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Uij Request.
ItKMARKS OF Mil. PESNIJUS,
OF PIllLADKLPHIA COUKTV.
In the Senate, on the proviso to a bill repealing
the retrospective operation of the Act passed
at the session of 1842, "Abolishing Imprison
ment for Debt."
Mr. Speaker I may not be very well quali
fied to discuss the merits of this bill, for its de
tails belong peculiarly to the lawyers upon this
floor ; but there tire certain general principles
connected with it which oilcan understand. If
the proviso is retained in the bill, the act of
lSVi, abolishing imprisonment for debt, will be
repealed so far as relates to debts contracted be
fore the passage of that net. This is the sim
ple question. The policy of our laws should
'ilodiit'loss be to afford creditors ample means to
collect their debts; but, sir, wc should remem
ber that debtors have rights as well as creditors ;
that there is a point where their rights censp,
and the rights ol debtors commence. It is im
possible to enact n law which cannot be avoided
'by 'thc'orafty and cunning, and Senators should
recollect that under 'the old law frauds were
practiced contmuully fictitious assignments
were made daily. A large number of those
persons who availed themselves, of the insolvent
laws, withheld property which belonged to hon
est creditors, llow was this to be avoided
'The law abolishing imprisonment for debt, I
nm conscious requires amendment ; nor is this
a very remarkable circumstance. An act which
changes the whole policy of remedies enforc
ing contracts, must necessarily be imperfect.
Decisions must he made bv the Courts, and
different opinions will be entertained upon the
eame subject by the several courts ; time must
therefore be had to test those opinions before
the highest judicial 'tribunal. You will rccol
dect, sir that it was on my motion the whole
subject -was -referred to the Judiciary Commit
tee tin order that it might be revised and its
5jrrirs 'corrected.
The Sonar from Erie, (Mr. Rabbitt.) has
ncry properly -said the question as now present
ed is a wry diflormrtone from that, which was
presented at the time the act of was pass
ed. I fully 'Concur in that sentiment. The
wrong, if any has 'been commitied, to repeal
its retrospective effect now, will be adding in
jury to misfortune, to place some unfortunate
debtor again iut'ho power of a -creditor to in
carcerate his body within the gloomy walls of
a prison. Why should we restore a law which
places any man's personal freedom in the pow
er of his fellow man! Ilis debts cannot be tlius
paid, and the present laws afford ample reme
dy against any el editor who has property.
Why go farther than this ! Why recede from
the enlighteud position taken by the Legisla
ture of l'S-IU ! Why restore this last relic of
a barbarous age ! The Senator from the city
Mr. Cnibh informed the Senate that he arc',
from a sick bed and went into the llom.c, of
which he was a member, to vole against the
passage of the bill of IS42. lie felt himself he
enid, constrained to this course, because he was
bo well satisfied of its injurious effects. I ftec
ly admit that the Senator will do nothing which
his judgment and conscience does not approve.
Put, sir, I do not envy the Senatfr his feel
ings in rising from a "sir A' bc(V to cast his vote
against a bill which was to open the prison
fcouso to the unfortunate, end restore to fami
lies, hut-bands and faiherts a bill which was to
close up the dnnjeon's cell against the poor
man. Nor shall I envy the Senator his feel
ings inn more solemn hour, which will surely
come, the reflections w hich will cross his mind
in consequence of that act. The consolation
which it will afford, may be sufficient to carry
him through that dreadful scene ; but I had ra
ther look to deeds of phiUnthrophy and benevo
lence, to the amelioration of human suffering,
to sustain and support them. The Senator
any a the passage of the net was received with
one universal burst of indignation by the peo
ple, and that he has seen but two or three con
stituents, since its passage, who approved it.
My constituents live in close proximity with
those of the Senator from the city, and my ob
. servation has been the very reverse of thut
which he has stated. I would much rather a
dopt the sentiment expressed by the Senator
from Lancaster, Mr. Champneys.Jthat the pas
sage of that act was hailed with ehouta of ex
ultation. Certainly it waa by the benevolent
nd the philanthrophic. Among my own con
stituenU I have heard some complaints against
the law of 1842; but eo far as I have hid per
sonal intercourse, I have experienced but little
difficulty in satisfying most of them of iu utility.
The act was passed at an unfortunate period.
