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Leave me, or gathering up my life's last energies,.
I’ll call up images of untold crimes
From the unfathomed gulf, o’er which I bend,
As shall forever haunt thee.
Landenberg.— Powerless threats.
Who fears the tiger's growl when bars confine him ?
’Tis music to revenge, to hear its victim
Vent he chaf’d wrath in such befitting terms.
Short space is left thee. (exit.)
Bkrthold.—Sink not my soul's belov'd ;
Oh! could I breathe my life out thus, ’twould seem
Like being borne on angel’s wings to heaven.
Too blest in thee, unworthy such a treasure,
I now must yield thee.
Constance. —No ! we part not thus,
Sever’d so long, indissoluble now,
There’s so mething tells me my deep prayers are answered.
The pallid liand that beckons thee away
Cannot divorce thee from me. Hark! that crash, Berthold.
Berthold. —’Tis but the burying tread of guards!
Constance.— What fitful light is quivering thro’ the grates ?
Oh 1 pitying Heaven ? dost tliou deliverance send ?
Berthold ! the blaze, tlie kindling blaze beyond !
Another! Oh, God? another streams
Its scarlet banner from the distant hills.
The rocks are crown’d with flame ; on every height
The fiery heralds gleam.
Berthold. —The signal beacons !
Oh! could I rend these bars! the signal fires!
They wake the country’s might. Yes! vengeance comes,
These walls will shake anon. They tremble now.
I hear the clash of arms, the din of conflict.
And I inglorious here. They come.
(Enter Rodolpli aiul guards.)
Constance:— Oh ! lost,
Devoted husband!
Rodolph. —These bolts must soon be broken. Lend ye your
hands.
Berthold. —To Freedom ?
Rodolph. —To death. There’ll be rough handling here.
(Enter Herman, wounded.)
Herman. —Back to your master, villians! speed, he‘s press’d
By thousands. Rodolph, Rescue is the cry.
(exit Rodolph and guards.)
The tyrant is kept at bay—the victim’s safe.
Those shouts !
Berthold. —Herman ! thou bleedest.
Herman. —(sinking at Constance’ feet)
The hand of death Ls on me. Oh ! ’tis j ust.
Constance. —(supporting him) How dreadful pale! Where
lies the mortal wound ?
Let me but stanch this blood. 111-fated Herman 1
What foe has wrought this deed—this deadly deed ?
Herman. —The peasant youth! Hero of Rutli's plain;
But mine the blame ; on me the retribution.
I heard the stealthy steps of coming foes
Crowd tliro’ the maiden’s chamber, breaking free.
I rush’d upon a band of war-like youth,
Who through the casement had the Castle enter’d,
Opening a path for others ; at their head
Thy champion, Constance, with his forest weapon.
him, brav'd him, forc’d him to the strife.
His brave right arm—Oh ! Constance, canst thou look
Thus pitying, thus forgiving ? Heaven is kind.
J merit not this mercy, thus to lie
And dimly gaze on all I ever lov’d.
Night gathers round me ; but my spirit clear’d
From passion’s mist, mourns for the guilty past.
Pray for me—pray, belov’d one.
Constance. —Spare him ;
Have pity, Heaven ; let me not east a blight
. On all that love me ; leave him not to perish.
Herman. —Berthold ! thou art aveng’d. Oh! much I've
wrong’d thee,
Wrong'd thee, by loving her, who is as pure
As light's first fountain. Look on her,
And find a pardon in thy breast for me.
Stretch forth thy liand in token. ’Tis in vain ;
I reach it not. Hear ye those shouts. The victors !
Thou wilt be free, while I—Where art thou, Constance ?
Thy face is dark. Oh ! this, this must be death, (dies)
Constance. —Angel of Mercy! hear his parting sigh,
And bear it to the skies. His spirit passes.
(Enter Landenberg—noise of pursuit.)
Landenberg. —Ha! traitor!
Berthold. —Traitor !
Landenberg. —Yes, thou! that rebel gang—
For thee they clamor—Rescue is the cry—
My Castle’s storm’d—the blood hounds at my heels.
Revenge unsated, gnawing on itself.
This to thy heart—and this—
(Attempts to stab Berthold, when Constance throws her
self before him, but ere the weapon falls Landenberg is ar
rested by the conspirators, who enter at this moment.)
Berthold. —Oh ! for an arm!
A thousand lives for one unfettered arm !
Erni. —(releasing Berthold from his chains)
Joy to thee, noble sufferer ! Off vile chains !
Swell the high chorus—
Berthold. —Xo exulting throb
Bounds the hosannah's of the land to hear
Oppression lives, while Landenberg exists.
Release him, champions of your country's Freedom,
And let him steel to steel confront the man
He dares to brand with obloquy and shame.
W erner. —Berthold of Werdenberg. thou man of sorrows—
Thou, whom we knew in youth and manhood’s prime—
Thou, whom we mourn’d in exile, whose deep wrongs
Were made the watch-word of our rallying band.
Our liberated country bids thee welcome ;
Oh ! let notM'reedom’s shrine be stain’d with blood ,
But let theaJtains, which late thy limbs disgrac’d,
Bind him jolving monument of wrath.
(While Werner is speaking, he unconsciously relaxes his
grasp of LaAdenberg, who breaking free again, springs upon
Berthold. Berthold wrests the weapon from the hand of
Landenberg.)
Berthold.— Now Heaven and all its angels judge between us.
(They struggle. Landenberg falls wounded and dying.)
Berthold. —There lies the scourge of liberty and man.
Constance we are aveng’d; 1 lelvetia's free ;
Hear Freedom from her hundred mountain heights,
In robes of flame and clarion voice shout forth,
Oppression is no more—Helvetia’s free.
(Enter Ulricand Hilda, bearing the child.)
TTlric: —(throwing himself at Berthold's feet)
My master free ! All gracious Ileavon be praised.
Behold thy child ; we brought him to receive
A new-found father’s blessing. Bless thy boy.
(Constance places the child in Berthold’* arms, who folds
them both to his bosom. Curtain falls to soft music.)
