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THE STAR OF THE NORTE
R. W. Hearer Proprietor.] Trath aid Right God aid Mr Coaatry. [Two Dollars )ef itinrn
VOLUME 7.
THE STAR OF THE NORTH
It PUBLISHED EVBBT THURSDAY MORNING BY
K. W. WEAVER,
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WOMAN'S EIGHTS.
At a publio meeting closing the recent
woman's Rights Convention at Boston,
Ralph Waldo Emerson delivered an appro
priate oration, for a report of which we are
indebted to the Boston Traveler: Tbe oration
was full of mythio grandeur and nonsense,
but redeemed by passages of great beauty
and brilliancy. On the whole, it told far
more against the cause, than for it. To at
tempt an abstract, for which alone, we should
have space at disposal to-day, would be to
do injustice alike lo the lecturer and his
theme. He said that he shared in the belief
ot the Anglo Saxon Race, that woman has a
rational nature, that they are more delicate
than men, and as the more impressionable
they are the best index of the coming hour.
As more dehoste Mercuries of imponderable j
influences, what they say and think were
the shadows of future events. Man was will,
woman was sentiment. In the ship of hu
manity. wilt was (he rudder, sentiment the
sail; and when woman attempts to steer, the
rudder was only a masked sail. The life of
the affections was primary to them, so that
there is really no employment or career, they
will not with their own applause, or that of
society, quit for a suitable marriage. (Laugh
ter.) They cast all their iortuues on the die,
and lose themselves entirely in the glory of
their husband's children, while man stood
bewildered by a magnanimity which he
could not attain to. It was cue (said Mr.
Emerson,) that in painting, poetry an J sculp
ture. woman had not ye: produced a master;
and he then proceeded to point out the re
spects in which lay their peculiar excellence.
The first of these were the powers of conver
sation. They furnished society with man
ners. The second attribute was their cere
monial nature. They embellished trifles.—
An ox ran to the water when thirsty, or to
bis corn, regardless of obstacles, and said no
thanks: but man delays ;he paints the de
sired object all over with forms; he invent
ed majesty, etiquette, courts, drawing-rooms,
architecture, dress, elegance, privacy ; he
ctea'.ed dignities, the union of sexes; and
how should we better measure the gulph
between the best intercourse of mar., in old
Athens, Lundon, or our American capitals—
between that and the hedgehog existence of
the diggers ol worms and caters of oflal—
than by signalizing just this department of
taste and comeliness ? yet herein woman
was the prifne genius and ordainer. There
was no g-uce taught by the master of man
ners, no style adopter! in the etiquette of
courts, but was first the aetion of some brill
iant, who charmed the beholders by this
new expression, Which man copied; and he
tanght that tve ahoulJ magnify their ritual
manners. There was no advantage without
compensation. Woman was more vulnera
ble, more infirm than man. They could not
be such elegant artists iu the element of fan
cy if thay did not give themselves to it
They were poets who believed their own
poetry —they dwell more than man in the
kingdom of illusion' They admitted into
their atmosphere waves over wiives of col
ored light, and they saw all objects through
those warm tinted fnlsis which envelope
tham. But the'slarry crown of woman, the
throne of her affection and sentiment, and
the infinite enlargement lo which they lead,
was the passion of love—painter and adorn
er of ne.v and early life ; but none suspected,
in its blushes and tremors, what tragedies
and immortalilirs were beyond it'. Mr. Em
erson tben went on to sbow that aa society
had progressed, so had woman's position
changed and improved; and concluded by
saying that ha did not think it yet appeared
that women wish an equal share in public
affair*. Butitwastbey, and not we, who
were to determine it. (Applause.) If we
refused them a vote, we sbontd refuse to lax
tbem; according to our Teutonic principles,
no representation, no tax. At alt events, this
uprearing of new opinions in many minds,
was a wonderful fact. Whatever is popular
is important as showing the spontaneous
sense of tbe hour, for the aspiration of this
century will be the code of the next. A mas
culine woman was not strong, but a lady is.
The loneliest thought, th* poorest prayer, is
rushing to be tbe history of a thousand years.
Lat u* have the true woman, the adorner,
tb* ceremonial, the hospitable, the religious
heart; and no lawyer need be called in to
writs tbe stipulations with cunning clauses
of provisions and strong instruments. Then,
be ought to say, be thought it impossible lo
separate tha education and interests of the
sexes. Improve end refine the msn, and
you do the same by the woman, whether you
will or no. The slavery of woman began
when men were the slaves of kings. Tbe
amelioration of manners had brought wom
an's amelioration, of oonrae; hence this
bugs (desire of belter laws. This new move
raeat, he said, in conclusion, be looked at as
a tie shared by th* spirits of men and woman,
and they might proceed in faith, that what
ever woman's heart was prompted to desire,
men's mind was simultaneously prompted to
accomplish. [Applause.)
BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 1, 1855.
SKETC-n OF IHE LIFE AND SER
VICES OF OR, KANE.
WE consider ihis a particularly appropriate
time to give a brief sketch of the life of Dr.
Kane, now that he is before the world in a
more conspicuous position than he has ever
occupied before. He in Philadel
phia, on the 3d of February, 1822, so that he
isMt present about thirty-three years old. In
1843 he graduated, after a seven years'
course of studies, at the Pennsylvania Medi
cal University, and soon after he entered the
United Stales navy as assistant surgeon.— |
While acting in this capacity he was appoint- j
eJ as physician in the first embassy to China
from this country. His naturally adventurous
disposition led him to project a visit to the
interior, but the difficulties were so numer
ous that be could not accomplish bis purpose
as fully as he desired. He, however, suc
ceeded in traveling over a large section of
the country , and before his return he visited
the Philippines, Ceylon and other islands in
that region, and even succeeded in penetra
ting into the interior of India, bis travels
through which were full of adventures and
perils; but perils to a man of Doctor Kane's
temperament appear only to have the effect
of making them more attractive. While in
India, he descended the crater of the Tael of
Lerzon, suspended by a bamboo rope from
a projecting crag which hovered above the
interior scoria and debris, over two hundred
feel. This act of daring nearly cost him his
life, for the natives regarded it as a sacrile
gious act, which could only be effaced by
the death of the suspicious offender. Doctor
Kane, however, eluded their pious vengeance,
and afterwards went to the Sandwich Islands
with the celebrated Baron Lee, of Prussia,
where he was attacked by a whole tribe of
the savuge inhabitants of those islands.—
Against these he successfully defended him
self ; but the hardships he and his compan
ion subsequently underwent were more than
the letter could endure, and he sunk under
them. Dr. Kane aIoRS passed over to Egypt,
ascended the Nile as far as the confines of
Nubia, and remained during a whole season
among the ruins of ancient Egypt, io anti
quarian research. Leaving Egypt, he visit
ed Greece next, which he traversed on foot,
reluming to the United States in 1846. Whon
he atrived his love of adventure would not
allow him to temain inactive, and he appli
ed, almost immediately after his return, to
the government for a commission to Mexico.
Failing to obtain this, he accepted an ap
pointment on board oi a United States vessel,
bound to the African coast. Arriving there,
he could not resist the temptation to see the
slave marts of Whydah, but was met on his
journey by that terrible enemy of the white
man, the African fever. He was brought
home in a state of extreme ill health and
emaciation ; but although almost unable to
move, he made his way to Washington, from
Philadelphia against the earnest entreaties of
his family, presented himself with shaven
head and tottering limbs to President Polk,
and demanded what had been before refused
to him, a commission to Mexico. The Pres
ident fcould not deny his request, and entrus
ted him with important despatches for the
Commander-in-Chief, General Scolt. He
was given aa an escort through Mexico the
notorious company of Colonel Dominguez,
who started with him at Vera Cruz. As they
were approaching Nopalues, near Puebla,
they were informed by a Mexican that a
large botiy of Mexican soldiers were on their
way to intercept them, and at that time were
but a short distance off. Dominguez refus
ed to proceed ar.y further, and was about re
treating, when Dr. Kane commanded him to
remain with him, threatening the vengeance
of his government if hi* company should
leave him. Having succeeded in prevent
ing him frnm turning bis back upon the en
emy, he finally induced him to attack them.
Placing himself at the head of his escort,
Dr. Kane took advantage ol a raising ground
to sweep down upon the Mexicans, who
were then thrown into confusion by the in
trepidity of his charge. Rallying, however,
they made a stout resistance, and it was not
until after a severe skirmish that they were
defeated, and the principal part of tbem ta
ken prisoners. These consisted of a number
of distinguished officers in the Mexican ar
my, who were on their way to join thair
commander. Among them was Uen. Torre
jon, who led the cavalry 41 Buena Vista, and
Major General Antonio Gaona and his son.
The latter was dangerously wounded by Dr.
