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pipMPP!caam^fe!!^.i!v'.'rpegs8am r M.nimn THE MISSISSIPPI IN 1811. It was in tlic rear of 1811 and w ? 1812 that so many earthquakes occurred in the Southern and Western country, causing villages to tumble in ruins, an entire change in the face of the country, and a vast destruction of property. On the line of the Mississippi, particularly, one of these dreadful phenomena of nature occurred-in those years, which was distinctly felt ' in Si' Louis and caused much alarm touts inhabitants. An eye witness, who was on a flatboat at the time, on his way to New Orleans with a load af produce, and afterward returned to St.. Louis, described the. scene a3 heart-rending and filled every living creature with horror. His boat at the time was ^bout forty miles below New Madrid. .' The .first shock took place in the night of December 16,1811, while the boat was lyfhg at the shore, in company with' several others. At this period there was danger apprehended from the Southern Indians, it being soon after the battle of Tippecanoe, apd, for safety, several boats kept in company for their mutual defence in Case of an attack. In the middle of the'night there was a terrible shock and jarring of" the boats, so that the Crews all awakened and hurried on .deck with their weapons of defence in their hands, thinking the Indians were rushing on board. The ducks, geese, a id various other aquatic birds, whose numberless flecks were quietly resting Jh the eddies of the river, were thrown 1^6 the greatest tumult, and with screams expressed their alarm iOcceiits of terror. The noise and commotion soon became hushed and nothing could be discovered to excite apprhension, so that the boatmen concluded that the shock was occasioned by the falling in of a large mass of the.bank of the river near them. As sb'on as there was hght enough to distinguish objects, the crew were all up idiaking preparations to depart.? Directly a loud roaring and hissing Mi's beard, like the escape of steam "fr'dm. a boiler, accompanied by the most violent agitation of the shores, A uild . tremendous boilintr un of the Voters of the Mississippi, in huge swellsj rolling* the water and''tossing th6' 'boats so violently that the men could, with dificulty, keep their feet. The sand-bars and points of the island gave way, swallowed up in the tumultuous bosom of the river, carrying down with them cotton-wood trees, cracking and crashing, tossing their arms to and fro, as if sensible of their danger, while they disappeared beneath the flood. The water of the river which the day before was tolerably clear, being rather low, changed to a reddish hue and became thick hy the agitation of the earth beneath, was covered with foam, which, gathering into masses the size of a barrel, floated along on the trembling surface. The earth on the shores opened in wide fissures, and, closing agrin, threw the water, sand and mud in high jets higher then the tops of the trees. The atmosphere was filled with a thick vapor or gas, to which the light imparted a purple tinge altogether different in appearance from the autumnal haze of the Indian summer, or that of smoke. From the temporary check to the current, by the heaving up of the bottom, the sinking of the banks and sand-bars into the bed of the stream, the river rose in a few minutes five or six feet, and impatient of the restraint again rushed foward with redoubled impetuosity, hurrying along the boats now let loose by the horror-struck boatmen, as in less danger in the water than at the shore, where the banks threatened every moment to destroy them by the falling earth, or carry them down in the vortices of the sinking masses. i x i i j * al:_ ruany Duais were overwneimeu in uns manner, and their crews perished with them. It requred the utmost exertions of the men to keep the boats in the middle of the river, as far from the shores, and sand-bars, and islands, as they could. Numerous boats were wrecked on the snags and old trees thrown up from the bottom of the Mississippi, where they had quietly rested for ages; while others were sunk or stranded on the sand-bars and islands. At New Madrid, several boats ^wero carried, by the reflux of the current, into a small stream that puts into the river just above the town, and-left on the ground by the returning waters a considerable distance from the Mississippi. The sulphurated gases that were discharged during the shocks tainted the air, and go strongly impregnated the waters of the river, to the distance of 150 miles below, that it could hardly be used for any purpose/or several days. New, Madrid, which stood upon a bluff fifte.en or twenty feet above the summer floods, sunk so low that the next rise covered it to the depth of five feet.?St. Louis Dispatch. ^*? ^The