Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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. * *w X > * 4# r . * ? c *, # v,;^r v-n*VOLUME 14 CAMDEN, SOUTH-CAROLINA, TUESDAY MORNING AERIL 2^1853/ NUMBER 17. ?H? !?P?a?PCgM?OB?BMBMWBWWB? l'LT.USHED-WEEKLr -BY S THOMAS J. WARREN. V TE-ltlKS. . t? Two Dollars if paid in advance; Two Dollars and | Fitly Cents if payment be delayed tiiree months, and I' Throe Dollars if not paid till the expiration of the year, c A.DVERTI3EMKXTS will be inserted at the following rates: For one Square, (fourteen lines or less,) soceaty-five cents for the first, and thirty-seven and a ' - - - - ?. - ---i?? cs: 1- a half cents tor eocn suoscqueiu insertion. oiugic msertions. one dollar per square; semi-monthly, month- C ly and quarterly advertisements charged the same as s for a single insertion. -- " I ^gTThe number of insertions desired must be noted on iiio margin of all advertisements, or they will be published uatil ordered discontinued and charged accordingly. ' _ E - ! : - I = 1; THE HtTSBAXD'S PRESENT. t /4 BV A JOURNEYMAN PRINTER. It vyas a bitter co!?l night on tfio 24th of De- i camber. The snow lay deep upon the frozen g earth, and the bright moon, riding half way up n the lieaveos, lent a crystalline lustre to the scene. ^ In the high road, a short distance from a qmet t reposing village," stood the form of a human be- ? ing. His garments were scant and tattered? by far insufficient to keep out the biting frost; s his frame shook and trembled like, the icebound }, boughs of the weeping willow that grew near q him, and his face, as,the raooubeams danced up- t on it, exhibited ali the fearful footprints of the ^ demon?Intemperance. Poor, wretched and j, debased, he looked?and such, in truth, he was. c Before him, at the end of a neatly-fenced and treJlised-incldsute, stood a smalltottage. Itwas. j elegant in its simple .neatness, and just such a ? one-as the humble lover oF triie comfort and joy wonld seek for a home. The tears rolled down the bloated cheeks of the poor inebriate as he r gazed upon the cottage, and, -at length, as lie clasped his bands in agony, he murmured: f "0, thou fond home of my happier days, thou B look est like a heaven ?f the past. Beneath thy roof I was married to the idol of my soul, and, \ within, thy peaceful, .walls, God gave me two j blessed children. There peace and plenty were c - - - * ir /?. mine, and love and joy were mine, my wire? God bUss her gentle soul?was happy then, and j my children?may heaven protect them?laugh- v ed and played, in gleesorae pleasure. Gladness played upon us then, and every hour was a sea- c son of -bliss. But I lost them as a fool loseth r his own salvation ! Six years have past since the y demon that I _ took to my heart, drove us from your sheltering . roof. And- those six years 1 } Oh, what misery, what anguish, \?hat sorrows, j and what degradation have they not brought to v me and my poor family 1 Home, health, wealth, s peace, joy, and friends, are gone?all, all gone! Oh, thou fatal cap?no, I will not blame thee. It was I?I who did it! Year after year, I tampered with tbyfdcadly sting, when I knew that , destruction lurked in thy smile. But, but," and y . the** poor trtfcn raised his eyes to heaven as he v spoke, "there is room on earth for another man ?and I will be that man P* -] Within the only apartment of a miserable and [ almost broken down hovel, sat a woman and two children?a boy and a girl. The cold wind j found its entrance through a hundred crevices, and as its biting gusts swept through the room, j the mother and children crouched nearer to the few embers thatstill smouldered upon the hearth. The only furniture was four stools, a rickety ta- e ble, and a scantily covered bed ; while in oue corner, oearest to the fire-place, was a heap of e straw ar.d tattered blankefe. which served as a resting place for the brother and sister. Part 3 n( a i all aw candle was bumincr UDon the table. ? Vl M vw,,w" ~ y o i ' | 4| and by its dira light one might have seen that . wretched mother's countenance. It was pale and wan, and wet with tears. The faces of her children were both buried in her lap, and they scemed*to sleep peacefully under her prayerful guardianship? At length the sound of footsteps upon the t snow crust struck-upon tbo mother's cars, and a hastily arousing her children, she hurried them to their lowly bed, and hardly had they crouched n away beneath the thin blankets, when the door j, was opened, and the man whom wc liaYo already ^ seen before the pretty cottage entered the place, j "With a trembling and fearful look, the wife gazed ^ up into her husband's face, and seemed ready to g s. crouch back from his apprpach, when the mark ^ of a tear-drop