Lynchburg Virginian. [volume], July 10, 1851, Image 2

About Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?

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J fMNtHw in JIa<MM<ar.
Madagascar is an island in the Indian
Ocean,about cight hundred miles long, and
contains a population of from 2.000,000 to
4,000,000 inhabitants.
Missionaries have been among these peo
ple and preached the Gospel with success
Several years since they were violently
persecuted. Christians, missionaries, and
all foreigners are excluded from the island.
The London Missionary Society, in their
late annual report, nukes the following
statement;
The last intelligence, which liears the
mirk of authenticity, is most deeply affect
ing. From causes unexplained, but pro
bably from the increase of their numbers, a
new persecution against the Christainsdu
ring the hist summer raged with great vio
lence. About twelve hundred were sum
moned to the capital, to answer for the of
fence of worshipping the only true God
and believing on his Son. Three of the
most distinguished for rank and devoted
ness were sentenced to be burned to death;
dnd their lingering tortures must have been
awfully aggravated, threetimes, while their
bodies were consuming, torrents of rain
fell and extingished ihe fires. The others
ware precipitated from a rocky eminence
near the city, and dashed to pieces. What
would have been the doom of the multitude
cannot he determined, had not the Prince
of Madagascar, at the risk of his personal
safety, now interposed, as the protector and
patronof the Christians, and boldly with
stood the authority of their cruel adversa
ry, the Prime Minister of his Royal mother.
CarTuar or*Sai-Cow—Messrs. Clark
and Burnham lately succeeded in captur
ing a sea-cow near Jupiter Inlet, Florida.
' The animal waa caught in a net, was a
male, and nine feet three inches in length.
They succeeded in taking it alive, and ship
ped it to Charleston forexliibition. It was
very wild when first captured, but soon
became quite tame, and ate freely of grass,
tu. Its tail is in the shape of a fan, ar.d
is two feet five inches broad. It has no
hind feet; its five feet are similar to those
ofsturtle, and it lias nails like those of tho
human hand, hut no claws. Its mouth
and noac resemble those of a cow, it has
teeth on the lower jaw, but not one on the
upper. A female was also taken, but it
was so large, and, becoming entangled in
the net, made such desperate exertions to
eseape that the captors were compelled to
•hoot it. They preserved the skin, how
ever, which was fifteen feet long.—Liling
Age.
Til* New Costume.—The Boston Com
monwealih, of Saturday lost, says : “At
the splendid Banjoul festival in Chelsea
on Thursday evening, wo noticed many
ladies, wives and daughters of our most
respectable citizens, attired in the new cos
tume, which was universally - admired,
both by the gentlemen and other ladies
present. It will not he long, wo think,
before the obvious comfort, neatness and
beauty of this dress will triumph over all
prejudice; and no lady will any more think
of dragging twenty, thirty, or forty yards
of skirting on the pavement, than ol wear
ing bells on her toes. We are much sur
prised as delighted at the rapidity with
which this happy reform is growing in
public favor.
Murder at Carthage.—The Lebanon
Packet of Friday says:
A most brutal murder was perpetrated
at Carthage on last Monday night, by a
man named Turpin. It appears that Tur
pin took offence at some remark made by
onoofold Joe Sweeny’s Band of Minstrels,
who were performing in Carthage on that
night, and determined to kill him. After
the performance was over, Turpin passed
down the street, and on hearing a music
teacher named Chapman, performing on a
violin, he conceived this to be the one who
had offended; be rushed into the bouse, and
with a large knife, inflicted three or four
mortal Wounds on the left side of his inof
fensive victim, who expired in less than an
hour. Next morning Turpin was found,
apprehended and lodged in jail to await
his trial.
— .+,» » -
Music in Everything.—The elements
of music are in everything around us; they
are found in every part of creation—in the
chirping of the feathered choristers of Na
ture in the voices of calls of various ani
mals, in the melancholy sound of the wa
terfall or the wild roar of the waves, in the
hunt of the distant multitudes or the con
cussion of sonorous bodies, in the winds
dike when the dying cadence fulls lightly
on the cars as it agitates the trees of the
lbrestas w henthehurricane sweeps around.
All these contain the rudiments oi harmo
ny, and may be easily supposed to have
furnished the minds of intelligent crea
lures w ith such ideas of sound as 'imeand
the accumulated observation of sneceeding
ages could not fail to improve into a sys
tern
■ - ■ ■ ■ -
Loafer’s Fashions for Ji ve. 1S51.—
Morning Dress—Second or third hand
coat ventilated at the elbows coler to suit
the fancy or circumstances; vest full but
toned in front, especially in the absence of
a shirt or false bosom: hat “shocking bad,
little or r o nop. with the brim ramified and
placed alantindicularly on the head; a lock
of hair .in either eve; tangled, sorrel top
whiskers; crab orchard beard; pantaloons
of various colors, rather short, and with
two square lateral patches; boots with legs
down at the heel, well polished with mud,
and in a laughing condition, a cigar should
protrude from the frontal orifice,and bran
dy or gin take the place of can dc colonge.
Cfarc should he taken not to make too fre
quent use of profanity, to prevent being
stigmatized as a gentleman. Evening
Dress—Ditto.
“Dutchman” and “German.”—These
words arc often interchangeable, as if they
signified the same thing. "Dutchman”
firoperlv signifies natives of the Nether
andsand Holland, ofwhom there are hut
few in this country. “German” is a name
given to inhabitants of Austria. Prussia,
vVurtemburg, Saxony and other German
States, and is the proper title by which to
designate that large, industrious and fugal
portion of our population commonly called
“Dutch.”
Hayti and St. Domingo.
The news of a battle between the Hay
tiens and Dominicans, brought bv a recent
arrival at New York, but subsequently’
contradicted by an arrival at Boston,
seems to be fully confirmed by later advi
ces. "La Gacela” of St. Domingo, of the
the 15lh ult„ states that the battle in ques
tion was fought on the 20tli and 30th of
May, and that the forces of Emperor Faua
tin were completely defeated. The same
paper contains a proclamation from Pre
sident Fncz announcing the victory. The
Hayden* commenced the attack upon the
Dominicans post Calrta. on the southern
frontier; but the , Dominicans drove them
hack to their own dominions.—J\at. bit.
Connecticut.—The Legislaturcof Con
neetient adjourned on Wednesday
die, having elected no l*nited States Sena
tor in the place of Mr. Baldwin. A series
of resolutions approving of the Compro
mise Measure*, including the Fugitive
Slava Law, passed the House by a vote of
113 to 35, but in the Senate they were in
definitely postponed. Ten new hanks
were chartered during the session, and the
. capital stock of three of the old banks were
salarged.—Aat. lnt.
Hob. Cave Johnson, late Postmaster
Gasaral, has been sppointed by the Gov
araot of Tennessee to the office of Judge,
made vacant by the death of Judge Mae
THE VIRGINIANJ
james McDonald, editoi
LVSCHBEBO. JEXY »•, 1MI.
To Omr Frtrad*.
The Lvncublbo Viboinian will be pub
lished as heretofore, in the name of Terry
&- Shields, (the widow and executrix of the
late Mr. A. W. C. Terry having control of
his interest.) No change will be made in
the inode of doing business hitherto pursu
ed by the office.
The Proprietors have the pleasure of an
nouncing, that they have procured the ser
vices of James McDonald, (who has had
charge of the editorial department of the
Virginian since the death of its late editor.)
by whom, it w ill hereafter be conducted.
They pledge their undiminished exer
tions to make the \ irgini.in acceptable and
useful to its patrons, and solicit for it the
continued favor of the public.