For the “Georgia Citizen.”
Education.
It is ascertained that youth learn the alphabet, to spell, read,
write and cipher much faster by oral teaching—that is, lec
tures anl examples—than from l>ooks. I mean, take *. child
of a proper age, say 6,7, or 8 years old, give him a black
board and a piece of chalk, show him how to make A and A,
on the black board, and have him try to make A, that he not
only learns to know A when he sees it, but with the speed of a
ready scribe, he makes it. So it is said that they may be
learned to join letters, and to spell, much sooner than by any
other plan yet tried. And so of Arithmetic, and all the other
branches of an English Education. Speed now is the or
der of the day ; while, by our intercouse with other nations, is
added to the English Language every year, many words which
we do not now understand, so that to keep pace with the daily
additions to our language requires even a stretch from those
who have had every advantage. Fifteen years ago it was pub
lished by Noah Webster that the English Language then in
use had reached the enormous sum of 35,000 words But in
1840, the same author publishes, that from various sources of
addition from foreign languages, it consisted of more than 40,-
000 words in use. From our foreign relations with Mexico
and China, it would be difficult to guess how many more thou
sands will be added in the next five years. Though I have
but little doubt, that the .number every year will be more than
a child of moderate abilities would 1 earn with the significa
tions.
In view of these facts it is, that I would urge that method
of teaching which will be most, likly to succeed. At once
fixing upon his memory by lectures and actual examples in a
few minutes , what he would be weeks in learning from a book
in the ordinary mode of teaching. Again, it is almost the
constant practice of writers in this age, to use new words—
words which they know, or believe, few people understand.
Hence it is, that these words become incorporated into our
language. This practice keeps, I say, even thedearned in the
English language constantly studying the meaning of these
foreign words ; or else, if he fails to do this, he is considered
behind the age, and really ignorant of what he ought to know.
I have always thought it a strange thing, that a learned man,
with 40,000 words at command, should yet be compelled to
have recourse to new, strange and foreign words to write a
few columns tor a newspaper. Whenever I see this, I think
invariably, another tax upon the people; simply because the
writer was not able to express himself in the words in com
mon use in the English language. I would suggest to these
learned writers, that if they wish to be of any service to
mankind by writing articles for the benefit of the public,
■that for the future, they will do men good by using such words
as are usually found in our common English dictionaries.—
Pray, of what use is it to use words of this description in com
mon composition. To wit: Abracadabra, Bacciferous, Con
travallation, Dactilioglyph, Entomostracans, Facies-llyppo
cratica, Gudolinito, Galaetopoietic, Ilemiolo-gamose, Ignis
fatuus, Iguanodon, Kalei-doseopc, Laryngopliony, Laudieoeni,
of which there are many. Marsupialia, Ncmoglossatn, Ne
matoneura, Octastylos, Pathognomaniac, Beudepigrapliy,
Quadrisulcates, Quid, Pro-quo, Raehillo, Rachitis, Rhyzan
theae, Sansculottes, or Breechesless, Strutliionidae, Zantoehro
no, Fropiginm, Venueeose, Witena-geraote, Xiphosura, Xer
oeollyrium, Yu, Zendavesta, Zoophagans, and many thou
sands of other words of like character, are now to be found
in use among men wo pretend to speak the English language
correctly ; by which, I always understand a mau to mean,
that he speaks the English language so as to be understood.
To do this, no speaker would use any one of the above words
in conversation, or any writer in writing an article for English
men to lead, without explaining the word. So when I hear
such words in conversation or see them in print, unless ex
plained by the speaker or writer, 1 set it down, as a clear case,
that the speaker or writer is actually ignorant of the English
language , and has to resort to a foreign language to speak or
write wliat he knows to a people who are wholly ignorant of
the dialect used. This being true, lie had as well not speak or
write at all, for no one understands his words.
OBSERVER.
Cnnwjjmikw.
LETTER from Ft. GAISES.
Fort Gaines, April 30, 1850.
Dear Sir ••—The past week was spent at the capitol of Ear
ly county, the Superior Court being in session there, and the
Hon. L. Warren, Judge, presiding. The business of the Court
was gone through in three days. There were some very
novel, important and interesting cases continued. There was
one of rarity argued, as to an interlocutory judgment to pay
alimony, pendente life, and lawyer’s fees, by the husband.
It was a novel case, and seemed equally as hard upon the
defendant. There are some reasons why such eases should
only be heard within a monastery and by Ecclesiastical Judges,
for to them are generally decreed the right to hear and de
cide upon all matters ‘twixt soul and body. The arguments
were able and profound, and the Law quoted purely ecclesi
astical. This case originated, as many of like character have,
when the contest is between “ January and May,” and as
long as marriage is considered a civico-spiritual state, who was
most in fault ? is the quere to be determined. Both are cer
tainly implicated. The defendant has an interesting family
of children, and an estate sufficient to provide all comforts for
him and them, which he has acquired by his own exertions
and industry, mixed up with some luck. “ And whether pure
holiness inspired his mind, or dotage turned his brain is hard
to find.” He determined “once ere he died to taste the bliss
ful life of a kind husband and a loving wife.” “ And thus
conduct him gently to the verge of life.” But he forgot the
shrewd saying, “ Old fish at table, but young flesh in bed.”
He should have learned that the “ ventures arc greater” “ to
give one’s person than their goods away.” He gave both, and
at a poor price. lie should have learned his lady’s qualities,
at least, “Whether she’s chaste or rampant, proud or civil,
meek as a saint or haughty as the devil j whether an easy,
fond, familiar fool, or such a wit as no man ere can rule.”
But neglecting all these preliminaries, he fixed at last upon
the youthful May. “ Her faults he knew not—Love is always
blind •, but every charm revolved within his mind ; her ten
der age, her form divinely fair—her every motion, her at
tractive air—her sweet behaviour, her enchanting face—her
moving softness and majestic grace.” She played well her
part, this “darling of his eyes; young, bcautious, artless, in
nocent and wise—chaste, though not rich, and though not no
bly born of honest parents,” Ac. Thus she took him, “ nor
more the work delayed ; the match was offered, the proposals
made; the parents you may think would comply ; the old
have interest ever in their eye. Nor was it hard to move the
lady's mind, when fortune favors, still the fair are kind.”