Montgomery Advertiser says that the arrangements made for building the.road from Montgomery to Selma are such as to ensure its early . completion. Tiie Defeat of tiie Mililtary Satrapy Bill.?By reference to our telegraphic columns, it will bo seen that the bill for reducing the South to the condition.of territorial districts, under the command of military officers, has failed, and is absolutely negatived for this Congressional session. TJic bill was introduced in the J House by Mr. Williams, of Pennsylvania, and was referred to the Committee ori Reconstruction. It was reported on favorably by Mr. Stevens, from that committee, and was passed by the House in substantially the same form as when introduced. When sent to the Senate, Mr. Sherman, of Ohio, proposed a substitute for the bill which was finally adopted. The substitute was then returned to the House for concurrence; and, when that body refused, on yesterday, to concur, a Committeo of Conference was requested in the customary man ner. This the Benate reiuseu 10 gram; but, bad they acceded to the request, the result would, in effect, have been the same. Only twelve days now remain before the expiration of the term of the present Congress; so that, unless the Committee of Conference could have reconclied the differences between the Senate and House by this evening, the President would not have been compelled either to approve the bill, to veto it, or to allow it to pass by default, as the Constitution declares ; "If any bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days, Sundays excepted, after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it, v oil ess the Congress by their adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a la^v.,, Stevens and his supporters will not, however, give up their plans. ' They will attempt to carry them out immediately after the opening of the next Congress; but it is hoped that there will be a sufficient moderation and conservatism in the Senate to defeat once more a measure which, while it places the South under the control oi irresponsible military commanders, is o a wnl] (if illf 1I1U11 uuiij aiiuuii} uo uu ?.*?? liberties and security of the North err and Western States. Charleston Mercury. Anti-Emigration.?The colorcc people of Charlotte, N. C., have hole a meeting and adopted the following very sensible resolutions: 1. Resolved, That he hold it to b< the duty of every good citizen to giv< his aid to the development of the re sources of his native State. 2. Resolved, That we protest agains the furnishing of transportation, a the expense of the Government,i< remove labor from where it is needed to forward the interest of speculator: who come here and pay a bonus o from $15 to $20 per head to runners to induce hands to leave their cm ployment, or refuse to make con tracts at heme, and then deceive tin Government by representing that tin people arc suffering for want of workthat they may obtain transportation I 3. Resolved, That we form our selves into an anti-emigration league and that we invite the co-operation o farmers and others favorable to tin course. 4. Resolved, That r copy of thesi resolutions bo sent to General 0. 0 Howard, Superintedent of the Freed men's Bureau; and that they b< published in the city p; x,crs. ? ' A Great Mistake.?We now am then, says the Louisville Courier, sei expressions which imply that the Soutl alone is to be affected by the yariou: schemes of reconsti uction, and accord ingly, that she should be allowed t< make up her mind iu the case frei from the influence of discussion else where. This is a^great mistake. Tin whole country is to be affected by thi overthrow of the equality of the State: which the various schemes of recon struction equally involve, while Mary land and Kentucky and Missouri an( Tennessee are to be affected also bj the immediate sacrifices which th< T* i? il schemes impose. Jivery cuzen 01 mi country, no matter where he dwells is deeply interested in the rejectioi of these schemes by the South, and if he is sensible of his own interest h bound to exert himself to secure Iheii rejection. The exertion is not ar impertinence or a liberty but a duty, lie cannot neglect it without culpaI bility. A Sad Blow.?A party of negroes whilst digging on a plantation near Vicksbuvg, struck an old bomb-shell. A discussion arose as to whether the ; powder was still good. "Tell you it is," said one. "Tell you it aint," said another. "I'm blowcd if it is," said a third, as he put it in the fire by way of test. A terrific explosion took place, and No. 3 was blow'd if it wasn't. The poor fellow lost one arm, and was so terribly burned about the head that lie is not expccte.d to outlive the Frecdmcn's Bureau. aeamogta tomb " ? ebb i i ?wwwii hi ? Foreign Emigration.?As was stated in a" former