. , . .
,
.." I kept: husy . yesteFday." • . • -
•." 'So doe' the sloth." . :. . - - 1 -.r -'
"1 sill try. and do 'a little more today,
but you, will please remembei, madam, lam
only,a boY,!and , cannot : do las much as a
inan.'l, 1
" I know that,"said the woman, her flinty .
nature slightly mollified by the plaintive ac•
cents of her interlocutor, " still, lads that
wort oat shOtild try and Please their mas
ters." „ , \ •
rirw ays try to do this," said Willie,add
int,: "JO wish I had , a paioof mittens ;
tuy. - hands get so ifold."?, '
•-4" I've none for yOu. Fy ! your hands will
'get - toughened, by and b,. But come, your
breakfirt is ready ; tit down and finish it as
soon as possible, Cot every moment you loose
takes mor.ey .out of pocket, you know."
So saying, this model Jezebel, bustled out
Of the room, leaving Willie alone with his
thOughts. Efe assayed to eat, but in vain ;
and after tasting a few , mouthfuls, rose and
walked to the wood-card, where he met
.Fliutheari, from whom he received orders for
the •-dtrY - .
• Again our little friend applied himself -to
labur, toiling faithfully, save a brief late-rug
mml, till near nightfall, when he was sum
moned to supper-by the shrill voice of Bet
-
'-.While at table, . the farmer entered, an.l
!told hini if be would do as well nest day as
he had that,le would keep hint until the ei
pirittiori of the specifi e d time of service..
Millie meekly teplied:
"/ am glad, sir, if you are pleased with
the results ofmy efforts. Could you not let
me - hare enough money to psy,for a pair of
glores or mittens. idy hands', suffer it good
deal with told. I would like*pair of new
itotkings, alio ; the ones I wear are very
bad ; .my feet feel rery chilly at times, but I
can get along without these: better than
eoutetbtng to shield my hands Afrom the' in
clement weather."
a It is a good employer that pays when
work IS li ctone," replied Flintheart doggedly,
castive z a - glance at Willie that awed him to
silence.
:':And this was a an—=tho' it seems almost
a libel upon the sea to call him, suck---wba
boasted of houses and lauds, literally rioting
in affluence, denying himself no Want,or even
ltittury demanded by the cravings of a mor,
bid appetite, yet, with niggardly parsimoni
own* stubbornly refuses, to a destitute or
phan a small pittance requisite to procure a
Studs needed comfort.
0, that an increase of pelf, tin accumula
tion of this world's goods, should so often
shut the eyes of its possessor on scenes
.of
poverty, close the ear and heart to pleadings
of the distressed ! But so it erer has been
with us, and will continue to be, until QUM,
present social system undergoes a complete
revetution, and is reorganized upon a basis
of principles more tonsentaneous with our
boasted ideas of republicani, , m.
tunder the existing order of things, not
unfrequently do we behold : the rich, ' tho'
profligate, and beggared in morals,. occupy
ing prominent positions in social and public
life, - and looking down with contemptuous-
Hess and scorn upon those to whom fortune
in distributing her benefactions has been less
unificent than to themselves. Multitudes
o. the - opulent, by their ostentatiousness, ar
rogated se lf-superiority, and superciliousness
seem to say : "'We are the magnos homines
of this terraqueous !Jobe ; bow down ye ab-,
ject creatures of the dust, and render homage
do you superiors."
many,to whom, on account of their
riche., the world pays reverence, unscrupu
lously", extort- from the poor the treasures
whipli fill their coffers..
'Mush was with Flintheart,the like of whom
uttered abroad in community, are as hun
gry leeches, furever quaffing, yet neve! satis
. but to return to our young friend, whom
we left enduring severest things ' i ,of poverty,
augmented by theindifference arid illiberali
ty Of him, who should bare been 'the orphan's
triendJustead of acting 'the part of a detes
tablaShylock.
the Alight following Lis lag interriew with
Flintheart, already mentioned, little 'Willie
a(t.crosupplicating from that great and 1, good
Being, whom his mother had early, taught
him to reverence and adore, fortitude to bear
up ander his heavy misfortunes, once more,
weary,nnd sad, pressed his uninviting couch,
and slept as tired youths are wont to do.
-',The ensuing day was to decide whether he
torunined iti the service of the farmer ; and
it - was with a palpitating heart he descended,
at the approach of morning, from his gloomy
attic. • • -
Sather late, boy," was the discourteous
salutation of Flintheart, whom Willie encoun
. tare:Las:ha *dared 'the kitchen. -
"I arose, sir, .soon.as I awoke."
" Can't, you wake little sooner !—half au
%oaf s ssy-i.. :Were you never taught the ben
efits of 'may. rising I" •
?''°-Yal_air,lplit it is_haidly light yet., besides
I aitsluitettied last night; and slept very
am:11111v."
"-Tired, hal I'm afraid you wont do for
rae. 'Not . osongli muscle and endurance in
fUtiPeonatitution; I fear!'
u•.it eatitiot 'reasonably ..be expected that
toys will have men's sinews, any more than
their - - wisdom; and - discretion. My- system
was , originally healthy add vigorous; but
wept and exposure, you know, frequently de
bilitatelhestrongest physical organism."
klinihaart did not mpond. The truthful
and els:Need reply of the lad, surprised him,
and hi toted -his :head in.thoughtful Silence.
Ilisitrgruent,ty 21)401otion was interrupted
by the entrance of Betty, who.broke out in .
beclMlk. l 44.74 B6 Pßllbiat tape, As.follows
44 „.W19r-is,poi,that idle lounger at, work
gust:tato:V / 4e continued, fairly intoxicated
iwith rageills:what do you keep timt
_white.
liveredloat he.re for, when he wits hirt4. lot;
aomethini.4sel Aloubt :has .been
Viline - Y!!W %VA with a o Ate Irkilk.aad-trater
sentitnen4lity, groundless coo
plainttl. 0 , .the, t ragged hypocrite) - actu
stly hate the sight Of hitu. It would do one
good, it would feast my said, to fly at him
and give him a sound beating."
This extemporaneous fumigation of his
delectable spouse awakened Flintheart from
his revery, and he replied rather crustily :
I'll thank you to mind your own bnsi•
new, wife,,and I will mine. .
"Yes," voeiffomted Betty, her screeching
voice quivering with anger, " that's a. nice
way to talk to one that's been the making of
you. If it hadn't been for me,' you'd have
been . aa poor as Lazarus,- that's what you
would, you, bump back, pie-bald Pharisee.—
Let me bear any more such language out of
youaeadi and I'll make you dance.a double
quick-step to the music of a hot-water shower
bath ; see if I don't."
Flintheart, altho by nature acquisitive,
morose, and tyrannical, was l eo than his
wife, who subjected him entirely to her arbi
trary dictation ; and without replying to the
acrimonious invective he had just received,
beckoned Willie to follow and left the apart
ment.
Amigning the orphan his task, with the
command to perform it by. five o'clock in the
afternoon, if he wished to remain with him
longer, the farmer, in a petulant mood, moun
ted his horse and galloped away.
The weather was , unusually inclement, it
being , one of those raw, gusty November
days, when the ice-king, struggling with Au
tumn for dominion, chills us with his gelid
breath. Nevertheless, by the force of cir
cumstances, Willie labored assiduously in
the execution of his allotted ta* Once in
deed, benumbed with cold, he ventured with
in dlors . to swarm himself a moment, but this
privilege was denied him by his enemy, Bet
ty, who unceremoniously thrust . him from the
house. •
now fallen, how destitute of that charita
blenm and compassion that 'distinguish her
sex, must be the woman, who, without cause,
e
ou Id thus maliciously perpetrate cruelty up
on anz
unoffencling child of mitfortue I 11,w
cold nd unfeminine such a nature ! How
void of sympathy, benevolence and all those°
other Christian graces and attributes that
warm and vivify the true female heart.
- 'Willie, it need not be.said was unhappy,
in his present situation, and 'gladly would
haVe exchanged it for one more pleasant and
congenial; but where could such a one be
found ! He knew not. Since the death 'of
his parents; he had realized only unkindness,
and, at length, concluded, as have othe.s in
like circumstances, that he was to expect
from the world only a repetition of wrong
and oppression, so resolved to make a virtue
of necessitY, and remain where he was, if the
farmer would consent to retain him in his
tmploy. -
By dint of extraordinary exertion, Willie
completed Lis task a few moments before
fire, and 6,t down to rest ` his exhausted
frame.
Just then the farmer rode' up and seeing
the posture of the lad, called out :
"Taking it easy, I sea ! Mire jou fiui,h
ed your job l"
" Yes sir," said Willie.
" Well -done, is it I"
".I think so ; please examine for your
self."
The farmer did so—declared himself.satis ,
fled, and signified his purpose to keep him
for'a month.
This announcement was, in a degree, grat
ifying to the orphan. Of a home, for a time,
he was sure, provided he comported himself
conformably to - the requisitions of - his em:
ployir, and to do this, he resolved to put forth
every effort in his power.
Gentle youth, ye who hare never been
called to deplore the absence cf paternal so
whp have never felt the chill of reit
urv, when You assemble with joyous faces
and sparkling eyes around your . comfortable
thipk,•l beseech you, of the many
orphan children: who roam from place to
place, homeless and destitute, dependent up
on the reluctant generosity . of the world. Let
your tender hearts warm with compassion
toward the little wanderers, exposed .to temp
ation and peril; and whenever an.opportuni
ty occurs, fail not to exemplify the genuine
ness of your sympathy by alleviating, so far
as in you Ilea; their manifold sorrows.
(TO DE, con-In :ED.)
BECOMING DISG -TIJ CPI IMbtlS
(Ohio) Gazette, a strong RepubliCan paper,
'speaking of the couse of its party in that
State, uses •>the following language, which
may be comidered pretty plain• talk, coming
from such a source. It will apply with equal
force to other States:
The Republican party, not yet tiro years
old: is.now in possession of every department
of the State Government, Executive, Legisla
tive, and Judicial. flow long it will be able
to retain this desirable position, depends upon
the - manner its power is exercised. If 'the
legislation this winter 'is to be taken as a spe
cimen brick of the fabric of Republicanism,
we think the - structure
,nheci completed, if
ever, will_ nut be of the most inviting kind.
There has been too much time frittered away
in lamentations over the colored population;
too much . prominence given to striking out
the word "white" from the Constitution, either
to be profitable or agreeable. ...The negro
question tray' do well enough to enliven a
political campaign, but when it becomes so
altabsorbing that you cannot pass a wood
pile without seeing a knotty head in it, it
becomes not only tiresome, but disgusting.
There have been too vouch Wowen's Rights,
and other foolish isms of the day, suffered to
creep into the discussion of important ques
tions,' to the detriment of legitimate'
legisla
tion.
