Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-03-30

of the party, near the mouh Vi INC Aa.ue i,A'1
thew were attacked by about SIX hundred Inaiah I
warriors, who had been secreted benind point VI
land. When the Indians were discovered, the
party landed on the Kentucky SHE OF the Onio'
and placed themselves IN the pest posture OF oe-
tba s~csnt;on of Mr.. Benham and another person.
M Renham was shot through both of his thighs,
and having fallen among the weeds, lay undis-
covered Gov, when the Indians were scalping his
comnanions. After the Indians retired, MIR.
Benbam concluded that death wars inevitable,
unless he could get to the mouth of Licking creek,
which was about four miles distant He COM
menced the Journey by drawing his body for
ward by the use Of his hnads In his way he
found his only surviving companion, both whose
arms were shot thro' and broken. These suffer-
ers were of mutual assistance to each other
Mr.. Benham. having the use of his hands, gath
cred roots and the bark of soft woods, on which
they subsisted, and his companion, having the
use of his feet, brought water from the river IN
hat which he held in his teeth. They had nearly
approached the place of their destination, when
they were humanely taken off by some boatmen
that were descending the river. Mr.. Benham
survived, and was in Gen. ST Glars army at
the time of its defeat. This is short account OF
the services and suerings of the father Of Joseph
s. Benham. When Mr. Wright resigned the
Office of District Attorney, on the Sd Of March
1928, Mr.. Monroe appointed Joseph $. Benham
District Attorney of the United States, Tor
the District of Ohio. His talents and legal
attainments were above mediocnty, and he con-
tinued in the office until after the proscrlptve
system went into full operation under the present
administration, and during that time gave the
most ample satisfaction to the government, to the
court, and to the public at large. He, however,
..haa not bowed his knee to Baal," and the sew
eral hungry expectants, who had worshipped and
chaunted songs at his affairs. The sufelings and
services of the father, and the competency OF the
son, were known to the President To remove
him under these circumstances, it was thought,
might be attended with reaction on the party.
1t was found to be necessary to have some pre-
text for measure that might otherwise create
some excitement. This was sought for, and
found, in a manner, and in relation to subject,
that no former President would have resorted to,
or noticed.
Mr.. Benham being in Washington after the in
auguraton, called to the President to pay his re-
spects to him. The President, not possessing
very great fund of intelligence on which to draw,
the conversation turned on several unimportant
subjects. The quality and cultivation of tobac-
CO, & the mode of smoking it, were spoken Of
The president had seen more plants of tobacco
than he had sentences of national law, and he
found himself more at ease in discoursing on
their culture, than in speaking OF the formation
of treaties. He mentioned the different kinds Of
tobacco he had raised, and the particular use to
which each was put. For smoking, ne gave a
preference to the yellow leaf. and thought it the
most pleasant when smoked in corn cob He
took down his corn cob pipe, and commenced
smoking in order that his visitor might be regal
ed by the odour of his tobacco. All this was
we'll enough, for the President was then green
in his office, and could not discourse as learned
y on state and naval affairs as he at this time.
His knowledge of Geography is imperfect, for he
is at loss to know on which side of this CONT
nent Guayaquil is situated Mr.. Benham was
pleased with the Presidents frankness and sim
plicity, and left Washington with the belief that
The chief magistrate, altho' not as wise as Lycur
gas, or Scion, was anhonorable, frank, and open
hearted man. He little thought that the corn
cob pipe would be used as pretext for remov-
ing him from Office Knowing that the President,
when candidate, had been represented by his
supporters as plain Tennessee farmer, MIR.
Benham did not anticipate that the exalted sta
ton whichhe occupied, would ofar have wrought
change in his feelings, to have caused him to
consider the occupation disgraceful, or that plain
ness was derogatory to the character of any man.
While speaking of his interview with the Pre-
sident, MIR. Benham remarked that he found him
to be sociable, plain man, and to confirm it, he
related the conversation they held, and that the
President ''smoked in his corn-cob pipe" 1t
so happened that one of the Presidents tel-tales
was present, and Mr.. Beham had scarcely reach
ed home before the news of his removal was sent
to him. Gen. Herrick succeeded him, the latter
having been pulled out, and the former pulled
in, by Whit of tobacco smoke, from the corn
cob pipe. AT the July term of the circuit court,
Gen Herrick, aided by brother lawer more in
telligent than himself, indicted Howe for robbing
the mail at Norwalk, Huron county. The bill
of indictment contained nine counts, seven of
which charged offences, the penalties of which
would subject him to confinement in the peniten-
tiary for term not Exceeding ten years, and two
counts contained charges which exposed him to
be confined for six months on each. Howe was
convicted; and the seven counts were either aban-
doned, or pronounced by the court to be defec-
tive, and the culprit escaped the punishment he
merited, So much for the corn=cob pipe. AS