A
'WE CO WHERE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES POINT THE WAY? WHEN THEY CEASE TO LEAD, WE CEASE TO FOLLOW.
BY JOIlxN G. GIVEN.
EBENSBURG, THURSDAY, JULY 4, 1850.
vol. c. ivo. 39.
1
II J I II I I III
iei
hi hi
M I S O E L L A N E O P S.
From the Republican and Argus.
"OLD K E N T U C K."
A True Story. ,
O! Kentucky
The Lantera of Kentucky." Western Song.
Soma years since I left Pittsburg in a
first rate steamer on my way to New Or
leans. I was bound upon a rare trip of
pleasure, and full of health and the excite
ment consequent upon it, and was alive to
every scene around and every character
about me. And the characters upon our
western waters fifteen years ago had more
character in them, just the scenes around
one had more of nature in them than now
inasmuch as art had not displayed as
much of her power there as she has since
a power which, with enlightened laws
and Republican institutions is destined, as
I believe, to make the west the model-land
of the world.
One day, I think it was the day after
we left Pittsburg, we saw a while man with
a black boy beside him, evidently design
ing to take passage, as the boy was waiv
ing with might and main a large handker
chief, on the end of a stick. Impatient
that the steamboat by movements indica
ted no notice on the part of her officers of
the signal aforesaid, the white man took
the stick which proved to be a ramrod from
the hand of the negro and leaning on a ri
fle which he held in his hand, waived it
with a good deal of emphasis in his man
ner, while we could hear his stentorian
voice (it was indeed stentorian to reach us
at that distance) exclaiming:
Hello
Hello,' replied a voice from the upper
deck of our steamer, the Fort Adams.
It's Samson,' exclaimed the Captain,
who was standing on the guards beside a
crowd of us, round to.'
No sooner said than done. As the
boat approached the parties, Samson ex
claimed: Why your are blind as a horse blanket
blind as your boat, I don't stand so low
that you can't see me, do I? I stand six
feet four inches in my stocking feet, and I
waved this handkerchief as many feet over
my head besides.'
Who do you think is looking out for
you,' from the wheelhouse, replied the pi
lot. You're big enough to look out for
yourself, and you're big enough to be a
wag, old fellow but I'd rather see you
on the shore than in the river but I am
keeping a sharp look out ahead here -we
hit a snag somewhere about here last time
hnw would vou like to hire out Uncle
Sam fnra lighthouse a little more liquor
and your face would go without any other
light.'
Ha, Rogers is that you you thief you,
that's a Joe Miller you stole it from old
Falstaff in the play about the chap whose
nose lit him up the hill at night I hope
you don't extend your theveries to other
matters.
It's no old thevery, Kenluck,' replied
Rogers, it's only like the parson's text
which any one has a right to apply
well applied. I draw the inference, old
boy.'
Yes,' replied old Kentuck as he was
called, you'll have a bee line drawed on
you some of these days in consequence of
that tongue of your's, if every body that
knew you didn't know that yours was no
3landei never mind, you'll meet with a
stranger some of these short days, and that
will be like a snag to your boat.'
By this time our yawl had received Old
Kentuck, and I saw the black boy deposite
the traveller's trunk in it, while that indi
vidual deposited a piece of silver in his
hand which glittered like the ivory the
darkie exhibited on the occasion.
Take care of yourself, Pomp, and mind
"what I told you.'
Yes, master Samson, you 'pend pon
me; there's no mistake in this nigger.'
'That's a tall man,' I said to the Cap
tain, as Old Kentuck sprung upon the deck
rifle in hand.
Tall, well, he is, and tall in a good
many ways; he's what we call a case. He's
a pilot going down to New Orleans, to
bring the Emperor up, as he wrote to me.
I've been expecting to find him some
where on the shore here.'
Old Kentuck was soon up stairs, shak.
ing the Captain by the hand in the most
cordial manner. He was certainly a char
acter He wore a pair of pants with enor
mous stripes in them; a most preposterous
pattern; his vest, was of rich silk, of a
gorgeous fashion; while around his neck
he had a neck-cloth black and red, tied in a
curious kind of knot, in whichHie seemed
to pride himself. A loose frock coat, brown
and with a brown velvet collar thrown
back, covered his body while his nead
was adorned with a huge fox-skin cap,
with the tail of Reynard fantastically curl
ed above it. But the face of the stranger
Was certainly attractive. Across the broad
Atlantic of his countenance,' as some one ;
said of Charles James Fox, there played
a continued sunshine of cheerfulness and
good nature; at the same time that his
clear blue eye and the occasional com
pression of his well defined lips showed a
nature that might be waked up to despe.
rate deeds.
