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About The Oregon statesman. (Oregon City, O.T. [Or.]) 1851-1866 | View Entire Issue (March 15, 1859)
...1 .w . w AX VOL. 9. NO. 1. SALEM, OREGON, TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1859. WHOLE NO. 417. !; . . . A Hvart-KrMftlK History-. la Manchester a maiden dwelt. Her name wm lht-he Drown I Her rheeks were red. her hair was black, And the m considered by rood judges, to do y ui odds tbe best-looking girl In town. Her aire was nearly ewntoen s Her evea were uparklinfr bright ; very lovely fcirt waa he And for about a year aud a half there bad been a young man paying attention to her bjr the name of lteubeu Wright. Kow Renhen was a nirm young man As any in th) town ; And I'h.i be loved him very dear, liut on arronnt of his being obliged to work for a living, he never conld make him self agreeable to old Mr. and Mr. Drown. lfor parents were resolved Another she should wed A rich old wiser in the place t And old Drown frequently declared that rather than have bis daughter wiarry Keuben Wright, he'd sooner knock him vn the head. lint Fhtrbe' heart waa brave and strong ; - Hhe feared no parent's frowns : And as for Reuben Wright so bold. I ve heard bim say more than titty times, that ( with the exception of Phorbe) he didn't care a for the whole race of Browns. So Phcebe Brown and Senben Wright Determined they would marry ; Three weeks ago last Tuesday night They started for old Parson Webster's deter mined to be united in the holy bands of matrimony, tboufrh it was tremendous dark, and rained like old Harry. Bnt Captain Brown was wide awake ; He loaded np his gun. And then pursued the loving pair ; He overtook 'em when they got about half way to the Parson's and then Reuben and Phoebe started off on a ran. Old Brown then took a deadly aim Toward young Reuben's head ; Bat oh ! it was a bleedin? shame. U made a mistake and shot his only danarh- ter, and had the unspeakable anguish of seeing her drop right down stone dead. Then anguish Slled younr Reuben's heart, And vengeance erased nis brain; lie drew an awful jacknife out, And plunged it into old Brown about fifty or sixty times, so that it was very doubtful about his ever coming to again. The briny drops from Reuben's eyes la torrents poured down ; He yielded np the ghost and died : And in this melancholy and heart-rending manner terminates the history of Reuben . and rhcebo and likewise old Captain Brown. The Path aSi ska Car. Wavy and bright in the summer air Like a quite sea when the wind blows fair. And its roughest breath has scarcely curled The green highway to an unknown world Soft w hispers passing from shore to shore. Like a heart content yet desiring more ; Who feels forlorn Wandering thus on the path through the corn t A short space since and the dead leaves lay,' - Corrupting under the hedge row gray ; Nor hum of insect nor voice of bird O'er the desolate field was ever heard ; -Only at even the pallid snow 1Hnhed rose red in the red snn's glow ; Till one blessed morn. .Shot np into life the young green corn. Small and feeble, slender and pale. It bent its head to the winter's gale, Darkened the wren's soft note of cheer, beared believing spring was near ; Baw chestnuts put out. and champions blow, And daisies mimic the vanished snow. Where it was born, a either side of the path through the corn. Tbe com tbe corn the beautiful corn, Rising wonderful, morn by morn. First, scarce as high as a fairy's wand. Then, just in reach of a child's wee hand. Then growing, growing green and strong. With the voice of the harvest in its song. While in fond scorn ; The lark oatcarols the murmuring corn. Oh, strange, sweet path, formed day by day. Hew, w hen and w herefore, tongue cannot say. No more than life's strange paths we know, Whither they lead us or w hy we go. Or whether onr eyes shall ever see The wheat in the ear or the fruit on the tree. Yet who is forlorn T Heaven, that watered the furrows with the ripe corn. h Roberts Sbartle Claim. Saxtiax City, O. T. Feb. 26th, 1S59. .. Editor Statesman. Dear Sib : I learn through the Statesman, that you have ob jections to the action of the legislature in , granting to Messrs. Roberts & Shartle two ; thoosand dollars for services, dec, perform ed by them as subcontractors in furnishing atone for the Penitentiary. In this you had ' an undoubted right to scrutinize any acts of . that body and where they are wrong to ex ' pose them. But so far as my acts in rela tion thereto they were done ia the best of f faitk ; from all that I was able to learn, .those men bad been badly dealt with ; mat ters of facts were proven by affidavits and Otherwise, that although these men were gab-contractors, vet they would not under take the job until they bad the assurance from the commissioners themselves.il One a whom I understand, went with said Robert Si Shartle to the quarry and exam jaed the stone and pronounced it sufficient. lu best that was then known of, and re commended raid Roberts & Shartle to go -on and make the necessary preparations, 21 ad when they asked him whether they should understand that tuey wonld be en coaraged to got all the stone needed in the Peniteutiary from said qnarry, they were Sold to do so tbey then upon the faith hey bad in said commissioner, (and not