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768 tR^t VLtaUet. [Saturday,
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THE STRANGER IN " THE STATES." New Orlea...
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NEWSPAPER STAMPS. REPOllT OP THE SELECT ...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Cai'io Wau. The Proponfin, Aerew-Htenmer...
more than a month's later intelligence than that received by the Bosphorus , the war on the frontier seems to have undergone but little change . The most important fact communicated by this arrival is the insurrection of the Hottentots at Theopolis , who rose en masse on the 30 th of May , and assisted by a party of Kat River rebels , murdered all the Fingoes . Major-General Somerset was fortunately in Graham ' s Town , and brought down upon the enemy a strong force , when many of the rebels were slain , end the others sought shelter in the bush , leaving a quantity of grain behind them , and 630 head of cattle . Sir Harry Smith remained at King William ' s Town , from which he had despatched several patrolling parties into the enemy ' s country , the result of which
was that a few Kafirs were killed , some of their huts destroyed , and a number of cattle captured . This was all that the troops could effect with the scanty means the Governor had at command . The force of Sir Harry Smith was just sufficient to keep the Kafirs in check , but totally unable to reduce them to subjection . The inefficient state of the army was not unknown to the enemy , who in consequence grew more bold in their operations , while they also increased in numbers . This aspect of the state of hostilities was most disheartening to the colonists , who could see no probability of their
termination unless the Governor should receive such strong reinforcements as would enable him to march into the field and commence active operations . The skirmishing that had taken place was admitted to have been more or less favourable to the colonial arms ; but it was felt that while such a system of warfare was not only vexatious , but harassing , it could lead to no decisive results—at the same time Sir Harry was gradually losing some of his bravest officers , instance Field Cornet Gray , Field Cornet Bouwer , and Field Cornet Albertse , who were all struck down within a month .
It was said that Sir Harry Smith was about to march through the Amatola Mountains—the stronghold of the Kafirs .
768 Tr^T Vltauet. [Saturday,
768 tR ^ t VLtaUet . [ Saturday ,
The Stranger In " The States." New Orlea...
THE STRANGER IN " THE STATES . " New Orleans , Louisiana , June , 1851 . My dear Sir , —The heat of this southern climate is now upon us ; and as this is my first year in latitude 30 degrees , I feel very languid and dull . What with the endeavour to keep myself cool during the day , with the thermometer at 93 degrees or 94 degrees in the shade , and the effort to rid myself of the horrid musquitos during the night time , I am kept so busy that I can scarcely get a chance to write to you . Even now these destructive blood-sucking insects are 41 cozen , " " cozen , " " cozening , " around me in thousands , and in another half hour my flesh will be covered with " bumps " from their attacks .
New Orleans has again become almost lifeless . Its busy population who crowd the city in winter have flown to more salubrious climes ; silence now reigns where the hum of business prevailed but a short time since , and the tout ensemble is " dull , stale , and unprofitable" enough . The groaning of the high-pressure steam-boats seems to sound sadly upon the dreary waste ; the houses of amusement are nearly all closed ; and the inhabitants have much difficulty in getting over the dull time that hangs upon their hands .
In returning from a short trip through Louisiana and Mississippi , I find that the crops are by no means in a flourishing condition . The cotton was driven rather late before it could be planted , and then some sharp frosts blighted it a good deal . The terrible effects of the ov erflow of the Mississippi are still felt in many places : a good deal of the sugarcane was completely spoiled . The weather is now dry , and the ground is baked almost as hard as a brick , so that the crops can make but little headway . Corn , however , upon the whole , in Lousiana and Mississippi , will yield an average production for this part of the country . At prenent , fears are
entertained of another overflow , as the up-river paperH state that the rivers are all full , and part of the country in Illinois and Missouri is inundated . Under these circumstances , planters an ; in anything but high glee , Last year the planters did not reap more than the fourth of a crop , in consequence of the high water ; and , for the two preceding year . s , they were badly enough off from the same cause . In the swamp , the last year ' s water-mark I saw to be eight or ten feet high on the treeH , miles from any river ; and this year the mails were frequently carried in canoes on the water upon the roads . It is fearful to contemplate this annual overflow ; and without ttciuiicc can invent Home preventive , the Hwamp-land . s will be worth next to nothing . The MinwMHippi , during the months of March and April , in