'Samson, does that Pomp belong to
you?'
Yes. sir why?'
'I want a hand.'
Well, you can take him, and give me
what's right ha! ha! Capting, do you
know Pomp's father, old Dave?'
Yes.'
Well, the old rascal has turned Mor
mon; he sees sights and has visions, and
talks about another book of Mormon.
He's great on fore knowlege. The other
day Dave comes to me witli the most aw
ful face you ever saw a nigger carry, and
said he wished to speak to me apart. A
part I went with him, and after glancing
around fearfully and with an ominous look,
he said: 'Master, l'se got something of
the highest consekence to tell you.'
What's that Dave.' Why, master, you
don't believe in the book of Mormon and
visions, but my duty to you is neverthe
less my duly.' 'That's good Dave,' I re
plied; there's Christianity in that.' 'Master
there's Mormon in it, and the truth is, I've
had a dream now for the third night in
succession and being as you always have
been, a good master to me, and kind, I
thought that I ought to tell you that accor
ding to them three dreams, dreamed three
nights in succession, I shall die next Satur
day night, and see Joe Smith to a certain
ty.' 'Well, Dave, says I, I am very
much obliged to you seeing that your
end is so near, it's a gratification to me to
know that I have been a good master to
you a great gratification as you are near
your end, and being Dave, as you know,
j-on cost me six hundred dollars, and I
can't afford to lose you as it is agoing to
please the Lord to take you on Sunday. I
shall, the Lord willing, put you in my
pocket in the shape of seven hundred dol
lars next Saturday. Old Bowler will
give that ior you he told me so and
thoagh he is a hard master you can es
cape him lor one da', especially as he
belongs to the church and never' flogs on
Sunday.' '
Whew,' ejaculated the Captain, 'ha,
ha, ha.'
Yes I come it, didn't I Dave called
on me the next morning early he had
been watching to see me come out, think
ing that I might slip over the back way to
Bowlers, and told mc that he had had sev
en dreams that very night, assuring him
that lie should live a very long time, and
that it was very wrong any way to believe
in dreams. Pomp said his daddy was a
fool, the old man overheard, and licked
him for it so Pomp was the fool after
all. What's the news Captain any thing
up stream
Nothing,' replied the Captain.
Any boats up?'
No did you see the Shelby?'
Yes she's just below here in the bend
getting her shaft mended.'
'I'll pass her, then,' said the Captain,
and he proceeded below.
Soon the accelerated speed of our boat
showed that the Captain had ordered a
press of steam, and we were gallantly
dashing through the Ohio, while the hea
vy waves on either side ran rippling to
the shore.
In the bend sure enough we soon dis
covered the Shelby, on board of which
boat it was evident our appearance crea
ted some commotion. It appeared that
she had just finished the repair of her
shaft, and was about leaving as we drew
in sight.
'Ha, ha,' said Old Kentuck leaning on
his rifle, which was as long as he was
tall, she looks like trying if she can beat
you.'
Don't know,' said the Captain, quick
ly. 'They've made big bets on her up at
Pittsburg, and I can't stand everything. I
say Samson I am opposed to racing, but
I can't stand everything.'
Sometimes I won't stand anything re
plied Samson.
Is the Shelby a fast boat,' I enquired
of the Kentuckian. I hope wc shan't
have racing.'
Racing! why don't you like excite
ment , stranger what's life without ex
citement,' replied Old Kentuck, 4a mud
puddle to Niagara. I tell you stranger in
dull times, and when a man don't choose
to take liquor, ana sometimes I don't
choose I go and sleep over the boiler by
way of excitement.
Do you that's a tall rifle,' I -said.
Tall it's just as tall as I am you've
hearn tell of Capt. Scott, who was such a
tall shot, that the coon came down and
give in as soon as he saw him hav'nt
you?'
