I
m'tm A TUT ;"P IT iH' 4 IV :
H. B. MASSER, EDITOR !AND; PROPRIETOR.;
OFFICE; MARKET STREET, OPPOSITE THE POST OFFICE.
ft
NEW SERIES VOL. 0, NO. 20.
TEWttS OS THE AMERICAN.
THE AMERICAN in puWiihrd every Satnrdny at TWO
bOl.l.AKS nerniinum to tie paid half yearly in ndvanee,
t. 1 II .. rfntMml are ntllfl.
Nn MMT nmTiiimiioii mini am p -,. ,
A immanicntlniis or Intern on lmmw r .iting "
office, to insure attention, mdt I POSi FAIL). ... ;
'Thre coniae to one address.' i .
teven V ft"
s.-.nn
loo"
aooo
F FtoMkn In adyane. Will pay f Are y.nr:..aliV
tion lo the America.
On Kouei of 1 lines, '",
fceery eulieeqoent ineeHwn,
Una Souare, month.
ti nvmtht, ' 1 , ; ,
BoVee'cTns of Five line Pr """".
MeVrhent . inn d"', adverl,.n by the
Jenr? with the privilege ofiiiacrting dif-
I'M
. 4J
so
474
soo
300
I I llooo
OT li get Adverti.ein.nu, per agreement.
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
' . StJSTBTTRTT, P A.
Business attended to In 'the Count!-. of Nor-
thuin
barland, Union, Lycoming anu
liefer to, , ,
P. & A. HoTOUIlT, j
Low & Bhos, I
80r.S - SlMlllOHAM,.
RatirdLi.s, McFAHttnii : to.
I'Aiai.
1 HOOT,
DAGIEUIIEAIV ABTIST,
tto. 140, corner oFiVft If Chesnut sfs., Pafa-
' dtlphia.tind 363 Bro(ltffli corner 0
' ' Franklin Street, New lork.
C WIZENS AND STRANGERS mn hnvij
t iittinj for Portrait or Minittm, nd
tceivo Uicm beautifully ccu. In morocco, Sil
ytlvcl, Pupier Mache, or other fancy ty!r, or ntt
in Medallions, Locket, &cM in few minute.
Dartterreotypes, Paintings, Drawings,
&c Copied.
Out door View, and Miniature of dcceanti
person, taken at short notice.
For Porttaita-of Adults by ourmwess.aml Im
proved Imttrumciits, thtifa day qu' u""
wahlB as clear weather.
For Children, a clear day (between 11 ami -)
is preferable. E7In DrcAs-'avoid while, blue
or li?ht pink. ,
Our Gallery with its Six Pruo Medals and
Works of Ari, is open at all hours, nnd Free.
Whether visitors wish pictures Inken or not, Vvc
hall at all times be hsppy to them.
June 22, 1850.
JitXf YORK & PHILADELPHIA
. JOTJSNEYMES
Ilaltcm AwHoclall'.
Cor. of i'Sanl Chestnut Srcet, Philadelphia.
"isWrtXrZ? to make and sell a finer and more.
.Wli-Hot for the money than any other
the lylllieil ISies aiwuuiim
j-mi... !ki nn
Gents and 13 ov Cloth and
na Cap. Uuil.-e'la", Crpe Has:, Cabfy
Wa Ilw ut clu,l!ly low 1'""
f Jia-2S,i8ia J
TVstdics, Jesreb-j, Plats J- Warc,: ,
,ASO I'A.'kt.'tf t.Ott. ,
1 12 f Jwxi! Sf , Jwrru 3s! Is i:h Sti eets.
PHIXADSLPHIA.
A tWAYS k-P o hiJ exoelJeitt rt-
i: ibe tbuM arliiJes, which tUey
wril s law uy iu io city.
Junt S, l4U-ia
will
W. T. PEDDRICK'S
LAt ErAJtrxea ok c. sciihack)
Ysurulsb Miuaufaetory mud Paint
More,
' K Xortk Fmirth Street,
" ' Wl?e AEOrK CUEIBV, WEST 6IDK,
PHXIiADELPHIA.
CUuMy'f kni fur Ae. at reduced
m-iccs, 4Did of snperior yiWy, tkejol
, .' iowiagarticlet, ri;t
. . . 4 ..A nil 1.,tV Vrni-li',s :
Spirit HVanaf ""'-J'ri'vT?
?Walni..trrna Vanwher.' )
n aierl. UnuwehL
Aleo,reij lxfii"
. Wacar. Ink
lam t
LINN, SIVIITH & CO.,
Xo. 2U Market Street, A 5i St
' PHILAIttLfHt i,
Wholesale DruttglNU.
AVD DtiAULBB IN w ,.
