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THE WASHINGTONIAN.
AUGUSTA. DECEMBER 7, 1844.
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE.
Rev. W. T. Braktly, Dr. D. Hook,
“ \V. J. Hard, James Harpeb, Esq,
" C. S. Don, A. W. Noel, Esq.
“ Geo. F. Pierce,
Qg- To Dutast Sußicr.ißrns. —Post Ma*ters are au
thoring by law to remit money to the publishers of
newspapers and i*riodicals, in payment of subscrip
tions. Subscribers to the Washingtonian can therefore
pay for their papers without subjecting themselves or
the publisher to tho expense of postage, by handing the
amount to the Post Master, with a request to remit it.
03“ We have received, through the
Peiificld Temperance Banner, an abstract
report of tho Proceedings of the late
State Temperance Convention, held at
Forsyth, on the 21st ult. It will appear
in our next number.
We welcome Old Jones to our fireside.
Wc always feel pleasantly when he
makes us one of his sociable visits.—
Our only regret is that ho comes so sel
dom. By the way, we should be glad
to hear a “ real talk”—can we not have
an appointment made for you old gentle
man ! We believe you can “ out-talk all
natur” on temperance.
Demand and Supply.
Political economists teach that the val
ue of any article depends upon the de
mand made for it, as well as upon the
supply of it. That for which there is
no demand has no value ; that which no
body wants, no body cares for, and no
body pays for.
The supply should keep pace with the
demand; if it goes beyond it thcro is
diminution of value. If we raise more
cotton in one year than the world can use
in two, we shall not get 10 cents per
p&und for it; or if wo bring in more dry
““floods to the market, than the people and
the times require, wo shall not sell all,
and what vve do sell must go low. If for
the same reason, there bo more lawyers
or more physicians than aro wanted,
some must live closely—or emigrate to
some other places where the pickings are
better, and where there arc not as many
to divide them.
The same remarks hold good in refer
ence to speech making. About a month
ago the demand for political effusions
was so great that a speaker of any sized
head could get an auditory. Now that
an overabundant supply has been had,
we doubt much if the highest three
story head, as the phronologists say, could
get anything of an assembly. There is
now no demand for any thing in this
line. So precisely with temperance ad
dresses—there is no demand for them—
there has been a surfeit, and it is about
as wise to call meetings to hear speaking,
as it would bo to ship caal to New Castle.
— Speeches on temperance are almost
below par—very few want them—and
very, very few go to hear hear them, in
our good city.
Can a demand be created ? Yes, by
withholding tho supply. If butter is
down to 12 cents and the country people
bring in still more, it must go down to
10 cents.
We would propose to the officers of
the Augusta Society to defer meetings for
some time to come ; unless one can be
had under novel circumstances, and with
peculiar attractions.
Nut Grass.
It will scarcely be believed that, that
great pest of our fields and gardens, nut
grass, was imported into Georgia. It
doubtless would be deemed still more in
credible if we assert that it was purcha
sed. Such however is the fact. It was
introduced by Gov. Milledge into our
State, under the following description of
its excellencies—it was said to be a har
dy grass—of rapid growth—easy of pro
pagation—affording fine pasturage to cat
tle in the spring and summer, and a most
nutritious nut for hogs in the winter.—
This was all true—but it was not all the
truth. Had his excellency been inform-
ed that when it had a lodgement in a field,
it could never be dislodged, and that it
was unfavorable to the growth of all
plants—be would never have purchased
it. There is another act of the Governor,
which may be fairly placed as an off-set
to this, the introduction of the cotton
plant. This honor unquestionably be
longs to him.
For the Washingtouian.
Old Jones’ Talks.
7Vic Brave Man ; or whipping a wife and shoot
ing a husband:—Jack Slimshanks and the
North-Carolina Waggoner:—Deacon D.and
Death in Co-partnership.
