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citv this amount. .Will the per? ms objert
i.i_ ipiuthi- ■‘core, piease mate a cab ia
t i now much it costs the city so li -:ral
enter! i:ilt*>«*rt for those who produce dis
» i *.i ilieuiacives by ail excessive use ul
V')..iS !
i M<s>evwu<i objection is. that they should
t»r»«er |ie,mooing the legislature to enforce
t!i ■ pen tl law* more stronglv, and in view
o; t n< in-asure cent a Penitentiary.
])t trie eojector* under tins head reflect
that . file iii no or ne will he committed,
when tie cause of nearly all the crime
wh ft pervades the land, is cut oft", viz: ex
ce 'ive dri i.sing. Witness those states in
tv iich retailin' spirits is illegal, and com
p ire tite nan< uy of capital offenders, to our
o > n slate.
Oiliv ilric Tennessee has lia 1 no grogshops
for a couple of voir*, and look a’ P-e ini
provetneiu in ttie inn i!s of !o*r citiz'*n>.
since s!ie i-i*ly and fearlessly
c.rne out tipmi this subject. \
S e su tors ii i open gambling, rnr no
co ice ale.! weapons carried within Icr lan- !
its. and tire lessening of crime, and vast im
proveme it in the morals of her once
thoughtless ari l deluded sons, is the ad
mi ' ifion an I delight of all travellers.
Do t t ■ “Sa iriritans"’ who ••.•’‘use to sign
this petition, reflect, that i M - prayer of
t ■ >etiiin o r ,ire a.U, t'erewd be infinitely
f iver subjects of wan* and misery, to visit
watch over and spend money for!
Will ail thinking mmi reflect, tha* in
si raing this petition, they make an effort to
mike:n*n honeu in their transactions, -id
aftentive to their business, and the welfare
of their family.
Did liras permit thousands of weighty
re iso us might be given to induce this or
aiy orher public, to go strongly for this
me istire.
in the name of all that is dear to me, let
us not be deterred from doing our duty in
t us im lorraot instance, for fear of the dis
pleasure of those who tnay conceive their
interests affected by this measure.
A SIGNER.
F o>n the Aususta Mirror
THE TRIALS OF A LAZY MAN.
“Heaven fore r end that you should be
As lazy as "his man you see.”
Ah ! ’tis a terrible thing these hot dsys,
to be dragged bv the pin'-hings of hunger
fro n a fellow’s cool seat in the shade of
u nbrageous oak. along the streets under a
j arching sun, with one eye a squint to a
dinner that one is a'most too lazy to
eat. We ail have Our good qualities and
our faults; and nature has given to different
spheres fur the fin and good of all minkitid.
The mechanic toils throughout the livelong
day, »he ploughman sings his morning livmn
a! the plough handle and his ni3tin song
upon the distant fields, while ‘ labor ipse
V 'up'us* may be read in every action : but
for the life of us we can’t bring our«f lyes to
the conclusion that we have a taste for any
such pleasures.
"Oh ! how delightful,” said we the other
morning as wc softly reclined in the shade
of a friendly house, on a box that all loa
fers ought to be buried in. “Dance away
Laurence as much as you please, while the
grasshopper blows his pipes for you; I’m
here for the day, if the sun don’t drive me
on the other side of the house. Your steps
are lazy, and your piper’s notes are enough
to close tiie eyes of Argus; put ine to
sleep if you please: its just where I’m a
going ”
We have a brother older than ourself,
who is more solicitous about our welfare
lh'n we are ourself, and just as the grass
hopper's notes were dying away in dull
drowsiness, and the house just in front fa
ding from our view, an unwelcome sound
like the following startled us from our hap
py reveries: —
“Jet up from there you lazy dog. you.'’
“Now ] just wish you’d let me alone,” as
we shifted sides, was the only reply.
“Why you’ll kill yourself if you don't
mind.
“.More in the world than you can eat
then,” we replied.
“Well, get up—l want you to go some
where,”
“Go yourselfand let me rest for a while,
wifi > ou ?
“No. you shall not rest in this wav.”
“Ye.s, but I sl|tiv though.”
“Good morning, Mr. Pepper,” said Mr.
11 n!o.i. as lie joined the company, and
mad*' ]ii:re ,m interesting trio at the box.
“Good, morning, s>r. Oh, dear, l wish
you would let me sleep.”
“Marih Peter, mitheth thays you tniith
go there.”
Go to the and 1 you black imp, and
Hudson —"l summon you to be and ap
pear”—
“Oh, the old boy!—hush!" exclaimed
W“, thinking ilia: the conversation was be
coming extremely uninteresting ; but he
c ritinued, seemingly without 1 aving noticed
nur ej tculatiou
“on li st Wednesday morning, at the
hour of eight in the morning. »t Gulden’s
Creek, with a grubbing hoe or pick; to work
on the rot i, from said creek to ”
“Oh, hush ! if von value my happiness.