Kane, who, in a personal encounter, ran him
through the body with his sword. When the
skirmish was over, the Doctor, finding that
bis antagonist was seriously injured hRd re
course lo bis surgical skill to save his life,
and the result proved that it was of no ordi
nary ol.aracter. Wi'h no other instrument
than the bent prong of a fork and a piece of
packthread, he tied up an artery from which
the life of the young soldier was fast ebbing,
and placed him in a condition that he could
be conveyed safely to Puebla. No sooner,
however, had he concluded this humane act,
than he was informed by young Gaona that
he overheard Dominguez say he would lake
the life of hit father, because he bad, at one
time, put bira in prison. Dr. Kane instantly
interfered, placed himself between bis escort
and hia prisoners, and threatened -to shoot
the first man who attempted the life of Ma
jor Gaona. Dominguez became infuriated,
ordered hia men to ebarga; bat the first man
of the company, named Pallaseoz, fell before
the fire of Dr. Kaue, who plied hia revolver
with fetal effect upon all who came within
ita reach. With a severe lance wound in
hie thigh, he managed to keep them at bay,
and aaved his prisoners from their fury until
he arrived in Puebla, where they were placed
under tbe charge of Col. Cbilds. Dr. Kane,
whose wound were very serious, was de
tained here for many days, during which he
was attended and norsed with the most ten
der care by the family of Major Gaona, who
is now among the most ardent friends and
admirers of our noble and gifted country
man. There is one thing in this romantio
adventure which we should not omitlo men
tion. Dr. Kane thought, and still thinks,
more of the surgical skill which he display
ed at that skirmish than of his capturing the
prisoners, or defending them from the treach
ery of bis escort.
The Esquimaux Indians and thsir Habits of
Life —Curious Hospitaliiy of Their Women—
Mure Interesting Particulars.
One of our reporters has had a further talk
with one of the offioers of the Kane expedi
tion, and has learned the following facts re
lating to the Esquimaux Indiana and other
matters:—
The first lime that the party came in con
nection with the Esquimaux was in March,
1854, about tbe time when the long winter
night comes to a close, and when there are
two or three hours of natural tight in the
twenty-lour. The ship was visited by nine
of these Indians, each driving a sledge drawn i
by eight or ten Esquimaux dogs. These
sledges are of a peculiar construction. They
are between four and five feet long and lour
teen inches wide. The body is made of
pieces of tbe walrus tusks and of tbe born of
the natvahl or unicorn, cut into pieces of
about an inch long, and lashed together by
sinews. The runners are faced with the
ivory of the narvahl's horn. The Esqui
maux are very ingenious, and manage to
bore holes by means of a drill worked in a
hole in tbe front tooth. The sledges are thus,
on account ol the labor bestowed on them,
very valuable, and are bequeathed from fa
ther lo son as a most precious legacy. It is
no uncommon circumstance, when the com
munity want to get rid of a bad and lazy
member who has a good sledge and team of
dogs, to induce him to go out on a hunting
expedition, and when at a great distance
from land to take away hia sledge and spear
him. i
These Indians who visited tbe Advance
had some walrus meat to dispose of, which
they did for jackknives. They were, how
ever, very shy and timid; but Dr. Kane and
Mr. Peterson, the interpreter, went out to
meet them, and at length overcome their ti
midity, and induced them to come on board.
The Esquimaux settlements are some for
ty miles apart, and generally consist of but
two or three huts, containing a population of
eighteen or twenty. These huts are gener
ally built of massive stones, some of them
several tons weight, and it is a matter ofsur- (
prise how they could have possibly got them
up. Like the sledggs, the huts are handed
down as most valuable property. Some of
them have been seen built of whalebone—
probably from a fish taken by them after be
ing killed by whalers. In summer tbey form
tents ot skins, and. at a pinch, of snow. Tbey
are hospitable, and fond of visiting, and so
these settlements keep up an interchange of
communication and live very happily. Their
huts are heated by means of stone lamps,
out by themselves out of a sort of soapstone,
fed with blubber, and with wick of ground
moss. By this means they manage to keep
up a tempera'ure of sixty degrees Fahren
heit, while the temperature out of doors is
as many degrees below zero. They usually
eat raw meats—the flesh of walrus and seal;
but when they do cook any thing or make
any soup—which they make very good—it
is by means of these lamps.