Irish Abolition
It is greatly exasperating to the people
of the Southern States, that a misguided
and fanatical party at the North are ever
agitating the question or abolishing slave
ry. The spurious sympathy and false phi
lanthropy, w hich are the apparent motives
to this unceasing agitation of a subject, in
which they have no personal concern, ex
cite universally the contempt, and some
times the pity of slaveholders towards
those, who act from principles sosupreme
ly silly and wicked. Our connection with
them as members of the same confedera
cy. and citizens of the same great family
of States, and our desire to perpetuate the
relation which unites us, if the same can
be done, honorably .harmoniously and safe
ly, induce us to regard their unholy ef
forts, with a forbearance, which we can
neverextend to I he officious and intermed
dling action of foreigners. Slavery has
always existed, from “a time, whereof the
memory of man, runneth not to the con
trary,'* and we doubt not, will continue to
exist to the end of all time. Its forms are
manifold, and ils degrees of aggravation
various. And looking to all those forms
and degrees of which we have knowledge,
we do not hesitate to assert that, that of
the negro in the States of the South is the
most mild and humane,that exists upon the
earth. The condition of bondage serves
really to elevate and improve the charac
ter and happiness of the negro, and his
comfort, morality and civilization place
him far, very far above the oppressed op
eratives of England, or the mendicant and
starving tenantry of Ireland. VN ith the
results of this comparison,ever staring them
in the face, their impudence is intolerable,
and their audacity most insulting, when
they undertake to denounce the Fugitive
Slave Law, and to bewail the lot of the
colored race in our midst. It was with
feelings of indignation therefore,we read in
the Southern Press of the 28th ultimo, the
proceedings of a meeting on the subject of
Slavery and the Bill forthe recovery of Fu
gitives, recently held in the city of Cork,
n which the Mayor presided, and one of
:he Aldermen offered resolutions. We
know no language sufficiently strong to
denounce, as it deserves to be denounced,
the ungrateful, audacious and hypocritical
spirit, which animated these worthy public
functionaries and their associates, who
composed this meeting. It is nothing,that
wc have fed them from our own slaves,
when they were perishing by thousands
from famine and pestilence,—nothing, that
Irishmen, when flying from grinding op
pression or hopeless poverty at home, have
at all times, found a free and hospitable
welcome to our own Land of liberty, and
abundance. Forgetting all this, and re
pressed in their domestic agitations by the
strong arm ofMilitary Power,they arc now
intermeddling with the political and social
relations which obtain between the white
and black races in the United States. Eve
ry good citizen whether living in the North
or South,should frown upon this impertinent
interference of the citizens of Cork, with
an institution for which they are in no \\ ise
responsible, and with a law to which they
owe no manner of obedience.
We find the following admirable re
marksofthe New York Herald, accompa
nying the published proceedings of the
meeting:
*4It ’• but fair to bold the cniiro corporation of
Cork accountable for all thin i»norant and holy r.eal
on the. subject, which evidently is misunderstood by
them, since they seem to lose sight of the fact that
Congress ha* no power to annihilate *lavery. 13ut
what can bo expected of men who, within the wall*
of their own city, when provisions were Abundant,
permitted twenty thousand starving person* to howl
with hunger, and hundred* of them to perish?—
Shall we remind the city of Cork of the terrible
scenes daily presented w ithin it* streets, prior to
the arrival of the ships of mercy, sent front our
•bore* u few years ago, to succor the distressed ?
Shall we ask for a proof from the corporation of
Cork, that one single dollar’s worth of the food ta
ken out by the Macedonian frigate was given by
them to the poor ? Or, shall we ask. significantly
and pointedly, if the corporation of the city of Cora,
at that time, found it necessary to seal the gift of
the American people against those who domorrd
for broad, because the Bank of Ireland had loaned
large sums to speculators in breadstuff*, who might
lose money by a gratuitous distribution of food among
the poor ?
The slavery of hypocrisy is blacker than any Af
rican slavery that ever existed, or ever will exist. No
slave in America has to eat the parings of potatoes,
picked from the miry gutter of a public street. A
mcricati slaves do not besiege the doers of every
inn and hotel, and levy contributions by pitiful erics
upon the charitable stranger. American slaves are
not prfessiowal beggars by habit and education, hut
are able to aid the poor, as they did in contributing
to the freight of Macedonian. They do not block
up the streets, as the poor slaves in Cork do, from
the barracks to Black llock Castle, moat ing with
hunger. They are not found in whole families lying
upon the sidewalk, howling with the pains of hun
ger, under the very eyes, and within the hrnring
of a corporation of intelligent citizens. When the
light of morning breaks upon a Southern city, where
slaves are well fed, well dressed, and happy, it loe*
not reveal a sight to freeze the very blood of human
I itv. We behold no starved inhabitant, standing
hold upright, stiff earth. No stranger is obliged to
hire a person to take up dead bodies from the pub
lic streets, and to catry them, for decency’s sake,
to the cemetery of a Father Matthew—where hun
dreds of victims are thrown, unrecognized and un
coffined, into one common pit. with quick lime for
a shroud—as we charge was done at Cork during
the famine.
We have here no corporation interested in corn or
cotton speculations so deeply ns to he deaf to the
common cries and sufferings of humanity. We have
no scenes such as may he daily beheld from the
Dvke to Black Rock, in Cork, in which thousands
live upon beggars’ and hundred* are crippled to ex
cite the sympathy of the stranger. No.no! Such
scene* belorur to the jurisdiction of Mr. Mavor
Lambkin and his associates, who can overlook slave
ry in its direst form—th- slavery of their own mis
managed district—and find time to meddle with the
institutions of the Failed States—w ho ran permit
inhabitant* «*f their city and country to fly to this
land for freedom and for plenty, which are denied
them in a district loud about foreign slaver*-, while
the worst horrors of w bite slavery are at their very
doors. Holy hypocrite#! Magnanimous reformers?
cr a man named Beal was killed by
a vicious horse in the vicinity of Winches
ter, Va., last week. The auimal in bitii.g
him, it is supposed, broke the man's neck.
When discovered, he was throwing the
body up and tearing the flesh with his
teeth. The unruly creature endeavored
to get at those who. with great difficulty,
ruccccdi d in pulling iho body a» ay.
TkcFreuMvai la rraltrkkikaiv.
On his return from Lower Virginian, to
Washington, President Fillmore accepted
the hospitality of the citizens of F redencks
burg, tendered him in a very handsome
manner, by our coleroporary ol TKt A tut.
the worthy mayor of that ancient town.—
The President in his response to the Ma
yor’s address remarked, that he had heard
much of Virginia hospitality, but with the
Queen of Sheba, he could say "the half had
not been told.” At the hotel he was again
addressed, by Dr. WelforJ anJ replieJ, in
the following patriotic and feeling Ian
euase- „ t
"Mr. Ckutrman an>l Fclloic-cuizen*’. To these re
prated welcome# l can only return my repeated
thanks. My journey, from the time I left Wash
ington to my arrival here, ha# been through a coun
try entirely unknown to me—a country of great
novelty to me, and a country of great historical in
terest. And during the whole of it, permit me to
say there i# no point where that interest bus been
greater than in vititing your beautiful city.
“Here, I am told,were the playground* of v\ ash
ington. Here it wa# where he drank in those lee
son# of youth which so eminently fitted him in hi#
manhood for the defence of hi* country again#! the
tvranniea of power, and for the establishment of a
Union which I trust the citizen# of thi# town will be
the last to abandon.
