The Columbia Democrat. (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, April 06, 1839, Image 2

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    The first drummer began, and taking
"'fee stops forward, applied the lash to the
ooldier's back" one. '
Again he struck" two."
Again, and again, until twenty-fire were
called by the sergeant. . .Then came the sec
ond drummer, and performed his twenty
five. Then came tho third, who -was a
stronger and a more heavy striker than his
coadjutors in office, this drummer brought
the bloou out upon the right shoulder blade,
"which perceiving, he struck lower on the
back; but the surgeon ordered him to strike
again upon the bleeding part. I thought
this was cruel; but learnt after, from the sur
geon himself, that it gave much lees pain
to continue the blows as directed, than to
strikempon the untouched skin.
The poor fellow bore without a word his
flagellation holding his head down upon his
breast, both his arms being extended, and
tied at the wrists above his head. At the
first ten or twelve blows ho never moved
a muscle; but .at the twenty-fifth he clenched
his teeth and cringed a little from tho lash.
During the second twenty-five, tho part
upon which the cord fell became blue, and
appeared 'thickened, for the whole space of
ttie shouiucrblade ana centre ol the back,
and before the fiftieth blow was struck, we
could hear a smothered groan from the
joor sufferer, evidently caused by his efforts
to stifle the natural exclamations of acute
pain. The third striker as I said, brought
the blood; it oozed from the swoollcn skin
and moistened the cords, which opened its
way from the veins. The colonel directed
a look at the drummer, which augured .no
thing advantageous to his interests; and on
the fifthof his twenty-five, cried out to him,
"halt sir! you know as much about using
the 'cat' as you do of your sticks.'" Then
addressing the adjutant, he said, "send that
fellow away to drill; tell t'.ie drum-major to
Tjivc him two hours additional practice with
the sticks every day for a week in order lo
bring his hand into a proper movement."
Tho drummer slunk, away at the order of
me adjutant, and one ot the Others took up
the 'cat.' The colonel now looked at the
surgeon, and I could perceive a slight nod
pass in recognition of something previously
arranged between them. This was evi
dently the case, for the latter instantly went
-over to the punished man, and having ask
ed him a question or two, proceeded for
mally to the colonel, and stated something
in a low voice, upon which the drummers
were ordered to take the man down. This
was accordingly done; and when about to
be removed to the regiment hospital, the
colonel addressed him thus: "Your pun
ishment, sir, is at end, you may thank the
surgeon's opinion for being taken down so
soon." (Every one knew this was only a
pretext.) I have only to observe to you,
that as you have always previous to this
fault been a good man. 1 would recora
.mend you to conduct yourself wcll for the
ifulure, and I promise to hold your promo
tion open to you as before."
The poor fellow replied that he would
do so, and then burst intd tears, which he
'Strove in vain to hide.
Wonder not the hard cheek of a soldier
was thus moistened by a tear; the heart was
within his bosom, and these tears came
from it. The lash could not force one from
his burning eyelid : but the word of kind
ness, the breath of tender feeling from his
respected colonel, dissolved the stern sol
dier to the grateful and contrite penitent."
HINTS FOR APRIL.
During the present month, farmers should
flndeavor as much as possible to get their
land into the best condition for planting,
(or on this will depend in a measure the
success of the crop.
No pains should be spared to apply ma
nure copiously to corn and potatoe crops
the product will abundantly repay the labor.
To the smaller grain crops, as for instance,
oats and bailey, manure should not com
monly be applied, as tho benefits in such
cases may pot overbalance the injury.
Wheat, which has been injured by the
beavmg of the frost, has m somo cases been
greatly benefitted by passing a roller over
it, thus pressing the roots again into the
earth.
New meadows should be rblled in the
spring.to render the surface smooth for mow
ing. Plaster, to be beneficial in tin
tent, Bhould be sown on meadows early in
spring.
Green sward, in order to be turned over
neatly should have the furrow slices one
half wider than thick.
