The Arkansas banner., 1843-10-14
MISCELLANY EOUS.
KING THE CENSUS IN ALABAMA

El1 pr tS1n
 me collection of statistical information
 cerning the resources and industry of the
 Stry, by the assistant marshals, who were Moved to take the last census, was very
 ult work The popular impression that
 mendous tax would soon follow the mi M Minvestgation of the private affairs of the Wle, caused the census taker to be viewed
 b better light than that of tax gatherer; Hhe consequence was, that the informa- sought by him was either withheld en- ay, or given with great reluctance. The @ns, therefore, made by the marshals, ex- Jed very imperfect view of the wealth
 industrial progress of the country. In Ne portions of the country, the excitement Inst the unfortunate oficers-who were avn as the s.chicken men''-made 1t al- V dangerous for them to proceed with the zeless of taking the census; and bitter were etaunts, threats, and abuse, which they re- lzed on all hands, but most particularly m the old women of the country. The i old souls could not bear to be cateohised 2lt the produce of their looms, poultry
 K, and dairies;; and when they did ''come Nn" upon the unfortunate inquisitor, it
 with force and volubility that was sure Fave an impression. We speak from ex- |fnce, and feelingly, on this subject; for it happened that the Marshal of the Southern
 rict of Alabama, "reposing especial con-
 ce" in our ability, invested us one day V all the powers of assistant marshal, and Ing us with the proper quantity of blanks, 3us forth to count the noses of all the men, Y len, children, and chickens, resident upon
 nine hundred square miles of rough < try which constitute the county of Ia
 Psa. Glorious sport! thought we; but it
 turn out so. True, we escaped with
 any drubbings, although we came un-
 Fanhy near catching dozen, and only
 bed by very peculiar knack we have of
 ling out" but then We were quizzed,
 he'd at, abused, and nearly drowned
 dren shouted, "Y onder goes the chicken said, ssYes, d-n him, he'll be
 the taxes soonp'-and the old women ftened, if he came to inquire about their
 kens, to ssset the dogs on him''-while young women observed, ''they didn't
 NV what man wanted to be so pertic Tar pt gals ages for, without he was gwine Purtln'." We have some "reminiscences bur official peregrinations, that will do to h atnow notwithstanding the occurrences i which they are connected, were, at the ], anything but mirth-inspiring to us. Ne rode up one day to the residence of |ldow, rather past the prime of life-just period at which nature supplies most |ndantly the oil which lubricates the hinges Fhe female tongue-and hitching to the fe, walked into the house.
 |Good morning, madam," said we, in our |hl bland, and somewhat insinuating man. (Mornin'," said the widow, gruflly.
 Drawing our blanks from their case, we eeeded, ''l am the man, madam, that takes census, and-''
 The mischief you are!'' said the old ter eant-"Yes, Fve hearn of you; Parson 'old me you was coming, and told him what tell you, that if you said 'cioril, Pp'' nr 'chickens,' to me, Pd set the dogs ye. Here Bull! here Pompp' Two wolf
 CUTS responded to the call, and laid down 'he steps. ''Now," continued the old she age "them's the severest dogs in this my Last week, Bill Stonecker's two n n ola steer jumped my yard fence, and ' ana ana romp tux him by the throat, and ' Killed him, afore my boys could break m m loose, to save the world.n
 es, ma'am,'' said we meekly, ssBull and nP M seem to be very fine dogs.''
 oa may well say that: what tells them . .o' ,hey do; and if I was to sick them on .a :, ola horse wonder, they'd eat him up '1 you could say Jack Roberson. And 5,s J's' what shall do, if you try to pry in- ns ,ss consarns. They are none of your bu- ''s' nor Van Buren's nuther, reckon. you old Van Buren! l wish had you 1 you old rascal! Pd show you what I'd ,o .o make Bull and Pomp show you how ~. :. seholn, a. out men to take down what lit- ss sun II peoples got, jist to tax it, when it's Iu T, enough a'ready.'
 .n 'nls tune we were perspiring through ,., VI 'lle herce guardians of the old widows al. sa At length, when the widow paused, rel'iafked, that as she was determined not
 'Nef questions about the produce of the