Raftsman's journal. (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, January 16, 1861, Image 1
das BY S. B. ROW. CLEARFIELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1861. VOL. 7.-NO. OUB UNION BIGHT OB WBONO. Ronse. hearts of Freedom's only homo, . Hsrk to disunion's cry, iDear liberty beneath her dome, , Proclaims that danger's nih ; 'Com, let your noble shout ring forth, In trumpet voices strong : "AVe know no South, we know do North, Our Union right or wrong." 'The temple our brave Fathers made, ... The wonder of the world, Bhall they behold their sous dismay d '.'' When treason's flag's unfurled ; Oh ! never, by the glorious stars Which on our banner throng ; House, sons of three victorious wars, , For Union right or wrong. Our patriotic Father's shades, With Washington on high. Foint to their blood-anointed blades And to their children cry, House, freemen by your Father's soars, On to the rescue throng ; Defend our flag and sacred stars, The Union right or wrong. Sons of the press proclaim its worth In telegraphic fire. Bid young America stand forth And emulate their sires; Wake sirter States and hand in hand, Round Freedom's Temple throng, Come, about in one united Dand, Our Union right or wrong. . FAST-DAY SERMON. ' '" ' '. Ccrwensvillk, Jan. 5th, 1861. Rev. J. M. Galloway: Dear Sir: In be ball' of the audience that listened with pleas lire to your sermon ol Friday evening Jan. 4th, and that was deeply impressed with tbe im nortance of the subject, and the solemnity with which it was treated, we request you to band a copy of it to the Raftsman's Journal lor publication. lours respectfully, Wm. Irvin, Daniel Faust, Daniel Livingston, II. P. Thompson, John McNaul, Henry Kerns, E. A. Irvin. Mb. Editor : -The discourse referred to In this communication was delivered from brief notes, and henco it is impossible to comply fully with the request. I have however en deavored to give tbe ideas, and to some extent the language, condensmg4so as not to occupy too much ot your paper at a time wnen impor tant news are so abundant. No doubt the' interest felt in the discourse resulted from tbe importance of the subject, In connection with tbe present condition of our country. J. M. Galloway. Ps. 127 : Utter clause of first verse : "Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketn but in vain." The Lord God omnipotent reigneth." This is the grand truth that has brought us to gether this evening, that has brought multi tudes of fellow citizens this day to the house of prayer, and that brings this nation a sup pliant to tbe mercy seat. In the time of prosperity wo may forget tins great truth, and rest in the wisdom of man, and imagine that human hands can hold the reins of civil government, and manage tbe s Hairs of state. But it is not so when the thick clouds of adversity gather over us, and shut out tbe l'ght, when naught is seen but (he angry flash, and nothing heard but the deep muttering of the coming storm which threatens to break with unrestrained and mad dened lury upon ourJaeads. Then the wisdom of man appears but folly, and the power of man as weakness, and all eyes turn to God for help. It is not our business this evening, nor has it been the business of the nation on this day of our humiliation, to take counsel in refer ence to tbe state policy by which the present dangers may be avoided; nor yet to inquire into the Immediate causes of our difficulties ; but our object is to come before God, recog nizing tbe truth expressed in the text, "Ex cept the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain," and implore his merci ful interposition in oar behalf. The recognition of dependence on God in the management of our national affairs is no new thing in our history. Our lathers, who framed the Constitution under which we have njoyed so much prosperity, recognized that -dependence as expressed in the words of in spiration which immediately precede those we would now impress on your minds. They felt the truth of the declaration, "Except the Lord build tbo bouse,they labor in vain that build it.' After the Convention which framed tbe Con stitution bad spent several weeks in fruitless la bor, that profound philosopher and statesman, lienj. Franklin, thus addressed that assembly : 'Mr. President : The small progress we have mado after four or five weeks close at tendance and continual reasoning with each other, our different sentiments on almost eve rt question, several of the last producing as many noes as ayes, is, methinks, a melancho ly proof of the imperfection of the human un derstanding. We, indeed, seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we have been running all about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of government, and examined the different forms of those republics, which, having been originally formed with the seeds of their own