The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-11-20


amusing instances related Of the ncompetency Of
public officers One that Of justice Of the peace,
VINO was called mpsI hSh ssa Sssn sto1sn whsn Ss
Justice went examine his book Of forms for such
papers he could find none that referred to drawing
knife but he did find one for turkey, SO he handed
the constable the warrant for the turkey, telling him
he look for the turkey but If he the
drawing knife he might take it, Another instance
of clerk who entered his appointment AT Court
begun In hell - was appointed instead Of At q
Court begun and held" &c, and the record 90 re-
We have had another report from committee that
common school sdasaton-of which the State now
sadly deficient IL provides that the Legislature shall
establish, and forever keep In existence efficient
system Of common schools to BE- equally open to all the
wns chiafss o. ne state Inc present SCHOOL fund
payable to the Board Of Education and S73 500 OF stock
In the Bank Of Kentucky and S5l, 223 80 being the
balance Of the interest the school fund for 1915 Is
set apart Us perpetual school fund, the interest Of
which shall be inviolaby pledged for common school
purposes. The interest arising from said fund to be
distributed ratesbly among the several counties.
Whenever In any one year the amount OF the interest
unappropriated reaches the sum OF 000 the same
shall be added to the permanent fund. superin-
tsndent OF public instruction to be elected By the
people
Kentucky is now without proper system of common
school education, and the establishment of will
alone result In benefits to the people sufficient render
the new constitution great blessing TO them.
Mr. Dixon, the gentleman who is looked upon being
the next candidate OF the wing party for Governor and
who seems in view Of that contingency to be seeking
to strengthen himself with the ultra pro- slavery men Of
bill Of rights
'Thst all power is inherent in the people and all
free governments founded their authority and
consent and instituted for their peace, safety aud
happiness and the security Of tehir property For the
advancement OF these ends bt for their defeat they
have at all times, inaenable and indefeasible ri CHS
to alter, reform, bssh their government in such
manner as they may think proper"
This, you will by the clauses have iacised is
intended to counteract any emancipation movement,
or to use the language OF Mr.. Dixon himself to pre-
any of the powers of this or any
cannot help imagining, however that the amer dment
will fail in the only emergency When 1t may be
to SECURE the end desired The win Of the majority in
the formation OF a constitutional this democratic
land at least generally supposed to be- overriding in
peace safety and happiness OF the people ana
their property And should the
become powerful majority OF the people of the State
opipe the gentleman will find his attempt bind them
in this way, mere rope Of SAND.
Thus much for the doipgs OF the Convention.
one cannot help observing that u strong religious
feeling pervades the mass of the people OF Kentucky
IL is evident at every hand in the number of churches
and the OF the people All called imm oral
games prohibited in the State and the prohi bion
extends To the innocent game Of billiards There
Is not billiard table, pubic one at least, in
the State. The people, more than any other in the
Union perhaps have been subjected to those periodical
vsitations Of religious excitement known REVEALS
and they have peryaded TO extent unprecedented
elsewhere. The denomination Methodsts, Baptists,
aud Presby teiians when these movements are PEE
cuiiar the most numerous in the State About he
years 1901 Y and o. there ragged through the State
religious excitement Of this description unparalleled in
its husasm fanaticism or whas you will and which
degeneIated into manifestations unequalled, by
the supeTstitiuns OF barbarism Ii known as the
great revival and will nton reniui SCIENCES
OF IL have CLEANED from conversations and local pub
ications to give you idea of its characteristics
During its prevalence, Immense camp meetings were
held In every section Of the State at which people of
every class Of soceaty, black and white, attended
and SO universally that even the ordinary pursuits Of
business wore neglected At these gatherings the
the in eigent aud best educated OF the people
seemed for the nonce to have taken leave Of their
1.-The fsllingn the Jerking the rolling the run.
ning (" " the dancing" and the barking exercises
The falling exercise was where one after another
OF the audience, to the mum Der Of would sud
denly fall PROSTATE on the ground and faint away.