“Here, too, reftoae. I have been told, the ashes
of hi# mother. Freciou# relic*! Can it be J»o*>i
blc that treason can find its growth here? No. jir*.
no, sir! No matter what disunionist# ut ono end of
the Union or factionists at the other may do, the
men reared upon the soil where Washington stood
can never be traitors. [A voice in the crowd.—
‘True! true!’ and great cheers. ]
“Sir, 1 visit your town with no common interest.
I hove travesed your street# and met your citizen#
with no ordinary #ati#faction. The beautiful mili
tary array that ha# welcomed us, the courtesies I
have received from your public authorities and from
individual*, all seem to indicate to my mind not
merelv personal courtesies, but a veneration for the
Constitution of our country, and for that Union
which it maintains
Hon. y. K. Hall, the Postmaster General, wa*
then introduced to the a ml tetter, whofn he address
ed as follows:
“FclloH-citizrn*'. T am greatly gratified «ith the
reception which we have met with in this city, so
full of historical interest, so well calculated to excite
patriotic sentiment*. I have been extremely grat
ified. too, to witness at every step in our progress,
during the short journey which we have made in
Virginia, the manifestations of confidence in the
Administration, of which I am happy to he the
humblest member. The long personal associations
which I have maintained with the President, a* his
intimate |>ersonal friend, have given me aright to
feel more than a common interest in his success, and
a peculiar gratification that his course of conduct
has been such us to meet the approval of his fel
low-citizens.
"I thank you for the cordial reception which you
have given us. 1 thank you for the kind manner
in which you have received myself. 1 trust that,
under no circumstances, while 1 live, or while my
children live, will the people of Fredericksburg,
and that portion of the country where I shall reside,
be other than citizens of the same glorious Union,
under that Constitution under w hich your fathers
an 1 ours so long and gloriously lived.
"I return you again my most sincere ntid cordial
thanks for this very gratifying reception.”
Hon. Alex. H. H. Stuart, the Secretary of the
Interior, was then introduced to the audience, whom
he addressed ns follow*:
*• Frllovnlizens: The complimentary manner in
which my name has been announced to you by vour
chairman demands at my hands the expression of
my grateful thanks. I nm happy, fellow-citizens, to
meet before me this assemblage of the yeomanry of
Eastern Virginia. Coming ns I do from beyond
the Blue Mountains, it is a source of infinite grati
fication to see assembled around me those who, al
though belonging to a different section, I feel are all
Virginians. Fellow-citizens, we have seen of late
within our .State limits the agitation of questions
which threatened, to some extent, the integrity of
this old Commonwealth. We have heard it said
that this venerable Old Dominion was to ho rent in
twain: that w'e were to have Old V irginia cast of the
Mountains, and New Virginia west of the Moun
tains. God forbid that I should live ever to see
such a result. [Cheers. ] God forbid that I should
see the day when I could not come to the tow n of
Fredericksburg—the land of the Mercers ami of the
other distinguished families who here did sendee to
our country in the revolutionary struggle—and feel
that I had no title to call them brethren. Far dis
tant he the day when I should bo compelled to give
up my share in the glories of Yorktnwn, and of nil
the scenes which have hern illumined bv the deeds
of our ancestors. No, fellow-citizens. I am happy
to congratulate you that this agitation has passed a
way; that this di*cor4~ir ' 'Ja at an end. and that
Virginia will again be one in feeling, one in interest,
and one in sentiment. [Applause.]
"I unsure you that yon have been laboring under
a mistake in regard to the feelings of the West to
wards the East. You, who have believed that there
is any antagonism sentiment there, have done injus
tice to that portion of the State. We look upon you
as brethren, and I hesitate not to say. that if the e
vil hour should overcome which was to divide Vir
ginia. it is not the Blue Ridge, but the Alleghenies
which would mark the line.
• ••••••
After holding a levee in the Parlor of the
Hotel, where rr.a iy of the fair laci s of
Fredericksburg and its vicinity were pre
l sent, the President and hi* friends were
| escorted to the dinner table. When the
doth was removed, the following senti
ment, appropriately prefaced, was offered
and received with prolonged applause :
"2. Our distinguished guest, the President of the
United States: True to the Constitution of hiscoun
try as the needle to the pole; he has steered the
ship of State through a threatning storm with a
statesman's arm and patriot’s soul.”
In response to this sentiment, the Presi
dent after disclaim:ngany right to such an
honor, said :
"But I w i«h to say, before I proceed further, that
in the few reninrks which I have to inakp, I desire
to address them to you in private. I hope if there
is "a chiel timnng you takin' notes” that he will
burn and not print them. My own impression is,
that an individual exercising the first office in the
gift of the nation should rather ho known by his
official acts and official course, than by speeches
made at a dinner table. I shall therefore not avail
myself of this occasion to express to you the policy
by which 1 mean to be governed in the administra
tion of the government. Upon that subject suffice
it to say. when I took the oath prescribed by the
Constitution to support the Union and defend it, 1
meant w hat 1 said and 1 intend to carry out that pro
mise. [Great and prolonged applause.] In the ex
ecution of this duty I mean to know no sectional dif
erences. My maxim is equal and exact justice to all.
favors to none. [Renewed applause and cheer
ing.] Those who are w illing that the government
shall be administered upon these principles, I hope
will be my friends.no matter by what political appel
lation they may havg been known heretofore—whe
ther Whig* or Democrats. [Cheer*.] 1 could not
but be sensible, when unexpectedly elevated to this
position, of the great danger which threatened our
country. We have heard much of dancer to this
Union—I fear, no more than all have heard—but
pardon me for raying that in my estimation it should
never have become a source of discussion. Tl c
vory idea of disunion should be frowned upon by
every true American as deserving of no argument
and of no justification. It is to me painful that it
should even be a subject of conversation.
“Pardon me for alluding in this connection to an
anecdote in my Congressional career. I had an old
and valued friend, one whom I esteemed, vet who
possessed some eccentricitiesand peculiar notions of
political duty of which I did not approve. I need
not ray that I allude to the venerable Mr. Adams.
You are all aware that he was early imbued with
the principle, upon which he universally practised,
that every citizen had the right to be heard in Con
gress hv his petition, and that he was often made
the medium of presenting to the House matters of
i which he entirely disapproved. His maxim was
that every citizen had the right to petition, and that
I it was the duty of Congress to consider such peti
tion. Acting i pon this known principle, he w as
often played upon, doubtless by those who were in
fluenced by mischievous purposes. I well re
collect. on one occasion, that he rose and statt d
to the House, that he liad received a petition
of a very peculiar character, the sentiments of
which he did not approve; but, on the prir.ci
| pie upon which he universally acted, lie felt
it to be bis duty to present it to the House.—
lie stated that it was a petition from certain citi
zens. whose names were signed to it, praying for a
dissolution of the Union; but for the purpose of free
ing himself from the imputation of favoring such a
sentiment he at the same time that be discharged
the duty in the presentation of the petition felt it
also to be hi* duty toaceompanv it w ith a resolution
that it be referred to a seleet committee, with posi
tive instructions to report against the prayer of the
petitioners. \\ hat were the proceedings upon that
occasion? Tbi* annunciation was no sooner made in
the House of Representatives than the w hole House
seemed to be in a fermrnr. and in a very few mo
ments a resolution was introduced for the purpose
of expelling Mr. Adams from the House for having
dared tn introduce a petition there for the dissolu
tion of the Union, although accompanied at the same
time with a positive declaration on his part that he
was opposed to it, and an appeal to the House to
sanction his sentiment on the subject. But what
do we see now? Ten years have not passed since
that scene took place in the House of Representa
tives. and since that man. who for four years had
discharged the duties of Chief Magistrate of this
Union, stood at the bar of that House, and morning
after morning came to me and asked of me not to
move the public business so as to force a vote on
the resolution expelling him trom the House, until
be bad a chance ro be heard- He feared, rir. that
be m*"ht be'•spelh d from that body f"r de:nr. whet
ha dnctned to be hia imperative dot), in puaerva
,10* of *h* rlfht of petition. althou*h he we. nnl-ued
with the atrontfevt aentnnentt in tavof of the Union
of the we Slate. I waa foreed. from a feeling of ajm
palhv and regard for him. to jilffer the public lioii
I.eea'to be deiaved from dav to day. for one or two
week., in order that hr mittht preaent hia wntimenta
to the Iluttar on the anhieet. to convince them thet,
althourh he prevented a petition for the dia.olution
of the Union, hedid no, approve of thoae HMiments.