a perfect boji , and you can form no idea oi the grandeur of the wcene , attended with most diniiBtrouB consequences . . Powerful levees are broken down , crevaHHCH are formed , and the ; liquid element rushcH with terrific violence towards the ( jlulf . Of lato the " Father of Watern " has become a perfect terror to the inhabitants , and it in Homewhat interesting to nee men daily watching the rim : or fall with the utmost anxiety . Tho stopping up ofHeveral natural outletH for . surplus water in the various pni 1 h of the valley , haw caused the MisHiNMippi to Hwell more than formerly , and rendered its waters at pre-Hwiit uncontrollable . As you utaiul upon one of the high bluffs , and view the silent gush of the water , tho mind is filled , witli various contemplations . There you will boo dome trcuiondoua logs carried down the
bed of the stream , and there also numbers of rafts borne by the current for southern markets , with up-country produce , as the men on board , with their rough and devil-may-care appearance , bask in their little shanty , and appear to enjoy le dolce far niente . There too you see the castle-like steam-boats driving along , whilst their " smoke stacks" give forth the black volumes from the " fire-knots . " Then perhaps you will see two of these monsters get abreast for a race—immediately all steam is put on ; pinewood or "Tcnots " does not give heat enough—bacon , lard , pitch , and every combustible matter is put into the furnace , whilst those on board may hear one of the well-known captains exclaim in his nasal twang : —
" Rosin up thar ; engineer , down wi the safetyvalves . Give her goss . Gents who haven ' t stepp'd to Captain ' s office to settle had better go aft to ladies ' cabin , jist till we beat this har boat or bu ' st . Fire up , boys ! Let her rip ! Let her rip !" And off they go , struggling against the current , like spirited horses with heavy loads . Oh ! it is exciting . "But the danger—the danger ! " exclaim the English . The American thinks of no such thing , but philosophises with " darn the difference ;" and so he goes through life . The principal question under discussion in Louisiana is the creation of new railroads . Several
meetings have been held in New Orleans and the lower Mississippi towns , but the people only appear to " resolve and re-resolve and die the same . " Plans without end have been suggested , adopted , and condemned . The Tehuantepec affair has turned out but a bubble now fairly burst , and no railway will be conducted in that part of the world at present . The speculation has been bolstered up for some time to suit party purposes . The last proposition is to erect a line to Opelousas , 160 miles west . The scheme has no sooner received sanction than opposition is raised , as the Orlenians are fearful that another town will spring up in opposition to them on the west side
of the river , where it is proposed to make the terminus depot . The advocates of the scheme meanwhile are pleasing themselves with the most absurd speculations ; for they calculate that this 160 miles will , in a little time , be extended across the fertile prairies of Texas , to California and the Pacific ; and that they shall have direct communication from New Orleans to India and China ! This is the way the people are for ever dreaming in the south ; their minds are capable of conceiving anything , but their energy and perseverance is not worth a " Brummagem sixpence . " Years have elapsed since the introduction of railways into this country , and for years the Orlenians have
been talking of constructing lines ; yet , you will be surprised to hear , that in this ( one of the busie st cities in the world for six months out of the twelve ) there is but one line of railway , six miles long ! not for business or any useful purpose , but just to accommodate pleasure-seekers to the Lake Pontchartrain ! The mercantile greatness of New Orleans has been created by its favourable position on the Mississippi , and it is only since the yielding up of Louisiana b y the French to the Americans , that the Yankees have established mercantile houses in the city . They have already nearly effectually rooted out the ancient population ; and as they have branches in the North ,
where their homes are , they are now but too anxious to divert traffic to more convenient places in the North . Already they are successful , for New Orleans is declining in its commerce in the face of a vastly increasing population in the valley . There are scarcely any permanent residences in New Orleans . The merchants , therefore , live in the large hotels , in a semi-domestic way , for nix . months in the winter time , and hence the reason for the tremendous hotels you have heard of . The North , too , are busy in carrying out all sorts of improvements . ^ Railways directly with the South are made ; and ere long I feel pretty confident that New Orleans will be spoken of as u place that was wonderful for itn commerce , its vices , its crimes , nnd itH pleasures . But , altogether , the
South in in no way self-dependent ; it looks even now more like a province than a portion of the United States . The food has to be brought from the North , although on every plantation it could be produced almost spontaneously . Manufacturing in never dreamt of . All sorts of clothes , and pork , beef , flour , butter , egg " , & c . & c , nil have to eomo from the North to a greater or less degree ; yet with this dependence they are eternally boasting of their " chivalrie bearing , " their independence , their honour , and their patriotism ; and I assure you the leading men do " strut and fret their hour upon the nt » ge " and no nu stake : in illustration , a " tournament" was got up in the olden style in South Carolina , about a fortnight since .
