The Southern Intelligencer. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 2, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 9, 1866 Page: 1 of 4
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fy 4 FOSTER,
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"SSSfeat is it but a maj of trasj lift?
PUBLISHERS.
VOL II-
CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1866.
NO. 6.
SOUTHERN INTELLIGENCER,
I ' eVEBV THURSDAY MOBStMG.
rtRMS-U. S. CURRENCY.
, * JafcrSS «mm *™
Y? :g .. ?sS
copy 10 cent .
giTES OF ADVKBTWn«.
I ^rr fl SO for tbe first anil 75 cents for rach
K^iMortlon.
: 7 '« 9 ue
* ii .. 11 00
' ~ .. 12 00
I JJ .. 13 50
! 58 "
15 00
male one square.
f<ilw«orl€«^tlii «ze type,
' ,ord or lew constitute a square.
di Tt' boTP r*teg are in legsl tender- sPecle
I ^ « market ralue, or at the rate of 3 for
i**"* ——————
llfiwl
and Departure of the Mails.
^Leate Tuesdays, Thursdays and Satur-
*7l2 m- closes same days, at 11 a m. Arrives
iitThursdays snd Saturdays, at 12 p. m.
' ***** Wednesday , Fridays and
Uúiat* • m-: closes previous evenings at 9.
Ii*3MnmuT«, Thursdays and Saturdays, at 12 p.m.
I^-Leaves Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8 a.
¿¿a previous evenings at 7. Arrives Fridays
bgjin st 6 p. 1)1-
-Leaves on Wednesdays, Fridays
tMt, «I 2 P- ,n* í closes at 1 p. m. Arriv
Frio ays and Sundays, at 4 a. m.
^CHURCH DIRECTORY.
and
Arrives on
ftfisli
.—Rev. J. Jones. Service every Sun-
\*M.
at 11 o'clock.
^I£¡sa< Pre*byterian.—Revs. Finis E.
.¿udJ. J. A. Roach, alternately. Service eve-
1 «tU o'clock.
«.¡Kspal.—Uev. B- A. Rogers, Rector. Ser-
„,^rffy;ttnday at 10 o'clock.
(gltolic.—Rev. N. Felton. Service every Sun-
to a 10 o'clock.
L-¿V-llev. R. H. Taliaferro. Service every
o'clock. ,
I -Rn. J. W. Phillips. Service every
t U o'clock, and evening at 8 o'clock.
' presbytcri**'—Rev. Thadaeua McRae. Ser-
-cte'erj *'11 o'clock, and 8 o'clock, p. m.
I H S. WALKKB.
DOWERS & WALKER, Attorneys at Law, Austin,
D Tmss. Office on Congress Avenue.
Vis, BLACK., Attorney at Law, Austin, Texas.
„ Particular attention given to the collection of
■ten . Office west side of the Avenue, Glasscock's
fl
juildin*.
ot2:27
f|. I.J0II1S --••--.«•.-•••-A. DITTMAK.
I OSES ¿ DITTMAR, Attorneys at Law, San Anto-
jo, Texis. Will practice in Bexar, Guadalupe,
¡¡¿■¡I ud Gillespie counties, and in the Supreme
frart at Austin, fy Special attention given to
¡.mi Bniiaís and the collection of debts. Office in
Frttfcibirildinir.No. 15. 1:23
MORRIS, JAMES B., Attorney and Counsellor at
Law, Austin, Texas. Office No. 1, Ziller's
wildiat. l-19ot2-18
ao. r xooie - o. shbll«y.
U00RE it SHELLEY, Attorneys at Law, Austin,
iB Tfiu. lsl®
ALIVER, J. W., Attorney and Counselor at Law,
U Houston, Texas, Will do a General Law Business
■ the Counties of Harris, Galveston, Fort Bend, Bra-
mria, Colorado, Austin, Washington, Brazos, Grimes
Ífílgomery, Liberty, Jefferaou and Orange. Spe-
mi attention given to the Collection oí Claims,
ivmghout the átate.
ty* Office Corner Main and Congress streets, up
«¿Í ot2:31
AL, I. A. &. GEO. W., Attorneys al Law,
Austin aixl San Antonio. 1-1
SMITH, JAMES W., Attorney at Law, Austin, Tex-
u. Can be found at his former office on the
«reime.
jCOTT, GEO. R, Attorney at Law, Austin, Texas.