1 doubt whether anvihin(r abort of that could have
aeted the diatinftii.hed man from expuUton from
that bodv Sinre then, we tiaveUved .car. ely ten
venc. and the value of thi. Union ia now a common
iubiect of renverwuion Thin very cl, cani.tance—
looking berk to that occurrence and then to what
we have -een within the vent pant, abould alarm the
true friends of ibis Republic- It should tear h us
there arc men North and South who nre ready tone
cetera to the fall of thin Unfen and if neccarary to
‘'“Yray'thi. in all ,ince. it; I ray t<«; ‘t*»<
I look bark to the crisis through which we base
passed I feci that there was danger that the day
of this Union were numbered. I determined then,
if necessary , to sacrifice every political prospect i
had in the world, and life itself, to save the country
[Great cheering.] But. fellow-citizens, I have said
more than I intended- Yot.r very flattering and un
deserved compliment lias betrayed me into a speech
I naver intended to make You w ill pardon me I
trust There are those w ith me much more capable
of addressing you than myself. Permit me to re
turn to you my very sincere thanks for the very kin
manner in which you have received me.
Many spirited and patriotic toasts were
drank and speeches made. 1 he company
rose from the table about 6 o’clock, and
soou thereafter, the President left for the
Depot, to take the cars for Acquia Creek,
to which place he was accompanied by a
large number of ladies.
Washington June 29—The President, accom
panied by Secretaries Hal'and hStuart. returned at
12 o’clock last night, and were met at AcquiaCrecit
by a party of gentlemen from Washington. On par
ting with their Virginia friends, loud cheers were
given for Fillmore, Virginia and the Union* W ben
passing Alexandria they were welcomed by a salute
from the Mechanical Artillery. The President is
in fine health, ami expressed himself much gratified
with the trip. He was met on the warf by the May
or, Sec.
Mr. Webster in Virginia.
VVe feel that \vc would be doing our
readers great injustice if we were to with
hold from them, a single issue, the eloquent
and stirring address of Mr. Webster a few
days ago, at the Capon Springs in Virgin
ia. Availing himself of a short respite
from the cares of public station,he had come
to seek recreation and health amid our
mountains; but the enthusiasm and pat
riotism awakened in the hearts of the noble
yeomanry of that region, by his presence,
would not allow him to be quiet. He was
entertained at a public dinner, largely at
tended, splendidly provided and character
ized bv an overflowing zeal for the Union
and admiration forhim, its greatest defender.
Wm. L. Clarke, Egj., of Winchester,
presided, and in offering the following sen
timent paid the subject of it,a glowing trib
ute, for which we regret that we have not
space.
“Dan l Webster,Our uistinguisneci guest: i nejurisi
ami statesman who has illustrated the glory of our
country. The champion of the Constitution and
the Union, who has sown the seed of constitutional
liberty broadcast over the civilized world.”
Mr. Webster rose to respond amid
deafening applause. He thanked them
most cordially for the manner of his recep
tion and the honor they had done him.—
He was then for the first time in the re
nowned valley of Virginia. He had seen
the great grain-growing country of New
York, and Ohio, and other Western States;
of England, from Hertfordshire to the bor
ders of Scotland; but lie bad never seen
any thing surpassing that which he crossed
from the time he left Harper’s Ferry till he
reached Winchester, lie had been told
that the same rich country extends beyond,
and is to be found through Shenandoah,
Uockingham, and Augusta counties.—
He hoped soon to have an opportunity of
witnessing the truth of that statement.
Mr. W. then proceeded as follows:
"There are two elements which constitute a coun
try: soil and climate are one, men and v o nen the oth
er. Here they are both to he found. But.exe i i 'there
were no men and women in this regiou.the country
would still he valuable and beautiful; and if it were
ns barren as yonder rock, (pointing tlir- u.h the
window to a jutting cliff’ which overhangs the
spring.) but was filled with intelligent men and re
fired and educated women, like those who now
throng this wide hall, it would he more admirable
sti.l. So, if cither were here, your country would
he beautiful and fascinating, ami you, gentlemen,
know how fascinating it must he when both ore so
happily combined. [Groat Applause.]
But I must now turn my attoutioh to the toast
which has been read by my friend—a friend of long
standing—at the bend of the table. I must attrib
ute its terms to the partiality of friendship, and 1
am sure that they are somewhat extiavagant. I
disclaim having done anything in support and de
fence, and in the maintenance of the Constitution,
except what I have done in co-opcration with other
alder men; with men of high character and true
devotion to their country and its political institu
tions. [Applause.] 1 was bred, gentlemen—in
deed, 1 might almost say I was born—in admiration
of our political institutions. I have studied them
long, and in fact have studied little else of a political
nature. All the public nets of mv life have been
performed in the service of the General Govern
ment. I have never held any office under any
State Government, and, w ith the exception of a few
days only, I have never been a member of a Slate
Legislature. I am as you may know, a lawyer,
and from necessity a laborious one. 1 know not
how the bread of idleness tastes, fori have never
had a bit of it in my mouth. [Great Applause.]
This, perhaps, savors of self commendation; but I
hope it may be pardoned. If, in the discharge of
my public duties and in the performance of my
public services, mv private interests have suffered
and been neglected, 1 am amply compensated by the
hope that if 1 have no broad estate, no rich accu
mulations, 1 shall leave at least an inheritance not
cntirelv disreputable to those who shall come after
me. £E nthusiastic applause. ]
I profess gentlemen, to have acted throughout
my life upon those principles which governed your
ancestors and my own New England ancestors in
the lime that tried men’s souls; that is to say, in the
revolutionary struggle, and in that other most im
portant period which witnessed the establish
ment of a General Government. All know that in
this last high and important proceeding Virginia
took an eminent lead. She saw that, to the dis
grace of the country', the debt of the Revolution
remained unpaid, and tlutt gallant officers and
brave soldiers, who had brought wounds and scars
and broken limbs from the battle-fields of liberty,
were reduced to poverty and want, and some of
them were almost literally begging their bread.
The great and good men of other States felt the
same evil, and their hearts were rung by a similar
anguish.
An English poet has said that there was a time
when for an Englishman it was fame enough
"That Ch atm as’» language was his native tongue.
"And Wolfe’s great name compatriot with his
own.”