BHUGS,Mi!inrt!K, yAi!T, Oil., Wismfw
tSS, VAKrSHT.S, Dv Trvr, Patsst
MmiciMS, Meiiicis Ciiksts, StUairAl. In
T.rMETS,&c, & nd manufacturers tifUie
vclebtated '
' Congress Ink,
Blaek, Dlue and Red. The quality of tin t"k U
uiwwpassed, and we are now prepared to furnish
it of all siws, neatly packed in boxes from one to
three down each. '
L. 8. &. Co., endeavor to have always on hornl
full assortment of good and cenuine Druirs, at
the lowest possible rate. Particurar atteulion is
also paid to the manner of putting up and packing
their good, o that thev feel prepared to warrant
tkeit carry kg ny distance with perfect afety.
an u- b. uiu, or otherwise will receive
prampt aOrntion.
PbiladelphU, June 13, 1850. Cat
rHlALADELMIA WISE LIQUOR iTOAE
" BITTING & WATERMAN,
Importers and Dealers in Liquors,
iVo. MO Market ttrtet, Philadelpha,
.rFER for sale, the cheapest and beat assort.
vy ment Df Liquors in riulaileumia, sue a
. Champagne, Sherries, Port, Ktccfc, Claret, Bur
gundios, Sauturn, llaraac, M aderia, Lisbon,
r t Tenerilfc a.id Sicily mes.
. ., Brandies of the choicest brands, viil
vi.i;n. niar.l Pnt- llnnnesv. &c. &ct
i Fin Hnllan.1 (Jili. Mononitthela, Scotch and
Irish Whiskey, &c, &c
Hotel nd the country trade supplied at Phila-
Delphi pnee on the moat Uuerai term.
I July 13, 1850 .... , , .
- MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS,
; . CXZAS. Duxaircxa,
' jVo. 207 Chetnut Street, front Arcade,
. rV.-: .., -r - PIASVMA. '. J ' " ' '
L.- .TMPORTEB and Manufacturer of all kinds of
)uslnaWUiDni,aiicy Article and toy.
Hi prUe r lower than tb" ny other store
a. PI,ll.Ulihta. All kind of Muaical Instru-
erf4repii4 io US best wwknjanshiu, and also
taken intraJe
W.k: -i W. ': ;rver
oy,.Wrvii-l,hc5 Siisif-a tKI-. ' fr'
au4
:5, is5C fy
a ; jTamfla iittospaper-Drtotrt
SELECT POETRY.
' THE F.ER. ' i , '
DT J. G. WH1TTIBB.; -
i ' ' '" T
I hear the far-ofT voyager's horn,
I see the Yankee's trail-- o -
His foot on every mountain pass,
On every itrewn his sail.
He's whittling round St Mary's Falls, f
Upon his loaded wain; ' , '
He's leaving on the Pictured Rocks, j
His fresh tobacco stain. ''; j
I hear the maltock in the mine, 1
The axe-stioke in the ilell, "I
The clamor from the Indian lodge,
The Jesuit's chapel bell.
I see the swarthy trapper come,
: From Mississippi's Springs ;
' And War Chiefs, with I heir painted brows,
And crbsl of Eagle's wings. ' i
i Behind the scared squaw's birch canoe,
The steamer smokes nnd raves ; ;
And city lots are lakeu for sale, '
. Above old Indian graves.'
By Forest, Lake, and Wator-fall, ..
I see Ilia pi'tldler'a1 show ; ,. , .,, ,
The miplity minjjiling with the mean,
The lofty with the low. , .
I hear the tread of pioneers ; .
Of Nations yet to be;
The first low wash of waves, were soon,
Shall roll a Human Sea. - .
The rudiments of Empire here,
Are plastic yet, and warm ;
The chaos of a Mighty World
Is rounding iuto form.
Each rude and jostlinrj fragment soon
Its fitting place shall find
The raw material of a State,
Its muscles and its Mind 1
And Western still the Star which laads
The New World in its train,
Has tipped with fire the icy spears
Of many a mountain chain.
The snnwy cones of Oregon
Are kind'.! on its way;
And California's Golden Sands
Gleam brighter in its ray !
Cjistovicftl.
AftVENT OF COL. ARCHIBALD YELL.
LlfE IN ARKANSAS FIFTEEN YEARS AGO.
The first morning of the first Monday in
November, 183. broke on the mild meri
dian of Arkansas, with a stin of almost ori
ental brilliancy. A sky clear as a crystal
bent its blue arch over an atmosphere soft
and warm as the balmy breath of May. It
was a godsend 0j golden weather to Ihe
slathering crowds of human bt-ings that from
an early hour came pourinsr, into the streets
and public equare of Van Buret;, a new but
nourishing village, situated on tne river
from whence the state derives its name,
and in the immediate vicinity of the Chero
kee line. Men, women and children,
white masters, black slaves and wiM paint
ed Indians, with plumes nodding fro their
swarthy brows, continually swelleil that
living sea, all burning with Impatience to
witness their favorite show, lo enjoy, one
might say, their only popular amusement,
the common pleasure alike of every class--for
on that day the district court opened its
regular sessions for the large county of
Crawford.
Persons ignorafit of the economy of so
cial lite in the backwoods cannot even im
agine what a slrong and strange passion
those fur western people manifest for the ex
citement of the forum, and more especially
for the concomitants and consequences
which always attend or follow in its train.
