day," and he left. Alas! that those words were derided, as they were, by that band of misguided men, and that Breckinridge, voluntarily falling from his high estate, should at last find himself an outlawed fugitive on a foreign shore. George Peabody Repudiating the Rebel Commissioner. Mr. Dudley Mann, one of the representatives of the rebel cause in England, waited in behalf of that cause on our countryman Peabody, who happens to hold some $300,000 of repudiated Mississippi Bonds, on which there is due more than $600,000 of interest. Mr. Mann was very magnificent and grandiloquent, but withal, prosy; and Peabody, suffering from gout and Mississippi Repudiation, lost his temper. Shaking his clenched fist at the rebel, he said, emphatically: "If I were to go on 'Change and hunt up the suffering and starved widows and orphans who have been ruined by your infamous repudiation of honest debts, and proclaim that you are here to borrow more of our gold and silver to be again paid by repudiation, (as I believe it is my duty to do,) you would inevitably be mobbed, and find it difficult to escape with your Good morning, Sir." life. Stating the Exact Alternative. The active operations of General Butler's army in Louisiana were confined, at first, to sudden incursions into the enemy's country, either for the purpose of rescuing Union men, who were threatened by their neighbors with destruction, or of breaking up camps and roving gangs of guerillas. The guerillas were numerous, enterprising, and wholly devoid of every kind of scruple. The first dash by the Federals into the inhabited country was made by Colonel Kinsman, who went fifty miles or more up the Opelousas railroad to bring away the families of some Union men who had fled to the city, asking protection. He crossed the river to Algiers, more pliant, and the conversation was re- somewhat. Lying at apparent ease in his sumed. "What is your name?" "Pierce." bed, but with the marks of death upon his pale countenance, Mrs. Douglas, who sat, soothing him gently, by his bedside, "Pierce? Why that is a Yankee name. painfully aware that the dreadful moment Where were you born?" "In Boston." "Are you married?" "Yes." "Where was your wife born?" "At East Cambridge." of final separation was approaching, asked him what message he wished to send to his sons, Robert and Stephen, who were then students at Georgetown. He answered not at first, and she tenderly repeated the question. He then replied "How long have you been at the with a full voice, and emphatic toneSouth?" "About six years." Yankee.' You are, indeed, a - Yankee.' Go home, "Tell them to obey the laws, and support the Constitution of the United States." Death Preferred to the Southern Oath. and see that you are promptly on hand of the Western steamers, was deliberately to-morrow morning." hung at Mound City for his patriotic fidelHe was promptly on hand in the morn-ity to the flag of his adopted country. He ing, ready to run the train for his condemned countrymen. But as competent engineers were found among the troops, it was thought best not to risk the success of the expedition by trusting the renegade, and the objects of the party were accomplished without his aid. Senator Douglas's Last Message to his For a considerable time previous to his death, Senator Douglas was in a semi country more than fifty years ago, and was a native of Norway, came to this lived in Boston, where his children still reside. committee," was proven to have said He was first examined by a that he hoped Lincoln would come down the river and take every thing; that he would die rather than live in the Southern States, and much more of the same sort. The committee proposed to forgive him if he would take an oath to support the Southern States. He indignantly repelled the proposition, and said he would die first. Finding that he was determined, beyond all appeals, they threw a rope over the limb of a tree, and, stringing the venerable patriot up twenty-five feet, they left him to a halter's doom. Nature in Council upon the Union. The Rev. Bishop Ames, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while preaching in his usual fervid manner at a Western camp-meeting, remarked that there had been one grand Union Convention, the proceedings of which had not been reported by telegraph. Said the eloquent Bishconscious condition; but on the morning op: "It was held amid the fastnesses of of that event his mind and energies rallied the everlasting hills. The Rocky Moun- " Mrs. S. A. Douglas. tains presided, the mighty Mississippi warm personal friend. He knew that made the motion, the Alleghany Moun- South Carolina must yield, on some terms, tains seconded it, and every mountain and to the authority and power of the National hill, and river and valley, in this vast Government, and he conceived the idea country, sent up a unanimous voice-Re- of a compromise by which, in so yielding, solved, That we are one and inseparable, she might preserve her dignity. He proand what God hath joined together, no posed it to Mr. Clay, who, sincerely desirman shall put asunder." 