Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-03-05
GAME TO THE LAST.
BY THE VERY YOUNG 'UN.'


me and YOU, with cigar lighted, and "gray
goose quilP' in hand, feel Ike N.hyPothe-
eating"
The Presidential contest of eighteen forty
will long be remembered in the political histo-
~ of our country as an epoch in which party
shirt seemed for the first time to have triumph
al over law and order, and even to threaten
destruction to the loved institutions of our land.
The excited multitude, aroused by the un-
healthy agency of mass meetings and torch
light professions, and stimulated by the secret
influence of political clubs, looked forward to
the election day as one which was to decide
their everlasting welfare or their eternal ruin.
Vet, when that day did come, and was past,
when the voice of the majority was heard,
how quietly sank the multitude to rest, and
how unmurmuring did they return to their
peaceful occupations and pursuits-what a
beautiful commentary upon the justice-lovlng
and law abiding citizens of our country
1t was during this tremendous excitement
that there suddenly appeared at Paint Rock
precinct, Jackson County, (the precinct voting
ninety eight Democrats and one Wing, and
the County two thousand Democrats forty-two
Whigs,) large hand bill, announcing that
Col Randolph, Wing elector for the State
of Alabama, would address the citizens, on
,
great was the establishment produced by this
announcement, and so unheard Of was the au-
dacty OF j Wing making an appointment to
speak III that precinct, when such thing was
unknown, even to the recollection of the old
est inhabltant, that meeting was called for
that evening at Bob GIeeson's grocery, to de-
termine whether Col. Randolph should be al
lowed to fulfil the engagement, or whether he
should be notified TO the contrary.
John, what are you making such a noise
at that fire for"
Il spected you wanted some whiskey
punch, and I'm gittin de tings ready"
Well, you Spected about right"
After dark the meeting was duly called to
order when, from demonstration made on the
part OF some OF the company, it appeared there
was not the same unanimity of sentiment as
might have been expected on the momcntous
subject of their deliberations. Some were
anxious 10 hear a live whig speak, others
were solicItous to see how he would look
outen his range while third portion de-
sret it on account of Bill Larkins, (the only
whlg in the precinCt,) who, as some gentle
man remarked, had lived in that neighborhood
for ten years, and on account of his political
creed, had stood no more chance than 1" short
tail bull in fly time These considerations
induced so considerable adiyersion in favor of
Col. Randolph, that upon the question being
put, "Shall Col. Randolph be allowed TO
speak on next Thursday % tie issued As
usual omsuch occasions, il was agreed to leave
il to Uncle Ben Simmons "Uncle Ben" was
man who, for the thirty years he had lived
near Paint Rock, had won and maintained, by
the goodness of his heart, and kindness of his
manners, the unbounded love and confidence
of the community. With soundness OF
Judgment and knowledge of human nature, not
commonly seen in men of his caste, he was
emphatically the man of the p:ecinct-the
stakeholder in every cock fight, the Judge in
every quarter race, the referee IN every diff
Guilty, the umpire in every arbitration. And
from his decision there was no appeaI-what
Uncle Ben said was so, traS so, and at want
anything else" Yet with all Uncle Ben's
good qualities he had weakness, and thai
was the fervency of his devotion to Genera
Jackson He regarded him as the "head anC
'front.' OF the democratic party, the embodiment
OF all that was great and good, and looked up.
on any man as his mortal enemy who had the
temerity to impeach any of the words, acts, OF
thoughts of the old hero The committee to
whom was entrusted the responsible duty oil
obtaining Uncle Ben'S decision in the premi.
-ses, proceeded to his house and laid the sub.
iect before him. The old man had already
seen the handful, and anticipating call fo
his opinion, had given it due consideration
After asking the boys to g take something,
"a hospitality he never forgot,) and rejecting
i few moments, he said "he lowed as the
boys had bout gathered their craps, and the
gals hadn't been to 4 show in some time, anC
as Bill Larkins, poor Greater, had never seer
any of has sort in them parts, they had mou
of md how
providin' he behaved accordin' to rule" Al
was customary, Uncle Bcn's decision was u
unanimously confirmed, and preparations were
forthwith set on foot TO erect platform TO-
the speaker.
Some punch, Joints tolerably fair
here, pull off my boots"
Thursdays morning came at last-and will
1t the most exciting spectacle -and14aggees
crowd ever seer i amt Rock. Bob Gleason,
from the great press of business, was forced
TO the painful necessity of employing an as
Sistant bar-keeper for the day, at the unheard
OF price of four dimes, and seven drinks thrown
IN, while the cake wagons and cider carts
were perfectly promiscuous." Bill Larkins
had arrived earlyin the morning, and in honor
OF the joyful occasion, had already bosom
ed about quart of Monongahela, not to
mention cider and other extras, and that, too,
IN direct opposition to the earnest solicitation
OF his wife, who had told him before leaving,
" he would get drunk and have his shirt tore
oil him by them tarnal pisen Dmocrats." At
about II o'clock, Col Randolph arrived and
after mixing with the people for an hour, and
taking several drinks by way Of ingratiating
himself, mounted the rostrum, and commenced
the long looked for speech. Slightly review
ing the administration of Mr.. Van Buren,, and
spreading himself to his full extent upon that
OF Gen. Jackson, (Uncle Ben hardly able to
hold himself,) he alluded to the frightening
prospects of his own party, and was conclu-
ding beautiful dissertation upon the benefits
10 be derived by the community at large, and
Jackson County in particular, from their sue
cess when Bill Larkins, excited by his liquor
and overjoyed at the novelty of hearing for
the first time in his life an exposition of the
principles for which he had suffered so much
jumped up, waving his hat over his head, and
sung out, " Hurrah for Harrison who's a
1rald of fire bod rot old Jackson's -"
The sentence was never finished. Toby
Bowling dropped him in his tracks, and Uncle
Ben Simmons rising from his seat cried out,
70 lhafH do boys; take him do,rae' A ST.
multaneous rush was at once made by por-
ton OF the crowd upon the PROSTATE Larkins,
while the other part made break for the
Colonel. But, be it known, Col. Randolph
was veteran stager-had seen the ,eie-
phant' and fout the Inguns," and it would
L E.. II