The business of the country was par-'iyzed
the currency in inexplicable cellfuejon Ubor
found but Utile employment, nd industry but a
scanty reward. Thq whole community was
' ' embarrassed , small dealera found it difficult to
collect their debts, and this was the experience
of every man 5 it was therefore easy to attribute
the cause to the passage of that act. There
eoid. notwithstanding, have been as much
UNBTOY AMEBICAN.
AND SHAMOKIN JOURNAL:
Absolute acquiescence in the decisions of the majority, the vital principle of Republics, fiam which there is no appeal but to force, the vital principle and immediate parent of despotism .Tarrtaso.
My Masscr & Elsely.
Sunbury, Northumberland Co. Pa. Saturday, Iay 18, 1841.
t'ol. 4 o. 3 lITbole !Vo, ioq.
difficulty in collecting debts without the law
as with it. This seems to be the common
sense of the ense. The power to imprisons
man does not necessarily imply a positive pow
er to collect a debt. The distress and misery
of the people will be prolonged by giving iron
hearted creditors power of inflicting torture on
their fellow men. Hut this will not pay debts;
noT reflect very great honor upon the communi
ty. Mr. Speaker, I desire to place this question
before the Senate in its true position. I deny
tho right of this Government to imprison its
citizens, unless they commit crimes. Fraudu
lent insolvency should bo severely punished,
because deception is practised a false reputa
tion is made, and property which belong to o
thers, withheld. Uut shull honest insolvency
share no better fate 1 Shall the thousand casu
alties which men are liable to events over
which they have no control, subject them to the
same puishmcnt as the man who makes a fraud
ulent assignment ! Certainly not. I know
that imprisonment for debt has been tolerated
in till the Stutes of this Union for a long series
of years; hut I know too that the genitu of the
nge revolts nt the horrible practice, humanity
weeps over it ; civilization and Christianity re
monstrate against it, and plead for its abandon
ment. Formerly the fire and the faggot were
used as instruments of torture by Clovcrnments,
hut that day is past We look back upon those
nets of cruelty, as belonging to a past age. As
civilization progresses, Governments find that
torturing their citizens is not the best way to
n-ovorn tliem. Christianity, which spreads her
benign influence around and about us, cries a
loud against such barbarity. The Senator from
Washington Mr. Craig has given the most ex
traordinary reason why imprisonment for debt
should be continued. He says Washington
county con'.ains two colleges, where a large
number of young men are brought together
from till parts of the country,- for the purpose of
education. These young men get in debt to
sundry pood people in Washington, and refuse
to pay them, which he denominates a very "im
moral practice," therefore it is necessary to
imprison them in order that they may be taught
"morality." These young gentleman should
certainly pay their debts; but if the people of
Washington hold out inducements for them
to come there and then trust them with their
properity, they ought not to have the privilege
of imprisoning them upon the principle of "mo
rality." There can be but little morality in
this. I hold in my hand tho 2d Vol. House
Journal, 1832-3, in which I find a very inter
esting report on the condition of the debtor's
apartment of the Arch street Prison, in the city
and county of Philadelphia. The report was
drawn by Mr. Gibbons, who represented in part
the county uf Philadelphia, and I regret that
I have not the pleasure of his acquaintance. He
says, ''he, whose misery induces him to contract
a debt of a few cents, has no appeal or stay of
execution ii dragged from his work without
time or opportunity to advise his family of his
confinement he is prevented from obtaining
the means of discharging' his debts by his labor
and leaves the prison in a state of great des
titution, and with his moral feelings more de
praved than whrn he entered." In the lan
guage of on intelligent prisoner, the jail, as
now organized, is a "direct manujactory for
rogues." Here is a voice from tho debtors a
partmeut, and it speaks trumpet tongued a "Ji
reel Manufactory for rag um" and not a tem
ple were morality is taught. Some Senators
assert that but few or no persons were imprison
ed under the old law. This, sir, I question.
The cold bund of tyranny is never satisfied so
long as it has power to exercise. While the
bill was pending before the Senate iu 1842, I
received a letter from the prisoners confined in
the debtors' apartment ofthe county prison, urg
ing mo to vote for the bill, which I did most
cheerfully. Thin letter, if 1 recollect right,
was signed by 30 or forty persons.
