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About The Democrat. (Columbus, Ga.) 1830-18?? | View Entire Issue (April 29, 1831)
the democr at. ~ \P«IL ts.ll. C7” vv c have seen a letter from a , meniher of Congress from this State, to a citizen of this place, which etates, that “the Secretaries of State, Treasury, War and Navy Departments, have resigned !” We give the information without com tnent. The Rural Cabinet, speaking of the ]nte meeting of the Trustees of Franklin; University at Athens, gives the following! report: — “It was understood that the lion WIL SON LUMPKIN, would be pressed into service —and be uitiin itely prevailed upon to give his consent to occupy the Execu tive Chair, for the next two years.” The Savannah Republican notices the Same as follows: — “We understand that at the late mee tingofthe Trustees of Franklin College, Wilson Lumpkin, Esq. was at that time positively understood as a candidate for the Gubernatorial Chair of tins State.” Now certainly this is a mistake; Mr. Lumpkin’s “ prudence ” would interfere w th any such arrangement: besides, what tnurht '> v *- think of his own advice to cease from all opposition to the present dynasty? It can’t be so! The Republican and Cabi net have only been let into half the secrets of King Caucus. From the. thieon I'clegraph. •‘John M. Berrien, attorney general of the U. States, has lately visited Milledge ▼ille and some places in the up country. The Hancock Advertiser says, “it is sur mised that he is charged with a mission to the Cherokee Indians of our own State, the object of which is an endeavor to pro mote their best interests by a further use of the cruel weapons of argument and persu asion.” Now this is all nonsense. Mr. Berrien is too polite a man to have any tiling to do with the Indians. lie is entrusted w ith a mission of a different kind. His busi ness is with the Nullificrs, the State Ri gilts folks, and the Anti-Tariff men.— If this State can he depended on for Van Rnren, it may be of consequence to settle the preliminaries; if not, he wishes to know it, that fair weather may be made "With Calhoun, Clay or any other man who may have the appointment of a Judge ship at his disposal. How inconsiderate is the Hancock Advertiser, to send Mr. Berrien, the politest man in the nation, a mong the savages! The first and second numbers of The Slacon Advertiser and Ag ricultural and mercantile Intelligence?, has come to Band. It is published on a large sheet, oemi-weekly, at $5 per annum, and its typography is in the best style. The ed- and selections, evince talents and industry, and will soon place The Macon Advertiser and Agricultural and Commer cial Intelligencer [we object to the cog nomen— it is too long to be quoted in one paragraph] in the rank of the first jour nals oftiie state. We wish the Editor all possible success. For the Democrat. THE GOLD DIGGER, Or the Temptations of Wealth, From the Portfolio of u Rambler. Bailey Bond li3<l formed an hundred schemes for the acquisition of wealth. But the quick revolving wheels of time, which rolled on season after season, and year after year, found him and left him, at the same point. With all his eche- Ining he had never advanced one step on the road to fortune. For he hail married a woman as poor ns himself; and the Fates, as often happens w hen they deny other favors, had crowded a tound his clay hearth an arrny of chil dren. But this, Bailey Bond was of teu inclined to consider no favor at all; for they had all uncommonly capacious mouths, and he was frequently at a loss for materiel to kpep them even tolerably filled. As be had always entertained u decided prefeience to castle building in tbe air, over delving in the ground, it fr equently happened that he came to the bottom of his corn crib long before har dest, and bis smoke- house was as often found emdty before hog-killing time cainn round. So Bailey Bond fancied himself an unfortunate man, and resor ted to the whiskey bottle for consola tion. He came home one flay, and while his patient Dorothy was boiling the pot, he took a Ipng drought from his conso ling bottle, anil laid himself flown on the shady side of his cabin, to ruminate at leisure upon the untoward prospects be fore him, and to eon ever in his mind the many projects which he hail formed for overcoming his destiny. A thousand schemes floated through his imagina tion. He thought of speculating in lands, of building a town, a rail road, & a prize in the lottery. All at once he looked up and a little man dressed in a fusty eamhlet cloak and a broad brim white hat, stood before him. He hail Small twinkling gray eyes, and a re markabty red face. And although Bai ley Bond had never seen him liefore, yet he knew the