dissolution, now no longer exist ; and we have viewed modern states all around Europe, but and none of their constitutions suitable to our circumstances. In this situation of the Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to diatin gniih it when presented to us, bow has it hap pened, ir that we have not thought of apply ing humbly to the Father of Light to illumi nate our understandings ? In the beginning j the contest with Britain, we were sensible t r?.nSer we had daily prayers in this room W" Divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were eard, and they were graciously answered. All i ns who were engaged in tbe struggle must jTe beard frequent instances of a superinten ds Providence in our favor. To that kind rovidence we owe the happy opportunity of onsulting in peace ou the means of establish es" our future national felicity. And have we forgotten that powerful I'riend 7 or do we i 'gme we now no longer need his assistance 7 ,.Ve lived, sir, a long time, and the longer "e the more convincing proofs I see of this . y1? tQat God governs in the affairs of men. Cith 8Parrw cannot fall to the ground wout his notice, is it probable that aq em r can rise without bis aid 1 -We bare, been u5t lT lD the Sacre4 wriUrt,?to "ex tafw ord bu!Id tne norjse. tbey labor in i th.at build it." I firmly believe this ; and 80 le,iere, that.without bi concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders at Babel ; we shall be divided by onr little, partial, local interests ; onr projects will be confounded, and we our selves shall become a reproach and a by-word down to future ages. And what is worse, man kind may hereafter from this unfortunate in stance, despair of establishing government by human wisdom, and leave it to chance, war and conquest." : At the close of this address this able states man introduced a resolution providing that prayers, imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on their deliberations, should be held in the assembly every morning before proceeding to business. A youthful member of the Convention objected to tbe motion, and expressed his entire confidence in the wisdom of the Convention and its ability to discharge its duties without calling in foreign aid. Washington, who was president of the Con vention, gave him a look which closed his lips, no one deigned to reply, and the resolu tion was adopted without a dissenting voice. The happy effects were soon felt ; animosities subsided, and a spirit of mutual concession and compromise pervaded the assembly, and now we are enjoying the happy results. Thus our political city, in which we have so long dwelt in peace, was built under God's su perintending providence ; and now it must be preserved, if preserved at all, under the same superintending care. We do now need God's help. . We are surrounded with dangers of no ordinary character, the full extent of which we may not be able at present to estimate. But it may be well to look for a moment at some of the calamities that may come upon us, if God does not interpose, and thus stir up our hearts to greater earnestness in prayer for his help. We have, under the blessing of God, en joyed a high degree of prosperity. Not only has the nation increased with amazing rapidity in power and influence among tbe other na tions of the earth, but the happiness of the cit izens has also kept pace with our national prosperity. Tbe star-spangled banner protects them abroad in every civilized nation, and tbe constitution shields them at home. But now it is threatened that this honored banner shall be torn down, and that this constitution, tbe shield of our safety, shall be cast away. And wbo can predict the results of such suicidal conduct 7 It is not to be concealed that the dissolution of this government may lead to a civil war of tbe most disastrous character. The patriot cannot contemplate such an event without dismay. His very heart sickens at tbe prospect. lie sees a father's hands reek ing with a brother's blood ; happy families des olated, and national prosperity destroyed. It was . said of old, "When Greek meets Greek then comes the tug ot war." But American citizens, whether inhabiting tbe North or the South, the East or the West, are as brave and determined as were the Greeks, aud if once fully involved in bloody strife, it would be of a fearful character. But tbe Christian, from bis more elevated stand-point, sees a still more widely spread devastation. The great interests of God's church are deeply involved in the weal or woe of this nation. We know, indeed, that God will take care of his church, yet if we defile her with our sins, lie may find it necessary to lead her through fire and blood for her purifi cation. O! how many precious interests of this sin-stricken world are wrapt up in tbe the continued prosperty of God's Zion in this hitherto prosperous