5 Office on Congress Avenue. 1:26
jTABCEL, JESSE,
3 Texas. W
Sues Courts.
Attorney at Law, Galveston,
Will practice in the State and United
1-9—ot2-8
THE FEARFUL MESSENGER,
. *. WA1T0* ...W. P. D* HOBMANDIK.
WALTON St Da NORMAND1E, Attorneys at Law,
and General Land Agents, Austin, Texas. Prac-
tice in the District and Supreme Courts ol the State,
ud the Federal Courts at Austin and Tyler. ot2-ll
BLVHH A WALKER,
Siddie and Harness Manufacturers,
Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas.
THANKFUL for past favors, are now prepared to
1 execute all work in the abave line, in a supeiior
■trie and at reasonable figures.
We keep constantly on band, in addition to our own
aiaalactare, from the Eastern market,
' Saddles of all binds, Buggy
Trimmings, Saddle-Bags, Ac.
Small Country Manufacturera can have orders
Sled on short notice.
Onr Saddle Trees are the beat made in Texas, and
*e guarantee all work done by us to give satisfac-
tion. Our term —
ota* CASH ON DELIVERY.
17 Carriage Trimming attended to.
L IUH B. SHVMANH.
A, BAIIN A CO.,
MANUFACTURERS AND DEALERS IN
MLB AND SILVER WARE,
On Congress Avenu;,just below Sampson if
Henrietta' Store.
4KH0UNCE to the publi: that they have now, and
^ will constantly keep on hand, a large assortment
of Jewelry, Gold and Silver Ware, a fine assortment
of Silk Guards and Ribbons, Gold, Silver and Steel
spectacles from 25c. to $10, Spectacle Glasses, Mag-
A large aaaortment of Thomas'
J-tow, Railroad Spectacles, Periscopio Colored Spec-
«w. Parabolic, Pebble and plain Spectacles. Gog-
M ■cases, 25c. each. We give notice to watchma-
•jw that we will sell, at wholesale and retail, all
J®*' °f material in their lina of business. Watch
ÜkÜl *" watchmaker's tools, main springs,
«*1* hands and glasses, regulators, crucibles, See.
i.f. . continue to repair watches and jewelry as
«Mofo , warranting our work. otó:35
H. C. BEYGENER,
Cobgmss Avbhk, Adstiw, Texas,
S! goora, SHOES, LEATHER, AND
SHOK FINDH/OS- Boots and Shoes made to
"wand repaired.
««¡¡¡S?11' Put fiavors, wquld respectfully inform
uuK_ ienei ally, that he has re opened his old es-
yMtoeat with an ENTIRELY NEW STOCK,
'"Cteaby himself, of the above named articles,
promptly attended to. Price low.
A No. 1 Boot and Shoe Maker, wanted im
47ot2 46
announces to the public,
teikl • j™*' received a large amount of ma-
fine 'r,« " PreP*re<' to do any kind of work in his
1. < Tery reasonable terms. His shop is on Pe-
^ ^ Avenue.
«MOn, September 1, 18tí5. 1-9
Acff? COLLEGIATE FEMALE INSTITUTE.—
JiaMn n W comn™ence on the last Monday in
A professor of music, thorough and
ittentÍM . i^uicssor 01 music, morougn a
Hirr '.>>n *' 'iú"school. Lesson in Spani
ForiX?8?* 'wtructor, will be given if desired
'"BamcuUra,apply to the Principal.
A* 16,1
niss
1-7—o«2-6
ipal.
B. J. SMITH.
I fl? HUGH H. HAYNIX.
L p °LR88 t CO., Cotton and Wool Factors,
n?*E°. ?« *
fireproof Warehouse, near the Cen
DLEM^ Í08H ^ HAT JAS. *. PRK9TOH.
