Newspaper Page Text
VOLUME 11. |
BY C. R. HANLEITER.
P®IT K ¥ a
Fur ihe “southern Miscellany.”
SOLITUDE.
“Ye woods and wilds, whose melancholy gloom
Accords so well with my heart’s sadness.”
‘Tis sweet indeed, in Solitude,
Where sordid cares do not intrude,
On fancy’s wing to soar away,
From these to realms ol brighter day—
To think of that blest world of bliss,
Where ne'er is heard the scorncr’s hiss.
if. ■
Oh yes ! I love, in Solitude,
When freed from ihonuhts that oft denude
And rob me of all joy or |)eace —
There, to bid my spirit’s turmoil cease;
For, oft, while thus, alone, I muse,
Soft calmness doth my soul infuse.
I'd rather live in Solitude,
Tho’ ’mid the wilds of nature rud<,
If freed from malice, guile and pride,
Than float on Fate’s most prosp’roua tide-
O’er Fortune’s heights the bleak winds blow,
But quiet peace dwells lar below.
I’d rntber dwell in Solitude,
With raiment coarse, and plainest food,
To pass my days with pence of mind,
And that true boon, “Contentment” find,
Than sport ’mid Fashion’s hearth as throng—
Deluded by her syren sung.
’Tis sweet, at eve, in Solitude,
To wander forth in thoughtful mood.
And scanning each day’s actions o’er,
Forgiveness for earli wrong t’ implore,
And seek of Him who reigns above,
To keep me ’ncath His gi ardian love!
LE SOLITAIRE.
Merer University, 1814.
■ i| HI | BUI I IH -TT-—I I I l_l
B£L[E©T[EE) TAL\ U.
From the New Mirror.
THE S TORY OF A KISS.
TOLD DY A LADY.
What n poor, persecuted race the bach
elor tiihe are, to he sure !
There’s my dear, kind-hearted friend and
neighbor, Ben Auhrev; the very beau ideal j
of what tuie imagines in a single gentleman,
finite given over to single-blessedness. —
The “convenient cousin Ben” of all the
young ladies ; the “ rich uncle Ben” of all
the voting gentlemen ; and the “ good-na
tured Ben” of nil the old ones. This very
same “ convenient, licit, good-natured” in
dividual have the fates taken a pleasure in
spiting for the last eighteen years ; and it is
really quite pathetic to hear him recount
his experience in the “ great bubble of hu
man existence,” ns he is wont to style it,
winding up his rather prosy description
with a very earnest appeal to the young
men to take warning from his experience ;
ami, above all things, to beware of the “ fas
cinating sex for it was to them, it seems,
lie ascribed all his troubles.
This I hold to he very ungrateful in him,
inasmuch ns he was a very great favorite
among the ladies, both young and old ; and
not a merry-meeting of young girls could
take place in our neighborhood hut “ con
venient cousin Ben” was sure to he invited,
and a strict injunction laid upon his not
” failing to come.” A hint might also he
thrown out, that the two handsome nephews
who resided with him would be welcome
too; and one or twnctabbed old maids was
heard once to declare, that “ cousin Ben
owed his populaiity among the young ladies
inure to those fashionable dandies by his
side than to himself.” Avery uncharitable
remark, 1 must confess, although scarcely to
he noticed when one remembers who made
it.
Fine matches, indeed, were those two
young men, l>ot!i being in possession ol a
moderate fortune, and a profession that pro
mised to more than double it; besides, all
the accomplishments of gentlemen, united
with the crowning grace of an excellent
character, and an elegant, dignified address.
No wonder cousin Ben was so popular
with the young ladies ! and no wonder that
they never pouted when he exercised his
privilege of “ old bachelorism’” and “ made
the young men’s hearts flutter, to use his
own expressions, kissing the prettiest girl
in the room.
The blushing beauties considered it quite
a compliment to be kissed by cousin Ben,
and “ Oh, you saucy fellow !” was oil the
resistance he ever got, with one single ex
ception ; and that, alas ! altered the whole
destiny of cousin Ben ; as I shall proceed
to relate.
