Newspaper Page Text
THE G EOF GIA JOURNAL.
VOL. I.
MILLEl)GEV1LLE, TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 1810.
No. 22.
I’UPUSHCD BY SEATON ORANTLAND,
(l'RINTER TO THE STATE,) ON JEF-
j FERSON STREET, OPPOSITE. THE
NORTH END Of THE STATE-HOUSE.
TERMS THREE DOLLARS PER AN
NUM, ONE HALF TO BE PAID IN AD
VANCE
ADVERTISEMENTS WILL BE THANK-
withstanding his age, to hear the fa
tigues of war, fully as well as when he
was a young man.”
“ An officer of his staff lost, bv
gambling, sixty thousand roubles,
belonging to the military chest (about
ten thousand guineas). Souworrow
immediately sent for the officer, pun-
AT THE CUSTOMARY PRICES.
fully received, and published ishcd him, and wrote to the em
press : “ An officer has taken sixty
thousand roubles from the treasury
of the army ; but before your majes
ty shall receive this letter, the money
will have been refunded into the mi-
itary chest, out of my own proper
J\culictnttes of A A rshul Svitxvoi ■ oxe*
In the campaign ol 1771, in which
he served as major general, he re
ceived information that the marshal
of Lithuania was forming an annv
of Poles at Stalovvitz* He imme
diately gave notice of it to Boutour-
lin, commander in chief of the Rus
sian army, a very cautious and indo
lent man ; requesting at the same
time an order for attacking them—
Boutourlin, knowing that Souwor
row had only a few hundred men un
der him, expressly lorbade him, to
undertake any thing. But Souwor
row, who, that every instant, had
learned that the Polish confederates
had defeated the Petersburg regi
meat, that their numbers were daily
increasing, and already exceeded
five thousand, judged that he could
not delay lor one moment, the de
struction of a nucleus, already too
considerable. He hastily collected
his little army, amounting to one thou
sand msn only, and marched in quest
of the enemy. In tour days he
marched upwards of fifty leagues,
fell unexpectly upon the Poles, m the
middle of the night, and dispersed
them and took Stuiowitz, with twelve
pieces of cannon. The day alter he
followed up his victory, and destroy
ed whatever had escaped from the
first battle. He then hastened to
transmit to Boutourlin, the details of
this daring expedition, by writing to
him: k ‘ As a soldier I have diso
beyed ; I must be punished ; and I
send you my sword—But as a Rus
sian, I have done my duty, in destro) -
ing the confederate forces, which we
could not have withstood had they
been allowed sufficient time in which
to collect.” Boutourlin, was wonder
struck. Not knowing in what man
ner to act towards Souwoirow, he
determined to write to the empress
for orders. On the receipt of his
letter, Catherine wrote to the victo
rious general: “ Marshal Boutourlin,
as your chief, must put you under
an "arrest, to punish the want of su
bordination in the soldier; ns youi
sovereign, I reserve to mjselt the
pleasure ol recompensing the zeal of
the faithful subject, who, by a splen
did action, has so well served his
country.” Site sent him the order
of St. Alexander.”
u On one point, this old warrior
showed a weakness. It respected
his age. He could not bear to be put
in mind of it and carefully avoided
whatever might recall it to his me
mory. For this reason,looking-glas
ses were taken away, or covered, in
his apartments, or wherever he went
on a visit. Nothing was more co
mical than to see him pass belorc a
looking-glass. When by mischance,
he perceived one, he would run,
shutting his eyes, and making all
v Vind of wry faces, till he was out of
the room.
“ It would be a great mistake, how
ever,” observes the author, “ to con
sidcr this oddity, as produced by su
tv. It is but fair that I shall be
answerable for the officers w hich I
employ.”
“ Souworrow always delighted in re
taining soldier-like manners. When
saluting any one, he would stop, turn
his toes out, stand erect, put back his
shoulders, as on parade, and carry his
right hand opened to the right side of
his little helmet, as soldiers do when
iluting one of their commanders.
When he wanted to show a higher de
gree of consideration, he would stoop
very low, with a tolerably ill grace,
without altering the position of his
arms or feet.”