Their sleeping places are platforms, built
of stone, raised some eighteen inches from
the floor—so as to keep in the warm atmos
phere—and covered with grass taken from
islands at a distance. Their clothing con
sists of foX skin jumpers or ooat, with ao in
ner jumper of bird skin, the feathers inward;
bear skin trowsers, bear skin boots and bear
skin gloves. The dress of the women is sim
ilar to that of tbe tneu, except that the for
mer wear boots extending half way up lotbe
thigh, wbile those of the women do not ex
lend to the knee; and that the ladies also
wear a sack to their hoods, which tbey call j
uessak, in which they carry their children.— '
The men are of a medium size and stoutly
built, while the women are of a smaller stat
ure and slighter. Tbey do not practise the
Mormon habits of polygamy, but are, on tbe
contrary, extremely particular about (heii
matrimonial relations. This has been tbe
universal testimony of travelers who have
visited tbem. As with all savage nations,the
onus of the labor devolves upon the women.
Tbe men come in from (be bunt, throw
down the prey they have secured, walrus or
seal, and the women have then to go to work,
skin tbe animals, prepare the flesh for food,
extract the bones and prepare the sinews for
sewing purpose. One of the ordinary acts of
hospitality or civility on the part of tba ladies
is to lake a fowl, or piece of meat, chew it
up very nicely, and hand it to the visitor, who
is expected to be overcome with gratitude
and finish the operation of chewing. It
woukl give them dire oflence if tbere should
be any failure to do honor to ibis act of hos
pitality. In all other respects they exercise
to a remarkable degree the same virtue. Tbe
Esquimaux of the Northern region* profess
to bare a dread of going to the Danish set
tlements, lest tbey should be eaten by their
Southern brethren, while these last entertain
the same dread, and with more reason, ol
the Northern tribes. Those tribes, however,
which live as high up as the expedition pen
etrated, seem to be becoming gradually ex
tinguished, and we understand that Dr. Kane
has formed tbe philanthropic scheme of col-
lecting these people together. He proposes,
we are told, to gather them from the most
Northern regions and bribg them down to
the Danish settlements, where they can en
joy more comforts and be subject to leas vi
cissitudes.
The Esquimaux have a priest, whom they
call Anjekok, who performs marriages and
burial services, and is supposed to bavesome
influence over the heart. When a couple is
married, their friends have imposed upon
them, for a certain length of time, abstinence
Ironr. certain kinds of meats; and when a
young man or young woman dies, all the
young men and young women of the settle
ment are condemned to the same sort of ab
stinence. The priest is bslierad to have
power over the walrus and seal, and io a
limo of pressing scarcity lo be able to call
them up to the surfaoe of the water. Their
faith in the Anjekek is the ouly approach
they have to religious belief. They spend
their long winter of four months, total dark
ness, iu sleeping and eating, never going out
lo hunt unless pressed by necessity. They
have no sort of amusement except singing
and an accompanying motion of tba body,
which can hardly be designated dancing.—
Tbey do not use tobacco in any shaps, nor
do tbey smoke any other weed or root for the
purpose of stimulants, nor would tbey allow
any smoking in their huts. The children al
ways get a name seleoted from whatever sub
ject happens to be on tbe tapis in the pater
nal but when they are born.
Io Leavely or Godhaon, island of Disco,
; the population of 250 or 300 is composed
' principally of Esquimaux,pure and half blood.
They manage to keep up a good deal of so
cial enjoyment by means of dancing, singing,
and music. They have a peculiarly good
ear for music, and can manage to play on
the jewsharp or violin any air they hear.—
The women are said to be great rogues, il
not in stealing gentlemen's hearts, at least in
pilfering tin pots and plates, and anything of
that kind. We jaw one young gentleman
connected with the expedition, who had no
less than three specimens o' tbe hair of young
ladies of Leavely. One of them is dark as
the raven's wing, of the silkiest texture, and
came from the locks of a full blooded Esqui
maux ; ancther is dark brown, very fine, and
belonged to a half blood; and the third, of
golden color, and of equally fine texture,
showed unmistakeably the Dinah blood of
tbe lady's sire. We presume these love to
kens will be duly treasured, though not in
the National Museum at Washington. This
same gentleman baa a quantity ol skin* and
furs which he has brought home with him as
reminiscences ot" Greenland. But they will
have to be fumigated or to undergo some
other process of purification, for the Esqui
maux ladies, who have the tanning operation
in obarge, not being able to procure bark,
have recourse lo a liquid which answers as
well, but which careful chambermaids do not
tolerate the presence of in a room.
The Esquimaux never resort to the barba
rous mode of cutting off frostbil'en limbs.—
They apply to them a piece of rabbit skin,
and always of good effect. We are sorry to
see that one of the expedition lost his life by
the amputation of a frost bitten foot, and
that three others have had to suffer amputa
tion.
it may be a fact worthy of notice that Dr.