It seems he took quite a fancy to a. cous
in of one of his most inlimiate lady-friends,
a fair, blushing creature of twenty-three, or
thereabouts, though scarcely looking eigh
teen ; with a complexion that rivalled the
whitest lily and the deepest rose-tint that
blossomed, joined to a frank, open, joyous
countenance, that seemed to mirror a kind
er heart and a more obliging will than evet
before blessed a human vision ; at least .so
thought cousin Bon, when he was first in
troduced to Miss Green, “mv cousin from
the country,” and the whole evening
spent by him in doing ” the agiceable to
the fair stranger.
The lady soon got over her timidity, and
chatted and laughed with a beautiful and
natural simplicity, that, in spite of bis for
mer experience and present avowed indif
lerenco to the sex, quite put poor cousin
Jk W®®My KT®wsjpa]p©iF s 3D)®v©4®dl ft® 3P©Mfta®a s Kawsp
Ben’s heart in a delightful flutter that, for
the life of him, he could not resist.
Oh ! how the sweet ringing sound of that
cheerful voice woke up the long-pent feel
ings of his breast, and bow earnestly he
wished he might dare love the bright being
before him, with but one single ray of suc
-1 cess. Oh how earnestly lie would sue, how
carefully he would watch every avenue to
the heart, and anticipate every wish, until
at last it would surrender to his well-tried
love, and bless him with some prospect of
return.
Such were the ideas that passed rapidly
through his mind after an hour’s intercourse
with Miss Green ; but, alas ! when his eye
turned upon his young and handsome ne
phews, lie felt how preposterous was the
idea, anil, with a stifled sigh, he resolutely
turned his thoughts from the subject, and
answered the summons of a young lady,
who was laughingly offeringhim sibyl-leaves,
with the intention of telling his fortune.
Suddenly, however, a lay of light flitted
across his for once sombre countenance, as
lie bethought him of his parting privilege—
the much envied kiss—that no lair lips had
ever yet denied him “ since his hair had
commenced turning gray,” and a rapturous
thrill darted through his breast as lie thought
of the use he would make of it that night.
At last the parting hour arrived. The
ladies had donned their bonnets and shawls,
and the “ good night” was passing cheerily
around, with cousin Ben in the midst, shak
ing hands with this one, chucking that one
| under the chin, and joking with all until he
neared his divinity, and then, despite the
( sudden nervousness that seized him at the
| moment, bent gracefully over the fair lady,
and, taking her proffered hand, gave, in nd
: dilion, a most fervent salutation.
In an instant the hand was withdrawn,
followed by a sound that vibrated through
out the room, and made poor cousin Ben’s
ears tingle in a way they had not before
done since the time lie
“ Snuggled through the myslcry of joining A to B.”
It was actually a glimpse of childhood—a
; real memento that could not be mistaken—
i a bonaJide “ box of the ear;” and that not
a very gentle one either.
Oh what a scene followed that unexpect
ed sound 1 Poor, bewildered cousin Ben,
not sure whether he stood upon his own feet
| or not, blushing like a criminal beside the
indignant fair one, who regarded the liber
ty he had taken as a downright insult, and
1 who could not speak from sheer passion
and vexation, whilst the tears fell in a per
j feet show er from her eyes.
Poor cousin Ben! Never, iri the whole
course of “ his checkered existence,” had
I he been so surprised or put out , and the full
| choir of merry laughter that on all sides
surrounded him only still further wounded
his smarting ear, w hilst, “ most nukindest of
ail,” his evening’s fair idol stood unmasked
before him, a real termagant !
In vain the fair host tried to explain cous
in Ben’s privilege to the amused lady;
words would not come out, and it was full
ten minutes hefote any one could command
voice enough to make the mortified stran
ger comprehend the footing cousin Ben held
: among the ladies ! and, more fully to make
her understand it several of the merry
i throng, and they the very prettiest, too, ac
tually stepped up and kissed him in the
most sisteily manner possible. So cr.nvinc-
I ing and ludicrous did this latter argument
seem, that smiles and sunshine once more
! illuminated the beautiful countenance of
j Miss Green, and she was soon laughing as
heartily as any of her companions.
Yet, alas ! ftom that time forth a change
j came over our dear, privileged, old friend,
and, almost unconscious to himself, his man
ner became more reserved and respectful
towards the sex he had hitherto taken such
free license with.