With regard to tho Cuban affairs what do the English think ? I suppose they scarcely know what to think . This is simply how matters stand . Cuba would be to the South what California it * to the North an invaluable acquisition . A strong position for defence , a lovely and fertile country , and an extension of slavery , are objects not to be despiHed by the Southemem Do not think that an idea of ultimate conquest is given up . Arms are ready , and winked ut by tho . Southerners ; money is ready , and men are in ubimuttnoo—an opportunity ia ttll that ia
dosired . President Fillmore deserves praise for th energy he bestowed in preventing a disgraceful de scent upon the island a short time since . The Souther papers are inflaming the public mind by publicatic > of specimens , as they call them , of S panish . tyranny over the Cubans ; and on the island there is a secret patriot printing-press kept for the purposes of the invaders . In the political world , things to a stranger ' s eve look ominous enough , and party spirit is running high The cry of Whig and Democrat in the South has given place to Union and Disunion ; and although the former is a strong party , yet the latter is by no means a mean one . South Carolina has declared for
secession—the cause is advocated with a good deal of success in Georgia , Alabama , and Mississi ppi . j n what all this may result God only knows ; for whilst ultraism , is rising in the South for slavery , ultraism is gaining ground in the North against it . It is im . possible for this state of things to continue for manv years . The hot blood of the Southerners is beginning to be aroused ; already they see themselves outgeneralled in the loss of California , Utah , and New Mexico ( virtually ) , and the abolition of the slave trade in the district of Columbia . The compromise
which effected this change gave to the South the Fugitive Slave Bill , which of course is worth nothing ; for even if the slaves could be returned , it costs more to reclaim them than they are worth . Beyond its present limits slavery cannot be extended one foot it is fastened and perfectly hemmed in . Abolition is marching with giant-like strides . Virginia is half abolition , Maryland has expressed herself careless , Kentucky is exceedingly liberal , and Tennessee is fast falling from her prejudices . The only outlet , therefore , is Texas .
It is astonishing to see men here pass day after day , and week after week , nay , month after month , in public speaking , in one place after another . A five or six hours * speech is a trifle—they boast lengthened orations , and I heard the qualities of a man discussed the other day by his being able to speak ten hours in succession ! The rivals insult each other , and injured honour can only be satisfied by a duel . A newspaper printed a few miles up the river ( Vicksburg ) has
had three editors shot in succession in duelling . The other day an affair of honour came off in Mississippi . Two persons , named Gen . Smith and Gen . F » eeman , both candidates , insulted each other , and met with due ceremony . They were unfortunate shots ( or , perhaps , I should say fortunate ) , for they fired five times , and then both escaped without damage—but Southern honour was appeased , and they went to canvassing again like good fellows . Yours , Lindsey .
P . S . I have just got a file of St . Louis papers . The up-river is at a stand , and the water is expected to subside in a few days . This will be a great relief to many , and things will begin to look better . We have had a few cases of cholera " , but the West may be said to be healthy . Those who suffered have been imprudent in eating loads of vegetables , drinking , & c .
Newspaper Stamps. Repollt Op The Select ...
NEWSPAPER STAMPS . REPOllT OP THE SELECT COMMITTEE . The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the present state and operation of the law relative to newspaper stamps , also into the law and regulations relative to the transmission of newspapers ami other publications by post , and to report their opinion thereupon to the House , and who wore also empowered to report the minutes of evidence taken before them to the House , have considered the matters to them referred , and have agreed to the following report : — " In conformity with the object for which your committee was appointed , they have examined witnesses competent to give information upon the . slate of the- law affecting newspaper stamps , and the operation of t ' lilt law upon tho newspaper press and the public welfare . " Your committee have further taken evidence respecting the transmission of newspapers and other printed matter by the Post-oflice . " Upon the interpretation which the Board of Inland Itevenue put upon the law , and the practice which nan been pursued by that department , your committee have examined the solicitor and the assistant-secretary of t >"' board . Among the witnesses practically cognizant <> tho details involved in the publication of newK |» al > ' ^ your committee have examined the manager of the 7 t « i' - ' » one of the editors of the Daily Neios , and other K * ' "' - j men connected with the metropolitan and the province press ; and upon the policy of impeding a direct tax <> the diffusion of a knowledge of current events throng newspapers they have examined Heveral gentlemen w " have iven nttcntion to the Hubject ¦
g . ., , " The duty on newspapers is imposed by the act <> al 7 William IV ., c . 70 , and is an follows : — " For every sheet or other piece of paper whereon any newspaper shall be printed , Id . , "A further additional duty of Jd . and Id . »» VJ ! " . '"' ' ,, in cane the paper exeeeda certain Bizes npeci » the act . . " These additional duties aro practically not ineurrc * " () u auppleioenttt not exceeding a certain hize , i" . " These duties are declared to bo payable «»— . " 1 . Any paper containing public news , into "'? '" "'_' or occurrences printed in any part of tho United Jvii b dom , to bo dispersed and iniido public
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 16, 1851, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_16081851/page/4/
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