upon big cheek caught her eye; a Could it be, thought, she, that pearly drop was u in truth a tear ! No?perhaps a snow flake had a fallen there and melted. Once or twice, Thomas Wilkins seemed upon g; the point of speaking some word to his wife, but j at length he turned slowly away and silently undressed himself, and very soon after his weary j, limbs had touched tho bed, he was asleep. .Load ana earnestly aia iurs. wukuis gaze c upon the features of her husband after he had n fallen asleep. There was something strange in c his manner?something unaccountable?surely j. he had not been drinking; for his countenance n had none of that vacant, wild, demoniac look 'j that usually rested there. His features -were rather sad and thoughtful, than otherwise; and ?O, heavens, is it possible! a smile played ^ about his mouth, and a sound, as if of prayer, 1 issued from his lips while yet he slept! A faint hope, like the misty vapor of approach- 1 ing morn, flitted before the heart-broken wife. But she could not grasp it, she had no foundation for it; and with a deep groan she let the 0 phantom pass. She went to her children, and drew the clothes more closely about them ; she s then knelt by their side, and after imprinting on r their cheeks a mother's kiss, uttered a fervent . prayer in their behalf, she sought the repose of the pillow. Long ere the morning dawned, Thorn as Wil kins arose from his bed, dressed himself, and left j the house. His poor wife awoke just as he was going out, and fell? would have called to him, but she dared not. Se would have told him that i she had no fuel, no bread?not anything with which to warm and feed the children; but he was gone, and she sank back upon her pillow and wept. r The light of morning came at length, but t Mrs. Wilkins had not risen from out her restingplace. A sound of footsteps was heard from , without, accompanied by a noise, as though a ^ light sled were being dragged through the snow. e The door opened, and the husband eutered. He laid upon the table a heavy wheaten loaf, a N mall pail, and a paper biiudlc, then from his ocket ho took another paper parcel, and agair le turned towards the <loor. When next he en ercd, he bore in his arms a load of wood; anc hree times did he go out, and return with t ?ad of the same description. Then he ben ver the fire-place, and soon a blazing fire spark ?d on the hearth. As soon as this was accom ilishedr Thomas Wilkins bent over his childrer ,nd kissed them ; then he went to the bedsid< if his wife, and while some powerful emotioi tirred up in his soul and made his chest heave lc murmured: ' Kiss me, Lizzie." Tightly that wife wound her arms about tin leek of her husband, and as though the love o ears had centered in that one kiss, she pressec t upon his lips. "There?no more," he uttered, as ho gentb aid the arm of bis. wife from his neck, "tbcs< hinos T have brought, are for vou and ourehil -"?5- o ' . Iren," and as he spoke he left the house. Mrs. Wilkins arose from her bed, and trem ilingly she examined the articles upon the table >he found the loaf^ and iu the pail she found nilk ; oue of the papers contained two smalle; mndles?one of tea-and one of sugary while ir lie remaining parcel she found a nice lump o utter. "O," murmured the poor wife and mother, a; he gazed upon the food thus spread out befon icr, "whence came these ? Can it bo thai homas ha3 stolen them ? No, he never die hat ? Aud then that look?that kiss?thos< :ind, sweet, sweet words! 0, my poor poo leart, raise not a hope that may only fail am rush thee!" "Mother," at this moment spoke her son, wh< lad raised himself upon Ins elbow, "is our fathe ;one r "Yes, Charles." "0, tell me, mother, did he not come and kis no and little Abby, this morning ?" "Yes, yes?he did!" cried the mother a3 sli< lew to the side of her boy and wound her arm ibout him. "And, mother," said the child, in low, trem iling accents, while he turned, a tearful look t< lis parent's face, "will not. father be good to u mce more ?" That mother could not speak, she could onlj iress her children more fondly to her bosom am veep a mother's tears upon them. Was Lizzie Wilkius happy, as she sat her chil hen down to the morning's meal ? At least, i ay of sunshiue was struggling to gain entrano o her bosom. * Toward the middle of the afternoon, Mr. Abe Walker, a retired sea-captain of some wealth, sa 11 his comfortable parlor, engaged in reading vhen .one of the servants informed him thn ome one at the cloor wished to see him. "Tell him to come in," returned Walker. "But it's that miserable Wilkius, sir." "Never mind," said the captain after a mo nent's hesitation, "show him in. Poor fellow,' le continued, after the servant had gone, " vonder what he wants. In truth, I