C liit'iu id all the roads in « reation. 1 wisu;
oil, dear !—-now, aint this the cap of all
caps ”’
Well, reader, you no doubt feel as sire*
py as we did, if you read our misfoi tut < c
how would you like at this moment to
it "a-such a confounded commentary upon
iup’riia! improvements ?
‘•Good day, sir,” said Hndsnn, as he l"ft
its to o ir own glory at tl e box,
“ .Ve;l now Peter, mv orother be
gan. when we brought his r/nn-.irl* <o « .-cri
oJ though in the middle of a sentence, bv,
“ Won’t you hire a hand to work on the
road in my stead ?’’
“No, 1 shall o encourage you n
your laziness; but if you will get up, and
ad in'unit me, 111-—'’
* t. and ;:ie a (lullai will >ou?”
“No, 1 shall not do iu.it cither, for fear
you might subscribe for the Loafer’s Jour
nal,’ and then he too lazy to read it.
Oh, dear, oh dear! when shall I rest.
Will you just leave then; if you will not
lend me-a dollar that 1 may enjoy myself for
awhile alone !”
No sir ! you must rise, and go out in the
country and tell ”
“i ll be ranam'd j.m m’tl and kicked into a
three corner’d cock’d hat if I do; now that’s
flat.”
“ Well,” said, he. I'll torment you a« you
stay here.” , ..
•‘I shall not stay li"re A fipr|he sun is mai
king rapil innovations ijpryn the premises ;.
and when Ido staff,'i'll get’but Os your way
I warrant you. v, “ . ;
Where will you go ! n •
* Laurence— 'This world is well known to
southern people, 'j he peculiar appenr
a ice of tops of houses and of fen
ces, especially 3>n the srpring ot the year,
when the son is shining clear and warm,
formed o* retracted light has received this
name, and the apparent motion of the ob
-6 ca»,cJ Laurence dancing."
Never mind.
I’ll watch you.
t don’t care, 1 must rest fora hard days
labor next Wednesday, on the road.
“Weil,” said he, “if 1 though: that you
would labor like a man next Wednesday
and afterwards through hie, 1 would leave
you to the enjoyment o. your rest ; and be
iiaopv in anticipation of your future lueftil
ncss to vourself and others. 1 would be re
joiced beyond measure to see you active
and dilg'Mit in bus iness; always ready by
vour industry to provide for the w ants of
those dependent upon you ; and preparing
lor vourself a rich harvest for the winter
of age. B v dilligenee you call become use
ful m voutii, respected in manhood, and
honored in the vale of years.”
“D -pend upon me. I’ll make the effort.
“Then 1 leave you” ; and so saying, he
lift ice to mv oh n reflections.
\V< will write, reader, the substance oi
our thought* ; trusting that some may read
them with profit. To what am 1 tending?
'Phis is an important question, ami should
he the daily inquiry of every man. But
answer it candidly to myself here is the
shade; I am tending to nothing good, I lioii
es'fv kclii-ve : a confirmed habit of indo
lence will strengthen upon me without 1
make an effort to throw off the bondage.
I behold the vast field for philanthropic
service ; the manv objects for benevolent
action; farther still, t tie boundless range of
science, wl o*e high i ml almost inaccessi
ble summits loom in ’he dint distance occa
sionally hid from the sight by clouds, the
creatures of indolence. On all sides 1 be
hold a garden, rife with beauties and snb
hinitie \ " itli rocky dells and peaily dreams;
yonder chistcr rich fruits; inviting to the
taste; there spreads out a beautiful land-*
scape; and there the florist kneels and plucks
sweet flowers,
“To w eave a garland for her brahlen hair.’
Yonder, from the brow of that hill, the
eye of vcience, with,
“Philosophic tube, the glittering host
Os azure realms unveils.”
/Jut where am 1 ? Right here at the gar
den gate, without much prospect of getting
farther. Rise Peter, “‘or be forever fallen.”
Well, I’ll r>se. How came Ito think of ri
sing ? Let me see. The last words
of mv brother brought me to reflection.
Commands and threatenings would never
have brought me to it, nor will they ever
bring any person to profitable reflection up
on any subject. If kind and feeling words
with willingness to pity, and not upbraid
our numerous faults, do not reach ihe heart
then give up all effort—but these will sel
dom fail. Upon all occasions try them,
for a contrary course has no doubt
often tended to ttiengthen obstinacy, shut
out conviction, and blindfold the unhappy
victim for an early sacrifice upon the altar
cf ruin.
We lose from our reflections a changed
man in some respects.; but it is not honey
tod milk, as we intimated in the beginning
to stroll about in the hot sun’s rays at this
time. We have got to crawl before we can
walk however, and we trust that we shall
soon have a taste for walking in the corn
field, that we may taste the fruits thereof
at harvest time.
