The Semi-Weekly Journal. (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 102, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 23, 1851 Page: 2 of 4
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: San Jacinto Museum of History Newspaper Collection and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the San Jacinto Museum of History.
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.
K\)t $oumsl.
THURSDAY, JAN. 23, 1851.
Jfl^At the meeting held last Sunday in
behalf of the American Sunday School Un-
ion, some ladys’ finger rings, pencil cases and
chains of gold were dropped into the contribu-
tion box. The giver of course is unknown,
but we would walk twenty miles to see the
hand that was directed by a heart so full of
philantrophy as to surrender the glittering
ornaments for the consciousness of having
done a good deed. In this world of ours
where the most sordid dispositions and obdu-
rate selfishness so frequently prevails, an act
of (his kind comes with a refreshing grace, for
it teJIs that there is one heart that feels for the
human race.
The Trinity River was rising slowly on
the 18th inst.—so saysa letter from one of our
merchants, then at Cincinnati, Walker couuty.
The river was some twenty or twenty-five
feet above low water mark. The steamer
Jack Hays passed Cincinnati, on her passage
up, on the 16th inst.. and was expected down
on the 25th. There is large quantities of cot-
ton on the banks of the river ready for ship-
ment.
Memorial to Congress for the remov-
al of the Obstruction to Navigation at
the Mouth of the Trinity River.---A
memorial to the U. S. Congress asking an ap-
propAtion for the removal of the bar at the
rnuu If of the Trinty- river, is now at the Tre-
mont'House for signatures. We are aware
that our citizens are fully alive to the impor-
tance of this matter. The subject has already
been laid before the General Government
and we are assured that a favorable disposi-
tion exists to further it. Our entire delegation
will certainly do their utmost towards it, and
our esteemed fellow-citizen, Capt. J. G. Tod,
now at Washington city, who is familiar with
our bay and the improvements necessary, has
promised his efficient services in laying before
the proper department such facts, in detail, as
may be necessary to a full understanding of
our wants. All that is now necessary on the
part of our citizens is to manifest their earnest-
ness in the matter, which we trust they will
do, to a man.
We would inquire too, if Gen. Taylor had
remained as he was authorized to do, by the
administration of President Polk on the Nue-
ces. if the war (with Mexico) would have been
commenced ?—Houston Telegraph.
Then, it was not to the Polk administration
that Texas was indebted for the defence of
her soil from the outermost border. If the
war had been avoided in the way spoken of,
which was hardly possible, the conditions would
probably have been the surrender of the coun-
try West of the Nueces to Mexico, but because
Taylor whipped the enemy on the threshold,
he was all wrong and Mr. Polk all right.—
The logic of some of our democratic cotem-
poraries is at times based on premises as sin-
gular as their political platforms.
The steamer Gen. Rusk arrived at
Sabine about ten days since. She is a new
boat, built expressly for the navigation of the
Sabine river, and is highly spoken of.
It is one of the best evidences of the pro-
gress of our State, and a good guarantee for
the successful navigation of our rivers, that the
class of boats now brought to Texas are so
much superior to those formerly in use.
Colorado Raft.—A gang of twenty or
thirty negroes, under Mr. W. Ward, have
been engaged by the Colorado Navigation
Company, and are probably at work, by this
time, on the raft—the great obstacle to the
navigation of that beautiful river.
EUIf* The Houston Telegraph states, as a
singular fact, that since persons have quit
bringing oysters to that city every appearance
of cholera and diseases resembling it have
vanished.
Texas Debt.
* * * It’s all very well for those to talk
about an overflowing treasury, who have not
been compelled to pay the ‘scot,5 but when
we reflect on the irreparable sacrifices made
by the State, and that too partly through the
instrumentality of a horde of cormorant ‘ mo-
ney changers,5 the preachings of honesty and
honor are ill-timed to the occasion.—Matagor-
da Tribune.
The above paragraph is in reply to some
very just remarks in the New Orleans Pica-
yune. It is a new doctrine, and one of a
rather startling character, that “preachings
of honesty and honor are ill-timed55 to any
occasion. It is time to pause and reflect on
what we are doing, when the public press an-
nounces that we must leave honor and hon-
esty aside. It were a poor satisfaction for a
sovereign State to revenge itself on “ a horde
of cormorant ‘ money changers 5 55 and leave
the stamp of dishonor and dishonesty on her
escutcheon, to disgrace her fair name through-
out all future time.