66 ing reconciliation, entertained the idea, He was utterly opposed to compromising and temporising measures with a rebellious faction, and told Mr. Clay so; and from that time he was not approached by those who were willing to shield conspirators from the sword of justice. "Nothing agin the Old Flag." After the battle of Fort Donelson, one of the rebel prisoners was asked if he was not ashamed to fight against the Union, and the Government which had done so much for them. He replied, "I never ples to faction. The time has come to fought agin the Union, and I never will." test the strength of the Constitution and "What then were you doing at Fort Don- the Government." elson?" "I hugged the ground closer nor ever I did before in my life." "Yes," peeped up a little shrill voice by his side, "and you ran three miles to get out of the way. You ran until you got tired and then sat down and rested, and ran again." Were you forced into the army?" "Wal, no, not exactly forced; I knew I would be, so I j'ined. I thought I'd feel better to go myself!" "What do you expect to gain by the rebellion?" "We find our leaders have lied to us. Our big men wanted to get rich and get into office, and so they have got us into this mess by their lies. We have nothing agin the old flag. All we want is our constitutional rights, according to the instrument under which our forefathers lived. They told us the election of Lincoln would deprive us of these, and we believed them. But we now know that they were lies." Calhoun's Escape from the Gallows. Mr. Clay drew up a compromise bill and sent it to Mr. Calhoun, by Mr. Letcher. Calhoun objected to parts of the bill most decidedly, and remarked that if Clay knew the nature of his objections he would at least modify those portions of the bill. Letcher then made arrangements for a personal interview between these eminent Senators, who had not been on speaking terms for some time. The imperious Clay demanded that it should be at his own room. The imperilled Calhoun consented to go there. The meeting was civil but icy. The business was immediately entered upon. The principals were unyielding, and the conference ended without results. Letcher now hastened to President Jackson and sounded him on the subject of compromise: The relative position of the National Government and South Carolina, and of "Compromise!" said the stern old man, the President of the United States and "I will make no compromise with traitors. John C. Calhoun, in the winter of 1833, I will have no negotiations. I will exeplaced the latter in great personal peril, cute the laws. Calhoun shall be tried for which his friends perceived and tried to treason, and hanged if found guilty, if he avert. Among others consulted on the does not instantly cease his rebellious subject was Letcher, of Kentucky, Clay's course." Letcher now flew to M'Duffie, Calhoun's | which the politicians of that State were ardent friend, and alarmed him with a preparing to declare their secession from startling picture of the President's wrath. the Union. Mr. Clayton would not yield That night, after he had retired to bed, a jot. Calhoun was the chief of sinners Letcher was aroused by a Senator from Louisiana, who informed him that Jackson would not allow any more delay, and that Calhoun's arrest might take place at any hour. He begged Letcher to warn Calhoun of his danger. He did so. He found the South Carolinian in bed. He told him of the temper and intentions of the President, and the conspirator was much alarmed. in this matter, and he, of all others, must give the world public and recorded evidence of penitence, whatever his mental reservations might be. "Nothing would be secured," Mr. Clayton said, "unless his vote appeared in favor of the measure." The Senate met; the bill was taken up; and the nullifiers and their friends, one after another, yielded their objections on various pretences. At length, when all Meanwhile Mr. Clay, and Senator Clay- had acted but Mr. Calhoun, he arose, pale ton, of Delaware, had been in frequent and haggard, for he had had a most terriconsultations on the subject. Clayton had ble struggle. He declared that he had said to Clay, while the bill was lingering then to determine which way he should in the House, "These South Carolinians act very badly, but they are good fellows, and it is a pity to let Jackson hang them;" and advised him to get his compromise bill referred to a new committee, and so modify it as to make it acceptable to a majority. Clay did so, and Clayton exerted all his influence to avert the calamity which hung over Calhoun and his friends. He assem- up the government of the United States bled the manufacturers who had hurried