pity him." With a trembling-6tep and downcast look ?homas Wilkius entered Captain Walker's par or. . "Ah, Wilkius," said the old captain, 'Svha las brought you here 1" Tne poor man twice attempted to spcaK, ou lis heart failed him. "Do you come for charity ?" "No, sir," quickly returned Wilkins, while hi yes gleamed with a proud light. "Then sit down, and out with it," said Walk r, in a blunt, but kind tone. "Captain Walker," commenced the poor mar is lie took the proffered seat, "I have come t< .sk you if you still'own that little cottage be ond the hill." "I do." "And is it occupied ?" "No." "Is it engaged ?" "No," returned the captain, regarding his visi or with uncommon interest; "but why do yoi sk?" "Captain Walker," said Wilkins, in a firm ant nanly tone, even though bis eyes glistened anc lis lips quivered, "I have been poor and degra ed?deeply steeped in the dregs of poverty ant isgrace. Everything that made life valuable, ] ave almost lost. My wife and children havt uffered, and God only knows how keenly ! ] ave long wandered in the path of sin. On< fter another, the tender cords of friendship thai sed to bind me to the world have snappec sunder; my name has become a by-word, anc pon the earth I have been but a foul blot. But ir, from henceforth, I ain a man 1 Up from th< onths of its lotur trrave I draerered forth inj I " ' -- o o ow t eaft, and love still Las its home therein. J ave sworn to toucli the fatal cup no more ; anc j my heart there is no lie. My wife and m} hildren shall suffer no more for the 6ins the} ever committed. I have seen my old employ r, at the machine shop, and ho has even beer ind enough to give me an order in advance foi ecessary articles of clothing, food, and furniture o-morrow morning I commence work." "And you come to see if you could obtair our cottage back again to live in ?" said Cap ain Walker, as Wilkins hesitated. "Yes, sir; to see if I could hire it of you," re ilicd the poor man. "Wilkins, how much can you make at youi usiness ?" bluntly asked the old captain, with >ut seeming to heed the request. "My employer is going to put me on job work ir; and soon as I get niv hand in, I can easilj aake from twelve to fourteen dollars a week." "And how much will it take to support you Mnily ?" "As soon as I get cleared up, I can easily ge long with five or six dollars a week." "Then you might be able to save about fou mndred dollars a year." "I mean to do that, sir." A tew moments (Japtain Walker gazed intx lie face of his visitor, and then he asked: "Have you pledged yourself yet ?" "Before God and in my heart, I have; bu me of my errands here was to get you to writi ne a pledge, and have it made to my wife nn< bildren." Captain Walker sat down to his table an< vrote out the required pledge, and then, in i retnbling, but bold hand, Thomas Wilkins sign ;d it. "Wilkins," said the old man, as he took hi isitor by the hand, "I have watched well you s countenance, and weighed your words. I know b: i you speak the truth. When I bought the cot- pi - tage from your creditors six years ago, I paid c< I tkera one thousand dollars for it. It has not T t been harmed, and is .asgoodas.it was then.? c< t Most of the time I have received good rent for - it. Now, sir, you shall have it for just what I y< - paid for it, and each month you shall pay me tc i such a sum as you can comfortably spare, till it 3 is all paid. I shall ask you for no rent nor for a w i cent of interest. You shall have a deed of tho sc , estate, and in return I will take but a single in note and. mortgage upon which you can have your own tune." u< 2 Thomas Wilkins tried to thank the old man f for his kindness, but ho only sank into his chair n 1 and wept like a child ; and while he sat with his m faco buried in his hands, the old man slipped u f from the room. And when at length he return- V 2 ed, he bore iu his hand a neatly covered bas- pi - ket. , a "Come, come," the Captain exclaimed, "cheer sc - up, my friend. Here are some titbits for your ir . wife and children?take them home; and bc1 lieve me, Wilkins, if you feel half as happy in ei r receiving my favoa- as I do in bestowing it, you y> > arc happy indeed." . a! f "0, God! God will bless you for this, sir!" h exclaimed the kindness-stricken man; "and if 1 T J betray your confidence, may I die on the in- st 2 slant!" is t "Stick to your pledge, Wilkins, and I will h; 1 take care of the rest," said the old Captain, as ki 2 his friend took the basket. "If you have time, tl r to-morrow, call on me, and I will arrange the b 1 papers." tl As Thomas Wilkins once more entered the t( > streets, his tread was light and easy. A bright r light of joyousness shone in every feature, and as k he wended his way homeward, he felt, in every