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? ' THE CAMDEN JOURNAL* [A'F.W SERIES ] VOL.1. CAMDEN, SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1840. AO39. ' THE COW BOYS. "I'll read you a matter deep and dmgerous, full of peril and adventurous spirit." The intervening period from the commencement of the year 1776 to the close of *78, was an eventful time for the Republic. They had declared their Independence, had thrown off the yoke of Britain, and the ti:nc had now arrived when, in the words of a patriot, it was lo be seen " Whether Americans had virtue enough to be free or n ; The year *78, was particularly .listing i !-r the evacuation of Philadeiph by liie British, for several brilliant encasements on the tented field, which shed a:: undying' lustre upon the American arms, and for the many bands of predatory ruffians who i tinted the forests in the vicinity of New York, .*nd "lhe neutral ground." Thev were composed ?f renegade tories and villains of every description. They were fierce savages, verifying the assertion of [he poet? >' Ho that ioVes not hie country, loves nothing." It was a balmy inning in June. The sun shone with intense brilliancy, and his burning rays were reflected bom ll,e ar* mor of a solitary equpstrian, who was wending his way from West Chesi.fr to Philadelphia His demeanor stnmpb.d liitn at ouc?- as e of the brave sons of liberty. Ao a: f determination and fearlessne ... nJed with a humorous expression which lingered about tiis visage, upon whir!-. " middle age Hi : iligiitly pressed Lcr signet sage." "Juvc!" t-x claimed he, "here is old Biker's tiny told nm of at Chester," and __ spro:--: .-sj-ided Rosemante; he soon (listnoiint u a; the door of a miserable inn, and giving Li* noble beast into the hands of an attendant, made his way into the interior of the dwelling. The landlord was alone. Our adventnrvr L?w>w Lim for a staunch patriot, and greewd hini ;se-* >r o.iglv ' Well Baker," p;u.! i;<. "t- ,j \ n.-ws stirring?" "]S->u* :>C i .iNi-qtit'iici-, sir. Are you going t ? ?ny?" "Ye.-; <.. it'? :h?- distance.?" "Abwn in- .i. jits by the district road, bin-" " B : .vh.t:, pi ay?" ' ,'iy; the Cow* Boys are as thick as biackh-rrie-s. A band of twenty robbed iwo *!) :> y sterday. v-d only last Monday, there- > <s i :.-:i.-? ordered outright." Th' s.-?j,p(d at a window and mused anxiously. At length he said, in a subdued voice,?"Ba'^er, I have been tuld'yoai art honest. I am paymaster in the army, and with tne I have several thousand' dollars To go through the forest as ? .ir;; :i would be an act of consumo ;; folly. Can you rig me with a poor hoarse an 1 a country man's dress, with a wig and qunker hat.?" "Yes, Major, I have the very things, If yourl come this way I'll show you." In a-few minutes Major Burton returned, hawing undergone a complete metamorphosis. A pair of homespun breeches, drab coat, and broad hritnrd beaver, had superceded his military equipage, every trace of which had disappeared, and bis soldier like bearing bad given place tc the demure and quiet deportment of the honest qnaker. Albeit his bold eye (lash ed from under the broad brim of his up per integument, and sadly belied the meet disposition which it became him to as sum?. The money wa> c nefullv <iepo-i: cd in a pair of saddle bags, which wen thrown across the saddle, and Maj. Bur ton mounted. * Good morning, Baker. Take goo. care Of rrry beast." "3 wiH," shouted the worthy landlord "and luck be with you." The Major rode on in silence, and thu communed with himself: "This is indeei making a virtue of necessity, to be com pelleil'to ride'this sorry jade." It was transformation indeed, and no one woul havesupposed him any other than a peace ful and harmless quaker. lie had proceeded about a mile into th forest, and was turning a short angle i the road, \t hen he was commanded, in 6terttorian voice, to "stand!" Two me were near him, as villanous looking be ings as one may^ often look upon. Squ: lid wretchedness was depicted on ever feature, and in a voice rendered hollow b niinori'. ?hpv demanded his money. "Ma-! my friends," said our gpnilc qm kcr, "I have but little filthy lucre, y< even that little I will bestow upon thei if thou demandest it. Eut, friend, r< lease my beast, and fear not that I sha attempt to escape thee. Why dost tho pursue this course, ruining both the b< dy and that immortal part that dycth no I would that ye would cleave unto som honest calling?but if ye will imbrue vol hands in the blood of your fellow mei join the forces of your country, and?" "Look here, you infernal hypocrite! shouted one of them, "stop your ling' Give us vour money, and curse yot preaching." The quake fumbled first in one pock and then in the other; producing son change, he handed it to them in silenc Ttey eyed the paltry sura with looks i,. v which chargrin and wrath struggled for mastery. Three fips and four coppers! Begone!" and bestowing two or three kicks upoi the old horse, which merely started him into a gallop, they dashed through the I tangled waste of underwood, and were Jsoon beyond the ken of the honest qua|J .:r, alias Maj. Burton of the Continental I Army. He sobered his animal into a pa jtierit trot more becoming his garb, and ! whistling as he went for want of thought, ! he soon entered the city in safety, and jwith his comrades in arms, had many a ;hearty laugh at his adventure with the Cow Boys. Curing Bacon.?A travelling correspondent of the Kentucky Farmer, states that at the house of a Mr. Yost of Tood, County, he partook of the most delicious bacon he ever ate; and furnishes Mr. Y.'s . method of curing his bacon as follows: "Kill in the morning,and cut upas soon as cool, say in three or four hours, and salt immediately. To one thousand lbs. of pork use eighty pounds of salt and one ' - D clrin ttrol 1 piriiliu ui sun |ivnc. iiuu nib or>i.i .. b? 