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Jf HE COUNTRYMAN,
155
THK t)ARK DaY.S OF THE REVOLU
TION.—“It was near the close of die
year 1776. The battle of Long Is
land had been fought, and lost. New
York was evacuated by the Ameri
cans, and taken possession of by the
British. Fort Washington had been
taken by assault, with nearly 3,000
prisoners. Fort Lee was abandoned.
New Jersey lay open to the enemy,
and Philadelphia was within their
grasp. At the same time, General
Charles Lee, who was regarded by
many as our most scientific and ex
perienced General, and who was call
ed, by the British, the ‘American Pal
ladium,’ was taken prisoner.
‘The militia disbanded, and precip
itately retreated to their homes ; even
the regular troops, as if struck with
despair, also filed off, and deserted in
parties. Everything threatened A-
merica with an inevitable catastrophe.
The army of Washington was so en
feebled, that it scarcely amounted to
3,000 men, who had lost all courage,
and all energy, and were exposed, in
an open country, without tents to
shelter them, and in the midst of a
population little zealous, or, rather,
hostile.’ So 6ays Botta.
Lord Howe, and his brother avail
ed themselves of this gloom, and des
pondency, by issuing a proclamation,
offering a free pardon to all who
should comply within fifty days.
‘Many,’ says Irving, ‘who had been
prominent in the cause, hastened to
take advantage of this proclamation.
Those who had most property to lose,
were the first to submit.’
The middle ranks remained gener
ally steadfast, in this time of trial.
Botta says the submissionists ‘belong
ed, for the mcst part, to the class of
the very poor, or the very rich.’ The
inhabitants of Pennsylvania, like
those of New Jersey, flocked, in like
manner, to humble themselves at the
feet of the English commissioners,
and to promise them fealty and obe
dience. Among others, came the
Galloways, the Allenb, and others of
the most wealthy and respectable
familes. Every day ushered in some
new calamity to the American cause,
which seemed hastening to ruin. The
most discreet no longer dissembled,
that the term of the war was at hand,
and that the hour was come in which
the colonies were about to resume the
yoke.
In this dark day of peril, our own
Washington remained • firm, and un
daunted. He had now retreated be
yond the Delaware. ‘What think
you,’ said he, to the brave Mercer:
wiTn#**# retieat to the
witnesses to tbmk the accu 0v
of Pennsylvania, would the Pennsyl
vanians support us V 'If the lower
counties give up, the back counties
will do the tame)’ was the discour
aging reply. ‘We must then retreat
to Augusta county, in Virginia,’ said
Washington. ‘Numbers will repair
to us for safety, and we will try a
predatory war. If pressed, we must
cross the Alleghanies.’
‘Such,’ says Irving, ‘was the indo
mitable spirit, rising under difficulties,
and buoyant in the darkest moment,
that kept our tempest-tost cause from
foundering.—- Charleston Mercury,
Law Touching Negro Troops.—
The colored auxiliaries, whom the
abolitionists really hope to enlist in
the war, are the fugitives of southern
masters. The victims at Port Hud
son were undoubtedly' recruited in
Louisiana, or Mississippi, from a
class whi-ch is, by no means, indispu
tably entitled to the immunities of
regular military service. The blacks
must either be slaves, or citizens of
the states which they inhabit ; and,
on either assumption, they owe legal
allegiance to the confederate govern
ment. If they take service iu an in
vading army, they Incur all the liar-
bilities which universal custom, and
law have attached to rebels, and des
erters.
English law still regards as traitors
all native-born subjects who engage
in hostilities against their original
country; aod although the claim
would not be enforced, when a change
of domicil had been effected before
the war, every resident in the coun
try who assisted a foreign invader,
would undoubtedly be executed with
out mercy.
The alliance of southern negroes
with northern enemies, although it is
more excusable, would be far more
dangerous, and irritating than any ex
ceptional and individual treason,
which could endanger the safety of
England. If colored armies are re
ally raised by the invaders, it will
prove that the social condition of the
south was peculiar.
Philanthropists who wish to throw
on the negro the burden of the war,
ought to remember that, according to
the Jaws of civilized nations, the
black or white resident of the south,
who bears arms against his country,
is a traitor, and not a legitimate com
batant.
The president may well be puz
zled by the conflicting embarrass
ments which beset the negro question.
The difficultv was not to be solved
deportation, ann^ w jjl assuredly not
find ail issue in the v^heme of an in
surrectionary colored army, Mr,
LihCdln lately informed *vq abolition
ist deputation, that be was\mj8elf in
favor of gradual emancipatichy. an d
he might have added, in plain w„-ds,
as he intimated by his manner, tk*t
he is wholly at a loss for a mode ol
disposing of his negroes.—London
Saturday Review.
Little Lena’s Grave.—“Go to
the far corner of the grave-yard, in
the western part of the village of
M , there yon will see the sweet
violets peerping up through the beauti
ful verdure, filling the air with their
sweet and fragrant odor. But do they
uot eall fresh to our memory many
sunny days, and pleasant hours'? Do
they not call forth the lovely image
beneath them ? This loved house
hold pet, who has bidden adieu to her
dear parents, to cross the dark stream,
with hope for her anchor, and faith for
her guide—she will be gently wafted
by the heavonly zephyrs, together
with the bright, bright angels that
brought the golden book, and spark"
ling crown, which she longed to wear.
Mother, this loved one will no longer
linger near thy side—will no more
recline on thy bosom, to seek comfort,
and repose, from her wearied playings.
She will never again be seen waiting
for her dear ‘Papa,’ or bounding again,
with her quick step, to meet him, with
a welcome kiss, as she was wont to do.
No, no, the bright face, those mild
loving eyes, and rosy cheeks, and dim
pled hands, that were evei clasped at
family prayer, are now cold, and life*
less. She has gone, to meet thee no
more, here, but will await thee on
tbe other side ; with a crown upon
ber forehead, and a harp within her
band, she calleth for thee. Oh ! how
sweet it is to know that she hath an
eternal home. She has passed
through the gi'eat gate—has walked
the golden streets of the ‘new Jerusa
lem.’ She no longer needs thy bo
som, hut with her golden harp, leaps
on her Savior’s breast singing, sweefly
singing to him who has said, ‘Suffer
little children to come unto me, and
forbid them not, for of such is the
kingdom of heaven.’ ”
back part by his orignal ..proj^^ce, of aching t
- “ arrested, whatever that of-1 ® j or JWkwed it; it would
- .nee might be. Audi* he meS Se <£jTI^ jt, o
“ James T. Pearce, says the Tusca
loosa Observer, of the 1st inst,, an old
and highly respected citizen, of this
place, was killed, near the University,
on Saturday last, by J. P. Boyle. At
the time of our gopigjq^ress,^--
day evening) lb We" stood hy , t .
_ — * p, e ^
have re
leasing ; at leas* it wo aid btve required