Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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"V" '--f I[y i* ? - * ? *- . -a"vt '.'" ' "-ry~. -*? - pp-t- -r -. r -r ** ~ ^Sfr*7 "jay-w^ 4 '! 1 >' " * ** 4 ? wiSiam wEIIIsT.}Pr?prietors- Inbepcnbtnt Jfarailj) ttctospapcr: Jpor % ^rtnno&n of fjje ^political, Social, Agricultural anb Commercial Interests of t|e Soutjr. {$2pbbyeab,in advawce. VOLUME 7. YORKVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 7,1861. NUMBER 10/ ?mjm! ? ariqr. For the Yorkville Enquirer. A SONNET?SPUING. by charlie wildwood. The soft and mellow skies bend over us In one imperial arch of ether blue, And the fresh spring breeses gently waft us From flow'rs sparkling with pearls of diamond dew, Sweets of fairest, lovliest shade, rich and rare, Whose delicious fragrance floods the mild air With odors from fairy bowers bright and fair. Winter is gone and the earth rejoices? All the blithe birds with music-tuned voices Sing livums of praise to the Father on high, Who built and rules both the earth aud the sky; Aye, laughing Nature joins the choral songMountains, hills, green vales, the notes prolong, .And wondering mortals repeat the glad song. ifo pM.e and flamg. For the Yorkville Enquirer. ARGUMENTS FOR SLAVERY. V. Another ground, upon which the defence of slavery may he fortified, is furnished by the character of the opposition made to the institution. 1. This opposition to slavery is made in the face of the intelligent conviction, and general practice of the great majority of the wisest and best men sinoe the days of the Apostles. Not denying the fact that some of those at the present day, and in pa9t times opposed to slavery should be ranked among the great and good of earth's sens?we contend, however, that the largest part of the excellent and wise, have not echoed the onininno nnw rifp ftmonf* the ODDOnentS of K"""? o n slavery. On tbe other hand it is an irrefutable fact that the great body of wise and good men, in ancient and modern times, including all the commentators, critics and theologians of any note, have believed and taught that the Apostles of Christ did receive slaveholders into their churches and that slaveholding is not, in itself, sinful.? As illustrative of this point, without going into details, we will quote from Bishop Hopkins, who, in his "American Citizen" after briefly exhibiting the scriptural proof that slaveholding is not sinful, writes: "If we go on from the days of the Apostles to examine tbe doctrine and practice of tbe christian Church, we find no other views entertained on the subject, (i. e., than that it was not to be regarded as sinful). Slavery continued to exist in every quarter.? Slaves were held, without any reproach, even by the bishops and clergy. When the practice died out, as it did in many of the European nations, the change was gradual, through the operation of worldly causes, and without any suspicion that the institution, in itself, involved a violation of religion or morality. Hence its lawfulness with respect to the Africans and the Indians taken in war, was universally maintained by the Puritan settlers of New England, who claimed the closest adherence in ail things to the teachings of the scriptures.? And it was not until the latter part of the eighteenth century, that a doubt was expressed on either side of the Atlantio, in relation to the perfect consistency of such olnrorr with the nreeents of the GoSDel." r r L From this testimony, of an able and pious New England Bishop, it is evident that opposition to slavery is a novelty in the opin ion and practice of the civilized and christian world. In addition to this we observe that it is also counter to the teachings and conduct of thousands who for wisdom, morality and piety, have no superiors either in Church or State, in this or any other age of the world. This point, which admits indefinite expansion, not only neutralizes in part, the present hostility to slavery, but it also contributes something to its support. 2. Again. Selfishness characterizes much of the contest waged against slavery. Experience and observation have demonstrated that slavery, at least, African slavery, is not profitable in cold climates. To such the negro is not adapted, and the productions of the soil of a frigid temperature are such that reDder free labor cheaper than slave labor, and heDce with a marvelous unanimity in the Northern and frozen regions, wherever slavery is unprofitable, it is denounced and fought against. How far the fact that slavery is the dearest form of labor in a cold climate, may tend to originate and perpetuate a warfare upon it, is a question in casuistry we will not attempt to answer upon our own responsibility. We have the impression, however, that the charge, made lately in an extreme Northwestern State, may be truly alleged against many others. Rev. J. L Corwing, a Presbyterian minister (N. S.) of Milwaukie, Wisconsin, in a sermon said : "There has been a vast amount of self conceit in the Church and the world, in their hostility to slavery. There has been an arrogating of philanthropy among the reformers on this subject, which is neither agreeable to taste nor truth. Do you suppose that there is really a very much larger amount of philanthropy, on the whole, at the North, than there is at the South. I wish there were; for there is little enough in all latitudes.? But I confess to be a confirmed skeptic on this point. Taking a given number of men at random from a Northern and Southern community, and I suspect you would find about as many in one as in the other, who would hold men as chattels if it subserved their interests and public opinion tolerated it. I verily believe, that if to-morrow morning ten thousand negro slaves were rained down upon the prairies of Wisconsin, and our citizens were convinced that their labor would be more profitable to