Soon after marriage, came the separation, attended with a suit
at Equity for a Divorce mensa et thoro , as the legalites call
it, but it would, in this ease, be better named a separation from
bed, with board at the price of three hundred dollars a year,
pending the suit, and all costs and lawyer’s fees paid besides ;
and in conclusion, with one half of January’s estate to be
given to to May, that she may live fast the time that ho has
gained in years, and teach mankind the price of folly and the
end of Love. Thus has he deprived himself of rest and
peace of mind, and liis family of one half of their comforts,
which, according to the divine authorities quoted on the oc
casion, are to be lavished upon one (who perhaps would make
Fortune the object, and would scoff at his grey hairs and
shout out, poor old fool) to sustain her rank and dignity in
society, as the English law terms it. Here we have no grades,
ranks or titles. By law all are prohibited and not counten
anced. Industry, economy and a good character are the high
est and best rank and dignity in a Republic. It needs no
wealth to sustain it; all can possess it. Away, then, with such
false ideas of aristocracy, and such vitiated and corrupt socie
ty and public opinion as it floats with. There could be but
little inducement for the defendant to marry, except f# youth
and passion, and for all this his hard, earnings and savings
shall be the forfeit. This fulfils the adage, that “ Expe
rience is the best and most expensive of teachers.” And in
his harrassed and frenzied state of mind, he may well say,
“ And that which should accompany old ago, as honor, love,
obedience, troops of friends, I must riot look to have it, but
in their stead curses not lou<l but deep, mouth-honor—breath
—which the poor heart would fain deny, but dare not.”
Indeed, for once, the real was lost sight of in the personal.
But again to terra firma. Blakely is situated on a high plain,
handsomely shaded with large oaks that grew there from
the acorn. Its inhabitants are some 300. It lias good schools,
a neat Court-llouse, two good taverns, large stocks of goods
and plenty of purchasers. Its health is celebrated and its wa
ters the best in South-Western Georgia. It lias a very peace
able, sobev and genteel community, with hut very few “ dead
falls,” to mar its happiness. Its back country is very fertile
and extensive, the planting interests heavy and the population
generally are amongst the most industrious, economical and
intelligent citizens of Georgia. The Ladies are numerous,
healthy, rosy-colored, robust, and would do honor to their
country, either in times of peace or war.
There seems to be some competition for the next Senator,
more particularly since Randolph is included. It is thought,
however, that Mr. S ff dis entitled to it. He certain
ly is a very honest man and will do right instead of wrong.
The Nashville Convention is scarcely noticed other than as a
folly. Georgia stands up for the Union. I)o her honor!
M hat meanness would it be f< >r these Conventionalists to make
an issue before the people of the South as to their groat griev
ances “f the present representative system! Pause!
r i o close up this week’s affairs, and for the better rest to
morrow, a dance—a ball—came off here this evening. The
Belles and Beauties, in all the colors of Spring, were present
as lively as thought and as quick as a minute. All the mod
ern dances were tuned and measured off, amongst them the
Polka.' 1 which has the appearance of a blending together
of the sublime and ridiculous, the grandeur of the one hiding
the deformity of the other, and vice versa , or in other words,
it is a combination of the cotillion, the waltz, the reel and the
A igger dance, jig or juba, for in it there are as manv fantastic
shapes, shades and statuaries as were ever drawn of “ Jim
Crow" 1 or other Negro imitators, of “heel and toe” notoriety.
WIRE GRASS.
sis §g®iiu cmisii.
LETTER from ATLANTA.
Atlanta, May 8,1850.
Dear Doctor :—The report here is that the State Railroad
Tunnel is to be opened to-morrow, and that a train of cars
will then pass through it for the first time. I understand that
the Chief Engineer contemplates another grand celebration of
the interesting event! Avery large number of invitations, for
a sere ride on that day, have been issued to the elite of the
Charleston and Georgia Democracy. I say “Democracy,”
because I am credibly informed that, with very few exceptions,
the invitations have been confined to that party. This is in per
fect keeping with Mr. Mitchell’s contracted spirit, and exhibits
in their true colors Jus illiberally and littleness of soul. Ido
not speak thus because I have not been invited. Far from it.
The expense of a trip to Chattanooga and back would be no
object to me were I “bad off” to go. I am indignant at the con
tempt with which he holds the People and Interests of Savan
nah and Macon, while he seizes upon every ftivilous pretext to
minister to the pomp and vanity of the nabobs of a rival State.
I am sorry you did not know of this celebration sooner. I should
have been glad could you have gouc up, and witnessed with
your own eve's the farce of re-sprinkling the Tunnel with wa
ter from the River Jordan, and examined the beautiful con
dition of the Road.
lam not opposed to celebrations in general; but I think
there have been already quite enough of them in honor of the
opening of the Tunnel. I think the “Chief Engineer”
would do better to set his wits and energies (?) to work to do
something to improve arid benefit the Road. I have it from
good authority, that, at a settlement with the Georgia Rail
road Company on the Ist instant, the State was ascertained to
be their debtor in the snug sum of seventy-four thousand
six hundred and eighty dollars ! and this is only ouc item of
its indebtedness. Surely, the financial abilities of the “Chief
Enghtoc-r” is only equalled by tlxo wisdom of the Governor
who gave him his appointment.
I learn that Mr. Morse, First Assistant Engineer, becoming
disgusted with the management of the work, resigned his ap
pointment on the Ist instant. There is, consequently, no
practical man at present in authority on the Road. “ God
save the Commonwealth,” or, rather, the people who will
have to pay the scot!
The trains of the Georgia and Macon & Western Roads
have run with unparalelled regularity during the past week.
On Tuesday last the down Freight train on the State Road ran
off a car, near Etowah, and broke it; and a Freight Locomo
tive ran off yesterday, near Marietta. The Passenger trains
were delayed about thirty minutes by each of these accidents.