communication, Ilis Excellency the Governor he appointed Gen. Wagener of Charleston, the Commissioner of Emigration, and that gentleman will doubtless enter upon the discharge of his duties at once. There is rfo officer of the State who is now invested with graver responsibilities or who possesses the power of making himself felt in every household, more than the Commission,cr of Emigration. Much, however, depends upon the manifestation of! the influences that may be brought, to bear upon both the planter and the emigrant, to create that reciprocal interest which is essential to the success of the undertaking. On the one hand, it will become the duty of General Wagener to prepare publications in various languages which shall embody facts that are attractive to the emigrant, and will dispose his mind to seek the fertile fields of the South where a market is at his door, in ^? - A- <* t\ nnrl /1iatnr?f . preference to me ui~uu<i i?uu uiou>m> praries of the West; and by his agents to cause these to be circulated, if practicable, not alone in the interior of Europe, but on every ship which leaves a foreign port freighted with those who are to cast thoir lot1 in thefuturj with the people of theNew World. It will be his task also to counteract theinfluenoes of more powerful rivals from the North and West; to provide, if necessary, free transportation across the ocean, and to offer inducements that will prevail. On the other hand, the inhabitants i of the State must second the efforts of the Commissioner. Without their cooperation, his office will be fruitless. They must enable him to declare at : home and abroad, what is the will and ability of the State with reference to the foreign emigrant, To this end, meetings ought to be held at once in every Court House, at which, tbeplan; tors shall unite in offering lands, facili> ties and employment to the stranger I upon our shores. ' That community in South Carolina t which takes the lead in this movef ment, and shows the largest amount ' of publice spirit, will soonest reap the J benefit. It is all important that ac1 tion shall be taken at once, for time is short, the appropriation is small, and Gen. Wagoner desires to proceed with his duties at the earliest possible 1 moment.?South Carolinian. r The Mexican Situation.?The 3 Mexican correspondents of the New York papers give full particulars of 2 'the condition of political and military 2 affairs in Mexico, up to the 3d instant; and, although their statements must be taken with due allowance, they 1 may enable ."outer barbarians" to t form an idea of what is actually oc3 curring-in that land of rival claims > and interested patriotism. p It is certain that the French expeditionary force is being sent homo, ' and it was expected that the last mar would be shipped before the first oi 2 March. French residents who may ~ desire to do so, arc permitted to return to Europe in the troop-ships. ' but Bazaine announces that all ] Frcnclimen who join cither Mexican arm}r will be denationalized. Baj zaixe is apparently more a friend o1 , Juarez than of Maximilian, and it is fortunate for the Emperior that his 0 scheming interference will soon be at an end, Whether the Emperor Maximil3 ian will beable to maintain his ground after the departure of the French; cannot with certainty be predicted; j although there is every probability ol a his immediate departure. It is said 1 that he was shipping to Europe, 01 g disposing of, all his personal property; but, on theothcr hand, both Marquk2 3 and MiramoN are carrying on a series a of military movements against the ? Juarists, which promise to be attended ^ with success. There seems to be nc ~\Ttt* * *rA\T /InurArt r\ Q UUUUl lllUt i.UIlVAj.UUA UU.3 UIIVCII i/uv j Liberals in confusion from Zacatecas, and there is a probability that he has captured Juarez himself; but then it j is contended that the chiefs who ad. here to the Empire are, by their forced 3 loans and impressments, setting the I minds of the people against them, and that their desertion of their levies will j soon compel them to seek safety in flight. It is also said that popular ^ opinion was becoming unanimous in . favor of a liberal native Government; ( but it is well known that "popular opinion", in Mexico is not w.orth a straw, except as an expression of belief that this or that party has gained for a time the ascendancy, j Juarez has forbidden all trafiic between the Republic of Mexico and the powers of Europe which recog, nizes Maximilian, and is practicing all the airs and gracc3 which dictators known so well how to assume. In the meanwhile Maximilian has not yet left Mexico; and it is absolutely certain that lie will, in his every act, be guided by an earnest desire to do the best -in his power for his tottering i Empire, lie is, perhaps, the only | I