jc avenue of his soul, that he was once more a cl s man. w The gloomy shades that ushered in the night w a of the thirty-first of December, had fallen over (J s the snow clod earth. Within the miserable dwelling of Mrs. Wilkins, there was more' of - comfort than we found when we visited her, but rr i) yet nothing had been added to the furniture of cc s the place. For the last six days, her husband tr had came home every evening, and gone away zi J before daylight every morning, and, during that si 1 time, she knew that he had not drank any intoxi- ai eating beverage, for already his face began to te - assume the stamp of its former manhood, and Ii a every word that he had spoken had been kind al u and affectionate. To his children he had brought tl new shoes and warm clothing, and to herself he si 1 had given such things as sho stood in immediate p t need of; but yet, with all this, he had been taci- turn and thoughtful, showing a dislike to all t o^iestions, and only speaking such words as were necessary. The poor, devoted, loving wife began = to hope. And why should .she not ? For six, years her husband had not been thus before.? - One week ago she dreaded his approach; but cs " now she found herself waiting for him with all p I the anxiety of former years. Should all this be tl broken; should this new charm be swept away ! ti , Eight o'clock came, and so did nine and ten, and fi - vet her husband came not! - ft "Mother," said little Charles, just as the clock n t struck ten, seeming to have awakened from a tl dreary slumber. "Is Dot this the last night of n t the old year ?" tl "Yes, my son." tl "And do you know what I've been dreaming, w a dear mother ? I dreamed that father had u brought us New Year's presents, just the same lc - as he used to. But he won't, will he ? lie's si too poor now!" * a i, "No, my dear boy, we shall hate no other v > presents than food; and even for that we must 01 i- thank dear father. There, lay your head in my h lap again." b The boy laid his curly head once more in his si mother's lap, and with tearful eyes she gazed E upon his innocent form. ti The clock struck eleven ! The poor wife was g - yet on her tireless, sleepless watch ! But hardly e: i had the sound of the last stroke died away, cro ti the snow crust gave back the sound of a foot- si fall, and in a moment more her husband enter- a ed. With a trembling fear 6he raised her eyes m to his face, and a wild thrill of joy went to her h heart, as she saw that all there was open and c< bold?only those manly features looked more fr joyous, and proud than ever. w "Lizzie," said he, in mild, kind accents, "I am S late to-night, but busiuess has detained me; and s: now 1 have a favor to ask of thee." "Name it, dear Thomas, and you shall not ask h a second time," cried the wife, as she laid her ai hand confidently upon her husband's arm. p? "And you will ask me no questions ?" contin- n: ued Wilkins. lil "No, I will not." yi "Then," continued the husband, as he bent rj over and imprinted a kiss upon his wife's brow, ki "I want vou to dress our children for a walk, hi - and you shall accompany us. The night is calm sc i and tranquil, and tho snow is well trodden S< r "But" in "Ah, no questions! Remember your prom- w ise." ? ci i Lizzie Wilkins knetv not what all this meant, w . nor did she think to. care; for anything that tl could please her husband she would have done F . with pleasure, even though it had wrenched her w vciy: ncart strings. In a short time the two chil- tl r drcn were ready ; then Mrs. Wilkins put on w . such articles of dress as she could command, cc and soon they were on tho road. Tho moon tv ) shone brightly; the stars peeped down upon in the earth, and they seemed to smile upon the in travellers from out their twinkling eyes of light, af r Silently Wilkins led his way, and silently his of wife and children followed. Several times the gi t wife gazed up into her Jiusband's faco; but, from the strange expression that rested there, she at r could make out nothing that tended to satisfy tc her. si At lcrgth, a slight turn in the road brought Al > them suddenly upon the pretty white cottage? s* where years before they had been so happy. They approached the spot. The snow iu the ^ t front yard had been shovelled away, and a path fil 3 led up tho piazza. Wilkins opened the gate? '1! 1 his wife, trembling, followed, but wherefore she ^ knew not. Then her husband oncncd the door, ft 1 1 .1 - ?.? .1 .v.. .1 :i: t.