Mt. Vernon Democratic banner (Mount Vernon, Ohio : 1853), 1859-03-15

              ; ----" iJ U 4 r7 - - --y -7- - 4 1 " at i i i - - i - m y.i i i-w ... I I. i i ...I - . -r- .t i , II ,.-'' I I .1 i I . . I -VOLUME 22. it rniunRits irmr tcmdit Moaiuxa, UI.L.IIAKFER. --. - r r : Ofice in XToodward'a Block, Third Story V"TCRMS -Tw Dollara pr aonnro, payable i : ad- f 2,50 within iZ month: 73,00 aftr the ex. ration at the year. Club of twenty, $1,50 each. out JOCAUTIFFI. .ISTES. Tbeso linei are raid to have originally appeared In the Etonian, a periodical started about twenty yttn ago by tbe boys of Eaton College: I ofiew tbink eacb tottering form , That limpi alone in. life'i decline, . -- Once bore a heart ae yonnj, as warm, . . As full of idle thoughts as mine, And each has had his dream of joy. Bis own-nneqnal'd pure romance; Commencing when the blushing boy . . Jirst thrills at lorely woman's glance. And each eonld tell his tele of youth, Would tbink its scenes of love evince More passion, mere unearthly truth, Than any tale before or since, Tec, they could tell of tender lays. At midnight penned in classic shaker, ' Of days more bright than modern .day And maids more fair than modern maids. Of whispers in a will'ng ear, Of kiases on a blushing check. Each kiss, each whisper, far two dear, Out modern lips to give or speak; . Of passion too hntimel crossed, Of passion slighted or betrayed Of kindred spirits early lost, And buds that blossom but to fude. Cf beaming eyes and tresses gay, - Elastio form and noble brow, Asd forms that have all passed away And left them, what we see them now; ' And is it thus in human lore, . - So rery light and frail a thing? And mnst youth's brightest rision move - Forever on time's restless wing? - Must all tbe eyes that still are bright,-And all the lips that talk of blids, And all the forms so fair to sight. Hereafter only come to this? Then what are earth's best visions worth, ' If we at length must leave them thus? If all we value most on earth . Ere long uuit fade away frum us? cttcr. HAVAL CONTKACTS and expendi luaEs, A Triumpliant Ireltr from Hon. .Lhooc Xuuccy to the Committee. Natt DtrARTMEifT, Feb. 14, 1859. Sl: I have received your letters of the 8th . And Sth tnst with copies of certain testimony, svud an xpressiou of the desire of the commii-lee over which you preside io receive from trie Any statement or information in regard to it which 1 may wish to present. 1 now comply with the request, and first with reference to the coutracis ibr.live ok timber, made under the advertise-inent of June 14, 1858. No live-oak limber bad been purchased by advertised contract for the last sixteen years, excepting in these instances: 1st. A contract made September 12, 1848, for 11,000 cubic feet. 2J. A contract made in September, 1855, for the frames of six large sloops-of-war, cut to moulds to replace that which bad beeu taken for the six large (team frigates built in 1855, of which two have iiuce been used for theeloops-of-war "Lancaster aad "P ensacola," authorized in 1857, aud the other four cau only be used for ebips of that class. 3d. The witut of additional quantities of live- oak having been repeatedly urged by the Bureau of Conduction, tbe department, on the first of July, 18o", authorized a contract to be made for such timber as would replace in part what had been taken from the complete frames of ships-of the'liue aad frigates, which the wants of tbe service had made it necessary to break in upon, and also to provide crooked timber suitable for the repairs of vessel .of the larger classes,-of which the supply was wholly insufficient. For several years past the repairs on the sloops of-war and smaller vessels have been very great, aud have gradually absorbed the best and the raoat of the small, siaa timber, and the want of that Umber was every day becoming more apparent. Thus, this kind of timber beiog absolutely wanted, it became advantageous and economical to purchase that which had been refused on the existing contracts for being below the contract size, rather than to cut the larger and more valuable pieces that remained of the old stock, or that was then coming ia on the new-contracts. So great was the want of this smaller timber that it bad been used to a considerable extent ia the Nor fork and. Kittery yards in the latter to the amount of $3,972,47, before authority was obtained la proper form to make tbe purchase, the officers in those yards believing that the public 'interests warranted that course. And so great was the deficiency of live oak timber in the na vy-yard at rensacola that there is not sow a stick of that kind In the yard which has not been purchased since. While this deficiency of timber in the navy-yard was known to ' exist, reliable information - was received in the tnoath of May last that the Dritiih government had revived the pretended -'Tight ct search, and that the British cruisers were exercising it upon the merchant vessels of the Unite! Cute ia the neighborhood of Cuba. This information; -"created great excitement throughout the country. It It only necessary to refer to the warlike debates, in both Houses of Congress ta appreciate its extent. To resist the . exercise cf this right a fleet of twelve war ves-7. jela vat Cited, out and despatched to the neighborhood of Cuba, with, instructions given them from Cm to time, between (he 14th of May and the 15 of June, to protect all vessels of the Uni ted Ci&tes against, the exercise of the right of search on the tih seas in time of. peace by the swmed vessels exf any other power. These in-truetiaa woali probablt . have produced cot- : JUion had not the right bee a abandoned by the British government. .While this" was going1 on Congress, on the 12th of Jane, passed, an act requiring the Secretary of the Navy to