comply with the church regulation, as a Christian duty, and hence marriages are numerous; but as the people still cling in a great degree to old customs, the marriages are not considered of sufficient importance to require much pre-consideration with the masses. The following description of their wedding customs, and especially the account of a marriage that took place in Mr. Cheever's presence, may provoke a smile from the more delicate ladies of Christendom civilized.

"By the established Hawaiian custom and etiquette, the female is generally the suitor. I was not a little pleased by the honest reply given to a suit of this kind by a man at Kealakekua, employed in the family of one of the missionaries there. He was among the hooikaikas, earnestly seeking the pono, and was asked in marriage by a woman, one of the church members. His answer was, that he must first secure the salvation of his soul, and then he might be ready to think of her.

"Another, of whom I once asked why he did not have a wife-a strange lack for a likely Hawaiian-replied to me, with all frankness, that none of the girls had yet asked him.

"On the other hand, the accomplishments and good looks of some of the boarding-school girls at Hilo and Wailuku have made the tables turn, and have secured them suitors from the other sex, both from their own countrymen and foreigners. But they have hitherto rejected them, on the ground that they had not been long enough in school.

"There occurred a case at a marriage scene. while I was at Kohala, so provokingly droll and amusing, that I can never narrate or call it to mind without laughter. At the Wednesday afternoon meeting, six or seven couples presented themselves together for marriage. Somewhat curious to witness the ceremony, I sat by the minister within the desk. They stood together, opposite, in a line; and when be locked for responding to the marriage vow, their names were called, and hands were to one was found without his mate; and on the pastor's naturally enough asking for her, 'Oh! said the sans culottes bridegroom, with a grave drollery all the more ludicrous for being unmeant, E hookomo ana i kona kapa komo ma ka puka-She is at the door putting on her frock! This to tell of his bride before a whole congregation, was more than the officiating minister or his friend could hear and keep their countenances. A few moments elapsed, and Mr. Bond and myself exchanged knowing glances as the just now gownless bride came in from her toilet by the meeting-house door.

"It was no fair bevy of waiting-maids that accompanied her, but only her dutiful swain that had been out to hasten and help her in putting on her bridal attire. They were married duly and in order, but the ludicro-serio-comico of this original scene was long after food for fun, when we were disposed to be merry; nor will either the missionary or his friend soon forget the maid of Kohala that was making her toilet outside the church door, while her lover was standing up to be married within. Probably she had carried her dress and shoes under her arm for some miles."

ONE of the striking features in the character of the North American Indian tribes, is their strange notions of religion, or popular superstition. Mr. Mellen, in treating on the aboriginals, says:

"Although they have no regular system of religious worship, yet they have many superstitious notions; some of them of a more general, others of a more local nature. The Mandans have their medicine stone, which is their great oracle; and they believe with implicit confidence whatever it announces. Every spring, and occasionally during summer, a deputation, accompanied by jugglers, magicians, or conjurers, visit the sacred spot, where there is a large stone, about twenty feet in circumference, with a smooth surface: there the deputies smoke, taking a few whiffs themselves, and then ceremoniously offering the pipe to the stone. They leave their presents, and withdraw to some distance during the night.

| Before morning, the presents have disappeared, the Great Spirit having, according to their destinies of their nation in some marks on the belief, taken them away; and they read the stone, which the jugglers, who have made them, and secretly manage the whole transaction, can easily decipher. The Minnetarees have also a stone of the same kind.

"On the northern bank of the lower part of the Missouri, there is a singular range of rocks, rising almost perpendicularly about two or three hundred feet above the level of the river. These rocks the Indians call Wakon, or spirit. and on or near them the neighboring nations deposit most of their offerings to the Great Spirit, or Father of Life; because they imagine he either inhabits or frequently visits those rocks, and offerings presented there will sooner attract his notice and gain his favor than anywhere else. Those offerings consist of various articles, among which eagles' feathers are held in highest estimation; and they are pre

sented in order to obtain success in war or hunting.

"They believe also in the existence of evil spirits, but think these malevolent beings gratify their malignity chiefly by driving away the game, preventing the efficacy of medicine, or similar injuries. But they do not always confine their operations to such petty mischiefs; for Mackenzie, in his first voyage, was warned of a spirit behind a neighboring island, | which swallowed up every person who approached it; and near the White Stone river of the Missouri, there is an oblong mound, about seventy feet high, called by the Indians the Mountain of Little People, or Little Spirits, which are supposed to be malignant beings in human shape, about eighteen inches high, with remarkably large heads. They are provided with sharp arrows, in the use of which they are very expert; and they are always on the watch to kill those who approach the mountain of their residence. The tradition, is that many persons have fallen victims to their malevolence; and such is the terror of them among the neighboring nations, that on no consideration will they approach the mound."

These superstitions enter into all the affairs of their lives, and in nothing more absolutely than their preparations for war. No chief ventures to engage in a conflict with an enemy without first consulting the "Medicine Man," and propitiating the Great Spirit through his influence. On this subject, Mellen writes as follows:

"A single warrior sometimes undertakes an expedition against the enemy; but, in cases of great provocation, the whole tribe engages in the enterprise, under the conduct of the principal chief. Even in this case, however, none but volunteers join the army: no one is obliged to march against his will.