land, and consequently in the preservation of the unity of this nation. If a statesman dreaded the effects, on man kind, of discord in the Convention that fram ed our national Constitution, how much more should we fear the evil that must result to prosperity from tbe dissolution of this great Republic, and tbe civil war that may attend it 7 But suppose the dissolution accomplish ed peacefully, and seperate governments for the North, and for the South fully inaugura ted, still it would result in maoy and serious disadvantages. Each government would re quire all the machinery that now belongs to tbe one. There must be officers at home, and ambassadors abroad, there must be navies and armies, and in all probability these armies would increase in magnitude, because of the contiguity of tbe two nations, till they would compare with those which are now a crashing weight upon the inhabitants of the old world. All this might be acceptable to demagogues who are seeking office, but not to the people wbo must bear the burden and wbo even now sometimes complain of heavy taxation. And after all there would be no guarantee for tbe continuance of peace. Causes ol war might spring up suddenly and involve us in all its horrors. We know not what we do when we suffer the bonds of brotherly love to be dis solved, and feelings of hostility to increase and deepen in our hearts. We act the part of madmen when we disregard our constitu tional obligations, and talk of disunion and war. We should study those things which make for peace, and send up our united pray ers to God for his help. Thus far the counsels of men give no promise of deliverance from the impending danger. The wisdom of our rulers aud legislators is at fault ; tbey are di vided in counsel and undecided in action, whilst the people look on in amazement. To whom then should we go in this hour of our extremity but to God 7 Unless he interposes, we verily believe, the rulers and wise men of tbe nation will watch in vain. Some believe that even now we are past help, that the fate of the nation is sealed. We cannot tell what God may do. He suf fered his people Israel to divide, and war to gether, till tbe ten tribes lost their nationality, and be may punish us with division. But it he sees good to interpose it is not too late. It is dishonorable to God to doubt his ability, and if we doubt we cannot ask in faith. We must banish the thought. Man's extremity is never so great that God cannot help him. It was not too late to help the Israelites at tbe Red Sea. it was not too late to save Jonah though ; emboweled in the fish, and buried in the waters ot the mighty deep ; it was not too late to save Nineveh when the inhabitants pros trated themselves in the dust, though the di vine iudzment was but forty days distant; it was not too late for the Saviour to bring glad ness to the sorrowine heart of the widow of Nain, thoqgh.ahe was following to the silent honse t,he, 1eles.s remains or ner oniy son. He. but touched the bier and said, "Young man, I say unto thee, arise," and the dead sat up.and tbe widow's heart was filled with joy. In view of sucb gracious interpositions, can we distrust God, or say that it is now too late for him to save this nation 7 God docs caro for the interests of thirty millions of people ; be does regard the prosperity of his own church ; he has a respect for the future inter ests of the world, and wo cannot but feel that all these are deeply involved in the future of this nation. Here is a'cause worthy of the Di vine interposition, and certainly worthy of our earnest prayers. But it may be said that in most of the cases referred to there was' a miraculous interposi tion, such as we are not authorized to expect. This is all true. But a miracle is not neces sary for our preservation. The impending ca lamity is not of such a character as to require the suspension of any law of nature in order that it may be averted. It does not arise from any cause beyond the reach of men, were they only willing to reach it. The sins of the na tion are no doubt, with God, the procuring canse of our trouble; but men, whose inter ests are involved, are the immediate cause ; and so soon as they shall be brought to act In accordance with sound sense and true patriot ism, the danger will bo removed. But tbe hearts of all are in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water ; he tnrneth them whither soever he will. How completely, then, is this whole matter at his disposal ; and if we con fess our sins and forsake them, how confident ly may we expect that be will interpose, fie can calm the storm of passion, renew the feel ings of brotherly love, inflame the soul with an ardent patriotism, and by bis wisdom illu mine a, pathway out of these troubles, which all will gladly follow. Believing in the Divine sufficiency, and en couraged by a knowledge of his mercy, we