in Abe first contractors, viz: Jacobs & Co.,) 3 vent on with their work, and after expend ing between three and four thousand dollars, Ceodily in preparation, they were ordered to V-u.i by the commissioners, who over-stepped tbe first contractors as thoogh tbey un or!tcod themselves to be under obligation to the said Roberts Shartle, as the com jBissioners bad found a better quality of toae, so much superior that one of tbe Commissioners, Mr. J. S. Dickinson, testi fied that it would be to tbe interest of tbe Territory to pay for the stone obtained as above and throw them away rather than use them, since a better article bad been fonod ; and farther stated, that be viewed tbe claim cf Roberts & Shartle to be a just one. These sub-contractors had theabeen at a great ' expense in laying a track for convey ing the stooe from tbe quarry to the Colum bia River, some six miles, and making every accessary arrangement for completing their part of the contract, all in good faith, being as I understood, poor young men, depend ing npon their labor for their support. This act of tbe eowimissioners threw them out of employ men t, involved them in a debt of over three thousand dollars ; yet being hon est and reliable men," they set to .work at other employment to obtain means to pay off their indebtedness, still relying npon tbe boaestr of tbe government to. make tbe.ni yhoJe. yow tbe question would Deceasari-j ly erise.snppose that a better quality of atone bad not been found, and the stone which waa under contract must necessarily be used in the erection or the Penitentiary, would not then the contract hare been, valid, and those sub-contractors have pot their pay ?4 The debt then would cer tainly have been a just one, for the stone under contract wa the best knownjaof when the contract was made, and was pronounced to be suitable by one of the then acting commissioners, who had eucouraged these men to proceed with their work. Now sir, as I fro in for governments as well as Indi viduals paying their just debts, whether con tracted by themselves or by proxy, I voted for the appropriation, and if the commis sioners acted too hastily and without discre tion, the government should bold them res ponsible j and if the legislature appointed commissioners who were incapable for trans acting the business entrusted to thent, theu the blame should rest upon the legislature, and the Government should not allow their agents to act iu a faithless and irresponsi ble manner, but should hold litem accounta ble for all their acts. 5 The idea of their being sub-contractors does not lessen the obligation of the government to fill her plighted faith, even when made by ber agents ; unless we allow governments to wink and connive at a system of fraud being carried on by ber ageuta, she should see that those who complete ber contracts as made by her agents are paid, and them only. I did not stop to enquire whether Roberta & Shartle were democrats or re publicans, believing that men should receive their just dues let them be of what politics they may ; and further, I understand that Judge Williams believed that there were some show of equity in their claim, though not strictly in law ;6 so likewise the com mittee on claims in the House decided. 1 While I am upon this subject, permit me to say that I think that while you condemn this act of the legislature, you in connection speak of the draining of the treasury, which before the adjournment of the legislature contained about 1,000, as though the acts of the legislature was absurd in deed ; will not your readers conclude that there has been bad management to squander unjustly so much money, which bad been drawn from the pockets of the peopte.8 1 think you should have stated things more defi nitely ; for instance there was a bill passed for the relief of certain creditors of the Territory, amounting to over $2500, of which 1 suppose you drew some $110. Again, a bill was passed to pay off the ex penses of the constitutional convention, which enabled me to draw $105 and I would be pleased to know how much the bill ena bled you to draw Iikewise,D besides three other relief bills ; all of these acts I sop- pose you do not think were unjustifiable, at least I thought right to vote for said bills, but I would have sooner voted against the bill making appropriation for paying the constitutional convention, than the one for the relief of Roberts & Shartle, with the understanding that I bad received of their case, while it was generally understood by the people that Congress would pay the expenses of the convention and that tbe Territory would not have it to pay, &c. J. T. CROOKS. 