cause to ' be constructed "a speed Jy $ may U consistent ?d iaisrasi, eight war steamer of li-a draught, "combining the heaviest arma-rasctend greatest speed compatible with their character and tonage.H Oa the 3d of July or- , i?rs vre givea to all the navy-yards that they tau.l 1$ Uanched by tbe next meeting of Con. gress, End tbtt nothing should be permitted to ' prevent i.. ' ' ' : Dy the sams act Congress made an approprW Hoe to defray tbe expense And compensation of & "ci j-V comniiasioner ia eieccUon of the jotnt r"5-!itlon passed oa tbe Zl of June, authorizing t' 3 c:s cf force, if necessary, 'for the adji " r 1 rf 'i."Iculties' with the republio of.Ps I lit- repuoiio ot.iara- Iaiepeudsat of this resolntion, , the -t c?r-; :ned to act prom pur, and meas 3 t-'. - a to increase the squadron on the t cx taaia Ataenc, to thu U should Important consist of. twenty armed vessels, including two store ships, most of them to be fitted for the purposes of the expedition. lu this threatening posture of affairs, with the public mind excited by the revival of the pretended right of search, wiit no certainty that the attempt to suppress it would not bring us in to collision with Great Britain, with a squadron of twelve ships in the vicinity of Cuba to resist it, with a large squadron of twenty ships to be prepared and concentrated in the direction of Paraguay, and with eight war steamers of the smaller classes to be constructed, according to the injunction of Congress, as speedily at might be consistent with the public interests, I deemed it my duty, npon consultatioa with the chief of the Bureau of Construction and Repair, to meet the exigencies of the service, by promptly direct ing, on the day of the adjournment of Congress, June 14, that an advertisement be issued calling fcr a supply, in as short a time aa practicable, of live-oak timber, most or it of smaller dimensions than had been usually required, such at was adapted to the construction of the smaller vessels just authorized by Congress, and to the extensive repairs both of large and small vesseh which the. exigencies ol the service would be likely tojeqnire. I would have resigned my place before I would have failed to act with the promptitude which the occ&sion seemed to demand. The list was made out by the chief of the Bureau of Construction according to his own judgment of what the interests and necessities of the service required, without interference by me in its details, and the advertisement was issued on the 14th of June, calling for one-half on the 1st of September and the other half on the 1st of February following giving to bidders two and a half cupoths' notice to make contingent arrangements for the first delivery, and seven aud a half months' notice for the other. The time allowed io the advertisement for this timber was sufficient for persons who were actual deal era in such timber, and who, in making offers, intended to comply with them, or were in any degree prepared, but was much too short for any speculator who had it in view to dispose of his contract to other, parties. These were the reasons which influenced the department in the exercise of its discretion in this particular case, and when the contracts were' executed I was as-sored by the experienced officer in charge of the Bureau of Construction and Repair that the measure had proved highly economical and beneficial to the government, saving to it probably about twenty-five, thousand dollars beyond what could have been accomplished by an open purchase.After the contracts had been awarded to the lowet bidders a question arose to which I applied the principle of a decision I had previously made, viz: that when the department advertised for a contract upon certain terms, and one of the bidders applied to a subordinate officer and obtained assurances of more favorable terms at variance with those advertised, and regulated bis bid accordingly, the department would enforce the advertisefhent and not the assurances of the subordinate, and the assurance thus obtained would constitute no ground of relief, be cause unfair to other bidders. When, therefore, it appeared that those to whom the contracts were awarded had neither performed them nor intended to perform them when they bid, but had acted upon information or assurances obtained at the aavy-yarda from subordinate offi cers at variance with the terms of the advertisement, the department set aside the forfeited contracts, and instead of purchasing or contracting in open market or of the next highest bidder, and charging the difference to the defaulting parties, accepted a contract with Mr. Swift for the whole amount at the lowest bid, which was much lower than the bids he had made, thereby saving the defaulting contractors from loss, securing the best terms for the government, and requiring him to accept as low a price for the timber to be delivered immediately as f time had been given to go into the live oak forests of Florida or Louisiana to cut it. The department did not advise any one of the contractors as to the course he should pursue, but apprized them, unequivocally, at all times, that the time of delivery, as ad vertised, would not be postponed for tbe reasons 1 nave stated. When I came into the department I found a system established, which commenced during the administration of Mr. Fillmore, of purchas ing coal lor the use ot the navy by the iustru mentality of two coal agents one for anthracite, the other for. bituminous coal with a compensation of five per cent, commission on the cost of purchase and transportation contracted for by the agent. There was also during Mr. Fillmore's administration a special agency for supplying with coal the East India and Pacific squadronsduriogthe Japan Expedition. Messrs. Howland Si Aipinwall, of New York, were