“ Souworrow was deeply learned in
ancient & modern history ; and knew
intimately the details of the private
life of the celebrated generals who
had preceded him. He spoke eight
languages ; and expressed himself in
French with as much facility as if he
had been horn in Franee. He was an
utter stranger to all refinement in
style. His mode of writing, and of
speaking, avas short, concise, energe-
tick, original,& unconnected. Every
one of his phrases of three or four
words formed a complete sense and
sentence. But, this laconicism was
above the comprehension of many,
and especially of foreigners, who saw
in it nothing but enigmas. He seldom
wrote himself ; and avoided, above
all things, negociations which were to
be carried on in writing. A pen
would he say, looks aukward in tin
hand of a soldier. There are, accord
ingly, but few letters extant, entirely
in bis own hand-writing. He wrote
the following on the head of a drum,
amid the smoking ruins of Tour-
tonkaya, to the field-marshal Roman
zo(F, to announce to him the taking of
that place :
Slaxvo Boer on, slaxvo box van !
Glory to God ! Glory to thee !
Tmtrtankayaxvoiala in tarn.
Tourtankaya taken is by me.
“ Whatever came from his pen had
the same characteristic energy & con
ciseness. Usually, he gave the subject
of his letters to one of his staffofficers,
who, from his instructions, wrote
them, & brought them to him for his
signature
“ He was in the habit of frequently
haranguing his troops ; but he had
not, on those occasions, the same
merit of conciseness. His orations
lasted an hour, sometimes two ; even
in the middle of winter, “ I recollect,”
says the author, “ that one day, in the
month of January, on the parade
in the grand square of Warsaw, it
was 11 o’clock, a body of 10,000
men, formed in a hollow square, fil
led that place. The cold was in
tense, a penetrating sleet fell from
the icy heavens. In the middle of
that square battalion, the Marshal,
clad only in his white dimity jacket,
began his usual harangue. He soon
perceived that the inclemency of the
engaging manners* and of a counte
nance and figure the moRf engaging
and prepossessing, heid improved fine
natural parts by .the discipline of a
classical education in England. Af
ter having laid in a competent stock
of general learning, he had 1 given a
professional direction to his mind,
by passing the necessary number of
terms at the inns of court, and he ar
rived in Virginia with the reputation
of commanding talents and consider
able legal erudition.-—In a country
where there were no colleges and
scarcely a school where the first ele
comparing his means with the ends diagnostics of innocence and moral
he had in view, to steer clear of pro
jects above his strength, and to li-
excellcncy. If sir, having seized
the villain who has violated mv \i ile,
mit his ambition to the just points oi !I should bring him before a tribunal
resistance and obedience. But even
though* these points are decided a-
gainst him, it will detract littlfc from
his real fame. When the liberties of
cf justice, what Would be your opini
on of the Judge who should order,
that I, the innocent, injured man,
must cast lots with the guilty which
a people arc in danger, or have been of us must die ? Would not your
violated, it is perhaps right to trust|heart chill at such a sentence :
ments of language could lie acquired ;
perannuate pr tensions to
r r'I I l I I I'll
season made his speech appear much
too long : and hereupon he deter
mined to make it last two hours.
Even hearer returned to quarters
benumbed with cold ; and almost e
verv one, generals, officers, and sol
diers, all took cold. The Mar
beauty.—
The marshal himself often made mer
ry with his own countenance ; and
as to his singular aversion for look
ing-glasses, I have heard him repeat
fivquentlv, that he never looked at
himself in order to avoid being made
sensible of the havock of time ; andjshal escaped the disorder notwith
that he might continue to believe standing his dimity jacket. I sel-
himself still able to execute the same dom saw him so gay. Perpetual
military enterprizes as in his youth,'coughings echoed through his apart-
for the same reason, whenever hej mclUs . This pleased him highly,
found a chair in his way, he wouldjHe enjoyed himself in the idea, that
leap over it, to show that he retain-jhe had given his army the exampl
cd his activity. It was also for the 0 f bidding defiance to fatigues, t<
same cause that be seldom walked, winter and all its horrors.”
hut always ran, particularly when
coming into, or going out of his a-
partimnt. Nor was lie detcri cd lrom
so doing by the most numerous com
pany. He would even redouble his
capers, and his anticks of every kind,
before strangers ol high rank ; to
convince them, that hj^ was aolenof-
Tbc following character of General
Nathaniel Bacon, who headed
the Rebellion in Virginia in the
year 1075—0, is extracted from
the 2d Volume of the History ol
that state by J.l). Burke, Esq.
“ NATH’*. BACON, a youth of might
where there were no lawyers, and
scarcely any knowledge of the science
of jurisprudence, it will he easily
imagined in what respect and estima
tion acquirements like those of Mr.
Bacon would he regarded. After a
short probation he was admitted to
a seat in the council, and at the peri
od we are now describing, he was
second to no one in the colony in
figure and estimation.
“ Attracted either by curiosity or
led hv the public sympathy, which at
this time appeared to he general, he
had mixed in the croud : But what
ever might have been his object, he
for some time cautiously preserved
that guarded silence and reserve be
fitting his character and situation.