A gentle “ good evening, Indies,” or a
t formal kiss of the hand, was all lie now pre
sumed to offer at parting. He even seem
ed afraid of taking a little girl upon his
J knee, a fuiry-like creature, towards whom
his heart yearned, and whom he would have
smothered with kisses had lie dated, for
fear her womanly spirit was already awake,
and might resent kjcli a liberty in a way
not unsimilar to what he had already expe
rienced. Indeed ho began to look upon
himself quite in the light of a martyt since
that memorable evening, and our former
gay friend grew even serious.
The metamorphosis he had undergone,
however, seemed very becoming to him.—
Even the fair mad-caps that used to “old
; bachelor” him so much seemed quite struck
! at his new appeal ance, and unconsciously
became more respectful towards him, drop
ping altogether their former familiar appel
lation of “cousin Ben j” and it was really
consoling to his wounded ear to hear them,
now and then, declare in an under tone,
“ that Mr. Aubrey had become decidedly in
teresting, and much handsomer than for
merly, and they did not believe he was so
old after all.”
Old, indeed ! How that appellation be
came bestowed upon him 1 do not know, but
sure I am that he was in reality but little
oast thirty-eight; and yet. ns far back as any
of us could remember, he had been dignified
by the title of the “ old bachelor.”
Perhaps it sprung from his having a few
gray hairs around the temples; a fact, hy
the-way,to which he attributed many a sweet
lady-favor that would never have been be
stowed upon other than an “old fellow like
MADISON, MORGAN COUNTY, GEORGIA, FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 2, 1814.
himself,” as he expressed it ; or. from the
long prosy tale he was wont to tel! of him
self and his mii-foitunes ; (he bail never
known a real misfortune in the w hole course
of his li*e;) or may he (torn the quantity of
cautions, advice,&c. with which he cmistant
lyscasoned his discourse.and regularly pour- !
ed in the earsof all his favorites, which gen
erally comprehended a numerous circle of
friends, of both sexes and of all ages.—
Young and old, grave and gay. all had the ;
i benefit of his conversation; and all loved, ;
i joked and jeered, both with him and at him. j
I without a thought farther than that he was
j the best-natured being in the world, and, j
moreover, “ was always ready in times of
need.”
Thus had cousin Ben lived since the age j
of thirty ; for, he it known, he did not des- |
pair of getting mat t ied before that time, ol j
near it ; “ but if he once passed thirty-five,
and was still single, no lady in the land could
win him, and they might all die old maids
together for anything he cared and, with
this indignant sentence upon his lips, hedis- i
missed entirely all thoughts of mutiimony,
getting quite reconciled to his fate, and not
| at nil regarding the “ old” already tagged to
, his name, since it bestowed upon him many
a privilege denied to younger and handsom
er rivals.
How grievous must then have been to him
I the sudden act that dispersed the dealest and
most highly prized of all the few joys now
left to him ! How should lie ever find cour
age to use the least freedom wilh any fair
one again !
Turn the matter over in his mind as he
would, he still felt it was a thing that could
not be forgotten. He had committed the
unpardonable offence, and had sinned past
all forgiveness ; and so he very wisely de
termined to drop his old habits altogether,
and intrench hirnself behind a buhvaik of
deference and respect to the sex.
As I said before, the character well be
came him, and, to his great astonishment, lie
soon found himself placed upon an equal
footing with even his handsome nephews
among the fair sex. Ilis hand was quite as
often welcomed in the dance as theirs, and
his gentle and polite attentions were receiv
ed with real perceptible pleasure; indeed,
grave cousin Ben became even more popu
lar on his own account than he had formerly
been on that of his graceful appendages;
and when, in the course of a few months af
ter the evening that had wotked such mira
clcs in him, the young fellows presented him
with an “at home” cat and, and an invitation
I for the honor of his company upon a certain
evening, to witness a certain ceremony in
which two fair sisters, both favorites of his,
and cousins to the well remembered Miss
j Green, were to figute rather largely in com
| pany with their ow n identical selves, our ci
[ devant “ old bachelor cousin Ben” hud the
whole field to himself; and there was not a
young lady of his acquaintance who would
not have been proud and happy to become
Mrs. Benjamin Aubrey, had she been favor
ed with the opportunity.
