'~l ~,
VOLUME XVII.
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Vortical.
Written for the Journal.
IS FREEDOM DOOMED?
Alas ! for Liberty when Faction rules,
When blind Enthusiasm sways the mind
And, like the blackened tempest bursting forth,
Sweeps the "great Nation" with disorder wild.
Columbia sighs ! O'er Freedom's virgin form
Ruin suspends its glittering sword—angry,
And threatens to avenge her wrongs;—to slay
The injured Goddess that her injurers
May learn, not realize, her real worth.
The Patriot seems concerned. The good, the wise,
The great in groups assemble round her Fano
And, trembling, talk about her end's approach.
But why? Is a nation an ephemera?
Or worse, is Freedom but a frantic spell 7
Bost think her Temple doomed 7 and time itself,
Urged on by Fate, her sorest enemy?—
That nations like the thistle-down will rise—
To float awhile on time's dim atmosphere,—
Through storms and many eddying changes
whirled,
Then sink and take their place with "things
that were."
You point to Sparta and Leonides—
Her King—to limns and Thebes, with crumbling
gates,
.., _
And all the history of the past, and bid
Us learn. Leans what? That 'rime with with-
ering touch
Did Etriko a blow at Freedom's throbbing heart,
That made those star-crowned States a stygiun
Enveloped in the gulf of moral woo?
How so 1 If Rome has tottered to the ground,
And Spartan columns crumbled to the dust,
That owls and dragons find a refuge there,
Could we assert that Time bath done it 4 No.
What read we on the tomb of nations gone?—
'Beneath the lumber of demolished States—
'Deep in the rubbish of the general wreck
'Of things that were, !wire lie proud nations, Kings
'And Lords, who peopling with thlsc gods
'The skies, have sunk in moral darkness.—
'With heart and hands debased—dark passions
rose
'And to their revel with red eyes they rushed,
'Till Freedom, blind and maniac, sought the rest
"Ile suicide would find" • • • '
• . • • • Time only testifies
With darkened annals to the deeds of wrong
Dependance in false gods, and dark debauch
Which but portend fair Freedom's
The very thought is then a traitorous one,
That Freedom, like the forest leaf, toast rise
And play awhile upon the gust, then sink,
The envious nations scorn, to rise no more,
'l'. W.
gainttg Circle.
Unchangeable.
In the little compass of an hour, how
many changes might we mark had we the
eye of Omniscience; from happiness to mis
ery, from oppression to power, from wealth
to poverty, from life to death; the fleet
progression of uncertain griefs and joys,
dooms us continually to change. And in
a wider sense in whatever light we view
the marts of commerce, the wonders of sci
ence, we find them continually liable to
this fiat, some in the brief passage of a lit
tle moment, others by the slow rotation of
lagging years.
The tides change, the atmosphere chan
ges, and earth itself is daily undergoing a
slow but sure transformation. Gradually
the old landmarks disappear before the
solemn tread of centuries. The green
slopes where the sunlit verdure has flour
ished in its emoraltl beauty of ages, are
forever blighted by the fiery breath of the
volcano, and the soft valley whose bosom
seemed fit only for the pressure of an in
fant's dimpled feet, is rent asunder; its
broken fragments clinging to the unsightly
hills that some convulsion has thrown up
from the heated earth.
But while we feel the truth of all this,
there is a blessed thought, that, coming in
the sombre twilight, or the quiet mid hour
of night, sheds a soothing calmness upon
the soul, nay fills us- with rapture and holy
trust, and it is this : There is One that
ehangeth not; forever and ever, ho will
be the Same unchangeable God. Heaven
and earth, bearing though they do the im
press of His eternal mind, shall pass away
and there shall be uo record of those who
once bore mortal forums. It is a delight
ful theme, this immutability of Jehovah,
though all too high for our irreverent
grasp, yet made somewhat comprehensive
to the most lowly mind by the very con
trast that marks every thing around us
perishable.
[ET Never trust to apperances, or high
pretensions,--for the drum, notwithstand
ing all its noise, is empty within.
Aliair(Obtl/4
Young Ladies Phould Think.