I am gratified to learn the enterprisng proprietor of the
“Howard House,” in Marietta, will shortly put on a line of
daily Hacks to run between this place and Marietta in con
nection with the trains of the Macon & Western Railroad.
This is an admirable move—one w hich must become both
popular and profitable.
An attempt was made on Monday last to bail Demby. The
Inferior Court reduced his bond about one-half, but refused
to take the surety offered. Mulkey is at large, having been
turned loose by one of the many quibbles in the L:uv by
which so many rascals go umvhipped of Justice.
There was an interesting case of adultery tried In‘re one
day last week. The man, who is married and the father of
several children, was bound over, and lhe woman discharged.
I have forgotten their names. There fire several others
here, occupying higher positions in society than this poor
devil, who arc guilty of the same sin, and whom I should bo
glad to see served in the same way !
The weather during the past two days, has been uncom
fortably cool. I have no doubt there was frost on Monday
night, somewhere in this vicinity.
The man who poisoned Ills old wife, near Marietta, a short
time since, is named Wade. I learn that he has been com-
for the offenee ; and his new wife has been arrested
as an accomplice. It is said that, a few days before the poi
soning, she told some women who were at her house that
she would be married in the dress she was then making iu
less than ten days— and she was !
Yours truly, G ABRIEL.
LETTER from COLIIMBIJS.
Columbus, May 4, 1850.
Dear Sir /—Since the date of my hist communication to
you find your readers, I believe there have been no occur
rences or developments in our midst, which you will fail to
find herein mentioned.
There was a desire manifested by many persons, to-day,
to know who is your “hundred eyed correspondent.” The
good citizens need not inquire, because I labor for them ; and
the evil denizens will find out to their sorrow that 1 will know
them and their acts and apply a tireless lash to them, wheth
er they know me or not. However, if some of these inquisi
tory gents do not cease catechising every one to find me
ont, I will place them so they will rue the hour they first
sought my real name. “Argus” acts from no impure motive,
and he lias no malice or envy against any one in particular,
his motto therefore shall be—
“ Nothing extenuate,
Or ought set down in malice.”
I am at a loss to know wliat the sapient Editors of the
“ Times’’ and tlie “Sentinel” will do for subjects for their ef
fervescent talk, since their cherished idol, the Nashville Con
vention, has fallen to the ground. These lloratios have been
the recipients of a lesson from the people which I hope they
will not disremember.
We have able and fearless representatives at the Capitol,
where they were placed by tlie majority of the people, and I
feel they will strive to perform their duties better and farther
advance our interests, than if they were compelled to follow
the will of a few political demagogues who have labored to
rear this convention for some latent purpose. The Editor
of the “Sentinel” says the convention was to be held for “a
certain end.” If that “end” was good, why not name it?
Why keep it from the voters previous to the election 0
We have plenty of humbug concerns among us at odd
times, and the people here give their patronage and get, de
ceived. It has always been my humble opinion that if the
many peregrinating humbugs which visit us were discoun
tenanced, and the money our citizens expend on them was
appropriated to better purposes, our city would not have a
child in its borders to grow up without a good education.—
These exhibitions take a great amount of money away from
our city in the course of a year—an amount quite sufficient
to keep a free school in constant operation. I wish, sincere
ly wish that our citizens would act upon this hint and see
how much they could contribute to the intellectual advance
ment of the youth and children of our city.
In my last letter 1 neglected to mention the death of a lady
who lately committed suicide by swallowing laudanum. —
She leaves three .motherless children, who will perhaps feel
the want of the guardian care which a mother alone can
bestow. What prompted her to do this melancholy deed
lias not been ascertained, though domestic trouble is reported
to be the caus e. The coroner’s jury on the inquest rendered
a verdict “ death by laudanum.” What a lesson!
bor the last two weeks, hereabouts, the fishermen have
caught a large number of rock-fish , sturgeons , and other
palatable specimens of the finny tribe. I understand that
the enterprising Cotton Gin manufacturers, E. T. Taylor &
Cos. have made lately a large shipment ot their Cotton Gins
to Shreveport, La., where they luivc established a branelf of
their business. These men are worthy of success, and 1 hope
they will obtain it.
The Rock Island Factory arc making shipments of paper
of their manufacture to New Orleans and elsewhere. The
paper business, has heretofore received but little attention ;
but the “Lowell of the South,” through a portion of her citi
zens, have started it, and I think their investment will prove
beneficial and profitable.
The various other manufactories of our city are doing well
and making shipments of a portion of their manufactures.
I perceive the Carter Factory building is yet vacant, and I
hope it ever may remain so if negroes have to be translated
from their proper sphere to work in it, to the total exclusion
of poor white children. It was your voice* methinks, Doc
tor, which gave tlie death blow to tlie first movement to work
our factories by slaves, when the services of many, yes, a
sufficient number of poor white children could easily be ob
tained. There is no place more suitable for a negro than a corn
or cotton field, and there let him remain.
On Wednesday, Ist instant, 3 1-2 P. M., according to no
tice in our city papers, the scholars of Mrs C. L. llentz met
*Our correspondent is mistaken. Tlie owner of that establishment
abandoned the idea of manufacturing, before our voice was heard
against the policy of introducing slave lalioi into Factories. Else, he
would have ordered machinery to >e ready by the time the building ,
was erected, which he did not do.— Ed. Georgia. Citizen.
at tlie Baptist church to crown their chosen queen of May.—
A great number of ladies and gentlemen and juveniles in
abundance, congregated there to see the ceremonies attend
ing their coronation. All of the colors of the rainbow were
imitated by the robes of the female auditors. The beauties of
our city were there. The scholars were attired in white, and
their transparent brows and snowy dresses were decked with
Flora’s rarest gems. Miss llentz, as the queen of May, was
escorted by 27 of her schoolmates and a band of music from
the residence of Mr. Shot well to the church, where a tastily
arranged bower, formed with evergreens and flowers, was
already erected for the purpose of receiving and crowning
the queen, and for delivering a choice poetical dialogue, writ
ten by Mrs. llentz, for the occasion. The young ladies ac
quitted themselves with honor, and the cheerful, smiling
countenance of their talented instructress in a measure fore
told her delight for tlie gracefulness and promptitude her pupils
displayed in their respective allotments. The young ladies
seemed imbued with the spirit of the verses they repeated, and
their articulation and gestures were appropriate, amiable and
pleasing. After the ceremonies of the coronation were over,
the queen was conducted by the sylph-like train from the
church down Broad street, to the place whence she was es
corted. It was a beautiful spectacle to behold, and the au
ditors retired from the spot with grateful hearts for the de
licious time they shared on the occasion. At night a party was
given to the young ladies, which they attended as a matter of
course, and “tripped the light fantastic toe,” until the “short
hours” had partly passed away.