In order lo pluce beyond dispute the fact, that
a large number of persons were annually im
prisoned under the old law, I beg leave to read
some passages from the report already referred
to, which will present the subject in a much
stronger light than any thing I can say. '
"From an abstract of cases of imrisonnnnt
on executions for debts under olie wV'iar, uken
from the prison records of the debtors depart
ment, in the city and county cf Philadelphia,
between the 1st of M",y and the 24lh of Sep
tember, 1&30, it "ippeire that the total amount
of debts, in forty such cases, wss $23 46J. up
on whcn the costs were $70 20 making a
Aal of debts and costs $03 60J. Among these
were debts of 2, 19, 25 and 37J cental Such
persona are generally brought to prison in a
state of great deatitution and misery in rags
and wretchedness.1 Yes, sir, the whole sys
tem is one of "rags and wretchedness," of mis
ery and woe. The whole system is founded on
injustice, and is at war with the alienable rights
of man. Here is a system which imprisons
men for a less mm than one dollar, and in five
months forty audi cases occurred in 1S30. What
a noble system ! How high the aspirations of
those who advocate this monstrous doctrine.
Imprisoning a man for two cents! I Patriot
ism weeps over tho degenerary of the times
which sustains euch iniquity, and philanthropy
veils her face and retires from the field in de
spair. A human body containing nn immortal
spirit, to be imprisoned for two cents ! ! Who
could believe it! Yet tho records of the Le
gislature establish the fact. It is no excuse for
this pystcm to say that these things seldom or
ever happen. As long as power exists, bad men
will be found to exercise and abuse it.
Let me now turn the attention of the Senate
to another class of cases to debts un.ier forty
shillings, or $o 3:JJ. The same report says:
"from the 1st December, 1829, until the 1st of
December, 1S30, the imprisonments for debts
under $3 33, in the jail ofthe city bihI coun
ty of Philadelphia, being without stay of exe
cution, were as follows : Number of cases, four
nunoreu wu tinny two ; total numiier ot clays
in confinement, three thousand three hundred
and twenty-two; total amount of debts,
13; costs imposed nn the above cases S31 52.
Of these, 3G1 cases wero discharged by various
processes without satisfying the creditors. It
appears then that the payment ofthe sums due
is defeated by the rigorous enforcement of the
ultimate process for recovery. Of the four
hundred and thirty-two cases, but sixty eight
ever paid the creditors a cent, ond the total a
mount altogether paid, was the small sum of
$160 08 after the prisoners who paid, had
suffered two hundred and fourteen days of con
finement in idleness." Here is a picture w hich
presents the details ofthe system in its true
light, l our hundred and thirty two persons
imprisoned in one year; for sums less than
forty shillings, or an average of $3 41 each
one five cent loaf of bread daily, from the coun
ty, and have each the use of two blankets, some
of which are not of sufficient length. It is the
design that the lnaf of bread should weigh one
and a half pounds hut it is often deficient;
they do not bake it in the debtors apartment,
but buy five cent loaves of wheat bread from
the bakers. The poorer debtors have nothing,
bu laic, hut bread and water, and the blankets
a room and fire. Those in good circumstan
ces, or who have friends, are supplied with the
neccssaiics of life, with beds and others, whom
they employ in various other menial offices.
The most decent generally mess together, and
the poorest get the remnants ; theme last sleep
upon the floors, and pick up whut they can find
about tho prison.
The prisoners cook and wah tor themselves
or for one another. When they are extremely
wretched and filthy, some nk to assist in en
forcing cleanliness, personal and by clothing,
may he proper, should the present laws tor im
prisonment be continued.' Sir, who can read
these disgusting details without Tcvolting at
such monstrous cruelty. In whatngedo we live,
or country inhabit, that liumin misery finds no
sympathy 1
We read ofthe horrors of the slave ship-
tho middle passage the unfortunate virtims
crowded together in the hold of the ship the
cry of despair ascending to high henven the
stench the agony the death struggle. Yet
all tliis does not exceed the condition of every
debtors' apaitmenl in every county in the Commonwealth.
I have no patience to discuss the siihieet. If
it is tin; hist vote I ever cast, that Vote ,-lmll b
recorded nain,-T r( vivtng imprisonment fin debt.
fMr.it the vote already taken dirt not pla'oly in
(licnte the t'eeluiL's of llie Senate, I would at
tempt an appeal to the better feelings of our
nature. I would attempt to arouse that sense of
suit. All this is done to collect money ; yet I j jll(itjce in b,,,in,- l( humanity which
find by the record itself, but SloU Wot the
:1,4S8. IS was ever collected. Nor is this all,
the report says from "tho following statement
presented in a memorial to the Legislature of
Pennsylvania, in 1830, exhibits the number of
persons imprisoned in the debtor's apartment in
the city and county of Philadelphia, with the
amount of debt, and how they were discharged,
from November 1st, 1SS0, inclusive.