I am often pained to witness how prod
igal many of the young ladies of our land
are, of their leisure time. The wrong no
tion which many of them have, that they
shall not be respected, unless they follow
the fashions of the day to all their ridicu
lous extremes, that they might as well be
out of the world as out of the fashion—is
doing as much toward retarding the ad
vancement in useful knowledge of young
ladies as everything else besides. If, by
any means, it could be made fashionable to
be well informed on the various important
topics of the day—•to be well-read in his
tory, in geography, &c.—to be able to give
an opinion when asked, founded on good
sense and general reading—if this could
but become the fashion—how increased in
interest would much of female society be
come. It is far from my intention to say
that this does not now prevail to some
extent—for I know it to bo true—but it
is far from being general. The attention
that a female wins, and the gratification she
imparts who is able to maintain a conver
sation upon general subjects, as though she
had occasionally thought upon them, are
good evidence how much such female soci
ety would be sought for, if it were even
more common. I do not hesitate to ex
press my belief, that the endless round
which many young women run, to keep
pace with the fashions in dress, is more
fatiguing, and requires more patience than
to store their minds with useful knowledge.
The demands of fashion upon females,
are unceasing, and where the n►cans arc
limited to gratify it, requires incessant la
boraten to the ruin or prejudice of health.
But to read, and think—to array the mind
in the beauties of this world and the truth
of the next, may be done at indeed a tri
fling expense and with much satisfaction.
Iftiorritancotto.
Life and Services of Gen. Scott.
Winfield Scott was born near Peters
burg, in Virghila, on the 13th day of June
in the year 1786. He finished his studies at
the College of William and Mary, and was
admitted to the bar in 1806. After prac
tising law in Virginia about a year, he ,
entigranted to South Carolina.
Our difficulties with England caused
' Congress to pass an act in April, in 1808,
to increase the army. Scott applied hne
diately for a commisson in ono of the re
' giments about to be raised, and in May,
1808, was appointed a captain of light ar
tillery. •
War was not actually declared until
June f 1812. The interval between 1808
and the declaration of war, was ono of
great political excitement. Scott sided
with the Democratic party, supported the
election of President Madison, and appro
ved, advocated, and wrote in favor of war
measures.
In July 1812, Scott was Commissioned
Lieutenant-colonel in the 2d artillery, and
proceeded to the Niagara frontier. In
October of that year Lieutenant Elliot ap
plied to Scott for assistance in men to cap
ture the Adams and Caledonia, two Brit
ish vessels-of-war then laying under the
protection of the guns of Fort Erie. The
vessels were both captured; but Elliot was
compelled to abandon the Adams. She
got aground, and the British attempted to
retake her,
but were repulsed by the gal
lantry of Colonel ;Winfield Scott. This
was the first time he met the enemy, and
here, as in every subsequent engagement
when he was first iu command, he was
victorious.
A few day after was fought the memor
able battle of Queenstown Heights. Scott
was the hero of the day, and covered him
self with glory. The battle raged for many
hours, and was fought on the parts of the
Americans with most fearful odds against
them. The British army, having been re
inforced, number not less than thirteen
hundred men, while the Americans were
reduced to less than three hundred.—
Finding that the militia on the opposite
shore refused, or were unable to cross to
their aid, and that succor was hopless,
Scott's heroic band was at length compel
led to surrender. But their gallant deeds
upon that day carried inspiration to every
American heart. The disgrace of Hull's
surrender was wiped off—the taunts of the
enemy checked—the character of the
American army redeemed.
Scott was carried a prisoner to Quebec.
While he was there, an incident occurred
.which had a most important bearing upon
the future oonduot of the war, and is de
serving of particular attention.
While Scott was a prisoner at Quebec,
the British attempted to enforce their doc
trine of perpetual allegiance in regard to
certain Irish prisoners found in the ranks
of the American army at Queenstown. The
following is a description of the scene:
"Scott, being in the cabin of the trans
port, heard a bustle upon deck and hasten
ed up. There he found a party of British
officers in the act of mustering the prison
ers, and separating from the rest such as
by confession, or the accent of voice, were
HUNTINGDON, PA., THURSDAY, JULY 22, 1852.
judged to be Irishmen. The object was
to send them in ii frigate, then alongside
to England, to be tried and executed for
the crime of high treason, they being tak
ed in arms against their native allegiance.