} l ana in uic entry uiey were met uy me siiiuuig ? n countenance of old Captain Walker, who uslier ed them into the parlor, where a wartn fire glow- c( cd in the grate, and where everything looked g s neat and comfortable. Mrs. Wilkins turned her lc r gaze on the old man, and then upon ber bus- b ~~ ' 1 T- ? - md. Surely, in that greeting between the Iv, I aor man and the rich, there was none of that con: mstraint which would liave been expected.? I hty met rather as friends and neighbors. What to t raid it mean ? the Hark! the clock strikes "twelve! The old ful ;ar is gone; a new, bright-winged cycle is about but > commence its flight over the earth. cd I Thomas Wilkins took the hand of his wife cioi itliin his own, and then drawing from his bo- grii >m a paper, he placed it in her band, remark- aroi ig as lie did so: tacl "Lizzie, this is your husband's present for the and ew year." " " the The wife took the paper and opened it. She nal ialized its contents at a glance, but she could ?j .1 _.i r._ .t.? i>u rcitu 10 wuru lur wuru, iui luu &u earning >ars of a wild, frantic joy would not let her. '?j' ^ith a quick, nervous movement she placed the P{c riceless pledge next her bosom; and then, with pl'e low murmur, like the gentle whispering of a,,(| >me Heaven bound angel, she fell, half fainting, *7 1 ito her husband's arms. ''c "Look up, look up, my own dear wife," utter3 the redeemed man, "look up aud smile upon c,er our husband, and you, too, my children, gather ,n0! bout your father?for a husband and father enccforth I will ever be. Look up, my wife. IS?1 here?now, Lizzie, feel proud with me, for we st,tl and within our own house ! Yes, this cottage 1 once more our own: aud nothing but the t0 c and of death shall take us hence. Our good, , P11^ ind friend here will explain it all. 0, Lizzie,- if a v' lere be happiness on earth, it shall henceforth 'ns* eours! Let the past be forgotten, and with wh( lis, the dawning of a new year, let us commence tlsr ) live in the future." at i fiontlir Jim lnicK-m/? nnrl ivifo snnlr nnnn thf?ir SeS ^v..vV v..^ -r- ? nees, clasped in each other's arms, and clinging Peo yfully to them, knelt their conscious happy m"! lildren. A prayer from the husband's lips ?P'] ended its way to the Throne of Grace; and, 9ess ith the tears trickling down hjs aged face, old aptain Walker responded a heartfelt 'Amen !' * ^ ***** thoi Five years have passed since that happy mo- l',e lent. Thomas Wilkins has cleared his pretty ^ei )ttage from all incumbrances, and a happier or tair! lore respected family does.pot exist. And Liz- cos e, that gentle, confiding wife, as she takes that sc'1 mple paper from the drawer, and gazes again ,T101 ad again on the magic pledge it bears, weeps Ne: tars of.joy anew. Were all the wealth of the W01 idles poured out in one glittering, blinding pile of < I her feet, and all the honors of the world added cou lereto, she would not, for the whole countless ?pe im, give in exchange one single word from that 1 ledge which'constituted her husband's present. to ] - Sta iUtscfUmtfons. E5 ? : ? mil An Old Fort in Georgia. ent In Murray County Georgia, and near its southtstern boundary at the summit of an mural ; recipice, 1,700 feet in perpendicular height, be i -i _i? ? ! r *. icre stanus me remains 01 an auciem, <uiuuw pg| on, constructed of solid mason work, covering njn ve acres of ground. Within the enclosure, lofty g6l )refit trees, from two to three hundred years old. ;ar their heads to the tempest, covering with orK leir verdant foliage ancient occupants; and js s car it a gushing stream of water issues from SqU oe crevice of the rock, of icy coldness, whence njn ic garrison used to obtaiu their supply. Who yC. 'ere the builders of this immense fort, perched t[je pon a lofty crag of the Couutta Mountain over- tjic ttking as far as vision can extend the country ^re nrounding and so well calculated for defence , nd security against an enemy ? That it is the (jjn ork of a civilized people is beyond the shadow jjfl f a donbt, for in no instance where investigation tjja as extended, are we informed that " among the ani arbarous inhabitants of this country has a stone ouj ructure been found of material built with lime. j,e ven in the remarkable mounds on the planta- a n on of Judge Messier, Of Early county Georgia, 1 igantic in size, and surrounded by a wall of con irth, and which approach nearest to civiliza- uni on, with positive design for the purpose of wor- w;j lip and defence, can no inason work be found, Qe) r the use of the trowel. From the arrangeicut of those mounds, their builders were pro- r0(j :ib!y part of the dispersed Toltec nation in Mexi- not ...1. A ... A..A AynhmnAMC tliA Qlin Otlil /I M I'rttl T WUU WCIC \\ UlOlllj VI HIV villi) null uiiivii om their ancient domain by the Aztec tribes, ere dispersed throughout Yucatan; North and re|] outh America?and they, in their turn, were jar ibjugated by Cortez m the invasion of Mexico. ca8 Independent of a tradition which lias been. we indod down from father to son for generations r) nong the nboriginies of the country, "that a rj'j eoplo with long beards dressed in shining arlour, of pale complexion, and who possessed the jhtning of heaven, erected the fortification 1( uars ago," Col. Pickett, in his valuable "Ilistoj of Alabama," has furnished a clue to the ?