moment he saw him, that he was n gold hunter, and had come to Show him a gold mine. lie felt his heart hound ntthc prospect; and when the little man told him that he had the means ol making him the richest man in the state, Bailey Band bitSmeed upon his feet and hugged him in an extney. The little man opened his month from ear to ear. and laughed most tremend ously. Bailey Bond started back; for the laugh of his new acquaintance seem ed to bear a most sinister expression, and it somehow disconcerted him. He had heard many hinds of men laugh both drunk and sober; but this was en tirely different, and he did not under stand it; it was loud and obstreperous, but there was neither mirth nor gladness in it, it seemed belched forth from the bottom of the abdomen, without lending any sympatbetib expression to the eye or countenance; the wide mouth open ed and shut agoin. else not a muscle of of the face moved, Bailey Bond trem bled in every joint, am! the perspiration started profusely from every pore.,— He was not detered however from en tering into a contract with the little man, which was of the following tenor. The little man in the cloak engaged to point out to Bailey Bond a Gold mine, on the farm of the latter, on condition that he should receive one fifth part of all the proceeds. Bailey Bond grasped tbe hand of his confederate in token of iiis eager assent to the proposal: and the little man belched forth another laugh, more wild aud startling than the former. Bailey Bond could'nt under stand why his knees knocked together ned why respiration became so ditfieult. Tiie little man however, pointed to a matt >ck and w ashing pan, and Bailey Bond followed him. He led him to a remote corner of the field, where a small creek wound round the foot of a hold hill, covered with white and yel I low flint rocks, “and gold blossoms.” Bailey Bond wondered why be had | never noticed it before. On receiveing i a sign from the little man in the cloak, 1 lie tilled his pan with earth and took if to the water and washed it. The grains of gold appeared in abundance: he gathered them up and washed again; and the more he washed, the more a bundunt appeared the gold, and the lar ger the p rticles. He repeated his ex periment. and dug deeper into the side of the hill, and the riches ofthe mine in creased as he went till finally he found he could dispense altogether with wash ing the earth, for the bosom of the hill was tilled with masses of virgin gold as large us hens eggs, and he had nothing to do but pick them up and deposit them in his sack. When Bailey Bond went home that evening, he felt his heart re lieved from a heavy load, although his back bore another, which might have sufficed for a Dromedary. But he felt not its weight, so buoynant were his spirits. It is an ettsy matter to exchange gold for current coin, and Bailey Bond soon met with a broker who agreed to take his gold 90 pennyweight to the dol lar, and give him his choice of any bills of the State. Bailey Bond had nev er seen so much money before in his life: he could not have believed that there was as much in the world. For the first hundred yards of his walk home he gloated on his treasure with intense delight, but then he remembered that the little man in the rusty cloak had a claim to a fifth part—and the idea of parting with so large a portion, gave him great uneasiness. Was it not, said i he to himself, dug out of my own land, and what right has the little man to a firth part ofit? Besides, as he did not see it Aveighed, how is he to ascertain the amount of tiie fifth part? So when Bailey Bond came to the little man in the cloak, he offered him a roll of mon ey which he usserted was his share. Bailey Bond felt the blood freeze in his veins, and his nerves shake as the little man fixed his keen gray eyes up on him, and when he laughed as before, the very marrow in his bones seemed to shrink up, Bailey Bond continued for a longtime to dig daily at his gold mine, and ns of ten as he exchanged his gold for mon ey, he continued to give a less propor tion to his confederate—and although the little man never refused what was offered him, yet on every occasion he always laughed louder than ever. But where is the virtue of wealth, un less it can be enjoyed? Bailey Bond longed for an opportunity to display his riches before the eyes of the world. So he built a splendid house, and set tip an establishment. But his neighbors .who had so long known him in poverty, did not seem to treat him with that defer ence which he deserved. Instead of courting his favor and paying obeisance to his assumed dignity they sneered at the one, and reckless cf the other. They took frequent opportunity of mortifying his vanity by reminding