the special agents employed by Mr. Graham, Secretary of the Navy, ander so agreement of the date of April 3, 1852, by which they were allowed ten, per cent, commissions on the purchase money, cost of transportation, insurance and other unavoidable expenses, deducting therefrom the -commissions allowed the ageuts for supplying coal within the Uoited Stales. This agreemeut was modified by Mr. Dobbin on the 1 tin of August, 1853, by which, after the 1st of September following, the agents were to ship not exceeding one thousand bushels per month, the department agreeing to pay the cost of the coal, lighterage, caltage, freight, primage, and demurrage, and a commission of six per cent, on the cost of the coal including freight or transportation. The commissions under this agency in the year 1852, 1853, and 1854, amounted to $50,975 86, while the commissions of all oth er coal agents for supplying our tteamvessels-of-war with coal during the whole period from 1850 to the present time, amounted only t the turn of $19,951 59, and for supplying the navy yards to the further turn of $18,358 47. This special agency was abolished by Mr. Dobbin ia 1854. There has been no other ' change ia the system except only that ia pursuance of the policy expressed in the act of Congress of September 28,1859, of giving preference to Americanproductions.- I have caused anthracite coal .to be seat from Pennsylvania taines, by American vessels chartered by the department, and with-ont any special egency, to the East Indies, Pacific, and all other foreign stations where it would be delivered at no greater cost than that of foreign coal delivered at the tame place. This has caused an increase of purchases of coal in this country, but it bat proved most decidedly an economical and beneficial improvement, at will appear by detailed returns which are cow probably before. the committee, securing, without any increase of cost to the government, what ia deemed the best coal in the world for war steamers the anthracite coal of Pennsylvania. No charige has been made ia the bituminous coal geocTt noiLin that for anthracite, except that the former agent, air. I yson, at the end of four Years from hit aroaiatment. vat succeeded hv Mr. Hunter, the present agent, whom I appointed in May last upon the most reliable recom mendations, leaving bio to the discharge of bit uuiy apon nit own responsibility. 1 was not aware antil the present iaTestigatioa thxt be bad employed another person to aid him, allowing a. bU oomiont as tit predeces- xuu!, nor or any Want f aUentJna on T,.1? ItwwtU k,o to the department that the navy wat eupplied with coal of the test kind and quality for natal purposes at 1?,, cost uiAB lormerij, ai t wat deemed ia the bu- reaua reasooawe pneet, aaa Uat tl 1m passed MOUNT VERNON, unaer tne inspection ana required tbe approval of this most faithful and vigilant Officers of the government, who were in the constant practice ot. instituting inquiries Into the reasonableness of prices, and of refusing .payment when they were excessive. It is not now the-opinios of the bureaus, after fulr inquir, that the price paid. $3,85 per tori of the best anthracite coal for steam proposes, screened, selected and deliver ed at the vessel in Philadelphia, has been excet sive or unreasonable. " The. department has at all times left both these agents for the purchase 'of coal perfectly free in the discharge of their duty npon their Own responsibility, with such assistance as they might choose to employ at their own expense, subject only to the checks which exist on ship board and at the naval stations, where it is the duty'of the proper officer, to report any deficiency in quantity or quality, and also to the constant eubervision of the1 chiefs of the bureaus, under whose orders the purchases are made, and by whom the bills must be examined and ap proved before they can be passed. But these high officers enjoy my entire confidence confi dence not only in their capacity, but in their vigilance and uprightness. " - I should be very willing to give full details of the action of the department tn reference to the navy-yards, and to the contracts fir steam ma chinery for vessels of-war, but as no. evidence has been transmitted to me on those subjects, I shall content myself with a brief general statement. : The system bj which the navy .yards are man. aged is the same which I found established when I came, into office, with some improvements. The commandant of the yar4 is responsible for its general condition. It is bis duty to correct or report any abuse which , may same to : his know edga. He receives all orders from tbe de parts-ent, and is authorized to use the proper means to execute them. If an order is given that a vessel be built or repaired, or other work done, he directs the employment of the men, and fixes he number to be employed, without ioter-fereme by the departmenL He is authorized and required to dismiss auy workman, and to report auy master for neglect or miacouduct. When a master is thus reported to thedepart-ment, an investigation is ordered, he is notified, witnesses are examined, aud. the testimony returned to the department for its action. The master has tbe selection of the men, subject Jto the approval of superior officers, and is held responsible for them and the work done by them under his charge, and has therefore authority to dismiss them. This system of responsibility is found to work well in. the vavy-yards generally, although there is greater difficulty aud embar-rassmmt in the Brooklyn yark from the superabundant population of the great adjacent cities pressing for employment, and resorting to all legitimate means to obtain it. This difficulty will not be obviated by any system. that can be adopted. Men must be : employed ; they Must come