We have but recently given the subject of
our State debt some little consideration, and
we now regret that we had not done so at an
earlier period. We believe it to be a fact
that those who were in favor of the scaling of
our liabilities did not intend any wrong; and
there are a few arguments in favor of the plan
which, at first sight, give it the appearance of
even-handed justice ; but they are altogether
outwmighed by other and more cogent reasons,
involving no less the honor than the future
prosperity of our State. The rules that go-
vern men in the affairs of life, lose none of
their force when applied to States. It is not
denied that Texas borrowed money and
pledged herself to pay, in return, larger
amounts than she received. It is not urged
that there was any deception about the terms
and conditions of the loans. The lenders
risked their investments on the success of her
revolution, and Texas was well satisfied with
the rates of discount at which her paper sold
—at least we are to presume so, for if other-
wise, then was the time to have objected to
the terms. But no ; money was all important
to her, and she took the best terms she could
get. Can Texas now violate her plighted
faith to those creditors ? On this point rests
the right or wrong of the system of scaling
the public debt.
We have heard it often stated that there
were but two opinions held by the people of
Texas on the subject of her debt-one that
she should repudiate the whole, and the other
that she should repudiate in part, and compel
her creditors to take the amounts she received.
If this is the sentiment of Texans we regret
it; but we will be excused for doubting its ex-
istence to the extent described, because we
have too high an opinion of the intelligence
and moral honesty of our citizens, and believe
them to be too well experienced in business
and political matters, to countenance the odi-
ous doctrine of repudiation.
The minds of honest men may be led to
hesitate in regard to the payment of the pub-
lic debt, in view of the largeness ot the amount
or of some cherished scheme of public educa-
tion or internal improvement, to which they
are anxious to apply a portion of the public
funds. The principle of right should not be
required to yield to matters of expediency.
Notes of Decisions in the Supreme Ourt, at
Galveston, January Term, j8«l»
HoboeT A*". I Fr°m GmzaU'
Opinion by Judre Libscomb.—The Ap-
pellee published noice in the usu Morin, that
at the next term oi‘ the Probatf Court he
would move for coifirmation of U final ac-
count, and for his diicharge. Tb Appelant
then filed his petition in the Pnoate Court,
setting forth that he had a clair against the
estate, which had beer, duly presented to, and
approved by, the Admiristrat/ and Judge of
Probate, and praying flat tty final account of
the Adminstrator (the \ppllee) should not
be confirmed &c., until Applant’s claim was
paid. The hearing of this petition was, by
order, duly entered on -ecod, continued until
the next term of the Com On a future day
of the same term, the Jude of Probate made
an order confirming ihe^ppellee’s account,
and closing the administriion. Nevertheless,
the petition of the Apptent was continued
from term to term for se/ral terms, by con-
tinuances regularly entied. Finally the pe-
tition was allowed, in sifar as to order the
payment of a less amcflt than was claimed
by the Appellant, and ad been approved.—
From this judgment fie claimant appealed
to the District Court. Held, That the appeal
was improperly disifesed by the District
Court; it was not intfubent on the Appel-
lant, under the circuptances, to appeal from
the order of the Pioate Court, confirming
the Appellee’s finaliccount and closing the
administration.
The approval of creditor’s claim, by the
Judge of Probate, ift judgment on that, claim,
and cannot, so far: the creditor is concerned,
be questioned, at; subsequent term, in the
Probate Court.
It seems to be c/templated by the Probate
law, that controveed facts, as to the indebt-
edness of an esta, should not be tried in the
Probate Court; rid therefore, where an im-
proper claim haseen admitted through igno-
rance or fraud, ti remedy of the Acministra
tor is by suit in /e District Court.
DAEdga^ tV< \Fr0m Vktoria-
SUIT FOR VLUE OF WORK DONE.
Answer dering all and singular, &c., pay-
ment and set b
The eviderr as to the value of the work
was conflicting the witnesses of the plaintiff’
swearing thefork was well done, but that
the material&irnished by the defendant were
bad; the wiftsses of the defendant swearing
the work waworthless. There was no proof
of the set ofhor of payment. Evidence of
the extent othe injury sustained by the de-
fendant by ason of the unworkmanlike ex
ecution of tl work, was excluded by the Dis-
trict Judge. Verdict for plaintiff. Motion for
new trial tfrruled. Defendant appealed.