1. We heard of no evidence that the com missioners gave any such assurance, thoogh a man whose vote is wanted can Afar nearly anvthinir tbousiht necessary to further tbe payment of a claim when one is before legislature, ihe acts of tbe board were required to be recorded, and their record is the best evidence of any agreement on their part that Roberts & Shartle should be paid anythiog. If Roberts & Shartle bad then expected to look to anybody bat the men they contracted with Jacobs & Co. they would have been certain to have had a written contract with that "anybody The board did not give Roberts & Shartle any assurance of payment had no right to, as they bad agreed to pay Jacobs & Co. 2.. And. what does that amount to f The board consisted of three, and one com mis sioner had no power to bind tbe Territory, even if an assurance bad been given in form 3. Then Roberts & Shartle made a con tract with Jacobs & Co., by which they were to look to the latter firm alone for compensation, and at the same time had not "faith" enough in them to proceed with tbe contract. We don't believe anything of tbe kind. Business men don't make those kind of contracts. We have no doubt but that Roberts & Shartle expected to get their pay from Jacobs & Co., and that tbe appli cation to tbe Territory, was an after thought, which suggested itself when the other and only legal or equitable remedy failed. During the pendency of tbe relief bill, Mr. Sloan, the Superintendent of the Penitentiary, (and an bonest man) stated that there were some important errors in Mr. Dickinson's statement. And, since that time, Mr. Fitch, another commissioner, (and one known to be a man of integrity,) has pointed out some of them. We are credibly informed that Mr. Ladd, the third com mis- . a a- Ti . a mi - sioner, concurs witn -nr. jrucn. tnis ceruo- cate of Mr. Dickinson's, let it be understood, was procured by the claimants, and by them placed before the legislature. Tbe other commissioners were in Portland, and why were not letters obtained and presented from them ? The subsenoent letter from Mr.Fitcb, and corroboratory statement of Mr. l,add, explains J Jltey vtrt witnesses for the Territory, and of conrse the claimants only wanted their own evidence in. But we submit that Mr. Crooks and other mem bers were in duty bound, as tbe guardians of the people's treasury, to have procured testimony on the Territory's side, before voting for a $2,000 appropriation, especial ly as tbe Superintendent averred that the other commissioners wonld contradict the claimant's testimony, 4. No ; tbey onght not to have got it from tbe Territory, The Territory contract- ed with Jacobs & Co., aad ought jto have settled with tbem as they did. Roberts & bnartle contracted with Jacobs A Co., and to them alone had a right to look for pay liut, our information, derived from both the Superintendent and keeper of the Peni tentiary Is, that If there bad been no other stone found, that quarried by Roberts & Shartle for Jacob d Co. could not have been used that it was unfit for use. Mr, w-a . a . . .. . ritcn says ne "did not consider it or as good quality as the specimen furnished tbe commsinioners." Then, clearly, Roberts & bhnrtle bad neither a legnl or an equitable claim against tho Territory, mid their bill should have been entitled a donation bdl. 6. There was no proof that the "gov- ernment airentw that Is the board of com missioners "bad acted In a faithless or Irre sponsible 'manuer." It acted In the best of faith with Jacobs & Co., with whom it con tracted ; it never engaged to do anything for Roberta & Shartle. 0. As we before said, a member whose vote is wanted, can "understand" anything which is thought to be necessary to get a claim through, particularly if it is lobbied as industriously as this one was. 1. The chairman of the committee on claims iuforms us that he did not understand the committee to so decide ; that they were of the opinion the claim was not a good one. But, be says a portion of tbe committee thought the claim had some equity, aud the following was embodied in the report as a concession, "and, although your committee are of tbe opinion that tbe said Roberts & Shartle have no legal claim, they will not undertake to say that they have not au equit able claim." The chairman did not under stand that to imply a "decision" in favor of the equity, but simply a waiving of an opin ion npon the question of equity. He did not regard tbe claim as an equitable one, and would not have signed a report so char acterizing it. 8. We do say there was a looseness npon the subject of appropriations on the part of the last Assembly. We instance the Rob erts & Shartle act, which took from the treasury full one tenth of the annual reve nue of the Territory. .Also a standing act to pay clerks 200 annually for copying journals aud laws for the priuter. Tbe or ganic act wisely provides that the Secretary of the Territory shall copy the laws for the printer ; wisely so provides, because the laws then go to tbe world responsibly au thenticated. It is the duty of tbe Secreta ry ' to prepare the laws for publication, and to certify to them ; and that is ono of the duties for which he receives bis salary. Uu der the law of the last Assembly be is re lievetf of this duty. 9. We think we had a legal and equita ble claim against the Territory, and that we received nothing to which we were not justly entitled. Mr. Crooks doubtless thinks the same of bis own claim. But, having paid us, to whom the Territory alone was respon sible, w'd should not regard the Territory bound to pay any others, who might after wards say that they bad performed the work for as as sub-contractors, and had not been paid. We should expect the Territo ry to refer them to the party who employed them. That is such a case as we understand Roberts & Shartle'a to have been. We hold that Mr. Crooks was entitled to the $105, for services as member of the consti tutional convention ; but he