from the neighboring congressional districts; they must be selected by some one; they should be selected by the master workman, who is responsible for them, subject, indeed, to proper restrictions and supervision; and this master workman must always feel and have to contend with the presence of vast numbers eeeking employment. and especially during periods of commercial distress. He is also exposed to the accusations of dismissed and disappointed workmen, and to the scrutiny of vigilant competitors seeking hit place, and, if there be any well-founded charge against him, it is quite sure to be made- known to the officer whose duty it is to inquire. There has been no report against any master workman of any of the Atlantic navy yards since I have been in the department, except in five cases; one for alleged misconduct several years ago, which was fully investigated by my predecessor; one for in toxication, which has been investigated and followed by a new appointment; one for temporary insanity, where the master was afterwards restored npon hi recovery and producing a certificate from his physician that it would not be likely to recor; and the other two cases recently for neg lect of duty, which have been investigated and the returns having just come in will soon be dis posed of. These are the only instances of charges presented to the department, and if there be any presented to the committee which have not been preferred to the commandant of the navy-yard, and opportunities given to the parties im plicated to defend themselves, it it at least very doubtful whether such charges can be or ought to be sustained; at all events, neither the department nor the officer of the yard have bad -any knowledge of them. There has been an increase of the number of men employed, but it hat taken place simultaneously in all the: yards, and for the reasons already staled the increased activity of the service, the expedition to the neighborhood of Cuba, the expedition to Paraguay, the construction of eight new steamers as speedily as might be consistent with the public interests," in obedience to the injunctions of Congress. There is one instance where the bureau has been induced to depart from the general rule of noninterference with the number of men to be employed, and that was in the navy-yard at Philadelphia, to an inconsiderable extent in useful works, nponv the urgent plea of necessity,' humanity and' utility, pressed by a gentleman of high and'honorable character, incapable of falsehood.. .-V ;-. The course of the department in reference to contracts for tteam machinery for vessels of war, hat been to prescribe certain conditions, advertise for plant and proposals subject to such conditions, and award the contracts according to the merits of such plans and proposals, having due regard to price. They cannot, from the nature of tbe case, be awarded to the lowest bidder, having reference to the price only, because no two persons bid for the tame thing, each plaa being different from the others, and it being the object of the government, to obtain the result ol the highest skill. The bidt are given under tea), are not opened until the time for receiving them has expired; and, of course, do one can know what ; they contain, except the party himself and those ' to whom he may communicate it. A board of engineers is appointed, and each - it required to give hit individual opinion and bit reasons fot it. Often they are unanimous; tometimet there it a : tingle dissenting opinion; and tometimet they are equally divided. I have in no case that I am aware of, awarded a contract in opposition to the opinion of a majority, although I should feel At liberty to do to. 7 The contract given to Messrs. Merrick & Sons, of Philadelphia, In regard to which a letter from Colonel Patterson to the President was by him is the usual coarse, without any intimation of any with oa bit part, referred to thit department, wat awarded to Lhem upon the merits of their plan and proposals in accordance with the unanimous opinion of the- board of engineers their bid being lower than those of the other bidders whose plana were approved. i The President did Dot ia any manner interfere : in thit case, nor hat he in any other case of contract since I have been in the departmenL - la all the contracts made oader the act of the last session, the department obtained an absolute guarantee of the number .of revolutions of the propel!"" ii a minute; instead of the usual number of about forty, the - contractor! guarantee eighty, in one instance a hundred. Ia one contract tLal for the vessel under construction atKorfjlk awarded to. Messrs. Hurray & Ha. zleharst, of Ealtinora, there is. a crsxtee' cf the speed of fifteen statute miles an hoar, ander a forfeiture of twelve thousand fire hundred dollar, to be deducted from the price if (he epeed OHIO : TUESDAY, MARCH 15. 1859. fall to fourteen miles per hour, and half that turn if it fall to fourteen and a half miles. r In the contract for the vessel at Philadelphia, awarded to Messrs. Eeaney, Neafie At Co., there is a guarantee, sot only for one hundred revolutions of the propeller per minute, but also.for the speed Of sixteen statute miles per hour, under the forfeiture of fifteen thousand dollars.' to be deducted from the price if the speed fall to fif teen miles per hour, and hair that turn if it fall to fifteen and a half miles, A more atriogent and advantageous contract for the government hat not been made. The awarding of thit contract bavin? been the subject of comment, I will take the occasion to say, that the charge made against a very competent and faithful officer, the engineer in chief, br on excited air interested bartv was fullv In ves tigated by me and found to be without the slight est foundation, except in a misapprehension