Opinion]) Judge Lipscomb.—In a suit
for the vafi of work, where defendant mere-
ly pleads fit the work was unskilfully exe-
cuted, byeason whereof he suffered great
injury, edence of the extent of such injury
cannot beeceived. It is otherwise where the
defendanpleads the injury in reconvention,
as aderrnd against the plaintiff.
In th absence of a special contract, the
verdict muld be for the actual value of the
work!
If a erdict be contrary to the evidence, or
withouevidence, it should beset aside; but
if thet be evidence enough to support the
verdic it should not be set aside, notwith-
standig such evidence be opposed by contra-
diclo/ evidence in behalf of the other party.
The Papal Storm in England.—We
t;«e the following from the New York Her-
d •
Since the commencementof the Papal storm
Jpthing seems to have given such general sat-
Texas should be just before she is generous, paction as the Queen’s answer to the address
and while we are most earnest in our desires presented to her at Windsor Castle on Tues-
for the encouragement of education, it should,3^ ' Lord John Russell is represented to
be remembered .ha, there ie an inflexibly
honor and honesty that will not bend, and No wonder. Pie must have been meditating
upon the effect of the words which he had put
into her Majesty’s mouth, and which were
Sd* There were but seventy deaths in
Houston for the year 1850. Taking the po-
pulation at three thousand, which we believe
is less than the actual number, the mortality
is below the average in Northern cities.
lid* The citizens of Richmond, Fort Bend
County, have resolved on establishing an
Academy at that place.
Ed* Counterfeit bills on the Northern
Bank of Mississippi are said to be in circula-
tion in this State.
From Santa Fe.—Thomas D. Russell, a
lerchant from Santa Fe, arrived here on
Monday, the 15th inst, direct from New Mexi-
co, by the way of El Paso, making the trip
Irom the latter place to San Antonin in eigh-
teen days. Pie furnished us with the follow-
Jg item of news:
[The 4th and 5th of December were coldest
lys ever felt at Santa Fe in the recollection of
le oldest inhabitants. Five teamsters in the
iploy of Waldo, Hall & Co., perished from
^e effect of cold within six miles of town. All
jttle, hogs, and poultry exposed to the
feather were frozen to death. Snow lay on
fie ground two feet deep.
| Professor Bartlett, the United States bound-
Ly commissioner, arrived at El Paso on the
7th of December. He was still there when
[r. Russell left.
On his way from El Paso he met the go-
ftrnraent provision train at the Painted Camp,
[1 progressing well. Captain U. P. Wake-
in, wagon-master of the train, was killed by
,ptain Dobbins at the Limpia ; he survived
hiys after being shot.—State Gazette.
oassenger who was on board the United
Fs mail steamer Ohio, during her late per-
rip from Havana to Norfolk, informs us,
je Baltimore American, that the ship’s
iafforded no efficient aid in relieving
the water in her hold. He says the’j
ll instruments used for that purpose
buckets by which the ashes are
[rom the hold, a height of over fifty
"hey were of the capacity of thirty
Land with these, our informant says,
^V^lhSLKed so promptly and stead-
' ■nghf3 that the aggregate was
Quantity sufficient to have sunk
broken neither subsequent amends nor th
long lapse of years, can heal the wound t
obliterate the stigma.
We intend hereafter to give our reas<s
why Texas should pay her obligations in fl,
as a matter of policy; and also to show frt
she is morally and legally bound to do s—
That she is able to do so we firmly beffe,
and in a manner that will advantage affhe
parties concerned. She has yet a vast pUlic
domain that will one day, if properlyian-
aged, bring a large amount into her tre.ury,
and she has ten millions in U. S. bonds
One of the most deserving creditors (Tex-
as, who is now in this city, proposes tit the
whole of this $10,000,000 should be vested
in internal improvements, so arrancd that
while the creditors would be paid th^by, in
full, or as far as it will go, every cer of this
amount would be spent within the^tate.—
The plan might be somewhat as folios: The
creditor to select one, or several bartered
companies; say, either canal, railrcd, steam-
boat, or other joint stock companieAnd in ac-
cordance with his choice the Stafto invest
in such stocks money to the apunt of his
claim ; the investment either to e made in
the name of the creditor, or thptock after-
wards transferred to him in liquafion of his
demand. The money would th* be secured
to the Works contemplated, and I experience
teaches that public works are fist successful
in individual hands; so that thiplan of inter-
nal improvements, besides beif mosteligible,
is also evidently the best.