After this statement is read, I hope we hall
hear no more about imprisonment (or debt be
ing a fiction. The table which I shall now
read, puts that question at res, forever.
w
t- J ti te h- w '
2--. 13 . 3-S-
w P
. 3
3
3
3 n
cr '
r a
. 1
t .
6 5
S - o . - Causes un-
ii 2 2 H dor S3.
j io tn
lie-ioo to o ' i "
u co o o o rf
to air)
R IJ M (Q V C,
5 ,0 ;-
Z.y -J O
S - 40-
S co t, 550.
to v -j
Z -r. w ?100.
1 -I IJ CO L1
tJ T M
$1000.
c rj iy to ,
"8 co S b co total.
I O M CO H CO
QD U0 W w
TERMS OF TIOT! " AlrfTniCAJV."
H. B. MAS8ER; ? Poaustaae avb
JOSEPH EI8ELT. $ Paepanreaa.
IT. rr KinrD cmi. '
Qffies in Centre Allry, in thertar of H. B. .Vat-
ter Worf.
THE a AMERICAN" is mAKsV! everr 8r-
Jy at TWO DOLLARS for annum to be
paid half yearly in advance. No paper dieoemtin-,
ued till a Lt arrearages are paid.
Ne subscriptions received for a less period thnm
six motb. All communications or letters na. .
business relating to the office, lo insure attention.
must be POST PAID.
Nine hundred and forty-five of lhoi.o caes
of imprisonment for debts under ten dollars, are
known to bu among the poor ; and of those on
ly oiin hundred and forty three were enabled to
effect their liberation, on payment of de "0is and
costs, after suffering the pain, punishment, dis
grace, and demoralizing vifccU of idleness and
imprisonment."
Thus weseethst in chree years, three thous
and and one persons have been imprisoned for
debt. What a vast amount of misery and
wr'.tchci'.rtess this must have produced ! h
thcr to be no end to human siiflermj ! In the
progret uf civilization is net the condition of
man ti be bettered 1 Is not the light which
Christianity sheds around us knllicieitt to break
the iron spell of ignorance and despotit m 1 U
there a Senator upon the floor whose heart does
not swell big with indignation, at the continu
ance of this nefarious traffic 1 Three thousand
human beings citizens of this glorious old
Commonwealth, s:nt to prison brcause they
were poor and unable to pay their debts. Shame!
shame ! 1 on Penmylvania, if she desirea to re
vive this system. Again "until there was no
arrangement for a hospital in the debtors apart
ment there are no attendants for the sick no
medicine in the keeper's hands for immediate
relief no additional nourishment, when the
patient becomes convalescent no bedding
nor supplies of clothing, or for washing for
comfort or cleanliness, beyond the aeanty pro
vision of the law. The present debtors receive
tied;' an abiding place in almost every heart.
Look, in a single case, at the silent though
certain cxecutiion of the law. Judgement is
obtained atrauist a debtor, execution is issued
snd the officer makes his appearance in the
mid t of a family. The real estate and valua
ble personal pioperty is already gone and now
the household furniture must go. The mother
looks on in onruisli, and gathers the little ones
around her and presses thein to her bosom as
the only solace left. 1 he mercy ofthe law
here interposes and arrests its farther execution
Such srticles as are necessary for house-keep.
in (f are exempt from execution ; with this a
surance, the countenance of the mother and
children beeiu to brighten up hope which hat
fled returns despair which 6at brooding over
all gives way tie'4 rainlio v of peace is about to
surround the humlilc dwelling, when the ofli
cer airain returns, more ruthless than before
and seizes the body ofthe father of this fimily
i he tew articles of furniture which are left
are tree from execution, while the body of their
owner n; lutila to bu impiisoned. ?Mr, let en
atoit. Iollov me iu their iiiee'iuutiun, nod see
this fellow Ijein put in prison the wife
tears and the children lo distress, look up to
the hu-hiiud and father for fi.l and comlort
I L liable to provide eiUu r. lie is cionel ed to
witness tlieir a'ony wiitiont tinvnji t ;e ie.v
to relieve them. lie leaves liis home m r !