Twenty-three had been thus set apart,
when Scott reached the deck. The mo
ment Scott ascertained the object of the
British officers, he commanded his men to,
answer no more questions, in order that no
other selections should be made by the
test of speech. He commanded them to
remain silent, and they strictly obeyed.—
This was done in spite of the threats of
the British officers, and not another man
was separated from his companions. Scott
was repeatedly ordered to go below, and
high altercations ensued. The Irishmen
thus selected wore sent to England. As
soon as Scott was exchanged, he proceed
ed to Washington and reported the whole
affair to the Secretary of War by a writ
ten communication. The report was trans
mitted to Congress, and Scott, in personal
interviews, pressed the subject upon the
attention of members. An act was accor
dingly passed Cu the 31 of ,\.aireb, 1813,
vesting the President with the power of
retaliation. In an engagement soon after
Scott captured a number of prisoners.—
Truo to his pledge given at Quebec, he
immediately selected twenty-three of the
number to be confined in the interior of the
country, there to abide the fate of the
twenty-three Irishmen taken at Queens
town and sent to England for trial. The
result of this firm resolution on the part of
Scott and of the legislation consequent up
on his efforts, was, not only to save the
lives of the 23 Irish prisoners, but to
compel England, throughout the remain
der of the war, to respect the rights of our
naturalized citizens, by virtually aban
doning her claim to perpetual allegiance.
Just after the close of the war, as Gen.
Scott was welkin , " b along one of the whar
ves of New York he was hailed by his old
Irish friends, for whom he had interfered
at Quebec. They had just been released
from the English prisons, and now rushed
to embrace him as their deliverer.
At the capture of Fort George,'on the
27th of May, 1813, Scott led the advau
eed guard. Ile lidded on the Canada;
shore of Lake Ontario, formed Isis com-'
mend on the beach, and scaled the banks
behind which the British forces were drawn
up, fifteen hundred strong. The action
' was short and desperate, but ended in the
total rout of the enemy. Scott was the
'first man to enter the fort, and haul down
the British flag with his own hands.
On the 10th and 11th of November,
1813, Scott defated the enemy in two ac
tions—one at Fort Matilda, the other at
Iloophole Creek.
On the 9th of March, 1814, when only
27 years of age, Scott was promoted to
the rank of Brigadier-General.
The battle of Chippewa was fought on
the 4th of July, 1814. Scott, with 1900
Americans, suet on the open plain and
routed with the bayonet 2000 of the vet
eran troops of England—the very flower
of the army. As the two armies ap
proached to close quarters, Scott called
aloud to McNit's battalion "the enemy
say we aro good at long shot, but cannot
stand the cold iron! I call upon the elev
enth instantly to give the lie to that slan
der! Charge!" They did charge. Be
fore Gen. Brown could come up with the
rear division of the American army, Scott
had already won the day, and was in hot
pursuit of the flying enemy. The British
had been beaten with their own boasted
weapon—the bayonet. The valor and
skill of the• Boy-General of twenty-eight
had vanquished all the boasted powers of
her world renowned veterans.
General Brown, in his otticial report of
this battle says: "Brigadier General Scott
is entitled to the highest praise our coun
try can bestow. Ills brigrde covered it
self with glory."
The battle of Lundy's Lane (or Niagara,
as is frequently called) was fought 011 the
28th of July, 1814, just three weeks after
that of Cippewa. The battle commenced
about forty minutes before sunset, and
continued until midnight. Hero again
Scott was the master spirit of the fight.—
American valor again triumphed over the
veteran regiments of Britain. Scott had
two horses killed under him, was wounded
in the side, but still fought on until the
close of the battle, when he was prostrated
by a wound in the shoulder,,,This was the
hardest fought battle of the war. Our
limited space will not allow a more exten
ded notice of its details, and, indeed, it
would be superfluous to recapitulate the
events of that glorious day, familiar as
they are to every American school-boy.—
Where so many have gathered imperisha
ble laurels, it was truly a proud honor for
the youthful Scott to be hailed by uni
versal consent, "the hero of Lundy's
Lane."