the wheat market than that of hired freemen, and moreover if the publio sentiment had been educated to acquiesce in it, we should be a slaveholding State within the next twentyfour hours." This plain picture has originals in other States than Wisconsin. This selfish principle, under another developement, exerts a controlling influence among other classes arrayed against the institution. The politicians herein find one of their prompting motives, and most successful hobbies. Men who care no moro for the moralitv of slaverv than for the length of . Chinese hair, rush vehemently into the on-j slaught upon slavery, and thus actuated by | self-seeking propensities, ride into places of political influence. And this same selfish spirit, ripening into fanaticism, often seizes other factors of society than tillers of the soil as political demagogues; it too often invades the sanctities of the pulpit, and has prostituted the press. Thus characterized the war made upon the slave relation is shorn of many of its best features and looses muoh of its power. 3. Again. Opposition to slavery is, in most instances, grounded upon and sustained by a resort to abuse, malicious denunciations, and gross misrepresentations. Dr. Channing, a quarter of a century ago, ada.i l!. --ii a l-i:*: : urns iuai uis uuneugues iu -auuiiuuuimjj "had done much wrong, forthey had fallen into the common error of enthusiasts, that of exaggerating their object, of feeling as if no evil existed but that which they opposed, and as if no guilt could be compared with that of countenancing and upholding slavery. The tone of their newspapers has often been fierce, bitter and abusive."? What was true then, is truer now to a hundred fold extent. Hear, also, what a flaming Abolitionist, S. S. Foster, said in a i Convention, concerning a portion of the South : "The church and clergy, as a body are thieves, adulterers, manste&lers, pirates and murderers; the Methodist Episcopal m l ; ? 3 *1 l/uuruu is mure uuuuptauu piuuigtuc tuau i any house of ill fame iu New York City; the Southern ministers of that body are desirous of perpetuating slavery, for the purpose of supplying themselves with concubines from among its hapless victims; and many of the clergymen are guilty of enormities that would disgrace an Algerine pirate." Language little less fiendish and scandalous than this, is now often on the lips of the rankest Abolitionists, and has somenffoMnna In rinncrrAec Spa 11U1CO 1UUUU UVW/IUUVV *U vvu^?vwu. -vv speeches of Lovejoy and Sumner. No one caD deny, that besides denouncing and villifying slaveholders, the most prevalent method of propagating anti-slavery views, at the North, is to misrepresent and pervert the facts and features of slavery. This is done by the orators and writers, who taking exceptional facts or cases, which may or may not be true, and by skillful portraiture, connected with inflammatory appeals to passion, sympathy and prejudice, teach the ; people, young and old, that it is a true representation of slavery. Such without exception, is the method pursued by the most ? popular speakers and most attractive anti- 1 slavery writers of the North. Whether or ' not, those who are the agents in the matter, can be sincerely honeFt, may be doubted; ; but whatever may be true with reference to them, the fact that the Northern miud, imagination and heart are thus educated and ] imbued with false sentiments and feelings ] touching slavery, is unaltered. Hence a system of teaching, so at war with justice 1 and propriety and morality, and which, if applied to any or every relation and institution of society, would put them under the i curse of both God and man, betrays, in 1 this respect, the weakness of the Abolition j cause, and thus contributes to the defence of slaveholding. i 4. Still further : Organized and growing i opposition to slavery had led men away from ' the Bible, and been allied to, and even pro- { ductive of, principles and habits confessed- , ly more horrible and pestilential, than our j slavery ever has been. Bishop Hopkins I long ago said : "The great revolution in ' public opinion upon the subject of slavery, ^ that has occurred in Old and New England, j in the last half century, cannot be attribu ted to the Bible, nor to the Church, nor to 1 any new knowledge of the will of God, nor to the discovery of any unknown principles , of moral action. All that belongs to these \ was perfectly familiar to the Christian world from the days of the Apostles. And there- ( fore, no intelligent and candid mind can be surprised to find that the most violent op- ? ponents to slavery, in the United States, are t always ready to wrest the Bible and de- ( nounce the Church, because they cannot J derive from either the slightest real support ( in their assaults against the lawfulness of \ the institution." That this tendency is even more indispu- s table now, is evident from a sermon lately ( preached in Brooklyn, N. Y., in which the ( Presbyterian preacher says: "It is a re- i markable and instructive fact, and one at 1 which Christian men would do well to pause ( and consider, that in this country all the , prominent leaders of Abolitionism, outside < of the ministry have become avowed infi- * dels; and that all our notorious Abolition preachers have renounced the great doc* 1 trines of grace as they are taught in the ? standards of the reformed churches. * * * v It is not a theory but a demonstrated fact, r that Abolitionism leads to infidelity. Such C men as Garrison and Giddings and Gerrit ^ Smith have yielded to the current of their own principles and thrown the Bible over* I board. Thousands of humble men, who listen to Abolitiou preachers, will go and do likewise " This is a truthful utterance , made by a noble servant of God, who knew what he said, and which admits of a hundred illustrations. Who does not discern p that where