of that party, rully explained, and that the contract was awarded to the lowest price, to the best guarantee, to the highest experience in the con- t'ruction of marine engines, against no experi ence at an. end in accordance witb the opinion of a majority of the engineers whom I consulted on the euniecL I have the honor to be, tir. Very : respectfuHr. your ooeaient servant, iskxc lorcirr. Secretary of the Navy. Hon. Jobv Shkrmatt, - Chairman Committee Investigation, &c.t House of Representatives, Kansas Correspondence. - A Letter from C. Y. Drake, Bsq. 7 Ft. Scott, K. Tn Feb. 21, 1859. Friekd AkoRKWs Sir: Too will pardon tne for my delay in not answering your favor sooner. having been abseut from here tome time; but I will now endeavor to comply with your request, by giving you a short paragraph. Hell it empty and the fiends are again turned loose amongst ns. . After sacking and attempting to burp our town. and releasing a prisoner, who wat held by tbe Marshal with three seperate charges against him, viz: murder, assault with intent to kill and theft, the desperadoes escaped; after which we organ-ized iuto military companies, for the protec tion ot our li vet and property, and tent despatch es to Go v. Medary for tome assistance, which be rendered us, by sending 600 stand of arms and 20,000 rounds of ball cartrages, and commissions for the officers of the several companies, to they could act officially. After counting noses we found, with the assistance that came to our aid from the country, we had force enough to drive from the country or arrest the thieves, this being our only resort. Accordingly we made a des cent on their head-quarters, (the Osage river) about 12 miles distant. . 7e left here about one o'clock end reached Eain'e Fort about day-break. Our companies then teperated tinder the command of three deputy U. S.' Marshals, one to the eft, one to the right and the other to tbe front of aaid Fort. It fell an easy Drev. having been nearly deserted a short time before. : We, how- eTert Sot two prisoners, and tome stolen goods belonging to Dr. Little & Co. We next-went to Kaysville. The news of our being in the vicin ity preceded us, which . gave them time to hide their canon, but we succeeded in over-bauling three more prisoners, before they reached the timber. A small detachment of men was then sent to town with the prisoners. The day being nearly spent we were compelled to camp for the night in the timber on the Osage. For the first time I tasted tbe sweets of a soldier's life. We built large fires and opened our knapsacks, s wag-bagss," to partake of our provender, (hav- ng made preparations for a 4 day's trip,) after which we put out our Guards and retired for the night. In tbe morning we renewed our search, finding stolen goods, clothing and horses at al most every house. : The clothing had bees takes from the boys out of the Free State Hotel, and was easily recognised by the owners; being care ful not to take anything that could Dot easily be identified aa stolen property. We got nine more prisoners, making in all 14 whose bands are red with the blood of innocent men. We also got five horses, teddies, &c, which bad been stolen a abort time before,- two SharpeV Rifles, alias : Beecher's Bibles, and sundry other things known to be stolen. After a trip of 4 days we returned home with our prisoners, having given the thieves, alias Jay-Hawkers, to understand that the honest portion of thit community would eot submit to or endorse their movements longer. .The prisoners were well eared for and the whole affair wat well conducted, and strictly in accordance with law, yet yoa will tee in theJay-Hawk-ere journal tome frightful stories about Missoo- riana murdering aad robbing free btate men, and a couutlete aumber of other tech yarnt made out of whole cloth, aad that Capt. Hamil ton, the murderer, is here. We have a Capt. H. here, but he is a free State man'' and ever hat been and bat labored bard for the cause. In Linn county their organizations were etmi- ar to ours, and they bare done good work ar rested several and killed two or three. -The Mis-sourians are deserving of much credit for re-tdaiuing at home, when ire take into consideration the frequent attacks made on her citizens, their property taken their bouses burned, and themselves murdered. I will give yoa one case eat of many which happened the day after the visit to this plaee They murdered an old man by -the name of Cruse, stole eleven niggers,!j hit household goods and team to haul them c2". Other cases I might refer to, but time forbid. Montgomery, Brown k Co. becoming alarmed at the uprising of the toverclga people, and finding timet getting too warm for them, they go to Lawrence, and Uontgomery gives himself op for trial, court beingii session for the trial cf our prisoners. ' - - ' 'V y --.v Wtiie these things tavs beu traojptring the thievet bave been besy at I:rence, (the Ober-lin of Kansss, the blackest rpot en earth,) with the legislature, the actbes cf which bat no pre cedent in tbe history cf tbu country. The proceedings cf illi wii?, grc -t ar.l j--'::'o(!a body I siouldll-e to give ia cUil, tzt cannot, Cullcs it to say, tiey hv ebsrjed lLa cadt of Dooj- Us tozztj to LbccToj .cored cozzj-szzt cf, omsm thit (Bourbon) cosnty; passed a law prohibiting slavery in the Territory; got a committee of out-eiders to frame a code of laws; petitioned Con-grett for 20 more day's time; extended the criminal jurisdiction of Donglaa county over thit, Linn, Lykint and other counties, but their crows, ing and last act was, the Amnesty Act, alias d a nasty bill.' This last act wipes out all crimes, or. by-gonet are bygones, in Kansas. The result was, that when the Marshal of Linn county arrived at Lawrence with bit prisoners, they were met by a drunken mob, beaded