For his gallantry in these actions, Scott
was soon after promoted to the rank of
Major General. On November Bd, 1814,
Congress passed a resolution awarding a
gold medal to Major General Scott, "“in
testimony of the high sense entertained by
Congress of his distinguished services in
the successive conflicts of Chippewa and
Niagara, and of his uniform galantry
and good conduct in sustaining the high
reputation of the arms of the United
States."
Soon after the treaty of Peace Presi
dent. Madison tendered to Gen. Scott a
place in his Cabinet—that of Secretary of
War. This complimentary office was de
clined from motives highly creditable to
Gen. Scott.
Being still feeble from his wounds, ho
soon after went to Europe for the restora
tion of his health and for professional hu
provement. He was also entrusted by the
Government with important diplomatic
functions. He executed his instructions
in so satisfactory a manner that President
Madison caused to be written to him by
the Secretary of State, a seoeial letter of
thanks.
In 1832, Scott was ordered to take
command of the Black Hawk war. He
sailed from Buffalo for Chicago with near
ly 1000 troops in four steamboats.
On the Bth of July, while on the voy
age, the cholera broke out among the
troops with fearful violence. -On the boat
in which Gen. Scott sailed with two hun
dred and twenty troops, there occured in
six days one hundred and thirty eases of
cholera and fifty-oue deaths. After Gen
eral Scott had proceeded from Chicago to
the Mississipi River, the pestilence again
broke out among his troops. During the
prevalence of this dreadful scourge, his
devoted attention upon his suffering sold
iers excited the admiration of all who were
present. In the language of a letter writ
ten at the time by au officer of the army:
"The general's course of conduct on this
occasion should establish for him a reputa
tion not inferior to that which he has earn
ed on the battle field; and should exhibit
him not only as a warrior, but as a man,—
not only as the hero of battles, but as the
hero of humanity."
After.the termination of the Black
Hawk war, Gen Scott and Gov. Reynolds
were appointed by the United*States Gov
ernment, commissioners to treat with the
North-western Indians in reference to all
pending difficulties. In the various con
ferences held with the deputations from
the various tribes, it became the duty of
Gen. Scott to conduct the discussions.—
This he did with great ability and Inge
nuity, and the result of the commission
was to procure a treaty, just to the Indi
ans and highly advantageous to the United
States,—the Indians ceding the tittle to
more than ten millions of acres, being a
great portion of the lands of lowa and
Michigan.
After the termination of the Black
Hawk war and the treaty with the Indi
ans, Gen. Cass, the Secretary of War,
wrote in reply to Gen. Scott's official re
port as follows:
"Allow me to congratulate you upon
this fortunate consummation of your ardu
ous duties and to express my entire appro
bation of the whole course of year pro
ceedings,
during a series of difficulties re
quiring higher moral courage than the
operations of an active campaign under or
dinary circumstances."
Directly on his return from the Black
Hawk war, Gen Scott was sent by Presi
dent Jackson on a confidential mission of
great responsibility. South Carolina nul
lification then threatened to embroil the
nation in civil war. There was imminent
danger that the strife would at once begin
between the citizens of Charleston and the
United States troops stationed there.—
The object of the President in sending
Scott to South Carolina at this time, was
to prevent, if possible, any direct act of
collision, and at the same tune enforce the
laws of the Federal Government. Scott's
moderation and discretion while at Charles
ton saved the country from the horrors of
civil war. The full history of his valua
ble services on that occasion, cannot now
bo written, as much of it still remains un
der the seal of secrecy.
On the '2oth of January, 1836, Gen.
Scott was ordered to take command in the
Florida war. There lie did all that the
greatest military talent could accomplish.
But the malice or envy of a brother officer,
by misrepresentations wade to the Presi
dent, procured his recall, for the purpose
of having his official conduct subjected to
the opinion of a Court of Inquiry. The
Court after full investigation, pronounced
the charges against Gen. Scott unsustainod,
and further, "that ho had been zealours
and indefatigable in the discharge of his
duties, and that his plan of campaign was
all devised :null prosecuted with energy
steadiness and ability."
In 1838, Gen. Scott was sent by the
President to the Canada frontier—then in
a state of fearful excitement on account of
the burning of the Caroline within the.