ImZ^'.AiNIE it. CO., Shipping and Commiaiion
Galveston, T«Si.
in Knhn'a Building, Strand. ot2-17
PÍ I.TJSd'Í ' - W. SHIP MAN
I (¡.iff * SHIPMAN, Commission Merchants,
r^n' ^exM- Sptcial attention given to tke
ewrtManeau of Cotton, Wool, Hide , ite .
L|?«P«4. P1 nent to New Orleana, New York or
JS®*1 Rape furnished.
•nd forwarding of Merchandise or other
inward or outward bound, promptly
l-9ot2:8
T. BOARDMAN, Dentist Austin, office op-
aa^ftWAvenneHoteL Save your teeth by laithtul
•%; if decayed, by artistic plug
"Hon. wplwe then by life-like artificial repi
'l&^ÍSJa^ateed- without
--J! '•'fcMied in Antin in 1651. 32:ot8l
W'ltL'^, aTl LES, Dental Snrgaon, Austin, Texas.
11,1865.
1 6—ot«-5
THE SAILOR'S DOOM.
The lightning flashed with a livid
glare over the boiling surges of the
main; the wind howled with terrif-
ic violence, and the dark hues of
night fell drearily around the " White
Steed "and her gallant crew. All
sail had been taken in, if we except
the foresail, a clase reefed main top-
sail and topmast staysail—and these
Captain Richards swore he would
carry come what might, especially
as there was land somewhere to lee-
ward of the ship. The old vessel
pitched madly—groaned fearfully,
as she gulped down great quantities
of salt water; and with a number of
drunken lurches, tried to pitch the
masts out of her—swearing that she
was sick and couldn't bear so much
sail.
"It's no use, you old she-devil,"
exclaimed an old tar, " you've got to
bear it—there's no more sail a goin'
to be taken in to-night."
Of course its not likely the White
Steed understood what old Jack said,
although he has told me since that
he believes she did ; certain it is, she
at that instant gave a violent lurch
which produced a sound very much
resembling the words " No, I wont"
and pitched the maintop-gallant mast
with a loud crash " clean over the
side." A couple of hands were then
sent aloft to clear away some of the
rigging which had got foul; and this
having been done, the two seamen—
one of whom was our old friend Jack
—descended to the deck. The one
who had accompanied him was a
young man by the name of Searing.
As the two came forward, old Jack
turned to Searing and said ;
"We are going to have a hard
night of it, Bill!"
"Yes," answered Searing in a
husky tone of voice.
Struck by the strangeness of his
voice, Jack paused abruptly in his
walk, and looked at his shipmate.
At that instant a vivid flash of light-
ning illuminated the deck, and re-
vealed the face of the young man
livid as a corpse.
" What the deuce ails you, Sear-
ing," inquired the old tar.
" Nothing, nothing—only I've
seen it, again," answered the young
man, gloomily.
" Seen what ?"
The young sailor answered not;
but old Jack could see that his breath
came short and thick. The two men
now stood side by side near the bul-
warks.
"Look'ee here, young man," said
Jack, taking the hand of Searing,
which trembled like a leaf, "you
know I've always been a friend to
ye; now for God's sake, tell me what
it is that frightens you so ?" A dis-
mal croaking was heard at that
stant directly over their heads.
"My God! I heard," groaned
the young sailor.
" What, that noise ? Why, that's
only the raven that has followed the
ship ever since—"
"Ever since I shipped in her,"
groaned the young sailor.
" Well yes I believe so, but what
of that ?"
"Look! look!" suddenly exclaim
ed Searing, clutching the arm of the
tar convulsively; " there is is, there
is looking at me with its great
>lack eyes! Oh, God! do you see
it?"
As the young man spoke a vivid
; lash again illuminated the deck, and
ooking in the direction pointed out
>y the trembling hand of Searing,
the old sailor could distinctly see
arge black raven sitting on the fore
yard. As he looked the bird began
to flap its black wings, and set up a
most dismal croaking, while it ap-
jeared to fix its two coal black eyes
on his companion.