ASTOUNDINO INEWa FROX IttDIMSAPOUS.
—A letter has been received here from India
apAis suiting that in the investigation of the
account oftbe mitring Republican party State
-officers of Indians, - astounding defalcations
have been discovered; that, - certificates for
suing patents for *I or $20,000 swamp hinds
have been , issued in :favor of oae of those of.
finer; for liepich'no money has beeb paid Into
the treasnrytthat the - accouuts' of the State,
treasurer allow _a 'deficit of 1160;000 :sot paid
up by him; and the issue Ofa largeamonat of
:bank paper without takiag the • security .re
:gaited bylaw; There la "Oli Ite4!: O PAY"
In :Indianapolis 'about - these deyelopmenia:
The parties' Impliemed *ere - iejelectid as
:Knoll Nothings, but turned np Black Repub.
lame In the: shuffle-of the • cards of4beiate
,Fvrosideothil election,— Waiititiften Sc..a
gifooye : ::gieutot.
J .B. McCOLLUM, ."'
A .J. GERRITSON, ZDITORS.
1Z01V1T.01313,
Thursday, April 23ih. -1857.
DEMOCRATIC - STATE TICKET.
FOR GOVERNOR.
. WILLIAM F. PACKER;
- Of Lyeomeny County.
FOR CANAL COMMISSIONER.
NIMROD . iITRICKLAPID,
Of Chester County.
tir.We print on our first page:an article
from the Penn'a School Journal, on the sub
ject of the - County Su peri 1 . /tendency . ..We do not
indorse* all its conclusions; but think its sug
gestions with reference to the qualifications
necessary iu a County Superintendent; worthy
of attention at this time. e
t In consequence of the snow storm of
Monday we have - received no mails from New
York or Philadelphia, since Saturday. This
will - account for the meagre appearance of
our news department this week. To-day
(Wednesday) ti•e roads are impassable, but
the warm, April sun promises to:OPen•thern
speedily. This is .the severest snow storm we
have ever experienced at. this season of the
vesr.
1==:1=1
Kansas Convention Law.
• The true friends of self government unhesi
tatingly condemn the refusal of the "Free
State men" of Kansas to vote at the .election
to be held in that Territory on the 3d Mon
day of June next, for delegates: to form a
State Constitution: The plea filed by the ab-.
olition agitators, in justification of this strange
conduct, is net entitled to a : respectful eon
sideration, inasmuch as the general Govern
ment has repeatedly proclaimed its•:determin
ation to maintain the present Territorial laws,
until they are modified or repealed' by virtue
of the customary andiconstitutional agencies.
if those laws are offensive to a majority of
the actual citizens of the Territory;iiiey can
be stricken from the statute bock, without re
sort to revolution; and no combination in or
out of Kansas is jw.tifiable in•resisting them.
During the Presidential canvass, it, *was con
findently awtted by the Mends of Fremont,
that the freeState,out-numbered the Pro slavery
settlers, five to one. And yet, we. have the
singular spectacle of this-free State majority
cooly resolving not to pat ticipate in an elec
tion the result of which must materially rtf
t:ect the future condition of; Kansas; and de
termine the diameter of '4ier domestic insti
tutions.. And the poor excuse for this unusual
g aud unwarrantable conduct is; that the Legis
lature which framed the convention law, was
illegally elected ! To that law we know of
but one possible oljection ; and4 . ol. is that
it contains no provision submitting the con
stitution to the vote•of the people of,the Ter
ritory. This oljection is not really a serious .
one, because in the choice of delegates to
frame the . constitution, the issue en the ab
sorbing topic - of slavery can bti legitimately
made, by those who are in favor of free insti
tutions supporting fur delegates men•of like
convictions . ; and those against, voting fur !
those friendly to the establishment of slavery...!
In other respects, at least; the law 'is just. I
and impartial and indicates.on the part of its
authors a.disposition to act fairly and to se
cute to each bona fide inhabitant . "the free
and independent expression of his opinion'ty
Lis vote." It provides that "every bone fide
inhabitant of the Territory of Kansas, on
the. third Monday of June one thousand
eight hundrtd and fifty-seven, Iteiny a citizen
of the United States,over" the age of twenty
one
years, and who shall have resided three!
months next before said election in the county
in which he offers to vole, and no other per son
whatever shall be entitled to vote. at said.clee
lion, and every person qualified as . a yeller may.'
be a delegate to said convention and no other."
This provision is plain, and indicates neither.
"border ruffianism," or unfairness. Put,, says
the profsion - al fault-finder,. this law.directs
that an enumeration of
.the inhabitants be
made, and devolves •that duty upon th
sheriffs of the different counties, and.their de
puties; these "border ruffian" officials will
I not impartiallydisubarge their duties under
'Abe law ; they Will omit the free State men
and.neglect, or refuse to return them, as resi
dents and qualified
.voters.= Nua this flimsy
and unworthy pretence of the agitators, Is Met
and destroyed.bY the very law to which they
or. The registry of the voters narriea, is
required to be filed in the office . of the Pro
bate jtidgesed kept open for inspection and
correction .for . thirty days immediately pre
-ceding the election; and
,none are 'allowed
to 'vote except those whose names are regis
tered. Said Probate Judge is required to
hear and determine all questions concerning
the omission of the names of residents from
the ansui list; or the improper, insertion of
any name on said list; and . to gear, correct.
and finally determine any oler question of
fectingthe integrity or fidelity of the returns.