him of his for mer situation. Baily Bond was irrita ted and revenged himself by making them fee! the weight of that power which gold always places in the hands of the wealthy. A contest between the ricli and the poor is never protraeted, Some were erushed to submission, more were glad to avoid his hostility by removing beyond his influence—and one more stubborn than the rest, felt the | full forcp of his anger, fly n little gold judiciously bestowed. Baily Bond was enabled to make the laws the ministers of his vengeance, and get rid of his vic tim by procuring his sentence Jto the Pen itentiary. Baily Bond was about to feli citate himself on the issue of this contest; hut the little man in the rusty camlet cloak stood before him, and laughed a gain in his usual style. Baily Bond trem bled from head to foot, for he knew not what might he thought of one tvho enter tained a friend who had so equivocal a method of expressing his approbation of judicial proceedings. He went home and assumed a more magnificent style of living than before. But somehow he could not train his household intoiliat genteel order he could have wished. His wife Dorothy, though she had been a fitting companion, and a faithful help-mete in his low estate, yet j she knew nothing of ton, nor had she anv j desire to learn. Besides, what could j dress, what could silks and laces do, for a woman who stood six feet in her shoes, and who bore a fist like a beetle? l’ailv Bond despaired of her. So, although he gave dinners and parties, yet lie knew they were conducted in a mixed style of ostentation and vulgarity, and he fancied that his guests were sneering at biswaut of taste , while they were devouring his viands. What was to he done? The lit tle man was at his elbow' and answered his question. Take this liquid, said he, and black her face, and you will find a purchaser who will ask no questions. Bailey Bond drew his breath easier, on perceiving so short a wav out of a dilem ma. It was as had been said; a slave dealer was soon found who told down the money. Bailey Bond’s spirits were lifted up as he heard the money chink in to his p icket; he would have manifested his exultation by leaping into the air; but the loud and horrid laugh of his friend in the cloak, again fell on his ear, and his knees knocked together lik<? Belshazzar’s. But although Bailey Bond had got rid of one wife yet it w as very far from his in tention to lead a life of celibacy, and he soon put himself in the way of getting another. And where may not gold choose? So he was soon seen standing before the altar by the side of the fairest in the land. Tiie ceremony was over, the priest had pronounced them man and wife, and Bailey Bond was about to sa lute the bride, when he felt the hand of the little man in the rusty cloak thrust over his mouth, and he again heard that unnatural laugh which never failed to shake his nerves like a fit of the ague. It is true he had become somewhat accus tomed to the humor ofhis friend, and it may he supposed he was not so much as tonished as at an earlier period of their acquaintance. But he felt that there was something exceedingly mal appropos in the present exhibition, and he brought his mind to the determination of letting the little man know that he was no longer to he laughed at in that style with impunity. What might not the bride think if he sub mitted to such a liberty? He turned noon him with a countenance threatening chas tisement. But the little man opened his mouth from ear to ear, and laughed lou der than before. Bailey Bond might now conduct his establishment in a more refined style.— But still he felt not exactly at ease in his situation. He felt that there were sus picious afloat, and dark hints and mur murs against him. He fancied that he might silence the clamors of the world, by assuming the garb of religion. He feigned a life of great sanctity, and went to church in a pretended spirit of devo tion. He joined his voice in the hymn of praise; hut the little man in the cloak stood before him, and his loud and dis sonant laugh was h card high above the choir of singers. Tbe heart of Baily Bond quaked in terror, and his voice died away in a quaver of consternation. Bailey Bond had now got rid of his old wife, his old neighbors, and many of his old mortifications; Yet he had still an old mother, wiio was as poor as ever lie had been. While he had remained in poverty, she had left him to himself; but now she had come to share his pros perity. Bailey Bond was extremely dis satisfied at this. He felt no disposition to acknowledge her claims on his gen erosity ; and lie knew not how to avoid her importunities. He pretended not to know her; but this only made matters worse. She appeared to consider his ig norance as real, and beset him at every turn with evidence of her identity. Bailey Bond was exasperated, and he looked to the little man for adrice in the dilemma. The little man had no occasion for words, for he was understood without.