Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-11-21

AHc pdpef pcdS Oh Out Suidik tteul VI
mufarious issues to be tried here. Has the fair
fame of woman been soied by the poisonings of
slander. 1t is here, near the door of the forum,
and within hearing Of the judge and jury. that the
father brother, or husband will wash out the dark
stain with the red e-blood ofthe calumniator or
lose the last drop ofits own.s Has private quar-
rel occurred betwixt buies, attorneys, doctors or
diyines-before the gazing, shouting, agtated null
ttude, that the parties will fight the quarrel out.
Such is the common law Of custom and the pre-
scription of immemorial and sanguinary usage.
Here, also, is the chosen rendezvous Of rogues,
drunkards, whiskered gamblers, horse jockeys and
all office-hunters and demagogues. 1t is for sea-
sons such as these that the docket Of frontier
court is never cleared Of its cases for every old
one adjudicated, at least two new ones are added
to the list, and thus the accumulation goes on in
creasing from year to year. This makes the ely
stun of the lawyers. There is a sad drawback,
however, their felicity. The litgants, witness
es, and spectators, are mostly loaded down with
deadly weapons, and are equally ready to use them
on the slightest show of insult. Hence none but
fearless fighters need hope for success at the bar
Under such state Of circumstances it is easy to
conceive the scenes Of wild strife, confusion, and
outrage exhibited in frontier forum, where the
Judge is forced by necessity to be either tyrant
or a slave, and The counsel are always bullies.
1t was the anticipation Of violent exctements,
in the shape of actual tragedies, that drew such
eager and hurrying throngs to the court house in
the village of Van Buren on the occasion to which
we first alluded. The human panorama presented
a view animated and busy in the highest degree.
Out of hundred houses, forty three were liquor
groceries with every window and door wide open,
and densely crowded that it required half dog
en- clerks in each establishment to supply the
thirsty customers. Beside the counter might be
seen groups of well-dressed gamblers, ringing to-
gether their full wine glasses before the sparkling
champagne disappeared beneath their boards. In
the centre of the room stood mountain hunter.
with his rife in one hand and huge quart measure
in the other, just raised to his parted lips. One
instant more and the nectar of fluid shall melt on
that great red tongue. But no, it is stopped ia
trdnsitu, by the strong arm Of a mongrel Indian,
who snatches the overAowng vessel and flies a.
way through the ihrong. Click! Bang! What
sound was that! The sharp crack Of the hunters
rife, followed by death yell offearful agony as
the Indian falls .corpsel -
Yonder, under those beautiful shade trees of
gorgeous evergreen, where the sunlight trembles
through like the fash of ten thousand golden pen
ellis, beves OF bright-eyed women are seated on
carpet of grass, the daughters smiling at the ac-
of the beaux. and the smiling to
hear the pratte Of their children.
At nine O'clock, group Of lawyers, doctors and
politicians-coloneis all-were engaged in earn
esl conversation around the bar, undsturbed by
the drunken shouts and din Of tumult feverberat-
iEg without, far and near over the village.
lis the hour for calling court remarked Reub
Reynolds, Esq. and yet our new Judge has not
arrived" s..st.faa5 a-se8 a#9 &C.
If he's smart he won't arrive at ALL said Gen.,
Smoot, cutting figures in the air with the snowy
sword cane which he had applied ot ct armls to
the shoulders Of certain judge lately resigned
Gen. Smoot was my Lord Coke of Arkansas.-
He had annassed handsome fortune in the brief
space OF FIVE years, and by general consent ranked
at the head Of the profession. Ii is true, he had
not worked his way to this proud elevation by
learned and laborious research, nor had he scared
up there on the pinions of impassioned eloquence,
nor had intellect, or imagination or purity of feel
ing aided his ascent; he had simply hewed his
through all obstacles with the sharp edge Of a
bowie knife, which few save himself had sufficient
strength to WELD. Wo to the opposing council
that did not cover before his thunder And d
deeper wo to the presumptious judge vino dared
to check his browbeating insolcnce or who assum-
ed the right to determine point against him.
When, therefore, the bystanders heard the du:
cling General utter his oracnlar laconsm in refer
ence to the new Judge, everybody comprehended
the threat, and burst into a hearty laugh. 5ss|
e What's the name Of his expected honor = in
CURED COL Reub Reynolds, Esq as he gave his
perfumsd moustache an extra twill 80 5&sm
9 "a Yell, from Tennessee replied Col. McBall;
and he has come to Arkansas with the commits
sion Of territorial Judge in his pocket, for the pur
pose Of making capital TO be the FIRST governor of
the new state when organized
COL McBal was himself an aspirant for the
high Office Of which he then spoke He did not
obtain 1t, but he did secure the post OF cashier of
tae Fayetteville BaRks and FIVE years afterwards
Too9e9 ~ and ran away with one hundred thou
How did you call his name E interrupted Cen.
Smoot, elevatiug his sword cane " s2is2ast4 tHi
g "a sYen,' replied Col Ban .asuda!s# sd
zslH change tie name TO A Howl Hreioined Gen.
Smoot, pefpetrstiag metaphorical pun while the
sword cane descended with a mos. belligefant
flourish. yso e,R yas,e--, i.