' These previsions are .eminently wise and fair,
atui it is to be regretted that there arefactions
spirits in she Territory, unwilling toabide by
them is goodfaith.
This-Convention las, alsoi)rovides hap%
penaltiewagainst illegal voting,. and sgaiopi
the employment of force, or intitui4atiount
the polls. All.antside interference, ,whether
from the North, or from, the South, i s espe
zially partied against; and the. faithful exe
cution of the Law, will insure to Kansas such
,a,coustitution ; as the majority of her horeafids
citizets des*, -If. the statoneat orthe abo
litiOnistSt ttlat a Msjori ty. of the le;a1 voters of
ic:=::s
Kansas, ire- free State me - n, is true; and by
the refusal of that Majority to participate in .
the _election .to form a State'Constitution,
shivery sliOuld be established in Kansas, upon
whom will the responsibility rest? Clearly
upon those who encourage the " free State
party" to resist the althorities of the Territce
ty and to refuse to take part in the elections.
We are glad to see that, the N. Y. Times,
an able and influential Republican jnurnal.
takes a correct and patriotic view of this
matter and deprecates the course of the "free
Statemen," as . wrong and likely to lead to
injurious consequences. In its issue of the
B . th it says:
Takep . in connection with the attitude of
renewed. resistance to the authorities which
the free State nien, in Kattsas, are assuming
—the counsels from ardent political :cadets
and presses in the Northern and - Eastern.
States, exhorting them to decline all partici
pation .in the election, and to set at defiance
the Territorial authorities, and the indication,
on the other side, of the purpose of the pro-,
litvery faction to take advantage of these
circumstances,- and - push their Own projects
to speedy consummation--it cannot fail to have
a disastrous
.effect upon the condition and
prospects of Kansas."
The Times, is the only Opposition print,
that has the courage to condemn the conduct
of the " Gee State party." The Tribe 'rind
its followers justify the course of that ‘aity,
.and we believe would secretly rejoice to have
Kansas seek admission into the Union with a
Constitution tolerating slavery. Those who
encourage a policy calculated to produce
such a result, must be regarded as favorable
to it.
---+~ -
The County .ccperintendencj•.
Pursuant t(:) the directions of the Act of
May 1854, the School Directors of Susifa
County are notified to meet at the Court
House in Montrose, May 4th, and siiect a
person of "literary and scientific attainments,
and skil land experience ill the art of teachin , g,
as County Superintendent fur the three. suc
ceeding years." They arc al-o required to
determine the compensation which such per
son shall receive for his seivices.
We have always doubted the utility of the j
law, creating the, office of County Superin
tendent ; .it seemed to us that by it a consid
ratable sum of atouey was annuallyextraeted
him the pockets, of the people, without any
visible or adequate return. By the terms • of
the School act of '54 the directors are required
to employ tli'd teachers And exercise a general
supervision of the schools . in their respective
districts; also to direct what brandies shall
be taught, and what -books used in said
schools. Upon the directors also devolves the
duty, of reporting to the County Supeinten
dent the number and situation of the Schools
in. their districts; the character and nuinber
of teachers employed; number of months in
the year during which each school shall have
been kept open; and amount of school - tax
levied and collected. Fur the discharge of
th - ese duties the direct Ors are not compensa
ted ; and yet it is quite evident that the ag
gregate labor performed by them, is nearly, if
not Wily equal to. the sertiees rendered by
the County Supeointendent. Would it not,
then, be mole just, to reward these directors,
"for their labors, and Wose upon theM the
additionar duty of examining the teachers ?
There are men in every township in this
county, fully competent to perform the duties
which the-present law requires of the Super
intendent. Besides it is impossible fur that
officer to visit all theschools each'terru; and
if these'official visits ale beneficial to teachers
and pupils, why not so arrange the system
that-each school may be'protited be them ?
Coinpensate the directors- reasonably, and
make it their duty to perform the services
now rendered by the Supetintendent, and : me
are confident that the subOols would notsuf
fer by the diseontinuance of that office. •
Bit. - the convention to which reference is
made at the beginning of-this article is not
called upon to approveor condemn, the pres
ent school system; its duty, in obedience to
to the law, is to select a competent person as
County Superintendent. • While the lawis in
force it. is proper to execute it iu letter and
spirit, and to . give it a fair trial. B. F.-
Tenksbury, the present county Supeiinten
dent, was elected to till the vacancy occasHoned
by the resig-nation of . Mr. Richardson; and so
far as we laa , fe learned hat devoted himself to
the duties of his office with commendable in
dustry and perseverence. —His qualifications
for the place are'griod, and le has manifested
much inteiestin the cause to which he has
been officially devoted.. We understiv a ri th a t
he is a 'candidate for re•election. It will be
the citt.tyof the eonvention . to consider wheth
er the purpose of the law would not be par
tially defeated by selecting a new man, for the
office, every three years. A man. who bits
served in this capacity must necessarily haie
much valuable. experience. We make these
suggestions with no aisposition to dictate to
the convention, but fair -the purpose of culling
attention to the
. subject, and awakening - a
spirit of inquiry.
It is proper to state that that portion of
these crudely expressed views, questioning
the utility of the school law, in its present
shape, does not meet the approval of the junior
editor and he is not therefore responsible for
them.
nr" The following resolution was passed
at a mass meeting of the oppogplon at Hat
iiaburg, called to ratify the nominations of
Wilmot, Millward, Veech and Lewis. I
Resorted, That an Amendment of our nut
ticalization laws is essential to the preservation
of our vitality as a nation, and our happiness
as a people; and that we - wilt join no party
and support no man for office, unless pledged
to this measure.