pany with an officer his hetrt heaves nn I
swells at the llioiu,'ht ot leavnu! thoso deir to
him behind, without a protector or the means of
obtaining bread. As lie recedes from his home
h lo iks heli:nd him and away in a distance, fur
as thp eye can reach, he sees his family pazini.'
at him with most intense interest. A tear starts
from his pyp the recollection of other days of
wife and children the happy homeall rush
np'Hi his mind at once, but lie is a victim of the
law's cruelty. He approaches the prmon, the
h'ch walls and bittlements frown upon, as the
keepers open the ponderous door and hn is ush
ered in, the iri'esore pwung back aiiti ntvl
lie it in prison. A thick wall is raised up be
tween him and the world the rays ofthe sun,
as they reflect into tins miserahle abide, mock
ot his calamity, nn ! the Injlit of heaven is insuf
ficient to dispel dio darkness and gloom of hi
narrow apar'.ment. lie trembles at his situa
tion the dpsohtc scene around him his more
doso'nte hearth at homelttan human nature can
jfand with his eyes turned toward heaven, lie
exclaims
"Kilt what is life
Tis not to t.lk abroad and draw frffsh air
From timoto time, or ixi. uimihIio sun :
Tis not t.b I'i'l'. Wh'Mi lilvMy is Kmi",
Life grows insipid, and has lost its relish."
.MILITIA
THE OEOiiwi ri .u
BV MAJOK JON bit.
To Ma Thompson : Dear Sir Jest as
soectcd. out v a tlaiii'lurni sii'lil wurc I You
know I said in my last that we wer gwim; to
have a hattailion muster iu Pincville. Well,
the mu.-tcr has tuck place, and I reckon such
other doins you never hearn of afore.
I come in town the night afore, with my re
gimentals iu a bundle, so they couldn't be si
led by ridin, and as soon aa I got my breakfast,
1 begun rid in out for the muster. I hud a bran
new pair of boots, made jest purpose, with
long legs to 'em, and a shaperdebraw, with one
of the tallest kind of red felhers in it, a blu cloth
regimental cote, all titivated off with gold and
buttons, and a pair ofyeller britches of the fi
nest kind. Well, when I went to put 'em on,
I couldn't help but cuss all the tailors and shoe
makers in Georfit. In tho first place, my
britches like to busted snd wouldn't reachmorc'u
half way to my jacket, then it tuck two nig
gers and a pint of soap to git my boots on , and
my coat had tail cnufffur a bed-quilt, and nieeJ
rite strait out behind like a fan-tail pidgin it
wouldn't hang rite no way you could poll it. I
never was so dratted mad, especially when thar
was no time to fix things, for the felters wer
cotnin in in gangs and beginnin to call for me
to come out and take the command. Eckspec
tutbn was ris considerable high, cause I pledged
to miip myself in uniformity to tho law, if I was
locted Major.
oil, bimcby I went to tho door and told
Dill Skinnerand Tom Cullers to fix their com
pany, and have 'em ready when 1 made my
pearance. Then the fuss commenced. Thar
wasn't but one drum in 'own, ami Bill Skinner
swore that should drum for his company, cause
it longed to that beat; and Tom Cullers aworo
the nigger should drum for Ats company, cause
fie longed to his crowd. Thar was the old
harry to pay, and it was gittin wurse. I didn't
knnw what to do, for they was all comin to me
hoot it, and cussin and shinin and disputin eo I
couldn't hardly hear one from the other. Thinks
I, I must show my thority in this business ; eo
says I, Mn the name of the State of Georgia, I
command the drum to drum for me. I's Majet
of this beta II ion and I's cummander of the mu
sick too !' The thing tuck fust rate ; thar was
no more rumpus bout it, and I sot the niggers a
drummin and fifin as hard as they could split
rite afore the tavern dore.
It was monstrous diffikil to git the men to
fall in; thar haint been one of them deformed
drunkerds down here j it, and tho way tho !el-
lersdoes love peach and hunny is mazin. Bimc
by Dill Skinner tuck a stick and made a long
strate streak in the sand, and then hollered ont,
Oli, yes ! oh, yes1, all you as belongs to Coon-
holler beat is to git in s strate line on this trail!'