the battle against slaveholders F rages hottest there all the isms grow uiost rankly ? Who does not even know, that I the States in which Abolitionism has achieved its moat signal triumphs, are at the ^ s same time the strongholds of infidelity ?? To this we add that in innumerable instan- n ces, the very men?and women too?who have composed an Abolition society and t Convention on one day, have the very next ^ day, met in a Convention to discuss and ^ advocate Libertinism, as opposed to the P marriage relation, Womans-rigbtism, and t Communism, and every other ism destructive of good morals. This same spirit, so * prolific in its spawn of evils, has carried a n principle of separation so far, that thous- 1 ands of the best and most enlightened chris- ti tians have been excommunicated by the ^ United Presbvterians. the Associate Re R formed, the Covenanting, the New School i Presbyterians, the Baptists and the Meth- p odists, all of which Churches have in the a .... C North, been so Abolitionized that their si Southern membership, when it existed at all, was virtually cut off. Who does not distrust a doctrine which is the ally and parent of so many evils in the community and church ? And yet this is the opposition to slavery, when heated by fanaticism, and nourished by passion and prejudice and bigotry. - g 5. It, beyond all this, leads to the viola- a tion of oaths and compacts and covenants, a and to the perpetration of deeds of violence s' contrary to every law of God and well ordered Government. In proof we need only 0 to point to oaths of office as often violated b by Abolition Congressmen, the trampling b under foot of the Constitution of the Uni- * ted States, by States and men wedded to g Abolitionism, and the deeds of murder, P robbery, insurrection and incendiarism so e nearly being largely enacted in more than 0 one slaveholding State in the last few years by the rash representatives of an anti-slave- u ry spirit. The sentiment of opposition to a slavery, which exhibits "the features, con- c' comitants, tendencies and results, depicted I1 in this article, not only thereby proclaims its bastard, base and abominable origin and d character, but also reflects credit and com- a mendation upon its antagonistic doctrine of ^ slavery, lawful and moral. What we have ^ herein said, applies primarily only to Aboli- f( tionism. In the other forms that opinion b adverse to slavery has assumed, it does not ai yield the same characteristics and fruits, u c! because of the difference in the minds and j habits of its possessors, and other counter- ft acting and controlling influences not named bv PHILEMON. ?1 -J IIwltowMiS Clicks, si ^ 0 - tc SOUTHERN POSTAGE ACT. b> The most important action of the South- ir cm CoDgress, on the 24th instant, was tfce c< removal of secrecy from the following re- se port and bill: pi The Committee on Postal Affairs having ai cunsidered of the duties assigned them, ra bavo instructed me to submit the following a< report, and the bill accompanying the same, pi The Committee have mainly directed g< their inquiries to the question whether, of without material inconvenience to the pub- ii< lie, the Post Office Department of this ConFederacy can be made self-sustaining. re The Committee find from the latest and ic most reliable means of information of which m they have been able to avail themselves, si that the excess of expenditure over the re- se ceipts of this Department in the six States rj comprising this Confederacy, for the fiscal d< year ending 30th June, 1859, was 81,660,- ec 595.83. They have not been able to ob- bi tain the report of such receipts and expen- 01 litures of the last fiscal year, but they pre- w sume the above furnishes an approximation d< sufficiently accurate for the predicate of our la present action. cc To provide for this deficit, your Commit- pi ;ee would suggest that the rates of post- cl lge may be increased, as proposed by the et iccompanying bill. By this bill they esti- vi mate an increase of receipts approximating w >578,875.83. sc They believe that a saviug can be effect- tb ;d by a change in the mode of letting out ea xiail contracts, adopting what is usually 01 jailed "the star bid system." Providing th ill due safe-guards for the celerity, certain- A :y, and security of the mails, but without ot )ther restrictions as to the mode of trans- m portation. In this way your Committee are to satisfied that the expense of mail transpor- 01 ;ation may be reduced, say33 1-3 percent, nt jpon the present cost, say SG19,033. ot They are further of opinion that there ca should be a discontinuance of numerous pi outcs, the cost of which is greatly dispropor:oined to their convenience, and the receipts it )f the post offices supplied by them. In this er way they believe a saving of 1-10 of the P< present cost of transportation may be attain- pi ;d, say 8200,344. af The service upon many of the routes may, d< without material detriment, be changed, tv laily routes reduced to tri-weekly, &c., at of in estimated reduction of, say 8206,244. at They would also recommend the abolishng a number of minor post offices, which iccasion considerable expense without coresponding profit or convenience. In this ?ay a saving to the Department might be eadily secured to the amount of, say $50,100. rhe sums added, say by increased receipts by raising postage rates $578,874 83 lysaving, as above indicated, total ; 1,081,721 00 Total $1,660,595 83 'resent excess of expenditures over receipts 1,660,595 83 Your Committee are of opinion that steps hould be immediately taken to procure tostage stamps of the denomination of two, ve and twenty cents; and these stamps rill be sufficient to meet the wants of the )epartment for the present. They would further suggest that immeliute steps should be taken fjr procuring a upply of locks and keys for the mail serice ; and for