Democratic Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 13, No. 7, Ed. 1, Thursday, February 17, 1848 Page: 1 of 4
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TJ3!K:ar.S'-$3 in advance.
'Published, Weekly.
or $5 at the end ot the year
BY CRUDER & MOOfeE.
EOUSTON, THURSDAY, FEB.RJTA&Y 17, 1&48.
VOL. XIII. N0.7-WHOLE NO. 634.. ,.,
tsiP?-gg)fr- -y:f -jt-sn?Mps:"
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y
DEMOCRATIC TELEGRAPH AND
TEXAS REGISTER,
Published ivtry Jftonday. Jfati St., Houslon
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LAW ON NEWSPAPERS.
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1. Subscribers who do not give express notice
to the contrary, are considered wismng lo jcontin
ti their-subscription..
-J. "If subscribers order the discontinuance of
t their papers, me puuiiMier may continue wkuu
3 IfMiorib?-rte5(eci ar refuse, to'take their
naoT from the office to which they" are directed.
they are held responsible till they have settled their j
btit, ana orucr ineir papers uiscunuuueu.
4. If subscribers remove to ether places with-
out informing the publishers, and the paper Lssent
to ihstfnrnur 'direction, they are held responsible.
5. The courts haTe decided that reluamg te
take a paper dr periodical from the office', or re-
moving, and learitfg it uncalled for, ispntxtfacje
evidence nf intentionalfraud,!
Judge TflompsonVol Indiana, decided recently,
"That where a subscriber lo a periodical failecLto
notify the editor to discontinue"the paper, at the
-end of the time for'which lie subscrioed, or pay
up the arrearages, he was bound for another year."
A year orftwosince the circuit court of Penn-
sylvania decided
"That where a 'postmaster failed to notify the
publishers o( newpapers, that their paper were
JiotJHfted or laen ont -of (he office, -he rendered
himselfliabje for the subciption.
Going into Mourning. A fw weeks since our
.friend Clark was lying sick with tht billions fever.
The attack was severe, and be believed that death was
near. One morning-he a wke from a short deep sleep
to hear a harried -and smotheredjeonvereation in an ad-
joining room, in which his wife took part. The first
words that Clark caught were uttered by his better
half:
" Oa that -gronVdj" said she, " I object to mourn-
ing! "' . X
"Yee," repUedtiotherT ' but the world looks for it
it is fashionable, (uud one might as welf be out of the
"world as out of the iashiou.'' ' l.
"Very true .'" ?V
" Here," thongljt-Clarkis a nice wife. 'She .thinks
H am about to die to be planted, if I may ,usa that ex-
pression, iu the cold earth, and yet she refuses to go
into mourning for me. Ah ! me."
" Now that I am here perhaps Iliad better take your
measure."
" The unfeeling wretch !" fcimed Clark, to think
of sending for a .dress-maker before I am dead! But
J'l! livp for spite! "
" Well," mused the wife, " 1 believe yon may mea-
sure me. I will let you buy the trimming, and let it be
ms gay as possible."
" What etlcsse," groaned Clark. " Womaa-
like, though. One husband is no sooner dead when
they set about -entrapping another. I can scarcely cred-
it." " Of course yon will have a floueuce T "
" Two of them ; and the body is to be plain. I wish
you would get wide gimp to trim it."
" How wdl you have the sleeves trimmed? "
" With buttons and fringe."
" Well, well, 'this beats all," .sighed poor'CIark.
' When do you want the dress?" inquired the;
mantua-maker. ,
" I must have it in three days. Sly husbaud will
tli en be off my hands, and I shall be able to go ont 1"
" Oh ! horrible horrible ! " ejaculated the man, "I
am only balf dead, but this blow will kill me."
His wife heatdhim speak, and ran quickly to his bed -side.
" Did you speak, my dear?" said sbe, with the voice
of an .angel.
rI have heard it ail, madam," replied Clark.
" All what, my dear? " J
" The mourning -gay dresses fringe every
ming. on ; .liana Jtana : " j
" You rave! "
" Da you take e for a foel? " ' "
" Certainly nolmy1 dear."
" -You expect 'mo to be out of thesray in three days
do you? " . . , .
" Yes, Jove; the doctor said you would be well in
thatUme." ? ' ' '
"What means the dress?" ' ' 'r
" It the one-you bought for me before you were
taken siek."
" Butyou were, peaking of mournbg? "
" We were talking of Mrs. TaperTy." '
A0h! is that it?"
".Yes,Jovei Yon ksow-chels poor and her family is
:arge,andit must iuconvemence her very-'much to
find mouraing for .them all On this ground alone I
oppose it."
" So go that's it, isat? I thoughfryou were speak-
ing of me, and it distreesed me. Let ms beg you to be
more carreful in futuse."
Clark was out in three days, and he .now laughs at
the matter, which thanappeared so horrible. City
Items.