On tlie 2d inst. there was a hostile meeting, down town,
about the market-house, between two gentlemefl. One
of them is well known as a wieidcr of the birch and a man
of letters. When I use the term letters Ido not mean lite
rature, but design to express my meaning without being
termed an exquisite painter of a man's outer looks. Argus
has to be careful when he notices such things, for the pro
verb says, I believe, that he who plays with fire burns his fin
gers. I did not hear of any blood being spilt on the occasion,
although some warlike demonstrations were made.
On May-day there was a set-to between two country
worthies, in a grocery store several doors below the Mechan
ic's Bank agency. The report of the affair contains no
doleful intelligence of mortal wounds or death.to either party.
Would it not appear better for the “tillers of the soil” to set
tle and adjust their difficulties at home than to come to our
city to do so? In this place I would most respectfully urge
on our city functionaries, the propriety of erecting a pit
where all belligerent couples can amuse themselves in “the
manly art of self-defence,” so the moral portion of our com
munity could not see them.
I hear that a great number of your subscribers in this city
complain of the ceaseless messages of some of their neigh
bors for the loan of the “Citizen.” Sometimes it happens
! that a subscriber’s paper is torn into shreds by persons who
borrow it, before be lias had the opportunity to peruse its
columns. These paper borrowers arc those who have ever
declaimed against your editorial course, but they must read
the “Citizen” to know what is going on here and elsewhere.
Some of them perhaps have felt your lash, and as their de
served stripes have not healed, or because of their extreme
penuriousness, they do not subscribe and pay like men for
the work of tlie printer, which is ever done for their interests.
On Thursday night our county prison became nearly un
inhabited. Two burglars, Phelan and Thos. Brown, and a
horse thief named Tolar rdias Williams, and another Brown,
, who was committed on account of his inability to give bond to
keep the peace with his better half, made good their escape.
I Our worthy Christian goaler did not miss them until he ear
! ried up their morning meal to them.
There is quite a visible “splutter and flutter” among the
young legal fledglings in this city because the superior court,
j in its wisdom, has judiciously curtailed the number of lawyers
on each side of a case. I have this item from a legal gen
j tlcinan and I think it is true. And if it be true, the juveniles
i of the profession will have to stand aside until the “ old 1 losses”
| become superannuated or die. There is a legal gentleman of
this city who is offering to take all the old eases in our courts,
provided the clients will give .him half he gains. This is
rather a reasonable proposition, for generally lawyer’s fees
and costs eat up all that is gained. I have many other interest
ing things to mention, but this letter has already extended
beyond tlie intended limits, therefore, for the present, adieu.
Sinn tuns, ARGUS.
LETTER from COLUMBUS.
Columbus, May 3,1550.
Dear Sir: —On a recent tour through South-Western
Georgia, I could not borrow from old Time space enough to
write you a line, but as I now have ample room, I will
a part of what has transpired. First, I saw a country truly
great. All the farms presented a prosperous appearance. Ev
ery where old fences were neatly repaired, much fresh land
cleared and put into cultivation, and many new dwellings
erected or being so. Each Citizen was in a good humour
with himself and the rest of wo -mankind. The non-labor
ing portion of the people are engaged iu Fortune’s frolic, and
are enjoying a glorious holiday. They make social visits,
give sumptuous dinners and magnificent dancing soirees to
each other. The modern inusie of the violin greets one's ear
at every village and at numerous private residences in the
country.
The cotillion and polka have banished the Virginia Reel
and the North Carolina jig. This deeply wounded my heart,
because the two latter, though often trampled under my feet ,
wi re my earliest boon-companions. Occasionally you might
’ hear, soito voce, a Quattlebuin or South Carolina “break
I down,” that only served to show such tilings had been /
; The country is filled with negroes for sale, and they sell rcadi
! lyfct high prices. This proves there is no great arlarm in the
’ public mind, about the security of such property. The store
houses are crowded with customers awaiting the arrival of
the spring supply of goods, and sales of such as are on hand,
take place before they are opened and upon the shelves.
From the great number of fine bores and shining carriages, one
would suppose Kentucky and Ohio were unhorsed, and New
Ark, N. Jersey, had emptied out, here, all her manufactures.
These vehicles, alias painted and padded poplar planks, have
j usurped the plan of the ancient Dearborn wagon, and the more
! simple cart of which split bottomed chairs were the easy scats.
j A moderate traveler is lucky if he escapes being run over by
the rapid drivers of the aforesaid carriages, which are usually
loaded more goods, wares and merchandize, than would
fit out a Yankee pedler's venture, with a solitary inside pas
senger of the feminine gender, termed the “Italian beauty,”
the “blue-eyed one,” &c. The oyc of the philosopher cannot
fail to drop the tear of pity, as it observes this short-sighted
damsel intensely gazing at to-morrow’s happiness, a day
that will never come. To-day she is like the butterfly, attired
in the gayest colors, inhaling an ideal fragrance. Ten years
lit'nce will she be an emaciated frame, her bosom a charnel
house of murdered joys ? If yea, it is caused by the want of
proper mental training on the part of pare'nts.