Seed., barley, by being limed and rolled
tn . I 1 f -
iu jjnaici, nua jirouuceu crops irepr iron,
smut in consequence of this operation', and
yielded larger' products.
int. i .. . i . . - .
i no planting oi locust trees lot timber
should be more attended to. The seeds
when sown, should be previously scalded
by pouring hot water on them and suffer
ing it (o dtand several hoprs the swollen
ones should then be planted, and the others
re-scalded;.
Stocks of peach and pther fruit trees,
should now be cnt and trimmed. Every
bud should be removed except the one in
tended to grow.
The soil round fruit trceshich do not
stand in cultivated ground should be spaded
for two or three feet on each side. This
is absolutely necessary for young trees.
The roots of peacji trees should be ex
amined for the purpose of removing all the
worms which may have eaten in the bark,
and all the holes which appear should be
searched to their termination, that the worm
way not escape,
Wo wish again to urge upon fanners tlic
great benefit to bo (.Wived from tho culture
of root crops tho amount of cattlo food
thus obtained is the too much overlooked.
By good culture, many hundred, bushels
may be safely calculated on xcceding ma
nay limes in value a good crop of hay from
the samo quantity or land. Drilling, in
stead of sowing the seed, greatly lessens
the labor of hoeing. Gen. Far.
From the Now York Evening Post
LATER FROM EUROPE.
Th packet ship North America, Captain
Lowlier, has arrived bringing Livorpool pa
pers of the 7lh ult., and London of the Glh,
ouc day later than was brought by the steam
er Liverpool.
Tho address to the Queen, moved in the
House of Commons by Mr. Butler, was
carried by 420 votes to 80 majority 340.
In the debate on the address in answer
to the Queen's speech, the Duke of Wel
lington said that he was grateful to see that
the speech contained a declaration on the
part of the Queen to maintain her sovereign
ty in the provinces in N. America, but that
ho could wish that the efforts to carry this
intention into effect had corresponded with
this declaration.
He said that the insurrection was a trifling
one, confined to one part of the country.
It was, however, accompanied with an in
vasion from the neighboring parts of the U.
Stales. There was no provocation for this
invasion, except that the Queen's subjects
were loyal and obedient.
The system of private war which pre
vails on that frontier, says tho Duke, is un
known to any other part of the world. It
was a system of warfare confined to barba
rian nations. He hoped that parliauiet
would look further into tho subject; for it
appeared to him eminently necessary that
some measure should be taken to induce the
Government. of the United States to put in
to operation some effectual steps for the
suppression of these outrageous proceed
ings. Hear, Hear !
The Duke expressed his conviction that
if some steps were not taken to prevent it,
the province of Upper Canada would be
treated in the same way that Texas had
been The highest national interests were
involved, he said, in this war, and it
should bo prosecuted on a large scalo of ac
tion. He had no doubt of the intentions of the
President of the United States, but he could
not restrain the expression of his surprise,
when American citizens, armed with canon
belonging to tho United Stales, invaded the
Britisli territory, and he was mid that il
American government could not picvent it.
ue neiu mat ttie civil government of any
country was capable of preventing its citi
zens from engaging in such invasions.
Lord Melbourne said that ke deplored
the state of things on tho British frontier;
yet when the disposition of the various A
merican States to interference with each
other's affairs, and the tendency to private
warfare was considered, it was not greatly
lo be wondered at.
He remarked, however, that he thought
there was no reason lo complain of the
preparations made by the British govern
ment to repel the outrageous attacks made
on its provinces. There was a large regular-establishment,
and a considerable body
of militia powerful enough to laugh to scorn
the attacks of the sympathisers. The na
ture of the country ,"ils extensive lakes, for
ests and morasses, made it impossible to
prevent all sudden incursions. Ho knew
not what stronger measures could bo adopt
ed. He doubted not lhe sincerity of the gov
ernment of the United States, as its wish
to perform the duties of a neutral nation,
but the nature of the country the vast ex
lent of the frontier the comparative wild
ness of those districts and the character of
the government had so many serious diffi
culties in the way of carrying'ihis object in
to effect'
Lord Melbourne concluded with saying
that every representation had been made to
induce the government of the United States
to exert itself to prevent these outrages.