"Yes, I see it," said old Jack,
" it is the same bird that has follow-
ed us ever since we left. I've heart
of such things afore, and never yet
mew of any good to come of it
Somebody's a goin' to fall overboarc
or die some way or other—else the
bird would'nt stick to the ship the
way she does. But what's the mat-
ter with you?"
Searing was leaning heavily
against the old tar, while his whole
frame shook like an aspen leaf.
"Come away; come away," he
whispered in a husky voice, which
was scarcely audible. "I've got
something which has preyed upon
my spirits ever since I came to sea,
It is a terrible secret; but I know
that my end is approaching, and so
I will tell it to you." And as he
said this, the young sailor started to
go aft, while Jack followed him won-
dering what he was going to say.
The young man led the way to the
round house, under which he sat
down and then told Jack to do the
same. As soon as they were seated
Searing said:
" Jack, this is the last night that
ever you and I shall be together."
" What makes you say that ? 'in-
quired the old tar in some surprise.
" Why, Bill, I believe you've lost
your senses."
" You are mistaken," answered
Searing, gloomily, " but I have had
a dream—a terrible dream," and the
young man shuddered as he spoke,
and then continued:
"Listen to me, Jack, while I un-
fold ta you a terrible secret-—I am a
murderer; and worse than that, the
murderer of my father /"
Jack started back, exclaiming:
" Murdered your father! do you
mean what you say ?"
"It is true," onswered Searing,
with a shudder. " My father was
an old greyheaded man. We lived
alone, in the West, in a dark forest.
Every morning we used to take our
axes and go to work clearing away
the land, for all that we cleared
would belong to us. There was an
old tree in front of our cabin—an
old tree, of which father was very
fond—I wanted to chop it down—
my father told me I should not do
so; but I insisted, for I was very
wilful, and went to work at it with
my axe. My father then got angry,
and tried to thrust me away. God
forgive me, my blood was hot—I was
boiling—I was mad—I knew not
what I did, when I raised my axe,
and—and—struck him on the head
with it. He fell to the ground cov-
ered with blood and without uttering
thinking it
but no,
in
a groan—I knew that he was dead.
His eyes looked glassy, and the death
pallor was on him. I took him up
in my arms, and buried him in the
forest. No one saw me do the deed.
I washed from my hands and clothes
the blood, and then fled from the
place ; but I was followed—followed
wheresoever I went by the raven,
t was a bird belonging to my father,
and of which he was very fond. He
:'ound pleasure in hearing it croak,
and in feeding it with meat, which
íe did every day. This raven fol-
owed me like an avenging spirit—
by night and day. I heard its dis-
mal croakings, and saw its great
)lack eyes fixed upon me. I would
lave killed it, but a*dark presenti-
ment tells me that the instant that
)ird is killed, that instant my doom
sealed. Í fled from my native
shores—I went to sea,
would not follow me there;
was mistaken, that raven has fol-
owed every ship I have as yet sailed
in, hovering about the shrouds, the
masts, and the yards, and looking at
me with those strange eyes. I feel
—I know that my father's spirit is
ooking through those eyes."
"My God! there it is again,"
suddenly exclaimed the murderer,
pointing to the mizzen topsail yard,
as a vivid flash of lightning showed
the form of the bird seated there
Uttering a deep groan, the young
sailor remained silent a few moments,
and then continued in a hollow voice:
"Jack, my doom will be sealed
to-morrow for I had a terrible dream
in the last watch below—I thought
that the mate came on deck with
gun to kill the raven—I saw him
take aim at the bird, as it sat on the
main yard, and fired—it fell bleeding
to the deck, writhing in the agonies
of death. While I stood watching
the bird, I thought it turned into my
father's corpse, looking bloody and
ghastly, the same way as he looked
when I killed him in the forest. All
at once the corpse rose from the
deck, and advanced towards me with
its glassy eyes fixed upon my coun-
tenance. I strove to fly, but I seem-
ed rooted to the spot. It continued
to advance until close up to me, and
then laying an icy hand upon my
arm, said, in a terrible voice,' Come,
come, it is time.' I awoke with a
cold sweat upon my forehead, and
oh ! horror! as I looked up through
the forecastle scuttle, there sat the
raven on the foreyard, with its great
eyes fixed upon me, as I lay in my
bunk. This is all I have to say' to
you. Something tells me that my
doom is fixed either this night or to-
morrow. God have mercy upon my
soul!"