posit-office blanks, such as are low in use. They would further recommend that all be mail contracts within this Confederacy ie re-let at as early a day as practicable, nd until they are re-let the existing conracts remain of force, this government beoming responsible to such contractors from he 8th day of February, 1861. Your Committee are unable to suggest ny plan until further arrangements shall iave been made for the transmission of aail matter to aod from other governments. Knliono V Atvanni* *?? of until nnotnl , lie J UC uwnv^fi/H vuuu uuui pvovui reaties can be made, expedients arising rom the necessities of the public, will eadily suggest themselves, which will in a reat measure, remedy the inconvenience, 'he wide-spread ramifications of the Exress companies would furnish valuable uxiliaries for communication beyond the Jonfederacy, the mail matter bearing the tamps of each government through which ; may pass by said Express. All which is respectifully submitted. W. P. CHILTON, Chairman. bi Act to he entitled an act to prescibe rates of Postage in the Confederate States of America, and for other purposes. Sec. 1. The Congress of the Confederate tates of America do enact that from and fter such period as the Postmaster Gener- 1 1 may by proclamation announce, there hall be charged the following rules of postge, to wit: for every single letter sealed : nd for every letter in manuscript or paper i f one Irini^ nnnn infnvmntiAn aVioll 1 I uuj aiuuj u^/i/u nutwu luiutuiabivu ouait e asked for, or communicate in writing, or y marks or signs, cooveyed in the mail for ny distance between places within the Con jderate States of America, not exceeding 00 miles, 5 cents; and for any distance xceeding 500 miles double that rate; and very letter or parcel not exceeding half an uncc in weight, shall be deemed a single ;tter, and everjr additional weight of half n ounce or additional weight of less than alf an ounce, shall be charged with an dditional single postage; and all packages ontaining other than written or printed latter?and meney packages are included ] this class?shall be rated by weight as j liters are rated, and shall be charged ouble the rates of postage on letters; and II drop letters or letters placed in any 1 'ost-office not for transmission bat for de- I very only, shall be charged with postage ' t the rate of two cents each; and in all the 1 iregoing cases the postage must be pre-paid ( y stamps; and all letters which shall herefter be advertised as remaining over and ncalled for in any post-office, shall be barged with two cents each in addition to le regular postage; both to be accounted >r as other postages of this Confederacy. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That !1 newspapers cot exceeding three ounces i weight, sent From the office of publicson to actual and bona fide subscribers, lall be charged with postage hs follows, ) wit: the postage on the regular numers of a newspaper published weekly withi the State where pulished, shall be 6J ;nt8 per quarter, and papers published itui-weekly double that rate; and papers ublished thrice a week treble that rate; ]d papers published daily six times that ite; and the postage on all newspapers to Jtual subscribers without the State where iblished, shall be charged double the forejing rates; and periodicals seut from the fice of publication to actual and bona ie subscribers, shall be charged with postje as follows, to wit: the postage on the igular numbers of a periodical, not exceedig 1J ounces in weight, and published onthly within the State where published, lall be 3 cents per quarter; if published c imi-monthly double that rate and for eve- f r additional ounce, or fraction of an ounce, juble the foregoing rates shall be cbarg- j. 1; and periodicals published quarterly or c i-montbly, shall be charged one cent an a ince; and the postage on all periodicals c ithout the State where published shall be t juble the above specified rates; and regu- a r subscribers to newspapers and periodi- t ils shall be required to pay one quarter's istage in advance. And there shall be larged upon every other newspaper, on ich circular not sealed, handbill, engra- r g, pamphlet, periodical and magazine, j hich shall be unconnected with any manu- a ript or written matter, not exceeding } iree ounces in weight, two cents; and for t ich additional ounce, or fraction of an p ince, two cents addition; and in all cases d ie postage shall be prepaid by stamps.? nd books bound or unbound not weighing t rer four pounds shall be deemed mailable ] atter, and shall be charged with postage t be prepaid by stamps, at two cents per g ince for any distance. The publishers of c iwspapers or periodicals may send to each j, her from their respective offices of publition, free of postage, one copy of each y iblication. s Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That f shall be the duty of the postmaster Gen- (, al to provide and furnish to all Deputy ostmasters, and to all other persons spying and paying therefor, suitable post- J ;e stamps and stamped envelopes of the a momination of two cents, five cents and s renty cents, to facilitate the pre-payment $ ' postages provided for in this act; and a ly person who shall forge or counterfeit h any postage stamp provided or furnished under the provisions of this or any former act, whether the same are impressed or printed on or attaohed to envelopes or not, or any die, plate, or engraving therefor, or shall make or print, or knowingly use or sell, or have in his possession, with intent to use or sell, any such false, forged, or counterfeited dies, plate, engraving, or postage stamp, or who shall make or print, or authorize, or procure to be made or printed, any postage stamps of the kind provided and furnished by the Postmaster General as aforesaid, without the especial authority and direction