having recciv ed his pay, we should not regard tbe Terri tory as bound to pay any person who might allege that he had boarded Mr. C, while attending upon the sittings of tbe conven tion, or sold him garments which were worn at that time, and for which he bad not been paid. We bold it would be the duty of tbe Territory to refer that claimant to the party with whom bo contracted. That is the kind of claim we understand Roberts & Sbartlc's to have been. Indeed, as we un demand it. it was not as equitable a case as tbe above would have been. For it is presumed that the work performed for our self, or the accommodations and goods fur nished Mr. Crooks, would have been of utility, while Mr. Fitcb says Robert & Shar tle'a material did uot come up to the "spec imen," and Messrs. Sloan and Picket say it conld not bare been used, even if the Terri tory bad contracted for it. If Mr. Crooks was to authorize an agent to contract with a builder to construct bim a dwelling, would be not think he bad performed his duty when be complied with bis agent's contract with that builder ? He would hardly con sider himself bound cither ia law or equity to also pay a sub-contractor, even if bis agent had exceeded his potcers, and verbally promised tbe sab-contractor that be too should be paid. And tho board of commis sioners did not give Roberts & Shartle any such assurance. Mr. Fitch says : "It does seem apparent to me that tbe aforementioned claim was passed through the Assembly npon one-sided testimony, and without a just regard to the interests cf the Territory." We think he is correct, The fact that it bad been rejec ted by former legislatures, by Judge Wil liams, and that its justness was disputed by Mr. Sloan, and Mr. Bonbam, tbe auditor, (men mba might be presumed to know , something about the mater) ought ol least to have stayed action npon it until both sides could have been beard. - In this connection, it may be. proper to answer tbe question of a Linn county cor respondent, who asks "where was Mr Cra aer when tbe rote was taken upon tbe Rob Shartle bill ; bis name does not ap pear." Air. uraner was prevented irom be n ing in his seat by illness. He was strongly opposed to tho bill, aud alter wards told us that had he "known that ' it was np, he should have gone to tbe House and voted against it, sick as lie was." Mr. II. W. Oorbctt, In a letter in the Times complains that a Portland corres pondent of the Statesman does bim injustice in crediting him with the agency of the old abolition party says he has "never given utterance to abolition sentiments." Rfuatlrr Bovrrrlgnlyi March 14, 1859. Kd. Statesman : Permit too to offer a few remarks on tho subject of popular sov ereignty in the Territories. This grand and bold doctrine, promulgated a few years ago by Douglas and others, was bitterly assailed by a vast tin in ber of persons in the United Slates. Those persons clung to the Missouri Compromise line as tbe palladium of their hopes. The sober second thought of the great body of tbe people however, sustained by action this measure, and it be came the law of the land. It was incorpo rated into the Cincinnati platform, aud it is the grand supporting plank of that or any other platform of any party who may ex pect to succeed with the people of this Union. An old office holder in the State of Ohio, who has held a government office for SO years, writes to me : "Vou know that I have ever been an "Old Line Whig" ; aud iu the present state of sectional strife, you may wish to know where I am. I will sny that my feet are firmly Gxed on the doctrine of "popular sovereignty," aud, whatever party stand on that firm aud sure founda tion, will hare my cordial support forever, whatever may be their name. If Douglas be the nominee of the squatter sovereignty party, or if Crittenden, Hammond or 15 reck eurblge be the man, be shall receive my sup port." I cordially assent to the sentiments of the foregoing extract. It is the true policy of Oregon, and I rejoice that the masses of the people of this Territory are firmly fixed on this sure and safe foundation for future State rights, and Territorial freedom from tbe vassalage to which we hare been sub jected heretofore. I cordially agree with you, Mr. Lditor, in your sound and patriot ic view of the subject, in your editorial in the Statesman of the 1st of March, 1859. Upon this great issue, let us, as a people, whether State or Territorial, plaut our feet immovably. No party or set of men shall ever remove tue from the doctrine of uonu- lar sovereignty. An American voter should never lose any of his rights, because he emi grates to the unsettled parts of our Union, and helps to form a Territorial organization. Indeed, Congress o lie red each voter of us a donation laud claim here, if we would si emi grate. Are you, Mr. Editor, in anywise degradtd, as a free aud independent Ameri can, because vou emigrated to Oregon r I could, and freely would extend this subject to greater length, but 1 will forbear. It is in the bands ol able statesman and I ret content. DAVID NEWSOM. Ledasox, Linn Co, O. T., March 4lh, 1859. j Dear Sir: I am asked to notice a com munication from Albany, relative to the clerkship in which Mr. Odcneal of Corval- lis and myself acted in tho House of llepre scntatives iu the winter of 1S5G. I don't