But we should remember that, in the pan
city of other means of gregarious amuse
ment, it is to them church, theatre, gym
nasium ; newspaper and telegraph the
sole local point of reunion, where all orders,
and not unfrequently both sexes, go to see
and be seen. The court-yard is also the
frontier preparatory school of party poli
tics, in which the young athletes of am
bitious genius learn to exercise their tongues
to
dart dasger-words of bitter denunciation,
nd their hands lo wield real daggers, pis
tols and shot-guns..
This, too, is the battle-ground whvre the
old heroes, whose laurels have been culled
on many a bloody field, meet lo measure
anus. This is the constituted place for the
ecisiou ol all matters in dispute of every
ame and description. Ihe paper pleas
f record form but a small item of the mul
farious issues to be tried ..here. Has the
fair fame of a woman been soiled by the
tviisoiious Iids of slander, it is here, near
the door of the forum, and within hearing
of the iudge and jury, that the father, bro-
1 . . t -,l L .U. .1 I.
thpf. or nusoana Will wasn oui mc uui
stain with the red lite blood ol me caium-
" . . . . . a. . 1
niator, or else lose the last drop of his own.
Has a private quarrel occurred betwixt bul -
lies, attormes. doctors, leacners or uivin-s,
be sure it is here, in the public court-yard,
before tbe gazing, shouting, agitated mum-
tude. that the parties will fight it out.
Surh ,a th 'nrnmnn law oi custom ana toe
Drescrintion of immemorial and sanguinary
usage. .
Here, also, is the chosen rendezvous of
ro"ues. drunkards, wnisicerea eamoiers,
I - I , I I
horse iockevs and all office hunters and
demagogues. It is for reasons such as
these that the docket of a frontier couit is
never cleared of its cases ; for every old
one adjudicated, at least two new ones are
added to the list and thus the accumulation
goes ou increasing from year to year.
This makes it the elysium of lawyers.
There is a ad drawback, However, on tneir
-..I.- Thn liiirranlo um noooas wA snup.
. " . . w .
1 C 1 1 C i I Y , "'oU,U,J T (.IIV.l3VO BIIU BJ'V-
tators are mostly loaded down with deadly
and are equallvreadvtouse them
on the slightest show of insult.' Hence
none but leaness nguters neeo nope lor sucr i idiocy or gopq puinor, ueu. uuto veiiiur
cess at the bar. Under such a state of cir-1 ed to address Ihe organized phenomenon..
cumslances, It is easy to conceive the scenes
yf wild strife, confusion and outrage cxhi.
to DolMcs, aitrraturf, Xwli. JFwton tft aowfgtfc &ttog,
SUNBURY, NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PA., 8ATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1830.
bited in t frontier forum, where the judge
is forced by necessity to be either a tyrant
or a slave, and the counsel are always bul
lies. . , . ,;(
It was, therefore, the anticipation of vio
lent excitements in the shape of actual tra
gedies that drew such eager and hurrying
throngs to the court house in the village of
Van Buren on the occasion first alluded to.
The ' human panorama presented a view
animated find busy1 in the highest degree,
Out of a hundred houses, forty-three were
groceries, (With every door and window
wide open, and so densely .crowded' that it
required half-a-dozen clerks in each estab
lishment to Supply their thirsty customers.
Beside the counter might be seen a group
of well dressed gamblers, ringing together
their full Wine glassen before ' the sparkling
champaigne disappeared beneath their
beards. Irt the centre of Ihe roorri stood a
rudp mountain hunter, with his rifle in one
hand and a Inure quart measure iu the other
just raised to his parted lips. , One instant
more and the nectar of fluid fire shall melt
on his great red tongue, But no ! It is
stopied in transitu by the strong arm of a
mongrel Indian, who snatches the overflow
ing vessel and flies away through the
throng. Click! bang! What sound was
that 1 The deafening roar Of the hunter's
rifle, followed by a death jell of fearful
agony as the Indian falls a corpse !
Yonder, under those beautiful shade
trees of gorgeous evergreen, where tbe sun'
light trembles through like ten thousand
diamonds, bevies of bright-eyed Women are
seated on a carpet of grass the daughters
smiling at the accomplishments of their
beaux, and tbe mothers smiling to hear the
prattle of their children.
At nine o'clock, a group of lawyers, doc
tors, and politicians colonels all were
engaged in earnest conversation around the
bar, undisturbed by the drunken shouts and
din of tumult reverberating without, far
and near, over the village.
"It is the hour for calling court," re
marked Retib Reynolds, Esq,, "and yet our
new Judge has not arrived."
"If he's smart, he won't arrive at all,"
said Gen. Smoot, cutting figures in the air
with a showy sword-cane which he appli
ed vi tt armis to the shoulders of a new
judge lately resigned. Gen. Smoot. was
the "My Lord Coke" of Arkansas. He had
amassed a handsome fortune in the brief
space of five years, and by universal con
sent, ranked at the head of his profession.