of the Postoffice Department, or who, after such postage stamps have been printed, shall with intent to defraud the revenues of the Postoffice Department, deliver any postage stamps to any person or persons other than such as shall he authorized to receive the same by an instrument of writing, duly executed under the hand of the Postmaster General, and the seal of the Postoffice Department, shall, on conviction thereof, be deemed guilty of felony, and be punished by a fine not exceeding 3500 or by imprisonment not exceeding five years, or by both such fine and imprisonment; and the expenses of procuring and providing all such postage stamps and letter envelopes as are provided for or authorized by this act, shall be paid, after being adjusted by the Auditor of the Postoffice Department on the certificate of the Postmaster General out of any money in the Treasury arising from the revenues of the Postoffice Department. Sec 4 And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of every Postmaster to cause to be defaced, in such manner as the Postmaster General shall direct, all postage stamps of this Confederacy, attached to letters deposited in his office for delivery or to be sent my mail; and if any Postmaster sending letters in the mail with suoh postage stamns attached, shall omit to deface rj i ' the same, it shall be the duty of the Postmaster to whose office such letters shall be sent for delivery to deface the stamps and report the delinquent Postmaster to the Postmaster General, and if any person shall use or attempt to use, in the pre-payment of postage, any postage stamps which shall have been before used for like purposes, such person shall be subject to a penalty of fifty dollars for every such offence, to be recovered in the name of the Confederate States of America, in any court of competent jurisdiction. Sec. 5. And he it further enacted, That from and after the day when this act goes into effect, the franking privilege shall be abolished, provided that the Postmaster General and his chief clerk, and the auditor of the Treasury for the Postoffice Department, shall be and they are hereby authorised to transmit through the mail free of postage any letters, packages, or other matters, relating exclusively to their official duties, or to the business of the Postoffice Department; but they shall, in every such case, indorse ou the back of the letter or package to be sent free of postage, nver their nwn signatures, the urnrds ~ o 7 cial Business," and for any such indorsement falsely made the person so offending shall forfeit and pay 3300; and provided further, the several Deputy Postmasters throughout the Confederate States shall be and are hereby authorized to send through the mail free of postage all letters and packages which it may be their duty, or they may have occasion to transmit to any person or place, and which shall relate exjlusively to the business of their respective offices, orto the businessof the Postoffice Department?but in every such case the deputy postmaster sending any such letter or package shall indorse thereon, over his own lignature, the words "Postoffice Business," md for any and every such endorsement "alsely made the person making the same ihall forfeit and pay 3300. Seo. 6. And he it further enacted, That ;he third section of an act entitled an act 'urther to amend an act entitled an act to educe aud modify the rates of postage in the United States, and for other purposes, pass;d March 3, 1851, approved March 3, L855, whereby the letter registration system vas established, be aod is hereby repealed 'rom and after the day when this act goes nto effect. Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, <Cv, rhat no letters shall be carried by the Ex jress or other chartered companies, unless he same shall be prepaid by being endorsed n a stamped envelope of this Confederacy, ind aoy company violating the provisions >f this act shall forfeit and pay the sum of ive hundred dollars for each offence, to be ecovered by action of debt in any court of his Confederacy having coganizance there>f in the name and for the use of this Confederacy. Sec 8. And be it further enated, That he Postmaster General of the Confederate states be and is hereby authorized to make ] ,11 necessary arrangements for the trans- , Qisaion of mails between the Territories of his and other governments, subject to the pproval of the President, uutil postal treaies can be effected. Passed February 21, 1861. The President.?For many days past \ umors have been rife to the effect that 1 refferson Davis, President of the Confederte States, was on his way to Charleston.? Yesterday morning some color was given to hese reports by the publication of a dis atch, dated Montgomery, announcing the leparture of the President for this city. It is scarcely necessary for us to say that, a iad such been the case, the readers of the c Mercury would have been duly informed of c he fact in our special dispatches from Mont;omery. President Davis is still in that ity, and from present appearances is likely a o remain there. ? We may add that General Donovant was v esterday summoned by telegraph to the 1 eat of the Provisinoanl Government, to con- r er with the Secretary of War.? Charles- I on Mercury, 28th ultimo. c v Settling Up.?The Sub-treasurer* at \ lew Orleans, A. J. Guirot, rendered his c ccounts to the Treasury Department for e ettlement. He debits himself with some f 400,000, received for the Government, c nd credits himself with the same amount (: anded oyer to the Louisiana Treasury s From tlifi Charleston Mercury. military"matters. CASTING PROJECTILES. Solid shot, case shot and shells are cast at iron-workB from white forge iron; formerly iron moulds were used for these, but they had the effect of making the balls too hard on the surface, whereby the bore of the gun was injured. At