know that I should have giveu the facts iu the case, in the form of a statement, bad uot Mr. Ddcneal written his article in tbe Crisis utterly denying what has recently gone to the country, in print, tuat be ever agreed (when takiug his seat at the desk, as chief clerk, in the House for that session) to give me as the assistant clerk, any remuneration for additional help, on account of his inca pacitr for that position: and as the affair has now been made public, (not by auy de mgii or expectation of mine, for I had long a no let it pass irom my mind, as I bad 3lr. Odencal,) I make the following statement of tacts, to-wit: 1 nut session I was elected clerk, pro cm., in the temporary organiza tion of the House of Representatives, at Corvallis. The Hon. Dclazou Smith was elected speaker and took bis scat. Mr Odcneal succeeded by a small majority iu caucus in the clerkship only on the ground that he was a lypo, and would make good reader. He took his position at the desk, and remarked to mo that he did not expect the chief clerkship, but had run as the enrolling officer saying that he felt in competent, not having had any experience in such duties, llo said to me; "Mr. IU kius, I waut to make a proposition that you, having served in a previous session, assist me in my duties, in starting the jour nal aud papers in their proper course, and as 1 am to net live dollars per pay, whil you get but three. I will give vou ono dol lar each day, from mine, which will make our wages equal." I told Mr. Odencal that it was very generous in him, but that I did not doubt but he would soon understand his duties. Mr, Odcneal said that he desired to make it equal, and that he wanted me to accept the offer and assist bim, and that wbcu we got our pny I should be thus re warded with $60. I accepted the proposi tion, and went to work with a deep interest to have the duties discharged creditably to ourselves, if possible. The speaker was made aware of the prop- . - a C . .- ositiou a lew days auer tue session com menced be expressed himself pleased at Mr. Odeneal's kiud otter, believing that it would inutally accommodate us without in justice to either, x-nvaie menus iuiu me - . i , . i i i (hat expeneuceu wciuuers ui iuu uuu ex pressed themselves sadly disappointed in Mr. Odcueal's competency. Tbe session was drawing to a closeMr, Odeoeal begau to manifest a very knowing and independent disposition, and was "oee inir tbe shore:" he was trying to arrest my claim upon him, seeming very dignified, be- in? rather a sum young man. and was learn ing to be quite an offhand journulizer, but . . - i r 1. IT . - 1. . :.i jn reautug uciore iu nuuao un uieia n uu more trouble than be expected; some of tbe members, it is said, wrote very business Wee hands, aud truly 1 felt sorry lor Mr. Odcu eal iu his attempt to read to the House a memorial from Coos county, presented by Capt. Ticbeuor--its representative the pen write - was in oue of that "swift, slashing" style His effort was fruitless, and the erts vexed Captain relieved him of i lie paper, and it was read. The session ended Mr. Oden eal drew from the secretary his $3001 drew $180 as coming to us by law. Mr. Odeneal became indifferent, and seemed to be so engrossed in contemplating tbe amount of work goue through, that he scarcely "looked tip" when I came into his presence in the hall. I began to anticipate his deli cacy in first speaking to me on the pay sub ject, and, therefore, I politely asked bim if he would now pay my tbe f GO, that he agreed (as above stated) that I must go home. He said, "Mr. Elkins, I do not feel able to pay you uow I wish I could; I will, tho', pay you sometime." I told him that he could easily do so now, if be intend ed ever to act honorable. Mr. Odeuenl be came rather impertinent, and I left the man after telling him that I never was so disap pointed ip supposing bim to be a gentleman, of honor, or that it all could be bought for the paltry sum of sixty dollars. Respectfully, JAMES ELKINS. v Lebanon, Linn county, O. T, $s Personally came before me, a justice of the pence in said county, James Elkins, who solemnly swears, in presence of Almighty Ood, that the foreeoin? statement is true. HARVEY SMITH, Justice of the Veace. Ed. Statesman The closing exercises of the first term of Jefferson Institute took place on tbe 4th inst. The examination of the pupils, in the various branches of educa tion commenced at 9 o'clock, A. M , and was continued until 2 1-2 o'clock, P. M., when the scholars and quite a number of visitors, listened to a very interesting ad dress from J. O. Wilson, Eq., Salem, for which a vote rf thanks was tendered, with a request that the address be published. The exhibition at night was of the most pleasing, instructive and interesting nature. The oration, declamations, dialogues, com positions, &c, were of a very high-toned, intellectual character, and capitally per formed by the students. Permit me to remark, on . character of the school, now nude r tht, i- ,-diate super vision of Mr. and Mrs. Carr, that during their examination into the several branches of education, in which they bad received in struction, the scholars exhibited a very marked progress, for the last six months, commendable alike to the teachers and the scholars. Too iiiucli praise cannot be awarded the directors aud teachers of "Jefferson Insti tute," for their unwearied industry, in try iug to render this one of the first class in stitutions iu our Territory. I find by refer ence to the schedule that tbe maximum at tendance Tor the last six months was eighty nin students. A VISITOR. Jefferson, O. T., Feb. 23, 1859. Tillamook. 