bring the distracted condition of our country to God in bur prayers. Tbe preservation of our Union is the great burden of our desire, and lor this we would pray most earnestly. But if God may not grant this our request, then let us seek to be .delivered from the guilt and calamities of civil war; let us entreat tbe Lord that be may torn away his sore judg ments, and not pour out upon us tbo vials of his wrath. But we must do more than pray. There is a cause for onr trouble. We were in the full tide of prosperity ; the bountiful hand of Prov idence had blessed us with an abundant supply of the comforts of life; no pestilence swept through our bappy land ; ho invading host threatened our shoies or disturbed our peace, and yet we are suddenly brought to the verge ot ruin 7 And why 7 Is it a chance that has happened to us 7 Ol no. The hand of Prov dence is here, and that hand is never stretch ed out but for good cause. Our. national and individual sins are, no doubt, the procuring cause of our dangers ; and if we would escape from these dangers, we must strive to have tbe cause removed. We must bumble ourselves truly before God, confess our sins, and implore bis forgiveness. Whilst the Divine blessing has made us a pros perous nation, our own hearts have waxed proud, and our speech has become boastful ; we have said, Is not this great nation built by our power, and preserved by our wisdom 7 We have forgotten our obligations to God, and our dependence upon him, and iu our eager pursuit of worldly gain, we have sacrificed Bible prin ciples and neglected solemn duties. But the Lord our God is merciful, and this is our hope. We know that "if we confess our sins, lie is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unright eousness." Humbly confessing our sins be fore God, let us also cultivate love to our brethren, and refrain from all hard speeches which tend to wrath and strife ; let us culti vate the spirit of conciliation, and be ready to make such concessions as can bo made with out sacrificing truth and righteousness. These are not ours. Tbey are of God, and have been maintained in times past at the expense of much blood, and we now dare not give them up. But whatever other concessions tbe exi gency of the case may require we should be ready to make with a hearty good will. Thus occupying the attitude of conciliation, let us intercede with God for our beloved country, not only at this time, but all the time, not only in our public prayers, but in our family and individual devotions, that he may tnrn away his wrath, and preserve the peace and unity of the nation. THE VOICE OF HENRY CLAY. During the debate in the Senate in 1850, on the "Compromise Measures" of that year, Mr. Dawson, of Georgia, declared that the contin gency had arrived which compelled the call ing of a convention in his State to provide for the extreme remedy of disunion. Henry Clay followed him, and in the course of his re marks, expressed himself thus pointedly: Now, Mr. President, I stand here in my place, meaning to be unawed by any threats, whether they come from individuals or from States. I should deplore, as much as any man living or dead, that arms should be raised against the authority of the Union, either by individuals or by States. But after all that has occurred, if any one State, or a portion of the people of any State, choose to place them selves in military array against the govern ment of the Union, I am for trying the strength of tbe government. Applause in the galleries. I am for ascertaining whether we have a government or not practical, effi cient, capable of maintaining its autborirty, and of upholding tbo powers and interests which belong to a government. Nor, sir, am I to be alarmed or dissuaded from any such course by intimations of the spilling of blood. If blood is to be spilt, by whoso fault is it 7 Upon the supposition, I maintain it will be the fault of those who choose to raise the standard of disunion, and endeavor to pros trate tbe government ; and, sir, when that is (lone, so long as God pleases to give me a voice to express ray sentiments, or an arm, weak and enfeebled as it may be by age, that voice and that arm will be on the side of my coun try for the support of the general authority, and for the maintenance of the powers of this Union. Applause in the galleries. Lbt 'em Dissolute. In a New York omni bus, the other day, a political discussion, rath er grave in its ton, was turned into fun by the remark of an old man who had been listen ing in.silence for a quarter of an hour. "They talk," said he, "about dissolution ; for my part, I say, let 'em dissolute let's alt disso lute y A general laugh, ensued. Schuylkill' lias 7,870 residents less than Berks, but has 512 more dwelliogs. Tbe real estate of Philadelphia is assessed this year ai $106,772,738. CATACOMBS OF PALEBMO. In a late number