Mr. Washingtonian, and you Gentle
men of the Editorial Committee, and all
you sober people and Drunkards what
reads this paper:
You’ve hearn that Elixander and Sezur
and Bonypart was brave men ; but Old
Jones dont believe any of them big men
had bravery enuf to whip a women. Their
hearts ware made of too tender stuff for
such work. But jist let a man git his
head full o’ whisky and he’s bravery will
brace him up to enny thing, as you may
larn by the followin facts; (I’ll try to git
our skoolmaster to rectefy my bad spel
lin in the rest o’ this here piece.)
But the facts are these :—A few years
ago, I was acquainted with a poor, but
modest and respectable, young lady in
Georgia, whose hand was sought and ob
tained in marriage by a drunken mechan
ic. She soon found that, instead of a
husband, sho had taken to her bosom a
tyrant, who was ready on the most trivial
occasions to lay violent hands upon her
person, which he frequently did. A sad
change passed over her countenance,
which was painfully obvious to Old Jones
and all her friends. Several years passed
on in this way, whose history would
movo an angel to tears. At length my
“brave man” left his wife and his little
children in a fit of rage and drunkenness
and took up quarters at a neighbor’s,
where tho folks wero not much better
than himself. Misery was the daily com
panion of his deserted wife and starving
children. The neighbor’s family took
dislike to tho poor woman, and turned
their cows into her truck-patch. Wrought
up to desperation, she seized a gun and
wounded one of tho cows badly. Os
course, neighbor’s family must go over
and have a quarrel with the oppressed
and miserable woman. She bore their
reproaches with meekness—but her hus
band, “ the brave man,” goes over in a
rage and threatens to beat her, as he had
often done before. Sho caught up the
gun and bade him “ keep his distance.”
He, who was brave enough to beat a wo
man, could’nt bear to look into tho muzzle
of a gun—he retreated behind the crib.
She ordered him to “clear out” from his
hiding place, which he did with all speed.
Old Jones dont know but sho ought to
have shot him as he ran—but she gener
ously gave him tho privilege of taking
“ leg-bail,” and the way he used it faith
fully was amusing.
And perhaps you’d like to hear about
my friend, Jack Slimshanks. Well, sirs,
Jack loved a spree—and when the fit was
on him, he was ready for almost any thing
in tho fighting line ; at least ho tried to
make strangers believe so. One day he
was in town, which was some five or six
miles from his residence. As the sun got
lower, Jack’s courage rose higher. After
raving and charging about in the streets
for some time in search of somebody that
was, like himself, in a fighting humor, he
at length ran afoul of a North-Carolina
Waggoner. Jack succeeded in “picking
a quarrel” with him—but when matters
got pretty high, the teamster crawled into
his waggon. This was just playing into
Jack’s hand—Now, he cursed louder and
cavorted higher than ever. But the
tobacco-merchant soon re-appeared with
a dangerous looking musket in hand,
which he showed a willingness to use.
Jack was somewhat puzzled how to get
out of this scrape; but soon told his ad
versary that he would go and arm him
self and then they would be on equal
terms. He must needs communicate his
dilemma to a young man in town. The
chance for fun was too good to bo allowed
to pass. Accordingly, Jack’s friend seem
ed to enter into all his feelings—and so
lemnly vowed to see him safe past the
waggon, that stood near the road, which
Jack must of necessity travel in going
home. In a few moments his friend was
ready, armed to the teeth, to guard him
past the waggon. With arms interlock
they went boldly forward—but had passed
the dreaded waggoner but a few paces
when hang went a gun ! His friend re
laxed his hold of Jack’s arm, and crying,
“I’m a dead man,” fell to the earth.
Jack bolted —ran but a few paces, when
bang went another gun close at him ! Os
course he did’nt slacken his pace —Nay
verily. But running seemed to avail him
little—for as he drove ahead, running for
dear life , every few steps it was bang —
BANG BANG! North-Carolina Wag
goner’s—muskets—were all Jack thought
of as he rushed on—on —on ? He made
no stop, nor slackened his pace until he
found himself safe in his own log-cabin.