It is true he had not worked his way up to
this proud elevation by learned and labori
ous research, nor had he soared there on
the pinions of impassioned and peerless elo
quence, nor had intellect, or imagination,
or purity of feeling aided in his ascent; he
had simply hewed his way through all ob
stacles with the sharp edge of an immense
bowie knife, which few save himself had
suilicient strength to wield. Wo to the
luckless witness that give him a cross an
swer, Wo to the opposing counsel that
did not cower before bis thunder! And a
deeper wo to the presumptuous judge who
dare to check his brow-beaten insolence, or
who assumed tbe right to determine one
point against him !
When therefore, the bystanders heard
the duelling general utter his oracular la
conism in reference to the new judge, eve
ry body comprehended the implied threat,
and burst into a hearty laugh.
"What is the name of his expected hon
or 1" inquired Col. Reub Reynolds, Esq.,
as he gave his perfumed moustache an ex
tra twirl. ;
"A. Yell from Tennessee;" replied Col.
McBall, "and he has come to Arkansas
with the commission of a territorial judge
in his pocket, for the purpose of making
capital to be the first governor of the new.
state when organized."
Col. McBall was himself an aspirant for
the high office of which he then spoke.
He tluf not obtain it, but he did obtain the
post of cashier of the Fayetteville bank,
and five years afterwards robbed it and ran
away with one hundred thousand dollars.'
, "How do vou call bis name V mterroga-
ten Gen. Smoot, Plevating his sword cane.
"A. Yell," repeated Col. McBall.
"I'll change his name to A. Howl," re
joined uen. smoot, perpetrating a meta
phorical pun, while the sword cane de
scended With a most belligerent flourish.
A boisterous shout from the group testifi
ed their general approval of the menace.
"Is any one1 acquainted with this Yell !"
asked Col. . Wnllace, who was also a candi
date for tbe future gubernatorial chair.
"I is," answered a deep-toned voice, that
startled the listeners like the roar of athun-
derbolt.
All turned to gase on the speaker- who
had joined the company unperceived. He
I . .... t I J
i was B i runner mai no uin icwxnitru sum
I a,
i none couia ever nave seen De-ore, tor tne
I glance that beheld htm once might never
1 forget his image. Habited all over in a
i a iresn sun oi learner ornBmrniea wiui iii-
j tastic figures, with a panther skin cap sur-
i mounting masses oi raven nair rouea in
wild tangles, his immense waist cinctured
ov pruaa oeii iitera iv orisinnz wun pis-
tols, oi almost gigantic stature, witn a lace
of bronze and bands of iron, the latter
grasping an enormous gun, double-barrelled,
I I 1 4k -. . If I . II. . ....
i anu uu.u uammers tu uuii-cock, me w'
knoxrn seemed for all the world the embo-
died ideal of muscular force and diabolical
bravery.
Every eye was riveted on thus strange
tower of human strength, but for several
minutes every lip was dumb, In tte mean-
while, the giant did not appear in the least
discomposed by the common scrutiny and
I . ! I 1 I 1 . V
I gaping vvonuer eucuea vy nis aavem. ue
I nnlu nnana (rta rnVPm nf hlfl tfSmnt And
will VJ'vinu - ' " .... '
gave way to an irrepressiible concussion of
llaushter. , ,
I i Encouraged by this ambiguous sign of
"You say,' fellow, that you are acquaint-
1 ed with Mr. A. ell v
"I reckon 1 isn4 nuthin' eW, replied j
. ..i ' ;.ii ' ' 1 I
, a II nl'nniifn M.mdllu
Smoot What Sort of a man is he V
Unknown--"He's a man.". t .- r i
Smoot "Will he fight ? :. i vr,
Unknowrii-"Yes, he'll fight everything
and anythipg from the devi on his burnin'
throne up to a sassy lawyer ttith' his skull
empty ,of brains and his pocket full of pis
tols.", - -' I , ; . !
Smoot "Have you ever seen him
fight P ! I ' i
Unknown "Lord ! haint I seen him
give it to the old he bears? He didn't
mind their teeth as much as you 'or me
would the scratch of a blind kitten." The
comparison was accompanied by another
choking fit of merriment. ' --
Smoot (angrily) "I do not doubt Mr.
Yell is a perfect hero in a bear fight, but
can he fight men Ebf'.r i
Unknown (indignantly) Why bless my
soul case, that's his. regular trade, whilst
bar fightin' is only fun to keep his hand in
practice!, I wish you could have seed
him whip old Hoss Allen 1 You know as
how they Were both bully, lawyers, but
Archy Yell was allers the cutest!,' onJ that
made'old Hoss tarnal mad, and he thought
he'd scare the other ofT the track ; but he
might as Well have tried to scare a steam
engine. Archy dodged two bullets, and
bein' without weapons hisself, cotched old
Hoss by the throat and began to squeeze
away like a cotton press. Then old Hoss
jerked out a big knife and began to tickle
Archy's ribs, but he couldent make him
laugh, nor let go on his windpipe neither.