PETER PEPPER.
Warrenton, Gto.
AN APPALLING NARRATIVE.
Several of the New York papers contain
detailed reports of the trial of the Braganza
pirates and murderers. It is unnecessary
te publish the testimony at length, but the
following story of the dreadful scene, as
related by Ilobort Moir, the second mate,
will be read with interest —Louisxile Jour.
“In the months of July rnd August I was
second mate on board tlie brig Braganza.
She saiied from the port of Philadelphia,
onthe 7th July, 1838. The captain was
Arnel F. Turley ; first mate, Thomas Van
dersliee; myself, second mate; there were
four able seamen. an J tw o boys as ordinary
seamen. V* ilheltn was know non hoard as
Bill, Van Bruggen was called Joe, and a
man named Adams on board was called
Harry. There was a colored man on hoard
named Thomas Frown, who was cook.
Mr. at 1 Mrs. Diehl and the captain’s wife
were on hoard a* passengers. Mr. l.'i -I I
was the ow ner of the brig. On Saturday
: i.ht, s:ti August, I left the deck a quarter
alter 12 o’clock, and Mr. Vantlersilce took
charge of the tJeck, as it was his w atch. 1
cannot say which of the sailors were on
deck after I left. I retired to my berth in
the state-room in the cabin. The captain
and his wile were asleep in the starboard
berth, and Mr. and Mrs. Diehl in tlie lar
board berth. There was a door from iny
Mate-room into the camn. I fell asleep":
l was awakened about 2 o'clock by the erv
of murder, which 1 took to he the chief
tna’e’s voice, and so still believe. 1 heard
them twice after 1 awoke, and also heard a
scuffle on deck. I at once jumped out of
my berth went into the cabin, anti found the
captain and Mr. Diehl getting out of their
berth. I went on deck, preceded by the
captain, who, I think, was not armed. I
was lit the b"ttom of the steps when the
cap nin was at the top. On the deck, the
first person I saw was Mr Vandersliee, first
mate, lying ou dt rk, w ounded and liloodv,
hi* head hanging down the companion way.
He spoke to me 1 found the four sailors,
including the two prisoners, hnudson and
Adams, on deck. 1 found Joe engaged with
the captain ; Bill also engaged in the at
tack. Joe was armed with a pump brake
or handspike. V ilhelni had a sheath-knife
iu his hand ; Hans and Adam* had no wenp
pons 3 s I saw. Seeing Joe engaged with
theea l tain, I struck at him with a belaying
i'iu I bad in my hand,' and hit Hans on the
temple. Hans being neatest tome, I got
hold and tried to force him down. In the
scuffle I was tripped, and tell on the top of
llans, when Van Brugeen, or Joe, struck
me with a handspike on the shoulder.
Adams then cut me on the head with ft
knife, and wounded my fingers severely.-
The captain then returned to the cabin to
get a cutlass, and said he would fix them.
While he was there, Wilhelm unshipped
the gangway amidships, and kicked it over
hoard, and leaving an open place in the bul
warks of tbe vessel, so that a person could
be thrown overboard. Hans and I were still
scuffling, and while W'e were. Wilhelm and
Adams took hoi I of me and tried to throw
me overboard. 1 went overboard through
their means; I held on to Hans and took
him overboard with me, and caught upon
the after-gtiy, to which we bo'll clime.
Har.s then let go of mg, and a rope-was let
down to Hans, who got hold of it, and 1 did
also. , Van Br'uggep, or Joe. then got a
hand spike and Struck' me on the arm. frac
fitring one ’of she snufll bones, while ] ljp|d
on to the rope. Meanwhile, the cantain
came on deck with a cutlass, and the atten
tion of the men was turned from me to the
captain, and I got on deck and crawled in the
companion-way of the cabin, much injured
by the blows. When J got into the cabin,
I found Mr. Vandersliee lying at the foot of
the cabin ; the captain was lying on the
deck, held down by Van Bruggen or Joe,
and Wilhelm, or Bill. The captain begged
for mercy, and prayed that they wouidspare
his life for the sake of liis poor wife, saying '
he would forgive them ail they had ever
done. When 1 got into the cabin, they
fasteued the door with spikes.* to prevent any
of us going to the assistance of the captain.
While there, 1 continued to hear the cries
of. the capiaiti on deck ; they were cries for
mercy. They continued s.-tne time, and
then there was a s,illness of about five min
utes; then I heard a splash in the water. I
then heard a cry from the captain in the wa
ter, exclaiming, -Oh, my God, 1 am dying !’
1 could see the captain from the cabin w in
dow in the water. 1 observed the captain
trying toswim in the water until he was out
ul sight. It was night lime, and 1 did mu
see trim sink.
“1 came on deck the 7tli day. Before 1
came o:i deck, 1 was confined by the crew,
with whom 1 communicated with every ilay.
