Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-09-05
sat dosu, and he gave The following nara

During the period of The war OF The rev.
olution, there resided in the western part OF
Massachusetts, a farmer by the name OF
S'edman He was man Of substance, de,
scenoed from very respectable English "a
mny' well educated, distinguished for great
hfmness OF Character in general, and alike
remafRabie Tor infleXible integrity and stead
fasi loyalty Ia his king. Such was the rep
| utaiion he sustained, that even when the mos,
violent aniips,hics against toyaiism swayed
the community, il was still admitted on all
| hands that farmer Siedmnn, though tory,
| was honest in his opinions, and firmly be-
! iieved item 10 he tight
"The lime came when Burgoync was nd
want ing from the north. II was time of
great anxiety, with both the friends and foes
| OF the revnluiion, and one which called forth
their highest eXert,ous The patriotic mill.
Tia flocked 10 the standurd Of Gates & Stark
while many OF the tories resoI ted 90 the quar-.
tiers OF Burgoyne and Baum. Among the
latter was SleGman. He had no sooner de-
cided i. TO he his duty than he took kind
beauty, gave his children, a twin boy and
girl, long emr bace, then mounted his burse
and departed. He joined himself to the un-
fortunate expedition of Baum, and was la
ken with other prisoners Of war, by the vic
turinus Stark.
"te made no attempt to conceal his name
or character, which we're bath soon discov.
cred, and he was accordingly committed TO
prison as q traitor. The Jail in which he was
confined, was in the western part Of Massa,
chuseits, and nearly in ruinous condition.
he farmer was one mig bit walked from his
sleep ny several persons 10 his room. Come,
said they, you can now regain your liber-
ty; we have made breach in the prison
md
menl, S,edman utterly refused to leave the
prison. 10 vain they eXposiulaied with him;
il vain ihsy represented 10 him that his life
was al stake. His reply was, that he as a
true man, ard servant of ling George and
he would not creep out of hule al night
and sneak away from the rebels TO save his
neck from the gallows. Finding it ALTO
gether fruiiless 10 attempt to move him, his
friends left him with some expression of
spleen.
"Ths time at length arrived for the trial
at the prisoner. The distance 10 the place
where The court wac sitting, was about sixIy
miles. Stedman remarked 10 the sheriff,
when he. came 10 attend him, that II would
save some expense aud inconvenience, If he
could ne permi;tet.tu go alone, and on foot
"And suppose" SAID The sheriff, ".ha, you
should prefer ynur safely to Your homer, and
leave nle 10 Seek you in The R.iiisl, camp 2"
81 had thought" said The farmer, reddeniny
with Indignation, "tLnl was speaking 10
one Who knew me-" 81 do know YOU, so
deed, said the sheriff; 81 spoke but in Jest;
! you shall have your way. Go, and ON the
bird day shall expect TO see you at
The farmer >depar,e;, and a, The appointed
time he placed tIisnsci! in the hands Of the
| sheriff
-
| man insisted before the court, upon telling
his whole Story and when would have ia.
ken advantage Of some technical points, he
sharply rebuke me, and told me that be had
not employed me 10 prevariraie, but only 10
! assist him in telling The truth. had never
seen such display Of simple integrity. II,
| was affecting 10 Witness his love OF holy un
| varOished truth, elevning him abrve every
other consideration, aud presiding in his
breast as sentiment even supeiio 10 the
love Of Ile.-l saw the tears more than once
Swinging 10 the eyes Of The judges; never
before or since have felt such an in,eres in
clie0t. pleaded Tor hin as ] would have
pleaded for my own life drew tears, but
! could not sway the Judgment Of men, con
troIiej rather by sense OF duty than the
compassionate promptings Of humanity
Siedman was condemned. ] told him Their
was chance of pardon, il he would ask for
ii. drew up Il petition and requested him
to sign il, bot he efused. 81 have done, +"
said he, ""hat thought my duty. can
ask pardon OF my God and nv king, bot il
would be hypocrisy 10 ak iorgiveness o.
these men for an action which would rcpe !,
were placed again in similar circumsIan-
ces. No. ask not 10 sign that pei lion. II
wha, you call the cause Of American Tree.
dem requires The blood Of an honest man Tor
| The conscientious discharge 81 " hat he deem
ed duty, let me he its victim. Go To my
judges, and tell them that place MOI my
tears nor my hopes in them" Ii was IN vsit,
that pressed the suhjecl aud rs ent away
! in despair.
81 returned 10 my house, accidentally
called 90 an acquaintance, you,g man Of
brIii,ant gonius, ibe sui jecl Of passionate
pred''eciIon Tor painting. This led bin ire
quenIiy To take excursions into The country,
tor line purpose OF skeichng such objects and
scenes as we're Interesting 10 him. From
one OF these he had just returned ;ound
him sitting at his easel, giving the last
touches 20 the picture which attracted your
attention. He asked my opinion oiii cit
Isl line picture" said sis II a fancy piece
or are they portraits" "They are por
traits, said he, land save perhaps a little
establishment, they are, | think, striking
portraits OF the wife and children Of your un-
! fortunate client, Sledmsn. IN the course ni
my rambles CHANGED 20 call al bis house
IN Ii. ] never saw more beautiful
group. he mother is one ola thousand
and The twins are cheruba." "TeiI me-
said ], laying my hand on The piclure-"tei
me, are they true and faithful portraits Of the
J wife and children Of Stcdnap 2" My ear