They nest resolve that they are highly
plstiwid with the nomination of . - Wilmot for
Governor, and that he is distinguished for
his devotion to the ". interests-represented by
the American and Republican parties:" Pro-
bably the Republicins will labor to satisfy its
leaders that: Wilmot, :only represents- the
shriekers. lieighbor, don't forget, to tell diem
that he is a ,gird friend to at: aineadnaent Of
the naturalisation laws.
Wilmot at Howe.
The Republican of last week in comment.'
ing upon our notice of the neglect of tire late
fusion gathering at this - place, to ratify the
nomination
. 6f Wilmot for Governor,. says
that "that. formality was unnecessary," that'
"the nomination had been already ratified in'
the bear ts of the people, and will be re-ratifi,
ed next October, when old Susquehanna will
give Wilmot a larger majority than she
gave Fremont." Notwithstanding this sweep. -
ing declaration of Wilmot's. organ, we are
unable to discover the propriety of the silence
of the shriekers of" my district." Those
very obsequious individuals. have heretofore
eulogized. petted and flattered their present
standard bearer, without stint. If in ;the
character of a high private," be deserved
their elogiums, he is certainty entitled to re
spectful notice, when appointed to carry their
flag and lead then) to—certain . defeat. •The
absurd assertion that be - will receive in this -
County a larger majority than did Fremont,
is caleu'ated to excite the visibilities o( all
observing men, whether his political friends,
or foes. ' Fremont was a candidate when the
storm of sectionalism was at its height; when
the passions• and sympathies of men were
aroused by the rantingg
_and the falsehoods
of black republican captains ; when that slow
traveller, truth, was practically outlawed in I
this County, by the clamors of the " free-
Kansas" and free speech" demagogues that
infested it. The " sober second thought" of
the people has not benefitted the cause of the!
factious and revolutionary patty. ; and David]
Wilmot as the head and • front of that cause
in this section, need nut hope to . rival Fre
mont, Much less excel him in the estimation
dour independent voters. It is incorrect to
suppose that Wilmot mill receive a larger.
vote in this county, than would any ether
Man of that party.. Simon Cameron . , hereto.:
fore odious in this community, if chosen to
bear the - black repnblivan banner, would ob
tain nearly a full vote of the opposition, be- .
carts;. its leaders are more devoted to plunder,
than principle. Of course. there are honest
I men, of the " rank and tile" who under a de
lusion, voted fur Fremont, but will not support
;- and we predict 'that Gen. Packer
williCceive a larger proportion of. the
polled in this eOunty, than did Mr. Buchan
an. A! -, :rin, our neighbor declares that" his
(Wiltnot's) course on the Bomb, has been
such as to give the people generally, without,
distinction of party, full confidence iu
Ability and integrity:" This is incorrect, for
-in the very nature of things, the judge who
continually mixes in political contests, des
troys the confidence of ,he public in his its
partiality, and hi ability to decide properly
between friends and foes— A more bitter par
tisan than DaviSWilmet, does not live; and
for his strong passions an d pry e di aes he is
justly • eminent. And ;hall it be said th a t
such a titan, cart deeide impartially between
bitter political enemies and warm partizan
friends. Such a supposition would be nnrea- .
sortable, and argue that Wilmot - is possessed
o f qualities, fur which the public has - never
vet given him credit. Ills - most devoted
friends will not pretend that he is an aecom
lashed legal scholar , and tlity must admit
that his ability for the Proper discharge of
the duties of a judicial station is very limit
ed.. It cannot be elaiMeltivit he is both an
able and impartial-Judge. 11 impartial and
honest, he has on several occ:i•ions, eVegi
owly Mistaken the law.
IIMEMMI=1:11E1
Arc -• egracs Citizens ?
The storm of vulgai abuse.• rbich has
rrreeted,the recent de . cision . of the Supreme
Court in the Dred Scutt ease, has led to an
ex amination of the record on th e subject . of
the citizenship of negroes.. It is found that
the question 'has been repeatedly,decided and.
always one waf. Indeed Justice McLean; in
his dissenting opinion, does not take issue
with the Cotirt on this point.- lit 18 . 21 Mr.
Wirt, then Attorney General of the United
States, was-called on .by the Secretary of
the Treasury for nn opinion as to "whether
free persons of color are, in. Virginia, citizens
of the United States, within the intent and
meaning of the. acts - regulationg the foreign
and coasting trade, so as to be qualified to
command vessels?" The following -extract
occurs in his' reply :
"Looking to the Constitntiou as thettand
ard of 'meaning, it seemes very Manifest that
no person is included in the cies7ription of
citizen of the United Sates wlio has not the
full right of a citizen in the-State of his resi
dence. ALiong other proofs of this; it will
be s.....incient to 'advert 1.6 the constitution
al provisivu that "the citizens of each State
shall be entitled to all theAirivileges and
immunities of citizens in the several .'