The Queen of SpaiaA letter from Madrid, pub-
lished in the Marseilles-Semaphore. gives'the followmer
sketch of the life and habits of Queen Isabella of
Spam:
" Isabella rises.very late, for she retires to rest three
or four hours after midnight- She saps at two in the
morning. In the audiences which her majesty gives,
o jo is always sure to kzre lo wait an hour or two be-
yond the appointed time. .She treats in this wcy even
her minister.. They are often sent away without being
received, and arerecalled by her majesty at one or two
at night. She'Miitens with attention to al! that her
ministers hare to say to herbut nothing mores or inter-
ests her as much as tho acts of beneficence they pro-
pose to her, and the seeompenses for acts of virtue and
courage to which they call her attention.' Isabella,
under such circumstances, always grants iore than
theyuisk, and with the heart and grace of an angel,
she grants all in ber power. Although .possessed of
this exquisite sensibility, thoyoung queen fears nothing,
and her courage if proof against every thing. She her-
self drives teams f two and even four bcrscs. She is
an intrepid horsewoman, and often, in, jest, challenges
the best riders of her suite to do what she,deesf or mount
certain horses which sho alone can . jjovern. Her
consin-german the Infanta Donna Josjpba, daughter
of the. Infant Dob Francisco de Paula, s who often ac-
companies the queen on her horseback rideb one day
said to her, " My dear, the horses know -that you are
qneen, end know you in every thing." She "w very
fondof music, and does not content herself with utere-
. Jy learniug it. In the concerts she giies,et lhe palace,
she herself sings Spanish airs with all tie grace of an
Andalusian. Dress is" jjso one of tbcyonng queen's
, passions, and she particularly delights mjalking upon
dress to tho ladies of her court, end luahsplaying to
them the now dresses she receives from Paris. During
.her childhood, in which the suffered much from ill
health, her mother was not willing that tho dress-
maker should.make her dresses too tightly, but against
these direct.ou tbo young queen secretly rebelled.
The active life which Qoeeu Isabella Jeada has given
herstrength and health. During the latter j.art of th
.sojourn of Her Majesty at Granja, she one day present-
ed herself on borssback, with an Anazone of white
cashmere, the" corwge of which was of a very Inrht
yellow. Sho wore oaher head a whitehat, a la chela-
licr, with a white plume that fell back. Nothing cau
g.xe an adequate idea of her graco and elegance,
Avhen wo add to this a long, slender waist, the fresh-
ness of sixteen, with the embonpoint of eighteen or
twenty. 'When they speak to the Queen of the dangers
whicb menace royalty, sbo laughs at them. " Con-
cern yourselvcswith the country ahd your own business
as formoJlrcare.iBeither to be Queen nor to govern!
"We sovereigns ncjvcr-antthe -means for livicgmoder-
ately, and of contributing to the hippiness of others.
Think of what vou will have to uudertako for my doar
Spam after my reign is over, for I have a presentiment
'it will not be Ions"
MEXICO.
Mexico is naturally 'a rich country. Nature has
given her all the aids of industry and all the elements
of wealth. Indeed, nature has been so prodigal of her
gifts, that the incentives to Jabar are scarcely sufficient,
and the recc1,w,k'"enfd on one hand by a mixture
with a debjsed aborrg.nal population, and on the other
unfortunately md&posedlo exertion byastrongtiuctnre
of Castilian pride, offers but slight resistance to the
progress of those commercial cutcrpises which may be
built npon the territory.
We perceive that m the debates in Congress, tho-
population is estimated at ten millions. - Only about a
million and a half of whites are to bo found in this
number. The area of tho country is about 833,000'
square miles. ' k
Abont one-half of this territory is within the tropics,,
and jthe other mostly in tho temperate zone. Maize,
is the chief article of culture, and with this are pro-
duced the cereal grains, the banana, rice and potato,,
forming the food of the people.
Tho strip of land'alouff the coast, called tho terra
calienie, or hot country, is exceedingly productive.
What it wants in health, it makes np in fertility, tho
sugar-cane, cocoa, cottouVand tobacco, grow here.
The southern portion ortBe country, the isthmus, or-
hock of the leg, furnishes Ian immense variety of valu-
,j.?1.5a.-. . ...! . . : '"f .p-'
auio.wpuus auu meuicmai oianis. ve nnn mere, loir -
ivooacapuicooac7Tamua, ju(ap, ana tne tree wnichi
sustams-tbe cochineal insect. Vast herds of horses
horned .cuttle and mules cover the northern plains of
the country. No copntry could he richer than Mex'cov
without counting on the mines, if it had a good govern-
mem, an inausinous ana imeiugeni population, w nea
we contrast these great natural resources, so wholly
unimproved, or if improved, to be the mere fund out
of which unprincipled statesmen and generals, ai id a
rapacious and bloody soldiery maintain internal 'war,
with the sterile portions of our confederacy, wb icb,
under the influences of religion, education, and free
institutions, sustains a largo .population in competi :nce
and ease. f
The mines of Mexico are justly celebrated for their
wealth. We learn from Mr. Ward's excellent w ork,
that In the year 1810, the annualproducts, were a bout
24,000,000". Tho subsequent unsettled state of the
countryj ahd theoverthrow oftlie Spanish sway , re- .
duccd the amount to about 8,000,000, and in spi te of
the investments of foreign capitalists to bring 1 mck
the gold and silver days of .Mexico, their bad man age-
ment has prevented any great success. At pre sent
the returns are not much over 10,000,000 a yei j.
v&iearn mat mere are now six English compani as in
operation, viz :
UnitedJMexican, with a capital oft
Anglo Mexican, " . . "
Refel del Monte, " "
Halpuyahua, " "
Bolanos, - " "
Catorce, ," f
Xl,20( .000
1.00C ,000
50( .,000
1W .,000
15( i.OOO
CC ',000,
The Bolanos is tho most profitable of all these.
