The native American., 1838-08-18

banked by want of Uraisemblance in story
afording so capital an article;' nor are the
cravings of their readers to be staid by such con-
siderations as a widowed mothers feeling, or
weeping sisters woe.
| The above piece having been extensively circu-
lated throughout the United States, il devolves
upon me, the sole representative of my family, to
meet and refute the slanderous charges it contains.
Here, where we are known, this is unnecessary;
but woul not that in New York. where may
never be, no, nor even at the antipodes. should
the name OF WHITAKER be associated with all
that is mean, and base and bloody. Nay: if it
were but for the character of my native State,
would not have it supposed that family so black
enedand begrimed with outrage and crime, could've
within its borders. would moreover add, that
one domestic aflliction following quickly upon
the heels of another, has prevented me until now
from noticing the many foul aspersions cast upon
myself and family by the periodical press of the
country; but this last outrage, exceeding all that
have hitherto appeared in vile atrocity, imperi-
ously calls upon me to delay defence no longer.
"Ihe Whitaker Family" drawn in so fearful
colors by the writer of the piece which have
extracted, consists of my mother, an old lady Of
nearly sixty years, my two widowed sisters, and
myself. | had another siser-the Joy Of my
heart, and the solace of her mothers old age-a
creature of affection and purity; but after her
brothers death she dropped and died, and the
grave is now her protection from caumny. In
the early part of last January, my brother Wash
ington and myself accompanied this sister and our
mother to New Orleans. 1t was their first visit
to the city, and they looked forward with plea
surable antcipations to its enjoyment. Alas,
how sadly were they disappointed! On the Sc
cond night of our stay, that terrible circumstance
occurred, which has caused all our misfortunes,
and made us mourners for life-whch has fur
nished ennity with weapons, and envy with
theme. sudden affray took place, at an eating
house in the city, between my brother and an
insoent and insulting bar-keeper. During the
rencontre, the latter joined by his two assis-
tants, and my brother had no resource but his
weapon; such one as is worn by many of the
most respectable inhabitants of this country. In
the very heat and fury of passion, with his young
and fiery blood excited even to madness, he
seized upon his nearest antagonist and slew him.
Here was no malce-nor lying g-in-Wait--nor pre-
meditated bloodshed. Pride, passion, even ma
ture herself called upon him to defend himself
and he did defend himself. So far from my
brother having stabbed the barkeeper ''because
he did not wait on him quick enough" as is as
serted with so much levity in the article, it was
not until after he was assaed with many coarse
and abusive epithets, and even curses, that he
threw tumbler from off the counter at the man,
which, though missing him, brought on his at
tack, in which, as have before sad he was Sc
conded by his two companions. was neither
present at the quarrel, nor when the subsequent
afray took place, but in company with some
friends in another and distant room of the same
establishment Had l been on the spot, no such
fatal result would have followed: those who know
me, can bear testimony to the truth of this asser-
ton. No sooner, however, did the tumult and
outcry reach my ears, than hurried to ascertain
the cause. On entering the bar-roonl perceived
my brother standing in an attitude of defence in
the middle of the floor; his opponents had disap-
peared TO my inquiries hastily made, he briefly
answered that he had been attacked by three
rufians, but had succeeded i'll beating them off.
Thinking it nothing more than mere bar-room
squabble, | desired Washington to be peaceabe,
and return with me to the room where our party
had ordered supper: he Immediately assented,
and we were about to 60 there, when a crowd
of watchmen and armed police officers burst in
upon us. and attempted our arrest. Not feeling
disposed to yield ourselves up to the tender mer-
cies of such set of cowardy rufians as this body
is notorously composed of, we kept them off,
and proceeded to our lodgings at Bishops hotel
uncontaminated by their touch. Here it was
heard, for the first time. that man had been
wounded at the eating house. We had reached
our chamber, and were preparing for bed, when
this communication was made to me. Although
our means of defence, which had as yet been
ample for our protection, were strengthened by
the presence of number of our friends and neigh
bors from the country, no sooner heard this an
nouncement confirmed, than | determined to re-
sist no longer, but submit myself to the laws Of
my country, in which l fooishly expected to find
relief for the innocent, and punishment only for
the guilty.
The resolution to yield, in which my brother
fully acquesced, being formed, unfastened the
chamber door, and throwing ourselves upon a
bed, we quietly awaited the approach of the myr-
midons of Justice. Pretty well assured that no
further resistance was contemplated, promiscu-
Gus crowd of the police, and other rabble, rushed
into the room, and to them we surrendered. |
pass over, with tingng veins, and blush for
manhood the many cowardly crueltles that were
heaped upon us, while passing from the hotel to
the prison. 1t was during this transit that every
insult and indgnity, even to robbery and blows,
were heaped upon us. 1t was then that heard
the first howl of an IRISH Mob clamoring for