Possibly he was desirous ol ascer
taining what reliance might be pla
ced on the constancy of the people
before he declared himself. But the
moment the attention of the multi
tude became decidedly fixed on him
and he was withloud shouts proclaim
ed their leader, his reserve vanished:
The suggestions of cautious policy
were drowned in the shouts of the
people, or lost in the eclat of being
regarded as one of the asserters of
human rights and a leader of the ar
mies of freedom.
It has been suggested that his
motives were of a less enlarged ant:
disinterested nature. But thesv.
charges could have been made only
by men unacquainted with the cir
cumstances of Virginia. For any
purposes of fortune or advancement,
Bacon could not be benefited by
civil war. He might lose much, but
could not possibly add to his power &
consideration. We must then regard
him not as the desperate adven
turer, a bankrupt in fortune and rc
putation : But a youth amiable and
popular ; of bright hopes and shining
talents, and already advanced to the
first offices in the government. He
might have mistaken the true inte
rests of his country. He may per
haps incur the charge of rashness Sc
indiscretion : But it is Hot possible,
with a full knowledge of all the cir
cumstances, to doubt either his ho
nesty or sincerity.
“ The chief reliance of Bacon was
on himself. He visited in person all
the military positions : animating
the zealous, and confirming the wa
vering, by his arguments and exam
ple. In the prosecution of this plan,
the labors, watchings, and difficulties
he had to encounter, acting on a vio
lent cold he had contracted in the
trenches before James-Town, began
to make a manifest impression on his
health. A slight diarrhea, wanting
at first little more than rest to re
move it, unskilfully treated, was dai
ly acquiring a fixed and permanent
habit in his constitution. But h
did not permit his zeal and exertions
to slacken on this account; and al
though the fatal ravages on his health
were visible to all, no one could dis
cern the least diminution of his ar
dor, or the slightest abatement of his 1
abors. Death at length ouvertook
him at the house of a doctor Pate in
Gloster county : hut though diligent
search was afterwards made lor his
body hv sir William Berkeley, the pi
ety of friendship preserved his re
mains from the insults which the cow
ardly malignity of governments ex
ercise on llieir dead victims.
A sanguine temper, a hold and
dauntless courage, great promptness
ind decision of character, added to a
presence of mind that rarely desert
ed him ; these appear to he the envi
able qualities of this man. It is at
tended with some doubt whether lie
possessed, in the same eminent de
gree, those cooler properties, whicl
less to the doubtful virtue of calcula
tions, and the cold suggestions of
prudence, than to the ardor and en
thusiasm of liberty, and all the hero
ism and glory they \viil inspire. Le
onidas with his handful of patriots,
at the streights of Thcrmopvks, is an
object better calculated to command
our reverence, and excite our admi
ration, than the great king mov
ing at the head of his millions,
and surrounded with all the pomp of
Would > ou not pvouounce it contra
ry to reason, to common sense 8c jus
tice ? You surely would. In the case*
of duelling, the public is the judge. I
receive an injury which nothing hut
life can atona ; I do not appeal to the
public ; no, sir, the public officiously
interferes and condemns m-, under
the penalty jaf perpetual disgrace, to
cast lots with the aggressor, which of
us must die. Was there ever any
eastern magnificence.
“ Uie life of Bacon, as it appears
in his actions, iurnishes proofs of a
nature less equivocal. Active, vigi-
lenf, patient, enterprising, although
unacquainted with arms, the moment
the energies oi his mind were direct
ed to this pursuit, lie displayed all
the qualities neceasarv to exalt and
adorn it. A faithful friend, his as
sociates never had to complain of
the sacrifice of their persons or pro
perties by any mean or selfish com
promise of their leader. He disdain
ed to make his reputation the step
ping stone to his own advancement
and to his honor it should he menti
oned, that while sir William Berke
ley was daily executing men by mock
trials, or by the summary process of
martial law, at the time when he had
scarcely a foot of ground to stand on
Bacon flushed with victory, and in
possession of all the resources of the
country, was never reproached with
shedding a single drop of innocent
ilood, save what was unavoidably
spilt in the heat and hurry of battle.
Had this man’s position on the
globe been more favorable, or his
means more ample, it is not easy to
sayjhow exalted had been his rank in
history. He might have been the
Brutus or the Cromwell of his coun
try : hut as it is, he is fated to pas
off without fame and almost without
notice—A striking instance how
much merit is under the controul o!
times and circumstances.”
thing more preposterous ! more a-
REMARKS
By Mr, NO LAX l), on the Bill lately
passed by the Legislature of / r ,
gtnia, to surerks's duelling.