. States
Now if a person burn and residing in-Yirgin
ia, but possessing none 'of the high cbarac-.
teristic provisions of a. citizen of the state, is,
nevertheless a citizen of Virginian the.sense
of the Constitution,then, qn his - removal. to
anothm State, he acquires all the tremunities
and priivileges of a citizen of that State, al
though he possessed none of, them in the
State of his nativity ; a consequence which
certainly could not have bon in the contem
plation of the Convention. Again : the only
qtai4cation required by the Constitution to
render a person eligible as President ' Senator
or,ltepresentative of the .United States; is,
that be shalt be a 'citizen, of the United
States'.of a given' age and residence. Free
negroes and mulatttks, can satisfy the requisi•
tiou of age 'and residence as well as the white
man; and if nativity, residence, and allegi
tice
combined, [without the rights and privi
leges of a white man] are sufficient to make
him a citizen of the United. States' in. the
sense of the Constitution,
.then free negroes
and mulattoes are eligibe to those high offi
ces, and may command the. purse and sword
of the nation"
Mr. Wirt, afterfurther discussing the aub.
ject, states his cOnclusiou in the following
vex& : - '
" Upon the -whole, I arii . of the opinion that
free persons of color in . li r irginiti are not citi:
zees of the United §tites, within :the intent
and meaning of_tha acts regtilating foreign
nvd "coaittingtrade, so as to be Analified to
corniiiinf v.esaelti." _ , .
In 1834, in - pious Connecticut, now devot
ed to '"Fremont and freedat%*- the question
wai decided the same aril , by Chief Justice
Daggett; and his = deeision his never been 're
versed, nor questioned hut itt - stltl the law, in
that State, sit is in ovary:Stitt*. The:cwea
In which the point arose was as (Q110,8;10*
Prudence Crandall set up a-SchOol at. Can- .
terbury fur eolored.childre% and had Miring
her,pupils some from 'other States. -The Leg
islattire passed a law -Probibi
,sebools Ter
the-instruction of colored perstit...Wher.wero
not residents of that State," on the ground
that it "'would tend to the great itietense of
the.colored population otthkState,and tfiere
by to the iojary. of.the•peOpfti"
. toder - one
of the provisions of thiSqtw Miss Crandall
was i"dieled,and the case finally came - before
Chief Justice Daggett„whre the question
was raised by the counsel of Miss Crandall
that the law was' void tinder the Ist , Subdi
vision of Section 2 of 4ricic 4 of the Consti
tution of the Unitnd State=, which provides
that:— •
•
_ .
"The citizens of each State shall . be enti
tled to all privileges and itnninnities of citi
izens in the several States."
This brought up the point directly . and die
tinctly. alto following is Judge .Daggett'a
reasoning and - decision :
" Arefrec blacks citizens has been in
geniously said, that vessels may be owned
and navigated by free blacks,
and the Amer
ican flag will protect them ; - liut you Will re
member that the statute.
_which Makes 'that
provision, is an het of Congress,-and' not the
Constitution. Adthit, if yon••pleae, that Mr.
Chalice, a respectable merchant, has owned
vessels, and sailed them under the American
flag ; yet this does not prove 'him such a-cit
izen as the Constitution contemplates. But
that question stands undecided by any Legal
tauttal Within my knoWled t ze. • Fur tlte,pur
pose of this case, it is not necessary to deter- _
tine that question. , •
• "It has been alsoltrg-ed, that as, colored
persons may commit treason, they must be
consideredeitizeni. Every person
.boin in
in the United States, as well as every pers
who may reside here, owes•allegiamie cf ‘ some,
sort to the governMent because the govern
ment constitutionally affords him sire
protection. Treason against this government
consists in levying war against the govern
ment of the United States,.or aiding its,. ene
my in time of war. Treason may be., ,1 ,C0m - -
witted, by persons who ate not entitled to
the elective franchise. For if they reside un
der the protection of the government, it
would be treason to levy war against -that
government, as it would if they were 'citizens.
I think Chancellor. Kent, Whose aulhori
ty it gives me pleasure to quote, determines
this question by fair jtuplication. II:id , this
authority \ considered free blacks citizens, he
had an ample cipportunity to say sO. But
what lie has said excludes that idea :
kin most of the United States, there is a ,
tinction in respect to political privileges between
free white persons and free colored persons of
African blood; and in no part of the country do
the latter, in point of fact, participate equally
with the whites. in the exercise of,eivil and po
litical rights. The African race are essentially
a degraded caste, cf interior rank and condition I
in societc. Marriages are forbidden betwceit
them and the whites, in sonic of the States, and
when not absolutely' cantrary to law, they are
and . regarded as an offence against
public decorum: By the revised. Statutes in
Illinois, Published in 18:29, marriages between 1
whites and negroes, or mulattos, arc declared I
void, and the persons so married are liable to be
whipped, tint4l and imprisoned. By an old stat
ute of Massachusetts, of 1705, such marriages
arc declared void, and are so still. A similar
statute provision exists in Virginia apd Nokh
Carolina. Such" convection in France and
Germany, constitute the most degraded s9te of
coneubinage, which is known to the civil law.
But they are not legal marriages, because the
parties want that equality or state of condition,
which is essential to the contract."-2 Bent's
Comm. :MS.
‘• Igo back 'further still. When the Con
stitution of-the. United Sates was•adopzed,
every State (Massachusetts excepted) tolerated
slaverv. And in some of the States, 'down to
a !ate period, se,vere laws have been kept in
force regarding slaves: With respect to New
Yolk, at that time, her laws, and penalties
were severe indeed; , and it was not - until July
4th, 1827, that this great State was ranked
mow* it, free States.
" TO 7 c-. '
y mind it would be a perversion 'tof
terms, and the well known rule of construe
ion, to, say, that slaveS. free blacks,. Or In
dians, were citizens,. within the meaning of
that term as:toed in the Constitution.. God
forbid that. I should add to the depredation
of this•race of men;'but I am bound, by:'my
duty, ts i liPtitisy are not citizens.