He trusted that these exertions would be
successful, particularly as the invaders had
always been completely discomfitted, and
that an end would be put lo this wild spirit,
which is as dangerous to their neighbors as
it is discreditable lo ihose citizens of the
United Stales. Hear, Hear
Lord Melbourne was followed by Lord
Brougham, who said .that the noble duke
had told us that all the powers of the Eng
lish government in Canada, would not be a
ble to prevent retaliations by ihe people of
Canada on the United Stales.
Were they to be told that all the powers
of tho government which was more solid
ly established and much more vigorous in
its character than hie government of the
United States could be with 12,000 regular
troops, besides a large militia force, even
when backed by the bulk of the people
was unable to do that which Mr. President
Van Buren with every means, and not hav
ing a regular army and a strong militia to
back him was strongly censured for not
doing I
He did not doubt the sincerity of the A
merican President as regarded the English
Government.
Any attack upon the American people or
government, which might subvert the exist
ing relations of the two governments, was
of the utmost importance to both, and in
deed to tho peace and civilization of the
whole world.
Looking, fhercforo, in the one scale of
tho balance nt tho continuance of these pa
cific relations, and of the unbroken harmo
ny that now prevailed, while in tho other
vnn the value of the whole of the Cam,'
dian possessions of the crown, would most
certainly, in his opinion, kick the beam.
Washington. The following analysis
of thecnochs in the life of Vli.
ington, is made out from Spark's Life of
wasingion,' wiuci, has just appeared.
George Washington attended school till
he was sixteen years old. From sixteen tn
nineteen his time was spent in surveying.
part, of the time in a private and part of
tnc nine in a public capacity. From nine
teen to twenty he was absent several months
in the West Indies, witii a sick brother, and
the remainder of the time at home, settling
ins uercascn mother's estate. From twen
ty to twenty-six he was in the French and
Indian war. At twenty -six he was married,
and resided as a private citizen on his cs
state at Mount Vernon, till he was forty
three. At this age he was chosen comman
der in chief of tho American armv. which
station bo held eight years, and retired at
the aec of fifty-one. to Mount Vernon
From fifty-one lo fifty-seven he passed at
f ...... -r : . ..
minim , vi nun, hi agriculture pursuits. At
the ago of fifty seven he was chosen Presi
dent of the United States, which office hp.
held eight years, and retired again to his
lavoruu pursuits at mount Vcinon, at the
ace of sixty-five. Here he resided till his
disease three years. He died at the aire
of sixty-eight.
A clearer idea of his rematkable life will
be obtained by the following
Summary.
At school till 10 years of aee. 16 Years.
Surveying till 19 3
In the" West In
dies and at
homo till 20 4 1
In the French
War till 26 0
At Mount Ver
non till 43 17
In the Army till 61 8
At Mount Vor-
non till 57 0 '
President of the
United State
till 65 8
At Mount Ver
non till 68 3
08 years.
THE VICE
PRESIDENCY.
The name of John Forsyth, of Georgia,
has been presented by the Republican mem
bers ol the Legislature ol that Slate, aa a
candidate for the Vice Presidency, to be tun
w th Mr. Van Buren on the democratic
ticket at the next Presidential Election.
This sketch is evidently from tho pen of
some highly gifted writer, and was origin
ally published in the United Slates Maga
zine and Democratic Review. We have
read this sketch with feelingo of unniingled
admiration at the long consistent, and bril
liant republican career of this accomplished
statesmen. He has been in public, life, and
in the very eye of the nation for thirty
years, and not one single stain rests upon
his political escutcheon.
Ve find him while quite a youth dis
charging, with superior ability, the respon
sible duties of Attorney General of Geor
gia. We find him next in Congress from
1312, the champion of the war under Mr.
Madison, and during a period of the war
chairman of the committee on foreign affairs.