'with the handjuntil it becomes moist, then pack the hams in a trough as close as possible. If the season is not unusually cold, five weeks is long enough to let it lay in b? ine. Then hang up and put smoke of good hickory wood immediately under it, until it has enough. Take down !by the first of March, and pack away in dry hickory ashes?being particular to rub well on the fleshy parts. Lay the meat as high in the smoke house as possi blc on boards or plank, and put corn cobs bel'fccn to prevent it from touching. GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. Fellow Citizens of the Semtc, and of the House of Redrcscutalives! Since your I ast meeting, an event of a most melancholy character has occurred within our borders. South Carolina has 1 been called upon to mourn the death ofj tier Ufiiel Magistrate, me viruous mm patriotic Noble, who was cut down in the (vigor of his days, with the fair prospect 1 of many more years of usefulness and 1 honour. T3ut while we regret his untimely death, as a people's loss, we can cherish with pride, the lecollection of his unobtrusive virtues, his deep devotion to his State, and the many willing honours which he received from his fellow-citizens. Discharging his duties in the various public stations to which he was called, with i uncompromising fidelity, it is no unmerited elognim to declare, that few public men have enjoyed in so high a degree the esteem and confidence of the people, and I left a reputation so dear lo Carolina. By J a provision of the Constitution of our State, at the period of his decease, the, duties of Chief Magistrate devolved upon me, and in the further discharge of my duty, i address you on the present occasion. We have abundant cause of thankful j ness to the Almighty Disposer of Events,' for the blessings which we have enijoycd during the past year. Stales I no less than individuals, should be ready I to acknowledge the divine goodness; and, as the chosen representatives of the people, you wiil carry into your deliberations a sense of your dependence upon Him, and a spirit of sincere, unaffected, devotion to his,will. Surely it cannot be said II that I do violence to the liberties of con" vi' ore. when I call upon you to bow before thai God whom we ail proms.-- to. worship; to supplicate in earnestness and sincerity that Power by whose will alone, j nations stand, and at whose nod "desoJa-| tion cometh as a whirlwind." i As a people we have been peculiarly! blessed. Amid the general pressure of the times, we have suffered but little.! ? while thousands and tens of thousands of * our fellow-citizens in other sections of the country, have been overwhelmed in " poverty and ruin, (io from neigtibourll hood to neighbourhood, throughout our territory, and, with the most inconsiderable exceptions, every where you meet the e evidences of comfort and plenty. The 11 problem is now solved, that with proper 3 OiToj t, the poor can become rich, cud the n iu:lt richer, within the limits of Carolina.{ The spirit of emigration to the fertile val-| l" lies of the west, which drove so many of y our people from their native soil, has in a i' great measure subsided, ant! been succeeded by a patriotic devotion which every I succeeding year'scrvcs but to strengthen. The lessons of dear b )ught experience have not been without profit. The goneral ruin which has tended greatly to sutis" (y our people with their pi csent home, u and make them look to industry and care, 5" and not to the chances of speculation, for the means of improving their condition. ie It is matter of sincere pride, that our ir leading interest, Agriculture, is now atII > tmrtincr unusual attention. The fact is O ,, made manifesf, thai our lands, by proper cultivation, will yield an abundant pro0> duct; and it is gratifying to know, that many of the first minds of the State arc now demoting their energies to the subject. el Already the improvement in our system ie of cultivation, is marked and decided, ,e* and lands, which but a few years ago were ,n regarded as valuleee, are ranked among the first in the State. As an evidence of the increasing interest in Agriculture, I point you to the recent organization of a Central Society at this town, devoted to the subject, composed of our most intelligent citizens in different sections, and the establishment of a journal under its auspices. It is no less a dictate of patriotism, than