Except a newspaper war, two against one, our city has its
usual quiet. Apropos —speaking of newspapers, I notion
that your old friend of the “Times” lias a vivid recollection,
still, of your former “labors of love” in his behalf. Witness
his lame kick last week against the “ Muscogee Democrat.”
The adjutant is evidently getting too large for the ordinary
panlaloonery in which he was kept buttoned, while the “ M.
D.” was in existence, and I hope you will see to it, that the
finical pretender to gentility does not extend bis “platitudes”
beyond wliat tlie good citizens are able to bear !
Our great fear at this time is, that the emigration to Cali
fornia may depopulate our city. Like lees, the working ones
go and the drones remain. The committee who superintend
this emigration, are only surpassed in wisdom by one other,
yet they have no perplexities like the government agents in
their efforts to emigrate the Florida Indians. By the way,
could not the Indians be induced to emigrate by a cession of
gold-mining territory in California, in exchange for the Flori
da morasses? If such a proposition fails, it will be the first
instance on record where gold has no weight.
Yesterday a negro man, slave, after a preliminary exami
nation before Justices Quin and Cox, was committed to jail,
charged with an attempt to commit a rape ori a free white fe
male nine years old. It occurred six miles above the city,
near the river. The proof is, in a great degre, circumstan
tial, but strong. The out-cry of the child brought to her res
cue, three negroes who were laboring in an adjoining field,
and thus fortunately her person escaped serious injury. .
On last night a partial Jail-delivery took place. Martin
and Evans, both confined in jail and charged with murder,
feeling their own innocence strongly, or deeming it inexpedi
ent to escape, refused to depart. It is proper to add that Ro
per was not Jailor, nor lias any bluuie been attached to the j
highly respectable gentleman who now occupies that station.
Our cotton millionaires look wondrous wise. it not
true that they have guessed wrong .about prices for the last
ten years, one might be cheated into the belief that they pos
sess foresight. If the administration of the Federal Govern
ment caused grain to bear a high price in ’46 and ’47, what
has made cotton so high in ‘-19 and ’SO? AMICUS.
LETTER from GKIFFIX, Ga.
Griffin, Ga., April 29th, 1850.
Dr. Andrews: —Of city items I have at present but fe ic
that could be presented. And to present that few so as to
amuse yourself, or benefit the readers of the Georgia Citizen ,
I a:n, on this occasion, disinclined to attempt. Nevertheless,
late breakfast is better than none to a hungry man, and by the
way, more apt to sharpen his wants, as well as his powers of
mastication. Let it be understood now, that it sliall be the
better served up when it doe's come.
One thing, however, which I will mention on this occasion,
which 1 do not set down on the list of city news, although the
citizens of this place are largely interested in this matter .• —
It is, that Mr. llaley, the undertaker to build the Plank-Road
from this place to West Point, has advertised for 100 hands,
for which long prices will be paid. Another tiling, that lie is
actually about to proceed with the work, begining at this
place. It is stated that Mr. Haley is a von, prompt and ac
tive man to carry on business. As I have mentioned this
subject, allow me to speak a word or two more as to its ad
vantages, Ac. You may find yourself benefitted in less than
three years from this date, provided you remain in the city of
Macon so long. Do you ask how ? I answer, by drinking
coffee, sweetened with sugar, both of which articles may pass
over that road via this place to to Macon, in less time than
three years, (and especially if Mr. 11. should increase the No.
of hands to 200,) with a deduction of at least of H) per cent,
freight on the present charges round the capes of Florida by
way of Savannah. In a word Sir, I have no doubt at all but
all that difference will be found, even in Savannah, not only
on the articles of Sugar and Coffee, but also on Flour, Molas
ses, Syrup, Bacon, Lard, Ac. Hut this is not all. This road
will, in less than 12 months after its completion, be the route
for all the cotton from Montgomery and Columbus, and a
large portion from Mobile and New-Orleans, as well as three
fourths of the Groceries sold in Griffin, Macon and Savan
nah. The reasons are obvious: This route is far shorter,
much speedier, and every way cheaper, lienee you see, dis
tance, time and money, combined in favor of the views here
presented, as to the advantages of this Plank-Road, when
completed, against loss of time, uncertainty, risk, cost, freight
and insurance, by tlie present route! In a word, every thing
passing to or from N. O. round the Florida reefs, is suspen
ded in doubt, and balanced in the scales of uncertainty and
risk, till it passes the shoals of destruction. High bills of In
surance are to be tiedueted, or added to the price of the arti
cles that are so lucky as to escape a watery grave on their
passage, in addition to long accounts to be footed up for
freight. So much in favor of the Plank Road project from
Griffin to West Point, and in reference to its utility when
completed, if done shortly. But if delayed, it may result in a
‘ useless and fruitless expenditure of time, labor and money;
and end in total disappointment t > the Company.
But one item, before I close this communication, In refer
ence to no mutes of our city. I mean those who attempt to
teach the people by lever power, what words are, and how
thoughts may be gilded with Gold. The persons I allude to,
claim the cognomen of Editor , and for aught I know, it may
be correctly claimed. But of this fact, the readers of the
Citizen may judge fur themselves. Editors are, agreeable
to my notion of things and my understanding of words, divi
ded into two species: Ist. Those who merely republish a
text, or content themselves with a l ling notes or commenta
ries to it. 2d. Those who sTiperintcnd the publication of a
work, receiving the manuscripts from one or more contribu
tors; seeing that the object of the work is attained, that the
language is correct, the illustrations appropriate, and the facts
accurately stated, and that all the parts of the work are pro
perly adjusted and made subordinate to each other. Having
shown you what it takes to constitute an editor, I now pro
ceed to the item. Maj. C , Editor of the Georgia Jeffer
sonian, in the hist No.of that paper, projKises as follows to
Mr. M , Editor of the American Whig; “We were
last week requested to publish Gov. Brown’s letter on the
Nashville Convention, which we declined. Since then we
have received lion. Jackson Morton's reply to that IctVr,
and we will now say what we will do, although we have not
yet seen Gov. Brown’s letter. We will do this: If the
American Whig will publish hoth letters in the same paper
without note i r comment, we will do the same tiling, both
letters to come out in both papers on tlie ranie day. This is |
certainly a fair proposition.” He further says “a refusal to
answer will be a refusal to comply.” Now I desire your
readers to make up their minds, as to which class of editors i
the Major intends to represent. Can it be the Ist class or
species? (Look at the definition.) Can it be the 2d class or i
species ? (Look at the definition.) But after all. Doctor. !