Kane went to the Arctic regions provided
with daguerreotype apparatus and plates, but
that from the peculiar nature of the atmos
phere no impression could be taken. These,
and a valuable collection of specimens of
natural history, geology, and casts of the Es
quimaux, with the libraries of Capt. Kane
and offioers, had to be left behind; but the
drawings reports, instruments and docu
ments of the expedition were preserved.
The highest acknowledgments are paid to
Dr. Kane, for the skill, ability, resoluteness
and care of his men wbicb be exhibited.—
When out on sleighing excursions, he took
his place in harness as well as the meanest of
his men; and when the Advance was finally
abandoned, he supplied them wild bread
made from bis own hands, traveling back to
the vessel to bako it in tbe stoves. This he
continued during the whole thirty days that
the party was en route io the open sea, and
he has traveled in his dog sleigh no less than
eight hundred miles on a stretch, calling on
his wa; at an Esquimaux hot, in rtbich four
of his men were sick, and depositing bread
with them. These same individuals he af-1
terivards carried id his sleigh, one by one, to
the main patty.
Nothing was too high for his scientific re
search, nor too mean for hia humane action.
He proved himself, indeed, a model comman
der; and the following form of prayer drawn
up by bim, and used on the starting and re
tarn of his expeditions, will show that he
did not neglect the spiritual welfare of hia
men:
X PRAYER, TO BE USED BY THOSE ENGAGED IN
THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION, A. D. 1853. .
O, Almighty and Most Merciful Lord God,
who didst create the heavens, the sea and
tbe dry land, and haat given to man wisdom
and skill to plan and to work, we, thy sinful
and dependent ereatures, would ever seek
thy pardon, thy guidance and thy protection.
We confess that we have often transgressed
thy laws, abused thy favors, aud forgotten
thy watchful care over us. We humbly be
seech Thee, let not our sins be now had in
remembrance against us, but pardon them
for the sake of Thy Son, onr Saviour, Jesus
Christ. Preserve us in our ptdsdnt voyage
from tbe dangers of tha saa, from sickness,
and from all fatal injuries. Make onr way
prosperous, and help as in the great work
that hes before us, so that onr labor* and
hardships may be rewarded with a good
treasure of sncceso in accomplishing the ob
jects of OUT undertaking, to the glory of Thy
holy name.
i Leave us not, we beseech Thee, to our
own conneel, but strengthen our various fac
ulties, bring all needful things to onr remem •
brance, and in every danger give us presence
of mind, skill, and power of arm to work ont
a deliverance. And do thou, O Lord, onr
Guardian and onr Guide, grant that we may
all return in safety to enjoy the blessings ot
the land and the fruits of our labor, and witb
a thankful remembrance of Thy mercies, to
praise and glorify Thy holy name.
O, Heavenly Father, we would oall to re
membrance before Thee, and commend to
Thy oare and favor our relations and friends
everywhere ; our benefactors, and especially
those whose benevolence, liberality and en
ergy have planned and filled out this enter
prise. And, finally, we beseech Thee to
comfort and succor all those who are in
trouble, sorrow, need, sickness or any other
adversity, especially each as may be expos
ed to tbe raging of the sea, or to dangers and
privations amidst tbe snows and ice. To all
travellers grant a safe return home; to all
wtrn are at sea, ih-t they may reach their
destined port; and to all who are tossed up
on the waves of this troublesome world, that
they may come to the haven ot salvation
and the land of everlasting life. All this we
ask through the merits and mediation of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in whose
blessed words we sum up our petitions, say
ing :
Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed
be Thy name ; Thy kingdom come; Thy
will be done on earth as it is in heaven ; give
us this day our daily bread, and forgive us
our trespasses, as we forgive tboso who tres
pass agaiesi us; aud lead us not into temp
tation, but deliver us from evil; for Thine is
the kingdom, and the power, and the glory
for ever and ever. Amen.
We give in another column an account of
Dr. Kane's fight with the Mexicans in 1848.
He still preserves tbe jacket which be wore
on that occasion ; and when he had lo aban
don other things of real value in lbe Ad
vanoe, he would not leave behind him that
old memento of bardfoughl field.
A weekly newspaper, nnder the title of
The Iceblink, was published on board for
some seven or eight weeks. It was in manu
script, and its motto was la tenebris servare
fidem —Sustain your trust, even ir. darkness.
A copy of it will be a historic memento
worth preserving.