Just then it struck four bells, and
old Jack was forced to leave his
shipmate, as it was his turn to take
the helm.
ing against the mizzen mast, sudden-
ly exclaimed to him as he pointed to
the main yard:
"Well, there, Mr. Johnson, if
there ain't that same infernal raven
that has followed us all the way from
Rio, sitting on the main yard. Go
get your gun and have a shot at him."
Mr. Johnson instantly sprang to the
companion-way, and sung out to the
steward to bring his gun. Searing,
who was employed in hoisting on a
rope, suddenly let go of it and turn-
ed as white as a sheet. No one di-
vined the cause excepting old Jack,
who stood near him at the time.
"For God's sake, Bill," he whis-
pered, "keep up your spirits; the
watch are all wondering what ails
you."
" My doom is sealed if that bird
is shot," answered Searing, in a low
husky voice."
The mate had now received his
gun from the steward's hands and
raised it to his shoulder.
" Good God! don't shoot that
bird!" exclaimed Searing, in agoniz-
ing tones, as he sprang forth and
seized the gun by the barrel.
" Get out of the way—let go the
gun!" exclaimed the mate, getting
enraged.
" No, no; you shall not shoot that
bird," answered Searing, trying to
wrench the gun from the mate.
" Seize that d d fool!" ex-
claimed Captain Richards, turning
to the other officers.
But before the order could be
obeyed, a loud report was heard, and
young Searing fell bleeding to the
deck. In the struggle the gun had
gone off, inflicting a deadly wound
in the temple of the wounded man.
" I—I knew—it was time—Jack
-—I—" and with these words upon
lis lips, the young sailor expired.
We will not attempt to describe
the steps which followed. Suffice it
to say that the body of the unfortu-
nate man was sewed up in canvas,
and committed to the waters of the
deep.
While the body was being sewed
up, the raven hovered around it, ut-
tering the most dismal croakings,
until the captain shot it and threw it
overboard.
Old Jack still follows the sea, al-
though his hair is now white as the
waves which he rides. And often in
the wild watches of the night, does
he relate to his messmates, the fear-
ful story of the raven and parricide.
American Beggars.—It is very
often stated, as proof of the supe-
riority of the manner in which Amer-
ican wealth is distributed among the
masses, .that not a beggar is to be
Morning dawned upon the White
Steed. The gale had abated, and
the sun was shining brightly upon
the waters, which were still heaving
with that long, lazy swell that gen-
erally follows after a heavy gale of
wind. The watch were employed in
rigging a new top gallant mast, in
place of the one which had been lost
during the night. The mate was
busily engaged in giving orders,
when Capt. Richards, who was lean-
seen in the streets of New York.
Anything that adds to the comfort
of honest mendicity, and protects it
against the inclemency of the weath-
er, is so much social gain ; and it is
a pleasure to know that while some
of the beggars of the Old World
have to live chiefly in the streets,
American beggars are, as a rule, to
be found cheerily congregated in the
ante-chambers of the President and
his official advisers. Nobody sup-
poses, not even an American, that
the great principle of asking for
what you want has gone out of fash-
ion on the other side of the Atlantic,
though it is something to be able to
feel sure that those who spend their
time and efforts in asking, are upon
the whole, well fed and tolerably
dressed. More, they would not
perhaps themselves desire—at any
rate, if they knew their best inter-
ests. If they ceased to be poor,
they might reasonably feel, like the
Ephesian folks of whom we read,
that their staple means of livelihood
was gone. It is an established truth
that a beggar with a hungry wife
and family, is in reality better off
than a single man, and the conse-
quence is, that babies have always
been at a premium in the London
market. The superiority of Ameri-
ca consists, not in the fact that pov-
erty has ceased, but that paupers
look higher than . they do in other
countries, and are provided with a
roof to stand under and chairs to sit
upon while they are in the act of beg-
ging.—Saturday Review.