*c nowlcdge of its builders. lie says : "After a ".s alt of several weeks at Cirtifachaque?the pro- ei 1 nt Silver Bluff on the Savannah River?Ue- j\os oto, with the Castilians, broke up his camp, and 13 company with the beautiful young Queen, |? 1 hom lie retained as a hostage, to insure obedi- 0 ? ice among her subjects inarched up its head aters, and rested for a short time nt a town in as le present County of Habersham, Georgia.? sco1 rom this place the expedition assumed a direct ".ei" estern course across Northern Georgia, until .K lev struck the head waters of the Coosa River, 'P hen they advanced upon the town of Gauxule, intaiuing three hundred houses, situated bo- """ vcen several streams, which had their sources '' the surrounding mountains. Gaining much helt formation about tho country from the Chief, t'10 ter four days sojourn ho marched to the town Conasauga, in now Murray County, Gcor- c0,r in." was A glance at the map of Northern Georgia will A . once convince the reader that the fortification ?f 1 ? which we refer stands on tho direct route pur- I icd bv DeSoto through the Cherokee Nation, beei id that, most probably, it was by his orderscon- An< ructed. The object was, no doubt, a means of uh? jfence against the Indians, whom he had exci- idle fd to open warfare by repeated acts of aggres- mai on, and for convenience to game, which may pasi ivc been found in the immediate vicinity to ic fortress, for, at the base of the precipice along r] gap, through tho high mountain, may be seen the ?i,i lmfl'jilo trail. Rm| 115 ruutu in ???? The grandeur and picturesque aspects of the nat' )untry in that elevated region must have been thei ratifying to those stalwart Castilians, after a an3' ing and dreary inarch over the low, sandy, blue no( srrens they had crossed, almost uninterrupted- n1a from the time they-landed on tlie souther: it of Florida. "l . t is known tliat the object of Desoto's visi lie mountainous country of Georgia was th search ofgold." Whether they were success the journals of his officers do not inform iu recent investigation has proved that he pass through or near a country abounding in pre is metal. .'From that rock-bound citadel tlios n warriors of Castilia looked out on the work imd them with contempt, secure from the at c of their enemies, or descending the cragg: . tortuous mountain sides, made foray upoi surrounding country.? Cor. Alabama Jour 'uhlic Schools.?We heartily endorse tin owing editorial remarks from the N. 0 ayilne. Every word therein contained ap is as well to South Carolina as Lousiatia we hope that ere long our State will car into oporation some efficient system of pub schools. The establishment of a good and effi it system of public school.s is certainly tb intnnrfonf ontarnricn tliflf nnn nncrflfrr> tlii jv ""r*V..W. r. .??- ? y jntion of the legislator. Public edacatioi vithout, doubt the true palladium of free in utions. For in speaking of the in'structioi he masses we do not believe it necessar listinguish between public knowledge an< lie virtue. An cntightened people Will b irtuous people. Where the masses are.wel ructcd there will be a public virtue. It 1 ;re only the few are educated that despo n holds sway ; and.it is where those few ar< he same time corrupt that the rights of mas of ipankind are trampled under foot V pie that is both enlightened and virtuou st of course necessarily be freeC And in ou aion, an enlightened peopleWill always pos s public virtue, and will generally bo cpfi led by considerations of public good. Vc regard, therefore, the establishment of.i rough system of popular ihstruction as botl basis and seeurny ot our institutions.? [ico we go, firstly, for establishing and main ling throughout the State, at any necessar t, the very best possible system of publi ools, as the instrument of unfolding th' fal and intellectual energies of the people tt qfter this we are in favor of railroads^am ks of internal improvements, as the mean leveloping thfi material resouces of oil ntry. With these two systems in thorougl ration we have no fears for-the future. * f therefore our legislators shall do anythinj promote the cause of public education in tbi te?to break the lethargy ,which seems toi icrally to exist,und quicken the interest ? ve to this subject, they will have accomplisl ch, and will deserve the thanks of the pres and future generation." run LiGfiTNixG.?A Few Hiivts.?