I am not sure that he was aware of his ad
vantages, for, certain it is, he never presum
ed upon them,and,as usual, seemed thought
ful and reserved. To be sure, he often join
ed the merry parties of the season, yel seem
j ed contented with merely distancing his
i younger rivals, without following up his vic
! lory ; and now and then it was hinted by the
i ciiibbcd old ladies I formerly mentioned,
“ that Mr. Aubrey had grown quite a male
coquette, and was as fat from matrimony as
ever, though the foolish gills did pull their
caps for him.”
There was one thing, however, about cou
sin Ben that puzzled us all, and, in spite of
the most direct questions and lire cross ques
tions, he contrived to keep entirely to hirn
self. As regular as Saturday came, just sir
regular was counsin Ben invisible from that
■ till Monday night • Where was he,or where
! lie went, was a profound mystery to every
1 body. We could only find out that every
: Saturday morning found him gone, and ov
! ery Monday evening found him returned,
I and not a creature seemed to know where
he had been all the while, not even his old
housekeeper.
II was really quite puzzling, but, as it last- ,
ed for several months, we became quite used
to it, and laughingly called it the “ Bach el
a/’s Mystery’’ contenting ourselves other
> wise with teasing cousin Ben as much us we
dared.
Time and patience, they say, overcomes
all things ; and our patience was at last re
warded in a most unexpected manner.
On a luight Tuesday morning, just as 1
was in the act of preparing to accompany 1
my “ better half” on a shopping excursion,
a ring was heard at the front door, and a
few minutes found me gazing eagetiy upon
a little packet, delicately enveloped in the
finest of white paper,and tastefully tied with
the snow-tinted ribbons.
A wedding, of cruise, thought I, but
whose in the world can it be; and very ea
geiiy did I undo the love-knots, quite over
looking the delicious bride-cake in my hurry
j to find out the bride. Judge, then, of my
surprise, when “ Mr. and Mrs, Benjamin
Aubrey at borne on Thursday next, from ten
till four,” met my astonished gaze.
So the mystery was now explained, and
” convenient, rich, good-natured Ben,” had
been courting all the while, and was how
actually married. Dear me, what a sensa-
I tion the news made among the single por
-1 tion of our fair acquaintances! Oh ! the
gossippirig in our little wmld that day; and |
the many wonders that were expiessed as j
to “ who the bride could he.” Really, it
was too bad to lia\e to wait till ‘Thursday
la'fore we could find out; and when that
did at last arrive. 1 could not help taking
the license of an old fiietul of the gentle
man's, at least, and pay mv congratulations
; early, so, a little after ten o’clock, 1 called.
A few minutes elapsed after 1 entered the
parlor before any one was visible ; then a
| hounding step was heard, and a moment af
ter my gay and laughing fiiend,formerly in
troduced to my reuderas Miss Green, stood
j before me, enveloped in all the dignity of
Mrs. Benjamin Aubrey. Before I could re-
I cover my surj rise, the bridegroom entered
; also. lie looked as proud and happy as
j heart could de-ire.
“ Why,cousin Beti,” said 1 ; “ but do tell
me how this marriage came about, and how
you contrived to keep it from us during the
whole time V’
“Well, well,” said be, “sit down and
you shall hear.”
Blit the pretty little romance he told me,
joined to the history of his early loves, would
take more time to relate than I can at pres
ent spare. Enough, that among all my mar
ried friends 1 should point out cousin Ben
and his sweet and beautiful wife, as the hap
piest and best matched ; that unfortunate
“ box on the car” to the contrary notwith
standing. M. A. E.
[P©LflTa©^L o
TO THE VOTERS OF MURRAY
COUNTY, GEORGIA:
Fellow-Citizens —An apology, perhaps,
is due ftom me for not having noticed, at
an earlier day, the address of Major Mark
A. Cooper, in reply to one previously made
by me to yon just before the late October
election. If so, suffice it to say. that cir
cumstances beyond my control, together
) with severe and protracted bodily indispo
j sitron, have occasioned the delay. 1 trust,
! however, that the lapse of lime which has
intervened, has only rendered you more
capable of dispassionately considering and
i correctly deciding upon the points in issue
between us Controversies of n personal
character, devolving matters of fact and
questions of veracity, I know are generally
quite ut:interesting, if not disgusting, to
tlie public, and perhaps to no one more so
than myself; hut sometimes they become
necessary as well for the vindication of the
I truth, for the “ truth’s sake,” as that the
: reckless and corrupt, who seek by improper
means to deceive and mislead their “ coun
’ trymen.” may he properly exposed, and
receive lhat indignation from a discerning
community which justice requires, and
which seldom fails to he awarded. It is for
this reason 1 appear before you again.