13r moc r lie Convention. Pursuant to a call of the central coram tee of Tillamook county, the citizens assem bled at the school bouse, on Uoquarten prairie, on the 19th of February, 1859, for the purpose of selecting a delegate to repre sent this couuty in the convention to meet at Salem, on the 20th April, 1859. On motion, E. Thomas was called to the chair and W. E. B. Levy appointed secreta ry, after which the meeting proceeded to the election of a delegate. Un motion, 11. l'. Casey was unanimous ly elected" to represcut this countv in the couveutiou, and invested with the authority to appoint a proxy, should he not be able to meet the aforesaid couvention. On motion, the proceedings of this meeting- were ordered to be pnblisbed iu tho Statesman. On motion, the meeting adjourned sine die, E. THOMAS, Chairmau W. E. B. Levy. Sec'y. Masosrt IX THE Usiteo States. The fol lowing statistics are derived from the latest infor mation contained in tho proceedings of the va rious JUasouic Orand .Lodges of the Lulled States : Louies. Mombers. Alabama,....-. ...... ...... J 17 7,223 1420 Arkansas,...-.-.......... . 103 California,.. 116 North Carolina, 106 South Carolina 00 District of Columbia. ... 11 Connecticut, . ...... fu Delaware, 10 Flordia, Georgia, 221 Illinois.. ..... .......... . 245 Indiana, 240 Iowa, 10S Kansas,..............."..... 6 Kentucky, 290 I,ouisiana, ' 103 Maine 83 Massachusetts,.... 94 Marylaud, 33 Michigan....... T., 105 Mississippi.......... 205 Minnesota....... 24 Missouri, 126 4,174 5,100 3,100 : 4,7il 452 1,234 12,02d 3,526 2,5!14 1,178 176 0,978 3,079 3.291 3,800 1,626 "5,000 7,310 805 4,903 Nebraska, 3 New Hampshire, . . 37 New Jersey, 40 100 4,731 2,204 30,000 10,912 600 11,428 - 1,048 7,750 6,451 2,064 4,614 2,907 New York 409 Ohio, 253 Oregon 23 lennsylv.mi.i. ........... IM Rliodo Island 16 Tennessee,.... 174 Texas,............,.,.,.,. 215 Vermont............ 41 Vircinia , 126 Wiuconsin,. 100 Total 4,202 163,833 Kstiuiatcd. There are probably (says the A'. O. lice) almost as many more Masons in the t inted states, who are not admitted to Lodges, and wbose names consequently do not appear on the records of the Order. The number of members of tho fraternity iu our country cannot bo much below half a mill ion. V-fU A gentleman in the habit of enter taining very often a circle of friends, obser ved that oue of them was in the habit of eating something before grace was asked, and determining to cure him upon a repeti tion of the offence, he 6aid: "For what we are about to receive, aud for wnat James Taylor has already received, the Lord make us truly thankful." Ihe effect may be im agined. - , VQ- "Oh my friend," said a doctor to an Irish patient, "be composed, we must all die once." -"And it's that what rexes me" replied Pat; "if I could die a balf dozen times, I'd not care balf a penny about this time." ' E2- Mr. D sat a long time very at tentive, musing upon a cane-bottomed chair. At length be said: "I wonder what fellow took the trouble to find all them ar boles, aud to pat the straws round them?" ' A Sad Story. A few days since the re mains of a woman were found in a filthy tenant honse in Mnlberry street, Xew York, wholly divested of clothing, and in the same room a bright lad elirbt years old, nearly famished. It was atQrst supposed that the woman had died of starvation, but the facts brought out on the coroner's Inquest Fhowed that she was a victim of intoxicating liquors and died of delirium tremens. The woman was the widow of the late Colonel Thomas Hughes, formerly of the U. S. army, who committed suicide at a mad house in Franco. Only a year ago, Mrs. Hughes was living at the Metropolitan Hotel in New York, and afterwards at the Prescott House. -Her descent was rapid. She formed habits of intoxication; her friends deserted ber, and her money was soon exhausted. ' One by one she sold and pawned her articles of jew elry and dress, aud spent tha avails for liquor, until she actually sold the last arti cle or dress she bad for a drink of brandy. What can be more affecting than the story of her little son before the eoroner : "Thomas Hughes, sworn I am eight years oM ; the deceased was my mother ; she has been ill for fire or six weeks, and complained of pains in her head and limbs ; sometimes we had nothing to eat for two or three days ; I was oue time three days without anything to eat, except a small piece of crust ; Mr. H. B. Ttbbetts, tny uncle, who lives in Broadway, used to assist us occasionally ; my mother drank a great deal of liquor ; she was crazy a few days be fore she died, and said she was going to kill me with au axe ; she one time got a knife and tried to stab me with it ; just be fore she died she said she was very cold ; she asked me to take bold of ber hands and help her to the fire, so that she might warm herself her eyes looked wild and strange ; I tried to help her to the fire, bat she died ; my mother 6oId all her clothes before she died for rum ; she took