Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-11-23
From The Yankee BLADE.
The Left-hamded Fiddler,
OR THE DlSCOMFORTED POLITICIAN

OR THE EDlSCOMFORTEDP POLITICIAN.
Everybody here in the West has either
seen or heard Of Gov. h., Black Bob as-he
is iamIiarly called by his constituents. lie is
the most famous 'electioneercr' in all Ken
tucky. He is noble, generous fellow, pos
sesslng fine talents, and an inexhaustbe fund
of humor II would do you good to hear
one of his popular haraDgues The blues fly
before the light Of his wit. the mist before the
rays OF the sun. His career has not, however,
been always without difficulty, and al times he
has been so pushed as 10 save himself only by
the skin of his teeth
/ well remember the celebrated Congress
sonal canvass between Gov. l.. and Mr.. G..
In this instance the Governor had a competi-
tor worthy of his STEEL Mr. G.. was man
of talent and tact, and it required all the inge-
nuity of Gov. l.. to manage him. II was evil
dent from the commencement Of the contest,
that the race would be an unusually close one.
All depended upon one of the mountain coun-
ties of the district whittier both candidates bent
their steps few days before the election
They met at great barbecue, where nearly
every citizen of the county had congregated
! suppose, Mr.. Blade, you have never been
present at a Western barbecue Well,
shall not now attempt to describe one. Suffice
il to say that i. is unlike any gathering you ev-
er see in Yankee Land. Eating, drinking,
'speechfying' and dancing are the order of the
day. The dance is carried on out of doors,
under the shade of the thck-growing forest
not IN the heated, close rooms, but where the
delightful breezes of heaven fan the brow, and
give elasticity and vigor to the limbs of the
young and gay, as they "trip it on the light
fantastic toe
Well as before stated, it was at one of these
free and easy gatherings that the two rivals
met. On the stump, Mr.. G.. could not hold
candle to Black Bob. He was literally immo-
lated by the ready wit and brilliant repartee of
his sooty competitor. But he possessed an
accomplishment to which Gov. l.. was almost
a stranger. lie was fine musician and af-
ter speaking was concluded, Mr.. G.. took a
violin in his hand, and gently and sweetly
drawing the bow across the strings, in mo-
ment the woods were vocal with the merry
laugh, and the ground trembling beneath the
dancing feet of the gay and happy throng.
II was plain to be seen before the dance was
over, that the catgut was in the ascendency.
and that the friends of Gov L. were fast de-
sertng him. Scarcely had half an hour eaps-
ed ere the hitherto unconquerable Black Bob
stood alone, gazing in melancholy mood upon
the triumph of his antagonist The ladies' eyes
sparkled brightly as G.. hastily piled the bow,
while the men expressed their admiration in
long and repeated hurrahs. A desperate time
this for old Bob but his fruitful genius was
not long IN inventng plan by which TO ex-
trcate himself from this unpleasant dilemma.
So, calling Tom Buster-TOm was leader, |
in that region-he told him that he had
confidential communication to make, but which
he did not wish mentioned to any one. of
course Tom promised To keep dark, and the
Governor began
DO you observe said he, 'that c. plays
the fiddle with his left hand q
Yes, do, but then he is lcft-handed'
Not bit of it replied the willy politician,
not bit of it. know him well, have heard
him play thousand times, and down in the |
valley among the rich aristocrats of the towns |
he always plays with his right hand-and |
most splendid music he makes too but he |
thinks tjihanded music good enough for you
boys. IL you speak to him about it,
Of course he will deny it, but | tell you it is
true
The Infamous scamp we'll have no more
of his lei-handed music. lie shall give us
some of his best licks, or he shan't stay in
these diggings, roared the infuriated Tom.
And, sutlng the action TO the word he
walked directly in front of Mr.. c., and seizing !
him by the arm, told him in loud and com
nandng tones, to cease the left hand work
and give them touch of the right sort. In i
vain, Mr.. G.. declared that he could not play |
with the right hand-in vain he protested and ]
mplored. The indignant crowd, sympatfiz-
ng with Tom, and wounded in their pride by |
he trick Of the nrsiocratc fiddler, gathered
around poor G.. and cried aloud for right hand /
music. The storm waxed louder, the excite
nent was raising higher, when the discomft-
ed fiddler, concluding that prudence was the !
better part Of valor, beat hasty retreat leav-
ng old Black Bob sole possessor of the field
Thus was the battle fought and the victory
won. AT the election, a week later nearly |
every vote in that county was cast for Gov L.! l
NJ The Buffalo Commercial publishes an
extract from letter written by Mr.. Fillmore
10 friend, in relation to the result of the late
Presidential election. The sentiments which
he avows are honorable and just-and worthy
The man whom the Wings have just raised to
The Office of the Vice Presidency. lie says:
"The cordiality and unanimi-
y with which the Wing ticket has been sus-
aimed every where, North and South, East
md West, is just cause of National fecita.
ion. 1t proves that the great Wing party is
ruly national party-that it occupies tina,
safe and conservative ground which secures to
every section Of the country all that it has
right TO claim under the guaranty of the consti-
utlon-that such rights are nvoate-and as
10 all other questions Of mere policy, where
Congress has the constitutional right to lepis-
late, the will of the people, as expressed
through their Representatives in Congress, is
10 control, and that will is not to be defeated
BY the arbitrary interposition of the veto pow
er. This simple rule, which holds sacred all n
constitutional guarantees, and leaves the law
making power where the constitution placed
I, in Congress. relieves the party at once from
all the embarrassing questions that arise out Of
sectional differences of opinion, and enables it
70 act harmonously for the good of the eoun-
Try. H
When the President ceases to control the
aw-making power, his individual opinions Of
what the law ought to be become comparatively
Hence we have seen General
Taylor, though attacked as a stakeholder and
, pro-slavery man at the North, cordially sup
ported and triumphantly elected by men oppos-
I'd to slavery in all its forms and though | II