present, therefore, all projectlies are cast in sand in mould-boxes. The casting of solid balls is the most simple. The patterns for this purpose are of brass, very exactly turned, made in two halves, and fitting into each other by a groove; one half has a pin screwed into it, which forms the hole by which the metal is poured in at the casting. In moulding, the grooved half of the pattern is set upon the mould board, and the tap hole pit. screwed in; then the mould-box is placed with its key bolts in the holes made for them, and half ball moulded by the sand layer. The mould is then turned over, the mould-board taken off . the second half ball set on, the second mould box placed, and the mould made in the same way; then the mould is turned, the pin screwed out, the moul-box opened, and both patterns taken out, when it is again clored and is then ready for casting. The mould of the hollow shot is more complicated, because the internal cavity of these must be formed by a core, which remains in the mould during the casting, and is removd afterwards; and because, also, for the larger sizes, a pair of ears must be cast in, for the shell hooks to catch hold of in handling them. For hollow shot it is preferable to have the metal run into mould at the side, so that the core be not disturbed in its position by the metal falling perpendicularly upon it; this core is made of sand or loam j the ears are of wrought iron, and the ends reach into the internal cavity; where they are afterwards imbedded in the metal. MILITARY PYROTECHNY. The manufacture of cartidges of all kinds, and the fireworks generally, especially, fire and light balls and rockets, for military purposes, is the object of a particular art? that of pyrotechny. Musket cartridges consist of a piece of paper, one side of which, that it may wind more closely, is cut obliquely ; this leaf is rolled about a former, the ball set in, and the throat choked with a tie of linen thread, and stuck down upon the ball, then the cartridge is filled and pinched together at the top, and is ready for use. Cannon cartridges are made of flannel bags almost entirely ; for marking out the form upon the piece of stuff, the pattern board is used. Each calibre has a certain sized pattern board. The length ot the cart ridge depends upon its being designed to hold the ball or not. When the bag is sewed with the back stitch, turned and felled, the sabot, which has a groove, is set in, the ball is Dlaced on the sabot, and then the A ' head is tied. Afterwards the ball is fastened to the sabot by two strips of tin, crossing each other at right angles, the bag being secured to both. THE "MORTAR" OF THE ANCIENTS. As far back as 1328, the French had short cannon called "Bombards." They were first made of wood, with iron hoops, and lay upon a roller-carriage; tbey were afterwards lined with iron plate strengthened with bars of iron, running lengthwise the barrel, and bound with iron hoops.? But as even this could not withstand the force of powder, tbey constructed them of forged iron?cast iron, and finally of bronze. All the bombards or mortars shot only -i. L .1 1 - _ C L C 3 Zl sioue uans, ur lrugmeuw 01 iruu, uuu it was not until the year 1400 that iron balls were uaed. Sforza had, before Piacenza, in 1447, three Bombards ; each of which discharged, in twenty four hours, sixty stone balls, and with which, in thirty days, he battered down two towers and the wall between. Improved Mortars op the present time.?Mortars are in some respects like howitzers, save that the trunnions, since they are only designed to discharge shot at a very great elevation, are not in the middle but at the hinder end; there are some, indeed, which have, instead of trunnions, only a cast foot, and which can, therefore, be only fired at one angle. Mortars are most usually distinguished by the diameter of the iron shell which fills the bore?thus we speak of "8, 10 or 12 inch mortars," the latter of which throws a shell of about 100 pounds weight. The internal arrangements of the mortar are very different from the cannon. The charge of powder is very 3mall in comparrision with the size of the shot, and is compressed into a small chamber made for it in the breech, terminating 1 in a hemisphere. The forward part of the 1 bore, the chase, receives the shell in loading, unites with the chamber by a segment af a sphere, and is called the seat of the shell. From thence to the mouth of the 1 bore is cylindrical, and is called the "va- 1 ? -J , 3ant cylinder." MORTAR CARRIAGES OR BEDS. For mortars which have their trunnions on , :he second reinforce, the so-called hanging nortar, the carriage consists of two checks, jonnected by bolts and transoms, but these tre now little used; the carriage mostly used s, a short massive block of wood, seasoned ^ 10k is the best?upon this bed is hollowed. . >ut the place for the trunnion bed and the ^ 'oot of the mortar. The lower corners of the >ed are notched in, to allow of handspikes >eing thrust under for moving it upon the datform. On the trunnion of the mortar . in index is fixed, which shows upon a cir- ] lular scale, attached to the bed, the angle if elevation. y THE ELEVATING SCREW. t With mortars the muzzle must be move- 1 ,ble through a curve of from 10 to 60 de- ? ;rees, in order to give the necessaay ele- * ration or depression for the aim. To effect 1 hese movements with the requisite accu- < aoy and rapidity, the elevating screw is ap- c died, although the simplest means of ac- i lompHshing the purpose is the quoin or t redge, by moving it in or out under the i >ase ring?there are generally three quoins < ir wedges employed. Under 15 degrees ? ilevation, the mortir lies upon its bed, the i irst quoin gives 25 degrees, the second 30 c legrees, and thus, with the third, 45 or ^ 10 can be given. The screw quoin is better ' itill, and it admits of more oocuracy in the ( elevation. In cases a wooden platform is aid, upon which the mortar and carriage is placed, to secure a level from which to regulate the firing. , i Sudden and Mysterious Departure of Mr. Lincoln for Washington. Harrisburg, February 23.?The people of this oity were astounded this morning, by an announcement that Mr. Lincoln had started in a special train for Washington, despatches having been received, requiring his presence in Washington. Reports are busily circulated, that there was a plot to assassinate him, while passing through Bal- 1 timore, but such stories are not believed.? Tbe Baltimore Committee is here, but did not have an interview with Mr. Lincoln. Harrisburg, February 23?8 a. m.? AViMiham Tiincnln. t.hfl Prpaidpnt plpnf. nf the United States, is safe in the capital of the nation. By the admirable arrangement of General Scott, the country has been spared the lasting disgrace, which would have been fastened indellibly npon.it, had Mr. Lincoln been murdered on his way thither, as he wonld have been had he followed the programme as announced in the papers and gone by the Northern Central Railroad to Baltimore. On Thursday night, after he had retired, Mr. Lincoln was aroused and informed that a stranger desired to see him on a matter of life and death. He declined to admit him unless he gave his name, whieh ho at once did, and of so much prestige was the name that while Mr. Lincoln was yet disrobed he granted an interview of the caller. A prolonged conversation elicited the fact that an organized body of men had determined that Mr. Lincoln should not be inaugurated, and that be should never leave the ciry of Baltimore alive, if, indeed, he ever entered it. The list of the names of the conspirators presented a most astonishing array of per o 1.1 ? J J ?w.? 0UUB UIgU 1U ouuuicru UUUUUUUUUj ?UU DULUU whose fame id not confined to this country alone. Statesmen laid the plan, bankers endorsed it, and adventurers were to carry it into effect. As they understood Mr. Lincoln was to leave Harrisburg at 9 o'clock this morning, by special train, and the idea was, if possible, to throw the cars from the road at some point where they would rush down a deep embankment and destroy in a moment the lives of all on board. In case of the failure of this project, their plan was to surround the carriage on the way from the depot in Baltimore, and assissinate him with dagger or pistol shot. So authentic was the source from whiob the information was received, that Mr. Linooln, after counselling with his friends, was compelled to make arrangements which would enable him to subvert the plans of his enemies. Greatly to the annoyance of the thousands who desired to call on him last night, he declined givinga reception. The final council was held at 8 o'clock. Mr. Lincoln did not want to yield, and Col' Summer actually cried with indignanation; but Mrs. Lincoln, seconded by Mr. Judd and Mr. Lincoln's original informant, insisted unnn it. and at nine o'clock. Mr. Lincoln left on a special train. He wore a Scotch plaid cap and a very long military cloak, so that he was entirely unrecognizable. Accompanied by Superintendent Lewis and one friend, he started while all the town, with the exception of Mrs. Lincoln, Col. Sumner, Mr. Judd, and two reporters, who were sworn to secrecy, supposed him to be asleep. The telegraph wires were put beyond reach of any one who migut desire to use them. j At 1 o'clock, the fact was whispered from i one to another, and it soon became the < theme of most excited conversation. Many 1 thought it a very injudicious move, while i others regarded it as a stroke of great I merit. [Special Dispatch to NeioYork Times ] < Baltimore, February 23.?Mr. Lincoln i arrived here at 8 o'clook, incog., and went ] direct to Washington. His family and the i remainder of his party will arrive at 10 < o'clock. Much excitement was occasioned i by the ruse. Washington, February 23.?Not a little sensation prevailed throughout the city, ( fViia mnfnino no annn aa if Vipnnme knnwn ' ??&? ?? ? i that Mr. Lincoln bad arrived in the early train. It was unsuccessfully sought to con- 1 oeal the fact, especially from the newspa- 8 per press, his presence here being at first communicated to a few political friends in confidence He was met at the station by several gentlemen of distinction, without any formality, and was immediately driven to Willard's Hotel. He was yesterday advised to come hither without delay. Preparations had been made to meet him at the station, this afternoon, and the Mayor of Washington was to make 8 a welcome address, but Mr. Lincoln has j thus spoiled the programme. About 10 o'olock, Mr. Lincoln, accompanied'by Mr. r Seward, paid his respects to President Buchanan, spending a few minutes in gen- s jral conversation. n Senator Bigler and Representative John n Cochrane happened to be at the White g House when he entered, and were accord- I ngly introduced to the President elect ? if - r: 1 r* j . j Jir. uiuuuiu ttiicrwuiua rciuiucu iu tuc iiu* ?! a Shipment op Arms prom New York. v ?The New York correspondent of the * Philadelphia Ledger writes: ' The State police have been so absorbed v vith the ceremonies of the Lincoln recep- r< ion, that Superintendent Kennedy has jermitted at least some $200,000 worth of irma and ammunition to slip off in a steam:r which sailed on Thursday for New Oreans. Gun carriages, rifles, revolvers, per- _ iussion caps, howitzers and camp equipage tj ionstitued the shipment. These goods, it ^ s understood, are on Texan account, but w he purchase is negotiated through a house a] n New Orleans. A portion of these are fc lestined for Galveston, some for Indianola ind some for Austin. There is also good eason for the belief that the last instalment w >f the $100,000 worth of like merchandize, ? vhioh was manufactured at an establish- g< nent not far from Newark, N. J., on