ing an indelible stigma of infamy upon the men | most sincere; but the political character of the who would lend their money for such a vile, un- question has become such that the great controlchristian, and barbarous purpose. This is my ling mass of the North would undoubtedly agree moral force." with and sustain their Representatives. THE CONVENTION. The project for assembling a Convention to draft a State Constitution, to be submitted to the people for ratification, has now advanced so far toward a certain accomplishment, that we feel it our duty to offer a few suggestions relative to its composition, and the principles which should govern in selecting its members. We never had, and have not now, any desire to become a politician in the sense in which the word is usually understood, but we confess that it is a cherished wish with us to advance the true interests of California. We desire to see her take that rank which her commercial position on the Coast of the Pacific, her untold mineral wealth, and her great agricultural resources, point out as her destiny; and we desire that she on whom all eyes are turned, and from whom so much is expected, should not seem ignorant of her own illimitable resources, nor prove recreant to the great principles which were the first political lessons of her citizens, and which the world expects her to avow and maintain. Every person appears to be convinced that the Slavery question under the complexion that it now wears in the Atlantic States, defeated the numerous attempts made in the last Congress to give to California a territorial organization, and all men ought to be as firmly assured that unless the citizens of California settle that question for themselves, and do so at once, that it will prevent, defeat, or at least protract, for some years to come, the establishment of any government in the country. Independent of the moral considerations which weigh so heavily against Slavery, and which we have neither time nor room to repeat, as a matter of expediency—as a means of giving to this country a government-it is necessary that the people should insert in their Constitution a clause forbidding the introduction of negro or other Slavery. The highest, noblest acts of humanity demand it-the progressive doctrines of Republicanism cannot be maintained without it and the interest of the mass, the people-those who dig and delve, and earn their bread and learn self-respect and enterprise from the necessities of labour render it imperative. There must be no slurring over or avoiding the question. The South have contended that it is a question which should be left to the citizens of each State to decide, and they cannot complain if we decide against it; while the North have asserted that it was a principle with them which they are bound to maintain at any and all hazzards, and that, therefore, they can never consent to the extension of Slavery into California. True, the men who are most vociferous are probably the We do not fear to assert, then, that a State Constitution for California, which does not contain a provision against Slavery, will never be allowed to go into effect by the Congress of the United States; and we are still more firm in our conviction that the people of California would never approve such a document. It then follows, that the people of the different districts, in their primary meetings, must see that their opinions in this matter are expressed and understood. No man should go to the Convention whose feelings on this subject are unknown, and whose views do not coincide with the majority of those whom he represents, and every proper effort should therefore be made to accomplish this result. We abhor proscription, but we feel, at the same time, that great interests are at stake, which call for vigilance, firmness, and above all, a fair and full expression of public sentiment. Let us but have this, and the consequences will not be regretted. Alta Californian, July 2. THE MOST DEGRADED NOT THE MOST HOPELESS. Many people run away with the notion that "so degraded a class" is beyond the reach of reformation or influence. Now, strange as the assertion may appear, we at once affirm that we entertain more hopes of fruit from the miserable than from the easier ranks; of that fruit, we mean, which is seen in the development and nurture of the feelings of the heart. Our difficulty does not lie in eliciting the affections of these neglected children, but the finding fit employment for the qualities we impart. Those born and placed in safer circumstances may withstand the temptations to which the pupil of the Ragged School might eventually yield; but, for the mere detail of teaching, we prefer the wild to the demurer classes. Oppression and sorrow have, of themselves, taught to many submission and endurance. It may be seen in several instances, trivial, perhaps, in their nature, but illustrative of their habits of mind. "You must wait," said the missionary to a boy at one of those tearties, where, once in twelve months, the s of these novices learn what it is to ate to a full meal"you