He cut out his intrels, but Archy held them
up with his left hand and choked harder
than ever with his right. At last old Hoss
lost his breath ; his eyes turned red as blood
and his face black as a buck nigger's ; and
he fainted till the knife dropped from his
fingers. Archy picked it up, but he didn't
strike it into the enemy's heart 1 No, by
: and General Jackson! He.wur too
brave for sich a coward's trick as that !,H.e
hollered "Here boys, throw some water
in old Iloss's face to bring him to, while I
go to a doctor's shop and get my intrils
sowed up !"
"You are a capital story teller," said Gen.
Smoot with a sneer. "Will you be so good
as to favor us with your own name
"They call me good-natured Bill Buf
fum," replied the giant, with an obstreper
ous roar, such as a red tiger might emit
could he be provoked to the amusement of
laughter. , , . .
The bystanders, however, felt no dispo
sition to unite in Bill's explive cachina
tion, fur Col. Leeper, a Tennesseean, and
well acquainted with Judge lei:, having
come up in time to hear the narration of
that singular combat, substantially confirm
ed the tale, bating only the figurative
flourishes of its rhetoric'
"The new judge is a real hero, then?"
inquired Reub Reynolds, Esq. " .
Col. Leeper answered "He s the bra;
vest among the brave..,. I must own that,
although we two are sworn , and eternal
enemies." , ,
This avowal elongated to a most lugubri
ous stretch a dozen visages, and caused
even the duellist, Gen. Smoot, to ground
his sword cane. Little time, however re
mained then to speculate on the consequen
ces of the astounding fact, for, at that in'
slant "good-natured Bill Buflum" shouted
with - his inseparable chuckle "Yonder
comes Archy, God bless bis brave soul .
With this exclamation every eye was
turned towards the door, through which a
man of most striking appearance was seen
entering, with a bow of dignified courtesy
and a smile of irresistible sweetness. Of a
tall, slender, but sinewy frame, and a shape
elegant and symmetrical as a woman's; his
blue eye beaming with a brilliant yet calm
light of a soul fuil of passion's fire, bul tho
roughly self-possessed, his whole person
wearing the indescribable air, and his face
the countenance of a gentleman to whom
popular manners had grown a sort of a sec
ond nature; dressed in rich but plain cloth
ing the stranger looked the double person
ification of one born to power, yet educa
ted to please, and therefore sure of coin'
mand, because he would excite in others
the will to obey.
"His blue eye wept like a flash of mild
summer lightning around the circle of spell
bound gazers, his fine head almost imper
ceptibly nodded, and his winning smile
seemed to melt into every separate heart. I
He had held out his hand to only a single
acquaintance, for ha hud but one there who
was a friend : but the greeting he gave that
one acquaintance made hun a hundred
new friends "My dear Buffum, bow hap
py I am to see you ! Hearty as a buck,
too, and looking rood natured and brave as
ever nil voice was ciear as tne tone
of a silver bell, with a ringing echo of soft
music that lingered on the ear and penetra
ted the soul.
The giant Bill Buffum grasped the prof
fered hand with a gesture of awkward bash-
fullness. ' He blushed ', he did not or could
not sneak ; but one great tear of joy, pride
aqd pleasure rolled from his wild black eye
and fell on the judge's fingers. Aye, that
was a grateful tribute of a rude but faith
ful heart!
That trivial incident caused an immense
sensation, and was fruitful of consequences.
A loud murmur of backwoods vo'icps swell
ed tin "He's a" gentleman ! 1 He aiut
ashamed to shake hands with leather hunt
ing-shirts! He bows to common folks!
He's the right tort of judge 1 . We'll fight
for him!". . , ,. ....
. Tben the face of General Smoot was like
tbe convulsed face of a demon, and all his
legal myrmidons turned pale with silent !
rage, . . "''''.,,'
Judge Yell immediately Proceeded to his
seat on the bench, and ordered the sheriff
to open court.' The' bland smile on his
handsome features was replaced by an ex
pression of serene but determined majesty.
I The li-'ht in his blue eyes grew .stern and
t
sclent an the arts, aflrteulture,
steady -4 something to be feared as well
t-T.-.j 1 -i pii 'iLi -
as loved. His charge to the iury was a
masterpiece for that meridian. After a
brief definition of species of crime, he be
gan: a geheral lecture on the necessity, im
portance and duties of courts; 1 1 is clear
tonts. at first low and persuasive, gradually
. L, ' ...," . I . I. 1 , 1 l .
rose,( rang, .vioratea anu inrinea tne air,
filling the. ample forum and rolling far out
over the public square, till crowds came
rusuing irom every grocery, wronging ine
doors and darkening the windows, all anx
ious to see and hear. ' They itood breath
less! fascinated, wonder-struck, yet delight
ed ;' While there stood the blile-eyed magi
cian, Weaving the pell words which held
them like a voice of steel.
' And yet strange' to say, his eloquence
had no profundity of learning, no polish of
rhetoric He never used a trope, and had
no power of logic,' Si-eming incapable of
copulating premises with a view, to keen
argument; but still that eloquence was in
comparably insinuating. , It wound around
the soul, pierced through the heart and ri
veted every thought like a fine thread of
golden wire. It aroused no sudden cheers.
no boisterous burst of feeling. lis effect
was not admiration ;' it Was conviction.