Tbe expedition has only brought home
two dogs—one of them ah Esquimaux, who
was the leader, Or boss dog, as he was call
ed, of Dr. Kane's sledge; the other a very
intelligent animal of the Newfoundland
breed. Several good stories are told of tbe
sagacity of these animals. One of 'hem is
a very bard one, and we will not vouch for
its veracity. It said that 'the boss' would sit
quietly looking at the other dogs taking their
feed, when be would walk over quietly,
seize one of the best crammed by the back of
the neck, and make him disgorge, and then
indulge in the fruits thereof. If any one
doubts the story he may go over to the bark,
inquire for Toodla, and satisfy himself.
The whaling boat which the party carried
across the ice has been brought to New
York, much the worse for wear. One of
Francis' metatiio life boats which was pre
sented to Dr. Kane, proved to be of great
service, and was finally broken up bv the
natives lo saiisfy their curiosity as to what
was contained in the air chambers. The In
dia rubber boat was subjected to the same
analysis.
Great credit is due to Captain Hartstein for
the interest he exhibited in executing the
duties and attaining the objects of his com
mission. Ha happened to sprain his ankle
on the outward voyage, and when unable to
mount the rigging he bad halyards rigged
out, called tbe "captains halyards," by
which he would have himself hoisted aloft,
where he would sit for hours sweeping the
horizon with his telescope in search of the
lost navigators. Altogether the develope
msnts of (hesh expeditions reflect honor di
rectly on the men who took part in tbem,
and indirectly on the nation at large. We
hope that Congress will mark its sense of
their services in an appropriate and becom
ing manner, taking into consideration the
fact that officers and men were obliged to
abandon all liieir valuables on fhe Advance.
We trust that they will be liberally compen
sated and duly honored.
The following account of the reported
death of Dr. Kane appeared in the Boston
Daily Evening Traveler ol (be 11th iost., and
would have caused tbe greatest grief among
hia relatives and friends, had it not been
contradicted by bis fortunate and timely ar
rival in our city.
A fishing vessel which arrived hero (o-day
brings us news of (he expedition sent out in
search of Dr. Kane, and tbe melancholy in
telligence of the death of that intrepid navi
gator. The fishing vessel reports having
spoken, in lon. 64 40, lat. 42 60, the propel
ler Arctic, in company witb bark Relief, one
of the vessels having ou board tba remains
of Dr. Kane.
Distornsll, the map publisher, has prepar
ed a very perfect map of tbe Arctic region,
showing the spot where Dr. Kane wae com
pelled toabandon the Advance ; also other
iutereatiog places in Iceland not on any oth
er chart.
When it was told to the late Rev. Sydney
Smith that it was intended to pave St. Paul's
church-yard with blocks, hie answer was,
that he thought there would be no difficulty
in the matter, if the " Dean and Chapter
would put their heads together."
nXTDCKV DElftui'HATIC STATE
CONVENTION.
LETTER FROM GOVERNOR WISE.
"ONLY, 'i,*a ONANCOCK, VA., )
September 17, 1855. {
GSWTI.EMEN:— Yours of tbe llifa icst., re
ceived last evening, touches me to (be quick.
Your call upon me is so earnest and unex
pected, aai ray desire to meet it "with a
bound to you," is so strong that I can hard
ly obey the mandate of dnty to remain with a
aick family and narse the afflicted. I would
if prostrated, take up my own bed and walk
to Kentucky, if I could do aught to save such
a people aa hers from the delusion of the
day. Beautiful and blessed daughter of the
Old Dominion, why ia it that she stands a
ioof from the Mother Stale? Nichols* of old
once responded to Jefjerson—Kentucky to
Virginia—as peak to peak of the Alps, they
reverberated the thunders of !798-'99 a
gainst Alien and Sedition Laws. She ia tbe
"dark bloody ground" of the frontierman and
emigrants. The blood of her sons has fat
tened the field of the Raisin and the shores
of Ponchartrain, for "free trade and sail* it's
rights," the American right of naturalisation,
against the odious dogma of despotism thst
freedom shall depend upon birthright: her
whole history attests the gallantry of her de
votion to the rights of the States, to the
Union of the States, and to the inalienable
rights of mau! Why is it that now she
seems to side with an evil spirit of fanita
cis.-n, which is worse.than the spirit of feder
raalis of old?
j Tell me not that she has been aberrating
I from the Democratio fold since the war of
1812. Tell me not that she has been led
away from the faiib of Virginia by a eon of
Honover, that hot-bed of human eloquence
which had a Demosthenes for each war of
the country—a Henry for tbe Revolution,
and a Henry Clay for Ibe second struggle of
Independence! I invoke the shades of both
against despotism and every other "ism"
which in an evil hour leads to it. The one
staked all upon the issue—'Liberty or dea<b;'
the other bearded the British lion to his
teeth with the declaration of war agiiinsf tbe
tyrant's maxim: ''Once 4 citizen, always a
citizen," and in favor of the resolve that
" Tbe Star Spangled Banner forever shall
wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the
brave!