As a consequence, the use of quicksilver is indit pen-
sable in mining, and abont six millions of this nrti cle is
annually brought into Mexico, principally, it is said,
from Spain, and from the property owned by tho
Rothschilds.
The ouly manufactures of the country consist of a
littlo gold and silrerplated ware, coarse earthen, vool-
lensand cottons. ,
Tho littlo comparative commerce of the court! ry is
surprising, unless we look to races as the soluti on -of
politico-economical difficulties. The exports an ount
only to about S15.000.000 per annum. The cot tons,
woollens and linens are brought chiefly from Enj "and.
as well as iron, hardware, ""anus and crockery, glass .
ware and linen from Germany, paper from Italy and!
i-rauco, wiub aim uruuuj iroin opam anu xrs nee,
olive oil from Spain, hats from France, spices from.
England, the East Indies and China, silks from Eng-
land, China and France. From the United States
comes a mixture of all these. ; -,
The weights and measures are generally Spanish,
though tho English yard and French auue are also
recognized.
The currency of account is the Spanish piastre, of
one dollar, divided into 8 reals or 100 cts. The real is
divided into 1G quastos, or 34 marevedos, into 2 medios,
4 quartillos or 8 ocharos, and for the payment of duties
into lii granos. I he coins of curculat'on are :
The doubloon (gold) orjuunce, nominally 16, divi-
ded into halves, quarters and eights.
The dollar, (of silver,) halves, quarters, or pesetas
and reals, f Mexican plate.
Copper co!us are called quartillos and clacos, or-
ocharos.
The doubloon when of'full weight. (23 carats fine.)
are worth "i 4s. 8Jd.
I he harddollar, peso dure.) is worth 4s. 2td.
The duties charged by the Mexican government,
were generally 40 per cent. Quicksilver, roots and
seeds were free. The produclsof Mexico were allowed
to passut of the country jvithout charge, except tho
preciousiaetals.t Gold when wrought paid 2 per cent,
and silver 3. ?
The revenue oT the country np to tho latest official
dates within our reach, were about twelve millions
and a half per annum, but,thero was never any surplus
in consequence of the bad management of the finances''
and tho enormous charges made in one way or another-
on the income.
i The .debt due to the English .account, funded and
at interest, was about 46,000,000. The probability
of its payment seems to be at present somewhat dis-
tant. From this rapid glance -at the condition of Mexico,
we may infer howmuch w&shall be able to accomplish
iu the way of trade, particularly since it is under our
control. Jn a commercial point of view, we imagine
that wo might dispose of many millions of American
and foreign goods in Ttlexico during the coming year,
and tbat the revenue from a "judicious tariff" would
be very largo as well as opportune.
W&Uevermaybemecalculatfoiisofpoliticians,thar&
seems to be an evident intention, in Congress as we 11
as out of it, to hold on, aud if we are to be in this posi-
tion, let commerce repair the drains which war, is mak -ingon
the specie of tho country. N. Y. Dry GoocLi
Reporter.
CITY COUNCIL.
Houston, Feb'y 7, 1848.
Board met pursuant to adjournment.
Present His Honor the Mayor, Aid. Brewster,
Bowman, Stevens, Allen, Thomson, Harrisand Stock-
bridge. The minutes of the last meeting wero read and
adopted.
The returns of an election for an Alderman in Ward
No. 4, to fill a vacancy, occasioned by the resiguauW
of E-VB. Noble, having" been banded in. Aldermen
Stockbridge, Thomson and Stevens, were appointed
a committee to examine as well the county tax roll us-
to qualifications, as the said returns, and after sometime-
spent thereon, the said committee presented the fol-
lowing report, which having been read was received
and B. A. Shepherd, declared duly elected:
We, the committee appointed to examine the returns.
of the election fcr Aldermau in Ward No. 4, find thut
B. A- Shepherd has the largest number of votes, and
possesses the necessary qualifications, and we declur
him duly elected.
ELAM STOCKBRIDGE, Chairman.
Mr. Shepherd, who was present, camo forward,
when his honor the Mayor, administered to him the-
oath of office, whi-h he subsequently subscribed toy
and took his seat.
Alderman Stockbridge moved that the Board proceed
to the election f officers, which was carried. Prece-
ding the election, sundry communications from gentle-
men applying for the different offices within the gift cf
the City Councd, uere read, whtn the office ot citv
Secretary and Treasurer was declared first in order.
The followinggentlemen were put in nomination, and
the result was
1st ballot, 2d ballot,
John Fitz Gerald, 4 5
F.W. Smith, . 3 3
A. AI. Gentry, .A 0 i,
Whoreupou, J:is honor tho Mayor declared John
Fitz Gerald elected to the office of city Secretary and
Treasurer, for tho year 1848, he at the same time took
the oath of office, administered by the Mayor, which
he subscribed to.
Tho next in order, was the offico of Marshall and
.Market Master. Messrs. Shea, Mclvinley, Ewing,
Hail, Davios andrVtvob, were put in nomination, and
the fellowing shows the result,
1st ballot, 2d ballot,
D. B. Davies, 4 5
T.J.Ewmg, ,3 4
John Vivcu, " '0
D. B. Davies was declared elected Marshall and
Market Master for the present year.
The next in order, was tho office-of Wharf Master.