of interest that we should be as little dependent upon others, o* possible In a striclsftn.se, w can never be said to be independent, so ioog a- we look to other regions for the vury food which nurtures and sustains us- And it fs not to be expected or cesired, that the time will arrive when the intercourse with our neighbours, (rom an exchange of products, will be arrested, yet it is manifestly true, that no consideration of policy requires that we should exoend annuillv. hundreds of thousands of dollars, for articles which can be grown upon our soil, at a cost far less than that which wc now pay for them. For many years a tin exclusive attention has been devoted to our staple, Cotton. Blessed as we are with a great variety of soil, admirably adapted to the culture of many most valuabl * products, with the certain prospect of a success that will meet the wants of our own people, it is certainly in our power to lessen materally the heavy tribute which we pay to others. The indications of public sentiment abundantly prove that a wholsotne spirit is now at work, and that a diy of better things has dawned upon us* Many of our planters begin almost to doubt the sanity of that man who will make his cottoiij and hiiv cvorv tl.in<r else. Vlnnv dissent from tho hitherto received maxim, in otir agri-l cultural philosophy, that the most successful planter, is he who sends the largest number of bales to his Factor. The modest and unpretending farmer, who makes every thing he wants, and by a sure ' 1'nd regular surplus adds steadily to his i property, l?as forced himself upon public attenti in, and contributed largely to dissipate general and mischievous error. Men | are now more engaged in making calcula- I lions upon the only safe basis, clear pro- < lit. It is gratifying to know, that the oc- I cupation of a Planter, always respecta- j ble among us, has risen in public eslima- i tion to a dignity not second to the learned < professions. The strongest desires now i prevades our community, to develope to i the utmost, the agricultural and other na- i tnral resources of our State. Impressed, i as I know you are, with the importance \ of this fundamental interest, you will feel it your duty to come to its aid, by all the means in your power. As conncccd with this subject, permit me to direct your attention to the importance of a Geological and Agricultural Survey of the State. This matter was brought to the notice of the last Legislature, by Govenor Noble and the State Agricultural Society. I trust it will receive your most serious consideration, as no measure upon which you will be called in ??t invnlvpe ir? a liinrlipr ftpfrrpp. the general interest. ^ South Carolina should not be backward in promoting the cause of science, by following the example of other Slates of our Union, as well as other parts of the world. Apart from the immediate or more remole advantages which are likely to accrue to her from the accomplishment of this object, her reputation, as a liberal and enlightenedGovernment, requires her to respond to the claim which the rest of the civilized world exerts upon her, to confrihuii li?-r proportion to the mass of information already accumulated. From similar considerations, Slates, poorer in resources, more limited in population, and whose citizens are engaged in employments less likely to be directly benefitted by the development of their physical resources, have liberally undertaken and accomplished such projects. But South Carolina is an agricultural State, and it is a lamentable fact, that from the want of correct information^ and from the natural desire for the greatest immediate profit, without reference to future advantages, a large portion of her soil has been exhausted of its fertility, and thrown out of cultivation. A knowledge of the geological structure of our State, is the first and I most essential instrument to arrest this | devastation. iiy indicating the position ! of those calcareous and argrillaceous deI r\A.'tn oru Liinuin tr> ho iridolv j/t'aiia, >t iiitu ut v ??mv .. .. .w m.. .. 'distributed t roughout our borders; by teaching the ruodcs of recognizing, dis linguishing, and applying them, in the varying circumstances to which they arc adajiir , means will be presented of reclaiming thousands of acres of exhausted land, which are now a reproach to our knowledge and entcrprize. w - - in The exploration ol Metallic ures, is a matter of great importance. Two of these, Iron, umi Gold, have received some at lention, The ores of iron are widely distributed througeoul our State, and many of extreme value have been neglected, in consequence of an ignorance of the deposits of those mineral substances, often to be found in their immediate vicinity, which are essential to their profitable working. Gold has been worked out to an inconsiderable extent, and to small profit. The development of the localities of iron, and its proper fluxes, in the gold regions, is very likely^to give an impetus to the production of the latter metal, by causing the introduction of the Russian process of obtaining it, by smelting the ores in combination, and' subsequently