The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1841-03-31

courts of his country. For some time he
prospered. That wealth which he covet-
ed, appeared to flow to him in a steady
stream. But soon his hopes were dashed
to the ground, and flushed with continued
success, he threw aside the cautionary
movement of concealed vice, resortlng to
the misguided attempt of overthrowing
truth and justice. Great excitement pre-
vailed among the people, with regard to
a suit on the court docket, "A swindler
prosecuted for obtaining by unfair means
a negro belonging to a'nelghbor." The
particulars Of the trial need not be enter
ed into, suffice it to say that Judge Ro-
bers took large bribe from the swindler,
given to produce a favorable issue. The
house was thronged with the people, and
after long discussion, the Jury retired'to
consider the case, and returned with aver-
dict, as it should have been, in favor of
the injured party. Judge Roberts, remon-
strated, pleaded, commanded; in vain, the
Jury were obstinate, and the swinder re-
ceived the sentence Of imprisonment and
a heavy fine for his rascality. Exasperat-
ed beyond measure, he openly proclaimed
the bribe given to the Judge, before the
crowded house, and the guilty Roberts
fled from the court house to conceal the
workings of shame bursting from his
pride stricken breast. Through the inter
cession Of his. friends, suit was not brought
against him, but he no more filled the Dig.
nifed seat of public administrator Of
Justice. AS common resort of the dis
covered sinners, Boberts sought to destroy
the upbraidings of a guilty conscience by
drowning reason in the burning potatlons
of the drunkard. In vain was every ef-
fort tried, to sooth him, and gradually to
bring him to sense of duty. ,Confne-
ment, reasonings, during the short inter.
walls of consciousness, even the kind i'm
plorings Of gentle af1ectionate wife, fall
ed to excite a single spark,,'to ignite the
soft fame of repentance within HIM; but
instantly destroyed all the generous and
heavenly feeling of the repentant sinner;
and again and again, plunged deeper and !!
deeper into the descending vortex to eter-
nal damnation. It was an awful sight to
behold the once high-minded, intellectual
man, fallen from the rational being to the
most degraded, around the gaming table,
and the most blaspkemous of the drunken
sots. His property was soon wasted, his.
home, a domestic hell, and more than
v1r,1v ,,r,-.eeise4 arm dashed the heart
broken wife to the floor. answering her
entreaties and meek behavior with the
most awful curses andblasphemies against
his Maker, for the casting him out from
the path of duty. At last none dared to
approach him, and one evening he Sc
rousIy manned aby-stander, SO that it was
thought prudent to confine him: Thrust
into the dark dungeon, instead of excit-
ing feelings of remorse and repentance,
he gave way to the most hort1d curses,
fruitlessly attempted to tear down the
strong walls with his feeble strength
wrought up to the highest pitch, and no
doubt aided by a disordered mind; the
midnight air re-echoed his revilings, and
hoarsel " did he shout to the listening VII
lages many dreadful phantom as it ap-
peared before his heated imagiuation.-
Suddenly all was still, and the keepers of
the jail, thinking that he had sank into
sIlnnber from the exertons and fatigue at
tending his attempts to escape, thought
proper not to enter his cell until incoming.
AT last morning broke, and we entered
the damp place of conference.-the In
stead of beholding the abandoned in a
state Of unconsciousness attending the IN
.ebriating draughts of the wine cup, we
beheld him suspended, hung, from the
CRATE of his window! Oh, how dreadful
was it to sec the awful end of man, sent
by his own hands into the presence OF
Almighty God. Iturned and sickened,
as | thought of his still more bitter curses,
in the fiery flames, perhaps at the present
moment, "prepared for those that hate
God" Never shall | forget the look Of
agony and hendish expression of despair,
on his conference.-the distorted, eye.
balls, and convulsive clasp of the bloated
hands over the guilty heart! But Judg-
ment did not stop here, his wife in the
course of a month sckened and died.
After eight or ten days of insensibilty,
and the most cxcruciating pain, she pass
ed also INTO the presence of her Creator.
Neither possessed the hope of the Chris.
J. L Il y