the season requited
it. At this visit Hancock took from the cool
er, standing on the hearth, a full tankard, and
drank first himself and then offered it to those
present. His equipage was splendid, and such
as is not customary at this day.. His apparel
was sumptiously embroidered with gold, silver
lace, and other decorations fashionable among
men of fortune of that period ; and he rode,
especially upon public occasions, with six beau
tiful bay horses, attended in livery. He wore
a scarlet coat, with ruffles on his sleeves ; wbieli
soon become the prevailing fashion ; and it is
related of Dr. Nathan Jacques, the famous
pedestrian of West Newbury, that he passed
all the way from that place to Boston in one
day, to procure cloth for a coat like that of
John Hancock, and returned with it uirdcr his
arm 011 foot.
NOT THF. RIGHT PRAYER.—A corrcsjjondent
of the Knickerbocker says: The following,
which was " quit-claimed " to me a few even
ings since, by the Rev. Dr. O d, a venera
ble and venerated clergyman of this city, him
self a ipan of " liumorosity,"atid whose " good
tilings " said, are only exceeded by his good
tilings done, during a life of over seventy years.
Not long since, as he was "going round do
ing gooih" lie called upon " one sick a man
who, although long a resident within the rev
erend doctor's products, had but rarely come
under the fertilizing effects of the "droppings
of the sanctuary." He was a very sick man ;
and Dr. O d after conversing with and
exhorting him in his usual fervid and impres
sive manner, proposed to pray with him. No
objection being made, he proceeded to offer,
up a feeling petition in his behalf. In the
course of his fervid supplication, he prayed
that the sick man might be brought to see the
error of his ways, and ( infer alia) that he
might have a "new heart." At this point of
the ceremony the invalid interposed : "Stop !
stop ! Dr. O d, you're all wrong. There
ain't anything the matter with my heart;
that's all right enough ! It's my liver that's
ailiu' !"
A SINGULAR TRADITION. —Among the Semi
nole Indians there is a singular tradition re
garding the white man's origin and superiori
ty. They say that when the Great Spirit
made the earth, he also made three meu, all
of whom were fair coraplexioned, and that af
ter making them, he led them to the margin
of a small lake, and bade them leap in und
wash. One obeyed and came out of the wa
ter purer and fairer than before ; the second
hesitated a moment, during which time the
water, agitated by the first, had become mud
died, and when lie bathed, he came up coppcr
eolored ; the third did not leap until the wa
ter became black with mud, and lie came out
with its own color. Then the Great Spirit
laid before them three packages, and out of
pity for his inisfortuue in color, gave the black
man the first choice, lie took hold of each
of the packages, and having felt the wcignt,
chose the heaviest; the copper-colored man
then chose the next heaviest, leaving the white
mau the lightest; when the packages were
opened, the first was found to coutaiu spades,
hoes, and all the implements of labor ; the
second enwrapped hunting, fishing, and war
like apparatus ; the third gave the white inaji
pens, ink and paper, the engine of the mind—
the means of mutual mental improvement, tho
social link of humai ity, the foundation of the
white man's superiority.
Jtej?" Good nature redeems many faults.—
More than bcanty, wealth, power, genius, it
causes men and women to be loved. If there
are no shining qualities whatever in the char
acter, even should there be considerable intel
lectual deficiency, yet if a good temper beams
brightly on the countenance, we ask for noth
ing more. We pause not, we do not question
nor hesitate, but surrender at once the fascina
tion of the good and honest soul, that has set
upon his face the seal of this admirable quality.
Old Shoes —-how much they are alike
the fag end of a poor man's lite. They have
traveled and scraped, and wandered over the
surface of the earth, wearing their solos out
only to be at last kicked aside, thrown to ob
livion, and their places supplied by the new.
What is it that causes a cold, cures n
cold and par's the doctor '! A