-It ma, well to encourage timid people who are re ously or constitutionally alarmed at light g, to state the doctrine of chances. As leral thing, the. lightning does not strik ,hin the space of a square mita more thai ;e a year. If the person is a rod distant, h ieldom if ever killed. Now there are 70,40 lare rods in a square mile, and if the light g struck rod after rod, it would take 15> irs to go over it; but it smites here am re, and that it will smite any special rod rc is not more than one chance to a hur d billion. \gain, other things being equal, the chanc linishes as it regards a low object, as th erence between the square of its height, am t of a lower; so that with a person six feel I a tree sixty feet, there is but one chanc "CU nf li<> nnrcnn'c Viniinr afriipt ' \J I UjUVTX VI VilV. ? -Juii U uvuig u*. VV. ? will go close to a tree, or in a house withou id, his danger is proportionally increased, ^gain, objects nou conductors when dry, be ne good codductors when wet. A dry sill brella, If not tipped with metallic substance I ward oft' the lightning; but if wet, nol t lighting rods for your houses and see t< bat the fastenings be much smaller than th? s?-that the rods enter the earth, and fea the "red artillery." t is well for persons who are naturallj id to get electrified a number of times. I ders them less elecric, and therefore less it iger. Finally, death by lightning is th< iest of all deaths. An electric shock enters arc instantly filled, and life is gone withou ang. "Ah! but the hereafter!" Well, liv< it here, and it will be all right with yoi re?if it must be so. Ii Do Not LaHor."?"I do not labor!' laimed a haughty aristocrat, as he turner eyes from a borrowed newspaper; and rest them upon a poor laborer who passed op ito his mansion. But that man forgot tha own father had labored long and wearily iccumulate the fortune that had desccude< 0 ungrateful a son. 1 do not labor I" said a gay young belle she laid down " the latest novel," anc rnfully viewed some industrious girls whr e then returning from their daily toil. Bu t thoughtless belle forgot that the leaves o book that had so interested her, were care p folded by those self-same girls, whos< y, but illy rewarded work it was. I do not labor," mused a drone, as it be I the never idle bee winging its way aboui garden, culling sweets from every flower sharnlv was stuner that drone, until it was jpelled to leave the hive where its exampli , despised. Ltid all, all who scornfully view the activity .heir fellows, and exclaim with contempt do not labor 1" are, as they have ofter n termed, " drones in the hive of nature.' 1 though cruel it might be considered t( srly ca6t them out of society, yet that thei ncss should be a source of pride, and com id tho respect of others, " is strange, ii sing strange." .''ho longer I live, the more I am certain tha great difference between men, the grea insignificant, is energy?invincible determi ion?an honest purpose once fixed?am n death or victory. That quality will d thing that can bo done in the world ; am alents, no circumstances, no opportunity wi! ke a two-legged creature a man without ii ~ General Urn t" V ~ e Corre*poiu!cnce of the 'Courier. . t WAsnix$to\,:April ,16. The calm in the ndministration-of the Geh?*:>r' >- ral Government will naturajly beextepde&bj^^**^ !- the-whole, surface of political affairs/.In,ihe e States. We see proofs of this on 1. Gov; Cobb, of Georgia, and Gov/ Koote^of - Mississippi,-have both agreed to -censjgn the' Y disagreements of 1-830, between "the " Undent ' a men and the State.Jlightsmen, to^fche tonilr - of oblivion. The President Is reioiced at tne accehfarfid* C " by Judge Hronsonr.of the- Collectorship vf ? New-York. .He ought to be pleased, for ? ' one of the best'sppoinfments be has made, in * every respect. Tbe f residedt and fl^e admhf' ' istration were;a little --disconcerted * Dickinson's rejection of thc eame*office. Ftis- ^ " easy co see that between Mr. Dickinson and Gov. Marcy, a deep gulf nowcxists. Tho Secretary of -the Treasury, Mn Guthrie r e is engaged in the investigation atad exposure of- > ' ? e public abuses, in his o>vn department ^ He bas *r-. n explored the recesses of political favoritism, * ^tablished under the late administration, and * 7. thinks be has fbund a . den CO rruptlon. It V may prove to lie -so', but, at present, it Jooks ? more iiko a mare's, nest. The Secretary lias ? authorised a strict investigation; into ttro/apb* - . 1 jecl of the transfer , of funds from trite 8db-3 Treasury to another, ordered under -the later " administration. It is alleged that these, were 0 not actual butdonstructive transfers, hnd'tftat they were used for the purpple of glrmg 'po-' > ^ litical, or, rather, financial,-, frienda; tTie/'i'ulf 8 benefit of the use of. the pubjipmpney in larger r amounts. It is alleged also .