The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-07-01

Bstuss My steeu was = OdQ swimmer,
who, instead of advancing after losing
his Iooiing, amused himself by sinking
40 the bottom, and then leaping with
his utmost force; and this new eques.
trian feat he continued, till rider, sad
die, saddle.bags, and blankets, were
thrown into the water, and the fecusant
animal emerged upon one side Of the
creek, and the luckless traveller crawl.
Cd out upon the other, as he best could
--whiIe the luggage commenced its
journey for New Orleans. 1t appears
20 me now that more dripping spec
tacle Of despair was never exhibited,
while surveying, many miles from a
house, this shipwreck Of my travelling
fortunes. ae :,
* These, however, were the troubles
OF the day; but oh! they were recon-.
Pensed by the comforts of the evening,
when the hospitable cabin and the
warm fire greeted the traveller !--when
aglorious supper was spread before him
turkey, venison, bears meat, fresh
butter, hot corn bread, sweet potatoes,
apple sauce, and pumkin butter! The
sturdy English moralist may talk Of a
Scotch supper as he pleases, but he who
never sat down TO that meal in tho
West forty years ago, has never seen
the perfection of gastronomy. And
then the animated conversation sue.
ceeded BY floor and blanket, and a
refreshing sleep! e5at al@2
The primitive courthouse built OF
logs, and neither chnked nor daubed,
but with respectable interstices big e.
nough TO allow the passage of a man,
is another permanent object in this
group Of recollections. And in this
sunciuary,as well as in the public houses,
che Court and Bar, suitors and witness
ses, were mingled in indiscribable con-
fusion. .Gr-e
i Strange scenes sometimes occurred
under these circumstances, and char
acteristic anecdote is told of General
Jackson, in situation where he dis
played his usual frmness, by COMPEL.
ing the submission of noisy bragga-
decio who had interrupted the Court,
and successfully resisted the efforts of
tho officers to apprehend him. %
Irecolect similar incident which |
took place in small village upon the
banks Of the Ohio. The Court was in
session, and the presiding officer was
4 Colonel P***"*, man Of great reso-
luton, and herculean frame. A per-
son entered the Court Cabin. and by
his noise put stop to the proceedings.
He was ordered out, and the Sheriff at.
tempted to remove him; but he put
himself upon his reserved rights, and
made such vigorous resistance, tha,
the officer retired from the contest
Colonel P***** thereupon iecended
from the bench, cody took offhis coat,
gave the brawler severe beating, and
after putting him out Of the house re.
sumed his garment and his seat, and
continued bis judicial functions. |
As Imay never have so favorable an
opportunity Of relating another anec-
dote Characteristic, Of those times, and
which have long preserved in my
memory, will intlict it upon you now.
The principle actor in the scene was
nv early, and has been my constant
friend, and is yet pursuing his profes.
sion in the northern part of Ohio, re-
spected by all who know him. Should
these sketches meet his eye. while they
recall one Of the laughoble scenes ofhis
youth, they will recall, hope, the mem.
ory Of the writer. |,
This gentleman was engaged in a s
cause which came on for trial, but in
which have always suspected he was [
not prepared. He rose from his seat, {
and gravely observed that his client was '
ready, but that really the members Of /
he Court were too much intoxicated =
--the used worse word than thay--
% perform their duties, and he there. q
'sre moved their Honors 10 adjourn q
For my own part did not believe the !,
any rate to the extent thus n
boldly made; and thought the object
Of nv free spoken friend was, by the )
lid OF little confusion, TO retire from ii
the field with his cause untried and his n
honor untouched. The matter passed 7
rs good joks--the Court actually ad- {
iourned- the story is perhaps yet h
among the Judicial traditions .
If Wood County in Western Virginia. q
give the name Of the place, lest some /
Il your ch,valricreaders Of the Ancien. e
Dominion should suppose that such q 3
Iact could only have happened in the i
Iarbarous country north of the Ohio. /,
This same country was also the resi- 4
lence OF Colonel P*****. 1 oa5l H