Now, Gentlemen, it is fame enough for me, if it
may be thought that in my political conduct I have
maintained, defender!, and acted upon the princi
ple# of Virginia and Massachusetts#, as these princi
ples were proclaimed and sustained in the two great
epochs in the history of our country—the Revolu
non and me adoption oi me present constitutional
Government. If I have worked steadily to this
end, I am sure that, whether much has been done
or little has been done, it has been directed towards
a good purpose. [Loud applause.] All that 1
say to-day. and all that I may say on similar occa
sion*. I wish to be in the spirit of W ashington and
Madison, Wythe and Pendleton, and the proscrib
ed patriots of Massachusetts, Haaroek and Samuel
Adams. [Applause.] If the&e and other great
founders of our liberty and fathers of our Constdu.
tion erred, then have I erred; then I have been the
most incorrigible of political sinners. [Laughter.]
But if they were right, then 1 venture to hope that
I am right also; and neither principalities nor
powers, nor things pr« sent nor things to come, shall
eradicate that hope fmm my breast. [Loud and
enthusiastic cheeiing-]
The leading sentiment in the toast from the chair
is the L'nion of the States. The L'kion of the
States! What mind can comprehend the conse
quences of that Union, past, present, and to come ? j
The L'nion of these States is the all-absorbing topic
of the day; on it all men write, speak, think, and di
late, from the ti&ing of the sun to the going down
thereof. [Applau«e.] And yet, gentlemen, 1 fear
its importance has been but insufficiently appreci
ated. Like all common blessings, however great
it has been of late years too little the subject of re,
flection. The unthinking and careless barely take
heed of that atmosphere which supports their lives
from day to day and from hour to hour. As the
sun rises hi the morning, follows its track through
the heavens, and goes down atnight. we notice iu
course, enjoy its light and heat, and when we see
it sink beneath the western horizon, we have no
doubt, we do not think of the possibility that it may
not appear for another day. We are in no fear of
perpetual darkness, or the return of chaos. So it is
’»ith cur politic*! system under a United Govern
ment and National Constitution. To these most
of u* were born ; we have lived under their daily
blessing*, a* it those blessings were not only mat
ters of course, but imperishable alto. But alas,
gentlemen, human structures, however strong, do
not «tand upon the everlasting laws of nature. They
may crumble, they may fall, and republican institu
tions of government will assuredly sooner or later
crumble and full, if there shall not continue to be
among the people an intelligent regard for such in
stitutions, u great appreciation of their benefits.and
a spirited purpose to uphold and maintain them.
And when they shall crumble and fall, the political
catastrophe w ill resemble that w hich w ould happen
in the natural world were the sun to be struck out
ofheaven. If this Union were to be broken up by
nullification, separation, secession, or whatsoever
event of equally repulsive name and character, cha
os would come again, and where all is now light
and joy and gladness, there would be spread over us
a darkness like that of Erebus. Yes, gentlemen, I
have little patiencewiththc.se who talk flippantly of
secession and disunion : they do not appear to me
to under»tund of what they s|>eak, not to have the
least idea of its consequences. If they have any
meaning. I do not comprehend that meaning. Sup
pose this Union were dissolved to-day, where would
we b^ tomorrow ? I think a state of things would
arise in which I should feel disposed to take shelter
in the caverns of the mountains, or seek some other
place of obscurity in which I should not witness the
degradation and ruin of the country. Every such
anticipation present* a gloomy and horrible picture;
it is a vast Serbonian bog. 1 never saw- a happy
man in it, unless he thought he was about getting
out. How could a man lie be happy in it, hopeless
ly up to his middle in mud? [Groat laughter.]—
Those who love the Union ardently, and who mean
to defend it gallantly, are happy, cheerful, with
bright and buoyant hopes for the future, and full of
manly firmness and resolution. But secesssion and
disunion are a region of gloom and morass ami
swamp; no cheerful breezes fan it, no spirit of
health visit* it; it is all malaria. It is all fever
and ague. [Laughter and greot applause.] Noth
ing beautiful or useful grows in it; the traveller
through it breaths miasma, and treads among every
tiling unwholesome and loathsome. It is like the
region of your great Dismal Swamp ; it is all
“Tangled juniper, beds of weeds,
With many a fer. where the serpent feeds.
And man never trod before.’’ [Laughter.]
For one, I have no desire to breathe such an air.
or to have such footing for my walks. [Applause.]
Gentlemen, I am aware that the respect paid to
me to-day is in consequence of my support of the
adjustment measures of the last Congress. Al
though I wished to raise no false alarm, nor create
any fear*, yet ] believed in my conscience that a cri
sis was at hand; a dangerous, a fearful crisis; and
I resolved to meet it at any hazard, and with what
ever strength I possessed. A true patiiot, like a
faithful mariner, must be prepared for all exigen
cies; in the words of the old song :
-“lie is born for all weather* ;
Let the winds blow high or blow low,
His duty keep* him to his tillers.
Arid where the gale drives he must go. [Ap
plause-]
The support of the Union is a great practical sub
ject, involving the prosperity and glory of the whole
country, aud affecting the prosperity of every indi
vidual in it. We are about to take a large and
comprehensive view of it, to look to its vast results,
and to the consequences which would flow from its
overthrow. * t is not a mere topic for ingenious dis
quisition or theoretical or fanatical criticism.—
Those who assail the Union at the present day seem
to be persons of one idea only, and many of them of
but half an idea. [Applause.] They plant their
batteries on some useless abstraction, some false
dogma, or some gratuitous assumption. Or perhaps
it may be more proper to sny that they look ut it
with microscopic eyes, seeking for some spot, or
speck, or blot, or blur, and if they find any thing of
this kind, they are for at once overturning the whole
fabric. And, when nothing else will answer, they
invoke religion and “peak of a higher law. Gen
tlemen,this North Mountain is high,the Blue Hidge
higher still, the Alleghany higher than either, and
yet this higher law ranges further than an eagle’s
flight above the highest neuks of the Allegany.—
[Laughter. I No common, vision can discern it; no
conscience not transcendental and ecstatic can feel
it; the hearing of common men never learns its high
behests; andjthcreforc one should think it is not nsafe
law to be acted on in matters of the hightest practi
cal moment. It is the code, however, of the fanat
ical and factious abolitionists of the North.
The secessionist of the South take a different
course of remark. They arc learned and eloquent;
they nre animated and full of spirit; they ar high
minded and chivalrous; they state their supposed
injuries and causes of complaint in elegant phrases
and exalted tones of speech. But these complaints
are all vague and geneaal. I confess to you, gen
tlemen. that I know no hydrostatic pressure strong
enough to bring them into any solid form, in which
they could be seen or felt. [Laughter and ap
plause.] They think otherwise, doubtless. But
for one, I can discern nothing real or well- grounded
in their complaints. If I may he allowed to be a
little professional, I would say that all their com
pluints and alleged grievances are like a very in
sufficient plea in law; they arc had on general de
murer for want of substance. [Loud laughter.]—
But 1 am not disposed to reproach these gentlemen,
or to speak of them with disrespect. I prefer to
leave them to their own reflections. I make no ar
guments against resolutions, conventions, secession
speeches, or proclamations. Let these things go on.
The whole matter, it is to be hoped, will blow over,
and men will return to a sounder mode of thinking.
But one thing, gentlemen, he assured of—the first
step taken in tie* programme of secession which
shall he an actual infringement of the Constitution
or the Laws will he promptly met. [Great applause.]