— The next morning they came and told Bailey Bond that the old woman was dead ; she had died in a fit. He knew it perfectly well, yet lie went with others to look at the body. It was quite black in the face, yethis curiosity was some how interested in examining some livid marks about the throat and neck ; to his imagination they assumed the shape of finger prints ; he stooped down to exam ine lliem a little closer. He would have satisfied himself on that point, but he felt the hand of the little man on his shoul der, & he heard hun laugh ten times low der than ever. Baily Bond was electrified. He had never thought the soiled half so disagreeable; it seemed perfectly diaboli cal. He bolted upright; he w ould have run, hut lie felt the hand still on his shoulder, the infernal sound still rung in his ears. Everv nerve in liis body shook like the leaves of the aspen. He looked round and he expected to have met the sharp peering eves ofthe little man in the rusty camlet cloak. But no, it was only Dorothy who stood before biin, it was her hnn4 that grasped him by the collar. Tie still gazed around for the little man ; he expected every moment to hear his loud and diabolical laugh. But lie heard no thing hut the high thrill tones of Doro thy, he saw only her tall, rigid figure be fore him; not in the fantastic garniture ol silks and laces of every hue ; nor as he had last seen her, disguised bv the dark unguent of the sorcerer; hut as she had appeared in the earlier days of their intercourse, mantled in draggled home spun, and reeking with the fumes of her culinary toils. Bailey Bond was amazed; he was more bewildered than ever. Nor did the salutation of “ I Vake up and eat itnur dinner , you drunken brute,** bring him hack to a perfect understanding of the scene around him. Bv degrees however, he recognized his humble cabin, the half start ed pigs that grunted around the door, and he sat down to Ins coarse fare in si lence and deep humiliation. M hen he arose he broke his whiskey bo'tle and went to liis work, an altered man. From that day he pursued his la bor with a patient and unrepiaing spirit; and although he never became wealthy, nor ever after coveted wealth, yet he was never known to have encountered an empty corn crib. F .R THE DEMOCRAT Mr. Editor, Your renders wore entertained and probably some of them amused by an article in your last number, purporting to Le toe effusion of a “Steiun Boat ” No doubt every citizen of Co lumbus will duly appreciate the zeal which it manit'e»tß for the prosperity and commercial im portance of the place. But it is equally probable that some may question the measures proposed for securing such desirable ends And were we not all acquainted with the fact that steam boats are subject to shearing and bursting their boi'trs, we might be -omewhat alarmed by such productions But as “charity thinketh no evil” we attribute this to one of those unavoi able oc cur ences to which the securest and best man aged boat is liable. We may at least suppose it a happy thing that the town officers were not near or on boa-d the boat under such circumstances, when this disaster befel her. But as steam boats “undor any circumstances are ticklish things to meddle with,” we snail .etreat to a safe distance with the Marsha! and Board,and con over the cargo recently landed by this celebrated boat; although it may have been landed on the sabbath day or at night It is gravely asserted that the ‘ art hi rities elected by the people ” have tianscended their proper limits, and enacted blue laws, and Turk ish laws, “to interrupt free trade and steam boat rights,” to gratify their own “self interest, malice and bigotry.” The drittofthe commu nication is dirocted against hat section in the by-laws of Columbus which forbids loading or unloading a boat on the sabbath day. Aud is it possible that the writer of the article under con sideration is so ignorant as to call this unconsti tutional and illegal? His eves may be opened by turning to Prince’s Digest, p. 510, and to some other sections in the same volume. Lint al’o (hose round assertions of unconstitutional ity and illegality, the writer appears to grow convinced >f the fallacy of his own declara tions and admits that “the right to make saluta v regulations tor the promotion of good order and respect for the .