American territory. The whole popula
tion of northern New York was about to
march into Canada to avenge the wrong
which had been done to the national hon
or. The object of the administration was
to preserve the peace between two nations
until pending difficulties could be settled
4 ,4 4
-9 ' 440(trn4)
by negotiation. For this purpose Scott
was sent to the frontier. There he labor
ed night and day, passing rapidly from
point to point, superintending and direc
ting the action both of the military and
civil authorities—and frequently along
the line of 800 miles, addressing immense
gatherings of the excited citizens. He
succeded in his mission beyond the expec
tations of the most sanguine. The peace
of the country was preserved.
During the same year he was ordered to
the delicate service of removing the Chero
kee nation beyond the Mississippi. Here
he displayed at once the highest degree of
energy, sagacity and humanity.
The leading journals of the day were
filled with encomiums upon the conduct
of Scott in these services. The National
Intelligencer of September 27th, 1838,
says: "The manner in which this gallant
dicer has acquitted himself within the last
year, upon our Canada frontier and lately
among the Cherokees, has excited the uni
versal admiration and gratitude of the
whole nation."
In 1839 arose the North &astern
Boundary difficulty. The disputed tem
tory was about to became the battle ground
between the troops of Maine and New
13runswiek. 'War was considered inevita
ble. In this crisis Gcn, Scott was again
deputed by the Government to calm the
rising storm. His able services on that
occasion showed hint to be possessed of the
highest talents as a statesmen and diplo
matist. A war considered inevitable was
prevented—the honor of the country pre
served—and Scott returned with fresh
laurels upon his brow, and "the hero of
Lundy's Lane" was hailed on all sides as
the "Great Pacificator."
The services of Gen. Scott in the Mexican
war are of so recent a date, and so fresh
to the recollections of the American peo
ple and the whole civilized world, that it
is useless to do more than wake a passing
On the 10th of March, 1847, General
Scott arrived before Vera Cruz. On the
14th of September, 1847, he planted the
stars and stripes over the National Palace
in the City of Mexico. Within these six
months, San Juan D'Ulloa—the Ameri
can Gibraiter,—was stormed, and the bat
, tles of Cerro Gordo,Contreras, San Anto
nio, Curubusco, Moine del Roy, and Cha
pultepoc, were fought and won. With
less than ten thousand fighting men, he at
tacked and routed, - again and again, thirty
thousand of the best troops of Mexico,
posted behind the strongest fortifications,
and fighting with the courage of despera
tion. Nothing of military achievement
recorded in ancient or modern history, can
excel the glory of that march from Vera
Cruz to the City of Mexico.
Such is a briCif sketch of one whose life
has been devoted to the service and glory
of his country—and ivhoso patriotism is
enlarged enough fo extend to tho whole
nation.
TRUST IN GOD.
To thee I turn,
\nun sorrow droops the wing,
And winter has no spring,
And every stream is dry
That ran in gladness by : .
Tu thee I turn.
To thee I torn,
When friends I lore forsake,
And bends the heart to break,
And on each face I see
The smile of treachery :
To thee I turn.
To thee I turn,
111 overy hour of pain,
When help from man is vain,
And find a sweet relief,
Wh ik joy gives place to grief:
To thee 1 turn.
To thee T turn,
My Father turn to thee,
When glory tills the skies—
When every pleasure dies—
To thee I turn.
[;'" As women are more affected by the
prevalence of immorality than men, it is
really strange that they do nut frown down
those vinees of men which so often ptove
fatal to their own tranquility. Many a fe
male who would not refuse to dine with a
profligate, would think herself foully insul
ted were she invited to take tea with a cour
tezan; and yet, the only difference between
the two is, that one wears pantaloons and
the other pantaletts, the morale is the same.
rir A person being asked the other day
whether he was in favor of the Maine Li
quor Law, replied: “partly-1 go for the
liquor—barring the law."
It is a good sign to see the color of
health in a man's face, but a bad sign when
it is all concentrated in his nose.
A person once sent a note to a waggish
friend for the loan of his noose paper, and
received in retur» his friend's marriage
certificate.
NUMBER 29.
Humorous,
From the Pittsburg Register:
By the Grape Vine Telegraph Line, in
connection with the Virginia Fence, and
Mason and Dixon's Line, we have received
the following interesting correspondence—
far "ahead of the foremost," which we
hasten to lay before our readers
WHEATLAND, June 5, 1852.