by Lane, the murderer, Conway 'and others, num bering about 600, who threatened the lives of the Marshal and posse, and that they would break up the court if the legislature did not past the amnesty bill, which they did to save the livee of the Marshal and posse. They were robbed of all their valuables and allowed to return to their bomet. It' was no doubt a. scheme of Lane & Co. to screen or let the villians go on whipped of tbe justice they to richly deserve. - The fact of their passing encb a bill speaks ie thunder tonesr not to be misunderstood, aginst them, and shows conclusively who the guilty parties are. V" I have just learned from one of our boys, who left here at one of the posse to guard our pri-soners to Lawrence, that they were met 4 milet from aaid place, and notified to release the prisoners, which they did. Most of the posse were tobpoened at witnesses and went oa to Lawrence, (18 in no) and when, entering town they were met by the mob, who began to pelt them with stones and fire on them. They did not expect such a reception, and was not prepared to resent it; the crowd following after them until they were compelled to surrender, when they were rob-of their valuables, such as revolvers, guns, horses, &c. Our informant was the only one that made hit escape, and could not give as tbe retail of affair. Most likely tome will be killed, and if so 1 would like to draw a veil over the future, for they were the best men in Southern Kansas; and all this transpired after the passage of the amnesty bill. I have one consolation, via not a thief have I found in the territory but what claim to be a Republican. The first Democratic victory was achieved in Wyandot City a few daya ago, in the election of city officers. But I think that in 12 months more Kansas will throw of the garb of Black Republicanism, and in '60 roll up a majority of no small number. - v Pike's Peak it a reality, and thousands are going, in tact the country is all excitement. This is the garden spot of the west. Hoping to hear from "you again soon I close. Yours, Ac. C F. DRAKE. P, S. My love to all my folks and the boys, taking no small portion yourself! , . Ia baste. . C. F. IX. Xovra Correspondence. PaosrECT Hitu Ltmr Coujrrr, Iowa, March 3, 1859. ) Ma. Editor: I notice an article in a late nam ber of the Banner, taken from the Ouumway, Iowa, Courier, which, while it may be true, may have led many of your readers to form very erroneous opinions, with regard to other localities than that of Wappellow and other counties in the touthern portion of the State. While it may be true that the inhabitants of southern Iowa are in destitute and starving cir cumstances, we, of the central part, have plenty to eat and wear, beside some to spare. The soil of southern Iowa is very deep, rich, and when the teaaon bappena (I tay happens, because it ia only ouce in many years that they raise a good crop,) to be just rigbt heather too wet or too dry it is also very productive. I know this to be a fact by experience. WLea we first left "Old Knox" for thit country, which Was the full of '50, we settled in Dee Moines county, and off of 25 acres' which we planted to cOrn, we raised just jfive bushels, all loldJ It if, how-ever, the best grass country we have ever seen. and stock is grown there to perfection. It it also a great fruit growing country, and frogs oh! my, "it no use talking," they grow Urge enough lo ride to mill on; but at there are no French there they are not considered by the people at being a very paying crop! Here, the wheat crop wat not Over one-third as great as the i previous year; quality rather inferior, shriveled, with black and red spots on the heart or genninatiag end. There wat, however, old wheat enough ia the county to bread it for one year. The oat crop , wat very" light. Corn wat good. Potatoea poor crop. Maaxrrs Floer $2.503,00 per hundred; Wheat 4075c; Oatt 40c; Corn 3510c; Po-tatoet $1,00 per butbel; Butter 12l5o. per ft; Egge 12c per doa. I hear of no tales in horses. Fat cattle ia better demand, with an upward tendency; cows $2030, owiag to quality. Pork 5o. per B, , 7; The Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska Railroad it completed to Liabon, ia this eoeaty, five miles from this place, and will be completed to Cedar Rapids arly in the spring. Hence, if any of our friends in old Knox wisb to visit this beauti-i ful young State, all they have to do is to procure a ticket at It. Veraon, Ohio, for Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and jump aboArd tho Iroa Host, and ia thirty-six hours from starting, the brakesmen will inform them that they are in lit. Vernon, Iowa.'- -; Great age, this. . . - The recent discovery of gold at TIVe Pint'' seems to be corroborated by testimony which even the most skeptical axe forced to admit, and hat become the common theme of conversation, witb many, to -the exclusion of almost every other topic ' It is not strange that the7 excitement should run to high, ia view of the cxtrem. ties to which, wa as a people bava been driven, by the constant drainage of the preeious metal, which has continued incessantly to aw, until many parts of the country are a! most entirely without a circulating medium., There are haa-irtZs going from this eounfy a great many have already gone, v ; - - - " '""ItU.rsported tlat Iwa persons discovered a gold talue ia Dry crsik, la t'-'i eauaty.liatsuta. mer, aad ia fsw mostls too'-oxt some nine Ciousani doZv cf'-tls rrctiuaj cttaH I wti told yesterday that there were tome nine hundred men working io thit tame mine at thit time. Some four or five of our neighbors left here this morning for the mine, from whom we may be able to gain ; tb facts relative to the truthfulness of the reports. I am 7 of the opinion, however, that it will turn out to be a grand humbug, like those of last tpring. I hope, however, that it may be otherwise. Our winter bat been mild but few daya that the mercury wat at low aa zero. We have bad much anow, but it did not lay long, with tome little rain, which is something unusual. But I have written much more than I expected. Respectfully yours, 4 c, M. A. SMITH. 