separating them, and thus giving a new and extensiv direction for the profitable employment of capital and labor. The great variety of our geological formation, from the oldest or primitive, to the most recent or tertiary, affords reasonable prospect of yielding, by minute scientific examination, other metallic or mineral treasures. Among these, may be enumerated Marble, and materials for building. Coal, or Peat, &c., which, apart from their immediate value, are well worthy of attention, from the new channels of enterprize which they wtll lay open. The College, is in a most prosperous condition, and is fully entitled to your fostering care and protection. The very generous and liberal spirit which the Legislature has always manifested towards 11) id uigiiijr iicuitauic iu uui * w is with pride, I say, that the reasonable | appeals of those to whom is entruated its < immediate control, have never been made t in vain. No false notions of economy, ( have prevented those appropriations i which were calculated to increase its use- 'i fulness, but they have always been made } with promptitude and liberality. c Our Free School System has lately at- r tracted special attention. I trust that, p from the many Reports of the Oommis- r sioners to our late Governor, you will be q able to derive important aid in the patriot- I ic and benevolent effort to place it upon L a more useful and correct foundation.? p Without]presuming to give you even the e outlines of a system, I would respectful- s ly submit a-few remarks on the subject, ti The pay of the Teachers is altogether too r moderate. The very small compensation n may be said, without much of a figure, to poison the whole system. If we value ti professions by their usefulness, none can ii be more important than that of the Tea- r cher. Ilis duties are most irksome and il laborious, and no occupation in life calls s for a rarer combination of talent and char- d icter. The foundation of a complete edu- p cation can be surely laid, only in our ele- fi mentary schools. The importance of a d thorough English oducation, is, to a great ii extent overlooked in our modern systems, a and our youth is hurried into the study of n the ancient classics, without even a decent p konwledge of their own tongue. It is a g humiliating fact, that many, fresh from h the walls of a College, cannot write a d page, without betraying their ignorance u of the structure of our language. This o is no imputation upon the Professors, as p as young men are not sent there to learn t the rudiments of English, but are presum- p ed to know them before their admission* h It is not my design to depreciate the dead a languages, or a knowledge of their Ktera- fc ture: but that education is imperfect, in- ? deed, which looks too exclusively to such f an attainment. A critical knowledge of t our own language, with its literature, I should be the primary object of attention, a and. under no circmstarrces, should be ne- S glected. There can be no occasion for f ihis neglect, as the thorough knoweledge t of one language only facilitates the ac- s quisition of another. It is no easy mat- a ter now, to acquire a good English edu- e lion in South Carolina. He Who would c offer to teach English alone, could not s calculate upon making his bread. Our s modern nolionn require something else; ? and hence, every head of a petty country a school, advertises to give instductions in i Latin, Greek, Italian, and French, and those higher English branches, which can I be properly taught only in a College.? t To know what Homer and Horace wrote, I and to be able to read the Grecian and Ro- t man anthologies, is regarded of more im- t portance than the knowledge of our own J times and country. The Legislature can j do something to reform this slate of | things, by elevating the character of our 1 Free Schools, and requiring that appli- s cants for admission into the College, should I be examined in certain English depart- ' ments, with which now they are only pre- i sumed to be familiar. < There is a more important relation, I however, between the Teacher and Pupil, i than?tlie merely intellectual. It is the i moral relation. IIow vastly important I that the Teacher should possess the re- I quisite moral qualifications; that he should i be able to give that kind of instruction, which alone car. qualify lis for the higher duties of life, and prepare us for eternity, i The education of the mind and heart must go together, or better, far better < would it be for our children to continue i in tlip rfpnths of native innorancc. I would < ... .. I - w not convert our Free Schools into theolo- i gical Seminaries, but it becomes the Legislature to guard, in every proper man- < ner, the morals of the children, and pro- i tliom naainst those sinister influences* " w " e which make them any thing but good and useful citizens. In the words of a distinguished modern writer: "Education consists in learning w hat makes a man respectable, useful and happy." It is all important to elevate the character of the Teachers of Free Schools. The relation between Teacher and Pupil is of the most