Tom Cullers made a streak for bin beat, and the
fellers begun to string themselves along in a
strate line, and in about a quarter of a oweT
they wer all settled like bees on a beanpole,
pretty considerable strate. Artera whilelhey
sent word to me that they was all reddy, and I
had my hnrec fetched up to tother side of the ta
vern ; but when I cum to him tho bnminable
fool didn't know me sum-how, and begun kickin
and prnncin, and cavortin about like mad. I
m 'de the niggers hold him till I got on ; then
I sent word to the drummer to drum like bla
zes as soon as he seed me turn the corner, and
to the men to be reddy to salute. My sword kep
rattlin agin the side of my hors, and the fool
was skeered eo he didn't know which eend he
stood on ; and kep dancing about and squattin
end rarein so I couldn't hardly hold on to him.
The nigger went and told the men what I
sed ; and when I thought they was all reddy,
round I went in a canter, with my sash and re
gimentals fly in and my red fether wavin as
graceful as a corn tossel in a wird wind ; but
jest as I got to the corner ther was a fuss like
heaven and yearth was comin together. Rat
t i !:!' . w her-r-r-r-r! went the drum, and the
! ii'. :-' r tn' ed the fif' rn out strate. till his
eye:. w issnt in liw hed harra ! hey.y-y ! hur
ra ! went all the mjurersand everybody else
my horse wheelin and pitchin wurse than ever,
rite up to tho muster and, fore I could draw my
breth, bang! baiii? ! bang! de bang! bang!
hang ? went every gun in the crowd, and all 1
knowed was, I was whirlin, and pitchen, and
swingin about in the smoke and fire till 1 cum
full length rile smack on the ground, in all the
pride, pomp, and circumstances of glorious war,'
as Mr. Shakspear sea.
Lucky enougli 1 didn't git hurt ; but my cote
was splitclear opto the Coller, my yeller britch
es busted all to flinders, and my shaperdebraw
and fether all knocked into a perfect mush.
Thunder and 1'ghtnin ! thinks I, what must be
man's feelinga in a rale battle, whar they're
sSootin in good yearnest ! Cum to find out, it
was all a mistake; the men didn't know nothing
bout military ticktacks, and thought I ment a
regulur forth of July salute.
I had to lay by my regimentals-but I know'd
my caracter was at stake as a officer, and I tar
mined to go on with the muster. So I told
Skinner and Cullers to git the men strate agin,
and when they waa all in a line I sorted 'em all
out. The fellers what had guns I put in front,
them what had sticks in the rare, and them what
had no shoes, down to the bottum by them
selves, so nobody couldn't tramp on their tose.
A good menny of 'em begun to forgit which
was ther rite hand and which waa ther left ;
and sum of 'em begun to be very diffikil to ma
nre, sol termined to march 'em rite out to a
old fl' ld, whar they couldn't git no more lick
er, specially ken Be 1 was bleeged to wear my
tother clothes.
Well, arter I got 'em all fixed, sea 1, 'Music !
quick time ! by the rite Hank, file left, inarch !'
they stood fer bout a minit lookin at me 'by
flank mar-r-r-ch I' sea I, aa lound as 1 could
holler. Then they begun lookin at one another
and hunchinone another with ther elbows, and
the fust thing I know'd they were all twisted
up in a snarl, goin both ways at both ends, and
all msrehin through other in the middle, in all
sorts of belter fkelter fashion. Mlalt I' sea I,
halt '. wher upon jrcsrtb ia you all f ic
and thar they was all in a had die. They know
ed better, but jest wanted to bother me, I do be
lievo.
Never mind,' ees t, 4enltemen, we'll trf
that rervolution over. So when I cot "em all
strait again, I splained it to 'em and gin 'em
the word so they could nderstand it 'For
ward march V see t, and away they went, not
altogether, but two by two, every feller waiti
til bis turn enm to step, eo fore the barefoot nca
got started, t couldn't hardly see to tother eend
of the betallion. I let em go ahead til we pot
to the old field, and then T tried to stop 'em ; but
I bad 'em in gangs all oveTHhe field in less than
no time. 'Close np f sea T, as load as I could
lioller ; but they only stood and looked at rrv
like they didn't know what I meant. 'Git int
a strait line agm,1 ses I. Thatbrnng 'em all
together, and 1 told 'm to test a while, before t
put 'em throngh the manuel.