"War is often carried on by a small predatory party, formed by the influence of some approved warrior. Among the Omawhas, the warrior paints himself with white clay, and marches through the village, crying aloud to the Wahconda, or Father of Life, and entreating the young warriors of the nation to have pity on him, and to accompany him in an expedition against their enemies. He gives a feast

to those who are willing to follow him; and it is distinctly understood that they who partake of his hospitality pledge themselves to be partners in his enterprise. At the feast he harangues them, and tells them they must gain celebrity by their martial prowess. This leader of the party, to whom the French gave the name of partisan, busies himself, before setting out, in making medicine, hanging out his medicine bag, fasting, attending to his dreams, and other superstitious observances. On the medicine bag, much reliance is placed for the successful termination of the adventure. It usually contains the skin of a sparrow-hawk, and a number of small articles, such as wampum beads and tobacco, all attached to a belt, neatly enveloped in bark, and tied round with strings of the same material. It is of a cylindrical shape, about one, or sometimes two feet long, and is suspended on the back of the partisan by its belt, which passes round his neck. The moccasins, leggins, and arms of the party are put in order. and each warrior furnishes himself with some provisions.

"With the partisan at their head, the party set out, march cautiously, following each other in a line, at a distance of two or three paces, their number may not be discovered, and they often treading in each other's footsteps, that send out spies to explore their route. They easily find out whether any persons have lately passed the same way, by discerning their footsteps on the grass; and as they have to deal with people whose organs of sense are as acute as their own, they are careful, as far as possible, to conceal their own tracks. On halting, the medicine bag is not allowed to touch the ground, but is suspended on a forked stick, firmly fixed in the earth for that purpose. They smoke to it, occasionally turning the stem of the pipe towards it, towards the heavens, and towards the earth. The partisan carefully attends to his dreams, and, if he think them ominous of evil, he at times abandons the enterprise.

When the spies bring information that they are near the enemy, the partisan opens his medicine bag, removes its barky envelope, and suspends the contents from his neck, with the bird skin, wampum, and other articles hanging down on his breast. This is the signal to prepare for action.”

REMOVALS.-Subscribers who contemplate removing from their present residences on the 1st of May, are informed that it will be necessary for them to give notice at this office as early as possible, so that there may be no delay in serving their numbers of the Republic. We believe our carriers now perform their duty faithfully, and in order to continue so, it is only necessary for them to know where to find their subscribers.

WHERE SHALL WE LAND? - Our Western States are becoming thoroughly cosmopolitan. Indiana, in framing her new constitution, has fallen in the wake of Illinois and Missouri, giving the right of suffrage to the ignorance of Europe, as soon as the bearer has been one year on American soil, and six months in that State; it also allows a foreigner, under the same qualifications, to become governor or lieutenant governor. This step is necessary to the more hasty consummation of the plans of the new Cardinal, John Hughes, by which be promises to give to Papacy the political control of these United States; and as the great bulk of his instruments from Europe are settling in the West, it is necessary that they should possess a voice at the ballot-box, as soon as possible after their arrival. The enemies of civil and religious liberty know very well that it will not do to allow their poor, ignorant followers to become Americanized before they can use their political influence. If they do, there is some chance of losing their sympathy and support; because it is a fact, that soon after the papal subjects reach this country, they begin to feel the humanizing influences of our institutions, and to reason with themselves in a strain which they never before dared to indulge. Hence the importance of using them as speedily as possible, and hence the changes that we see going on in the organic laws of the several States. Even the Empire State has not escaped the subtlety of these men; and although she does not give them the right of suffrage so soon, she has recently given them the power to make and execute our laws!

It is perfectly idle to assert that these changes are the result of American, or Republican feeling, or of the progress of pure principle. The Republican principle was well enough established by the framers of the Constitution of the United States; and Americans cannot possibly have any interest in giving away what belongs to themselves. Neither can it be asserted that those

who come amongst us from abroad, for the purpose of enjoying our institutions of Freedom, desire to see those institutions changed or endangered. What, then, can be the motive for so altering them, as to make them weaker? What interest is there to gratify? What is there desirable in the dark future, that we have not had in the past? True Republicans can have no motive-they have no interest to subserve in these changes, because to them there is nothing desirable in the earthly future that has not been found in the past, under our happy system. All they desire is, that their posterity may enjoy, as they themselves now do, civil and religious freedom. Where, then, is the strange secret, by which these changes are made, to be found? Is there a reasonable, thinking, reading, or rational lover of liberty that requires an answer to this question? If so, we will tell him. It is to be found in the efforts of a politico-religious combination, which, having ravaged the Old World with blood, fire, the sword and the rack, in its efforts to maintain a supremacy over mankind; and which, having lost its foothold on the field of its ancient cruelties and exploits, seeks now to re-establish itself amid the mountains

and valleys of free America, aiming at that result through the right of suffrage. And following this, it is found in the aptitude of American partisan leaders and demagogues, to sacrifice all of principle, independence, nay, even Country itself, to the humiliating object of conciliating this combination, and securing the influence of its suffrages.