r esponeible nature, and involves all that i mportancewhich belongs to authority, on the one side, and submission on the other. In addition to literary qualifications, no one should control the education of the joutli of the State, who is deficient in mora] character. Who, I would ask, are the Teachers of Free Schools? Are they men to whom the Legislature can commit, with confidence, the great business of education? What is the amount of their fiterary qualifications, and whsrt the tone of their morality? It is not my lesign to indulge in unnecessary remarks jpon this subject, but truth requires me to say that, as a class, they ere grossly ncompetent to discharge their high and sacred functions. So far as my observation extendi, with but few exceptions, they are very ignorant, and possess very ;asy morality. With poor pay allowed them, we cannot reasonably calculate upon any better state S( things. The mien ivho take charge of our public schools, and lccept so miserable a pniance as the regard of their labors, are they who cannot jet employment on any other terms. Ne:essily forces them to make the offer of heir cervices, and necessity forces the Commissioners to accept them. It is iow in South Carolina a reproach to be a L'eacher of a free pchoo], as it is regarded orima facie evidence of a want of qualification. Men tvili not embark id thebnsiicss of education, from mere motives of >atriolism. You cannot command supeior talent and attainment, without' ade[Uate compensation. The Lawyer, the >hysic:an, and the Artisan, bestow not heir labors gratuitously; and upon what principle of reason or justice, can it be xpected, thai he who has qualined himelf, by years of severe toil, for the most seful of all professions, shall labor at a ate which will not supply the wanl; of aiure? ' * ' Notwithstanding the annnal appropria? ion of thirty-seven thousand dollars, it s yet true, that public education does not eceive from us the consideration to which t is entitled. Permit me - to say, that it ; hould be the prominent subject of your eliberalions, until something is accomlished worthy of South Carolina. * The and which is set apart for this purpose, ees not answer the end, for which it is itended. In many Districts, it is drawn, nd not legitimately appropriated, and in lany instances made the object of improer speculation. I trust that you will, d on with the work which the last Legisiture began, and not be deterred by the ifficulties which attend it. In this matter, re should not count the cost. It is a fair ccasion for experiment. If we are not renared to substitute an entire new sys g- ~ , era, there is no reason why we should* leninaciously reject all modification. lit las been recommended to you, to ereate,n officer, with a competent salary, to ie called the Superintendant of Public Schools. This officer might be elected or one year, and you will at least have he benefit of his labors for that period. !,et him make the four of the Slate, exmine minutely the condition of the Schools in the several Districts, and remit fully to the Legislature, on ail maters relating to the subject, with such uggestion as he may deem proper. An imount of information will thus beobuiu;d, which cannot be procured in any ither way, and which will be of great ervice, in any future .effort to mature a ystem. With a competent omcer, eomo ;ood would be surely done, and upon iuch a subject sound policy justifies the nconsiderable expenditure, For the financial condition of the State, refer you to the Report* of the Comproller-General, and the President of the Sank of the State of South Caroliua. In hesc Reports there is much matter worhy of your most grave consideration.? For some years past the State has antiei>ated her income, and permitted her ex* lenditqres to exceed it. To coyer the deicit, the funds of the Bank have been seized upon, and diverted temporarily from their legitimate employment, by ivhich its operations are necessarily deranged, and its effective power weaken- < sd. The increased abstraction of iter funds has given rise to well-founded alarm, in those who administer its affairs, as well as to the officer who is at the head of your finances. The Comptroller General ha s forcibly exhibited the dangerous tender cy of these measures to cripple, and pe r* haps even to destroy, the usefulness <>f the Bank. The events of the last ytpjr are pregnant with warning, and the Vr c. sident and Directors hare with pro' )Cr earnestness and fidelity, called your 'attention to them. Amidst difficult!* d an(^ embarrassments unexampled in it s j,jstorv. lliev have firmlv met the crie' 13 0f past year, paid olf $SOO,COO r ( tfje of the State, and discharged r,linctu? ality, every liu ilitv present' ,1 ftgJnst the State, or ih* institution, But, whether the othertheavy debts of the ,jtatc wj]| [,e met with equal puncluai'.ty, aml lhe Ballk continue to discharge all other function assigned to it by lb' public, in its future administration, mu u depend, in no small degree, on your a ostainjng from the use of its funds. Of '.is perfect ability to perform all thai U'43 been assigned itr if no \f %