must wait, an you shall be fed." "Oh, I can wait," said the boy, his teeth actually chattering with hunger, "I am more accustomed to that than to the other!" Nor has suffering failed in its frequent, though not invariable result, an interchange of sympathy. We saw a gratifying instance in the school at Broadwall. One boy, of the most lawless life and insolent behaviour, was, after repeated expulsions, considered incorrigible. He was sentenced, there fore, to be finally dismissed. His circumstances, brethren, from one end of the group of Islands to the other. The number thus saved, God only knows-probably it was very great. About the 1st of November, one of my neighbours returned from Honolulu, and informed me that many of the people at that place had died, and that they were still dying daily. I was startled at the hearing of this item of intelligence. I remarked, however, that I had strong hope that our people would be spared, as none of them had yet died, and quite a number had already recovered. He said in reply, that he feared the critical time had not come; adding that at Honolulu, and at Hawaii also, many who had seemingly quite recovered from the measles, were afterwards attacked by the diarrhoea and carried MORTALITY AMONG THE PEOPLE OF THE SAND-off suddenly. Soon after, we heard that the peo WICH ISLANDS. ple of Lahaina were attacked in a similar manner, About the first of October, 1848, the ship In- and were rapidly dying. A few days only dependence, United States ship of war, arrived at elapsed ere cases began to appear among us. One Hilo, Hawaii, and remained several days. Soon and another fell before the destroyer, till in Deafter, the measles made their appearance, and cember some eighty in our field were numbered multitudes of the people were down at once. It with the dead. In the meantime, the intelligence was said, however, that they were light; and, from Hawaii, from Lahaina, and from Honolulu though it was nearly certain that the disease was distressing, appalling. Not only were mulwould spread through the entire group, we hoped titudes of all ages cut down by the measles, or its that but few of the people would be carried off. attendant maladies, but by the whooping-cough— The Independence next touched at Honolulu, introduced by an American child, who, accomcarrying the infection to that large village. There panied by his mother, came down from Califorbeing many of our Maui people at that place, they nia. This attacked the children with great viotook the disease and carried it home, whence it lence, and multitudes of them died—quite a numspread from village to village, and soon reached ber of English and American children also. Many Molokai and Lanai. You can conceive some-adults had the whooping-cough, but scarce had thing of the distressing state of things among us, when you are told, that, with the exception of some two or three individuals, who accompanied Liholiho to England, none of the chiefs or people escaped. You will recollect that King Liholiho and his favourite Queen died of this disease in London; with that exception, all, from the King on the throne, to the most humble of his subjects, and from the oldest inhabitant to the new born babe, have been subject to this malady. Still, I hoped that God would graciously spare the people, though He might afflict them. We could hardly doubt that some, perhaps many, would die, the aged, the feeble, the vicious; but the vigorous, and those free from the influence of sinful habits, these I did believe would sustain the shock and survive. From the time that the measles were announced as having ached the Islands, up to the time of the conv of the nation and pe cheerfully done. Od friend and fellow labourer, Doctor Judd, penned an article for the This is one of the largest tribes in the country Elele, or Hawaiian Messenger, in which he de-claimed by the United States. The country ocscribed the disease; warned them of the danger of bathing, and eating fish-especially raw fish, of which they are inordinately fond, and meat of any kind, and directed them to the best methods of treatment. Messrs. Andrews and Smith, physicians of the mission, did all in their power to save the people around them. So did all the all that the friends ld do for them was they recovered from the diarrhoea when they were attacked with the influenza. For several weeks nearly all the people were prostrated. To aggravate their distress, the winter rains set in with uncommon violence. At no season since my residence on the Islands, have the rains been so copious, and the weather so inclement. I scarcely need say that in their poor houses, and with the few comforts which they possess, the people have been great sufferers. Probably some 10,000 of them have died since October 1st, of last year; and though the sickness has much abated, still deaths I find to be frequent at Honolulu, and probably at other places. I am sorry to be obliged to add that many, very many, have died from imprudence, want of regard to the directions of their friends, the missionaries and physicians.