Thecrew had command of the vessel, Wil
li' Im him 'g the chief command. The crew
said it was very well known what they had i
done with the captain, and they sliou and c«n
si<ler it tiieir duty to put us out of the way
in like manner for their own p.otection and
safety. The course ofthe vessel was chang
ed in about six hours after the tnutder of the
captain; the whole of the crew spoke to ».e
and asked for various things out of the cab
in, which we refused to give them, until
tin y wtiutd tell what they m ant to do with
us. At the time of the murder the ve«*ei
was off tile Western Islands, in a right di
rection for the Strait of Gibraltar, bound to
Genoa. I a~he<l them why they changed the
course of the vessel ! they said, we should
find out soon enough , they said afterwards
they were hound to the British channel.
Alter this Adams said he would take the brig
to within a few feet of his father’s door, or
to Hamburg. We requested them to per
mit us to come on dick; they said they
would think of it. The first three days we
were in the cabin they treated n* very badly,
the next three not so bad. They required
us to give up the arms ; we, at first, ref used,
but, finally, as we had no ammunition, we
agieed to throw them overboard, which they
consented to, and we threw them overboard.
They demanded, also, tlie chronometer, and
tlie jewelry, spede, and other valuables in
the ratlin. On our refusing to give them
- up they prepared to daiken the c.ibin win
dows, and shut out all light. We gave them
up. They then attempted to suffocate usby
smoking us, unless we would give up more
money; we were smoked fifteen minutes.
I went and begged them to remove the
smoke. They came and asked what 1 wan
ted ; I told them, and promised to look
for some morn money if they would remove
the smoke ; they did so. and the smoke ceas
ed. The first persons they allowed to come
on deck were Mr.’Diehl and his wife. He
wosld not go without his wife. Tl ey pro
posed to give us the jolly boat, said there
was sail in sight; iT we wished to save our
selves now was the time. Some lime after
this we came on deek ; Joe was at the wheel
and the others standing round uear him.
They were all armed except the boy, with
knives or ha’cl. t. Wilhelm called himself
captain, atnl Adams as first mate. We made
a pioposition to them to let us have the
long-hoot; they at first refused, hut finally
consented, and suffered Mr. and Mrs. Diehl,
Mrs. Trley, myself,and the cook, to go into
the long-boat at 2 o’clock in the afternoon.
When we left (he vessel, Mr. Vandersliee
was alone, lying on the floor languishing
under his wounds. We were taken up the
next day by the brie Edwin, bound to Gren
nock. 1 arrived in this city on the 26th of
October. I have not seen the prisoners since
I left the vessel before this morning.’,
A Generous Heivaxd, for a Noble Action.
—Yesterday afternoon, two persons were
riding across Bowdoin square in a one horse
wagon, when one ofthe wheels came off
which frightened the horse who started off'
at full speed down Court street, to the im
minent danger of the two individuals in the
vehicle—and in spite of their combined
efforts to stop him. None of the persons
passing aloug the streets were disposed to
risk their lives iu an attempt to seize the
horse, until the horse, and wagon, un
der full speed, were met .by Pat
rick Kohler, an industrious and noble hear
ted Irishman. He sprung immediately be
fore the horse, and tliru*t an open umbrel
la, which he held in his hand towards the af
frighted animal. This caused him to slack
en his speed, and swerve aside, w lien Pat
rick seized him by the In idle, ai.<l after a
severe struggle succeeded in stopping him.
The gentlemen in the wagon appeared
quite grateful for t lie timely rescue, and ex
pressed their acknowledgements to Patrick
fur Ilia intrepidity ,iuii good fel ling in thus
attempting to save their lives at the ii.*k of
his own. Indeed one of them was so over
come by the generous act, that lie actual
ly put his hand in Iris pocket, drew forth
•t’d tendered to the astonished Irishman,
who wished for i o reward for doing so gen
erous an action, she ruoimous sum of six
and rents.—Boston Journal.
From the Journal cf Commerce.
Massachuse la a Century ago. — The Bos
ton Transcript 'opics the following adver
tisements fiom the “New England Weekl\
Journal” for February 24th March 17tli,
and April 21st, 1729- They exhibit not
ot ly a slaveholding community, but a slave
impoiting community. Had the climate of
Massachusetts been like that ofSouthUar
olina and Georgia, who can say 'hat she
would pot have been a slave-holding State
to this day ? At least there is room for
charity towards the Southern Slates, wheth
er it be old England or New England that
judge them. A* lor Old En_latid, history
is full of proof that she forced slavery upon
her American colonies, both on the con
tinent and iu the West India Islands. In
1 760, the colony of South Carolina passed
an act to prohibit the further importation
of *lave*. Great B it tin rejected t with in
dignation ; reprimanded the Governor, ant!
sent a circular to all the other Government*
w arning tin in against a similar offenre.
We annex the advertisements above alluded
to.