"1' have thus shown you that this law is not
contrary to the 2d section of the . 4th, Art. of
the Constitution of the United State=, fur
that embraces only citizens.",
In 183Erthe Suprimie Court of Terinessee
made'a similar decision, in which the point
is stated as follows:
"Free blacks are not citizens within the
meaning of the provisions of the - Constit don ;
of the United States, 'Art. 4, Sec. 2, ; th a t th e
citizens of each State
.shail bo entitled to all
the priv i.:;:g•es and immunities of- citizens in
the several Suites." •
.As recently as last November the State
Department refused passports to a company
of 'negro tninistrek who were going' to Eu
rope, on the.express ground. that they.' were
not citizens under the Constitution, • - a -- pass.
port being a certificate of citizenship. After
resiewing the *decisions on the. subject the
the Assistant Secretary of State concludes
his reply to the applicantas follows:.';
. ' 4 ( The Secretary directs me to say, that
though the department could not certify that
such persons are eitizens4f the United States,
yet, if satisfied. of the truth of the facts, it
- would give a certificate that they weie•born
in the United States, are free; and that the'
gOvernment thereof would regard it to be its
duty, to protect them if wronged by a for- -
eign government while within its.juriidietiOn .
fur a legal itiid - proper purpose:: - •
. I ata, sir, respectfully, your ob't serv't,
J. A. THOMAS,
. Assistant Secretary."
11. 11. RICE,
New York City."
. This revie w of the gnestio rt
•
is sufficient to
show that no new principle has :been ad;.
vtthced by the - Supreme Qom' ;—that it rim
ply 'declares - the law as it has always been
held; that no right_or privilege of the negro,
which he had before has beau invaded by ft,
and as to fseedorn or slavery it has nothing to
do 'with it. • Itis-safficient:•to 'thew we think
that the noise .vrbieh has been raised over it is
equally wicked and •witheut cau,e. - - ' -
_.
Direct Irons Kama's.
Under . the above caption the Peansylvaniari
of Tue'sday, 1 4tb inst.,.has thefoilowing :
Col; Richard 13. Jones, of the Exbange Ilo
tel; baa just returned from 'a dying eisit to
Miami. Ile says that the•country peacea
ble and ; quiet; and that, the , utmost surprise
was mutilated among the alibotaiitial rent
dents of the Territory; that they ibould-have
been so , trosdy nrisrepresented in the Eastern
prem.. : A number of. thein td,cre much vativ
vied at.,thei, , ,hasiy- runner 14. wbi o i k Gi t y•
Chary ,
left-them; and attribute to hint serious
moons for so doing. The Colonel passed
throUghlthe: -, border.:iegiens i . .'th a t
there: is net "the leaSt'obstanle'i laced inthe
way of emigrants:;..OU",thecontrary, all 'they
tiew town; and there: aie - nunthels of thlie,
welconne' them tnerSt heartily., - _ 'There tVa;nd
border yliftimnsna,, and • all the trouble:4olst
h a d taken ',thee were Onused - by the tnist4ett
notions' of a fsw-Northern #lTti.SOLltilem
ics, .who have now had their day. - 11'heptit
'Cation of the people generally was - turned
agriculture, and an earnest desire to sneke
th e Terriiory what it should have
.been jongr
sineeione of the garden spots of the country ;
Nature favors 4.he prejebt, and it only:requircs
the art of mart t\J
•►d.evelopit. Thdpeople on the,.
borders are kind and iuktiitable;.and . live is
the gotiti.old style of Mir fathers of the ileve:
,lotion. The country, the Colonel.sisttires!ntr i •
presents' every inducement for 'the, thrift*
farmer and ineultanic . to Ile, stopped.
a. few days et: Lesivenwolth . Oty; . which is
about 400 „miles above :St. Louis;. and was
much pleased to gee with whist n
.hearty - good
Will the honest- pioneers,- from the_ Forth and
the South were received. „ThiSCit;y: - eontains
about one thoiisaint inintikantly eta 4 situ
ated on high &omt on the bank....of
while .the country around, as :far es the eye
can reach, presents the richest., ground for
agricultural purposes that can be found itrthe
• Union,- 'The.Plsnter's lintel, MA-his city, is
a tine brick . building, four stories 111gb,,rnid
capable of accommodating twOhimdred-per
soni. The fare (and .the Colonel lsa ftidge)
is eseellent, and. - the transient, charges c are
two dollars per day:, •
All the the other !rouses are frame,:and- built
with . a* ••good eye to taste, - Here Colonel
Jones . met . d good number of Pliladelphiani, -
and speaks in the highest terms- elate - 11os pi-.
tality extended to strange's by - th.
Jones, - G. W. Clayton; C. ClaYtpu„ and a host
of others. Ile met young Kershaw, (a son
of the well•know ice man in this city,) :who
desired, to, be remembered to , hiS.friend*:at
home. • , • •
. .
There is rota single brilzklnalter in Lase
enworth, 'aad the :soil is adarrea to , the Inane'
ufactu-re.of the liaest pressed brick.
„This,o-*1
fens opportunity for some or. ouryoung,-
hard-working and; iaduw.rions -briek 7 rnakers.
Besides, 'neut.:Yaks of
,all. kiaa , A.are,wanted.