I have,' replied I, laughing. "
Well, this is the rifle that did it Cap
tain Scott wouldn't have been anything
without the rifle, would he 1 don't say
I ever had a talk with a coon, but I do
say that this here rifle can talk to them,
and I can bring one down from just as big
a distance as he can."
I took the Kentuckian's rifle in my
hand, and after feeling the weight of it,
handed it back to the strauger.
Love me, love my dog!' said he!' 'ha,
ha! I had a hearty laugh to myself the
other day. Them Frenchmen, you don't
think they are civilized, stranger, do you?'
Civilized! why they think themselves
the most civilized nation in the world.'
Well, they're mistaken, that's all it's
counfounded easy for a man or men to
get mistaken in themselves I w?as read
ing the other day how some Frenchmen
tried to blow Napoleon up with what they
called an 'infernal machine.' Bah, it's the
most foolish contrivance I. ever heard of.
It put me in mind of the Irishman who
went to spear a fish with a scythe, and
cut his own head off. Ha, but let them
put me in a fifth or tenth story, and where
I can see his majesty's nose as lie goes by
in his carriage, 1 don't care if fifty horses
are going it at a leap and he behind them
it ain't as fast as a bird on the wingis't,
or worse than a squirrel on the top of a
tree; well just let him show his nose, and
I'd put a bullett between the peepers of
the lord's annointed, certainly.'
Yes, I expect you could.'
'And no mistake no sir, because
Frenchmen teach dancing you call them
civilized, why stranger I've been among
various folks, and the Indians dance more
than the French do. Fire arms is the in
vention of civilization, ain't it.'
Yes, I understand so.'
Well the rifle is the best kindjof fire
arms it's the highest point of civilization
I maintain. Ha! there she comes this
boat can't stand it with the Shelby.'
By this time- all was excitement on
board the Fort Adams. The Shelby was
a larger and faster boat, and she was pres
sing ns hard. I could hear the bar-keeper
call out to the steward for more ice and
as I glanced towards the bar, I observed
a crowd of persons in excited talk, drink
ing; among them was the captain.
Come, let's go on the hurricane deck,'
said Old Kentuck, "and see how matters
look there."
As we entered the cabin to go forward
and ascend to the Ziurricane deck that
way, a number of ladies rushed from their
cabin towards us, exclaiming 'Gentle
men, they are racing; they'll blow us all
up, gentlemen.'
Ifcidies don't be frightened,' said Old
Kentuck, in a manner of exceeding cour
tesy, at the same time taking oft his fox
skin.
'Oh, sir,' exclaimed a beautiful delicate
looking lady to him, in an agony of ter
ror, "don't let them race, I had a brother
and sister lost on the Mozellc'
'Don't be frightened my good lady,
don't be frightened,' rejoined the Kentuck
ian and shaking her hand he proceeded
to the hurricane deck.
The Shelby was 'barking' after us like
a blood hound from the slip. There was
quite an expanse of water in this place,
but as I learned from the Kentuckian,
who was an old pilot and acquainted with
every foot of water in the river, the chan
nel here was very devious and dangerous.
The captain came to the Kentuckian's
side with a flushed cheek and asked:
What do you think of it, Samson?'
'If I had the strength of my namesake'
replied the Kentuckian, 'I'd swim out and
chuck that boat, cargo, passengers and all
ashore as it is, she isto fast for us, and
I always knew it I told you Bob Albert,
the pilot there, has been on a bust this
week past they sent their yawl ashore
this morning, wanting to learn something
about another pilot;" Beattie's sick and I
saw then Albert was tight, he swore you
should noAythem if they blew every
thing upr Vttfu you capting its my opin
ion they. 11 be into us the channel is too
narrow here for them to pass us and
they're got such a head of steam on, and
they are so much bigger than we are, that
if they come against us we are gone.'
Kentuck,' called out Rogers from the
wheel house, just step here a moment
you know the channel better than I do
I wonder what those rascals mean.'
The meaning seemed to be to my eye
a resolve to run us down the smoke as
cended black and sulphury - from her
chimneys, with occasional flashes of vol
canic fire, that showed she h?d all the
steam on possible. He gained on us evi
dently, while the excited crowd on her
hurricane deck and guards repeatedly hur
ried, as by the orders of the mate they
stepped to the centre of the boat to keep
her righted.