Mr. Speaker—The hill which has
been read, i3 one which claims the se
rious atter/Jon of every member of us.
bominubly absurd !
It is the opinion of many, sir, that
duelling is an evil which will correct
itself ; while others say, it is of little
concern to the rational and virtuous
part of mankind, in what manner
fools and knaves, rid the world of
each other, as it will not deprive so
ciety of one valuable member ; hut
daily experience convinces us that
both those opinions arc incorrect;
for while the evil is growing to an
alarming height, we find that some of
our, best citizens have exposed their
lives, while others have fallen victims
to this abominable practice—and
will the collected wisdom of this Com
monwealth make no effort to suppress
this sanguinary and 'growing evil ?
Will the enlightened Legislature of
Virginia make no stand against the
current of public opinion ? I hope,
I trust they will. Sir, so long as it
is believed that the practice of duel
ling is sanctioned by public opinion,
there is no man, who is anxious to
maintain his social standing, can re
fuse what is termed an honorable call.
No matter how much his moral and
religious principles may he opposed
to the practice—no matter though
he may have a wife and children de
pending on his exertions lor their
daily bread—no matter how great
claims his country may have on his
talents, in critical and trying times
—lie loses sight of all, in "the dread
ful idea of being stigmatised as a cow
ard—Pejus que letho stagitium timet
—He seizes the fatal weapon—he
marches to the combat—receives the
mortal wound, and leaves a discon
solate widow and a mimber of li ip-
less orphans to mourn their irrep ira-
ble loss This, sir, is not fancy
this House : it is one in which even
member of this body—in which ever}
citizen of Virginia is deeply interest
ed.—The practice of duelling seems
to he an unnatural graft on genuine
courage, growing out of a barbarous
age ; for we find that it was first in
troduced by the Goths and Vandals,
during the days of their ignorance
and barbarism. The polite and po
lished nations of Greece and Rome,
who were ever prodigal of their blood,
when in defence of their country’s
rights, knew nothing of this detesta
ble practice, which appears to he
Isa*.
these are scenes, that frequently, ve-
ty frequently, pass in review before
Pass this bill and vou put a
stop to the evil passtliis hill and
you place a shield between the man
of feeling and public opinion—you
raise a harrier in the road to honor
and preferment, at which the ambi
tious man will pause and reflect ’ere
he rashly engages in a duel—pass this
bill, and I will venture to predict,
that you will preserve the lives of
man} - , of very many valuable citizens,
—Had a similar hill been passed at
last session, it would have been attend
ed with the very best of consequen
ces : We should not now be foment-
the loss of a Pope, a floor and
built on an infinity of absurdities—a Smith—on us, in part, res's the
because, while it seems to suppose,'blame of robbing Society of those
that a man’s honor ought to he dearer able and useful members on us sir,
to him than his life, it at the same in part rests the blame of preparing
time supposes, that this honor is in affliction for the widow’s heart, of fil-
the power of every unprincipled vil- ling the orphan's eves with tears, and
lain that can invent or tell a lie—of.bringing trouble and misfortune on
every careless or ill bred person that numerous relatives. As fathers,
may jostle him in his way : it sup- then—as brothers—as inert, and as
poses, that a lie may become true and Legislators, I call upon this House
honorable, provided the person whojto suppress an evil which strikes at
tells it is willing to fight in support otjyou in all these tender relations.—1
it, and that any crime whatever may call on you to set an example worthv
become honorable by fighting in its of yourselves and of those you rc-
delcnce ; it supposes that the man present; and should this hill not have
who is covered with guilt, who has'the desired effect, vou will enjoy the
wounded the peace of his friend, hyjconsolation of having performed your
staining the character of his wife or duty. Before I ret down, I give no-
of his daughter, becomes at once an tice, I shall call for the Aves and
honorable man, by heroically wash-jNocs. 1 ain anxious to have mv
ingout those stains in the blood ofiname recorded on this question—1
the husband or the father : it further
supposes that it is better for a man
to he condemned by his own consci
ence, and by the virtuous and rati
onal part of mankind, than to suffer
one moment in the opinion of the ad
vocates of duelling : finiuly, that
wish to enter my protest against du
elling.—There are some gentlemen,
Mr. Speaker (far he it from me to
insinuate that there are any in this>
Assembly) who, though opposed to
he principle of duelling, do not wish
to proclaitb their sentiments to the
enabled ‘him, hy^teel and gunpowde r are the true world^ J»-sc they should he suspected