F. J. Rothhaas and D. G. Wheeler, wore put in nomi-
nation, and each candidate having received four votes
and being a tie, his honor the Maybr cast his voto for
D. G. Wheeler, and consequently declared him the
Wharf Master for this year.
For tax Assessor and Collector, J. C. Cabaniss ainf
Henry Levenhagen wero put in nomination, and as
iu tho preceding election there was a tie, and his
honor tho Mayor voting for J. C. Cabaniss, he declared
him the Assessor and Collector for the present year.
Messrs. Bergin, Grainger and Slocomb, wero put in
nomination for the office of City Sexton, and the fol-
lowing was the result,
1st ballot, 2d ballot,
J. W. Bergin, 3 4
C J. Grainger, 4 4
J. R. Slocomb, 1 0
It being a tie, his honor the Mayor gave the casting
vote 10 j. tv. cergin, ana aeciarea mm ouy aexion
for this yoar.
Tho Board then proceeded to the election of the
standing committees. Nominations were made and
accepted to, andin some instances refused, particularly
I by Alderman Harris. Some reconsiderations had, and
the ayes and noes m almost every instance taken, and
the following was the result,
i On Finance, Aid. Shepherd, Thomson and Stevens.
streets and Bridges, Aid. Stevens, Brewster and
Allen.
CbimsaudAounts, Aid. BreweokrmdjfcmjJiyjJy.kuo.w their great ccuntrymeu'byanip.
-' "TfBowmau. " I Of these great varieties, self-denial, oatience. nersever- I
" Police, Aid. Bowman, Allen and Brewster.
On motion, the Police Committee were authoived
and requested to take cognisance of the Market, and
act as Market Committee.
It was moved and carried, that in addition to the
standing committees, tho Board create a Committco
on Roads and Bridges, and a Committee on Hospital
aud Paupers, and the following gentlemen wore elec-
ted, precisely after the manuer of the preceding stan-
Iaing commiuees:
On Roads and Bridges, Aid. Shepherd, Stevens and
falockbndge.
" Hospital and Pauper, Aid. Bowman, Thomson and
Brewster.
Alderman Stockbridge moved, that a committee be
appinted to examine the returns of an election held to
cieci ueiegates to trame a new unarter tor tne cuy ot
Houston.
His honor tho Mayor, appointed Aldermen Stock-
bridge, Shepherd and Stevens, said committee, who
after examining said returns, presented the following
report: ,, t-
We, the committee appointed to examine tho returns
for delegates to frame a hew Charter for the city of
Houston, have discharged that duty, and find C. Mc-
Annelly, elected for Ward No. 1, R. A. Hanks, elected
for Ward No. 2, W. McCraven, e'lected for Ward No.
3, and C. W. Buckley, elected for Ward No. 4.
ELAM STOCKBRIDGE.
B. A. SHEPHERD.
J. H. STEVENS.
On motion the above report was duly receivod, aud
tho Secretary requestedto notify tho said gentlemen of
their election, and respectfully invite them to proceed
immediately to the discharge of the duty imposed
upon them.
Alderman-Brewster moved, that the Pauper Com-
mitteo be authorized to insert a notice in the Moruiug
Star, that proposals will be received until Monday next,
from the practising physicians of this city, the terms
and conditions under which they would undertake to
discharge the duties of city physician for the present
year. The ayes and noes were called for, and resulted
as follows: Ayes, Aid. Brewster, Bowman, Allen,
Thomson, Harris, Shepherd. Noes, Aid. Stevens and
Stockbridge motion carried, and the committee au-
thorized to advertise as proposed. v
Aid. Stevens called up for final disposition, tho reso-
lution which he introduced at the last meeting, and
which by a motion of the Board laid on tho table until
to-day, and reads as follows:
Resolved by the Mayor and City Council of the city
of Houston, That after tho liquidation of the present
liabilities of the city, and completing the improvements
already ordered, the balance of the reveune of the city
for the year 1818, shall bo and the same is hereby,
appropriated, as follows, viz : Ouo-third for the con-
tingent expenses of tho city, and two-thirds, (the bal-
ance,) for the improvement of the public roads leading
to and from this place, -and for the improvement of
Buffalo Bayou! j ,
Aid. Shepherd introduced tho following as a substi-
tute to the resolution offered by Aid. Stovens, as fol-
lows: e ,,
Resolved, by the Mayor and City Council of Hous-
ton, 1 That, after the liquidation of the existing
legal debt of the city and such other claims as in the
judgmeut of the presmit Board ought injustice and
equity to bo" paid, that the revenues of the city shall
be, aud is hereby, appropriated as follows, to wit.:
The whole of " tho wharfage tax to bo held sacred,
and appropriated for no other use than tho improve-
ment of the navigation of Buffalo Bayou, and the con-
dition of such of the main roads leading from Houston,
as tho Council may direct ;
The whole of the taxes on real estate, to bo appro-
priated on the streets within the ward in which the
property taxed is situated ;
And so much of the revenues derived from the mar-
ket, licenses, aud all other sources, as may be necessary
to pay the contingent expenses of an economical gov-
ernment of the city.