Avery likely Yonng Negro Womnr,
seasoned to the country, to be sold, inquire
to the printer heieof.
Horses and a Cart with several Negio
Men, fit for anv Business, To be Sold, in
quire of the Printer hereof.
An Indian Woman's time for about 2 yea’s
who can do all sorts of Household Work,'o
be disposed of. inquire of the Printer hereof.
Avery little Negro Girl about 14 years of
Age, can speake good English, has been 2
ears in the Country, To be Sold, inquire
ofthe Printerhtrebf.
To b" Sold, a little Negrp Boy about
Thirteen Years of A&e, has been 8 Months
in the Country, inquire of Air. James B“<y
er, Jeweller, over against the Governor’s"
The Court Martial in Montreal has fin
ished its labors, after a session of five
months and a half, during which 110
prisoners have been tripd. Twelve have
been executed, nine acquitted, and the
remainder are in jail under sentence of
death.
i
The following letters are from distinguish
ed gentlemen invited to attend the dinner
give* to Wm. C. Rives, K*q. at Amherst
Court-house on Monday week :
Bareocrsville, Mat 12, 1839.
GeStlemeS ; I duly received your letter
of the Bth instant, in which you invite
me “to partake of a public dinner to be given
at Amherst Court-house to our late distin
guished Senator, William C. Rives, as
a mark of approbation of the manly and
patriotic stand taken by that gentleman
against Execu'ive misrule and party dic
tation ;” and I regret that indispensable
engag*mets will deprive me ofthe pleasure
of uniting with my fellow-citizens of Amherst
on such an occasion.
Your guest deserves well of his country
for having, with great ability, opposed the
financial measures of the Executive, but'
too justly denounced, a few short years i
ago, by its now advocates, as a measure,
by uniting the purse and the sword,
calculated to enlarge alarmingly the already
more than royal prerogatives of the Pres
ident, and to put our hard earning 8 into
a hundred additional hand*, which recent
melancholy experience teaches us is but
another name, to subject them to addi
tional plunderers.
But we owe him still more, for his
lofty and indignant rebuke of the monst
rous doctrine, avowed lor the first time by
power, that it is not only the right, but the
•duty, of the subalterns of the Executive o
interfere with and endeavor to control
qmpular elections—an interference truly
charicterized by Jefferson ns smothering
tlie public voice, and turning the ballot box.
the ark of liberty, into a mockery. In all
the omens, unfavorable as they generally
are, I see nothing more portentous of
mischief than th<s new doctrine, and the
practices in conformity thereto; Cor so
long as the power of arbitrary removal
from office, for opinion sake, is exercised
by the Executive, the incumbents ofvffice
are Ids slaves; and, adding insult to enjory,
they taunt us with file asurarce that these
slaves-—the lircath of whose nostrils is the
pleasure of the Executive-—arc t e fittest
apostles to preach to the People that
jealous vigilance of Executive power which
our fathers taught us was the price of
liberty. F"r myself, unless this power is
restrained by the law or the Constitution.
1 dispair of the Republic—Co* America,
like Rome in the language of Jngurtha,
will soon be waiting'only for a purchaser.
And it is his “manly stand'’ against these
obnoxious measures—refusing to betray
bis trust and to become his supple
tool—that the Executive and his lollowers
are seeking to beat him down. It is als"
too notorious to be denied that the cour*e
of your guest was in exact con
formity to the wishes of Virginia. An
issue, therefore, has lieeu tendered to us
ny the President, whether his will shall
prevail * and his opponents be outlawed ;
or, whether the Pen) le, in d"spite of his
dictation, will rally around their representa
tive, who has had the independence man
fully to do his duty, and save him from the
threatened doom ; or in other words, whether
the Republican system presented in the
Constitution by the wisdom of our ancestors,
whose administration was to be confided
to the independent counsels of the wise
and virtuous, to he elected by the People
and States, is to be maintained ; or to give
place to that monstrous anomaly, a dem
ocracy—for so it calls it sv 11-—to he con
trolled and governed by the will of one
man— for such, in pralice, has been the
American Government for the last ten
years.
While such an issue is pending for
myself I will neither look behind nor
beyond it to any extraneous matter.
Let us settle it on its own merits, and
learn by the decision whether we have any
thing left worth contending about. The
result is full of interest. (Jan it be prudent
in the People to add additional incentives
to a subserviency to the Executive? Is
not the number sufficiently frighfuljalready
who are honing after the flesh-pots, and,
Esau-’tke. prepared to sell their birth-right
for a mess of pottage? Or is it desirable
to swell the number, by sacrificing the
representative who has firmness enough
to discharge his duty, and thus proclaiming
that there is no house of refuge against
Executive indignatit n ? Such a course
on the part of the People would not be
ttnhke that of the sheep who destroyed
their wauh-dog at the suggestion of the
wo-lf.