-abbath day, is not question ed ” What in the legal sense of the term, g ves a right, except the constitution and laws of the state 01 of the United [states? Hero ♦ lien he admits both the constitutionality and legality of that part of 1h« 13th sec of ihe town iaws which he had already denounced, and in !ho very next sentence denounces as being uei ter onnstitiitiunal nor legal What shall be said of such contradictory jargon? But due al lowance must be made for shearing and burst ing. Let ns briefly review the eases of conscience, or rather of urgent necessity, landed with the far famed cargo “What may be necessary’’ says he, at Apalachicola or Savannah, is no cri terion for Columbus;” and why? because so many boats arri e at the former places on the sabbath, that the interruption would be seri. oils. Whereas, the arrivals on that day at the latter place are so few, that scarce any inter ruption or disorder would be produced; espe cially as the landing is at so great a distai cu from town. But it iti certain that the fewer ar rivals the greater the excitement as every oc currence becomes less impressive by its Ire queney. Facts, however, speak louder than speculations; and should we appeal to the tune when a boat was landed and unloaded on the sabbath, what testimony shall we gain? The whole town was in an uproar by the running of people and drays, and the chinches themselves wore interrupted by the searching fir dray own ers Even admit that boats arrive on that day but seldom; it may be asked, does crime cease to be crime, because it is seldom committed? or shall we disgrace those tow times by turning them into days of uproar and sabbath breaking, because a steam boat ha* arrived? Especially since the writer admits that such a course would “be a se-ious interruption to the tranquil it\ and good order that,arc every where particu larly observed on that day in all well regulated communities? This to say the least, is but a shallow compliment to Columbus. And it may be asked, admitting (?) that Columbus is not a well regulated community, (an.l that for this reason sabbath breaking may be pleaded for) by what means is it to become sueh? The answer is plain; by the enactment and strict enforce ment of .“salutary regulations,” and that by the persecuted Board and marshal, whose authority is repugnant onL to steam boats, tippUrs, Ac. Tne reasoning of the article under discussion is as irreconcilable as the moving elements of every other steam boat, fire and water. By Fuo.h reasoning it appears that Columbus is an exception to every general rule, as it respects moral obligation, and that things in themselves criminal cease to be criminal, because they are perpetrated hete It is easy for a man, when his own selfish interests are touched, to claim unavoidable or urgent necessity in every case, e.-.nepl in the payment of his just debts. But the necessity which is pleaded by this writer for steam boats landing at the wharf of Columbus, might be urged with equal validity by every waggoner and farmer in the land The faimer might plead that the ground was fast drying, and unless he pursued his plough every day, Sunday not excepted, his crop must, peahaps. remain without culture. And so he might plead thot his fodder was fast dying, and unles h.e should gather incessantly, Saturday and S'jn da' ,he might lose his fodder The name n <Ces sit.y might he pleaded by every man for '.n* llWn occupation, and so the Sabbath would tie entire ly obliterated. And we will riot stop here ; if obligations are to be done S'.vay vith upon every man’s whimsical idea of the laws of God and the laws of the (and will vanish to gether like the uiorr iug tlnw Happy for our world that it is iir.'t g overned by such dull in struments as Strain iloatg. Tiie Board hav<j made ample provision for all casus ofrs-il ncje'sitv; which only are recogni sed hy the lava of God and the laws of the land And 'jus community has sufficient confidence in the, Boast) to hi fevt* that they will not purpose ly exercise any arbitrary power of unnecessary severity in any Cass Bit in thtvte ?tvs, if is very common for officers who are unbending is principles of uprightness and fut'liful in the die charge of their duty, to be abused by tha’ ciase ofthe community who value filthy inert above the authority of heaven and ear h. But ifanv man it disposed to tramok) on tire commandment of God, on the laws of tins Stale and of this town, let him pay the price ot'fciu ob stinate iniquity by a b avy fine at least No part ofthe duto-e devolving on the ; toar<J hinds so sacredly asthat es guarding the morality of tie p'ace Better that trees and bricks and anchors should lie in the streets—better that the uridralned ponds should spread pro.'rating miasmata through the town, th in the inhabitant* should be sunk in immnralitv. and eomequ mly in temporal and etornal wretchedness. But