In t! e discus-ion at Spring Place between
Mr. Stiles and myself, 1 stated nothing in
relation to Major Coopet’s connexion with
tiie Western Insurance ami Trust Company
i of Columbus, “ a chartered molded institu
j tion,” with greater “exclusive privileges”
than any hank in the State, which was not
strictly true, and in my opinion justified hy
the circumstances. But it is the “galled
jade that winces,"and hence Major Cooper’s
excitement at the time. The object of my
publication aflerwaids was to silence mis
representations—that all might he informed
of the character and extent of my statements
—and that Major Cooper might have an
opportunity of assuming the responsibility
ofenteiinga denial, if he chose, in such a
manner ns to he met. This ho has done,
joining with me in four issues of fact. And
it is for me now, after the excitement of the
election is over, to show you how much he
hazarded in so doing.
Two of the points of difference between
us, (denominated by Major Cooper as “mis
statements and untruths'’ in my address,) I
deem it unnecessary to pay further atten
tion to than to give a passing notice. The
I first of these (which is the last in his order)
| is my statement that “he was not present
| (at the discussion) until called in hy some
j friend for the purpose of creatingconfusioti.”
This he says is not so, and that “ I knew
j it was untrue;” that he “ was called in not
1 to create, hut to prevent confusion.” Os this
you may he the judges. There was no dis
turbance or confusion until lie w as called in ;
and if his object was not to cause, but to
prevent what ensued, he was certainly most
singularly unfortunate in his object, as well
1 as unsuccessful in his efforts.
The other of the minor points of difl’er
’ ence (which stands first in his order) is
| wherein lie charges me with an attempt to
make the impression upon the public mind
that “he was connected with a ‘chartered
company’ of large ‘ privileges,’ operating
in Co'umbus at the time of his nomination,”
in which he says, I “ deceived and misled
you, and misrepresented him.” In reply
to this, I refer to the address wherein it is
stated ns plainly as language can make it—
so clearly that no one could misunderstand
—not that Bt the time of his nomination ;
but that, during the previous “ fall, winter,
and spring,” when different individuals of
his paity—he amongst the rest—were spo
i ken of as suitable candidates to be run by
j them for Governor, lie was connected with
such an institution, and was the man finally
i selected. As to tho time his company
| “ quit business,” or “ ceased operations,”
’ 1 made no statement. And does Major
Cooper deny that during tlie previous “ full, ‘
winter, and spring,” lie was so connected !
or was, if yon please, at tlie head of that
“ huge monopoly 1” He does not. So tur j
iVom it, he does not say that he was discon
nected from that company even up to the
time of penning his address. For, matk
his language : He says, “if (the company) ;
had (at the time of his nomination) quit bu
siness and he “ was not (then) connec'ed
with any chartered institution doing busi
ness.” The time they “ quit business,” you
will see hereafter, was about the 25th of
May last, a very short time If,re the nomi
nation. Hut I apprehend the truth to he
that, even up to the time he wrote his ad
dress, he was still at the head of the same
company, (which seems like an engorged
beast of the forest, only to have retired for a
season to digest his ravenously devoured j
prey,) else how could he offer to sell mejthe |
charter 1 Then, fellow citizens, who! at
tempted to deceive you 1 I, who stater) in
this particular vvliat even Major Cooper did
not venture to deny ; or he, who, (having l for
three or four years derived all the advantn- (
ges of the most “ exclusive and odious mon- !
opoly” known to our laws,) just a few days
before his nomination suspended operation, j
or “ quit business,”as he says: that he might
pass himselfoffamongst you as a pure Demo
crat—opposed to all privileged orders—and
uotiiing but a “ plain Mart ay county far
mer ?” Os this, also, you may be the judges.