entirely unselfish and disinterested I I pian who for half a ccrtury has been I V a6ag>gg?G bps nf^.;-..7Tc at thehaad of Mexican affairs; and whatever the success lie' may meet with, he must bo accorded the credit due to a man who has striven conscientiously to fulfil every obligation which he had accepted, or which had devolved^ upon him. He is a pure , minded and cultivated gentleman, but' he is not a man of any vigor or force I of character, and certainly not the ' man to rule turbulent Mexico. ' There is no doubt that the whole scheme of establishing an Imperial Government in Mexico was based by j the Emperor Napoleon upon .the as-! sumption that the Confederate States i would succeed in establishing, their ' independence. When the Confederacy fell, the Imperial scheme fell with it. The Emperor Napoleon had it in his power to ensure the stability of Maximilian's Empire. He neglected the opportunities given to him; and, as a consequence, his Mexican policy has entirely and absolutely failed.?Charleston Mercury. flrn?T?v VrrTnrjTA Pimv!?>a Wfnre received from England confirm melancholy rumors which have long been in circulation respecting the state of mind af the Queen. Insanity is, as is well known, always lurking in the Guelph blood, and'none can tell what calamity, physical or other, may at any time urge it into activity. There have been several occasions when it has been supposed that the critical moment was imminent, and thatthc regal function must needs be relegated, temporarily at least, to a regency. Happily, in each instance, so far, her Majesty has rallied, and the terrible necessity has receded. Those, however, who know most of the case, are of the opinion that the postponement can never be expected to be permanent, and that an attack may come at any moment which, lucid intervals, perhaps, as in case of George III., may attend Victoria to her grave. The Prince of Wales is now quite mature enough to be trusted with such reins of government as English sovereigns are permitted to handle, but he is still thought rather wild, we hear. Possibly, as in the case oi Harry Monmouth of old, the pressure of a great occasion may make hi: reputed good qualities shine forth the more conspicuously. For the sake of the British nation, of .which Albert Edward is.the hope, we earnestly hope that such may be the case. . From Mextco.?The Vera Cruz f\: Vni'l* mrnlrl Wli Vi A'VM A V?*? ...... says: "Maximilian trill leave the Oi ty of Mexico immediately, or has already ; left, for a point from whence ho v/ii embark for Europe. The French an i continuing the preparations for embar kation, and look for the arrival of i > large fleet of transports. Porfirit Diaz is to occupy the City of I\Icxic? . after its-evacuation by Marshal Ba zaine, and he is now approaching thi t capital. Marqucz wants money, an( p demands sixty thousand dollars fron r the Mexican merchants of Vera Cruz . That Prefect suggests that American English, and other merchants b< levied upon as well as Mexicans l Miramon and Marqucz will i?c oblig . td to leave the country." War, Inevitable.?The Courier 7 T'-i - T 4 1, r\ t?i?ar./.li r\nr\nf it ' lies jC.*nil> <_ /US) UJC AH.in.il j.uj/v.1 41 ' New York, has a long article favor ing the idea of a general Europeai war. Wc translate the opening para graph, as follows: I "It has been seen, by several pre : reding articles, that we consider ai . European war, at*a period more oi ' less distant, as inevitable. Unlesi ! France has lost all interest of he; ' dignity and her interests, Franci > must be drawn into it. It is probabh that the explosion of a struggle evcrj 1 one foresees will not occur with th< 1 year just commenced. The Frencl Government will leave nothing un done to prevent universal Expositior ?with which so many interests ar< - concerned?from being troubled b} European disorders. No doubt othej /lAnnfiMnc HVa Russia and Prussia 1 might make a commencement, attack ing us before we were prcparod; bui they tlycmselves have not attained the degree of strength they bclicv( necessary to cope with us and unless unforeseen events occur, we may consider peace certain for the year; if wc may give the name of peace to a feverish' state of things that is ruin tc the people, and which scatters everywhere well-founded anxieties." Chief Justice "Walker, of the Supreme Court of Arkansas, delivered an opinion on the 9th inst., declaring the acts of all Legislatures, and judgements of courts, since the ordinance of secession was passed, to he valid and binding, except in cases where they were in conflict with the Constitution and laws of the United States. The court reversed an order of an inferior court quashing an execution issued since the surrender, upon ! a judgement rendered after the secession of the State. cv? saac Jit 'i'l-'jvf i:. jxzmu T HE JOURNAL" Thiir?