Men did not exclaim, "What an orator!"
but they murmured to themselves, "How
true!" " ; : "' .
The Judge concluded by alluding to the
dangers incurred by himself in the admin
istration of even justice: and his last sen
tence uttered in a terrible voice, thundered
forth the fearless avowal "I will deal out
to every one jurors, witnesses, parties and
counsel the full measure of legal rizht ap
pertaining to each, and no more ; and I
will maintain the majesty of the law and
the dignity of my own person, or leave the
best blood ol my heart here on this bench,
my own place !"
His face was illuminated bv the glowing
fire of passion, his eyes literally blazed and
his very teeth appeared to shine with savage-gleaming
radiance through half parted"
ips rigid as iron with the energies of in
domitable will. Then the insolent sneer
which had produced that final peal faded
from the countenance of Gen. Smoot, as he
whispered to his myrmidons '
"liy heaven ! I think he'll fight, and I
mean to (ry him before the day is an hour
older !"
"His pockets lie smooth ; I don't think
he's armed," suggested Col. McBall, by
way of encouragement. .
"I wonder why he carries that cane, for
it would aid him but little in a combat,"
remarked Reub Reynolds, Esq.
' J hat cane, apparently so light, is a pow
erful weapon of solid iron," said Col. Lee
per. "With it, one might fell an ox."
"bo much the better." muttered General
Smoot, "It will not then be asserted that I
attacked an unarmed nian." " :' ''-
"Go ahead; we'll ali back you," whis
pered M'Ball. : .:,'.:-;...t. ., ,. '. -'.-
Can the reader comprehend this scene 7
Can be imagine why this clique of lawyers
should harbor such deadly hatred against
the unolfending stranger ! Ihe singular
problem is easily explained. Some of them
had been unsuccessful aspirants for the of
fice he then filled, and tbey all felt that he
would hereafter be a dangerous competitor
for future places of profit and honor under
the state government about to be organized.
This painful consciousness was aggravated
to madness by the extraordinary impression
which their supposed rival had already and
so obviously produced in the minds of the
people. Hence nothing remained but to
test his courage to the last extremity an
awlul ordeal to which every professional
man must submit who carries his ambition
to the perilous market of the backwoods.
The first case oh the docket was called,
and the plaintiff stood ready. It was an
old case that had been in litigation for five
years. Gen. Smoot arose for the defendant,
and remarked in an overbearing ton
"Our witnesses are absent, and therefore
I demand that the cause be continued till
the next term in course."
"Let the proper affidavit be filed, for not
till then can I entertain the motion for a
continuance," was the mild response of the
iudge.
"Do you doubt my word as to the fact ?"
Gen. Smoot exclaimed, sharply, and invol
untarily raising his sword-cane.
"Not at all, replied the judge, with his
blandest smile : "but the law requires that
the facts justifying a continuance must ap
pear on ret orn,'and the court fiss no power
to annul tho law, nor any will to see it an
nulled." it . i ' - i j
, The judge's calm and business-like tone
and manner only served to irriiatt- the bul
ly, and he retorted, shaking his sword-cane
in the direction of the bench "Whatever
may be the law, I, for one will not learn
its principles from tbe lip of an upstart
demagogue and coward ! J
' Judge Yell's blue eyes shot lightning,
but he only turned to the clerk and said
quietly "Mr. Clerk you will enter a fine
of fifty dollars against General Smoot, as 1
see him named on my docket for gross con
tempt of court ; and be sure you issue an
immediate execution," . ' .
He had scarcely enunciated the order,
when Gen. Smoot was seen rushing to
wards him, brandishing his sword-cane, all
his feature wril,hjpg w.ilh murderous wrath,
and pallid as a corpse t i
: Every glance ,w fi.ed. og the countenance
of Ihe judge, tor all wisUad, (o know how he
would, brook the. coming of the duelist',
fierce assail. ji Put pooe,; however, could de.
teol the. slightest change in his appearance.
His cheeks grew neither red nor white ; not
s nerve seemed lo tremble ; bis. calm eyes
surveyed the; advancing foe with, as little
sign of perturbation as a chemist might show
when scrutinizing tbe effervescence of some
novel mixture. He eat perfectly still, wiih
that slight staff iof jointed iron ')) jsty
hand.
ittar&tts, amnarmertt c:
Jl.'l '
-!
'
! Smoot ascended the platform and' immedi
ately aimed a tremendous blow wlih h'
enormous sword-cane at the head of his foe.
