[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Captured Mexican Steamers – 1-3
Editorials – 3-4
The Lounger – 4-5
Under Chloroform – 5-6
Humors of the Day – 6
Hon. Martin J. Crawford of Georgia – 6-8 The Woman in White, by Wilkie Collins, Miss Halcombe’s Narrative Continued – 8-11
Domestic Intelligence – 11-13
Foreign News – 13-14
Preaching to Thieves and Harlots – 15-16
Captain Brand of the Schooner “Centipede,” by Lieut. Henry A. Wise, U.S.N. (Harry Gringo). Part I, Chapter IV-V – 17-19
Miss Nightingale on Nursing – 19-21
On the Way to Charleston, No. II – 21
Another Escape of a Balloonist – 21, 23
Arrest and Rescue of Mr. Sanborn at Concord, Mass. – 21-22, 24
The New Partner, or “Clingham & Co., Bankers, by Fitz Hugh Ludlow Chapter XII-XIII – 22-23, 25-26
Startling and Heart-Rending News – 27

[BroJoeK]

I see from the editorial on page 3 that the Republican Congress has begun to investigate Democrat President Buchanan's administration for corruption.
And, guess what, Buchanan doesn't like it, protested strongly!

I'm guessing the investigation goes nowhere, with or without President Buchanan decrying "fake news", but we will likely see corruption in Democrat controlled Washington, DC, on the Republican party platform.
By 1860 Democrats have ruled Washington almost continuously since the election of 1800 and, as we can see here, have become cozy with the press.

No, it's doubtful if we'll see "drain the swamp" or "lock him up", in the 1860 Republican platform, but possibly plank #6 will mention "...recent startling developments of frauds and corruptions at the Federal metropolis".

[BroJoeK]

A second editorial notes the 1859 cotton crop grew 20% to a record evaluation around $250 million "received by the Southern country" and "three quarters of which will come from abroad".
That means the other one quarter of Southern income comes from Northern US manufacturers who "import" Southern cotton for their mills.

The editorial says nothing about "northeastern power brokers" nor does it mention that perhaps 40% of the cotton-money will get siphoned off by New Yorkers for such services as transportation, warehousing, insurance and banking.

It does mention that Northern agricultural production totaled around $550 million -- more than twice the value of cotton, but says very little of that will get exported, due to high US domestic demands.

Indeed, Northern "exports" to the South are estimated around $200 million per year, thus putting the lie to Southern claims that they alone produced the money-flows behind Federal tariff revenues.

[BroJoeK]

"Hon. Martin J. Crawford of Georgia – 6-8"

We will likely see Georgia Democrat Congressman Crawford again, as a diplomat, a soldier and finally a judge.
In 1860 he is 40 years old, will live to be 63.

Here we see Crawford explain the change in Southern attitudes towards slavery since the time of the Founders:

"As I said before, South Carolina and other states early moved in this matter; but today we stand in a different position, and our opinions of slavery are different from what they were then.
Then it was the custom of our private and our public men to excuse themselves for its [slavery's] existence among them, but the 'Abolition' movements, from 1820 to this time, have caused investigation and discussion of the subject until it is stronger in the South than ever before; and although its enemies have increased, it never had so many friends as at this time.
No Southern man condemns it as evil, either moral or political; and so far from apologizing for it here now, as our Representatives did in 1820, we stand here its advocates and defenders.
Moreover, we say to you in the North, who advocate the doctrines advanced both here and in another place, that if it means war between the States and Territories for free labor or slave labor -- 'that all must be free or all must be slave' -- you but hasten the day when, upon the plains of Arizona, and the territory south of us, even to Central America, you will find the South equal to the necessity which you have imposed upon her, and a perpetuation of slavery, which time itself can scarcely compute.

The question, therefore, rests with the North.
Let us alone, and we are content; if we are driven to the importation of African laborers it will be your fault not ours."

And so we see your typical Democrat, then as now, defending the indefensible by: no apology, no back-down, blame "the North" and threaten war.

References to Arizona and Central America are the Confederate "Golden Circle" slave empire: