Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1841-02-13

.ts.a.r, tlr uuHrttHu> rhahtrs az successful op- .
.-.,iap,. sr.suumeI- I'd many sdsrniurers, who .
by dirr nf eug,rprZf, without cepnai. had made /
l.,.- c.riure-. liz concluded his frequent rep
rsz.a.,,iau.. Ly recommending ne 10 the Stale, .
md by uraiut me 10 accompany han % his rest [
Jsrrr. N mere he promised me a home all could !
do better, accepted the otter, aud with his Pc
cnot,ry AID accompanied bm TO be destination.
Land speculation was then he rage. emlgranls
we're Iacaied on he public domain, and specula-
tors siuIly and Ia grouPs were exploring the
country. The Improvements OF the emgaui,
nike wuh Indian claims, attracted the cupidny Of
the ,oeculaior, NY friend had located on public
land. intendug 10 be The purchaser when exposed
IN sale. He was often disturbed IA his feelings,
by the pryirg eye, oithese heartess dePredaIors
a, h- called them, on his locaiiou and improve
meats he was rxcaeab,s and revrngelul, and
,tr agoyarance Of >pecuiator IN bis neighbor-
hood, seldom failed 10 arouse his temper.
ConyeIs,ng, as un abstract morality, he often
assisted, thai there wouid be no more moral iur-
pc,ude IN .aking the iGe OF such depre,lators and
ap.ropriat ~ Their moosy, than they committed.
IN drliaudlrg th- ignorant and c1nhding Indian
IN the purchase Of lher lands, and N lne drp'Wa-
i,on Of the hardy and industrious emIgrat at his
improvements accomplished ihs by toll dangernnd
pr,ya lon. Ny mnd at first revOted at such a con.
cluslon IN, heart vas uu Sc, flied With us meas
urr Of ln,quly. II, all speculation he would say
they speculate IN fraud 10 Obtain land, We IN blood
to obtain money, to be used Tor purposes equally
hudabe they lGlure many, We mJure one only
they leave their victims to anguish IN poverty and
distress; we put an end TO suffering when the IN
Jury is inn cited we ara the avengers OF the moral
law, they set at naught the best feelings OF the
heart ! /! This indeed was a new system Of ethics,
sustained by All ingenuity was not able TO resist.
Repetition rendered familiar the seems TO which
he system tended, and econcIled, if ii did not
Justify to my own feelings the acts 10 which 1t
darkly porendfd. An opportunity occurred toI
practical illustration uf the argument. lonely
specualor presented the opportunity, accident
threw hn IN our power; the sign was given, aud
IN a few moments he was leess victim In
death he grined ghastly grin upon our mlsde eds
Oh | shall never forget The horrible putubatIon Of
of my guilty bosom, whilst the life stream guShed
from his heart. We secured his horse, and apprO-
prlatcd the rich contents Of his saddle bags the
spot WAS dark and portenious, rendered doubly so
by the deed in which had engaged Every
article which could lead to discovery, vas thrust,
with the body, into the trunk of fallen tree,
Ahch was then rolled mt, a contiguous sueam.
1t sank never IL rise again. had now the means
OF relieving rhA necestlrs Of an afflicted mother,
and the horurs Of an atfrghted conscience were
abatsd by he whispers of sophistry, that the end
Justified the means that it was The lty Of a son
10 purchase the comforts Ola widowed mother At
a "a e Of I,S IN
advising her that had the means of redeeming
my pledge she died few days before the arIva
of my letter BLESSED Spirit 1t escaped before
she participated IN the price Of bIoed, or knew the
depravily of her guilty son.
was now embarked upon n new system OF
Speculation, without rival, and easy IN it's accom-
pIlshment. Embroidered by success and impu-
nifty. my friend and myself formed league for
further enterprise formally concerted the plan Of
future operations, determined on the theatre Of &C
inu, aud the DIVISION of spots. 10 execute our
plan, II VAS necessary 10 secure the services Of 4
thud person, Who could act the subordinate parts
Of he drama; such All instrument VAS found in the
person oia half breed, combining The views Of The
white man, with the activity, treach.ry aud sleep
less vigilance OF the indian, added 10 his thorough
Knowledge OF The country, he was well suited TO
our purpose ; accustomed 10 act as guide 10
land spectators, he knew their In ats, aud was
apprsed ri their movements and being familiar
with the bye ways of the wilderness, he could
communicate to us the earliest information when
speculation offered with such drcoy our tolls
were seldom without a victim.
How long this system Of speculation continued
or how many iell victims TO reachery and muir.
! dot It s prudent 10 suppress. AnxIpu, friends
aud many mourning wiyos, bewalied the sbscenc,
Of hru expected relative, whilst he was living al
the bottom of The stream, or sunk IN the bosom o.
II norAs> by the bands Of assass,ns !!
Our success Has various the rewards were
Tch' Slth Wh,ch, and scrupaluus attention Il
roral propric'y, in public, grew INTO an import
auce which extended my acquaintance into III,
higher circles ol society, IN which | - cured re-
spect and cohdtuce was placed IN The director,
of bank, and ~p'cdily elevated to a seat in tn,
legislature of The state
As had nov capital sufficient to engage in .
less hazardous pa sali as el Iua;our had no
vel thrown h" mantle over me, and AZ INV nc,
and rank IN society we're 10 the keeping of lwC
wretrhes Ike myself, whose ireachery nigh
doom me to Inevitable RUN, determined 10 with
draw from an association so full of danger al
opportunity was soon offered. In an attempt a
burglary, our lhrdsman received mortal wound
nt which ne died in few weeks, ! awaited my
sell OF the occasion to communicate my deter
ninatlon To my associate, who reluctantly heart
+ the proposition. Another, and the last adventure
was wllh sheriff, in the vicinity ola city. hi
pockets were empty, and We narrowly escap.C
dele tons by taking pant With the pursuerS Of IN,
a>sas'ns, circumstances led to the opinion that h,
fell by his own hands.
The next and last time met my accomplish
repeated my determination to change my life
ne stu resisted and proposed an enterprise which
he regarded AS he most brilliant we had yet a
c"leved, and promising richer rewards than W,
had yet realized, Vas 'lnhex,ble in my delermi