9 A Tale of Blood. The Hawesrille Tmgredy Detailed Ao- couni ox me Assassination QI Lowe. (From the Louisville Courier of Saturday. A gentleman who arrived on the Tishomingo yesterday, furnishes this account of the dreadful affair at Hawesville, in which one man was shot dead and Thoa. 8. Lowe assassinated in prison. This account, it wiU be observed, assigns a coat of armor to him who fell a victim to assassins t On Taesdar, Lowe sent word to Cicero Maxwell to remain at his room until . he received a note from him, which he did. Lowe's note, which was delivered tubsequently, inquired if Maxwell desired to challenge him ; if not, whether he would accept a challenge. Maxwell refused to communicate by note. Lowe's friend, as instructed, told Maxwell a street fight wat the alterna tive, and asked if he would use long or short arms. Maxwell replied that be would appear when be pleased, and as it suited him: aud would afford no other satisfaction. In a short time, Lowe, with three pistols ia bis left arm, and one in hit right hand, approached the crowd, which wat near the court bouse, and in a loud voice said: "If Cicero Maxwell is in the crowd, or in the eound of my voice, let bim come forth. He has stated that I am a political juggler. In return, I pronounce bim a liar, ca lumniator, coward, and a son of a w- ." This he repeated eeveral times. The ; denunciation was conveyed to Maxwell, or beard by bim, and io a few minutes be made bis appearance in the street, with a double barrel shot gun, and accom panied by a Mr. Harris and Morton, of Hartford, J udge MayhaP, and Thomas Withrow, ot Haw-esville, and others. When within about fifty yards of Lowe, who faced bis foe. Maxwell dis charged one barrel of hit gun, which was loaded with-buckshot, the contents striking-the left breast of Lo we, who staggered, but instantly recovered hit position (a coat of mail saving him, as alleged); He returned the fire, but missed, and seeing the mob present arms, took refuge in the crowd, and, eluding pursuit for the time, got into the bouse of a widow lady. Maxwell and his friends, discovering where be was, surrounded the bouse and threatened to tear it down if Lowe was not given op. The lady implored them to desist and said it was true Lowe Was there, but the had no power to bring him out. , 7 A parley took place, and three friends of Maxwell entered the building. Lowe asked that his life might be spared. They assured bim be should not be mo lested provided be would disarm himself, aud, accompanied by them, he re appeared on the street. The tight of him poly added fuel to the flame, and he was again fired npon. Mr. Harris, one of .the gentlemen who gave assurance of protection, said, "Mr. Lowe, I cannot risk my life longer to .save you," and Lowe broke and ran, follow Led by the mob. Mr. Aid ridge, the only friend Lowe seems to have had, fired at the mob, and, as he turned to fly, was killed by a ball from a rifle. A great number of shots were fired at Lowe in his flight. He was wounded in several places, and bit clothes riddled with balls. He ran as far as the bank of the river, hit foes still firing at him in his flight, and there fell, apparently exhausted. One Thomas Withrow also cut at him witb his bowie knife while he was running, but the coat of mail which it is said he wore prevented his being hurt. . . Mr. Harris went to him where he lay, aud one of the mob run op and swore be would kill him anyhow, and put a pistol to Lowe's head. Har ris knocked the weapon np, and it was discharged without injuring any one. The crowd then gathered around Lowe, and Maxwel asked bim it he would make- a retraction. . Lowe replied that be retracted everything he had aaid, that he was a coward, asd had disgraced himself., Maxwell, it is said, begged bit friends not to hart hit fallen foe, as be bad done all be required. Lowe wat then taken back to tbe court house, and delivered to Judge Stuart. Some of the mob manifesting a wish to lynch Lowe, Judge Stuart rose and laid he wat in the bands of the law, which should be honored, and Lowe should not be in- jured until the mob passed over his dead body. His speech prolonged Lowe's term of life at least for a few bours, and after bit wounds were dress ed ia tbe court boose, accompanied by Judge Stuart, ha. was taken to jail. The Judge remained with bim until a late hour ia the night, when it was thought the excitement wat at aa end, and the prisoner safe from, the fury of those who bad sought bit life. : ; .Oa Wednesday morning, Lowe tent for Harrio and thanked bim for saving bia life on the pre vi ous day, bet expressed feart the mob would bang him, and solicited his visitor to intercede for bis life ia behalf of lis wife and children. Harris left, aad about tiat time a report was started that Lowe told Harris that be only asked protection then for revenge that would follow, and when he was released from sit be would kill the last one of them. ' This again aroused bis vindictive enemies, but no violence was done cpenly.7 la a very short time, however, two men, Dr.Davi'aoa and Thoa. Withrow, went to O'Jbsa, tbe js-I'cr, and demanded the kejs of tie prisoa, ; Tis pre sentation of pistols it tie heal cf tiscccrwss potent, and tie two crn ties re&cied tie room Lert Ca x.:.zzz.'