At that blow five hundred hearts shuddered,
arid more than ft 'dozen voices shrieked, for
all expected to see the victim's skull shivered
to atoms;' The general astonishment, tben,
may be conceived, w boo they beheld the
little i,un staff describe a quick curve as the
great sword-cane flaw from Smoot'a , fingers
nd fell with a loud clatter at the distance of
twenty feet in the hall I The balfled bully
Uttered a cry of wrath wild as that of some
wounded beast of prey,1 and snatched his
bowie knife from its shenth ; but ere it was
well poised for ihe desperate plunge, the lit
tle iron staff cut another turve and the big
nife followed the sword-cane. Ho drew a
revolving pistol, but before he had time to
touch the lrigscri his arm was striken down
powerless to his side.
And then, for the first lime, did iinle Yell
betray perceptible emotion lie stamped his
foot till the platform shook beneath it, and
honied in trumpet tones-:'Mr. Cloik, yon will
Mot this nilTiaivs name as a foul disgrace from
the roll of iHlomeyV. Mr. Sheriff, lake the
criminal to jsfil." ; :
Ine latter oilicer sprang to obey the man
date, and immediately a scene of confusion
ensued that no peri can describe. The bravos
and myrmidon friends of Gen. Smoot gather
ed around to obstruct the Sheriff, while many
of Ihe citizens lent their opportune aid to sus
tain the authority of the court Menaces,
screams, and horrid curses, the ring of impin
ging and crossing steel, alternate cries of
rage and pain, all commingled with the aw
ful explosion of fire arms, blended together a
vivid idea of pandemonium. But through
out all the tempes tuous strife, two individu.
als might be observed as leaders in the whirl.
wind and riders of the storm. The new
udge used his little irou cane with terrible
efficiency, crippling limbs, yet sparing life ;
wnue "goou nainrert Bill liutlum," imitatinc
the clemency of his honorable friend, and
disdaining the employment of knife or pistol,
actually trampled and crnshad down all op
position, roaring at every furious blow. "This
is the way to preserve order in court !" a sen
timent which ho uccompained with peals of
wild laughter. In less than two minutes the
party of the judge triumphed, the clique of
Smoot suffered a disastrous defeat, and the
bully himself was boru away to prison.
Such was the debut of Archibald Yell in
Arkansas ; and from that day his popularity
as a man, as a judge, as a hero, anil ns a po-
itician, went on rapidly and brilliantly in-
cieasiug,till it ecilipsed all ihe oldest and most
powerful name.". Within iho first year of
hjs emigration he became a candidate lor the
Governor's chair, and nol withstanding the
bitterest opposition, he was elected by nine
tenths of the votes polled. At the end of his
term he canvassed for Congress, and again
swept ihe State like a hurricane. He contin
ued to serve with success in the supreme
councils of the nation until the period of the
war with Mexico. He then resigned, hurried
home to Arkansas, and raised a regiment of
volunteer cavalry, with which he made all
possible despatch for the scene of action.
The writer of the present sketch saw him
on his line of march to coalesce with the
grand army of occupation, and never will he
forget the evening passed by his hospitable
camp-fire on Red river, within the limits of
Texas. The prophecy of his farewell woids
rings still in my. ear with mournful distinct
ness. I go,:l said he, wilha look of fire, and in
tones of thrilling emphasis, (-'to make a fume
that sha'l be co-extensive with the length
and breadth of the Union, or to extinguish
life itself in a blaze of glory !"
He kept his word : he did both. He arri
ved on the gory arena in time to witness ihe
magnificent storm of the great day of Buena
Vista; and where is the true child of Ameri'
van birth that cannot name the three tran
scendent stars of chivalry who fell quenched
in blood that day ! aye, who fell, but as they
fell shed a parting sunburst of everlasting Iile
light over that field of glory and of graves!
Dost remember! Hardin! Clay! Veil!
We have only space remaining lo glance
rnrieii'u tnlame ut the striking character of
Gov. Yell's genius. Il seems from his child
hood to have been a triple compound of
courage, prudence and love of approbation.
Although born of veiy poor parents, ha was
distinguished even when a boy alike by his
daring, his thirst for practical knowledge, and
the refined courtesy of his manners. As a
lawyer, judge and stutesmati, he was far from
being profound. He never sought for centra)
problems embodying first principal; he had
no skill for the analysis of causes ; but he had
an eye for cnusequences near and remotei
piercing and far sighted as the eagles.
That he had faults, we do not deny, but
whatever their nature or number, we will not
discuss thera now.'
They were all amply expiated by lhat he-
rolo death ihe rich libation of blood poured
out on Ihe altar, too, at the same hour, on ihe
same point of the eiisanjuineil held, before
the same sweep of tire and whirlwind of bat
tle, foil another sauiifice humbler, but nol the
lessi acceptable to the genius of our alorious
falher-land we mean him who has figured
in this sketch as "good-ualured Bill Buffum."
He was always ihe inseparable companion of
Col. Yell. He carried a standard through lhat
storm of sleel and lead. He was cut in two
by a cannon-shot, and the colois of his vnun
try droPped over him like a shroud. Poor
pill ! he shall laugh or weep now nevermore
till the lastmurmingl Glorious Bill f he died
near his idolized friend, and the banner of
thirty staia was b.i winding thect !
OLD 8ERIES VOL. 1 1, NO. 3.