there is one thing quite clear, let the said Major belong to
which he n:av, or represent which class he pleases, he ;
does'nt want to make any note or comment himself • no not
he, in favor of the Nashville Convention. And another
tiling is equally clear that lie wants to put Mr. M . in
the same box with himself or rather file him off into the same
chess to which he himself belongs. And now Doctor, I have
concluded what I had to say on this subject except, that the ,
N:eshville Convention seems to be losing editors without note
or comment. This is a distinct proposition, and to use the
words of the Major, “ certainly a fair proposition .”
I am, dear Sir, yours with all due respect,
Yours, Ac. TROCHANTER.
LETTER from MARIETTA.
Marietta, May G, ISSO.
Friend Andrews: —Agreeably to promise, I again take
pen in hand with a view to jotting down the flitting fancies of
the moment—sketching images, crude and imperfect, as they
appear before my mind's eye. Travelers not unfrequently
find it both entertaining and amusing, to throw themselves in- j
to a corner and scan with critic eye the various countenances !
that are constantly flitting in and out of that pandemonium of
migratory mortals, the public room of a hotel.
Tire stranger here would find subject for meditation in the
study of character. There is with us a little man, called
Squire, that carries about him very distinctive marks of an ;
original. He is small in stature and bears upon his “ frosty j
prow’’ the traces of some fifty winters ; but there is a twinkle !
in his little dark eye, that bespeaks a relish for fun and frolic,
and a scrio-comico puckering up of the corners of a rather
formidable mouth, well calculated to excite mirth in the be
holder. From certain unmistakcable indications, I infer that j
the Squire is not a “Son ;” indeed, from his loquaciousness 1
and a certain thickness of utterance, I am of the belief that
he is in the habit of drawing inspiration from the shrine of
Bald-face. The Squire h;is won for himself, in a certain cir- j
cle, the reputation of being a “right smart fellow,” and with
some color of reason, too; for to an unusual volubility of
words, he has contrived to add all the Latin technicalities that
can be picked out of a Justice's form-book; and his conver
sation, during the moments of his conviviality, is so interlard
ed with these hard terms, promiscuously thrown in, that the
little circle of choice spirits with which one meets at a dog
gery, are perfectly bewildered at the extent of his larnin.
The Squire was going it on a high strain when I heard him
last. Ile was, he said, “An obsolete idea—a perfect ran tank
emus non-eome-nt-a-bus in swampo—an interegnum de bo
nus non 1” After this imposing announcement, he struck an
.attitude. Placing his thumbs in each arm-hole of his vest,
and staking his underpinnings sufficiently far apart to main
tain a proper equilibrium, his mouth and eyes commenced a
sort of by-play, in which they appeared to be engaged in a
game of hide-and-seek—something within the cavity of the
mouth was being chased rapidly from corner to corner, while
the little twinkling eyes were flashing backwards and forwards
in unison, like a kitten in chase of its own tail. All this was
simply a premonition of a very astute proposition with which
the Squire not unfrequently astonishes his hearers, a refutation
of which, so far as I am aware, lias never yet been attempted
by any one of his audience. This luminous proposition was
nothing more nor less than that a “ plurality of ideas con
sisted of more than one /”
The contracting of the muscles of the Squire’s mouth, up
on the pronunciation of this important dictum, was a clear
indication of his determination to battle in its behalf to the out
ranee. In truth, we believe that he could maintain his ground
against all comers on that issue ; nevcrtheles, for the fun of
the thing, we should have been pleased if someone bad en-
tered the lists against this renowned champion, on behalf of
the solitary idea constituting a plurality ! Wouldn’t the
Squire have belabored him with “ de bonus norm*’ “intereg
ni/m,” and u non-come-at-a-bus in swampos /” He would
have rode him down and annihilated him with a oongl.rmera
tion of mongrel Latin.
It is this heterogeneous mixture of phrases, that amuses
one portion of the Squire ’shearers, while it impresses others
with an idea of his profound learning; with the latter class, as I
have said before, he bears the reputation of a “right smart”
fellow, and with such, it is no detraction from his merits, tliat
he can “ hide his bout” with the deepest drinker of t hem all.
This last, would seem to me an evidence o| his lack of “smart
ness for were he to forego the poisoned challiee, theSquiro
would prove, not only a “smart,” but a useful citizen. This
befuddling a man's intellect with rot-gut, is literally a “saving
at the spile and leaking at the bung-hole.”
We have another character, or rather, “ right smart fel
low,” who some times makes himself prominent here—one
Michael, I think they call him ; a knight of the shamrock,
who lias regularly entered the lists for the “erathur.” Mich
ael is a noisy fellow, and ever spreading the skirts of long-tail
blue for someone to tread upon : pugnaciously inclined, as his
countrymen generally are, and perfectly content whether he
whips or get whipped, so long as he can make a fight ! His
cranium is impervious to brick-hits, or tlie“siven sinses would
‘av been knocked out of him” long ago. There is nothing
very formidable in Michael’s appearance, nevertheless, when
the “evil eye” is upon him, the “gentleman that wad tread
on the toil of liis coat.,” would confer an especial favor oil
Mioh-ael!
But enougli of characters. You have, doubtless, ore tbs*
beard of the ease of poisoning in this county. A man, by thci
name of Wade, has been coin if it tod to jail, on the charge of
poisoning his own wife. She died very suddenly, and some
tliree or four days afterwards Wade married again. The
body of liis first wife has been examined, and upon chemical
tests being applied, arsenic was found in tlie stomach. Wade’s
second wife has also been committed to prison, as accessory
to the crime. Surely, his Satanic Majesty must be abroad iu
human shape.