And I would not remain an l.our in any Administra
tion that should not immediately meet any such dota
tion of the Constitution and the Law effectually, and
at once [Prolonged applause.] And I can assure
you, gentlemen, that all with whom I am ut present
associati d in the Government entertain the same de
cided purpose. [Renewed applause, with cheers. ]
And now. gentlemen, let me advert to a cheering
and gratifying occurrence. Let medo honor to your
great and ancient Commonwealth of Virginia. Let
me say that in my opinion the resolutions passed by
her Legislature ut the last session, in which some
gentlemen now present bore a part, have effectually
suppressed forever, 1 hope, the notion of separate
Governments nnd new Confederacies, [(heat aj»
plause.] All hopes of disunion founded upon the
probable course of Virginia are dissipated into thin
air. [Cheers.] An eminent gentleman in the Nash
ville Convention ejaculated, “Oh that Virginia were
with us! If Virginia would but take the lead in
going out (tf the Union, other Southern States would
cheerfully follow her lead.” Ah. hut that “if' was
a great obstacle! [Laughter.] It was pregnant
with important meaning. “If Virginia would take
the lea*l.” But who that looked for any consisten
cy in Virginia expected to see Virginia leading
States out of the Union, since she took such great
pains, under the counsels of her ablest and wisest
men, to lead them into it? [Applause.] Her late
resolutions have put a decided negative upon that
“if,” nnd the country cordially thanks her for it.
Fellow-citizens, I must bring these remarks to a
close. Other gentlemen nre present to whom you
expect to have the pleasure of listening. [Cries of
Go on! Go on!] Mv concluding sentiment is—
“The Union ok the States: May those ancient
friends, Virginia and Massachusetts, continue to up
hold it so long as the waves of the Atlantic shall heat
on the shorps of the one, or the Alleghanies remain
firm on their buses in the terrritorie# of the other!”
This sentiment was received with enthusiastic
demonstrations of applause. The room resounded
with the plaudits of the immense crowd, and the
cheers followed each other in such quick succession
that it appeared as if they would lift the roof; and it
was noticed that one venerable man went up and
actually put hi* arm* around Mr. WEBSTER, while
seated in his « hair, and exclaimed “God bless you,
lor you are the greatest man in the world!”
It is proper t<* remark that Mr. Webster was
called upon to deliver a second Speech on the eve
ning «.f the above-mentioned dinner, which contained
some important feature*. Our correspondent .how -
ever. has not yet forwarded it to us, but we shall lay
it before our reader* at ihe earliest moment were
ceive an authorized copy of it: for, from what we
hear, it ought to he considered os a continuation of
the foregoing.
The speech of Mr. Webster was follow
ed by addresses from Mr. Barney of Bal
timore, Mr. Levin of Philadelphia, and the
accomplished and popular Minister of the
English Government, Sir H. L. Bulwer.
Sir Henry has frequently spoken in this
country upon similar occasions, and has es
tablished for himself the reputation of be
ing one of the most felicitous dinner-table
orators now living. After acknowledging
in handsome terms the compliment con
veyed by the toast, and alluding in very
complimentary language to those who had
pieccded him, especially Mr. Webster,
whose voice he said was as eloquent as
that of nature herself in those romantic
solitudes, lie continued :—
“With your political parties and discus
sions, gentlemen, I have nothing to do—to
them I am and wish to be an entire stran
ger; but, independently of all such parties
snd discussions, I can understand and ad
mire a great political sentiment. The ora
tor of old, when asked what quality was
most essential to the exercises of his art,
replied “action;” and when asked what was
the next quality, again and againanswered
“action;” by which he did not mean the
waving of the hand here or the lifting of
the arm there, but that eartnestness which
is the expression of true feeling. Gentle
men, the modern Demosthenes who is this
day amongst you, when asked again and
again what is most essential at this moment
to the welfare of his country, has said, with
that earnestness which his predecessor de
scribed, again and again, “union.” [Great
applause.) Gentlemen, T am the citizen of
an extensive empire, the subject vf a sov
araign whose dominion* stretchout far and
wide over ihe Surface of the globe, and I
can well comprehend and sympslize with
the atatesman, who, proud of the authority
and majesty of this vast republic, shrinks
with horror from the thought of its being
split up into petty commonwealths, compa
ratively insignificent in power and small in
extent.
I do not, however, agree with some pre
ceding speakers, that it is altogether un
natural or uncommon to find great
Statesmen who speak with indiffierence of
the possibility of great States becom
ing small ones. [Sensation.] There are
such men in my own country, and I am
not astonished at it. If you want to know
the value of health you must not expect to
ascertain it from inquiry of the strong and
robust. It is the invalid who will tell it to
you; and thus it is with nations. If you
wish to learn the value of national power
and national greatness, you must ask the
question of the Pole, the Venetian, the Ge
noese—of the people who, owing to their
divisions and their weakness, have lost a
national existence; or you must direct your
enquiry to the people of those small States
in Europe or America, which still exist,
but while they enjoy the name of indepen
dence, are alternately under the dictator
ship of domestic, factions or foreign force.
[Applause.] Honor, then, to the man who
collects from the aggregate wisdom of a
great community a sufficient moral power
to assuage local passions and keep within
appropriate limits party discontents. [Ap
plause.] But, gentlemen, if it be a great
and noble task thus to unite and keep unit
ed the various elements w hich constitute
the character and greatness of one nation,
it is surely a task as noble and as great to
unite together and keep united two migh
ty nations, who, by their joint authority as
the representatives of that admirable com
bination of liberty and order which is every
where the sign and symbol of the Anglo
Saxon race, may exercise a beneficent and
universal influence over the happiness and
destinies of mankind. [Loud and long ap
plause.]
Gentlemen, with this idea now present,
to my thoughts. I, as ail Englishman, say
to you as Americans, “union, union, union.'*
[Applause.) Aye, let there not only be
peace between us, let there be union also.
[Continued applause.] The word resounds
through these halls appropriately, let it
reach the ears of Mr. Iticard! Is he not,
gentlemen, himself the type of union?—
For lias he not united all the charms of
sceneryand society, of water and of wine,
of health and amusement in this lovely
spot? [Applause.] And as I look around
me and see the animated looks and admir
ing eyes to my left, and the gentle glances
and graceful smiles of the fairer portion of
my audience to my right, can 1 be wrong
in conjecturing that there is a favorable
disposition on all sides of me towards a
united state! [Much laughter and ap
plause.] For my own part, gentlemen,
wnewer as regards me union oeiween me
different States of the federal republic, or
whether as regards the union between us
Englishmen and you Americans, or wheth
er as regards the union between woodland
and waterfall and good cheer and good
company, or whether as regards the best
and closest of all possible unions, viz., that
between warm hearts and willing hands,
[much laughter and applause.] 1 declare
myself professedly and emphatically a un
ion naan, (renewed laughter and applause,)
and as such have enjoyed your festivity;
partaken of your sentiments and now beg
to leave amongst you my kindest thanks
and my most hearty good wishes.
[The honorable gentleman sat down a
midst loud and prolonged cheering, tc
which followed three cheers for Bulwer.—
Nat. Ini, j
University of Virginia.
The annual ceremonies of commence
ment were held in the Rotunda of the U
niversity, Saturday week, in the presence
of a large audience, among whom were
Miss. Bremer, the Swedish authoress and
Gov. Floyd. We learn from the Virginia
Advocate, that the number of students
who received the various rewards for
merit and successful study was very large.
The addresses were of a high order of
merit, creditable alike to the young gen
tlemen who delivered them and to the
University. The oration delivered by Mr.
John Randolph Tucker, before the Soci
ety of Alumni was an elaborate defence of
the right of separate State secession. The
address will be published.
Inconsequence, as we presume, of the
sentiments uttered by this speaker, a reso
lution was offered in the Society by Col.