The Paris correspondent of the
New York Times says: "We have
here now quite a group of the former
great men of the rebellion at home:
Gens. Toombs and Beauregard, Geo.
Sanders, Jacob Thompson and oth-
ers. Mr. Toombs now lives in Cuba,
where he has a large plantation and
plenty of negroes. He is now a rich
man, and is travelling for his pleas-
ure. He, as well as Gen. Beaure-
ard, abuse Jeff. Davis without stint,
a personal point of view, they
certainly had cause to complain of
Davis' treatment."
At New Orleans
on the 1st, cot-
ton was firm, with sales of 900 bales
low middling at 34 to 36c.
POLITICAL.
From the N. T. Evening Post (Radical.)
The Proposed Philadelphia
Convention.
The political convention which has
been callcd to meet at Philadelphia,
on the 14th of next month, appears
to meet with more favor from the
copperhead press, and more opposi-
tion from Republican journals, than
either the nature of the call, or the
work the Convention is likely to ac-
complish, seems to us to warrant.
We have refrained hitherto from
commenting upon the proposal for a
convention, but we desire now to say
a few words about it. We remark in
the first place that the call does not
come from any party organization—
it is signed by Democrats and Re-
publicans. The executive commit-
tees of the two parties, whose duty it
is to call, each for its party, a con-
vention, have no part in this call—
both remain silent.
The action of the Philadelphia
Convention does not, therefore, com-
mit either of the two parties now ex-
isting. It may attempt to form a
new party ; and if politicians choose
to do this, and can do it, they have
a right to do it, and no one can rea-
sonably object. In our view, how-
ever, the meeting is expedient. It is
time that, in some way, the political
wishes of the southern people, or of
some party among them, should be
heard, and this convention aims to
secure such a hearing. The action
of Congress, in refusing to admit
loyal southern members to their seats,
has made such a convention, if not
necessary, at least prudent and rea-
sonable. We imagine that part of
the dislike to the convention express-
ed by such journals as the Tribune,
proceeds from a consciousness of this
fact, and from the feeling, likewise,
that Republican leaders—or, rather,
to speak more correctly, those rash
men, like Stevens and Sumner, whom
the Republican majority in Congress
have permitted to seize the leadership
of the party—have made a serious
blunder in refusing any kind of poli-
tical recognition to any party in the
Southern States sinoe the peace.
We believe it would have been the
true policy of the Republican lead-
ers, as early as possible after the dis-
banding of the rebel armies, to have
called a National Republican Conven-
tion, to meet at some central and
prominent point in the Southern
States, to include delegates from ev-
ery State, to consult as to the wisest
policy to be adopted by the party on
the meeting of Congress. Whatever
views might have prevailed in such a
convention would have had the ad-
vantage of thorough discussion by
Southern men, and around them
could have been rallied a party
which would have representatives and
a following in the South as well as
the North.
This would have been, it seems to
us, an act of genuine statesmanship,
and of shrewd and effective political
management. It would have result-
ed in a decided policy, which could
have been carried out at once, when
Congress met. Instead of that, the
men who were permitted to grasp the
leadership of the Republican majori-
ty have sacrificed many benefits they
might have gained, by their tedious
delays, by an obstinate refusal to re-
cognize southern loyalists, and by
the useless examiation of a multitude
of witnesses upon the condition of
the Southern States—upon a condi-
tion of things, that is to say, which
was notoriously changing from day
to day, and which was well enough
known, for all practical purposes,
from southern newspapers and the
reports of the correspondents of
northern journals. Nor is this all;
to this delay, by which many golden
opportunities for wise and effective
action were lost, these foolish lead-
ers have added a policy, in financial
and other legislation, which the more
it was developed the more hateful it
has grown to the whole country. In-
stead of retrenching expenses, they
have increased them; instead of les-
sening the burden of taxation and
adjusting it more evenly to the shoul-
ders of the nation, they have left a
mass of crude and hasty war legisla-
tion almost untouched, and are now
engaged in a selfish and wicked at-
tempt to pass a most atrocious tariff
bill, which will cripple our commerce
and oppress our people, only to ben-
efit a small class of manufacturers.