Hearn that the Tunnel will be passed through by the Cars
some day this week, on which occasion a select circle of somo
twenty Democratic Editors, are specially invited to attend.
It is to be hoped they will deal charitably with the Chief En
gineer in future, in consideration of such excess of courtesy.
Respectfully Yours, KENESAW.
LETTER from CHOIXETEGEE.
CiiUNNENrcEK, Macon Cos. Alabama. May 2d, 1850.
Dear Doctor: — What's in a name? If you Could have
been with me on the first of May at the above named place,
you would have seen the Horticultural Society in all its glo
ries, for it had many flowers of every hue aud of every
description. Solemnly and seriously, Doctor, you must not
let this out of the way place in Alabama excel old Georgia in
taste for Horticulture. It is to me a matter of astonishment,
after an absence of years, to travel through almost impassa
ble roads to find a beautiful, ves a grand and magnificent
ridge, formerly inhabited by Indians and the frontier people,
now occupied by ri-fined and hospitable people; and people,
moreover, who not only know how to raise cotton, corn and
wheat, but who hare turned their attention to those* luxuries
which the vegetable and flower garden affords. At every
house on that ridge, you will find a flower garden, and some
of the most rare exotic plants.
Now for cream. Mrs. , formerly of Columbus, had
a bushel or more of strawberries. “Old Ned” was present,
as large as life; he loves roseate fruit, and is not opposed to
chicken salad and other gastronomic niceties, well served up.
His Excellency Governor Collier, was here. Ju<lge Chilton
delivered himself of an address that sounded more to me like
a lawyer’s appeal to a jury, instead of an address to those
who love beautiful flowers, Ac.
After the address some beautiful plants were sold and then
came supper. The door opened, and in came a few of the
“ whispered to;” then pell mell; an old Lady, three daugh
ters, ami her little son aged 19, paid a dollar a piece, and
wishes tlie worth of her money in “eating good things;*’ti
red looking at useless flowers; secu as big eollardx in North
Carolina. Procession variegated; Tuskeegce crowd; loud
j laughing; some haste in arranging of ribbons among the
! lad ies; take cake and syllabub; strawberries, quantum sufhrit;
! Enou, beaux and belles; immense excitement; walk faster;
; cme over to this table; no, to that; la, what a big cake; oh,
e iusin; now all stand still and eat ad satisfaciend- promis
; cuous; old farmers’ hunter boys can't get to the cake table;
! C-ds Is there; but here is turkey, barbueued sboat, chicken
salad, (confound them, I hoped they would not find out what
it was, but some fool tasted it and I was in the vocative,}
| Bread, meat, and of course there should have been vegeta
bles, if there were not. Have you ever been to a Muscogee
| Barbecue? If you have, I need not say that pocket knives
1 and fingers answered every purpose. Fire aud fall back wtw
j the word. Carry Turkey legs, promenade pig slioulders,
| mutton rilts to the front and centre, then disperse. Gentle
men and Ladies, Lemonade all round; no whiskey for sale
within ten miles of any where; music up stairs, in the Otld
Fellow's Ilall; old folks to bed. On the 2d inst. at 10 o’-
clock, the Ist Premium for the best vegetables aw arded. 2d.
hor Fruits. 3d. For Flowers. AH invited to two parties.—
i Those who dance go to Col. T. V. Rutherford's. I-azy, or
oppwed to dancing, to Col. 11. Blackmon's. I vote for both,
but I may he like the young fellow about ten feet from the ta
ble and could not get anything to eat: “he be danged if ho
come there agin;” nor I, unless they have better roads.
Major Cooper, the accomplished Chief Engineer on the
Girard and Mobile Rail-Road, bas progressed within fourteen
miles of this post office, in his survey, and, I am happy to say,
the people here are almost enthusiastic in favor of the Rail-
Road. Poor creatures, living in a garden surrounded by
mud; I don’t blame them, even if they get into a state of “fu
ror” Yours. &c. HASTY.
LETTEK from CLIATOA, Ga.
Dear Doctor: —Do you not recollect the story that went
the rounds of the Newspapers, a few years ago, of the Yan
kee who off red a dollar for the best peck of Irish potatoes
I that the neighboring farmers would put into his cellar, that fall,
he himself lobe tLa ju.ige of their quality, and that he got
! potatoes enough to last him the whole year by the splendid
| offer? Well, I think the Agri-llortieultural Society of In
| dia has issued a second edition to tliat Yankee trick on a
I more extensive plan. They are to give $2,225 for the best
cotton gin, if they approve of it, after trial, and all oompeti
i tors must deposit their gins in India free of cost to the society,
j and then they are to pay the amount if they are so disposal
and if not, they will give a medal containing perhaps five dol
| lars worth of gold !
Now let us calculate a little. I think there must be at
least three hundred Gin makers in the United States, little
and big. Now supjiosc one third of them should send a gin
to India, that would be worth, at home, one hundred dollars
each. In India perhaps one hundred and twenty-five dol
lars, expenses included. The account wonld then stand thus:
The Gin maker in account with the A. 11. S. ot India, Dr.
To 1 Gold Medal of the Society for the best Cotton
Gin, $5 00
To the Premium, if paid, ... $2,225 00
$2,230 00
Cr. By 100 Cotton Gins at $125 each, - $12,500 00
$10,270 00
I am much mistaken if the A. 11. S. of India can find one
dozen Gin Makers in Y ankeedom green enough to embark in
such a speculation as that. I guess they have too much
sense to nibble at the bate thrown out by these Anglo-Indians.
Yours &e. A. D. B.
More Candor than Cocetssv. —A formal, fashionable
visitor thus addressed a little girl :
“ How are you my dear ? ”
“ Very well, I thank you,” she replied.
The visitor then added, “ Now, my dear you should ask
me how I am.”
The child simply and honestly replied, “ I don't want to
know.” .
The Scarlet Fever has been prevailing in Augusta, and
the Erysipelas in Savannah. The latter has disappeared.