I hear the boys in these days talk about
“tall walking.” But if there was’nt
some “tall running” done in old Putnam
that evening, then Old Jones is no judge.
The boys were well satisfied with their
fun, and Jack Slimshanks has never been
guilty of bantering a North-Carolina wag
goner since.
As I’ve given you all a pretty long
Talk already. I’ll defor the “ Copartner
ship” for another occasion.
Old Jones.
At Home, Nov. —, 1844.
For the Washingtoninn.
To Miss II .
£Y MARCUS.
As o’er Araby’s desert waste
The lonely pilgrim strays,
Where arid sands and burning skies
As yet have met his gaze;
How thrills his heart with speechless joy,
When from afar is seen,
Upon the desert’s burning breast,
A spot ofliving green.
So ’mid bright pleasure’s feslive halls
A wand’ret have I strayed,
And nought have seen to greet mine eye
Where beauty stood arrayed;
15 ut when thy graceful, fairy form
Burst on mine ’raptured eye,
The life-blood thrilled in every vein,
In joyous ecstacy.
Nor mariner, when tempest tossed
Upon the midnight sea,
Could hail the light of coming morn
As my glad eye hailed thee;
And on the waste of memory,
When other days shall rise,
A verdant spot thou’lt be to me,
To cheer my weary eye.
Awful Result of Intemperance. —One
the most horiblo accidents that has taken
place in this city for some time past,
happoned on Sunday night at about elev
en o’clock, in a small house located in
Callowhill west of William street, near
Fairmount. The house was the ahodo of
squalid poverty and intemperance. It
appears that an Irishman named Mitchell
l'innigan, aged 35 years, and his wife,
Matilda, an American woman, aged 26
years, were burnt to death under the most
apalling circumstances. Both these per
sons were very intemperate; and on
Sunday afternoon Finnignn was seen
reeling along the street in the last stages
of intoxication; and several persons,
prompted by feelings of humanity, ac
companied the unfortunate man home,
fearing that he should fall and injure
himself. About 11 o’clock tho watch
man discovered tho residence of Finni
gan to be on fire. He immediately gave
the alarm, and succeeded in bursting
open the door of the house, and with the
help of a few persons who came to his
assistance, the flames were extinguished
after much exertion. The neighbors
commenced searching through the smoul
dering embers, steam and smoke, for Mr.
and Mrs. Finnigan, and at last found
them lying on the floor, beneath where
the bed stood, burnt to a crisp. It was
supposed that both the unfortunate per
sons were intoxicated, and while lying
on the bed the clothing took fire, and re
sulted as above stated. The maiden
name of Mrs. Finnigan was Caroline
Dobbins—she was born of Irish parents,
at Richmond, Va., where she had rela
tives residing who are represented as
being highly respectable. Finnigan was
a shoemaker, and when sober, was a good
and industrious workman. The Coro
ner held an inquest—verdict in accor
dance with the facts as above stated.
A Noble Landlady. —The keeper of
a tavern in a neighboring village, signed
the pledge, removed the liquor from his
bar, and hoisted teetotal colors. Some
time after, several persons were seated
in the public room; the landlord’s wife
was in attendance. A poor fellow en
tered, took a seat and asked for aid.
“ Shall I put him out ?” whispered one
of the men present.
“No!” promptly said the landlady,
“ he has spent many a dollar in this house
for rum, and now that he is penniless,
ho shall have a good supper and a good
; bed at my expense.” So saying she led
him into the eating room.
The poor fellow has been a respectable
mechanic ; lie was now a beggar. The
cause—rum!