-American Missionary. THE DAKOTA OR SIOUX INDIANS. cupied by them is probably more extensive than that of any other tribe of the aboriginal inhabitants of North America. It extends from the Mississippi on the east to the Rocky Mountains on the west, full fifteen degrees of longitude, with an average of not less than four degrees of latitude, or 300 miles. gists locate the organ of firmness, considerably further forward than is the apex in the head of the African. The hair of the Sioux is generally black and straight, and men as well as women count it an honour to wear long hair. But I know several children, supposed to be full-blooded Dakotas, who have yellow hair; and, aside from what is artificial in both races, curled hair is nearly as common among their men as among Their proper name, by which they are known, among themselves, is Dakota, a being sounded as in father. It signifies Allies, or United, and implies that many clans are united into one nation. Among the white men they have been generally known by the name of Sioux, pronounced as if written sooz. The early French writers, who gave them this name, wrote it Scioux. Carver, who was among them upward of eighty years ago, and who claims to have been the first Eng-white men. lishman who ever entered their country, wrote it The colour of their skins is a little whiter than Naolowessioux. He estimated the number of that of the Chippewas, who are their neighbours their warriors at 4,000. If he was as correct in on the Northeast. This is not always observable this estimate as in that of the other tribes he visit-in the full blooded Indians, because in most of ed, instead of diminishing, as other tribes are supposed to have done, they have increased, and are now twice as numerous as they were eighty years ago. For many years the whole population of the tribe has been estimated, by those having the best opportunities of knowing, at not less than 25,000 or 30,000. these the true colour of the skin is mostly concealed by paint or dirt. It is very obvious when we look at the half-breeds of the two tribes; many of the half-breed Sioux being as fair as the generality of Europeans. Some of the fairest skinned children I have ever seen have Sioux grandmothers as dark as the average of the tribe. Owing to their mode of life the women are shorter and heavier built than most white women, and the men are generally lighter men. Their bodies are straight and well formed generally; and where there is any defect natural or accidental, they are very careful to conceal it, and their mode of dress is such as to exhibit their persons to the best advantage. Obesity is rare, and never, except from disease or starvation, do we see a Dakota so lean as are many laboring white men who enjoy good health-Minesota Pioneer. TRIAL OF KIDNAPPERS-CONVICTION-SEN TENCE. In form, colour, mode of life, religion, and the structure of their languages, there is a general resemblance among all the Aborigines of North America; but this is much less clearly marked than might be supposed from much of what has been published concerning them. The first inhabitants of the temperate zone of this continent with whom Europeans became acquainted, were of the Algonquin or Mobilian stock. Individuals of those families of nations are the models whence more than nine-tenths of the descriptions and pictures of Indians have been drawn. The prominent cheek bones, broad nose, projecting jaws, and large thick lips, which are so characteristic of these, and perhaps of other races of Red Men, are not particularly remarkable among the Dakotas. After residing many years among them, I CHESTER CO., PA., Aug. 11th, 1849. am unable to specify any particular in the form West Chester has been the scene of quite an of the Sioux face, from the eyes downward, which excitement during the past four days, owing to might serve to distinguish them from Europeans. the trial of Amos B. McFarland and Solomon From the eyes upward, in general, the form of States, of Downingtown, in this county, charged their heads is distinguished from that of the with decoying a boy of some fifteen years of age White men, and approaches more nearly to that of from that place; and through the agency of one the Red. The part of the face above the nose or two others, under the false pretence of proand between the eyebrows is full and prominent, curing him a good place as a coachman, succeeded and the upper part of the orbits, in many indivi- in landing him in a Baltimore slave prison, before duals, much more elevated above the eyes than is the boy suspected any evil. Here he at once deseen in Europeans; indicating that what Phre-clared himself free born; told the proprietor nologists call the perceptive faculties or organs, where he was from the circumstances attendespecially individuality and Locality, are very ing his arrival. Th der being "as much large. This prominence about the inner part of opposed as any bod aving the free, wrote the brows makes the Dakota forehead appear nar- to his employer gtown, who at once rower and lower than it really is. The upper took measures to secure the