Nosex or age was exempt, aud some fell suddenly ms
II knocked aown while others seized with sort
Of sgue OF, aud fell shrieking As they lay on the
ground they filled the air with shreks, Mingled with
groans cries for mercy and OF Glory glory to God
In this condition ths subject would lie for from fifteen
minutes to two or three hours aud In some INSTANCES
for days. Some were insensioe and ali suffered with
prosration OF the nervous system after the exercise
Women, In particular were known to have their
90 excited to fall while walking through the
street and TO drop from Their horses the road
y at the narration o some Of the past scenes At one
camp meeting, over 3OO0 persons we're thus Affected
The jerking exercise was whers the subject was
feized with spasms commissions ia every muscle
nerve and tendon generally fret appearing in quick
and sudden jerking 1T short intervals, OF the arms,
from the elbow downwards. The head would ~ back
ward and forward from side 20 side with quick JOLT
which effort Of the subject could arrest aud he was
obliged to 10 as ne was stimulated whether with yo-
lent dash on the ground q bounce from place TO
place like football or hop round, with neal limbs,
and trunk twtching in every direction as they must
inevitably fly asundcr. The women we're la the habit
OF wearing their hair cut short so a. 70 obyste the
Inconvenience which would result from tie disarrange
ment Of their head dresses Travellers ON their jour
ney and aborcrs at work were often seized by these
spasms and aby attempt 10 resist them regarded
as rebelng against the Deity. ia cutting assy the
underground for camp m-etlng. VI was custonary 20
leave from City TO one huudred sspbgs, about breast
high, for the people who we're jerked 10 hold ON By
The rolling exercise was where tbs subject would
be Violently tsrown down and doubled up, with the
head feet together-woud roll and over like
wheel or swiftly sideways like aiog.
The running exercise was where persons would
take sudden start aud run with great swtn, leap
ing over ANY obstacle in the way, until exhausted,
they would tall down Ia asao0n
The dancing txcrcite was similar to that praoiise1
among the shakers. The steps were 20 lively tune,
aud the idea sought 90 be carried out that they
were 70 praise cd in tbs dance There h settle
ment q Shakers in the State. who originally
pO.ed q these dancing rorshipPers
But the barking exercise the most singular
aud revolving q all the forms which this frenzy
fumsd individuals Of both sexes aud including per-
OF the highest rank IN society would take the %
sition a dog moving about ca all fours, growiipg,
sBapping the teeth, and BARKING in the most exact
Initiates a the canine race scenes have been de.
scroed where Il frequent % have these bow
vows iutermiXed, most ludicrousy, with the most
pious CALCULATIONS; a. Zoe instance. every knee shaft
bow WOW WOW. aud every tongue shsii confess, &C
The only relief from this disgu,tng exercise said
60 be a. once 20 engage in the voluntary dance.
Another singular exercise was what vas known as
the holy laugh While sermons were being preach
ed tho saiisnces. al certain sentences would laugh
aloud Appearing all the time solemn aud devouii and
shouting glory 10 God.
There wefe number & other exercises pras.
tissd but these will suffice 20 exhibit the extrao -i
nary character which this fsnatcism assumed The
retder may deem the relation Of them exaggerated but
can him that there are hundreds IA Kentucky.
at this day who will testify not only to their having
been praotiftd but 90 their participation ia them.
have been shown also religious publication a. least
defending them a. manifestations Of the Spirit Of the
lcid The movement was under the direction Of "
norsnt fanatics who operated upon an eAcitable aud
enthusiastic people a On evidence Of this, give
you verse q what vas at that time popular hymn
the composition e. one Of these spiritual teachers
lrot1tr, your passion th aud passion bury
CONS and ffare toe ttd calf ani let ~ All be merry;
Nfi you erieye about kidi When tie calf ~ killed,
IL rhcn you bid. YET be hlltd.
The q these exercises have very generally been
abandoned by the whites; but in many 81 the black
congregations they sti practscd Ia all their oris
nal Tepusiyeness.
Ana it was only after they had lead 10 scenes Of in
suppcrtsbie csuinuFness Ia the Intercourse Of the
sexes. sud the "chdren 81 the devil had b gan
60 participate In them for the accomplishment 81
their wicked designs that they finally abandon
Ell. The scenes At some 81 these camp meetinSs,