The proposition is an exiedingly liberal
one, and coming from a gei*eman who has
the strongest claim of any oithe list of credi-
tors, will have an influence ith the others.
soon to be diffused wherever the English lan-
guage was spoken. He. has succeeded admir-
ably, and may fairly lay claim to more than
the wisdom of the Sypil. The tone of the
Queen’s answer is grave and dignified, but it
is impossible to tell what it foreshadows. Her
Majesty’s Protestantism has never been ques-
tioned, and her determination to uphold the
Protestant faith, and to maintain it against any
danger with which it may be threatened, from
whatever quarter it may proceed, was spoken
right royally, and as become the sovereign of
an empire on which the sun never sets. But
her Majesty congratulates the Lord Mayor
and the Aldermen on their attachment to the
great principles of civil and religious liberty ;
and in her address to the Common Council she
speaks warmly of their tried and constant ad-
vocacy of the equal enjoyment of civil
rights by all classes. These sentiments indi-
cate no return to penal laws to put down the
aggression ; they indicate, on the contrary,
that moral and not legal power is the only
weapon with which to meet the enemy. The
clear admission seems to be made that every
class has a right to civil and religious freedom
so long as it does not attempt to interfere with
the civil and religious freedom of others ; but
the best proof of the consumate tact with
which these addresses have been composed is
to be seen in their relative effects on the trade
and capital of the country. In Dublin the
satisfaction at the answer appears to be quite
as great as in London or Edinburg.
The English cabinet are decided upon the
Romish question, says the Liverpool Mail. The
London Chronicle is indignant at the non-com-
mittal tone ot the Queen’s replies to the va-
rious addresses on the Catholic question.
ECj3 The Corporation o^an Antonio has
been authorized, by the Re of the people,
to take stock in the contemated railroad from
that city to some point onto Gulfcoast.
For the Journal.
Mr. Editor :—It is t‘ desire of many of
the friends of Temperaie in this city, that
Col. W. P. Hill, of Mphall, should deliver
an address on thatsubjR at such time as may
suit his convenience. ONE.
Highly Interesting from Central
America.—The N. Y. Herald professes to
have private advices from Nicaragua of a ve-
ry important character, to the effect that war
has been declared between the States of Nica-
ragua and Costa Riea.
It appears Nicaragua has declared war
against Costa Rica and sent troops to occupy
the department of Guanacoste, which has
been in litigation between those two Repub-
lics. The Government of Costa Rica had ta-
ken measures accordingly, and sent to Guana-
coste a German officer, who was lately in the
service of the King of Prussia, to act in his
behalf. Gen. Guiros, who took a prominent
part in the revolution against Gen. Flores
and Castro, and who was exiled, was on board
of a ship anchored at Punia Arenas, and des-
tined to Nicaragua. The partisans of Castro
preparing a movement at Costa Rica,
and a revolution was expected on the arrival
of Gen. Castro, who at the appeal of his
partisans had sailed from London, and was
expected at Costa Rica during this month.—
Gen. Guiros was expected in Nicaragua to
take a part in the war against Costa Rica.
The coffee crop is very good, and prices
were set at seven dollars, the highest for sev-
eral years.
[Communicated.]
Education.
The subject of education—of educating the
masses—is one concerning which much has
been said, so much indeed that many seem
tired of hearing about it, and a newspaper ar-
ticle with the caption we have chosen often
meets the fate of a long preface to a fine story,
either unnoticed or only remembered with re-
gret that there should be so much waste pa-
per. Such, however, is not altogether the
case. We trust there are many yet who take
a deep interest in this matter and whatever
pertains to advancing its interests, and such
do we particularly address at this time.