Aid. Bowman, in like manner, introduced a substi-
tute, which reads as follows :
Whereas of late a groat number of our fellow-citizens
have complained of the wrongful expending of
their money upon persons and places where it was not
actually called for, and of little benefit to tho citizens
at large ; And whereas we, as tho Aldermen elected,
are in honor aud duty bound to protect one portion of
our citizens as well as tbe other, so that even-handed
juutico may come to the inhabitants of each respective
ward : Therefore.
ij Bo- it resolved by the Mayor and City Council of
j Houston,
1st. That all money collected for city licencos and
Aaxes for the year 1848, be, and the same is hereby,
appropriated, for the use and benefit of each ward in
Tidiich the same is assessed and collected, and no other.
2d. That tho sum of five hundred dollars be, aud
alio sa me is hereby appropriated, for the cleaning and
lepairing of the market aud market square of this city,
under tie eoalroll of the market committee.
3d. That afterthe payment of the presentliabilities.
of the cky shall be completed, and the paupers of said
city fro in time to time with strict economy provided
for, tbe balance of tho revenue of this city, be, and tho
same is hereby appropriated, for the opening and re-
pairing odroads, streets and bridges in and for the coun-
ty of H. irris, for the year 1848.
The .foregoing resolutions elecited considerable dis-
cussion, and were finally laid on the table until Mon-
day nex t.
On m jtion.the Board adjourned until Monday next,
at 3 o'chsck, r. it.
JOHN FITZ GERALD, Secretary.
Horrors of Intemperance. An address re-
ceatly published by tho New York Tempe-
rance S ociety, contains the following horrible
slistics of vice and wretchedness in that
great cii y.
Accoi fling to the report of the Chief of the
poliue, fi-om May, 1846, there were in that
city :
Committed for drunkenness alone
Dmnkeiuiess and disorderly conduct
Assault md battery
Fighting in the streets
Petit la: cenies, mostly to obtain.
men ns ol drinking
Attempts to kill
.Slabbing
suspicion, of murder '
31urdcr ' , .p
Threatninig life , ;
Highway robbery
Vagrancy (in six months) p.
L-jdgings to'the houseless, chefly
iutcm.pcrato
7453
5SU
1771
;sio
2206
30
10
4
8
03
31
31,203
Total
49,815
Such are thodointrsofintemDerrinco in New
York, at a.i annua cost to hor citizens of at
least S300',000, and in additionally indiicct
I outlay, of j irobably thtee tic ics that amount.
The immediale instruments of this dreadful
wotkare tho three thousand sk hundred and
fifty-six liquor venders, and ihc toleration of
about as many more oi the unlicensed. .But
these facts convey only a faint idea of the evil
as it actually exists, and of its consequences.
Dollars and cents sink into absolute insignifi-
cance in comparison with tho collateral, moral
and physical results. If-we add to the appall
mg catalogue "ot crime and wretchedness at
which humanity instinctively shudders, the
blasted hopes, broken hearts, and destroyed
intellects, of our fellow crealutes, with the
lingering tortures of disease, the ravings oi
despair, and the agonies oftemporal and eter-
nal death, which it inflicts, the aggregate is
overwhelming, and far beyond human compu-
tation. Communicated.
Boo1: and Prints Wanted for the Million. .
A short biography of some half dozen pages each, of
)each of the great men of tho American Revolution,
and of those whd have since become distinguished in
'onr history for the use of schools, which will afford
youth this species of kuowledgo whilo memory is open.
;to impressions and powerful to retain them
How
ance, patriotism and p'ersonal sacrifices they know no-
thing. Biography of this character would be impress-
ed upon thoir youthful memories, prove lasting, and
inspire them through life to higher motives, and purer j
conduct.
Where is that great and good man Goodrich, that ho 9
lias not thought of this further usefulness?
An incident may show how useful such biography
would prove. INot many years since a gentlemaiv
for ho was ono of nature's sonllemen, kind, sincere
anr? hnnpqt u?hn hnrl nnt hnil ttin nnnnrtnnitipa nfjti?. 1
ucation and reading, was present at a debating society, J
where was argued tho greatness of Columbus with
that of Washington, and thus expressed himself, tltat
Columbus had simply found America and left it, when
Washington had founded tho Thirteen United States,.
and left them full of good people to go on aud prosper.
The one had hid his taleut in the bushol, the other hud
left his talent to increase aud multiply for the benefit of
the world. I ho good feeling entertained for this gen-
tleman, and tho good sense apparent render his vvaut
of knowledge, protected him fromndiculo.
Lot it be always recollected, that our usefulness to
oursolves, aud to one another, is ever in protection to
tbe sum of our useful and christian knowledge.
Many of us after leaving school taken thence per-
haps by necessity at an early age from the laborious
character of the trades lo which we wore bound, to
the culpable neglect of those for whom wo worked, and
whom the law intended should bo our moral guardians,
as well as legal ones, and that they should provide food
for our moral and montal wants equally with that re-
quired for our physical support, have by these and oth-
er causes been deprived of, or do not enjoy after ad-
vantages, until after a period we may esteem too late.
When occupied with the cares of life mid our families,
we do not think we can spare thee time.