Dear Cass :—What is the matter? In
the hour of my trouble—in the hour of my
tribulation too—am I forgotten then ?
Your long continued silence makes me fear
I am. Believe me, friend Lewis,
My heart in desolate Eclipse
With recollection terms;
And oft I ask with trembling lips
Dost thou remember Jeems ?
Dear and lamented Quintuple, we are
both beaten, and (like the Egyptian mum
my) "dead and buried"—but not yet "em
balmed." A pair of old coats (where are
Marcy's pants ?) we are laid aside forever.
"When I remember all".—the money I
have spent, the letters I have written in
favor of "the peculiar institutions of the
South," the hungry bellies I have filled,
and the flawing bumbers I have caused my
followers to quaff, I begin to detest the
unwashed democracy, and almost wish with
the Roman Emperor (you know, dear Lew,
I was always a little classical!) that man
kind had but ono head that I might sever
it at a single blow. Alas ! Alas! that the
rose of Lancaster should, after sweetly
blooming in May, be blighted by the frosts
of June, and—one alas, only—that the
gaeat Michigander, is a gone goose forever
and ever. It is our "manifest destiny" to
live in retirement and die in obscurity.—
Some future Gray, pregnant with funeral
fire, from beneath the weeping willows of
the village church-yard, will doubtless
weave together seine joint epitaph, some
thing like the following :
here lies old Cass and Jimmy Bnek,
By toes to earth untimely struck;
Deserted by their former toadies
They sleep in death—alas old fogies !
Hereafter, my dear Lewis, I shall es.
chew politics, and take unto myself a wife,
and far removed from the crowd's ignoble
strife, endeavor to find peace and happi
ness iu raising pigs, poultry, and potatoes.
When I was Secretary of State, I often
wrote to persons for whom I had no great
esteem, "with assurances of distinguished
consideration."
I remain yours truly,
BUCHANAN."
P. S.—Franklin Pierce is no luminary,
and Wm. It. King is a prince. BUCK.
WASHINGTON, June 7, 1852.
Dear Buchanan:—Your friendly note
is received. The "noise and confusion"
having partially subsided, I shall answer
it in the same Christian spirit, and offer a
few words of advice and consolation. Bul-.
wer probably told the truth when be said
that "in the lexicon of youth there's no
such word as fail"—but the line can never
be appropriately applied to middle aged
and old fogies. Notwithstanding this, you
should not repine. Above all, my kindly
cherished friend, scout the idea of letting
out the last drop of Democratic blood, and
do not for a single instant think of throw
ing yourself into the arms of your ancient
friends, the Federalists. If not struck with
"political blindness," you will cheerfully
acquiesce in the result, though it may have
pierced you to the heart, and doing so, you
will show some wisdom in submitting to a
fate you could not shun.
You think of taking a wife. That's
right. At your age a man should have a
good nurse. You will thus not only con
tribute to your own happiness but, like a
good citizen, possibly make a small addi
tion to the next census, and, ecstatic
thought! James Buchanan, Jr., may be
President of the United States in "the
good time coming."
I spent no money to advance my politi
cal prospects,
and I am seriously concern
ed to learn that your little fortune, for a
year past, has been growing "small by do
gma and beautifully less.
The two-thirds rule is outrageous. Aa
Kossutlt would remark, it afforded "mate
rial aid" to my opponents. It is my in
tention to commence a crusade against it,
so soon as opportunity will permit. As
regards it, "masterly inactivity" is not the
true policy.
Your fronds here aro well. Douglass is
swelling like the toad in the fable, but
Houston, (alas for the thunders of San
Janciuto,)l fear will seek consolation in
the bowl, and in that event, will muddy
his famous Mexican blanket. _
With you, I think that Franklin Pierce
is not a Drummond light; but it is well
known that Billy King is. CASS.
P. S.—Since the nomination is over, I
am in faVor of letting old Grund and Ma
jor Lynch have a free fight.; and, tf ne
cossary, I will be willing to show fair
play.
IC7" Every seven minutes a child is born
in London, and every nine minutes one dies.