ac- h sount of Gov. Ellis, of North Carolina, ai was boxed up and fowarded to Baltimore, via Philadelphia, on the very train which followed that on which was the President elect, Mr. Lincoln. A Republican View op Jefferson Davis.?The Boston Advertiser, an able Republican journal, says that if it had no other evidence, the inaugural address of the new President of the "Confederate States" is proof of the unusual wisdom with which the secessionists aoted when they elected Jefferson Davis to that office. It oredits him with as marked a combination of the qualities most needed for his work as eny revolutionary leader ever exhibited, and adds: As the leader of the cotton States in their movement against the General Government, whether the controversy is to be carriod on by civil measures only, or by sterner methods, to which he professes himself DreDared. thouerh nnwillinc to resort, this r i * ~ o ?" ?'?o ? ?^"7 r Government ooald have no more dangeroos enemy than Mr. Davie, and this fact, we believe, needs to be more widely reeogoi?^ zed than it is among oar people. Because* Mr. Davis has led the extreme Soath, many have eome to regard him as possessing the personal qaalities and weaknesses of the "fire eaters." But Mr. Davis is, on the contrary, cool-headed, far-sighted and not hasty. What be says or does is not the result of crazy impulse, but of cool determination, and is supported not by the temporary strength of frenzy, but by real intellectual and moral power. In short, he is an antagonist who challenges respect as ? well as the utmost vigor and caution in opposition, and one whom any statesman might rejoice to encounter in a high national eontest, were he of any country save oor own, and weie the matter in debate anything except the Union. . No Time to Read?How often do we hear men excuse themselves from subscribing to a paper or periodical by saying they have "no time to read." When we hear a t man thus excuse himself, we oonclude he has never found time to confer any advantage, either upon his family, country, or himself. To hear a freeman thus express himself, is humiliating j and we can form no other opinion than that suoh a man is nf HH.Ia imnnrtan/?A anniof.v flnnJi man generally have time to attend publio barbecues, meetings, sales and other places, but they have "no time to read." They frequently spend whole days in gossipping, tippling and snapping horses, but they have "no time to read." They sometimes lose a day in asking advioe of their neighbors?sometimes a day inpicking up news, the prices current and exchanges ?but they have "no time to read." They have time to hunt, to fish, to fiddle, to drinkto "do nothing" but "no time to read."? Such men generally have uneducated children, unimproved farms and unhappy firesides. They have no energy, no spirit of improvement no love of knowledge; live unknowing and unknown, and they die unwept and unregretted. Major-General Bonham. The Charleston Mercury contains the following biographical sketch of General Bonham, who has recently boen appointed, by Governor Pickens, Major-General of the* armed military force of South Carolina : .. . . General Bonham is a native of this State, j -a iL. a it n 12 nj ana graanaieu at toe ouum ^aruuoa college in 1834. He is a lawyer by profession, but bas spent most of his life io the public service. He was a Brigade-Major of Bull's Brigade of South Carolina Volunteers in the Florida war, iD 1836; was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the 12th Infantry, in March, 1847 ; promoted to the Coloneoy, in August, 1847; was with General Scott in the great Mexican battles, and was wounded at Contreras, on the 19th August, 1847 This Regiment was, at the close of the war, disbanded, and Colonel Booham returned bo South Carolina. He was subsequently elected a member rf the 35th Congress from his native State, ind bas been re-elected since?without opposition. He withdrew from the House with his fellow-members after the South Darolina ordinance of secession had been atified. RrDiNG oe Walking ?"A corresponlenf. wishpq ta knnw rtf vhinh we thinlr fchft nost highly?riding on horaebaok or walkng. This will depend on the object in riew; if it be to escape from a robber we ihould ride, since a horse can ran faster han a man; if it be to get away from a laly who said "no," we should ride, also, both 'or speed and that mental diversion which he motion of a horse occasions. But if ve are going to some place of guilt, or to oeet any company where we must leave oar eligion behind us, we should walk, and ealk at a alow pace; perhaps before we get here we may turn about, and if we do we hall bring back a much more quiet conscinoe than we should if we dashed ahead. 5eace of conscience is easily lost, but it is ecovered only through our tears." Not to be enlisted.?Capt. Riohardon, of Sumter, has received the following iote from headquaters, in relation to enlistoents from the volunteer force raised, orgrazed and accepted under the act of the jegislature for that purpose : Headquaters, Feb. 21, 1861. Sir : The obligation incurred by officers nd privates in entering the military ser ice ot tbe state, under tne "act to provide n armed military force/' is binding for bat period, and any recruiting from the olunteer force into the regular will not be scognized by this department. S. R. GIST, Adj. and Insp. Gen. of S. C. To Capt. Ricabdson. The Way they Do it.?" Very bitter." -The Louisville (Ky.) Courier remarks lat the Philadelphia manufacturers, who, efore the election, disoharged all those orkmen who refused to vote for Linooln, re now discharging all those who did vote ir him. Dr. Kane relates that when, one day orn out with fatigue, he turned into an Esquimaux hut to get a little sleep, the ood-natured hostess of the wigwam covered im up with some of her own habiliments, ud gave him her baby for a pillow.