These are the facts which stare us in the face with the light of the noon-day sun. None can fail to see them who opens his eyes; and seeing them, it is his duty to ponder over them, and inquire, seriously, whether the chains of party have not, at some time, held him from his honest duty to his country: whether his political impulses have not been partisan, rather than patriotic, and if he find them so, whether it is not his duty to change his course.

AN AMERICAN CARDINAL.-The public have been informed—and there is every reason to suppose the information to be correct--that his holiness, Pope Pius, contemplates establishing, in this country, a hierarchy, under the red hat of a cardinal, and that John Hughes, late bishop of this diocese, and now archbishop, is to be the wearer of the hat and the princely mantle, and the recipient of the distinguished title of "His

Eminence." This title is one of nobility, apart and distinct from the religious character of the wearer. It is such a title as is forbidden by the Constitution of the United States; at least the Constitution forbids the granting of any such title, by our own government; and it remains to be seen whether the people of the country will permit the seeds of despotism thus to be sown and cultivated among us by a foreign potentate, or, in other words, whether foreign powers possess rights in the United States that are not enjoyed by the United States government itself. On the subject of this new feature in a republican nation, we find the following puerile remarks in the New-York Tribune:

We suppose that the creation of an American Cardinal will cause no excitement among the public at large. Every Church in our country has the right to confer on its clergy such titles as it thinks advisable, and certainly there can never happen here such a hubbub as has raged in England from the appointment of a cardinal and a few bishops. No one will be in the slightest degree disposed to object to the satisfaction which Catholics will feel at the well-deserved elevation of Dr. Hughes to this dignity in their Church. To be sure, there is something about the appellation of "His Eminence," or "His Grace," which does not sound exactly republican, but, as no political pretensions are involved in them, there is no reason for anybody to complain.

No political pretensions! Such an expression, from a man who knows better, is little less than egregious knavery. In the same breath he condemns himself, for he there says, "To be sure there is something about the appellation

of His Eminence,' or His Grace,' which does

not sound exactly republican." Nothing can be anti-republican, except in a political sense; therefore, if this title is anti-republican, it is political, and so is the whole character of a cardinal and a pope. The Editor of the Tribune is no fool; he is, moreover, well versed in history; we must take it for granted then, that, with his knowledge of the political character of the papal hierarchy, he either believes his readers ignorant, and desires to keep them so, or else willfully intends to make them so by misleading. The fact is, that very political, anti-republican power, is already so great here that there is not a partisan editor, in the whole country, who dares offend it, or speak the truth as he knows it to exist; and thus, step by step, it is advancing rapidly to the supreme direction of our affairs, while the people are lulled to sleep by the assertions of a venal and false-speaking press.

We deny that " every church in our country has the right to confer upon its clergy such titles as it thinks advisable." No church has a right to confer a title that is "not exactly republican," or that is political either in its functions or aspect; and we declare the editor, who asserts such a doctrine, to be false to the principles of civil and religious liberty, whatever his pretensions may be. If they possess the right to establish " My Lord Cardinal "

here, by title, they possess an equal right to establish the pope himself, with his imperial court, and his inquisition. Do you deny that "the hubbub that raged in England from the appointment of a cardinal and a few bishops," was on political grounds? You will not risk your reputation so far; England knows the political character of the papal hierarchy, and she dreads it. Her statesmen, therefore, will take good care that it is not exercised, under the shadow of the church, in their dominions. Will the American statesmen and people do as much for our institutions? or will they still go forward, granting the right of suffrage to this growing power, until it has obtained such an influence in our state affairs as to be unconquerable, making and executing our laws, altering our constitutions, and blotting out, one by one, every feature that is sacred to the name of true republican liberty.

The press of our country depends generally so much upon papal patronage and influence that it is already muzzled. There is very little of the spirit of a free press here; it is chained down, with all its boasted independence, by the almighty dollar, and the thirst for spoil,-and almost every editor weighs carefully what he supposes to be the pocket policy of a sentiment before he ventures to publish it. In fact, the and the partisan press, can neither of them be press that is cosmopolitan in its character, truly independent in the expression of living and known truths. There is always a class that may take offence by the utterance of those truths, and hence the individual interest of publisher or editor chains him down, either to utter

silence, or else to an indifferent, unmeaning remark. People who read must therefore make great allowance for the weakness of human nature, to which editors, as well as others, are subject, and bring their own judgments to bear they can arrive at just conclusions. It is, after upon all questions of vital importance, before all, on the popular judgment that we must rely for great emergencies, and we call earnestly upon the American people to be awake on the one that seems now to be approaching.

EUROPE CONTRIBUTES TO THE MONUMENT.We learn that a block of Marble has been taken by the Swiss government from the Alps, to be placed in the Washington Monument. This is very appropriate, coming, as it does, from a free Republic. But we learn, also, that one of the despots of northern Europe, has notified his intention of contributing a block also, for the great work. If this should be true, we question whether the builders would be able to find a place for it; such a donation from a source that execrates the memory of our great Liberator, could be construed into nothing less than irony.