The next matter lii which I direct your ;
attention, is what appears “ secondly” in I
his order or classification of mistakes. In i
this he quotes my language as follows ! I
“The profits of such an institution as that |
in which Mr. Cooper’s capital was invested, ‘
depended greatly upon tlie derangement of )
the currency and the evils attending it.—
Huying and selling exchange and purchas
ing depreciated paper, or taking it at enor- !
mous discounts, necessaiily become the j
great source of its profits. With a good
national currency of equal value throughout |
the Union, such an institution, doing such n
business, could not exist.” To which he !
makes this unanswerable reply : “ Here j
are three untruths , which rharity will im
pute to Mr. Stephens’ignoiance of business !
lather than to a disposition wilfully to per
vert. Being thus ignoianl of the practical
operation of hanking and hank paper mo- j
ncy.it is no wonder he details ftotn other
men’s speeches and books the misconcep !
lion of the good effects of a United States j
Bank, hoping to mislead honest men, whose
every interest is opposed to itwhich is
all he says in relation to it. lie does not
point out in what the three untruths, or any ;
one of them, consists. He does riot say
that his institution did riot deal in exchang- j
e.s, for he knew that such was one of the oh- !
jects of its charter. He does not say that |
it did not purchase depreciated paper and !
notes at enormous discounts ; for he knew i
that those who had lost in this kind of ope
| ration sixteen or pet haps higher rates of :
| per cent., could be brought to testify against
i him. The facts thercfbie being against (
him, he seems to hove been thiowri upon |
the resources of his own grctit abilities j
(which on such occasions never fail him) in !
an extra effbit at reasoning; the result of;
which is the masterly argument above. 1 j
have given it in full to do amji’e justice to ,
the comprehensiveness of his intellect.—
Major Cooper is said to he a financier, and ‘
to he deeply versed ill the ait and mystery
i of hanking. 1 shall not meet that question
with him. lie certainly claims to himself
! some superior knowledge of the sort ; and
i I expect it will be generally admitted that
he knows how to make a living in other
ways besides farming. But it seems that i
the true character of his genius was never
1 before fully developed, or, if so, wholly ,
I overlooked; for, amongst all the other at-ij
tiibutes of greatness, he may now lay equal ;
claims to the possession, in an eminent de
gree, of the powers of logic. And the fore- i
! going specimen, transcending any thing to ,
j he found in the writings of Bacon or Aii-t- I
i to;le, may he treasured up by his future hi- I
i ogtapher as one of the latest examples of!
the
Wonderful “ triumphs of the humnrMiiind,
By truth illumined and by taste refined.”
i Os the powers and merits of this mental dis-
I play, you may certainly be the judges. But
lusily :
Mnjor Cooper, like most men of his caste,
(who assume a degree of presumption
measured only by the extent of the cmer- ;
gency.) asserts that my statement that his
“company did issue something intended to !
i answer the purpose of circulation under the
name of certificates of deposite, or some
other title, is untrue; and that I lied a fair
opportunity to know that it was untrue.”— \
This, in bis estimation, seerns to be the main
point in issue between us. It was this that
acted like caustic upon the nerves of the
system. For in order that he who had
spent years in “financiering,'’ and had taken ‘
lessons in the art, as may he inferred from
his address, in “ Augusta, Charleston, Mr?- j
bile, New Ynikand New Orleans,” m'ght j
| lie passed off upon the country as nothing !
; hut a “plain Murray county farmer, ” it was j
thought necessary to raise a jrrrtcnded cry 1
against banks, corporations, monopolies, ex
clusive privileges, and paper money. And
hence his friend, Mr. Stiles, charged the
Whigs m generol terms with being the
“ aristocrats of the land,” who aspired to he
a “ privileged order,” and sought “ charter
ed tights” and “ inclusive privileges and
*j.. ’ % ‘* ‘
■ IV UMBER 45.
W, T. THOMPSON, EDITOR,
monopolies,” not enjoyed by the mass of
community. This was to make the impres
sion tluit Major Cooper and his paity, itt
*’ principle and in practice.” were opposed
to such orders and it still.lions, undtluit they
professing to he Democrats, were the real
fiicnds of the people. But when the posi
tion was exposed, and the Until was told,
and you were informed that many of the
leading men of those who pretend to be op
posed to “chartered institutions,” were
themsi Ives at the head of several of. them ;
and that even Major Cooper, their candidate
for Governor, bad been for years at tbo
head of the institution alluded to —the pow
ers of which were enumerated—greatly ex
ceeding those of any Be/nk in tlie Slate, and
which had also entered the list of competi
tors in the issue of paper money, or some
thing intended for circulation. It was then,
when foiled in the attempt, that the feelings
became exasperated at the exposure ; and
the last expedient for desperate eases was
resorted to —that is, “broad, doicnright, un
qvalificel denial.” To this course 1 have no
objection, or to the issue which has been
joined. The consequences must be borne
by those who assume the responsibility.—
i 1 stated to you distinctly tliut Major Cnop
ei’s company did issue “ ccitificales of de
posite,” intended to answer the purpose of
circulation ; that “ I had seen them, and had
them, and knew it to he true.” 1 had re
ceived them and passed them as money;
and in this matter as in the others, I am
willing that you should also be the judges.