The human mind is ever at work for the good or
disorder of its possessor, ever thinking of the past, the
present and the future, of tho sports- and enjoyments of
childhood, and of the events of maturer age. Among
these all delight to look back upon tho green and plea-
sant garden of our innocent youth. Inspired at this
age with knowledge, which mu6t prove durable asvur
natures, and that kuowledgo embrace the history of
other men's lives perhaps of lowly origin, and humble
fortunes whose virtues, and goedoess and worth
equally with their intellect, have elevated and render-
ed them eminently useful perhaps with but little ear-
ly education beyond good example aud precept. Our
memories will psesent to us these instances all along
through life, aud prove moving and living impulses
withiuus, to Iiko conduct, and toenidatetheirvirtues,
Wo are wrongly taught that every thing depends
upon intellect. Wo are taught' it e-xerydayby lan-
guage, 'aud intercourse with each otlicr, iu the court
house, in the town, and in all the affairs of life. We
are taught by example, that intellect means success-ill
what wo undertake, by the acquirement of wealth, or
tho attainment of distinction, when if tins intellect, this
superiority, were analyzed, it would disclose mind per-
haps, but the mind of our grosser and depraved natures,
which attains this success, this wealthy this eminence
by intriguo aud management, and by operating upou
the weaker aud more sordid natures of others.
There can be but few eminent audi distinguished in
society: but -all may bo good and estimable,, and of
equally high usefulness iu their plate and trust with
those who occupy positions of eminence.
The plough in passing over the rich soiljof tharalley,
elevates a portiou of earth over others.whichin its re-
turn is restored again totthe depths of tho furrow, but
all of this earth is useful and lends its-aid, and'afiords
its nourishment to the fruitful aud useful plant which
its kindly bosom cherishes.
The cultivation of our better natures-is as much re-
quired, if not more,, than our intelIectboth for. our use-
fulness to others, and for our own happiness. TJie one
may be overwrought and become impaired, But the
other will remain to bless aud purify ourselves and one
another, to the latest period of obrlivos Place-an in-
dividual in office, however correct and able to dis-
charge the trust, and his usefulness isdimitcdons-half
by lacking tho cultivation of the heart. The truths
which he utters, and the wiso admonitions which issue
from his lips, fall to the ground valueless aud unheard,
because not clothed in the language of kindness, or
manifesting a regard for his fellow createree
Why is there not an American Society for
the diffusion of useful and christian knowledge?
A Cent Magazine for the- use of the sailor at
sea, the wagoner at the road side, or at his
camp-fire, tho pilgrim to Oregpn, the- trapper
in the wastes, the apprentice at his trade, the
farmer on the frontier, and! for every one. It
is not children alone who should, be educa-
ted. Man, the matured man, is all his- life
throughout being educated to good purposes or
bad tendencies : him you muot correct by in-
forming him, by substituting agreeable and
useful thoughts for idle or vicious- ones.. The
father must be informed cc he cannot inform
his children in a thousand! useful things and
themes which the school may not teach, the
practical concernments of life, and he cannot
go himself again to school to be taught, that
he may know ho-w to acquire knowledge, so
that he may have it to impart it rightly to his
children.
Would you have the fanner to deveiope his
soil to its greatest fiuitfuliiess, toe the- benefit
of himself and the suffering people of other
countries, give him cheaply knowledge,
which he can a t once apply and render use-
ful. Would you have the- good and useful
man, outnumber the quieS and tbe easy, the
uninformed and the vicious give them knowl-
edge will interes tand stimulate them. Would
you have your children grow up. useful and
enlightened members of society, give their pa-
rents, placed at every man's house and fire-
side, practical a nd christian knowledge, that
they may bo enabled to impart it to them.
Would Ave have christ'ans, let us begin
with showing ru-en philosophically, practica-
l. la. nnn. nil. V in "t h . .n."l 1 n .n n .. A n v.... I ! .. n I n P.
1JJ I , IIIUI.II.J J 111 A1IU 1 UllllUk (IIU UAUUIlCIIClUa 11
of nature and ait, in the sublime machinery i
of the Univeise, in all things that live and 1
move, and have their being, tbe wonderful pow-
er, and bounteous love and Providence of Got1.,
for the creatures of His hand.
Would we have virtue, we must substj tu te
the uses of knowledge in some form or other
fir the practices of vice. In fact would te
have virtuous people, and continued good gov-
ernment, the people must be supplied C eely
with practical, useful and virtuous knowh -ilge.
The mind must be usefully and virtu Misly
employed, or like som 3 beautiful, but co mpli-
cated and delicate machinery, which ret juircs
canstant cate to prevent disorder, it it ills to
disoiderand wears away itself- if not to vice,
yet to no kindly fruition.
We have, it is true, every variety of useful
books and source at which the knowledge-loving,
the inibrraed and the intelligent may ob-
tain knowledge : but it is not at these foun-
tains that all may seek them. And if we could
render knowledge useful to all, let it be select-
ed, condensed and practical, and give it to
every one cheaply, or at no cost, at his own
fireside.
The philanthropist may prate of his schemes
for social government, and of his love for his
species, aud the abolitionist of his impractica-
ble principles, and we may all cry and pro-
claim education, but unless our plans dnd prac-
tices be practical, and generally useful to man-
kind, we fail of our good purposes.
The government of the Union, and af each
State is a paternal one, and in proportion 'to
the intelligence of those who compose them, is
their trust and responsibility, eminent and
weighty.