in 1832. to the capital when they heard of the vote, and at the termination of his brief remarks he gave his voice in the affirmative with the rest. It was a bitter pill for that proud man to swallow. The alternative presented to him was absolute humiliation or a course that would bring him to the gallows. He chose the former. With that act fell the great conspiracy to break leon on Secession. compromise bill, to see whether they Minister Faulkner and the Emperor Napowould not yield something for the sake of conciliation and the Union. At a sacri- The following interesting conversation fice of their interests, these loyal men did took place on New Year's day, 1861, beyield, and agreed to withdraw all opposi- tween the Emperor of the French and tion to the bill, and let it pass the Senate, Mr. Faulkner, United States Minister to providing all the nullifiers should vote for the French Government. The conversacertain amendments made by the Lower tion possesses a special interest in view of House, as well as for the bill itself. The the fact that Mr. Faulkner, on his return nullifiers in committee would not yield. The home became himself an avowed and incrisis had arrived. The gallows was placed before Calhoun. Clayton earnestly remonstrated with him. fluential secessionist, participating intimately in the counsels of the leading conspirators. After the usual greetings, the Emperor said: "What is the latest intelligence you have received from the United States? Not so alarming, I trust, as the papers represent it?" Finally, they concluded to vote as Mr. Clayton demanded, but begged that gentleman to spare Mr. Calhoun the mortification of appearing on the record in favor of a measure against which at that very time, and at his instance, troops were being "Like most nations, Sire," replied Mr. raised in South Carolina, and because of Faulkner, "we have our troubles, which have lost none of their coloring, as de- but on mounting by the interior staircase scribed in the European press." to the highest window in the steeple, "I hope it is not true that any of the thought they would scarcely have nerve States have separated from the General to undertake it. At last, William O'DonConfederation," added Napoleon. nell and Charles McLaughlin, two young "The States still form painters in the employ of Richard B. Fosgovernment, as heretofore. dick, of Fifth avenue, decided to make the citement in portions of the attempt. Getting out of the little dia one common and there are indications of extreme mond-shaped window about half way up, Chas. J. Faulkner they climbed up the lightning rod on the east side of the spire, to the top. Here one of the men fastened the pole securely to the cross, although quite a gale was blowing at the time. The flag thus secured, the daring young man mounted the cross, and, taking off his hat, calmly and gracefully bowed to the immense crowd which were watching his movements from Broadway. As the flag floated freely in the air, they burst into loud and repeated cheers. It was a sight to thrill the nerves of any patriot. Clerical Prisoners of State. lision with the Episcopal clergy, that New Orleans was not considered by the General large enough to contain both parties in the controversy. An event occurred one day during Genmeasures being adopted by one or two eral Butler's career in New Orleans, which States. But we are familiar with the ex-brought that officer into such direct colcitement, as we are with the vigor, which belong to the institutions of a free people. We have already more than once passed through commotions which would have shattered into fragments any other gov On a Sunday morning, early in October, ernment on earth; and this fact justifies Major Strong entered the office of the the inference that the strength of the General in plain clothes, and said: Union will now be found equal to the strain upon it." "I sincerely hope it may be so," rejoined the Emperor, "and that you may long continue a united and prosperous people." "I have'nt been able to go to church since we came to New Orleans. This morning I am going." He crossed the street and took a front seat in the Episcopal church of Dr. Goodrich, opposite the mansion of General Twiggs. He joined in the exercises with Such a Sight as Thrills the Nerves. the earnestness which was natural to his The vestry of Grace Church, Episcopal, devout mind, until the clergyman reached in New York, was desirous that an Ameri- that part of the service where the prayer can flag should wave from the very apex for the President of the United States of the spire of that magnificent structure, occurs. That prayer was omitted, and the height being two hundred and sixty the minister invited the congregation to feet from the ground. Several persons spend a few moments in silent prayer. offered to undertake the dangerous feat, The young officer had not previously heard |