of the Independent, Geo. Allen Butler thus describes one of the strange sights at Palermo, the Sicilian city which has just come Into the possession of the victorious legions of Garibaldi : "The strangest of all the strange sights at Palermo are the catacombs of the Capuchins. We are all familiar with the character of the Roman andNeapolitan catacombs,underground excavations, remarkable for their great extent, and for their associations with the history of the early Church. The Palermo catacombs have a frightful peculiarity of their own. You descend from the little cburch, just outside the walls, not into deep, subterranean passages, but Into a succession of vaults, well lighted, and of no greater depth than an ordinary cel lar. These vaults are long and narrow corri dors, on either side of which, in niches cut out of the wall, ranging in ghastly ranks, are preserved the bodies of the dead, not confined out of sight, but each in the garb appropriate to it while living, or else in a long robe or winding sheet. Below these niches are wood en coffins, with windows at the sides to show the faces of the eccupants. Overhead, near the ceiling, are skeletons of children sitting, or of men reclining ; all perfectly preserved, some with the skins still covering the bones, others having nothing left but skull, and shoulders, and hip bones, with the arms in front, piously crossed. Some peculiarity of the soil prevents the ordinary decomposition, and men buried nearly two hundred years ago still survive in this skeleton company. Strange to say, they are not permitted to rest in peace. On the 3d of November in every year, the jour des morls, or fostival of the dead, their relatives flock to this dismal place, the well known mummies are taken out of their glazed coffins and dressed in gala costume. They number not less than six thousand in all; and I know of nothing more tearful than for a living man to find himself, as I did, unexpec tedly among this army of dry bones. "The most horrible feature of the whole ex hibition is, that nearly every face wears in its fossil decay and ruin a dreadfully ludicrous and comic gaze, and as they look down upon you, seem to have a sort of a grim vitality Of their own, and through the entire array it seems as if there was a dumb intelligence a mute correspondence and sympathy in the sinis ter and almost wicked way in which they re turn the curious stare ot the intruders. Yet you cannot help staring in spite of all this, and the eye wanders from one group to an other, with a strange and morbid fascination. 'Some are large-limbed,thick-sknlled, com placent in their successful preservation ; oth ers, with worn and weary looks, as if tired of such stiff, calcareous companionship ; others, who seemed to have twisted and wriggled their joints loose, must stand perpetually still,- or fall to pieces ; others, with their ruined heads hung down, as if in contemplation of their ended earthly life; and others, indifferent and idle, some indignant, like the ghosts that Dante saw in hell, with scowls and grins sar castic all silent, sepulchral, almost infernal. "One such sight is sufficient for a life-time. As I write, I recall those spectral forms with a thrill ot horror the monks and priests in scarlet and black, the children in full holiday garb, and the women, most hideous of all, in capes, and shawls, and satins." Gen. Jackson's Will. In June, 1843, Gen. Jackson, in his retirement at the Hermitage, wrote bis will with his own band. In it, a mong other bequests, are two which ought at this time to be published for present reading. Tbe sentiments therein expressed, in this sol emn document, evince more than Roman pa triotism, and should sink deep into the hearts of the people. Here is the literal language of the illustrious dead : 'Seventh. I bequeath to my beloved neph ew, Andrew J. Donelson, son of Samuel Don elson, deceased, the elegant sword presented to me by tbe State of Tennessee, with this in junction : That be fail not to use it when ne cessary in support and protection of our glorious Union, and for the protection of the constitutional rights of onr beloved country, should they be as sailed by foreign enemies or domestic traitors. - "Eighth. To my grand-nephew, Andrew Jackson Coffee, I bequeath tbe elegant sword presented to me by tbe rifle company of New Orleans, commanded by Captain Boale, as a memento of my regard, and to bring to his re collection the gallant services of bis deceased father, Gen. John Coffee, in the late Indian and British war, under my command, and his gallant conduct in defence of New Orleans in 1814-15, with this injunction: That he wield it in tbe protection of the rights secured to tbe American citizen under our glorious Con stitution against all invaders, whether foreign foes, Or INTESTINE TRAITORS." The Northern Poor. Whilst the South is upon the verge