The people of Amherst, it seems to
me, have looked at this issue in its true
bearing, and have done justly and wisely
in offering to their guest this tribute of
their approbation. It is the only return
the people can make to their representative
for turning his back on party, and scorning
alike its threats oi its bribes—a return most
precious, indeed, in the eyes of, a sincere
patriot, and which he may, unhesitatingly,
weigh against, aud kccept as an equivalent
for. those offices or' contracts, though
embellished by extras, regular or irregular,
within the gift of power, and exclusively
dispensed for party purposes; and which,
according to the modern doctrine, is a
servile liverv, proclaiming the wearer a
jobber of all works, and ready to do the bid
dings of his master.
I have expressed myself frankly to yon.
I have no motive to disguise or conceal
my sentiments lam a mere looker on,
and ro futher concerned in the current of
public affairs than is common to all
nien. Occupying the condition of an
independent tiller of the earth, without
any other resource, and with no wish to
change that condition, to ine, personally,
it is a matter of the most entire indiffer
ence what men or what parties are exalted
or abased. My sole wish is to see the
return of those older and better times,
when the cfilers ofthe People were bestow
ed on the worthy, and not prostituted to
the vile purposes of rewarding a venal
sycophant.
I owe to you and return my profound
acknowledgments for the very favorable
refrence you wets so kind as to make to the
part I have borne in past time. Asfaras zeal
is intitled to commendation, you have only
done me justice. But no one feels more
sensibly than mvself the wide difference
between what 1 have done and what I
wished to do. My onlv consolation is, that
the avails of my stewardship are a fair return
for the small number of talents wherewith
I,whS'enU“ti6ted.
Your fellow-citir.en.
JAMES BARBOUR.
To Messrs. Robert Cam in, David. Patterson,
IVm. Al. Wuller, and Ed. Penn.
Richmond, Mat 16, 1839.
Gentlemen: Your letter of the 10th inst.
inviting me to tbe public dinner to be
given to the honorable William C. Rives,
at Amherst court-house, on the 20th, has
been delayed on the road ; 1 did not receive
it till yesterday.
I thank you for the polite terms in
which you have communicated the irvi
tation. Buisnes9, which requires my con
stant attention at home, would have pre
vented me from availing myself of it, if it
had been received in time. But candor
compels me to add that that world not
h ive been the only, or, indeed, the principal
reason which would have tuduced me to
decline it.
I have seen innch in Mr Rives’s recent
conduct to respect and approve. I am
most desirous to see every man sustained
against that despotism of party, wielded by
the patronage ofthe Executive, which allows
no independence of thought of action, ami
which, after having destroyed so many
public men, now levelled aganst Mr. Rives
in his turn, with its usual ruthlessness of
vengeance. And, after having seen the
Senate of the United States humbled and
degraded at the President’s feet, by the *
expunging resolution, and its influence, in
a manner, struck out n| our olitical
system, it has afforded me particular
pleasure to see Mr. Rives asserting and
maintaining in that body his o* n inde
pendence of Executive control, and, at the
same time, the independence, the dignity,
and the just authority of the body itself.
Such conduct ought to redeem him from
the blame of many former errors and
faults. J am even disposed to admit it
as a partial atonement for his concurrence
in the expunging resolution, lie is now
an object of persecution to the faction
whose beleful power he has contributed
to establish ; and I am really happy to see
public honors bestowed upon iw*i. by others
who taki a different vew from mine of the
present rta'e of politics. But so long as
Mr. Rives hold* himself wholly un<omit
ted ou the snlirct of 'he Presidential
election, 1 cant V In ir and conscience,
commit mysell to me support of Mr Rives.
At the same time, 1 am aware that mv
support or opposition is utterly insignifi
cant and inconsequent al to him and every
body else but myself.
While the doctrine stands admitted,
that the President is entitled by the
Constitution to the custody of the public
treasure, it is, in my humble opinion, a
question of compnrat ve insignificance,
whether the system of sub treasuries, or
the select State bank system, with general
or special desposites, or any other scheme
for keeping the public treasuie, which the
wisdom of the Lgeislature or the ingenuity
ofthe Executive can devise, shall be adop
ted; for, effect, the custody of the public
money will still be in the President a't ne.
It is the doctrine itself which it behooves
t lie People to explode and condemn,
as the most false, the most dangerous of
all Executive pretensions.