Popular education has had its advocates and
its opposers. There are many at the present
day, and in this land—to say nothing of others
—who maintain the idea that the general dif-
fusion of knowledge is not only absolutely
wrong but dangerous to the State. Men of
genius—men of great learning have upheld
this, which we can but call absurdity. They
have, as it seems, made a retrogradation. Like
the frog in the well, they have taken two steps
towards the light and fallen back three into
medieval darkness. Arguments, very specious
ones too, have they found to support their ideas.
Time and space will not permit us to glance
at these. We believe that with men of sense
—men unblinded by prejudice, such arguments
will have but little weight; and we trust that
in this age of enlightened opinions, such doc-
trines will soon fall from want of supporters.
The subject of education must ever come
home with the greatest force to the mind of
the patriot, of the philanthropist and of that
character, which when properly developed,
includes both of these—the Christian. To
these it has two bearings; as pertains to the
present and as pertains to the future, not only
of individuals but of States. Every patriot—
and what American is not one ?—desires that
the glory and fame ot his country may be sus-
tained and advanced ; and he is willing to take
all measures to this end. Every philanthro-
pist seeks, by all means, to benefit his fellow
man and better his condition, and these seem
ready to acknowledge that the surestNvay to
the attainment of these ends is by education.
Our government depends upon public opinion
for its support, and our institutions must look
to the popular will for their permanency.—
How important then that this public opinion
should be itself right ! How important that
those who are growing up—the embryotic
men—should receive such moulding and form-
ing as will fit them to fill that station which
every man iri this country must ocqupy ! That
maxim of Lord Bacon, “Knowledge is power,”
applies as well to nations as to individuals.—
If we wish that our country should stand first
among the nations in power, we must place
her first in knowledge. Nor are we to do this
by confining knowledge to the cloistered re-
cesses of the student, or allowing it to be mo-
nopolized by any one or all of the so called
learned professions. We might refer to the
history of the European nations to prove the
correctness of our conclusions. France and
Italy, famous for their men of genius, and Ger-
many, for its scholars, have never occupied
permanently that rank which they might have
done. Could the light of knowledge be gene-
rally diffused among the common poople, dis-
pelling the darkness of superstition, and re-
moving the blindness of ignorance, we appre-
hend that these nations would present an ap
pearance far different from that which they
now manifest.
We are told that our country is in no dan-
ger from this source; that our people are al-
ready the most enlightened people on the face
of the globe ! But is this altogether the case?
Is there no room for improvement, especially
here among us ? Are there not many men in
our country, and indeed in our State, wffose
knowledge is so limited that they are unable
to inform themselves of the principles of go-
vernment—of that government, a part and
parcel of which they themselves are ? Men
too whose natural capabilities, were they pro-
perly improved, would place them far above
mediocrity. We have only to refer to the
census reports to find how many there are in
this State who can neither read or write.—
Who can look but with pain on those “acres
of untilled brains? ” What then is the duty
of every good citizen in this matter? Plainly
to put his shouldeb to the wheel and lend his
efforts to the cause of popular education. He
should do all in his power to hasten on the
time when common schools, so aptly termed
the peoples’ colleges, shall be so universally
established that all may have access to them.
And, moreover, when these peoples’ colleges,
so far as solid practical education is concerned,
shall bear no mean comparison to those higher
universities whose walls are open only to the
rich and the powerful. Such a state of things
may well be the beau ideal of the patriot.—
To bring it about may well occupy the labors
of the philanthropist. Nor is it a small work
that is to be done. The united energies of
the friends of education must be perse veringly
applied to it. The work does not take into
consideration the present alone, nor must it be
done only for the present. This State, young
as it is, has exhibited the foreshadowings ot
the magnitude and importance which it is des-
tined to attain. In its birth, bursting forth,
Minerva-like, full armed, it shook itself arid
the tyrant who would have enslaved it was
humbled. Since that time its growth has
been steady, but sure. Having the resources
which it has—so favored by nature on every
hand—what may we not expect from it, if its
energies are properly directed. Let then the
people awake to this subject. Let measures
be taken now, when the inception of the work
is comparatively easy, and in the end may we
not hope to outstrip by far those older States
in prosperity and importance, which in their
infancy omitted these measures ? The means
are evident, and, entered upon with a will, the
end will be certain. * * *
The subscriber desires gratefully to ac-
knowledge the receipt of the following sums
of money, contributed to aid the. A. S. S.