everything off from her ; I pledged a skirt for her for six cents at a junk shop ; they told me I might have it agaiu for seven cents ; she took off ber clothes, one byline, and sold them till all were gone, soTbat she bad nothing on her when she died ; she sold her chemise to a woman for three cents, aud sent me with the money to get brandy.", . The Streak of Life Life bears on like the stream of a mighty river. Our boat at first, glides swiftly down the narrow chan nel, through the playful murmuring of tbe little brook, aud winding along its '"grassy borders, tbe trees shed their blossoms over our young head, and the flowers ou the brink seem to offer themselves to our young bauds; wc are in hope, and we grasp eager ly at tbe beauties around us, but tbe stream hurries us on, and still our hands are empty. Our course in youth aud manhood is along a wider aud deeper flood, and mid ob jects more striking and maguificeut. We are animated by the moviu-r pictures of tu-. jojmeut aud industry that are passing before us; we are excited by short-lived success, or depressed and rendered miserable Jy some short-lived disappointment. But our ener gy and dependence are both iu vain, Tbe stream bears us on, and our joys aud griefs are left behind us; we may bg shipwrecked but we cannot anchor;, our vomers mar be hastened, but we canuot be delayed; wheth er rough or smooth, the river hastens to wards its borne; tbe roaring, of the waves is beneath our. keel, aud the land lessens from onr eyes, tbe . floods are lifting up around us, and we take our lost leave of earth and its inhabitants, aud of our future voyage there is no witness but tbe infinite and the eternal. Wili. or asf Karl of Pembroke. Im primis i For my soul, I confess I have beard very much of souls, but what they are, or whom they are, or what they are for, God knows I know not. Tbey tell now of another world, where I never was, nor do I know oue foot of tbe way thither. While the King stood, I was of "bis religion made my sou wear a cassock, and thought to make him a bishop ; then came the Scots and made bim a Presbyterian ; and, since Cromwell entered, I have been an Independ ent. These, I believe, are the Kingdom's three estates ; and if any of the; can have a soul, I may claim oue ; therefore, if my executors do find I have a soul, I give it to him who gave it to me. 'Item. I give my deer to the Eirl of Salisbury, who I know will preserve them, because he denied the King a buck out of bis owu parks. Iiem.- I give nothing to Lord Say ; which legacy I give him because I know he will bestow it on tho poor. Item. To Tom May I give five shilliugs. I iutended bim more ; but whoever has seen his "History of tbe Par liament", thiuks fire shillings too much. Item. I give Lieuteuant General Cromwell one word of mine, because hitherto be never kept bis owu. Item. I give up the ghost. , - - Rcles ros tue Hard Times. 1st.. Stop grumbling. i , 2J. Get np two hours earlier in the morn ing, aud begin to do something outside of your regular profession. - 3d. btop grumbling.- ; : i i 4 tli. Mmd your own business, and with all your migbt. Let other people alone. 5th. fetop grumbling, 6th. Live within your means. Sell -your horse. Give away or kill your dog. - 7th. Stop grumbliug. V . ., 8th. Smoke your cigars - through an air tight stove. Iiat with moderation aud go to bed early. , : .., 1 , . ' 9th. Stop grumbling. . - - 10th. Talk : less of your own peculiar gifts and virtues, and more of those of your frieuds and neighbors. . - . ; 11th. Stop grumbling. . ; j , 12th. po all you can to make others happy. Be cheerful. Bend your neck and back more frequently when you pass those outside of "select circles." . Fulfil your promises. Pay your, debts. , : Be yourself all you would see in others. Be a good mau a true christian, and then you . can not help to stop grumbliug. - . . : One op THE StTPERSCRiPTiossw A letter pass ed through the post office at Rock Island recent ly with the following excruciating superscription; "Ve Democratic P. M.'s don't let me delay, . But send me along with speed on my way; . a . To Lizzie S. Ellis I'm sent, that's true, In Miami county in the village of Peru. -, -In the State of Indiana, just as true as you are born, ' , ' . Where wbi&ky's legal tender, and tbe women - boa tbe corn." - . . . - - ' .... . . That fellow Certainly deserves a medal of some kind, We suggest a Uather oije. .A genius out West H dividing the honors of a grateful country with Cyrus W. Field and Mr. -Everett "He writes thus, in re gard to the successful hanging of a gate tbe effects of which, upon society in general, be states, will be vastly more beneficial than all the Atlantic cables ever laid; "0q the thirty-Crst, the sun rose in the east; and went ou tbe even tenor of its way. Tbe binges were uot completed until 2 P. m. Precisely at three o'clock, we commenced the operation, the posts having been already set. The hinges worked to a charm, and at five o'clock the gate was raised to its place. It looked majestic and swung magnificently. At twenty minutes after five o'clock, we ele vated our hat into the air, shot a gopher with two charges, and, whistled a Te Deum to the tune of Yankee Doodle. The other post was theu set, and at five o'clock tho connection was complete, and signals carce through from post to post with remarkable distinctness. ; With brow bared and locka flowing, we swung through back and for-, ward, thus proving to those who have be lieved not the reality of the event, and its capacity to take such messages through.