-tb'ac: large ..funds. * were taken out of the Stab-Treasury of l^ewYork, and deposited, without security, witttSn/ Y - , . dividuals in New-York .for the "professed pur--r 1 pose of purchasing U. S. stocks for.the. iGdv*1 ernmeht. It is not supposed tliat the" Govertiment has lost anymoriey by these transferors*'" agencies. .The stock market has been-con'' f gtantly on the rise until of late, and, iiV>reaf c estate, prices Jiave ySt suffered no check.>rThd. 0 Government \vill.get'its*own;-but'not with j; usury. t -The objection is to1, the principle of these , f transactions. - The-Government may corrupt ? individuals without defrauding the public. >. * ? The Sub Treasury system hasr-been under loose administration.r Mr. Guthrie will draw =. more-clearly-its rules and bonds. Any oner. 8 who will make a red cent out of his adminia- 0 tration of the Treasury^ in any way- but by j"- proper servicej and in strict conformity with law, will be a lucky fellow. "V : * '* TTie Secretary of the Treasury has deter?' mined to proceed at onco to the execution of *1 a. r it i.li.m 4 a., a Miu lid iur uie c?iami?innt;iii? ui uie jxsnuy uiy (ice in New York. It is settled that under the* > act, ingots issued from this office, shall be re-* t- ceivable for public dues, a Some interest is felt hero and elsewhere in 0 regard to the recent accounts of the discovery 1 and development of tnlnes of copper in Teue nessee, together with the statement that the 0 copper ore from these mines, can be trons^ - ported to Charleston, by rail roads now in pro0 gress, at the cost of eight dollars a ton only 1 for freight. If all the accounts as to this mat1, ter be true, its importance is very great. Copi per is in greater demand in the world nowthan it ever was, and its price is appreciating, while e that ot gold is depreciating. Yet, uotwith e standing the Lake Superior mines, nothing' is 3 more possible if these accounts be true, '^ist t, Charleston will be the great depot of the cope per trade. f 1 Spiritual Rapping.?In the Bouse of Representatives of Massachusetts on the 15th inst., an order was submitted directing the ? Committee on Education to .inquire into thcr S expediency of providing legal restraints against the mischief now perpetrated by the mummery > known as "Spiritual Rapping." It may apB pear to some people beneath the dignity of r legislative functions (says the Boston Courier) to bestow attention upon a folly so despicable' f as the charlatancy in question ; yet when folly t becomes the instrument and channel of grave' J mischief, we see not why the law-should hesi* 3 tate to interlere. If this pernicious foolery of <> " spiritual rapping" cannot bo prosecuted as* a1 t common nuisance?as it richly deserves to be? J or if the knaves who carry on the trade cannot1 1 be indicted for obtaining money on false pretences, it certainly does seem necessary tc provide new legal protection against this new , form of knavery and imposture. No fact is 1 clearer to the understanding of all men of . common sense, who havo taken the pains to . bestow the least attention upon the proceedings t of these " rappers," than that they are eom, posed of two classes of people, nan\ely??m1 posters who cheat, and dupes who ore cheated. . j This is a short-hand history of the whole con, cern. We have laws to punish gambling, and j? j laws which assign the House of Correction to ) " persons who use any juggling." Now the J t vile quackery in question is gambling and jugf gling at the same time, and both of the very . worst sort. If the evil cannot bfc reached by 5 existing laws, it is serious enough to call for ? new enaatment. t Rhode Island.?The revelations from Rhode . Island would seem to indicate that that State is 3 the most veDal of any in the Union. The late s election is alleged to have been carried by the * most shabtelcss bribery. The Providence Jourr nal, after stating that one man spent 14200 for , election purposes, goes on as follows: It T? t. ?1 it - ...? m A" imwiuw wwu, Kuonnne contest is always ^ close, a man who is an applicant for an appoiut) ment under the Government, bought a vote for r $25, and as he nor the venal wretch who took . his money would trust each other?they v^ero 3 pretty well acquainted?each took hold of the five five dollar bills by one end, and so marched to the ballot-box, and when the voter dropped t in the envelopes, the purchaser let go his bold of t the money. This was a shameless case, and was done in open town meeting, in the presence of 3 the voters on both sides." o d Land Warrants are scarce and in demand [1 in New York. The brokers are paying $163, t. $84 and $43 for them, J \ A I