Bout this time ont cum a wbole heap of fel
lers with some candidates, and wanted I should
let'om address the betallion. I told 'cm I
didn't care long aa they didn't kick op a row.
Wlt, thremen wer all high up for hearin th
speeches ofthe candidates, and got round 'cm
thick as flies round a fat gourd. Ben An6lcy
he's the popularest candidate down here be
gun to show by gittin on a stump, and takin hie
hat of! rite in the brilin hot son.
Feller-Citizens' ses he, 'I sposo you all know
as how my friends is folched me out to repre
sent this "country in the next legislater I am
posed to counterfit money and shinplasters ; t
am posed to abolition and free niggers, to the,
moras multicaulis aud the Florida war, and all
manner of shecoonery whatsumever. If I's lec
ted yonr respectab'.e representations, I shall got
in for good munny, twenty cents for cotton, and
no taxes, and ehall go for bolishin pri8onm,nfc
for debt and the Central Bank. I hone you'll
all cum np to the polesof the lection, and vota
likea patriot for your very humble servant
Amen."
Then he jumped down and went round eha
kin hands. 'Hurra for Ben Ansley ! Ansley
for ever 1' shouted every teller. 'Down with
the cussed bnnk devil take the 6hinp!aater
ami all the rale-roads I ses Captain Skinner.
Silence for a speech from Squire Pettybon !
'Hurra for Petty bone 1'
Squire Pettybone was a little abort fat man,
what had run afore, and knowed how lo talk to
the boys.
'Friends and fellow-citizens,' ses he, 'I's one
more a candidate for your sufierins, and I want
to splain my sentiments to you. You've jest
beam a great deal bout the Central Bank. I
ain't no bank man I'm posed to all banks but
( is a friend to the pore man, and is always red
dy to stand up for his constitutional rites. Wlicn
the Central Bank put out its munny it w as
good ; but now they want to buy it in for les
nor what its worth ther dets to the bmk, and
they is tryin to put it down, snd make the por
man lose by it. What does ilioyv ant to put
the bank down for, if it ain't to cher t the pore
man who's got r.um of it ! I f I's lecte l, 1 shall
go for making the banks redeem their munny
iit silver and gold, or put every devil of 'em in
to the penitentiary to make nigger shoes. 1 a
hard munny man agin the rich, and if you lect
me that's what I mean to do.'
Then he begun shakin hands all round. 'Hur
ra for Squire Pettybone ! Hurra for the bank
and the veto!' shouted some of the men
Hurra for Ansley 1 d nihe bank !' 'Silence
for Mr. Joheson's speech!' 'Hurra for Harri
son !' 'Hurra for the Vetoe 1' Hurra for Jack
son ! I can lick any veto on the ground V Si
lence V Hurra for Ansley, d n the bank !'
'Whar's them vetos what's agin Ansley let
me at 'em I' 'Fight! fight make a ring 1' make
a ring ! 'wnoop i noiiereu urn oweeney,
I'm the blossom go it shirt-tail !' 'Hit 'en
Sweeny !' 'Tention, Betallion!' ses I, bu'
it want no use they was at it rite in the mid
die and ail round the edges, and I know'd the
quicker I got out ofthatbilin the better for mv
wholsum. Thar they was, up and down, five
or six in a heap, rollin over and crawlin out from
under, bitin and 6cratchin, gougin, kickin an t
cussin, head and heels all through other, non -
of 'em knowin who they hurt or hurt them a' l
the same whether they hit Ansley or veto, th
blossom or Pettybone. The candidates, wer
runnin about pullin and haulin, and tryin thcr
best to stop it ; but you couldn't hear nothin bu.
cussin, snd 'bank and 'veto,' and Met uie a'
'em,' 'I'm your boy,' let go my eyes 1' and aicli
talk for more'n twenty niinits, and then they
only kep 'cm apart by holdin 'em ofT like dog
till they got dun pantin.
It want no use so try to get 'em intoline Sfir
Some of 'em had got manuel exercise enuff, and
was knocked and twisted out of all caracter, an.!
it would be no use to try to put 'em through th
manuel in that situation. Lots of 'em had the
eyes bunged up so they couldn't 'eyes right '
to save 'em, so I turned 'em over to their csp
tains, accord in to law, and ain't sponsible fo
nothin that tuck place after I left. No mop
ftom Your friend, til ik
JOS. JUJ?3.
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