And in confirmation of wlnt I asserted, l
ask you to read the following statements;
they arc from os worthy, respectable, and
honorable men, as live in the State; such as
; the Rev. James Davis, of Heard county, a
minister of the Bap'.’st church, to which de
nomination I believe Major Cooper profess
es to belong ; Britain Sims, sen., Senalot
i fiom Coweta; confirmed bv Andrew J.
Berry, one of tlie Representatives ol tbo
’ same county, and H. It. Harrison, Usq., of
the town of Newnan; the Hon. Jas. A.Mer
; iwether, late Representative in Congress,
and Dr. William S. Chipley, of Columbus ;
persons from different putts of the State,
met by me casually in Milledgevillo dining
the session of the Legislature, shortly bc
: fore my leaving home for this place.
“ Milledgrrdle, Oct., A or. 13, 1843.
“ Mr. Stephens—l take ibis opportunity
’ of saving to you, that 1 have seen the td
--1 Jiess of the Holt. Maik A. Cooper to ihn
voters of Mur ray county, and can only ex
press my astonishment at his statements in
relation to the issue of the Western Insur
ance and Trust Company. One of these
i issues or certificates of deposite I have seen;
it was signed by Mink A. Cooper as Presi
Jput, and bad all the appearances of paper
money, or something intended for circula
tion. It whs printed or engraved on such
paper as batik hills usually are ; was of tho
denomination of twenty dollars ; was num
bered, and hud the usual appearance of bank
notes. JAMES DAVIS.”
I
“ Mil/eelgeril/e, Ga„ AW. IC, 1843:
•’ Mr. Stephens—At vour request, 1 state
to you that 1 have seen one of the issues of
the Western Insurance and Trust Compa
ny of Columbus, under tlie name of cetti
ficates of deposite. It was similar in gen
eral appearance to a bank note or other
kinds of paper circulation, being printed or
engraved on similar paper, with similar
figures, numbers, nnd other devices. Tlie
denomination was twenty dollars, anil, from
appearance, seemed evidently intended for
i.Tiu'LT.ATioN. BRITAIN SIMS,Sen.”
“ We concur in the above statement.
“ANDREW J. BERRY.
“11. R. HARRISON.”
“ 1 have seen a certificate corresponding
in every respect with the above described;
one, and signed, ns well ns I now recollect,
by Mark A. Cooper, President. Fiona its
character it was evidently designed for cit
! dilation. J. A. MERIWETHER.
*• November IS, 1843.”
I “ De.vii Sin—l have seen some of (be.
j certificates of deposite issued by the W’cs
i tern Insurance and Trust Company of Co
lumbus, and 11 collect to have received one
of the denomination of twenty dollars. I
received nrul paid itout a* money. In their
general appearance they resembled hank
notes, being engraved on similar paper, for
a specific amour.t, and regularly lettered
and numbered. They certainly did not re
semble ordinary ceitificntes of deposite;
and l know that the opinion prevailed gen
erally with the people of Columbus, that
they were intended for circulation, and to
answer the purpose of Bunk notes. I have
no personal knowledge of the intention of
the Company in issuing such certificates,
and give you only the impression made on
my own mind, and the.opinion of oil with
whom 1 have conversed on the subject.
Respectfully. Ac.
“ W.S. CHIPLEY.”
For further evidence in confirmation of
my statement, if any be wanted, I ask your
attention to what Major Cooper has said
himself in his address, and to a statement of
one of the officers of his Company, pub
lisher! soon offer his nomination, and being
the same to which he alludes when he saya
that I “ ought to have known the Company
hud quit business” To this point l ask
your particular attention ; for (as Major