OftlGlrUL AKDTRVat ,
Mr. Franklin A, who was a gentleman
of good qualities ,! infinite good humor,
useif with much pleasantry to relate the fol
lowing anecdote as having ocenrred to-himself
when a young man. A young lady in
the neighborhood had won hisatfeetions. and
he had commenced payi,,R bis addiesaes.
During the courtship he someiimes supped
with the lady's family, when he ws. always
regaled with a homely disb of mush and .
milk, and being of a serious torn was gen
erally invited lo say grace over the meal.
The supper did nol taste amiss, as the family ,
of tbe fair one was in moderate circumstan
ces, and being himself poor, he admired such
domestic economy ; besides, he was satisfied
provided he could gain his rail dulcinea.
The course of trim love,' it is said, 'never
runs smooth,' nnd Frank chanced to have a
rival much richer than himself. One even
ing when ho was visit ing his charmer, after,
the board had been spared wiih the frugal
meal of mush and milk, but before the fami
ly had l.-iken their seals at ihe tublu. some
one spied Frank's rival riding up. Immedi
utcly a change came o'er the substantial
meal. As if by magic, the table was cleared
of its load, and naught remained lo tell the
tale but the clean white cloth. In the course
of a short time, however, the table was again
furnished, not as before, but with the suitable
appendages for making tea, and with warm
bread, such as is hastily baked, and in com
mon ,called "short cake." When all was
ready, as was the custom, brother A was
invited to say grace, who with due solemnity,
hands folded and eyea closed, pronounced
the following impromptu benediction :
"The lord be praised,
How Pin amazed
To sec how thing, have mended ;
Ilere'a aliurt cake and tua,
For supper 1 see,
When mush and milk wa intended."
It is almost unnecessary to add, that sfter
this grace, Frank never returned to woo his
lady love, but ha left her to the undisturbed
possession of his mote fortunate rival.
A SWAHM OF BEES WORTH HAVIXG.
B patient, B prayerful, B humble, B mild,
B wise as a Solon, B meek as a child;
B studious, B thoughtful, B loving, B kind ;
B sure you make matter subservient to
mind.
B cautious, B prudent. B trustful, B true,
B coruleons lo all men, B friendly with
few. .
B temperate in argument, pleasure and
wine,
B careful of conduct, of money, of lime.
B cheerful, li grateful, 11 hopeful, B firm,
13 peaceful, benevolent, willing to learn;
I? courageous. B gentle, B liberal, B just,
B aspiring, B humble, hctause thou art
dust ; " "
B penitent, circumspect, sound in the faith,
B active, devoted; B faithful till death.
B honest, B holy, transparent and pure;
B dependent, B Christ-like, and you'll B se
cure. Tarring and Feathering in South Caro
lina. At Yoikville, S. C, on the 16th, Jack
son Averts was taken in custody, tarred and
feathered, rode on a rail, and ordered to leave
the State, with an intimation lhat if found
within its borders again he would be hung.
His offence was disobedience to an order here,
tofore issued by a ;oommittee of vigilence,"
that he should leave the State some aboli
tion declarations which he had made having
been offensive to the citizens,
Hiram Poweks, the American sculptor, has
completed a grand ullegoiical figure of his
country. The statue, a female, has a diadem
beneath her feet, and in her hand a cap of
liberty. The figure finds her support on the
fasces indicative, it is said, of the fact
that justice is the foundation of a free Com
monwealth. The destination of the statue
is reported to be Washington.
A Vein of Black Lead has recently been
discovered on the line of the Housatonie Kail
road, in Connecticut. It is estimated that ihe
mine, if it may be so considered, will yield
from two to three tons of lead per day, worth
SSO to Si 50 per ton, at a cost uT not exceed
ing S10 per ton. '
To Houskkk.kfkks We find the follow
ing useful hints to housekeepers in a pam
phlet issued by Mr. Geo. J. Ilenkles, pro
prietor of the fine furniture establishment,
173 ChesHUt street :
Directions roa Cleansing and Re-fol.
isuiNC Ft' an itu a a, which apply only to the
best quality, where superior Vatnish is used,
and the grain of the wood is thoroughly filled
up with varnish, rendering it impervious to
water. First, if there is any paint or grease on
the surface, wiih a woolen rag moistened
with spirits of turpentine, rub it gently until
the blemish is removed ; next, with a soft rag
rub the turpentine entirely otf.
Gov. John A. Quitman has called a special
session of the Legislatuie of Mississippi, lo
be convened on the 18ih of November.
New PuTvpaM. A candidate for office) ,-
Michigan thus announces hi platform, : I m,
sir, iu favor of the next war opposed 0 the
cholera in favoi of high salariesopposed,
to uncurrent funds and poor brandy,'
i. i. - , 'V.i,
Tne County Court of Jackson, Miaassui
has directed a popular vole to be lake in,
that county in the month of October,. on, I he
question whether lha Court shall, subacijbe.
SIOOVOOQ to Ihe Pacific Kailroad, on behalf o
ihe count v. " ' ' 1 '
PhiUdelihia; May