A Teetotal Town. —Tho village of
Bloomingburg, Fayette County, Ohio,
containing several hundred inhabitants,
with several churches, stores, mechanics’
shops, and taverns, contains not in itself,
nor is there in its neighborhood, a dram
shop, groggery, grocery, tavern, or any
other place, where intoxicating drinks
can be had as a beverage. This must
be a peaceful and prosperous place, and
well deserving its name of Blooming
burg. If the glorious cause of temper
ance continues its onward and success
ful course, there will be many such
towns in our county.
A Scene in an Editor’s Life.
A Correspondent in the Boston Chris
tian Watchman has given the following
“scene,” a very clever hit at some of
the occurrences which come in the path
of an editor; whereupon the editor of
that paper remarks, a story might be told
worth two of that, very frequently, with- \
out any assistance from imagination. It
is so common for an editor to be praised
and blamed for the same thing, that he
comes to think nothing of it. if he is a
wise man, but merely puts plus and mi-,
nus together in his odd drawer, and phi
losiphically soliloquises: “Well, human- i
ity at its best estate is a mass of contra
dictions — Balt. Visitor.
The editor of a weekly religious news
paper, is sitting in his office, at a table on
which are strewed a large number of
manuscripts. One copy of his paper
has just been issued, and he has in con
templation his usual week’s hard labor to
prepare for another. He has just open
ed one of the manuscripts, which lav be- j
fore him, when a rap is heard at the !
door, and his * come in’ is followed by the j
entrance of an acquaintance, who is a j
subscriber to his paper.
After a few moments conversation, the i
intruder remarked, that he wished to
have some talk about the paper. He
then went on to say,
“I think you admit too many severe
articles. I have heard fault found with
two or three of those inserted within the
last few weeks, and your editorial re
marks are too decided upon subjects
about which so many good men differ.”
“ What articles do yon refer to?” in
quired the editor.
The gentleman specified several.
“ But the severity, which you complain
of in these articles is directed against
evils of a flagrant character, and I can
not understand why they should not be j
pointedly rebuked.”
“Why, it is always better to avoid
harshness,” returned the other,” “as it
seldom if ever does good. Gentle mea
sures are much to be preferred. Paul
became all things to all men.”
“ True, I agree with you there, but he
never suffered sin to pass unreproved ;
nor were his reproofs softened by any
temporizing policy. They were always
given in strong, and forcible, and frequent
ly in indignant language.”
“But Paul was not an editor of a
newspaper. In that capacity you have
nothing to do with preaching, and, if I
should concede, which I am by no means
disposed to do, the propriety of the arti- \
cles in question, your editorial remarks
are liable to still stronger objection. I
mean those to which I have already re
ferred, as taking so decided a stand with
regard to subjects, which divide the pub
lic tnind.”
“ I consider these subjects cxcecdingly
important,” was the reply, “and deem it i
an imperative duty to express my honest
convictions concerning them. Would
you have me refrain altogether from a
true exhibition of my sentiments?
“By no means,” said his adviser.—
“ Only avoid exciting topics, and the re
suit will be the accomplishment of more
good, and a more extended circulation of;
your paper. But I will not hinder you j
any longer at present. We will talk !
more about the matter another time.”
After the [departure of the visiter’the
editor leaned his head upon his hand, and
thus soliloquised:
“Well, it may be that I have been
somewhat imprudent. I have certainly
intended to do right, and thought it would
be cowardly and unrighteous to withhold
my sentiments upon subjects, which af
fected the welfare of my lellow-men. I
will review my practice in this respect,
and if I become convinced that greater
good will result by conforming more to
expediency, I will try thus to conform.”
Here he was interrupted by a knock
on the door, which he opened, and ad
mitted a stranger, whose dress and ap
pearance indicated a farmer from the
country’.
“ Well, sir,” said his visiter, as he seat
ed himself, “I suppose ,v you don’t know
me, and no wonder as you never saw me
before. Im a subscriber to your paper
though, and as I came into the city on.
business, I thought I would call and let
you know a little of what the folks down
our way say about it.”