Let the general government, jand each
State, erect an institution apart from ail oUier
purposes, and solely for the dissemination of
ysjzfhljmd practical knowledge, audJrttfb, up-
on all subjects and questions which concern
the affairs, moralises and occurrences of ev-ery-day
life, upon all subjects which will ben-
efit or immediately concern the masses, upon
practical agriculture, the various arts and sci-
ences, true political economy, the value of na-
tional union, upon all and every species of
knowledge, or nature which concern and af-
fect the general interest of mankind, and those
of the American people, the mines of the past,
the riches ot the present, and the depths of
the future explored, the truth and purest know
ledge elaborated and made common to all. It
belongs to the American people, foremost in
the science of good government, second to
no nation in intellect or virtuous purposes, to
found institutions which will not only preserve
themselves, but whose benefits will radiate lo
every portion of the known world.
S500,000 rightly applied "by the general
government, with its own printing presses,
will pay a large annual sallary to twelve or
more of the most eminent professors of science;
and publish monthly one million pomphlets
containing 50 pages of the size of Hunt's Mer-
chants' Magazine, or twelve millions annually.
Let every one reflect upon the vast and im-
measurable good which would result from this
mighty engine of knowledge, and the people
of the union will cry out as with one voice
Give to us and to mankind that which will
make us wiser and happier erect for us in-
stitutions for the diffusion of knowledge, and
do not count the cost. S.
From the Union Magazine.
THE THRIVING FAMILY.
BY MRS. L. II. SIGOURNEY.
Our father lives in Washington,
And has a world of cares,
But gives his children each a farm,
Enough for them and theirs ;
Full thirty well-grown sons has he,
A numerous race iudeed,
Married aud settled, nil, d'ye see,
With boys and girls to feed.
And if we wisely till our lands,
We're sure to earning a living,
And have a penny, too, to spare,
For spending, or for giving.
A thriving family are we,
No lording need deride us,
For we know bow to use our hands,
And in our wits wo pride us ;
'Hail, brother, hail,
Let nought on earth divide us.
Some of us dare the sharp north-east,
Some, clover fields are mowing ;
And others tend the cotton plants
That keep the looms agoing ;
Some build and steer the white-winged ships,
Aud few in speed can mate them ;
While others rear the corn and wheat,
Or grind tho flour to freight them.
And if our neighbors o'er the sea
Have e'er an empty larder,
To send a loaf their babes to cheer,
We'll work a little harder.
No old nobility have we,
No tyrant-king to ride us;
Our sages in the Capital
Enact the laws that guide us.
Hail, brothers, hail,
Let nought on earth divide us.
Some faults we have we can't deny,
A foible, here and there ;
But other households have the same,
And so, we'll not despair.
'Twill do no good to fumo and frown,
And call hard names, you see,
And 'twere a burning shame to part
So fine a family.
'Tis but a waste of time, to fret,
Since Nature made us one,
For evory quarrel cuts a thread
That beautiful love has spun.
So draw the cords of union fast,
Whatever may betide us, ' '
And closer cling through every blast,'
For many a storm has tried us.
Hail, brother, hail,
Let nought on earth divide us !
Circumstantial Evidence. In the Demo-
cratic Review for November, 1842, there was
an account of the trial of Henry Blake, for
murder, who was convicted under circumstan-
tial evidence and hung. About three months
after his death, the Judge who presided at the
trial received a note from a prisoner under
sentence of death, requesting to see him with-
out delay, as his sentence was to be carried
into effect the day following. On his way
thither he overtook an old man walking slow-
ly, who accosted him and recognized him to
be a Caleb Grayson, who had been a witness
at Blake's trial, and had a singular note of his
own, but equally at a loss to know the mean-
ing of the summons. They both entered the
cell together. The prisoner did not move, but
only raised his head, when Grayson recogni-
zed having seen him at a tavefti the night be-
fore Blake's execution and at the gallows.
"Well, Judge," said he, " I sent for you, to
see if you can't get me out of this sciape.
Must I hang to-morrow 1"
The Judge shook his head ; " It's idle to
hope, nothing can prevent your execution."
" An application might be made to the high-
est authorities," said the prisoner. "Pardons
have come sometimes even on the scaffold."
"None will come in your case replied the
Judge, it is needless for me to dwell on your
offence, but it was ono that had no palliation,
and you may rest assured, that whatever may
have occurred in other cases, no pardon will
come in yours.
In fact, I understand that an application has
been made for ono, by our counsel, and has
been refused."
Tho features of this prisoner underwent no
change ; nor did the expression of his face al-
ter in the least. After a moment's pause, he
said : "Is this true, Judge upon yourhon- ' -"I
or?"
" It is," replied the Judge.
"Then I know the worst," replied the crimi- '
nal, coldly, ' and will now tell what I have to A
communicate, which I would not have done, ' f
while there was a hope of escape. You, satdMi '
he, turning to the Judge, presided at the trial "r
of young Harry Blake, who was accused of "
murder, and sentenced him to death." t
"I did."
"And you," said he, turning to Grayson, '
"were one of the witnesses against him. You
swore that you saw him stab Wtckliflb.. Ore
your testimony principally, he was hung." i
" I was," replied the old man ; " I saw him
with my own eyes."
The prisoner uttered a low sneering laugh,. j -.
as he said, turning to the Judge ! &
" You, sir, sentenced an innocent man." - '
"And you," said he, turning to the' other; ' '
"swore to a falsehood. Harry Blake did not
kill Wickliffe. He was as innocent of the sin I
of murder as you are now."