Is it possible ; can il be, that those who
fought in that war, or any descendants of
those, will now be for returning to the mire
of the maxims of the old world; for resolv
ing that if a man happen to be born the serf
of a despot, he shall abide bis lot for life—
that he shall have no privilege to seek a free
country—that he may not abjure allegiance
to a crown, and may not swear the allegiance
to Liberty—that he may lake the wings of
the morning and fly away from his birth
place, and put seas and continents between
bim and the crown which claims him a born
slave, yet he but drags a lengthening chain
—the despot may search for him on the seas,
and may seize him where search finds him !
Tell the Kentuckian to go to the grave of
Henry Clay, and there inquire what " Sailor's
Rights" meant in the last war. That teit
will teach him: and there he may learn that
one of the first and richest fruits of true A
mericanism was, that " Congress shall have
power to establish an uniform rule of natural
ization." And all the graves of all the past
of all American history, will teach him that
the main end of the mission of America up
on earth, has been to secure the only inal
ienable right of man which pertains to im
mortality—the liberty of religious worship;
the freedam of couscience lo pursue auy
pathway to Heaven I Tell me not, theri,
that the brilliant genius of Henry Clay has'
shed an ignis fatuus light which is still burn
ing in the daughter land of his mother
State, and of his adoption I Lstitudinarian,
or federal, or whatever he was in bis last
days, be was trne to America—be died in
the day that he was her chsmpion for the
war of "Free Trade and Sailor's Rights,"
and bo lived and died breathing peace —the
great Compromiser and Pacificator! Shall
bin grave, then, be stained by blood flowing
from beside the ballot-box on tha banks of
tbe Ohio ? Never. Those Who really ven
erate his fame—those who would cherish
affection for his widow and for his son, rather
than for tba "blocks and stones" of Ashland
house, for his name saka will defeud his
monument and his memory froha such dese
cration 1 No, no! there are other causes
than any which may be atifitfuted lo the
mighty dead, for ibis sudden, and for a time
unseen aberration from all that is American
in our history. The ballot-box was upon the
Ohio river. Tbtt river j* a border, and in
spite of alt patriots like Clay, living of dead,
that border has become bloody.
The causes of these are: Ist, th* dark spir
it of Abolitionism. Anti-slavery ia rife on
the borders of both Kentucky and Virginia.
In the face of a double tier of laws, both
State and Fedetal, guaranteeing property in
slaves, the value of one of tbsm floating up
on a chip on the Ohio river is just as sate, as
the property in one of them is upon the mar
gin of the Virginia or Kentucky side. The
laws do not guard us, because there ia not
sound morality enough to guard the opera
lion of the laws. And tb* enemy of our prop
erty is to be lotted, not only among our non
slaveholding neighbors, but in our very midst.
In some places tbey manifest themselves
openly, but there are many more in aecret,
who are tha mote dangerous beoause of their
eoncealmient. It daily becomes more aud
mora our duty to look at heme, lo watch a
portion of our oilixoao, who are ready to be
ootae agents of tbo under-ground moan* of
i escape for fugitives, and Who an wotting ond
NUMBER 41
watching for tba time of emancipation.—
| Their preparatory part is to diviJe and die
tract our people, first boon other iaanea. No
issues were ever more cunningly devised
than these of intolerance and proscription,
controled by ttcrel societies. An oligarchy
from without can strike terror to both Cboich
sad State, by the ''cord and the dagger" of
the Order of the dark lkntern. Invisible, in
tangible, irresponsible, it can strike at prop
erty, at personal liberty, at conscience, at ev
erything saored, with impunity. It conspires
against the operation of the laws, and over
awes the freedom of elections. It is stroog
upon the border of the non-efaveholding States
and what Ohio and Pennsylvania have been
to the tier of ooacties bordering on the Ohio
river, those counties will become to the heart
of Virginia and Kentucky, unless the bolder
be better guarded. You have reason, and
we have reason, to inquire solemnly cod
cerning [be means ot our safety and protec
tion.