Finally, they have fastened a quar-
rel upon the President whom they
nominated and elected; they have
neglected to demand the enforcement
of laws already upon the statute-
book, and submitted to see some of
these laws either set aside or openly
violated, without resentment or even
protest; and they have endeavored
to pass other laws and amendments
of so crude a nature that they could
not even gain the support of their
obedient followers.
A party which tamely submits it-
self to such blundering leadership,
must expect to be ruined. The Re-
publican politicians appear to have
forgotten that the country is no lon-
ger at war; that they have no longer
the excuse of urgent necessity for
crude legislation; that the country
demands statesmanship from them,
and that it still waits impatient^ for
the resumption of the regular and
constituted order of things, and for
economy in expenditures, for adjust-
ment of taxation, and sound methods
in finance. There has been a great
gale, in which we have drifted out of
our course, and sustained some injury
to the ship. But the storm has ceased
for a year; why do we not return to
our course and repair damages ?
Do we then approve of the Phila-
delphia Convention ? We are glad
it has been called, and that it will
meet. The condition of the country
is such, owing to the blundering ex-
clusion of the South from Congress,
that a convention ot this kind is a
necessity, no matter what its consti-
tuent parts, or its action may be.
It may be, as some of the journaJs
assert, that it is a mere political
scheme; it may even be, as some
fear, that it is a copperhead device :
that does not matter—it will be a
convention of delegates from all the
States, and thus a meeting for coun-
sel of citizens from every part of the
Union, f
The loyal masses wait to see what
this Convention will do ; whatever it
does, they will not be moved from
the determination that equal rights
to all men shall be maintained in
every part of the Union, and that
free speech and a free press shall be
left to instruct the people, and free
labor and free trade to enrich them,
and local self-government to train
them in the true ways of liberty.
From the N. O. Time3 (Conservative.)
Secretary Seward's Letter to
Senator Doolittle.
We are glad that the Secretary of
State has given his views at length,
on the expediency and importance of
the proposed National Convention at
Philadelphia, on the 14th proximo.
In this terse and succinct letter, ad-
dressed to Senator Doolittle, he hear-
tily approves the objects intended to
be accomplished by the meeting of
that body. The tone of the letter
is one of peace and conciliation. It
is not written in the vein of a parti-
san, but of a leading officer of a great
government, anxious, for the sake of
the general weal and the general
harmony, to correct what he regards
as a flagrant mistake in congression-
al legislation, and to terminate a long
delay of justice as speedily as may
be. No true patriot of any party,
no frietid of the Constitution and the
Union, can read the views set forth
in this letter touching the present
fearful posture in our affairs, and the
importance of a full expression of the
popular will, through the medium of
a national convention, without the
most thorough satisfaction and the
most hearty approval. In an emer-
gency of no ordinary character, when
it is all important to heal the breach-
es which have unfortunately been
made in the outworks of the Union,
when a portion of the States are loud
ly demanding a restoration of rights
essential to their existence as mem
bers of the common political body,
and when Congress is animated, as it
would seem, by sectional considera-
tions, and a desire to effect funda
mental changes in the framework of
a constitutional government without
the popular consent, it seems high
time that the American people, the
people of all the States, without dis-
tinction of party, so long as the Con-
stitution is the governing rule should,
in accordance with their ancient pre-
rogative, exercised in times and on
occasions of great peril, by their
delegates assembled in convention.,
gravely deliberate and consider what
they ought to do. They can, as an
united people, make an appeal at
least to Congress to do justice—and
that appeal, as Secretary Seward
justly remarks, coming from so
weignty a body, representing, not
individuals, not sections, but all the
States in the Union, cannot fail to
produce a decided effect, if anything
can, on the future action of Congress
in the premises.
«•}
Letter of Mr. Seward.