of starvation, servile insurrec tion and civil war, its public men are stuffing tbe ignorant masses with the idea that the work iug men of tbo North are penniless, without work and upon the brink ol an open outbreak, demanding bread or blood. In answer to this silly expectation, so fondly cherished by the Southern press, the New York Times shows that tbe Massachusetts Saving Banks have on bands, deposited by working men, the sum of $46,120,579 ; those of Connecticut have $18, 466,273, and New England, taken altogether, $135,446,576. Add New York and Pennsyl vania to New England and the working men of those States can undoubtedly . produce, from their own resourses, at ten days notice, twice as much money as all tbe Southern States, in the event of sccession,could raise in a year by taxation, or borrow in the markets of the world. Wm. II. Russel, connected with tbe Wash ington embezzlement, is a Vermonter, a great stage man, and hitherto considered a Napo leon among financiers. He is President of the Central overland mail, which runs also the pony express, and a partner in several firms, one of which is the Russel, Majors & Waddell, under whose contract to carry Utah army sup plies these frauds have been perpetrated. He resides in Leavenworth, where he is President of the only bank of issue in tbe Territory. His property is said to be immense, but is so shattered and may be so involved that it is doubtful if Government realizes anything from attaching it, although the attempt will be made. It is said that the editor of The Charleston Mercury, wbo writes its fierce disunion arti cles, is one Gordon, a native of Massachusetts, who has been in the South bnt two or three years. ; . ; - . , '-; ADDBESS OF 607. HICKS. His Execllency, Thomas H. Hicks, Govern or of Maryland, has issued an address to the citizens of that State, giving his reasons for refusing to convene the Legislature. It a bounds in the most emphatic Union sentiments. The following are extracts . "1 1 irmlv believe that a division of this gov ernment would inevitably produce civil war. Tbe secession leaders in South Carolina, and the fanatical demagogues of the North, have alike proclaimed that such would be the re sult, and no man of sense, in my opinion, can question it. What could the Legislature do in this crisis, if convened, to remove tbe pres ent troubles which beset tbe Union 7 We are told by the leading spirits ot the South Caro lina Convention, that neither tbe election of Mr. Lincoln nor the non-execution of the Fu gitive Slave Law, nor both combined, consti tute their grievances. They declare that the real cause of their discontent dates as far back as 1833. Maryland, and every other State in the Union, with a united voice, then declared the cause insufficient to justify the course of South Carolina. Can it be that this people, who then unanimously supported the cause of Gen. Jackson, will now yield their opinions at the bidding of modern secessionists. I have been told that the position of Maryland should be defined, so that both sections could understand it. Do any really understand her position 7 Who that wishes to understand it csn fail to do so 7 If the action of the legis lature would be simply to declare that Mary land is with the South in sympathy and feeling ; that she demands from the North the repeal of offensive, unconstitutional statutes, and ap peals to it for new guarantees ; that she will wait reasonable time for the North to purge berstatute books and todo justiec to-her South ern brethern, and if her appeals are vain, will make cummon cause with her sister border States in resistance to tyranny if need be, it would on'y be saying what the country well knows, and what may be said much more ef fectually by her people themselves in their meetings than by the Legislature chosen eigh teen months since, when none of these ques tions were before them. That Marylind is a conservative Southern State, all know who know anything about her history. The busi ness and agricultural classes planters, mer chants, mechanics, and laboring men those who have a real stake in the community, who would be forced to pay taxes and do the fight ing, are the persons who should be heard in preference to ezcited politicians, many of whom, having nothing to lose from the destruc tion of the government, may hope to derive some gain from the ruin of the State. Such men will naturally urge you to pull down the pil lars of this "accursed Union," which their al lies at the North have denominated a "cove nant with helL" f' i : . , . "In the course of nature, I cannot have long to live, and I fervently trust to be allow ed to end my days a citizen of this glorious Union. ; But, should 1 be compelled to witness the downfall of that Government inheiited from our fathers, established, as it were, by the special favor of God, I will at least have the