it is possible to imorove the p ace in both respects, and we icjoice iliat the improvement is pr< grou sing a-fast s the limited means of llie Booid will allow; A unless they should be blown up by some St trim Hunt, under the influence of more than ordinary steam, Columbus will soon be come a “well regulated community.” Sft’ DECIMUSOMNEST. FOR THE DEMOCRAT. Messrs Editors —From your last paper 1 dis cover that a writer over ihe imposing name of Sleain-Boat. ha* dedicated two coining tu the edification of the Commissioners, and lo sec that justice bedmeiothe citizens; and in don g so he has thought proper to oeal Urgely in iow wit and vuigai abuse; teal! of which Ido not object. It would lie cruel to do so. No Gentle men, 1 have no dispotmu to throw obstacles in the way of rising greatness; but to cherieh and suppoit it, has always been my constant care. Nothing can afford me greater plea, ure tliar to know that I have contributed to itk advance ment A-to tnn correctness of h>s style there can he no improvement; but it is to be regie ted that he did not hotter examine his pre nl-es, as to their truth, which is at i.ecessar a» fine com positiou, and sound and marierly argument. ■Mich talents should not he hid under a busbcß and that ihe cultivate.: of them will tend to onr country's good, there can be no doubt: and who can say that they will n >l, « ilh proper dis cretion place their possessor in the highest offi ce within the gift of a tree and g a'.eful pe pie. <4- FOR THE DEMOCRAT. TO H. Far distant from my native shore, I wander quito alone, And nothing would delight me more, Than have thee as my own. Memory could no longer then, All melancholy make, With youthful scenes she now will pen; Oh! thee then let me take. Draw off fro n thee that modesty, Which me so oft repels, And with great perspicuity, Relieve the heart that swells. Or else the place, which me now knows, Shall me no longer know; My heart borne down, now by its woes, And oh! thy love bestow “All that of love can be express’d,” In these soft numbers see; And if you will but know the rest, It must be read in me X In this town on the 22d inst Mr JAMES KEMPTON JENNY, formerly of Fair Haven, Mass. < )n the same day, Mrs. SARAH PRIDE, con sort of John Pride, esq. of this place M P» RT OF CtlU'MllDi. arrivell April 26—Steam Boat Baltimore, Capt Jen kins from Appalachian, with Groceries and Merchandise for R. P Guyard At J. M'Millan. DEPARTED. 27—Steam Boat Baltimore, for Appalachico- The Baltimore left Appalachicola on Satur day evening, about sun down the 23d inst. and arrived at this place about 8 o'clock on the evening of 26th— performing the voyage in three davs, which ia the shortest yet known to be made. TAX NOTICE. AM/ T E will attend at the Poet Office in ™ * Captain Ball’s district, on Mon day the 2d, and at the Columbus Hotel it; apt. Flynn’s district on Tuesday the 3d days->f May next, to collect the Taxes due for ; he year Also to receive Returns of taxable Property for the present year This will be the ihtrd and last time of meeting. We will also attend at the Oolumnts Hotel on the dayaoftht drill and inspection ofthe militia, and daring th.-sitting of the Inferior conrt, on the first Monday in June next GERARD BURCH, T C WM HITCHCOCK, R T. R Columbus, April 29 It EXECIJTOR’S HALE. WILL BE SOLD on the first Tuesday in June next agreeable to an order of the In ferior court of Muscogee county, all the real estate of Elijah Jewett, deceased, in raid coun ty, consisting of a lot in tne town of Columbus, on the comer of Randolph ard Rrond streets, on which is a large two story framed house with other out houses. Ternu, a credit until the 25th December next, the purchaser giving bond with approved security. JOHN LOOMIS, F.x’r. March 15th 1831 23 tds ADM INIBT RATO U’HHALkI WILL BF. SOLD to tbe highest bidder, on P’jblick Square in the town of Talbotton, in Tal.’oot countv. on the 20th day of April next, (Wr.dncsdavJ the following property to wit: - 4,800 feet hewed ttmbei, 15.877 feet joist sleepers and scantling 2.t25 feet d-essea dt». 112 feet small scantling. 6505 feet of plank, 288 feet of sheeting, a lot of shingles to be 7000, 3 work benches 13 window frames, 13 partly fin ished, 8 saw benches, 5 poles and a few loads sand, some stone and stone work, constituting the foundation of the court-house and a perch or two ofthe Jail. 4 Iron grates,u small quan tity of bar iron, and about thirty bushels lime— All tbe property of the deceased, constituting a part ofthe materials and preparations for the court house and Jail id said county —Terms at sal*. JOHN N. BIRCH, Adin’r. ofC. C Birch deceased. March 7,1831 25 and M ATH EMATICAL INSTRUMENTS For sale by L. J. DAVIES 6l Cos. March 19. 23 ts