The noise they made and their evident
approach, with the fearful trembling of
our boat, for we had all steam on too, so
alarmed the ladies that following impulse
rather than reason, for they would have
been safest perhaps in the cabin, they hur
ried on to the hurricane deck, & the one I )
have before spoken of rushed to Samson,
who was at the wheel, and begged him
not to race any more.
Kentuck,' said Rogers, 'they'll be into
us it's my opinion they mean to run us
down they must be all drnnk there.'
Pretty much so,' replied the Kentucki
an. 'Bob Albert was in for it early this
morning; he's the only pilot on board,
that is Beattie is down with the fever
mighty low Bob hates your Captain
here, and when he's tight he's perfectly
crazv.'
'We shall all be lost we shall all be
lost,' exclaimed the young lady. 'O h!
Mr. Old Kentucky save us.'
'Old Kentucky will do that my dear
young lady if he has to shoot the rascal
at the wheel; they're bent on running us
down self preservation is the first law of
nature if two men are grappling for the
same plank at sea, which will hold but
one, each has the right to push the other
off if he can that's the law I'm told, tho'
I never thought it exactly fair, especially
if the weaker man had got the plank first
however, if these fellows run into us it
will be a clear case of murder, and they
are hardly six lengths off. Hang it, these
boats bark so that 3-011 can hardly hear
yourself talk. Hallow there, what are
you after look out. Here Rogers you
taXe the wheel a moment, and hand me
my rifle you see it's necessity.'
'Don't kill him,' exclaimed Rogers,
nevertheless complying with his request.
Kill him, no, but I'll just break that
right arm of his between the wrist and
elbow, the first time he shows it fairly.'
So saying the Kentuckian deliberately
lifted his rifle to his shoulder. We all
felt our danger too much to interfere or
say a word. In a moment more the sharp
report of a rifle was heard. All eyes were
fixed upon the pilot of the Shelby. In an
instant his arm fell lifeless to his side, and
the Shelby uncontrolled rushed on to a
shallow bar just beside her, and in another
moment was fast aground.
Iau:at(iiic.
We find the following eloquent passage
in a speech delivered by M. de Lamak
tixe, during the recent discussion of the
Electoral Law, in the Legislative Assem
bly of France. Were M. de Lamartixk
as great a statesman as he is orator and
poet, he might, indeed, have been the
founder of a new order of things in
France. The passage, which we have
translated, is towards the close, and ex
presses most beautifully the only means
by which the agitation which now reigns
in France can be brought to a close:
"I would wish," says the orator, "tlmt
the first Government founded in our coun
try, on universal suffrage, might be faith
ful to its origin, and that far from blush
ing at its origin, it might not destroy in
the hands of those who have invested it
with power, the right by which alone it
exists. I would wish that the Govern
ment might remain faithful, simply and
scrupulously faithful to its origin and to
the duties which have been assigned to it;
that it might pursue, peacefully, legally,
constitutionally the career, be it long or
short, which the constitution has prescri
bed for it. Such would be, in my opin
ion, the best remedy for all our agitations.
I would wish, that instead of gazing con
stantly itself and burning the eyes of the
people at a cloudy and consequently sus
picious horizon, I would wish that Gov
ernment, the majority, the conservative
party and the journals which are support
ed by them, instead of continually fixing
their eyes on the Tuilleries, might turn
them more frequently to that modest
dwelling of Washington, that Mount Ver
non, where the first President of the
American Republic, repelled all the offers
of increase of power, of decimation of the
power of the people, or of an illegal pro
longation of his own, with which impru
dent friends, like you. were constantly
templing him and where, instead of pre
carious power, he obtained liberty for a
whole world and immortality for his own
name."
Jin Irishman'1 s Description of a Snap
ping Turtle. "And what's the mater
now, Patrick." Faith, and Hi not be dig
ging in that ditch no more Captain.
There ain't in Ireland and no where else
the hk o' waht I saw in the ditch, I'm
thinking'; the crature had a kiver on his
back, and when he ran out his head he
swallowes it directly, and when he walk
ed he crawled straight on his belly."