1 regard th; Presidential election as r
truth the only impor:ant question, the great
question of national interest, which
involves and absorbs all others in the present
juncture of affairs. Nothing, in my sense
of things, can stop, or even check, the
transition of the Federal Government into
a mere elective monarchy, and a trton
arcliy elective through the instrumentality
of the most ni-dignant faction and the
fullest corruption, but the dismission of
our present rulers from the public councils
and confidence forever; rulers 1 call them,
for they are our masters in fact, whatsoever
they ought to be in theory ; and hard
masters too, who maintain anti pay Ihe army
ol partisans on which they depend for
power, bv openly and avowedly dealing
out tlie honors and emoluments of office
without the least regard to any merit but
party zeal and party services. In one
instance at least (and I believe in many more)
an officer, after having receited and
appropriated public money to his own use,
has been knowingly permitted to retain his
office, and to enjoy the spoil, iu order to
secure the continuance of his own and his
friends’ support of the Administration;
aud the cabinet minister, who was Presi
dent Jai kson’s instrument in this gross
and indecent abuse of Executive patronage,
is still President Van Ppae>'s Secretary
ofthe Treasury. Corruption is raising her
h°ad with shame, without fear, aud (so far
as the dominant faction and the reigning
dynasty is concerned) without reproach.
The stimulus to the Agrarian spirit ad
ministered by the Government at Washing
ton tlire ugh all its organs—the cry of the
poor against tlie rich, which has been
w ilfully and successfully raised—the clamor
aganst all independence in the administration
of justice, which is but the prelude to an
assault on the principle of property—those
disgusting professions of ultra-democracy,
louder and louder, always, in proportion
to their conscious insincerity, and the
success of these odious and dishonest
arts-—these are symptoms of degeneration
from our Republican institution, the
nature and tendency of which are rot to
be mistaken by any man who has bestowed
the least attention to the history of the
progtessand downfall of Republican govern
ments. And, unless the practice of these
arts can be signally rebuked, by discar ling
from office the unhappy or the guilty
man who. willingly or by compulsion, is
the leader, or the tool, of the faction which
practises them, I for ones! a I tease to iiave
any hope of tbe Republic. In fine. 1
must insist that Mr. Rives and every
honest man, thinking as he thinks of the
measures of this Administration, ough t to
stand forth with Mr. Tallmadgk, and
proclatn “uncompromising hostility to tbe
ciecton of Martin Van Burk.n.”
I have written this letter to avert the
possibility of any misunderstanding of my
own opinions by those w’no have thought
proper to honor me with the invitation
which you have communicated to me.
Whether opinions are right or
w rong, as I entertain them, it is but honest
to avow them. But J am by no means
desirous, that you shall publish them—
though I have no objection to your doing
so, if you think proper.
1 am, gentler en, with respect your obe
dient servant,
B. W. LEIGII.
To Messrs, Camm, Pattcson,
Horn to make a specula’ion. —Among the
Public Defaulters is Gordon D Boyd, 'ate
Receiver of a Land Office in Mississippi, in
which office lie was retained long after the
fact of his defAlcation wa* bruited abroad.—
Wc perceive that hi* lands amounting to up
wards of 20,000 are advertised for sale
by the U. S. Alarshal, in the Mississippi pa
pers, for the purpose of paying his default.
But what is tbe fact ? These lands cost a
sum amounting to nearly a third of the a
mount for which Boyd is said to be a defaul
ter, (80,000 ;) and if they were paid for at all,
were paid for with the money belonging to
the government, received from other pur
chasers of lands. They cost him about
$25,000, at the minimum price of $1 25 per
acre: Now, the Government Las seized
upon them, not as its own property, which
they are, but as Boyd’s never paid for, or,
paid foi with the government’s money ; and
being chosen spots, and sold, not for cash,
as government lands are, but ou 1, 2 aud 3
years’ credit, will, it is supposed, command
on an average, not less than §lO an acre, or
§200,000 . So that Uotdou D. Boyd, by
using §25.000 of the public money iu buy
ing public lul ds, will be cni.lletl lo | a\ up
his whole delatilt of SBO CtO nett! \VI O
would nt plunder Untie Sam, wlieu, inst<; and
of being thrust into the Penitentiary, as 'J n
by Watkins was, oue can get such tat j icL
ing* as this L. I irginian.
REDUCTION CONVENTION.
We do not hesitate to say it is our deli
berate opinion that this body has failed to
propose to the people a | lan that redu
ces and equalizes the represei tation in the
Legislative® Georgia. Not only has it
failed to do this, but we are prepared to
prove to die satisfaction of any candid rea
der that the plan it lias proposed increases
the inequality now existing. These ie
marks are not made for the purpose of oppo
sing its ratification by the | eople. Fator.
able to reduction, the Ji urnal will sup .
port any plan that embraces in it principles
ol equality. We will even go further and
say, that it will support ri duction, provided
that the existing inequality be not ii crea
sod by the proposed amendment of the con
stitution. These bring our views our rea
ders will not understand us as writing for
the mere purpose ol creating an excite
ment agxin*t ratification. Not so. \\ t
write for the purpose of calmly investigating
the subject; and if. upon viewing it in all
its bearings, we should be convinced that
it is out dnty to support the plan proposed
we will cheerfully yield to the dictate-s of
our conscience, and rally our feeble efforts
to its support. For the present, we shall
present, a few objections to the plan pro
posed by the Convention, for the consider"
ation of those_who urge its ratification by
the people. }
And first, under the present system, the
47 counties, with a representative popula
tion of about 170,000. are entitled to 123
votes in the Legislature; and the 46 lace
counties, with a representative population
of 389.000, are entitl' and to 176 votes in the
Legislature, upon pint ballot. 'J his gives
to the large counties a majority over ti e
small count e- of 55 votes.