Next we find him elevated to a scat iu the
Senate of the United Slates then appoint
ed by Mr. Monroe Minister to Spain then
again a leading member of Congress then
elected Governor of Georgia then again
in the Senate and finally called by General
Jackson lo th highest office in his cabinet,
a post which he roniimies to hold, with
credit to himselfand honor to the country,
under the present worthy executive, by
whom he has been favored with the strong
est proofs of personal legard and public
confidence. Throughout his whole career,
and in all the high and responsible stations
to which he has been called, we find him
the marked favorite of Georgia, distinguish
ed by the confidence of every democratic
administration that has been in power since
he entered upon the stage of national af
fairs, and the leading and able champion
of democratic principles.
It is conceded that tlic democratic candi
date for the Vice Presidency must be a
southern man; and it is now generally un
derstood that Mr. Speaker Polk will be the
republican candidate for Governor in Ten
nesse, and that Col. Johnson, the present
worthy incumbent, is designed as a candi
date for the same station in Kentucky. We
could wish that the circumstances rendered
it expedient or properly thai one of our own
distinguished citizens our Wilkins, our
Buchanan, out Dallas, or our Muhlenburg
could be put forward for thatexalied trust.
But with a citizen from the north for our
candidate for the post of Vice Presidency,
Ihe south will claim, and will be justly enti
tled to a candidate for the post of Yl'ce
President.
Who then from the south could bo select
ed that would bring to our cause a greater
degree of strength a more brilliant reputa
tion for abilities, for patriotism, and for pub
lic services a more unilorm adherence lo
Jeffersonian doclrinces from the beginning
to Ihe present point in hist public life or
stronger claims upon the grateful .regards of
the friends of Andrew Jackson, than John
Forsyth of Geergji t Cm the republican
party of tho Union ever cense lo retnbmbeif
will they fail tp appreciate tho memora
ble skill and devotion, the constant readi
ness and profound ability, with which,
standing almost ulnne on the floor of tho
Senate, ho defended General Jackson and
his administration against the daily and
hourly assaults of a reckless majority in
that body, who were led on by feelings of
implacable hostility, and prompted by the
goading ef disappointed ambition ? Who
can forget the admirable dexterity, as a par
liamentary tactitian, or the eloquent bold
ness, as a debater, with which ho foiled tho
loaders of that majority in tlieir attempt to
employ the machinery of "panic and press
ure" to breakdown the admiuistionof Gen
eral Jackson!
Fiom the Vincent Chronicle, of Feb. IS,
EARTHQUAKE AT MARTINIQE.
"Anxious of judging from personal ob
servation the extent of damage commiled at
Martinique and St. Lucie, a parly of friends
embarked from Kingstown on tho 28th ult.
and after an agreeable but protracted voyage
bore up for Port (or as it is, croncously, I
suspect, written I-ort) Royal, at 10 o'clock
at night on Wednesday, the 30th.
No living being opposed our progress; no
one greeted our approach. A solitary sen
tinel on the S&vanne merely challenged, as
wfl made our way through tottering streets
and encumbered thorough fares silent as the
grave. Any language of mine is incapable
of doing justice to such a scene of absolute
desolation; of prostrate porticos, dilapidated
mansions, and piles of stone and mortar, el
oquent in ruin.
The next morning and forenoon we re
peated our visit, and yet more in detail wpiU
over the spots so remarkably striking the
previous night; but first impressions retain
ed their force. All the public buildings are
either totally destroyed, or so rent or thrown
down as to be useless. Of 1700 houses
which composed the city, only 18 arc saved,
and singular lo say, these are wooden edifi
ces. Whole lines of streets in the meaner
suburbs wcro entomed with the inmates,
by the falling in of tlic loftier stone dwell
ings in their vicinity. But of all the re
markable spectacles in this accumulation of
horrors, none can vie with that presented
by the arched fragments of the convent
the tattered shreds of the old, and the site
of wliat was tho new hospital.
This splendid building, but recontly com
pleted, which cost $100,000, is entirely
razed lo the earth. Not a alone remains
upon anotner, aim ins eon ot the open
space or yard, in front, is white from the
dust into which it crumbled with its im
prisoned patients, 46 in number, of whom
34 were military. An idea may bo formed
of the impetus of the earthquake iu this
quarter, when I mention that between ten
and twelve feet in front of the base line the
iron railings which ran along It. Adjoined
tticse masses ol shattered planks and strewn
iragincnis, is iiiecemetry or burying ground.