John B. Baldwin, to the effect that the So
ciety did not wish to be understood either
as approving or disapproving the opinions
expressed in the speeches published by its
order, which gave rise to considerable dis
cussion. On thefirstday of the meeting it was
adopted; but on Saturday, when there was
a much larger attendance, a reconsidera
tion was carried, and the resolution so a
mended as to be prospective in its opera
tion. It will go into effect on and after
the first of January, 1852. The modifica
tion was made to satisfy the friends of Mr.
Tucker, who stated that they would con
sider it an insult pointed at him, if, after his
speech had been delivered, the Society re
quired such a resolution to be published
along with it.
Hon. Robert Toombs, of Georgia, was
elected to deliver the next annual oration.
The Board ofVisitors of the University
have appointed Jas. P. Holcombe, Esq.,
formerly of this place, Adjunct Professor
of Law. He will take charge of the equi
ty branch of the law course, and also of
some other subjects which have necessari
ly been passed over hastily heretofore.
Thursday evening, preceding the com
mencement, the Valedictory Oration be
fore the Washington Society of the Uni
versity, was delivered by Mr. Samuel Gar
land, Jr. of Lynchburg. The subject was
me (Junes ui me \uuug men ui me
South;” and we express,says the Advocate,
the general sentiment when we say, that it
was handled in a manner which did great
credit to the speaker. The theme was a
delicate one, as Mr. Garland seemed to be
fully aware; but he treated it in such a
manner as to wound the feelings of no one.
He advocated with great warmth tlio for
mation of a Union party, by which the
foul spirit of abolition would be driven out
of the country. On the whole the speech
was an excellent one.
or i ,ate accounts from the Rocky
Mountains, state that the small-pox and
cholera have been making fearful ravages
among the Sioux Indians during the past
winter. It is supposed that from three to
four thousand of these Indians have died
of these diseases, both of which were in
troduced among them by the emigrants to
Oregon and California.
The Whigs of Ohio met in State
Convention at Columbus on the 3rd July.
Samuel J. Vinton was nominated for Gov
ernor by a large majority. A Committee
on resolutions was appointed, which was
to report to a subsequent meeting
The Tragedy at IVelsea C. H.
^Ve have received from a friend at Nel
son C. H. an account of the dreadful catas
trophe which occurred there, the 1st July,
but as the subjoined narntivc, published in
the \ irginia Advocate, is fuller and more
circumstantial, we prefer giving it. The
writer is known to us, and hia statements
may be relied on.
M hat occurred in Charlottesville is thus
related iti the Advocate, “First came Dr.
W illiams and Miss Morriss (the affianced
lovers) with two brothers of Dr. W. and
Mr. Hill. Soon afterwards, Mr. Kichard
Morriss and his son Richard (the father and
brother of Miss Morriss) and Mr. Shelton
arrived in hot pursuit after the fugitives.—
The whole of Monday evening wus con
sumed in propositions from one side to the
other—Dr. Williams refusing to give up
the young lady to the father. Counsel were
called in, who decided that there was no
law by which Mr. Morriss could recover
possession of his daughter. Threats passed
freely on hotli sides, and young Morriss
being told that bis sister would not be giv
en up without a light, drew a pistol upon
one of Dr. Williams’ brothers, who showed
that he was fully prepared far such an c
mergency, and blood would have licen
shed bad not the bystanders interferred to
prevent it. The parlies were then arrest
ed, disarmed and bound over to keep the
peace. In the course of the evening, Mr
Morriss obtained possession of his daugh
ter, and thus ended the affair in Charlottes
ville.
Lovingston, 4th July, 1S51.
Mr. Koitor: In order that your rea
ders may have a true account of the occur
rence, which lias, through the instrumcn
tality of »t> aHgcn, made our village, peace
ful in itself, the scene of another fatal ren
contre, I will proceed to detail the material
facts—
On last Monday about sunrise, a party
consisting of I)r. L. D. Williams, of Am
herst, his two younger brothers, and Mr.
E. J. Hill, arrived here in company with
Miss Morris, a daughter of Kichard G.
Morriss, Esq., of Amherst, on their way
North, to consummate the marriage of the
Dr. and Miss Morriss, Mr. Morriss being
violently opposed to the match.
Some three hours after the first party
left, Mr. Morriss arrived in hot pursuit—
accompanied by his son Kichard,.
We learn that he overtook the party in
Charlottesville. What occurred is known
to you. It seems all parties were appre
hended, hound over in small penalties, and
Mr. M. obtained possession of his daughter,
'flic Williams party started brick, and
reached hereabout twilight—-and Mr.Mor
riss arrived in about hnlfun hour after,mid
put up at the same house, Mr. McCaulV
The Williams’ informed the landlord
that they did not wish logo to the public
table, if Mr. M. was to be there. They
were informed that Morris had ordered
supper in his room, nnd were requested to
go down to the table—and they went ac
cordingly. Young Mr. Morns, it seems
left his father’s room, went to a Coffee
House, got a small julep, and returned to
the tavern, and instead of going to his fa
ther, s room, and in spite of a request to go
there, he went to the public table, at which
there were some fifteen or more persons,
several of whom were ladies. He took his
seat directly opposite Dr. Williams, (thin
was doubtless accident,) nnd instead of
rating commenced staring him in the face.
Dr. W. continued to sip bis coTee, when
to the consternat ion of all, Morris seized a
plate and threw it violently in Dr. Wil
liams* face at the same time springing up
with a drawn pistol. All parties firllowed
suit. The confusion and alarm, the shrieks
of the ladies, and shouts of the rnrn, the
rush of chairs, and crash of ware cannot
he described. The evidence was, that
Morris’ first barrel did not go off, the cap
exploding. The witnesses think that he
and Dr. W. exchanged shots. Hut by
whom any of the parties were shot is mere
matter of conjecture, except Dr. W. lie
was shot in the bar-room by young Mor
ris. For there was a general rush up
stairs from the dining room, Dr. W. ahead,
Morris after, and others following. There
had been a loud shout, that they should
clear the dining room.
It is supposed there were from five to
seven shots in the dining room, and one,
others arc positive two, up stubs Hill
was certainly shot in the dining room, on
the right side about the lower part of bis
vest, through which the bull pnssed.—
Young Morris was caught by someone in
the bar-room as be was falling, taken up
stairs, and died almost instantly. He was
shot from behind, the ball entering near
the spine. His corpse left here* Wednes
day evening for Moj. Yancey’s. Dr. Wil
liams and Hill are both here dangerously
wounded. Hopes are entertained that
both may i ecover. The prospect for Dr.
W’s. recovery is most flattering. Capt.
Morris was in his room with bis daughter
when the affray commenced, and reached
the bar-room, only in time to receive bis son
ns falling.
All the living persons, except Cant.
Morris, were immediately arrested at the
instance of a Justice, by special consta
bles, without warrant
Their trial came off on Wednesday be
fore Col. Jos. Dillard, John Horsley and
Wilson Peters Esq. and after bearing the
evidence of a host of witnesses who gave
testimony with hurdly a shadow of vari
ance, all were promptly discharged who
were present, (the two younger Williams)
and the warrant dismissed as to Hill and
Dr. Williams, against whom also the pro
cess issued. This result was inevitable
from the evidence.
I he parties could not have been in our
place half an hour, before these awful re
sults followed. Hill was doubtless shot
by Morris, and he thinks Morris was shot
by him, in the dining room; though Mr.
Morris says, his son told him, that Robert
Williams shot him. Circumstance* render
both statements doubtful, if not improba
ble.
I am happy to say that though the din
ing room was full of hid ics and gentlemen
and though it was night, and persons were
passing about the tavern porch and street,
fortunately no one else was injured.