The Colonel , speaks . in glowing terms Of the
new towns that. are-springiug up aloiig the
says all that is - wanted to inatke
a great country is honestindust.y;and let-the
people (as they do now) think end fee' .
themselves. - „.
This statement - of Col..:Sonea..-stipports
Geary's Address in sf yery -particular: i r Theri
can be, no doubt that -peace and order reign
in Kansas at, the present time; rind
tion fanatics and Southern "fire eaters" out
side of the territory will be content -to :let
the actual settlers determine the charatitet
of their; domestic institutions; forthunselves . .
there will be no difficulty hereafter. •
: From the Newark Eit o ide . .
. .
11.11614 king Skaiia Free
kee States.
One would - supp , from their ravings and
ti V
denunciations tha the• Black -Republicans or
the Seward school never favOredlkhe doctrine
just affirmed by 'the U. S. CO4tt; ,that the
owners of slaVes may travel with their slaves
into non-slave territory.and bring their - slaves •
away with them. • -Nevertheless: they once
occupied th 6 position. The very doctrine
just laid down be Jude Taney, tvacasserted
and advocated by Mc. S. id 1838: ~
The E•sex, county Republicinc.(one: of the
most intelligint:inanall in the State of New:
York,) makes some awkWatd citations ron
this point. It ielets to the fact that in 18313,
'when Mr. Seward was running. for Governer,
an anti-: laver,y meeting Was held :-itt . Uticah,
at -which a resok e was passed to interrogate
Mr. Seward and Mr. Marcy. also a candidate,
in regard to the tepeal!oima laW of the,:State _
which permitted a slave!helder,.to reside • for
a limited period`-in the State •• of --New ::York
without forfeiting the:slaves htx : brotight with
him. Both returned answers agailisribe re ,
peal of the law: Before giving the essential
porttonS of Mr. Seward's itiplr, we will .quote
the law to :whin' it is related.: ' . -
' " Any pertton not being. nu inhabitant .of
this State, who shall be travelling to or from
or passing through ibis State, may bring:with.
him, any person lawfully held by him-in slav
ery and may to each fierson with him. from
this State, but(.the person so held in. slavery
shall not reside or' continue In
.this -State
more than nina-inotrihs,-and if snob residence
be continued beyond this time; such person
shall' be free.! .
:Tho.Committee consisted of .Gerrit Smith
and Wm. Jay, to whom Mr. Seward returned
for answer, relative to the above, a letter of
which the following is the essential
• " But, gentlemen, being desiretwtó be en
tirely candid ir.• tliis co - inmfinicationi if is
proper to-say that lam - not' - e \ onvieted it
won Li be either wise r 'expedient or Atm - Kt - 4. to
declare to our fellow citizens of •the. -sour :hero
and southeastern States, that if they triti . geto
'or front, or pass through the. Stitte.orNew
York,.they'- - shall nos.hritig with thelitilat-
tendatits . whom custom er . edueation Or habit
may have 'rendered - necessary .'tol therm. I
'itare.not been able to discoverranygoed. - oh-.
jeet to be attained -by such .an act
certainly can tcork o:injury.tO.ns
nor. Win it be i jurii,irsto the. •; \ 0rt.07206 \
ino held in bondage to perm k them awe \I
perhaps in their lives, and at on . -ecca
dons few and thr between,.to.vi.. ;'Cotnitry
where slavery is unknown'. an . .e.ben - 'con
ceive of bekfits.to the greaecati - se , "'Of :human
liberty, from the cultivation thisinterrOuile
with: the' South" • - •'
* • * ' * * i• - _l,
"I will not press the consideration flowing
from the nature of our Union,aud tho nalltnal
cOncestiotis on %Olio]) it was founded; against
the pmpriety of such an isoinsion -as- your .
qtiestion contemplates;aßpaienilY forthe - Tux-.
pose only of avoiding- , an intplication:-. not
founded in facts-and Which the , 'histnry;
our State so nobly contradict!k. - ii issufficient
to soy that such an ezetusion 'CouLtt , hues nu.
good ejFectllractically, and. would accoripliak
nothing to the great cause of human titetty."'
Striking Itacfc.
Gov.,Pollock has • some plunk - in hime4-...
From the contemptuous manner in which
many of his political - associates spoke of him,
and his apparent want of all.: manly- resent
ment - for their insults, we:had - got to regard
him of, no account., a n reutu re'with to mind
of his own, who would allow even his-: per
secutors by bravado to dictate the diantOl of
the executive patrorrage. - ; But we , haCe
deriate.d him in' that respect._ --IC seemi'lle
net'so abjeet th.A. he can be trodden upoh.by
eVerybody with 'impunity. :Ile - has ;sheirn
thaCbi is - not altogetLeilost_ to tv proper
or mlishood and self-resPect. ; •
The - late rnoligiel ConVention at Itirria
burgtreated him moo, slogiefully: IC was
'composed Of the represematives of all thefao
lions that had made' him Geviirniiii 'they as-,
aimed - atilt to-occupy the -- sime pettiticin be
fore:the coo ittry---- being thaC or hi's : -
ti ity to the betrtooracy,ln that, lie wits With
them to the utmost was ; ,their
itad t by:allcommon deaconof and
theluniforw practicemf Teat',
,
tied fo itortre-frierfdlY'reeognititin,',fe- lade'
ihittgAise (Ina a, itOruftil, tontempt.
But'thefitawial'him brilthotitlhtkilightrt.
notice a cruel insult to any man, hilt espenk,