Hither all the killed, after lininir in ihnrnrl In.
frcthcr from different ooints. and ilnnsiioH
in dead carts on la Place d'Armos. anil that
ot dee yuatre XNoirs, were huddled into
two enormous ditches, dug for the occasion,
which were instantly filled ut with tiuick
lime. Some without arms or lesro others
wanting an eye or a nose, women whose
breasts had been torn oil', were plunged in
without distinction of ago, rank or sex; and
isays a rrencn wrner ) as these nasty se
pulchres could not contain the mass of bod
ies which clogged them up ihe assistants
were comnelled to Bnaec. rrnwd. nnrl sinm..
them, a3one packs heriing into abarrel I
iir.ii . i . i i . .. . . .
ucii mignino aouut the evidence of In
senses !
We found it difficult to ascertain Hi
act mortality. Ii would appear that about
900 sufferers were due- out of ihn rnin
and in 500 of these life was extinct. The
others were carried lo the artillery barracks,
fitted up as a temporary hospital, and noth
ing can ue oeiter man the arrangements
there perfected. Amputation was retorted
to in iimcrous instances, but none survived
Ihe operation. Government ir!i in nn.
cenl the extent of the calamity, in order to
reinspire confidence in the colonies but it
minus a loss oi ou deau and about an equal
number wounded. II
ly received by his excellency the Governor,
Adml.de Moges, and conversed with his
aids-de-camp and various respectable indi
viduals, I shall now detail such farther inci
dents as may nrobahlv imtifv
of our fellow, .citizens.
All was acrecd that thic awful
oi iTOViuence was lmnr, Willi m APiir
If instead of happening at 0 o'clock in the
iiiuriiuig, ii nau taucn place a few hours
sooner, not a soul could have escaped, as
the town was buried in sleep but occurrin"
when ihe labouring population had for the
most part repaired lo their wonted occupa
lion, they whose houses first fell, owim
to the superincumbent weight of larger man"
sions, avoided the fate which engulphcd
their residences. Tim irr.mt ri.,ii:..,
-..- c . i.muni in
curred in the streets. whiMi h;,,rr
and built with great strength, were choked
up by tho falling of missiles Sic. .Cases
of individual calamity were related to us
pitiable in the extreme. One gentleman
said that havi'mr none narlv in ilm n..ki;..
C 'J V I' It UK Ly
promenade, he belicltl ihn n-irth
fore him and shut again, while the trees at
ins side nodded like the
plumes.
He bethought him of wife and family;
and ran eagerly back into the town, but his
progress was inpeded by a thick cloud of
lime antf tthes, which nearly blinded him;
ho roachod his domestic hsarth at U, k
fdund all alive ; but an i.iLw. i ' '
been wounded by CmnmT 1 f'tUd, ''
both legs and thftha.KSI I d
expressible agony for lWo t gere d
Which ho incowantly called on
nunate his Bufferings. Entering .ler"
bath td refresh our!elves, Z '
burst into tears, telling na .he effi bm
tend to us, as now she could onlv ' aU
for ason-in-Iaw and stand S mou
timely snatch-od from hge7arm.Chllircn
house officer explaind how be hd"!?m
wica overturned in the street; J ? 0IJ
in several places, but wh SSiJj
rosei tho screams, rrn 1 !le"8lh a4
rv U..a n 'T 7 """"ics termer
shock, his uencved, wero tbB ..."