Department of State,
Washington, July 11,1866
Sir: Excuse me for expressing
surprise that you ask me whether I
approve of the call of a proposed
Union National Convention at Phila-
delphia. After more than five years
of dislocation by civil war, I regard
a restoration of the unity of the
country its most immediate as well
as its most vital interest. That re-
storation will be complete when loyal
men are admitted as representatives
of the loyal people of the eleven
States so long unrepresented in Con-
gress. Nothing but this can com-
plete it. Nothing more remains to
be done, and nothing more is neces-
sary. Every day's delay is attended
by multiplying and increasing incon-
veniences, embarrassments and dan-
gers, at home and abroad. Congress
possesses the power exclusively. Con-
gress, after a session of seven months,
still refuses to exercise that power.
What can be done to induce Congress
to act ? This is the question of the
day. Whatever is done must be done
in accordance with the Constitution
and laws. It is in perfect accord-
ance with the Constitution and laws
that the people of the United States
shall assemble by delegates in con-
vention, and when so assembled they
shall address Congress by respectful
petition and remonstrance, and that
the people in their several States,
districts and territories shall approve,
sanction and unite in such respectful
representations to Congress.
No one party could do this effec-
tually, or even seem willing to do it,
alone. No local or popular organi-
zation could do it effectually. It is
the interest of all parties alike, of all
the States and of all sections—a na-
tional interest, the interest of the
whole people. The Convention, in-
deed, may not succeed in inducing
Congress tto act; but if they fail, the
attempt can make matters no worse.
It will be a lawful and patriotic at-
tempt made in the right direction—
an effort to be remembered with pride
and satisfaction whether it succeed
or fail. The original union of the
States was brought about by move •
ments of the same character. The
citizen who objects to the Convention
is bound to propose a better plan of
proceeding to effect the desired end.
No other plan is offered, or even
thought of. Those who should op-
pose it, would seem to me to manifest
at best unconcern, if not opposition
to all reconstruction, reorganization
and reconciliation between the alien-
ated masses of the American people.
To admit that the Convention will
fail would be to admit that the people
of the United States are deficient in
either wisdom or the virtue necessary
to continue the existence of the re-
public. I believe no such thing. A
great political writer says that gov-
ernment is a secular religion, and
that the people of every country are
divided into two classes, each main-
taining a distinct political faith. The
one class always fearing the very
worst that can possibly happen, and
the other hopes, under every circum-
stance, the very best that can in any
event happen. Without accepting
this theory as absolutely true, I think
that all men do generally act from a
motive to guard against public dan-
ger, or else from a positive desire to
do good. Both classes may, there-
fore, favor the present attempt to re-
store the unity of the nation.
I remain, Sir, your ob't serv't,
WM. H. SEWARD.
The Hon. J. R. Doolittle, Chair-
man Executive Committee, etc.
Late Foreign Items.
Liverpool dates to July 19th are
as follows:
Western Bank of England Com*
pany failed—liabilities unknown.
New York, July 29.—The Great
Eastern reached Heart's Content
yesterday. The cable is laid and
working perfectly and continually to
Ireland.
The London Times of the 27th
says the telegraph is the great work
and glory of the age and nation.
A treaty of peace has been signed
between Austria and Prussia.
A previous telegram said five days'
armistice commenced on the noon of
the 23d. There was more fighting
on the 22d. The Austrians claimed
the victory. Also, a naval engage-
ment on the 20th. Austrians run
down one and sunk three other Ital-
ian iron clads.
Later dates, to the 28th, are re-
ceived:
London, July 28, p. m.—Latest
reports from the seat of war state
preliminaries between the contending
forces progressing, tyit no details re-
ceived.
Consols closed at 88|—Five-twen-
ties, 69J.
Liverpool, July 28, p. m.—Cotton
market firm ; middling upland 14¿d.
The New York Herald has the fol-
lowing special telegram :
London, July 28.—An armistice
of four weeks from yesterday has
been signed by Prussia, Austria, Ba-
varia and other German States. The
proposition embraces a lasting peace
over the whole continent.
There have been riots in London,
the Government having forbidden re-
form meetings in Hyde Park.
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The Southern Intelligencer. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 2, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 9, 1866, newspaper, August 9, 1866; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth180058/m1/1/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.