The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-02-06

tieu among tHeIn WIN any worthy pur-
pose in view; for he must either fall in.
to their confederacy-leave-or die 1!
This was perfectly understood; and the
objects Of this confederacy may be
readily appreciated, when il is known
that every now and then party Of
men would sally out from this se.tle-
ment, painted and equipped like Conan
chees, with the view ofcarrying off the
horses, plundering, or numbering some
marked man Of a neighboring county;
then returning with great speed, they
would re-brand their plumber, resume
their accustomed appearance, and defy
pursuit or investigation. Not only did
they band together for their operations
in this way. but single man would
carry off a fine horse or commit MUIR
der with the most open audacity, and if
he only succeeded in escaping here,
was bublicly protected. co not mean
to have it understood that the whole
population at this time were men Of
such stamp avowedly. "
There were some few whose wealth
to degree protected them in the OBJ
servances of more seemy life
though they were compelled to at least
wink at the doIngs Of their ruffianly and
more numerous neighbours; while there
was yet another, but not large class Of
sturdy straightforward emigran!s, who,
attracted solely by the beauty of the
country, had come into it, settled them
selves down wherever they took fan.
cy,-with characteristic recklessness
neither caring nor inquiring who were
their neighbors, but trusting in their
own stout arms and hearts to keep
footing. Ofcourse all such were very
soon engaged in desperate leuds with
the horse thieves and plunderers around
hem; and as they were not vet strong
enough to make head efficiently-wer
one after another finally ousted or shot.
1t was to exterminate this honest class
that the more lawless and brutal Of the
other associated themselves and assum-
ed the name of "Regulators." They
numbered from eight to twelve-and
under the organization Of rangers, com
manded by beasty wretch named
Hinch, they professed to undertake the
task Of purifying the county limits of
all bad and suspicious characters; or
in other words, of all men who dared
refuse to be as vile as they cor if
they were, who chose to act indepen-
den,ly of them and their schemes. This
precious brotherhood soon became the
scourge Of all that region. Whenever
an individual was unfortunate enough
to make himself obnoxious to them,
whether by successful villainy. the
proceeds of which he refused to share
with them, or by the hateful contrast Of
of the propriety Of his course--he was
forthwith surrounded--t threatened; had
his stock driven of or killed wantonlv;
an if these annoyances and hints were
not sufficient to drive him away, they
they would publicly warn him to leave
the county in certain number Of days,
under the penalty Of being scourged or
shot. The common [rext for this
was the accusation oihaving copvntted
some crime, which they themselves had
perpetrated with view of furnishing
charge to bring against him. Their
hate was entirely ruthless and never
stopped short Of accomplishing its pur-
poses; and in many bloody fray and
cruel outrage had the question of their
supremacy been mooted, until at last
there were few left to dispute with
them, and they tyrannised at will.
Among these few was Jack Long,
as he was called, whu neither recognize
ed nor denied their power, and indeed
never troubled himself about them one
way or the other. He kept himself to
himself, hunted necessarily, and no.
body knew much about him. Jack had
come of a "wild-turkey Breed" as the
western term is for rowing family; and
though still a young man. had pushed on
ahead of the settlement of two terri
tories, and had at last followed the
game towards the south, and finding it
abundant in Shelby county had stopped
here, just as he would have stopped at
the foot OF the Rocky Mountains, had
it been necessary to pursue it so far.
He had never been in the habit Of ask
ing leave of any power where he should
settle, and of course scarcely thought
Of the necessity Of doing so, now; but
quietly set TO work built himselfa nice
iog-cabin, as Ear off from everybody as
he could get. And the first thing that
was known Of him, he had his pretty
young wife and two little ones snugly
slowed away in it, and was Staying the
deer and the bears right and left.
The honest brotherhood had made
several attempts at feeling Jacks pulse