Union, in extending its operations to the more
remote and destitutes portions of Texas :
Public collection at the Methodist church $30 25
Also, at same, several articles of jewel-
ry, value not yet ascertained.
Public collection at the Baptist church, 15 35
Hon. R. T. Wheeler, - - 5 00
“ J. Hemphill, - - 5 00
“ J. C. Megginson, - - 5 00
“ A. S. Lipscombe, - - 2 00
J. S. Sydnor, - - - 5 00
G. Winney, - - 2 00
R. Howard,** - - - 1 00
J. W. Benedict, - - - 1 00
Mrs. N. L. Stearns, - - - 1 00
Dr. G. Holland, - - - 5 00
P. G. Merrit, - - - 5 00
Gen. Ebenezer Allen, - - 5 00
Mr?. Ann C. Harrison, - - 1 00
Sarah Paschal, - - - 1 00
T. M. Joseph1, - - - - 1 00
S. Southwick, - - - - - 1 00
JAS. BURKE, Agent A. S. S. U.
The Brig Canopus, Capt. Bushmann.
from Bremen, arrived in Port on Tuesday last
with seventy-eight immigrants. The Cano-
pus sailed on the 16th of November, but went
ashore at Ramsgate on the English, coast
from whence she was got off without damage
and left on the 1st December.
Installation.—On Sabbath last, (5th Jan-
uary,) the Rev. Joel T. Case was installed as
Pastor over the Presbyterian Chuch and con-
gregation of this place, in compliance with
their unanimous call to that effect, presented
through the Brazos Presbytery, at its last ses-
sion. By appointment of the Presbytery.
Rev. S. F. Cocke preached the sermon and
propounded the constitutional questions, and
Rev. W. C. Blair delivered the charge to
Pastor and people.— Victoria Advocate.
Edr* The Brazos river was falling at last
advices.
Parliamentary Reporting.—“A Song
from Mr. Speaking.”—We take the follow-
ing from a book called “ Hunt’s Fourth Es-
tate
There was never a deficiency of wit and
humor amongst reporters, and when it was
the fashion to heighten these by full potations
it was not. surprising that an occasional esca-
pade would attract more than ordinary notice.
One by-gone worthy, distinguished in this way
—Mark Supple it was—whose name has found
a place in all the jest, books for a feat which
Peter Finnerty,another spirit of kindred qual-
ity, used to tell after the following fashion :—
Mark Supple was big-boned and loud-voiced,
and had as much wit and fun as an Irish port-
er could carry—often more than he himself
could carry, or knew what to do with. He
took his wine frequently at Bellamy’s, (a great
place in those days for reporters as well as M.
P.’s,) and then went up into the gallery and
reported like a gentleman and a man of geni-
us. The members hardly knew their own
speeches again, but they admired his free and
bold manner of dressing them up. None of
them ever went to the printing office of the
Morning Chronicle to complain that the tall
Irishman had given a lame, sneaking version
of their sentiments—they pocketed the affront
of their metamorphosis, and fathered speeches
they had never made. Supple’s way may be
said to have been the hyperpole—a strong
view of orientalism, with a dash of the bog-
trotter. His manner seemed to please, and
he presumed upon it.
One evening as he sat at his post in the gal-
lery, writing the issue of things, and a hint to
hang trophies and figures upon, a dead silence
happened to prevail in the house. It was when
Mr. Addington was speaker. The bold lead-
er of the press gang was never much on se-
rious business bent; at this lime he was par-
ticularly full of meat and wine. Delighted,
therefore, with the pause, but thinking that
something might as well be going forward, he
called out lustily, “A song from Mr Speaker.”
Imagine Addington's long, prim, upright fig-
ure—his consternation and utter want of pre-
peration for, or a clue to repel such an inter-
ruption of the rules and orders of Parliament.
The House was in a roar; Pitt, it is said, could
hardly keep his seat for laughing. When
the bustle and confusion were abated, the Ser-
geant-at-Arms went into the gallery to take
the audacious culprit into custody, and indig-
nantly desired to know who it was; but no-
body would tell. Mark sat like a tower on
the hiridermost bench of the gallery impertur-
bable in his own gravity, arid safe in the faith
of the brotherhood of reporters, who alone
were in the secret. At length, as the mace-
bearer was making fruitless inquiries, and get-
ting impatient, Supple pointed to a fat Qua-
ker who sat in the middle of the crowd, end
nodded assent that he was the man. The
Quaker was, to his great surprise, taken into
immediate custody, after a short altercation
and some further explanation he was released
and the. hero of our story put in his place for
an hour or two, but let off- on the assurance
of his contrition, and of showing less wit and
more discretion in future.