.s Lara rt$ cc-'nel Us 1 assiiig dBbcnls. NUMBER 47. was lying oa a bed, prostrate from bis wounds, and excitement, and suspense.. As soon as be saw them, divining their purpose, be asked tient to spare hit We, but the cruel and relentless men were there to slay, not spare. Withrow first fired, then Davidson, both bail entering Lowe's breast, aad killing bias instantly. The assassins then went out of the cell, but fear, ful the bloody deed was not yet done, returned and fired four more balls into the Iieless corpse. Fire of the balls entered bis breast, the sixth entering the bead above the eyes. ; The dam nable murder having been executed to their satisfaction, they thea retired. No attempt was made to arrest them, as vs learn by our informant.. But why, if these are facts, we can not guess, for a fouler murder was never recorded ia the annals of crime, and a darker stain never sullied the escutcheon of the Commonwealth. The story, as told about L we wearing a coat of mail, as well as other matters in this narrative, we thinTt proper to say, need confirmation. We mightadd,-too, that a terrible responsibility rests npon the jailer, who gave op the kev of the. prison, pnt under his charge, to the assassins. Better far that be bad given op bis life than that fatal key. The Latest WaaMntoa Oatraje. A serious affray occurred in the oSce At Wil-lard a Hotel the evening of tbe 3d between F. P. Lander and William Magraw. A year ago Ma-graw was appointed Superintendent of tbe Great Central Wagon Road, and Lander Engineer of the expedition. Magraw abandoned the enter-prize and joined Col. Johnston's fjreea. Recently he has been officially removed and Lan der appointed Superintendent of the road. An account of the affray ttysi Owing to tome personal diSculfy between them, Lander challenged Magraw, but the affair was settled without a fight. To-night Ma. grew attacked Lander with a slungshot, and struck him several times, wounding bim severe. Jy about the bead. Lander rallied abd threw Magraw, and witnesses inform me would have punished him severely, if not fatally, bad be not been taken, off when be exclaimed, I am a Massachusetts man and unarmed; I have challenged the scoundrel, and he refused to fight me, And now he assails me with a slun-shoL" This exclamation soon enlisted the sympathise of the by-staoders for Lander. Magraw was taken away by bis friends, aa J Leader was eoa-veyed to his lodging badly wounded. The Utter belongs to Salem, Massachusetts. " i ii' -sjsjsaatjm . . . mi m i - i j i " Th Chief of a Gang1 of Counterfsltera Arrested 12.000 Dollars in Bog-ut Coin and Bank Notes Seized List cf. IL tian i onnd. - By conductor EussfcIL of the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroadwe learn th particular of an important arrest, made Sunday morning ia Randolph, Portage county. From information, received on Saturday, O Seers Hackett and Miller, of Ravenna, and Officers Towasend -and Wright, of Akron, proceeded on Saturday evening to Randolph, and oa Sunday morning (2?ihJ succeeded in arresting one J. Webb, of Salem, Columbiarra county, with a large quantity if counterfeit money in his possession, consisting of $3,060 in tens on the Forest City Bank of Cleveland; $2.529' on York Bank. Pennsylvania; $1 359 ia bogus one and two and. half dollar gold pieces, and $75 in bogus quarters. There wat also found in his possession a list of retail deal. era in counterfeit, coin, who . were probably cus tomers of the prisoner. ' Webb is said to be a physician of Salem, was evidently a wholesale dealer io.spurious money, and was probably out for the purpose of supply, ing bis customers. The officers entertain topes of securing the plates and dies used ia the manufacture of the notes and cnia. fs. Herald. Another Haul of Counterfeit Honey. On Tuesday John, Wallace aud Jacob Smith were arrested at Youagsiown, Ohio, charged with passing counterfeit money, which they had offer, ed to sell at ten cents on the dollar. One cf them accidentally dropped a ten doIWr counterfeit bill, and the other was seen emerging from e coal cellar in which was fooai, oa examination, a quantity of spurioas miney representing $5 000; $1,000 of this was ia tens oa the Forest ' City Bank, Cleveland, $1 609 ia teat oa the Bank of Cjmmsrce, Clevdlaai, $13; ia twat oa the Agricultural B tnk, Pittsfi-ld, Misaone$lt on the Norristowa Btnk of Virginia, aad abont $1,000 io counterfeit gold and counterfeit coin, all well executed. They were reqnired to giva bail in $1,000 each, and committed in default. - Terrlbla Iliat at Elizabstaport. 7 - i LuzissTaroBT, March 8. - A collision occurred at nooa between the strikers and the Scraoton men, and is now ra'c j with fury. Fire-arms are beiog freely se3, asi many bava already deen wounded. - 4. - ' At I o'clock, as the Scraatoa men were r timing trom dinner, a tegular battle eommenccd. The strikers bad take a a strong position tX l'. gate' leadiag la the coal docks. The Scranlotj men approached, headed by the Chief of Pc!!: a and tome tea of his men. A dperate fit c i. sued, lasting about 30 minutes, when the s'." : s were repulse!, and scattered ia every dirsctlc. During the melee shots were firei ea h.!i sides and clubs, stones, cal, As were, f, i y used. f The Scrantoa rata were fiially ci'.'.il t-gether and marched again to the eoal c jcis without being stopped. About 23 men were seriously wounded but there were tone VilUL Tie diZicuity bat tiace been comfroauoi. - Ueati cl tLa rcttaaster CcztrzL- ? - " ' . - r WasmvcTox, ITsreh 8.'. Postmaster Gtneral Brown died this mcrtia at half past nine o'clock. - Up to a qu..-' -r t : an hour previous to Lis death he was pes .'.. conscious of bis condition, and tick loava eft family. ; ' - . . Last niht the President hJ a Coal w wi;h him aud wat aiTected to tears. t Durio z occasional deiiriua t';e dji T t i called Cor tbe till, eviJent.'y a:ui.rT u t-3-fated arr'1'00 bi.t, Lavirg rt:-... c j to t s Tost-Oe Department. Hit death oeeaiiont the ntaost r:rrew t all cUsatt cf the community.