consolation, at my dying hour, that I neither by wordnor deed assisted in hasten ing its disruption." A BICH CHINAMAN. A letter from Canton, of the 11th April, in the Gazette de Fiance, says : 1 "I lately visited the estate of a Chinese merchant of Canton, named Portingua, and on which he spends 3,000,000 fr. a year an im mense sum in a country where labor is to be had almost lor nothing. The property is lar ger than a king's domain. This Chinaman made bis fortune in the opium trade, and is said to possess more than 100,000,000 fr. He has fifty wives and eighty domestics, without counting thirty gardeners, laborers, &c, and owns in the north of China a still finer estate. He has a great liking for the French, and re ceives them well. When I went with two friends to visit bis mansion, he had just left, but I was received by a steward, who conduc ted us over tbe house and grounds. In front of the house is a vast garden, in which are the tarest flowers, and a wide alley leads to the principal entrance. The apartments are vast, the floors being in marble ; they are ornamen ted with columns of the same material and of sandal-wood, encrusted with mother-o'-pearl, gold, silver, and precious stones. Splendid looking-glasses of a prodigious height, furni ture in precious wood covered with Japan lac quer, and magnificent carpets of velvet and silk decorate the rooms. The apartments are separated from each other by movable parti tions of cypress and sandal wood, which are ornamented with charming designs cut right through the wood, so as to permit one room to be seen from the other. From the ceilings are suspended chandeliers ornamented with precious stones. There are more than thirty piles of building in the whole edifice, which are united by covered galleries, with columns and pavements in marble. The lodgings of tbe women are decorated with more than East ern splendor. An entire army might be lodg ed in the house and grounds. Water-courses, on wbiqh are gilded junks, traverse them in all directions ; and at intervals are vast basins, In which are swans, ibises, and an infinite va riety of birds. There are also pagodas, nine stories high, which are very remarkabie ; some are in marble, others in sandal-wood, carved with great art. In tbe gardens are extensive aviaries of the rarest and most beautiful birds. In front of tbe women's apartments is a thea tre, in which a hundred actors can perform, and so placed that people in the apartments can see without difficulty. Near the outer door is a printing office, in which M. Portingua causes the memoirs of bis family to be prepar ed for posterity." A new method of amusement has been a dopted in Paris. Fashionablo people, who do not find private theatricals, or private con certs, suiting to their tastes, given Private Sermons. A pulpit is erected in the drawing room, and the hostess takes a great deal of pains to secure a popular and eloquent preach er. Great exertions are made that they are not outdone by their neighbors in the matter ot eloquence. Of course it is not to be sup posed that thess services are open to tbe pub lic, but especial cards of invitation are issued to the matinee religieuse, with careful attention to the quality of the guests invited. The common opinion is, that we should take good care of children at all seasons of tbe year, buMt isJ well enough in winter to let them slide. . . . FB0M THE NATIONAL CAPITOL. MAJOR ANDERSON SUSTAINED. Washington City, Jan. 7, 1861. The Houso of Representatives adopted the following reso lution, offered by Mr. Adrain, of New Jersey : Resolved, That we fully approve of the bold and patriotic act ot Major Anderson in with drawing from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter, and the determination of the President to maintain that fearless officer in his present condition and we will support the President in all constitutional measures to enforce the laws and preserve the Union. The resolution Was adopted by a vote of 121 yeas to 56 nays all the Republicans, a major ity of the Democratic Representatives of tho North, and several manly and patriotic mem bers from Southern States voting for it. A few Northern doughfaevs voted with the South ern extremists against it. mr. Lincoln's cabinet. Messrs. Seward of N. Y., Bates ot Missouri, Cameron of Pennsylvania, Wellos of Connec ticut, and Smith of , have been invited to seats in Mr. Lincoln's cabinet. Mr. Cameron will probably go into tho Treasury or War De partment. Although the foregoing cast is ac tually made tip, it is not irrevocably so. Tho two Southern appointments will be kept open until Mr. Lincoln reaches Washington. William A. Graham, of North Carolina, has been mentioned in connection with the De partment ot the Interior. A SOLDIER FROM CHARLESTON. A sergeant, who was left at Fort Moultrio after Maj. Anderson transferred his command, has arrived