A publisher out west stopped sending
his newspaper to a subscriber who had
never paid the first cent for his susbcrip
tion. The wife of the delinquent met
the publisher and threatened him with
the terrors of the law, insomuch as he
was bound to send the paper until all ar
rearages were paid-
Novel and Ingenious Clock.
Mr. John Geldard, of Pawtucket, R.I.
has invented a piece of mechanism, capa
ble of being attached to any common clock
by which it is set in motion at any re
quired time. The machinery is made to
operate upon three automatic figures, rep
resenting negroes, who perform their res
spective duties with a tact and promptness
at once amusing and interesting. As soon
as the appointed time, as indicated by the
clock, arrives, the first of three "gentlemen
ob color" rings a bell with so much force
and for so long a lime, as to awaken the
family from the soundest sleep indeed
he wJio should sleep through the alarm
thus made, would not be very likely to be
aroused by a respectable peal of thunder.
Whilst darkie No. 1, (who is known by
the soubriquet of Sambo,) tugs at the bell
with a hearty will, Jumbo lights a lamp
from a match, which he ignites by draw
ing across a piece of sand paper. No
sooner is the lamp lighted thanPetc is at
work. This gentleman most dexterously
ignites a torch at the lamp, and communi
cates the flames thereof to the fuel pre
pared over night, in the stove.
So complete arc all the varied arrange
ments, and so perfect is the mechanism of
the whole, that no possible risk of fire is
at any time present; indeed the tact dis
played by the "little darkies" would do no
discredit to help possessed of human intel
ligence. It will hence be seen that whilst
its inventor is dressing, his automatic aids
light a lamp and kindle a fire in his stove
services of no small value on a cold
winter's morning. Nor is this all; Mr.
G. and his family may leave home in the
morning, and upon rctarning at night may
find his stove warm, his kettle boiling and
a lamp lighted, and all those services per
formed without interference on the part of
those to whom they are entrusted, nor do
they ever fail in their respective duties,
for they are always at their post when re
quired, advantages not always found where
human help is employed.
Mr. Geldard is a self made mechanic,
and gives evidence of a clear constructive
brain. He is at present the Overseer of
the Weaving Department in Walcolt Sz
Co.'s Mill, Pawtucket, Mass.
Making Anger Holes with a Gimlet-
My boy what are you doing with that
gimlet?' said I to a flaxen haired urchin,
who was laboring with all his might at a
piece of board before him.
Trying to make anauger hole,' was the
reply without raising his eyes.
Precisely the business of at least two
thirds of the world making autrer-holes
with a gimlet.
Iloro io j'ouo A., who lino juo escaped
from a clerk's desk behind the counter.
He sports a moustache, his imperial, car
ries a rattan, drinks champaign, talks big
about profits of banking or shaving notes.
He thinks he is really a great man; but
every body around him sees that he is on
ly making auger- holes with a gimlet.'
Miss C. is a nice pretty girl, and might
be very useful, too, for she has intelligence
but she must be the ton goes to plays,
lounges on sofas, keeps her bed till near
noon, imagines that she is a belle, disdains
labor, forgets or tries to, that her father
was a mechanic and all for what? Why
she is trying to work herself into Tthe be
lief that an auger-hole can be made with
a gimlet.
It may be well for every one who reads
the above to consider whether he is not
making auger holes with a gimlet.
J Veil Jlnsiccrcd. "Did you see a dog
pass this way, about an hour, or an hour
and a half, or two hours ago7' said a would
be wit, to a simple looking sawney whom
he met on the road.
Had he a tail about an inch, or an inch
and a half or two inches long?" said the
other, because if he had, I saw him about
a mile, or a mile and a half, or two miles
up the road.'
Friend,' said the first, leaving him, '1
guess your about a foot, or a foot and a
half or two fecet into me.'
Xew Creed. Blessed are they that are
blind, for they shall notsee ghosts. Blessed
arc they that are deaf, for thev never need
Jend any money, nor listen to tedious sto
ries. Blessed is she that would get mar
ried, but cannot, for the consolation of the
gospel is hers. Blessed are they that ex
pect nothing, for they shall not be disap
pointed. Blessed are they that do not
advertise, for they shall rarely be troubled
with customers.