The second cause it: A Priul-tra)i power
which is attempting to lay its hands upon po
litical power, to wield the temporal and car.
nal kingdom. Many of oor clergyman, in
stead of rendering unto Ceesaf the thing*
which are Caesar's, and unto God the things
which are God's, are attempting to seize lit*
influences of State, under the pretext ot legis
lating man to morality. Tbey are not Itte
spiritual shepherds, and instead ol "feeding
the lambs," are ambitiously aspiring to pa
pal powers by Jesuitical means; all the time
exclaiming against a Pope; tbey themselrei
would! grant indulgences and unite Church
and Stale. They would mske tke land red
with the blood of millioni of martyrs, by rou
sing sectarian bigotry nnd intolerance, if the
clergy cso thereby be made the first estate of
the reslm. They would out-pope, the Pope,
out-jesuit the .Jesuit; by leaving the spiritual
for the earns! kingdom, by looking after
things of the earth, instead of saving soula
for immortality, by adopting test oaths to the
most detestable doctrine of passive obedience
and non-resistance to s secret order, and the
Machiavelian of the eipedierfoy
which "fighttbe Devil with fire!" TbeState
will corrupt the churches, and the churches
will destroy the State, if the clergy are al
lowed a temporal control, The vitally piobs
pastors of our Protestant churches are utter
ly opposed to this crusade against all religion.
Nothing could so fearfully engender strife
among a people who have no despotic pow
er to restrain outrage end violence and perse
cution, and rebellion, and bloodsbedj until
all these shall destroy liberty tnd make a ne
cessity for despotism. And nothing could
let loose so many demons in the Cbrietialn
churches, to pollute their altars, to pervert
the minds and hearts of iheir pastors and
people, and to make anti-Christ and infideli
ty to reign in our country. Nothing short of
a pure and undefited Christian moralUy cku
guard our laws; and fusion and confusion of
the church with politica is anarchy in the
Stste of a Republic. We must be on ohf
guard then, lest those who would alarm us
about a Catholic Pope in Italy, are ndt for
establishing a Protestant Popery in Amer
ica.
Whatever be the doctrine of the Pope's
! supremacy, we will have reason to nib the
| day when our politicians and parties shall
j meet in secret conclave with priests of any
; order, to determine upon matters of con
! science, and to distribute the spoils of office.
Now the naturalized citizens to renounce all
allegiance to every prinbe, power, potbhlste
or sovereign, to whom allegiance was due.
: But bow bhall we counteract the sdcrei test
oath, which binds against law and against
conscience—which says a rtiau shall be
burthened for reasons of bis religions opinion
where the Constitution says he shall not be
burthened lor any such reason ? VVhioh says
a religious test shall be made a qualification
(or office, when the Constitution says it shsll
not be so made? Which says a man shall
not be free to elect a Catholic to office, when
the law of election leaves him as free to elect
as to reject a Catholic, or any other citizen of
any other religious persuasion ! Thus, wo
have native citizens not lawfully sworn to re
nounce Priests supremacy at home, but
, nightly taking the test oath to deprive tbem
: selves of one half the freedom of elections,
I to set up a higher law that the written Con
! stitution of State, and to conspire in secret
cabal against the operation of laws, fbie
must necessarily destory the ballot-box, and
the reign of law, artd that 100 by violence.
In the third place, the zetl of political par
ties, wbiob will fly to any alliance with al
most any evil for the lime, in order to obtain
ascendency in power, issnotherpotentcinse
of mischief. We have seeo its bfoefal ef
fect in Virginia. Virginians, wh6' are pro
slavery, have united with AbolHibnisU end
\vith religious fanatics, in ordef lei take up •
stick to break tbe head of Democracy with j
little dreaming that instead of a stick they
are taking hold of a serpeut, which will be
more deadly to themselves than to the old
political antagonists. They will assuredly
die of the wounds o< their own weapous.—
But to the bouor of the old partiee, inimical
to Democracy, be it eaid, that here the eonud,
conservative, conscientious and patriotic
Whigs, have for the most part nniiad them
selves with tbe only national party left, rath
er than to fly to ills they know not of; end
that they abjure tbe Hocus Pscos, which
would by its "hie, hoc, hoc," ot midnight
necromancy, transform a Whig by the right
hand, and a Democrat by the left bend-er
Abolitionist of the North, and a Pro-Slavery
man of the Sooth j. by a touch of ceremonial
mummery, inter that one and some nonde
script thing called • Know Nothing! ffo, the