The Rifle.—Every American should pos-
sess a rifle, and know how to use it with effect.
Read the following:
Sharp Shooting.—The British officers, du-
ring the war of the revolution, were more ap-
prehensive of the rifles of our soldiery than
they were of batteries, ambuscades, grape-
shot or shells; and, that they should have been
so, is not to be wondered at, when it i3 recol-
lected that amid the thickest ot the ranks, the
unerringly aimed rifle ball consummated its
mission of death. We have, when resident
in the then “far West,” witnessed feats of
rifle practice which would have put to the
blush the famed sharp-shooters of the 95th
Rifle Brigade. Talk of William Tell, and
his wondrous feat, and contrast it with the
more recent apple shooting, etc., in New
Hampshire and the former dwindles into in-
significance.
Botch Work.—A very eccentric clergy-
man named David Jones, who flourished in
Gotham a few yearssince, was passing through
Broadwayone morning, at an early hour, when
he was startled by a voice apparently issuing
from the gutter, crying,
“Good morning, neighbor Jones.”
The divine looked about for his “neighbor,’’
and at last discovered an object wallowing in
the kennel.
“Who is it,” said he, “that calls me neigh-
bor Jones ?”
“Why, don’t you recollect me ?” You con-
verted me on the other Sunday7.”
“Converted you ? Oh—yes—very probable
—you look jusl like some of my botch work.
If God had converted you, I shouldn’t hare
found you in the gutter.”
A lady having purchased some sausages of
a couple of boys, overheard them talking about
the money.
“Give me half of it.” says one.
“I won’t,” says the other.
“Now, that ain’t fair, Joe—you know it
’ (ain’t—for .half the pup was mine.”
A Valuable Receipt for preventing Exces-
sive Population.
The Philadelphia Ledger insists that to de-
velop the higher faculties ot the people is the
means of preventing a too rapid increase of
population ; in other words, that the more in-
telligent we are. the less our chances of hav-
ing large families. This is important if true ;
for it presents a new and powerful argument
in favor of education. Suppose the scale of
production to be graduated thus, (taking the
average of course,) what a powerful induce-
ment it holds out to poor parents to give their
children the best education possible :
An ignorant married man, 9 chileren.
Plainly educated “ 5 “
Well “ “ 3 “
Highly7 “ “ 2 “
Profoundly learned “ 0 11
See what a temptation to study mathemat-
ics and all the abstract sciences, is held obt by
this estimate. If a pair of lovers are only
sufficiently intelligent they may connubialize
without any fear of being burdened with little
responsibilities. The Ledger backs up its hy-
pothesis with the following arguments and
i’acts:
People with numerous faculties developed
and occupied, think less of marriage ; and
with them, marriage is less prolific. But
where poverty, continually increasing, is the
lot of the majority, where their faculties, for
want of occupation, are limited to mere ani-
mal instincts, marriage is the very next thought
beyond food, clothing and shelter. No peo-
ple marry earlier or increase faster than the
starving peasantry of Ireland and Scotland.
Adam Smith, in his “Wealth of Nations,”
states the fact in saying that, “a half starved
Highland woman will have fifteen or twenty
strong children, and still be robust, while a
fine lady of quality may have none, or is ex-
hausted by7 two or three.” The vital ener-
gies of the Highlander are exhausted upon
two or three faculties, those of the “fine lady”
upon a dozen or twenty.
What then is the remedy against excessive
population ? Promoting the development of
the higher faculties. In other words, promo-
ting education, improvement, equality of con-
dition upwards.
As the population of the United States will,
in the present ratio of increase, amount to
600,000,000 persons in 1950, the subject is one.
which requires immediate attention, unless we
would have our posterity7 thicker on the ground
a century7 hence than the people are now in
China, W’e must, therefore, decimate them
in advance, by virtue of education. What a
magnificent argument in favor of common
schools—and what an unanswerable plea in
favor of giving the poor a classic education r.