boy's safe return, and part of the head is more round and conical, and ferret out his guilty abductors. The boy's story less flattened on the sides and forehead, than that soon fastened the guilt upon the above named of the European. The diameter of the head of persons, and they were arrested. This was in the latter is considerably greater from before March, or early in April, since which McFarland backward than from side to side, and somewhat has been at large under heavy bail, while States, flattened on the top as well as sides, while in the a coloured man, without money or friends, has former the several diameters seem to be about been in close confinement. equal, and the central part of the top of the head comes to an apex near the place where Phrenolo Witnesses were numerous, and several days were occupied in their examination, in the course of which several persons were more or less implicated. The evidence was overwhelming, and seemed to leave little for Judge Chapman in his charge to the jury, but to bring up to view, in justice to the ill-fated accused, any testimony adduced, which they could claim as at all militating in their favour. Judge Chapman has presided but a short time over the courts of this county; but long enough to win the confidence and respect of all; and in this case has acted a part that will teach slaveholders, their abettors and lackeys, that the laws of this State against kidnapping will be rigidly enforced. The jury were out but a short time; were polled, and each gave the answer of "guilty." A plea in arrest of judgment, and motion for a new trial, was put in by the counsel for the prisoner, but it was over-ruled by the court; and at nine o'clock last night they were sentenced: McFarland to six, and States to five years solitary labour in the penitentiary, and each to five hundred dollars fine and costs of prosecution, and to remain in prison until the sentence is complied with. The court made a distinction in the period of their imprisonment, on the ground that the evidence went to show that States was the tool of McFarland, and indeed to the last, to the bystanders, he protested his innocence, and supposed that he was only aiding McFarland to get the boy "a good place." Still I believe our Downingtown friends had suspected both before, particularly in the case of the girl taken from Zebulon Thomas's some time JUDGE O'NEALL ON LICENSE. From the earliest history of our country, even so far back as two hundred years ago, there was legislation on the matter; and though licenses were granted to sell spirituous liquors, yet very stringent laws existed to punish the drunkard; and from that day to the resent there has been constant legislation subject, especially in South Carolina, whe ls of selling liquors were terribly appare the law now exists, town authorities have the power to reject or grant licenses, as may appear to them right and proper the persons receiving them coming under bonds to "keep a good and orderly house". -a bond which in the nature of things must be, and is, constantly broken. Who ever heard of a "good and orderly house" in a grog shop? No one-it can't be. Where occur the homicides, the murders, which so often shock humanity? In grog shops and taverns. What causes the angry passions of man to rise above all restraint, and lead to deeds of blood? The ardent spirits sold by legalized and lawful retailers. What horrid cry comes from yonder place of fashionable amusement, and from that other scene of startling orgies? The death shriek of men stabbed to the heart by those who had lost reason and sense, in the legalized cup. Oh dreadful, terrible traffic, which, under law, sells that which makes a man a demon, and a murderer? And who benefits by this detestable trade? Certainly not the community as a mass; for facts have shown that for every dollar received for licenses, five are paid away to sustain the drunken pauper and to punish the drunken criminal. Individuals are not benefited. Experience exhibits the startling fact, that the curse of the Prophet of old rests upon drunkard makers to this day. They do not prosper in their "basket and store," nor do their families usually benefit by the morals of the trade; while the husband and father often becomes-alas, how very often-his own destroyer. The judge states that in an experience of thirtythree years as a Lawyer and Judge, he had found that retailing liquors was the cause of more crime in South Carolina than anything else and this is confirmed by the experience of every Judge in the land.