- That is a triumph. " It will be a bond of union between tbe two fences, a sore thing against hogs, and a great evangelizer of those who po .through.. It bangs on "ita easy simplicity, "and has already elicited the most vociferous approbation. While the Atlantic Cable binds continents together, our gate binds the fence in one unbroken string, fraternizing tbe two in one. At the first swing of the gate, we forwarded a mes sage to President Bechanan: "The Oaks, Aog. SI. "Dear Buchanan: We've got a gate. It is National in arrangement. It knows no South, no North, no East, no West, but swings all round. Fetch over the children and have a 'swing." Mistakes or Pkixtebs. Some people are contiuually wondering at the "carelessness'' of editors iu allowingso many errors and blunders to appear in their colomus, and mar tbe print Such people know very lit-, tie of the difficulties we bad almost said impossibilities of keeping tbem ont.. Tbe most careful attention to these matters will not prevent errors from creeping in, even when professional proof-readers are engaged expressly for the purpose. - And when it ia borne ia mind that iu most papers such an expense is necessarily dispensed with, and the proofs, on that account, are often hurri edly examined, the fact aiil no longer ap pear strange. Ia connection- wiih this sub ject, the following anecdote is not inappro pnate: :i - ;: , A Glasgow' publishing bouse attempted to publish a work that should be a perfect specimen of typographical accuracy. After baring- been carefully read by six experien ced proof readers, it was posted in the ball of the L'nlversityv and 'a reward of fifty pounds offered to any one who should detect an error. Each page remained two weeks in thi place; aud yet, when tbe work was i?.ued, several errors were discovered, one of which was iu the first line of tbe first pajre. " '" '" When socb was ,tbe case in a city long celebrated in Great Britain for publishing the finest aud most correct editions of tbe classics, what is to be expected iu a news paper, which must necessarily be hurried through while it is news; and where the comjiensatioa will hardly afford one "es per rieuced proof-reader," let alone six. Tba wonted accuracy of our papers is really as. touishiuij. 'Printer's jVrirs Lcllcr. - - Throwing Sto.ves at" tjib Devil Tbe lata Dr. Johnson was well known for bis quaint wit a well as for bis goodness of heart. Walking ont of bis house, where a new street was opening, he saw an Irishman hard at work with a. crow-bar striving to dislodge a bnge stone from the ground, where it was held fast by the roots of a tree. His patience wa3 fairly exhausted by the vain struggles he had made, and be at last ex claimed in a passion: "The devil take it' Tbe devil take it!" ' The old pastor approached bim, jyid qats ly remarked that he ouht not to make such free use of the name of the evil ffne, and cer taiuly not wish to throw such- a big stono at him as that. The Irishman was quiet ia a minute, and striking his crow-bar into the ground, and leaning leisurely on it, he turned op bis face at onco to the Doctor and tbe snnligbt, while over it roughly played those indescri bable foreruuners of genuine Irish wit, be replied: "Och, then, aud it is yourself that's finding a fault wid me for say in' that same, when it's yees and the likes of yees that' paid Ly tfie year for abusiu' tbe oold giutle man all the time!" - a The old pastor turned away to smile an4 enjoy the retort! How rr strengthened Hiji. A student of one of our State colleges had a barrel of ale deposited in bis room contrary, of course, to the rule and usage, ne received a summons to appear before the President, who said ; "Sir, J am informed that yon have a barrel of ale in your room." "Yes, sir." "Well, what explanation can yon make ?" "Why, the fact is, sir, that my physician advises me to try a little each day as a tonic j and not wishing to stop at the various places where the beverage is retailed, I concluded to have a barrel taktn to my room." Indeed; and have you derived any benefit from the use of it V Ah, yes, sirj when the barrel was first taken to my room, two days since, I could scarcely lift it ; now I can carry it with the greatest case." The witty student was tnscnargea with a special reprimand.. fgy For more than two years, Cornelias Tanderbilt has been receiving a monthly subsidy, of $40,000, or $iS0.0C0 a year, from the Pacific Steamship Company and the Atlantic United States Company, in consideration of his withholding the boats of the Nicaragua!! Company from competU tion with tUeirJiues to California. "This subsidy, has tieuii further increased within the present rear bv a sum of $16,000 per : mouth, or l92,0'00 a year, paid to Mr Yanderbilt aa the price of bis private com promise with Mr. C. K. Garrison, whom be was ostensibly prosecuting for alleged dam-: age done by bin? to the icaragnan Compa- ny. All this immense sum Mr. Yanderbilt has put in his own pocket, and now tbe 2f ic aragaau Company have sued bim for" tb monies received as their representative..