Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-04-24

1
slattin things about. And as it was
about the time when folks would be
comm to visit the gineral, jest step
ped out to tell EN- they must call agin,
for the gineral was hard at work in
cabinet Kounsel."
When | got back | found the gineral
with prtty nigh all the steam blowed
off, and them other two critters writin
somethin to como out in the Globe next
day. telled the gineral right Off
now says gineral, we better keep an
eye on what we say in print, for we
have trouble enuf with what we say
here to folks--but says |, five go TO
abusin the senate and put it in print
too, the people may take a stand agin
us and puzzle us hereafter most plagily.
And with that the gineral got his steam
up in minit--and he tell'd me if that
was my notion | better pack up and
quit--for the time had come now for
evrv man to take his own side, and if
| thought the senate had more wisdom
than he had, | must clear out. Well
says | gineral, hadn't we best call the
hull cabinet together on this business.
Cabinet says the gineral, what more
do | wantl and with that he turned
and pinted to Kindle and Blair, and
Civ me a look as black as thunder.
Well says | that's enuf--and as | had
kept my bundle ready for move for
some days past, all had to do was 10
stick my slate in it, and poke my AK
handle threw the upper knot, and |
slung the hull consarn over my Shout
der and was back agin in the cabinet
afore you could say Jack Robinson.
Now says | gineral, | and you are
goin to qut--but afore ! go | should
like TO tell you a story--and the best
ont is, it amt long one, says |. And
SO | tell'd the gineral that snake story
you've hearn me tell afore. How !
was once walkin in field down there
to Downingville, and hearin a clattcr,
and seem no one, but to rights findin
that it all come from big black snake
more than have a rod long, the tail
quarelin with the head, about takin the
lead; and sayin the head had led long
enuf, and the tail ought to try its turn
a spell--and so the head give up and
let the taii have his way--and fol-
Iow'd on to see how things would work
that way--and so after goin agin the
scales a spell and making things grit
considerable, the tail tried to 60 threw
stone fence, and gttin jam'd, riggled
and twisted and screwed and couldn't
go on; and the head of the snake want
ed to know what was the matter, and
why it didn't 60 threw, and that he
had gone threw the same fence twenty
times-the tail got little rathy, and
little asham'd and didn't like to tell.
When | got so far in my story, the
gineral who had been all the while sit
tin and lookin right at the fire, turn'd
round and gin me plagy inquirin look
and stopp'd, short off; well, says he
what was the eend ont? why says |,
gineral | haint got time now to tell you,
but says |, the next time we meet III
finish the story, and with that | made
the gneral rale cabinet bow; and ]
walk'd strait out of the white house
pritty much, | suppose, like a good
many folks afore me who have had
their say there and then clear'd out.
AS soon as | got outside, was lee
tie stump'd to know which way to
steer-I had some bread and cheese in
my pack, but wanted place to go for
the highland there was so many
committee folks in Washington, every
tavern was chuck full-but j;st then |
see the flag go up at the capital, and
thinks I'll 90 there and try my luck,
and up went--but OWN to my bein
stop'd so often OH the way, by folks all
waitin to know what had happen'd, by
the time | reach'd the capital all con
gress knew it, and all parties was III &
talkin about it. | went first to the
house of representative, and i let en-
know there that all wanted was jist
to be allow'd to stop there over night.
IThe majors application to the house
of representatives. gave rise to an ami.
mated debate, which was terminated
by a call for "the previous question
after which, the vote was taken and re-
suited in tie. The speaker gave the
casting vote against the measure, and
decided that the major 'must tote his
bundle" He accordingly proceeded
to the senate, but here was not much
more fortunate, inasmuch as his APP
plication caused debate upon the con-
stitutional question, in which Messrs.
Webster and Calhoun participated
but, proceeds the major, when Mr..
| CLAY got a chance--he Is master
hand you know, in quietin matters
when they gtin snarl-he said there
was no doubt a large majority of the
senate was in favor Of givin the major
a place to lay his head, but the great
difficulty was to decide whether il
would he an act CROWN out of the con-