in Washington-. When be went up to Charleston from Sullivan' Island, he was promptly arrested and taker tefore a magis trate. As no complaint could be lodged a gainst him, he was released, but admonished to leave the city. He mado several attempts to reach Fort Sumter, but the surveillance was too peif. ct.and no communication is permitted ex cept under the orders of the new authorities. TUE FLORIDA NAVAE STATIONS. The important post of Pensacola, Florida, is now well guarded. There is one company of infantry, with two vessels of war, at that station. Key West, also another highly im portant station, with one of the finest harbors in the world, and holding the key of tbe Gulf of Mexico, is occupied by a sufficient force to protect it against any attack the revolutionists can in.iko upon it. Hampton Roads is like wise in a secure position. RESIGNATION OF MR. THOMPSON. Washington, Jan. 8. Mr. Thompson, of Miss., this day resigned to" tbe President his commission as Secretary of the Interior, on the ground that after the order to reinforce Maj. Anderson was commanded or. Dec. 31st, there was a distinct understanding that no troops shonld bo ordered to the South without the subject being considered and decided in the Cabinet, and yet the Secretary of War,' without his (Thompson's) knowledge, had sent 250 men, in the Star of life West, to rein-; force Major Anderson. SOPTH CAROLINA r'05T OFFICES. Returns are daily received at tho proper of fice in Washington, from the South Carolina postmasters, showing that the business is pro gressing as heretofore, including the honor ing of contractors orders for pay, and the pur chase of postage stamps. . .. ' Sir. Isaac V. Fowler, late Postmaster of tbe City r New-York, is flow A resident of the City of Mexico. He left the island of Cuba some three months ago, where he had resided as an extraditionists and a fugitive from tho laws of the United States ; and a lriend in forms us that, when last Heard from, he com-' plained of injustice and Ingratitude of lalso friends, who had fattened on bis bounty and participated in the speculations into which ho had been forced. The gentleman who furnish- " ed the information we refer to says that Mr. Fowler was in a state of utter destitution, and that all his worldly gear consisted of a seedy suit of clothes, a trunk; a very small sum of money and an old commission acknowledging him to be a Grand Sachem of the Tammany Society. He denied that he had received any. contributions from the friends he had lormer ly served, and repudiated any present connec tion with them. He acknowledged bis mani fold follies and regretted that he had not re mained at home to meet the consequences in cident to his imprudent action. .jUi-. The Duke of Malakofl is to have $100,000 n year as Governor of Algeria, which, added to his salary ns Marshal, Senator, Member of the Council of Regency; and Duke, constitute an income from the State Treasury of $162,000 a year. But tbe Duke can't obtain the consent of bis yonng wife to accompany him in his Algerine exile, and s'he is fitting up the hand some residence in. the Avenue Montaigne, given her by the Empress at the time of her marriage, as a permanent residence during the Governor's absence. The Governor was com plaining a few days ago to the Emperor that he could not induce, his wife to go with him to Algiers, when his Majesty said to him, laugh ingly, "That'j it ; you can take Sevastopol, Duke, but you can't conquer a woman !" In East Boston, recently, a dying maiden of twenty was married to her betrothed. Before her dissolution she said that she had only on' earthly wish ungrati fled she desired to be u nited to him who had loved her so long and. truly, and the hope of being bis in Heaven. He could deny her nothing he'raarried death ! Bolstered up by pillows, and supported in th embrace of her m,'6'ther, she was united to her lover. Her feeble voice was hardly andibla in responding to the questions of the marriage ceremony. She was his, and said she would die without regret. From then until she pass- ed .away, she was unable to speak above a whisper. Core for Dipthlbia. A lady of Port By ron, Cayuga county, N. Y., has cured six children (five of them her own") of diptheria,' by the following remedy : When the symp toms are first discovered, take Spanish flies,' pound and mix them with Venice turpentine, spread it on a piece of soft cloth and bind it on the throat,which will raise a blister, and soon remove tbe disease from the. throat. ' . A Southern editor, some years ago, in at tempting to compliment General Pillow as q "battle scarred veteran," was made by the types to call him a "battle scared veteran." In the next issue the mistake was so far cor rected as to style him a bottle scarred veteran. From 1800 to 1860, tfcere were ,3,210 earth quakes, so tar as is known. " ' t i i ! ! 4 t I 4 i f . 1 1