The vessels bounded as if they had
or, a reef, while a frightful dSS
ed their ears, and then a simulianOOU"S'J
fro,,, the shore. Within the city the eaS
quake u represented as composed of this
shock, and ,ts duration to have extended J
a period of from 40 to 60 seconds, T
first two shocks were accompanied br !
rumbling noise; then came a vibrating L.
lion and opening 0r the earth; next L in
stantaneous thrill and the work of da
miction was complete 1 The direction of
the shocks seen, to have been Iranaerene
A rush was mado for the streets, where .
most every individual was seized with stu
por struck by the falling embers, blinded
by the dust, or choked by unholesome efllu.
via; and it ,s not the delusion of fancy to
s tl'at "f8 0"rlves were sensible of s
still offensive smell among the mini Va
rious phenomena were remarked, as pre
ceding and following- the earthquake
sparks of lire tlirmvn im il,r,,u .t.
j. tuun mo ere- 1
Vices in the earth, the of thunder under feu't.
find irt lit " '
"Twenty millions
sand francs, or more, will be required to r
bild Port Royal, if rebuilt it ever can be;
jircsci u can only be termed a pile of
rent and pendent masonry, propped up by
beams of wood, dangerous to the passers
ii'i I'stPP",ation previous to the fatal
11 th of January, wa3 computed at 12,000
souls. The bulk of the survivors have fled
to the adjoining country, which has also en.
durod its trial. Those who remain aie either
functionaries in public employment, or poor
people, who still cling to the wreck of their
little means. There cannot be a doubt that
tiiB cuy or port owed ,1s destruction to the
alluvial nature of the soil on which it was
erected, since the Fort, situated on an emi
nence, escaped with a slight fissure in ens
of the barracks. Till more permanent pro
vision can be mado for the citizens, they
are encamped under tents upon tho Savan
ne, one of those agreeable public Ioungei
winch the French establish in their coloniei,
as well as in the towns nf itm mmLrM..
try, and which must tend so materially to
uiu uuiuaciiieni ami ncaun ot the people.
On the same spot divino service is now
performed under a canvass covering, but it
appeard to be attended by few male dero
teca. Every tongue is loud in praise of tho
Governor and the heads of department!, far
their incessant zeal.courage, and humanity;
and they have been nobly seconded by tin
military and seamen of the fleet, upwsrd of
1000 of whom landed to dig out the suffer
ers. But for them, slill greater fatality
must have ensued, for the natirc laborer
and slaves were either overcome with ter
ror, or refused to give their services; nay,
it is even added that a conspiracy eiisitd
among the latter to firo the town on the night
of the 10th and 11th; and that one incendi
ary was taken with combustiblo materials
for the purpose. He is supposed to havo
been crushed under the walls of the prii
on. "Efery high wind or brisk shower ef
rain threatens to complete tho annihilation
or Port Royal. In bearing up on Thurs
day evening for St. Pierre, under a heavy
breeze, which at one lime almost betokened
a hurricane, we naturally felt for the unfor
tunates, who were again threatened with a
repetition of their calamities; but up to our
departure on Saturday.no intelligence reach
ed us from this quarter. The inhabitants
do SMOak Of OVCn fl(Wn tlnn'r oirth.
quake to alarm them since the first, bnt
doubtless apprehension goes far to awaken
their fears. St. Pierre has liRcwise suffer
cd, but not to an extent comparable lo tbo
capital. From all accounts there it reason
to beliove. that the enrlhminlrft was fnllv aS
severely felt; jn our own island, as in any
ui uic ncigiiDoring ones and if 1 may b
permitted to appeal to natural causes, s
j .u uckcnpi on, and aWi...
harrowed his feelings. "I kouVh,
his own words, "the day of iS''
arrived." The 6rlt ,llWmaA
.1.
principle one is to be found in the Sevffri-, kM
ere, which must hi-n rirl no cr.iv mvn I AM
or tho escape of the imprisoned inllainnu' i
manor, tne more especially as a strong sul
phuric odour W.1S Hiitrn;iil iKrniinlirwH
tho Charib country some days previous C
the catastropho., Rents in Ihe houses, the
total demolitinn of
dislodged, attest, nevertheless, the violence
.i uk, i iorre, wnicn is oum u
equal solidity with Port Royal." '
Joseph Benton, a revolutionary veteran
in the 108th year of hiu age, recently i
ceived his pension at the county treasurer's
office, PhiladclDhin. TT u5. Kimnnrlml bv
his daughter, a young lady of sixty.
Tho estimated
- ' f.gavqntw uiMi Wl
of Now York, ii laid ai ftirty.eijht million
1