The editor said a few words encoura
ging him to proceed.
| “Well, sir, I don’t mean any offence.
We all like your paper very well in the
; main, but we think you don’t come out
! plain enough about some things. Squire
; C., and he is a considerable reader, says
• he can’t always tell what side you mean
to take. And Mr. F. the schoolmaster
■ of our dtstrict, says you have refused to
1 admit articles, which are decided against
slavery and some other exciting subjects.
! I don’t know how Mr. F. knows about
it, but mv wife says, and she’s rather cute,
that it may be he wrote them himself.’”
Here an involuntary smile slightly curl
|ed the lip of the editor. It was however
i unperceived by his visiter, who went on
| to say,
“After all there’s no question, but that
! we’re always glad to get your paper, but
as I was in your city, I thought I would
give you a hint how it was getting on
among us.”
As he said this, he rose and walked to
ward the door. The editor thanked him
for his friendly intentions, and told him
he would try and do what was right, and
the plain-dealing farmer departed.
Fora few moments afterwards the editor
appeared considerably perplexed. Soon
however his countenance brightened,
and he said aloud.—
“My own judgment and conscience
must be my guide. lam determined to
do what I think right , and leave the event
to God. Y.
From Graham’s Magazine for December.
SKETCHES OF THE
Revolutionary War In North Carolina.
I was busily occupied one summer’s
morning in my garden, when I was salut
ed by an old fashioned farmer, on his way
to mill. Ho rode a stout, well-limbed,
active young horse, with the manner of
one early accustomed to the saddle, and
managed him, in his humors, with the
tact and address of a man fond of a pet
animal.
The old man’s hat was low-crowned
and slouched, but looked as if it had once
been looped, or cocked up—a style which
some may recollect as incidental to many
a revolutionary veteran.
The weather invited to a rest; we both
seemed willing to enjoy shade and con
versation ; and bv observations casually
rnade---in which probably the old man’s
appearance assistcd---we talked of tho
times of the Revolution---he sitting on
his horse (for, like many good talkers, ho
has no time to alight!) and I standing
on the other side of my fence, in the gar
den, both of us shaded by some fine oaks
which refreshed tho road by which ho
was passing.
In this way I picked up tho following
narrative of
“TIIE SI'RPRISE AT m’iXTlße’s.”
The’inhabitants of a large plantation,
on the road leading from the town of
Charlotte to Beattie’s Ford, on the Ca
tawba, were alarmed one morning in ear
ly autumn, by the report of a country lad,
that a detachment of British light-horse
with a line of empty baggage wagons
were on their march, to procure forago
for the English troops under the com
mand of Lord Cornwallis, who had his
head-quarters in the county town of
Mechlenburg, 2£orth Carolina.
As the boy passed the farm-house he
gave the alarm and galloped on. The
women were soon seen straggling after
him—some loaded with the rifles and
accoutrements of the men who were at
work in the fields—while others, assisted
by the negroes, led forth horses from the
stables, and hastily saddled them for the
service.
The men were promptly armed, tho
women and children, with such necessa
ries as could he snatched up, were mount
ed by twos and threes upon tho horses,
and accompanied by the servants, direct
ed their course through the woods to such
neighbors as were most retired from the
main road.
Although the boy who gave the alarm
had used every exertion, and, mounted
upon a jaded colt just taken from tho
plough, had dashed through the most
direct by paths, the men had scarcely
time to conceal themselves in a deep
thicket and swamp, which bordered one
extremity of the plantation, before the
British videttes were in sight. They
halted upon the brow of a hill, above the
branch of a creek, for the approach of
the main body, and then, in complete
order, advanced to the plantation.
After reconnoitenng the premises, and
finding no one present, but all appear
ances of the hastv flight of the inhabit
ants, the dragoons dismounted, the horses
were tethered, and a guard detailed.
Some sumpter horses were harnessed to
the farm wagons, and parties began to
load them with the various products of