The old man staggered as if he had been- '"
struck, and leaned against the table to support
himself, while the condemned felon sfoodop-.,..
posite him looking at him with a cold, indiffer
ent sneer. t
" Yes, old man," said he sternly, "you have-
blood and perjury on your soul, for I," said he, i
stepping forward, so that the light of the lamp
fell strongly upon his savage features, "I mur-
dered William Wickliffe ! I did it! Thank
God, I did it, for I had a long score to settle-
with him. But Blake had no hand in it. I
met Wickliffe on that afternoon, alone with
none to interfere between us. I told him, of.. .
the injuries he had done me, and I told himi -that
the time had come for redress. He enr '
deavored to escape ; bul rfollowed him up : L
grappled with him and stabbed him. As I did
so I heard the clatter of horse's hoofs, and I
leaped into a clump of bushes which grew at
the road side. At that moment Blake came
up, and found Wickliffe lying dead in the road-
You know the rest. The tale he told was as-
true as the gospel. He was only attempting
to draw the knife from the man's breast, when. -.
you came up and charged him with the mur.
der!" - .
"Good God! canthisbeposssiblel" ejacn-" 4,
lated the old man. " It cannot ! Villain, youi -are
a liar !" - cM
"Pshaw!" muttered the man. "What- -couldlgain
by tellinga lie 1 Tomorrow I die." t --,
"I don't believe it L I don't believe itljL'jSfc-"
exclaimed Grayson, pacing the cell, and wring-.fc' ;-
ing his hands. " God ;in mercy grant thaLirr
be false ! that this dreadful sin may not be up, 1 ,
onme!" ,.-- . v .
The prisoner sat down and looked at the ' -
Judge and the witness with a calmness which V
had something almost fiendish in it, whenf .
contrasted with the extreme agitatioa of the ,-
mental agony of the other. -1
At last the old man stopped'in front of huir';-.
and with a calmness so suddenly assumed in
the midst of his paroxism of remorse, that it
even overawed the criminal, said " You are- u
one whose life has been a tissue of falsehood. i
and crime. You .must, prove what you haven .g
said, or I'll not believe it." i ?
" Be it so," replied the prisoner- " I saw
the whole transaction, and heardall your tes-
timony at the trial ;. for I was- there too- L'll-
now tell you -what occurred at the spot of the-
murder, which you-did not mention, but which-.
I saw. When you rode up, the man with you-.
jumped off his horse and seized Blake by the
collar ; your hat fell off on the pommel otyour-..
saddle, but you caught it "before it reached the
ground. You thenlsprang off your horae, and
whilst Walton held JBIake you examined the-. .,-
body. You. attempted to pull the-knife from.,-,
his breast, but it wasovered with blood, and," "
slipped from your fingers. You rubbed yotnn -hand
on the ground, and going to a. bush-on'
the roadside, broke off some leaves and wiped,, -your
hands upon them, and afterwards the han- '
die of the knife. You then drew it out and 1'
washed it in a small puddle of water at the foot
of a sumach bush. As you did so, you looked
around at Blake, who was standing with his
arms folded, and said, Don't be uneasy about
me Caleb; Idid'tkill Wickliffe-, and don't in-
tend to escape. At one time you were within
six feet of where I was. It's lucky you did
not find me, fori was ready at that moment to
send you to keep company with Wickliffe ;
but I saw all even when you stumbled and'
dropped your gloves, as you mounted your.-
horse." " God have- mercy on me !" ejaculated
Grayson ; "this is true ! But one word more ;
I heard Wickliffe, as we rode up, shriek out,
mercy, Harry."
" He was begging for life my first name is
Harry!"
The old man clasped his hands across his-
face, and fell senseless on. the floor. '
It is needless to go into, the details of the
prisoner's confession, whieh was so full and
clear that it left no doubt on the mind of the
Judge that he was guilty of Wickliffe's mur-
der, and that Harry Blake was another oC
those who had gone to swell the list of victims
to circumstantial evidence.
THE YANKEE. TURNED TURK.
A correspondent of Noah's Saturday Times,
who lately traveled in Egypt, relates the fol-
lowing amusing incident of Yankee enterprize.
We soon found ourselves in the desert, tra-
versing seas of sand- Thc-weather was ex-
ceedingly pleasant, and tho heat not so op-
pressive as we apprehended. We had an.
agreeable party, determinetkto be pleased with,
our journey, and not to grumble at whatever-
privations we encountered. Early on the se-
cond day, after camping among some ruins,,
and hearing in the night the howl ofa solitary
hyena not a very pleasant sound we saw
at a distance what appeared to be a shanty
near a small clump of palm trees. It was
rudely constructed of rough boards, with an
awkwardly formed door, tbo whole looking
like any thing else-but Egyptian architecture :
but it occurred to me that it might have-been-thus
rudely ihrown together as a.shelter for.
savans exploring tho ruins in the neighbor-
hood ; in front of the door a Turk, was seated
on a bench smoking his-pipe. He looked like
an oasis in the desert.. He had on a pair of
cotton trowsers, sandals and a turban, with an
attoghan stuck in & red sash at his side, andi
against the side of his shanty rested a long
gun. As we approached he rose up, placed
his hands to his turban, and said Arabic,
" Bluish Chalic ?" shook hands with my dra-
goman and exchanged a salutatioato the jani-
zaries, who appeared to know him. His hair,.
V
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Moore, Francis, Jr. Democratic Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 13, No. 7, Ed. 1, Thursday, February 17, 1848, newspaper, February 17, 1848; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48486/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.