Who knows what the Free Academy may do
to lessen the census of our city twenty years
hence? The theory is truly refreshing and
consoling. Unborn millions will continue un-
born, if it is only carried out in practice. How
much preferable it is to the Malthusian plan,
or the jnfanticidal policy of Hindostan and
some of the African nations. The barren in
intellect shall increase and multiply, for suci
is the wisdom of the foolish; but the fruitfil
in intellect shall be barren, for such is the ecoi-
omy of the wise ! Let us not, however, mike
all our children savans, lest there be no ios-
terity whatever.—N. Y. Star.
A young preacher in the time of Jams I.,
being appointed to hold forth before the f ice
Chancellor and heads of colleges of Ox>rd,
chose for his text:-1 What., cannot yet mtch
for one hour ?” which carried with it r per
sonal allusion as the Vice Chancellor hap
pened to be one of those heavy headed prsons
who cannot attend church without fiafiig to
sleep. The preacher repeated his tei in an
emphatic manner at the end of every livision
of his discourse—the unfortunate Vio.f Chan-
cellor was often awoke—and this hapened so
often, that at last all present could \ry well
see the joke. The Vice Chancellowas so
nettled at the disturbance he had nt with,
that he complained to the Arcbbishcof Can-
terbury. who immediately sent for e young
clergyman to reprove him for whahe had
done. In the course of the confence that
ensued between the Archbishopand the
preacher, the latter gave so manyroofs of
his wit and good sense, that his gracprocured
him the honor of preaching before e King.
Here, also, he had a joke. He g?. out his
text in these w7ords: “James the’irst and
Sixth ‘waver not;’ ” which, of coie, every-
body saw to be a stroke at the indtsive char-
acter of the monarch. James, ecdly quick
sighted, exclaimed, “He is at malready.”
But he was upon the whole, so vl pleased
with this clerical wag, as to makiim one of
his chaplains in ordinary. Hefterwards
went to Oxford, and preached a evvell ser-
mon on the text, “Sleep on, no and take
your rest.”
Presbyteries (O. S.) in ‘xas.—We-
learn that the Synod of Mississi; at its late
session in Vicksburg, at the requ ofthe Bra-
zos Presbytery, constituted thre resbyteries
within the State of Texas, withuridaries as
follows: Presbytery of Eastern xas, east of
Trinity river; of Middle Texas,etween the
the Trinity and Colorado riveiand that of
Western Texas, west of Colors river. WTe
understand, also, that the Presfery ofWest-
ern Texas is ordered to hold first meeting
in Victoria on the first Thursdtjf April next,
at 12 o’clock, and Rev. Wm. Blair is ap-
pointed to preach the opening ‘ourse.—lb
W7e were travelling not lorsince in Illi-
nois, and called at a house ore road side to
solicit a drink of water, when folovving con-
versation occured :
“ Well, my boy, how loitave you lived
here ?”
“I don’t know, sir; but rher says ever:
since I was born.”
“Have you any brothers l sisters?”
“Yes, a few.”
“How7 many?”
“Ten or ’leven, I reckon
“Pretty healthy here, isff ?”
“ Yes ; but sometimes have a little
ager.”
“Any of you got it now *
“Yes, a few onus goirfhave the sb
this afternoon.”
“How many?” an4
“Why, all on us, excefister Nar the-
she’s such a darnation ci* critter, A eo.
ager won’t life on her ; f if it didr how
deuced contrary she woift sha’
you could fix it.” —j
____ _____iav stolen
A Cooler on Love“Y/ Stfkley to.
my soul, divine !” exclafd
Miss Sensible. . /‘I in not in
“Pardon me,” said ll things-”
the habit °< picking
The Marriage .Ion, hadeftj) record
ted English writertientencf .
the following imjveosen eRh per out
“Two person^yjthsign t”e offer’s
of all the specj andatert!*m£npaVe in
mutual com: |thcjelve‘:0 bejood hu-
that aatioC diacrd lor'["S. P^t.anJ ,
r
11
U1
y
i j >
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Gibson, J. M. The Semi-Weekly Journal. (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 102, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 23, 1851, newspaper, January 23, 1851; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth874261/m1/2/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting San Jacinto Museum of History.