(liiy, Fc5)iuarj 28, 1867. The Radical Ultimatum. Our exchanges give us the result of the long and labored discussions of Congress upon the question of tho future position of tho South. " The "Rebel States" are divided into districts, <o be under officers of the army selected by the President. The commanding officer is required to protect persons and properly, to suppress insurrection and disorder, and to punish all disturbers of the peace and criminals. He may allow local tribunals to exercise jurisdic: tion in these matteis, or may organize military tribunals for that purpose, and no interference with them by color of State authority shall be permitted. Inother words, the officer in command shall have the supreme authority over the district1 under his charge, without i a * ? ai :?i ; appeal except in mo tsnigio otuso ua ^a^ital conviction, when the approval of the President before execution is necessary. In all other matters, civil and criminal, the jurisdiction of the tribunals which he entrusts with the administration of justice is supreme. The preamble of the act recites that no legal State government exists in the rebel States. If that be the true statues of South Carolina, it would be difficult to say what law the people of this military district are under. All the laws enacted since December 20, I860, would be null and void, because not enacted by legal authority. The laws of force would be those of the State previous to secession, or none. .What "local or civil tribunals" exist here, to which the officer commanding may entrust the punishment of offenders under this act, if there be no legal State governments? There can be no ??enco, if there be no law, and there can be no law in'a State, or a District once a State . of this confederacy, if there be no legal ?tnto government. But though not a legal State govern: ment, " it seems that- our present ma^ ! chinery oflaw, with its Legislative, Ex1 ecutive and Judicial departments, are 1 invested by the act with a sort of pseudo | authority, and are to be deemed "provisional only,'' and subject in all respects to the paramount authority of the United States, to abolish, modify, qon; trol and supersede the same." In all ( elections, to any office under such gov' ernment, the qualifications of voters r are such as are established by the fifth ' section of this actl That is to say, all * males resident in tlio Stalo one yeai previous to such election, are entitled ^ to vote, except such as may bedisfrang chised for participation in the rebellion, _ or for participation in the rebellion, 01 e for felony at common law '' "Who is tc 1 declare tko disability provided for in n this exception, dotli not appear. Bui the feature of the act which seems to be ' regarded as most conservative, and " tending most to re-construction with its attendant blessings, is hit which prescribes the conditions upon which restoration may become possiblo. They . are very numerous and carefully guard^ od, but may be summed up thus That where any of said military districts shall have performed every acl 1 which can degrade the poople thereof; " such distriot mqy be admitted as s State, if Congress shall, in mercy, see . fit to grant her petition for that pnri pose. r As Congress has now that power, oi 3 has assumd it, and as we are decidedly r averse to any unnecessary d^grada* tion, wo are for a good long trial of the "T condition of military tyranny, and illei j*al and subordinate provisional State ! governments, before we, by any act ol . ours, accept the degrading alternatives l of this act. The most melancholy cirJ cumstanco connected with the passage r of this bill in the Senate, is the facl L* that the venerable, able and patrotic ' Senator from Maryland, Mr. Eevordy t Johnson, by an anti-clemax to the tenoi I of his whole political career, voted foi , it. Mr. Jonxsox never realized the 5 shame of the act until his hand was warmly pressed by the Senator from i Massachusetts, and ho received the thanks and congratulations of those 1 whose milder measures he had so constantly and ably combatted. lie said he was opposed to the bill, but acqucisced in the will of the majority, I because ho believed that it would end . j in a comparatively short timo in the . j restoration of the Southern States "to ; the brotherhood of States." Yes, it ; tends to restoration as Sherman's raid tended to peace. The radicals seek to | destroy the Southern people, and*then to restore the Southern States to tho brotherhood of States, and Mr. Joiixsox helps them to recouiplish tho iirst, that they may the sooner reach the haven of i restoration. We pity tho brotherhood \ composed ef suc!i States as these wil? be when they come in under the scheiri# here presented. "0, Judgment, thou li?gt Ce 1 to brutieh beasts,And men have lost their reason " The impression' seems to be generat in "Washington that the President willveto the bill. ' nf We annex the hill as it passed thfr Senate. It is entitled an "Act to provide for the more efficient government/ of the rebel States: Whereas no legal State govern-" . ? mcnts or adequate protectionifor life* or property now exists In the "rebelStates of Virginia, North* Corolina, South Carolina, (Jeorgia,''Mississippi,; Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Texas' and Arkansas ; and whereas it is necessary that peace and good order should be enforced in said States until loyal and Ilepublican. State governments can be legally ; established: tbprpfnrp. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States cf-America in Congress assembled, That said. rebel .States shall be divided^tomiiitarTOTBtricts and made subject;td the military authority of the United States, aaiereinafter prescribed, and for that (purpose Virginia shall constitute the first district; North Carolina and Carolina the second district; Georgia * Alabama and Florida the third district; Mississppi ar.d Arkansas the fourth district, and 'Louisiana'anil Texas'the fifth district. J Sec. 2. And be it further enacted\ That it shall betheduty of the Resident to assign to the command of each of said districts an officer of theajmj? not below the rank of brigadier-general, and to detail a sufficient military force to enable such officer to perform his duties and enforce hir juithqrity <' within the district to wl ich he'is assigned. - ' .' Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of each, officer assigned as aforesaid to , protecfc ajl persons in their rights of person and property, to suppress1 insurrection,, . disorder, and violence, and topuniBli / or cause to be punished, all distur- . bers of the public peace and fb this end he may allow local civil tribunals lo take jurisdiction of and to try offenders, or, when in his judgment it may be necessary for thc trip,!' of offenders, he shall have power'tborganize military commissions ori' tri O V . ?? V ,'| bunals for that purpose; and ference under color of State authority with the exercise of imlitary'.au, thority under this act shall "be null: and void. " ; , Sec. 4 .And be it further enacted, xhat all persons put under military arrest by virtue of this act shall bb tried without unnecessary delay, and no cruel or \ nusual punishment shall , be inflicted; and no sentence of ppiy military commission or tribunal hcrei by authorized, affecting the life or l liberty of any person, shall be e.xecu. ted until it is approved by the officer in command of tie district, and the laws and regulations for the government of the army shall not be affected by this act, except in so far as they conflict with its provisions; Provided, That Tio sentence cf death under the/ ' provisions of this act shall be carried into effect without the approval of tlm . President. * Sec. 5. And he it further enacted, . That -when the people of any one of said rebel States shall have formed a constitution of government in conformity -with the Constitution of the United ! States in all respects,' framed by a ' convention of delegates elected by the male citizens of said State twenty one years old and upward, of whatr ever race, color, or previous condition, . who have been resident in said Stat?' for one year previous to the day < f such election, except such as may be disfranchised for participation in thu p rebellion or for felony at common lawr ' and when such constitution shall pro! vide that the elective franchise shall . be enjoyed by all such persons as i have the qualifications herein stated . ; for election of delegates, and' when > such constitution shall be ratified by a majority of the persons voting on . the question of ratification, who are qualified as electors for delegates, and when such constitutions shall havebeen submitted to Congress for exami! nation and approval, and Congress L shall have approved the same, and i when said State, by a vote of its Leg-, i, islature elected under said constitution, shall have adopted the amendr j ment to the Constitution of the United! States, proposed by the Thirty-Ninth' Congress, and known as article four-v teen, and when said article shall have \ become a part of the Constitution of' 1 the U. S., said State shall be declared, 1 entitled to representation in Congress' and Senators and Representatives shall be admitted therefrom on tb^ir taking the oath prescribed by law,' and then and thereafter tjie preecdin^ sections of this hill shall be inoperative in said State: Provided, That no person excluded from the privilege <f? holding office by said proposed aniendI ment to fhc Constitutson of the Uijited ' States shall be eligible to election as*