Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-10-21
EARLY DAYS OF sILAs WRIGHT.


A friend, who was an old acquaintance Of the
late Hon. Silas Wright, related to US an anec
dote Of that distinguished man, which he received
from his own lips, and as We have never seen it |
in print, (alshough it may have been) we give it
to our readers.
Mr.. Wright left his home at an early age to
"seek his fortune," having by way Of earthly pos
sessions, fine horse, saddle and bride, pair Of
saddle-bags, small stock Of clothing and Ave
hundred dollars in money, which was in bills and
deposited in his saddle-bags He took a west
ward course, and in travelling one day he over,
took man with wagon and furniture and an
old span Of horses, apparently emigrating. There
was nothing particularly attractive at first view
in the person or his equipage, but upon closer in
spection, Mr.. Wright discovered the daughter Of
the emigrant, most beautiful young lady, evil
IDENTIFY refined and intelligent. They journeyed
onward towards Geneva, chatting costly together,
when suddenly the old gentleman recollected that
he wished to get his money changed at the Ge
neva bank, and to enable him to reach that place
before the close of bank hours he proposed that
Young Wright should take seat beside his beau
tiful daughter, and allow him to mount WIS. horse
and hasten forward. Ardent and half snitten by
the charms of the young lady, Silas gladly ac-
cepted the proposition and leaped from his horse,
allowing the old man to make off with all his
earthly possessions, money inclusive, without
second thought.
..Rapidly the hours OF Thalaba went BY"
while these two young and gifted beings pursued
their course quite leisurely it may be surmised)
at Geneva, Mr. w. drove to the principal tavern,
left the lady, but then for the first time shade Of
anxiety crossed his mind for the safety Of his fine
horse and money. He went to all, but no one
having seen such man a. he described, he beat
up to the quarters of the cashier of the bank, and
learned to his additional concern, that such man
had called at the bank and endeavored to get some
money changed, which he declined doing as the
notes were counterfeit! Our future statesman
concluded that he had made a crooked start in
life About fifty dollars worth of old furniture,
a dapidated wagon and span of worn out horses,
for new wardrobe, fine horse and five hundred
dollars! Ay, then there was the pretty daughter
but her he could not keep as personal property,
without her consent, and without money he hard
" wanted wife. He was at his wits end and
had just concluded to make the best Of bad bar
gain when the old man made his appearance
with the horse and money all safe. 1t turned out
that the money which the cashier had thought to
be counterfeit was not so, and the mistake had
given the old man some trouble to go some dis
lance, to find an acquaintance who might vouch
for his responsibility, in case of trouble, and this
occasioned his mysterious absence. In the sequel
the beautiful daughter became afterwards the
wife of the future statesman.-Detroit .adr.
HISTORICAL REVELATION.
The Washington Tnion discoses a very re-
markaoe fact in the past history of the country
referring particularly to the dangerous notification
agitation of 1928.
1t appears tina, most eloquent letter was then ad
dressed to & published in the Richmond Enquirer
calling upon the State of Virginia to act as me-
diator between South Carolina and the General
Government. The subject was referred to COM
mittee of the Legislature, then in sess ion, and il
was finally resolved by the Legislature to send
! Mr.. Benjamin Watkins Lee as commissioner tc
the Governor of South Carolina. He was re.
ceived with the highest honors by the Governor
and all the authorities Of the State, and his patri
otto exertons contributed largely to arrest the un
fortunate movement then in progress.
! The name of the anthoz Of the letter was never
divulged till now it is perhaps, the more crafty
ing to learn that General Lewis Cass was the
author of it, and that his patriotic heart and MIND
were then bent, as they are now, in restoring
peace, harmony and fraternal relations between
the two great sections Of our common country.
| ANIMALS INITIATING DEATH TO SAVE THEIR
L1vEs.-During visit to Cumberland, Eng
Tand1 we found several hedgehogs in lngle.
wood forest. One Of these in order to destroy
it, we put it in the pond. 1t swan about in a
circular direction for some time, and reached
the shore. After putting it into the water &C.
cond time, it remained motionless and apparent
ly dead, and we left it on the grass, During
the night, however it walked away. The spi
der will initiate death to save itself; and cana
ries have been taught by some Snowman to look
as if they were dead. The most curious case
however, is that of fox in the north. farm
err had discovered that he came along beam in
the night to seize his poultry. He accordingly
sawed the end of the beam nearly through, and
in the night the fox fell into place whence he
could not escape. On going to him in the morn
ing the farmer found him stiff, and as he
thought, lifeless. Taking him out of the build
ing he threw him on the dunghil! but in shor
time Reynard opened his eyes and seeing thai
all was safe and clear, gallopped away to the
mountains, showing more cunning than the man
who had ensnared him.-Preston Ckronicle.
AN OLD FAMILY.-Mr. J. F. Jones, one of the
Assistant Marshals engaged in taking the cen
sus of Kentucky, writes to the Maysville Eagle
of curious family he visited 1t consisted Of
the mother, the daughter, and three great greal
grand sons, who have never been separated
since they were first family, the oldest being
1902 and the youngest one year old This family
consists of five generations. The mother was
native of Virginia during the Revolutionary
War, and emisrated to Kentucky at an early
day.
A CRorcHEr-'Go out in the woods, Sambo,
said southern master to one of his negroes. and
cut me some crotchets for fence-to stick in the
ground like ths,' making at the same time an
inverted A Of two fingers on table.
| This negro took his axe, went Into the woods,
stayed all day, and returned at last with nothing
| but his axe in his hand
'Where are your crolchets, Sambo 2 asked his
| master.
sCnudn't find none massa no howl,