The Schoolmaster Abroad: The G rcen
field Democrat says, the following verba
turn ct lite ralum, was sent to the presi
dent judge of a court in that county re
cently: to the Honable cort
Sir 3 011 juris canter Grcc.
fouruian.
From the Copper Country.
The steamer Franklin came down to
Detroit from the Saut on the 10th inst.,
with a fair load of passengers and freight.
She had on board -109 bbls of fish and ?
considerable quantity of copper ore, most
of it in bbls and casks, with a few hoavy
masses. The ore was from the North
American Cliff, and the Isle Royal Com
panies. The propeller Manhattan was afloat on
Lake Superior when the Franklin left the
Saut.
The Detroit Tribune gathers from the
jaKe superior Journal 01 me dui, me ioi
lowing items of news:
The propeller Independence brought
down on her last trip, 30 tons of Copper
from the North American Mine, 3 tons of
which are masses, the balance barrel and
stamp work. They have out some 1,500
tons of rock, rich in copper, yielding from
12 to 15 per cent, of pure metal; but ow
ing to a want of some necessary materi
als, have not been able to get their wash
ing tables in operations until within a few
weeks.
Considerable feeling is manifested by
the Chippewa Indians, on Lake Superior,
at the order from the Government for
their removal west. They arc holding
Councils, and none of the best feeling is
apparent. Gov. Ramsey is soon expected
among them at Fou c'u Lac, to hold a
council with them.
Orerwfcclmins ArjnmcnL
Dr. Lathrop, in one of his sermons
says. "If it were true that there is no
God, what evidence can the atheist have
that he shall not exist and be miserable
after death? How came he to exist at alP
Whatever was the cause of his existence
here, may.be the cause of his existence
hereafter. Or, if there is no cause, he
may exist without a cause in another
state, as well as in this. And if his cor
rupt heart and abominable works make
him so unhappy here, that he would rath
er be annihilated than to run the hazard
of a future existence, what hinders but ho
may be unhappy forever? The man then,
is a fool, who wishes there was no God,
hoping thus to be secure from future mis
ery, for, admitting there is no God, still
he may exist hereafter as well as here; if
he does exist, his corruption and vices
may render him miserable eternally, as
well as for the present."
CSOnly silly people make their mis
fortunes the theme of conversation.
Groans and complaints are the worst pos
sible staple of social intercourse. Sympathy-fishers,
who bait their hooks with
pvi1 pact or ;icuraoic, seiatm enjoy even
a nibble. If you go hunting, let it be for
smiles.
It is not so easy a task to write . r a
news paper as people suppose. A man
maybe a good scholar, a profound think
er,a vigilant observer of passing events,
without being able to write for a news
paper. The power of writing a leading
article for a newspaper is a tact which
few possess, and which we have knovvir
many, with all their learning snd di!i
gence, unable to acquire. It requires :i
very large amount of information on a
variety of subjects, and a readiness cf ap
plication that must never be at fa'ilt, or
the writer will fail. For, remember, the
editor is always writing against time,
and the inexorable priMer must have his
copy, so thatther is no time to revise and
amend; tut as slip a!ter sup is written,
the 'devil' snatches it away, and cue
half is usually set up in print before the
other half is written. This exacts a de
cision of thought and a facil'ity ofwriting
which, like poetry, seems rather a gift ct
nature than acquired facility.
So AVc Go.
The American Mechanicc, published
at Poughkeepesie, Mc., justly remaks:
A man growls at paying a shilling
for a loaf ct bread thinking he ought to
get it for eleven pence, & the same evening
takes his family to witness the feats of a
magician, for the purpose of being hum
bugged, knowingthey willbe humbugged;
and willingly pays a dollar for the privi
lege! A nother is too poor to pay tor a
newspaper, but can spend a levy cr a
quarter, for every poppet sI:ovv or cthei
foolish exhibition that travels the county,
and not miss it. Another is too poor to
pay a few dollars, but can attend cencerts
and negro performances that come along.
Another wants a mechanic to work lor
nine and six-pence, when he demands
ten shillings and watches him to see thai
he labors faithfully, and the next day
hires a hoise and wcgon, at the expense
of two dollars, to travel ten miles to see a
horse race. Another "beats down" an
old woman a j enny on a bunch of radi
shes, and before getting home spends
two or three thil!in" in treating his
-. w