Let us now examine info the proposrd
p’an. and see I ow it compares with ti exbcv.:
The 24 small Set atonal Districts, with a
representative population of about 190,0( 0,
w >ll he entitled to 79 votes and the 22 lair «
districts with a lepresentative population
of about 370.000, w ill he intitled to lus
votes, upon joint ballot. This wll give to
the large districts a majority 0f26. Bv tl e
arrangement proposed, the large coiintiis
lose seventy-three members, and the email
counties only forty-four.
Again : il'our statement above be correct
and we have endeavored to make it ro, our
leaders will, by making ti e calculation, rta
dilv peicehe that under the present system,
the small counties have, on an average, a
member in the House of Representatives
for a representative population off, 63;
whilst the large counties have a member for
a representative peculation of 2,23 l—the
inequality being 695 ; or, in other word*, for
cvety member that the large and populous
counties return, they must have a ] c pula
tion ofP95 persons more than the small and
more thinly settled counties. To rimitiv
this inequality in ti e popular branch, v'e
conceived to he one ofthe important duties
ol the Convention. The great cause ts
complaint with a respetabie portion of the
people, was because of this inequality.—
Whilst they were willing that teir’toiy
should he represented in the Senate, they
weie disposed to give to population its due
influence in the other branch of the Gener
al *.ss*mblv, and at the same time to re
duce the representation within proper
bounds. Let ns now see how these tx
pe< tations have been ranlized.
The proposed atnendmei t of the Consti
tution gives to the sn a'ler counties, on an
average, a representative for a population
of 3,454 persons. To large co nit cs. a if| -
reseutative for a population of 4.457 per
sons—making t' •inequality ].< (3. So tl at
for every representative i l.i h the large
counties return to|ihe Legislature.ui dcrtl e
proposed plan, they must have a re; icfcnta
tive population of 1,003 more than the small
counties, and 208 mete than the prtsrrt,
system. If this be not increasing inequvdi
tv. then are wc much deceived.
\\ e wot: Id tow inquire of those who advo
cate the ratification of this plan, upon what
principle of justice, or dt mocrary, is it that
we are called upon to ratify what is only en
tailing upon the countty for a scries ol vents
at least, a system certainly mote unequal
than tire present.
\\ e have another objection to the adop
tion ofthe plan proposed, which we tLinL is
foundid upon ro.rect and ptopper prin
ciphs. It is tLis. The conviction
cannot he resisted Ly us that this | lan
is a party movement. We distinctly Lean!
it affirmed in the Convention by more than
one member of that body, that they would
support no measure that did no' give to the
Union Democratic Republican Party, a ma
jority in the Legislature. Upon what prin
ciple they claimed this majority, we ate at
a loss to determine. It could c ly he t [ o*
principles of' modern denuicraey—-that no
mocracy w hich Senator Rives so emphati
cally describes.
Let us examine and see which party is
entnled to a majority in the Legislature, if
party interests are to be brought into con
sideration at all. Did the Union Party have
a majority in the last Legislature 1 Did
they have a majority ol the votes of Geor
gia in ilie election l'tr Governor in 1837, or
in the el“ctien for members of Congress
in 1838 ? We apprehend nr/ t . Do they
represent a majority of tl, e people ? No.
The State Rights Purt-;, upon a moderate
calculation represent, a repsesentative popu
lation of2o,(!fio more than the Union Par
ty. Then wh;at right have they to a major
ity in the Legislature? None! It is an
assumption of power with which the people
"ill Lot be satisfied. Give them the Le
gbdatUre, and of wliat discordant materials
will our government he composed ? The
people may elect their Governor, but the
other offices connected w ith the ndnroistra
tion ofthe State Government will be filled
by individuals with strong party prejudices
and who will not hesitate to throw any ob
stae'e in the way of the discharge of his
duties. They will have the election of
Judges Solicitors, and Senators in the Co
ngress of the United States. Why should
all this be yielded up to the Union D( nio
cratic Party ? Upon what principle of jus
tice have they the boldness tn mal e such a
demand ? Let the advocates of the pro
posed amendment of the Constitution an
swer. In titling so, should they convitro
us that the evils row rcmplaintd of are
worse than (hose we anticipate, and that
the inequality of the propcst and r y *t< m is t ot
greater than the present, we will go for rat*
ification—otherwise we will oppose ir.
Georgia Journal.
The tolls on the Erie and Champlain
Canals of New York, eluting the first 7 days
of May, amounted to upwards of 872,000.