The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1847-09-25
"A Good Joke.

JOHN TYLER HEADING THE VINES. - After
many abOrtive efforts upon the part Of the
Wings to head John Tyler, it seems, he has at
length succeeded in turning the tables upon
the hopeful party, We give the story as we
heard it. a
1t seems that during the last winter or spring,
q county court in Mr.. Tyler's county, COM
posed of several Wing Justices of the Peace,
with a view to mortify and humble Mr.. TYLER
for his political sin, of turning democrat, APP
pointed him overseer Of road, with the iDten-
ton of enforcing the duties, or impose the fine
in such cases made and provided in the sta-
tute. The law of Virginia, it seems, specifies
no limited time for working and repairing
roads, but its terms declare they shall be put
and kept in good order. Accordingly, Mr..
Tyler, being notified Of this new honor confer
red, set about to discharge his duty. To the
delight of his patron Justices and " hig breth-
rem, he was soon seen riding through the neigh
borhOod, summoning the hands to work. The
joke was too goods to be lost, and many Whig
countenance was lit up with smiles, at the
thought that the ex-president was at length
harnessed with such a Notifying duty. Old
John, however, had too often lodged their lea.
ders to be headed by their small fry.
He commenced his labOrs as a faithful pub
lie servant. The road being very undulating,
he determined 10 cut down the hills, fill up the
gullies and r%avines, and make it a level turn
pike road. Day after day. he piled himself to
work. Hills and Wales attestcd his industry,
The effects Of his diligence was not only visi.
BILE on the road itself, but the ~neighbOrs farms
begun soon to show that just in proportion as
the road proceeded, fences, bitches, hedges
ploughing, carting and every other plantation
service was neglected. For this there. was nc
remedy, The hands were all upon the road
The joke became, in truth, a serious natter
The smiles that lately illuminated every coun'
%tenance, turned into CHASTITY and %frightful dis
may. A public meeting of the whole neigh
borhood was called. Headed by the justices
they proceeded to the scene Of operation and
begged Mr.. Tyler for Gods sake, for theil
sakes, (anG perhaps for the sake of Ireland)
to quit working on the road and let the hand.
go home. Mr.. Tyler replied, that the law
made it his duty to put the road in good order
and to keep it in such. There were yet a goOt
many bad hills to be cut down, and ravines tt
be filled up; till that was done, he felt it hi
bounden duty to work on. He should dislik'
to be presented by the grand Jury for the neg
lect Of duty Immediately afterhis appointment
The Justices promised to excuse him if h,
should be indicted before them, He preferred Il
, place himself above the clemency Of the court
The Justices then begged him to resign. MI
Tyler replied that offices were hard to obtail
these times, and having no assurance that h
! should soon obtain another, he could not think
under the circumstances, Of resigning.
s 1t is said he kept the hands at work upol
' the road, widening, excavating, filling and Nc
Adamising for nearly two months, making on
d of the finest in the Union. 1t is thought b,
many that the road will not need repair agail
g for the nexs century. Wonder if the Wing
' will make another effort to head him!