The wounded have several friends and
relations, and besides our own, their fami
ly physician Dr. Jno. Patterson of Lynch
burg, with them, and have secured every
attention that solicitude and kindness can
suggest.
The Williams* intended, under advice,
to leave for home, immediately after sup
per. The evidence was conclusive of
voting Mr. Morn** intention toha\eadif
ficulty, at some time, if not that night.
1 have not heart to speak of Capt. Mor
ris* anguish and almost frenzy that night
—nor of his saddened and melancholy and
unhappy state of mind next morning—nor
yet of the piercing shrieks, the wailing,
and unutterable agony of the unhappy
daughter. Her father started home the
next morning,his daughter lying down in
the carriage, the picture of the deepest suf
fering and a broken heart.
Hill’s widowed mother is by his side—
I learn that the utmost misery has been
thus visited on both families. Old Mr.
Williams is an invalid, and several of hi*
family ill. The shock at Mr. Morris* home
any one may imagine, and not over-esti
mate what I heard was its effect.
I have thu6 endeavored, guided, solely
b^' tbcevidence, and without detailing it, to
give the received version of this awful oc
currence, expressing no opinion M to ray
tiling that happened before tbs fight, or
laying blame at the door of any one.
Pours, 4c., R. W.
Meatus on Plauk Heads.
It i» aaid that Captain Erickson is enga
ged in producing a steam carriage for nse
upon plank mads, hy which large bodies
msy be transported at a good speed with
small cost. 1- ificcn years ago, many at*
tempt* were made In England to produce
(i steam carriage suitable to bo used upoif
common roada, but no experiment resulted
favorably. Either the expenaeof the pow
er, or the softness oi the roada, prevented'
the practical introduction of the machines,
though many steam juurnics were per
formed. There seems to be no good rea
son why steam power cannot be success
fully used on our* plank roads, and we have
no doubt it will soon hr.—Buffalo Courier,
This object is worthy of the genius of
Erickson; and we most sincerely wish him
entire success, in his laudablo efforts t,r
cheapen the transport, of the products of
industry. Nothing could tend in a greater
degrccto add to the profits of labour, than
to diminish transit charges, by the in
troduction of so powcrftil an agent ar
Steam on road-ways costing no rtiorc,'
than IMaiik Roads,
Horse power on Plank roads, affords
advantages and facilities, that are working
wonderful changes both In New York and
Ohio; in the valuo of Agricultural proper
ty. Should Captain Erickson lie able to
invent a Locomotive, that enn be used on'
Plank Roads generally, those nib tillage*
and facilities will doubtless bo increased
an hundred fold, in other localities, as well
as in those, to which reference is made a
bove. These feodcra to our great Rail
way, might and would be extended through
every county on either side ol it; and into
North Carolina and Kentucky. Then
would the Ituilrouds he of tho same value
to the whole people of South Carolina and'
Virginia, as a highway to market; as are
the great rivers of the West, to the people
of that highly favoured region,
% " - —* • *— —■
i iimuniiii.
In this new State political parties are
now fairly arrayed against each other.—
The following art* the nominations ttladd
hy the Whig and Democratic parties res*
pectivelv, at Conventions held recently:
WHIO IlF.MoCltATtC.
Governor.
Pearson 13. Heading.John Bigler.
Lieutenant Governor.
I). B. Baldwin.Samuel Purdy .
Judge of the Supreme Court.
Tod Ilobinson.Sol. Heydetifoldt.
State Treasurer.
J. M. Burt.Richard Roman.
Comptroller.
Alex.G. Abell.WinslowS. Pierce.
Attorney General.
Wm. D. Fair.Suin']. C. Hastings.
Surveyor General.
Walter Herrin.Wm. M. Eddy.
Members of Congress.
E. J. C. Kowcn.Jos. W. McCorkle.
B. F. Moore.Ed’d C. Marshall.
Speaking of the late fire at San Francis*
co, the Alta California of31st May, says :
“Our city inbuilt up again ? In our hint i*su«t for
tin* State*, we told (.fits destruction—-now, of if*
resurrection. Some plant* take root ami sprout up*
ward in sUcliA burry llwt they bring the obi shell
of the germ whence they sprung, Upon the upshoot*
ing stalk, the hull, husk nr ill dinging to it. Ho if
i* of oil- city. She hn* sprung up front her ruin*
literally w ith n*he* Upon her head, standing upon
ember*. We ImVo flreet* again, block* again,
house*, store*. business, excitement, bustle, pro*
grei>*, prosperity. Three-fourth* of the afreet* are
lined again with hubitniions, although not four
week* hate ellipticd vine* the fire.
Mo, too, i* it of Stockton. Account* from there
are very encouraging. Her people have not been
disheartened by their great calamity, hut have pro*
grossed wry far in remedying, by building, the das*
truction of their great fire.
These two fires have not lind a* much effort n»
was anticipated, in raising price*, on account of
great quantities of good* on *hip-hourd, and largo
cargoes which have arrived since.
• • - •
L1F* Suspicion has been excited at \V ueb -
ington that an itnrnenss fraud lias been
practiced upon the Government by the use
of forged papers, to prove a claim before
the Mexican Commission. The matter hns
been turned over to Mr. Fendall, District
Attorney for the district. A number of
witnesses, embracing some of the Mexican
Legation, have been summoned before the
Grand Jury. The facts developed now,
are, that Mr. Porter, who is now in New
York, but was formerly a merchant at
I’ucblu, Mexico, (the same gentleman who
had the tobacco dispute with ex-Secretory
Clayton,)stated to Mr. Parrott, that Doctor
Gardiner had told him,just previous to his
sailing, that his claim was a fraudulent one,
and had been sustained with forged pajiers,
got up in Mexico, and that, us parties in
Washington had got the lion’s share out of
it, he was determined they should sharcthc
blame also.
- • • •-— -
Fourth of July.
Absence from town prevented our wit
nessing the celebration of the National An
nersary in J.ynchburg, and we are depen
dent upon others for information in regard
to if. The Declaration of Independence
was read in fine style by Mr. Wood villa
Latham, anti an Oration delivered by Ro.
L. Kent, Esq., which we are told, was
characterized by much Driiuancy oi mcm
pbor, beauty of diction and clo<|uonco of
thought and manner. The RiflcGuords and
Light Infantry, under their new and ac
complished Captains, Messrs. Maurice and
Daniel Langhorne, made a very striking
and soldierly display. After the oration,
they, with their guests, repaired to ashaded
and breezy island near town, wlicre they
partook of those "creature comforts,” ne
cessary alike to the soldier and citizen.
Mur red Concert.
Wo call attention to the advertisement,
of Messrs. Everett and Co. to he found in
another column. We arc informed that
the classes under their charge, have in an
unusually brief time, attained very consul
crable proficiency in the art of singing, and
have no doubt, that their concert this even
ing, will afford a pleasant and gratifying
entertainment.
--
BTHososasv.—At the late commence
ment of Randolph Macon College the de
gree of Master of Arts was conferred oa
the Rev. John C. Granbcrry of this place.
Rev. Wrn. S. White, of Lexington, for
merly of Charlottesville, has had the de
gree of Doctor of Divinity conferred upon
him by Princeton College.
At the Commencement of Dickinson
College, held on the 2Gth of June, the de
gree of D. D. wasconferrcd upon the Rev
Charles Collins, President of Emory and
Henry Cellege.
Another "fire-damp exploaion” oc
curred at tbo Black Heth Coal mines in
Chesterfield county, the 30lh ult., by which
four persons lost thoir lives. An hour Ister
150 persons would have been in the pit