-Charleston Mercury. THE BEAUTIFUL TOTAL ABSTINENCE BOYS. Ancient history tells us of four boys, of great beauty and intelligence, that were carried captives from their native country and presented to the king, a mighty monarch, to stand before him as his most honoured servants. These favoured youths were provided with every means which the court of this great monarch could furnish for making them skilful in all wisdom, cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, beautiful in person, and accomplished in manners. The richest fruits and most delicious wines were given to nourish them. But they were lads of greater wisdom than even those persons who were set to perfect and polish them. And when the wine was brought them to drink, they decided among themselves, "None for us." It is not said that they signed a pledge, but they formed a total abstinence society, and it was impossible for those who were set over them to break their rank. "If you pine away," said they, "we shall endanger our heads to the king." "But," said the boys, "give us WATER to drink ten days, and then if our countenances look not better than the countenances of those who drink wine, then deal with us as you see fit." The experiment was eminently successful. Their countenances were fairer than all the children who partook of the king's delicacies. For the character of these youths, when they became men, look into your Bibles, in the book of Daniel.-Bombay Temperance Advocate. AFRICA. What a wonderful continent it is, this rounded, smooth-shored Africa; known from the earliest dawn of time, yet so unknown; the granary of nations, yet sterile and fruitless as the sea; swarming with life, yet dazzling the eyes of Moon-men with its vast tract of glittering sand. North America first seen but the other day, has been probed from end to end; its gallant and restive Phillips, Tecumsehs and Montezumas have been bridled and broken by the white man; but Africa has sent no Cortez, or even a De Soto or La Salle, "wringing favours from fate," as Santa Anna has it. Some solitary Mungo Park, or faithful Lander, or persevering Burckhardt, alone has tried to read the secret of the mother of civilization, the gray-haired Africa. If we seek a land of romance and mystery, what quarter of the globe compares with that which holds the pyramids; the giant Theban temples, one roof of which clusters a modern village; the solemn, hewn mountain cliff of a Sphinx; the ruins of Carthage; the Nile with its hidden sources; the Niger, with its unknown outlet; the heaven-bearing Atlas; the dimly seen mountains of the moon? There Joseph, the slave, rose romantically to be the ruler of millions; there, Moses, floating in his cradle, is saved, in the purest spirit of romance, by a king's daughter, and like the hero of some earlier chivalry, Arthur and Merlin in one, breaks the bonds of his people and founds a new and mighty nation; there was the home of Dido, of Hannibal, the scene of Scipio's triumphs, Jugurtha's crimes; there livid Tertullian, Athanasius, and Augustine; the romance of the Moors dwelt there; the last breath of the sainted Louis of France was drawn there; and but a year has elapsed since the last shout of the latest hero of romance, Abd-el-Kadir, came faintly across the Atlantic. Africa is the home of the leviathan, the behemoth, the unicorn, the giraffe, the slight antelope scarce bigger than a cat, the earth shaking elephant, the unaccountable lion, the all-conquering buffalo. It is the home, too, of the mysterious negro races, races yet lying dormant in the germ; destined, perhaps, to rule this earth when our proud Anglo Saxon blood is as corrupt as that of the descendants of Homer and Pericles. The past, present and future of Africa are alike wrapped in mystery. Who can tell us of the childhood of dark browed Egypt, square shouldered and energetic? Carthage, the England of the old world's ruler, has not even a romancing Livy, still less an unwearied Niebuhr, to explain her rise, and untangle the mysteries of her constitution. Of all the vast interior, the Abyssintas and Sondons, what do we know more than the Punic merchants, who, like us, dealt there, taking slaves, ivory and gold? And what can we hope hereafter to see in those immense, unknown lands? God has enabled the European to drive the North American, step by step, toward extinction, and has given our great continent for the full developments and trial of whatever permanent power the Caucasian race possesses; but Africa he had preserved-for what? For future contest? For an imported, foreign civilization, to be entered through Liberias and Cape Colonies? France and Britain are watching each other now along those burning sands, as they once watched by the icy rocks of Canada and Acadia; is it to end in the same subjection of the aboriginal owners to one or both of these land pirates? Or does the dark race in all its varieties possess a capacity for understanding and living out the deep meaning of the world's ruler, Christianity, as the offspring of the followers of Odin never did, and never can, understand and act it? If the old Egyptian Sesostris had paused amid his conquering and rock-hewing to contemplate the illiterate wanderers of Greece, to whom a Cadmus was just striving to make known the letters of Phoenicia, would not Plato and Aristotle have seemed as impossible to him, as the existence in Africa of a higher Christianity than has yet been seen, seems to us? Would not the present position of the Teutonic race have appeared equally incredible to the founder of the Parthenon, the loungers in the gardens of the Academy ?-North American Review. |