The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-07-17

al should hope so,'' the statue replied.
"lhose the good old times2 What!
Mr.. Blenkinsop, when men were hang
cd by dozens, almost weekly, for pallry
thefls. When nursing woman was
dragged 10 the gullows with child at
her breast, for shop.lfting, 10 The value
of shilling. When you lost YOUR
American colonies, and plunged into
war with France, which, 10 so ' nothing
oi the useless bIoodshcd il cost, has lefi
you suddled with the na,ionpl debt.
Surely YOU will no, call these the good
old times, will you, Mr.. Blenkinsop?'
mot exactly, sir. no; on reflection |
don't know that cam answered Mr..
BlcnkinsoP. He had now--it was such
a civil, well.spoken slatue--los, oil
sense ofihe prctcrna,ural horror Of his
s'!uotion, and scratched bis head, Just
as if he had been posed in argument by
an ordinary mortal.
"WelI, then resumed the statute,
"my dear sir. shall we take the Two or
three regions preceding? Wha, think
you OF the then existing state Of prisons
and prison discipline7 Unfortunate
debtors confined indiscfiminatoly with
telons in the midst OF filth. vice, and
misery unspcakablc. Criminals under
sentence Of death, tippIing in The con.
dcmncd cell with 'he ordinary for their
pot-companion. Floeging, common
punishment Of women convicted Of lnr-
ctny. What say you of tho times
when London streets were absolutely
dangerous, and the passenger ran the
risk OF being bnsTled and robbcd1rcn III
the day,anef When only EionsleW-
ard. a.fspgsho, heath, but The public roads
swar,ned with, rohhors, and a stage
coach was as frequently plundered rs Al
iiipn.rcest. When, indeed, .lhn road'
was esteemed The Legitimate resource of
q gentleman in difficulties, and high
waymanwas commonly called sc:AAff.sain,
III not respected accordingly. When
cock. ilgnting, hear-baitiHg, and bpll7sl
batting were popular, nay. fusslidal Q
alnusEile Jits. tthen tue bliah saf ~
landed ijnfess feas
% ..ifssio bel
"a:
is.,nllcnlaa could Aafdl oneii lsis 81 Ii
psithout utterins profane or filthy oontiss.
When The country was consinuailyin
peril of civil war, through disputed
succession; and Two murderous instlr-
rections, followed by n,oea murderoas
executions. actually took place. This
era ofinhumani,y, shamelessness, bri.
gandage, brutality, and personal and po.
iItical insecurity, what say You OF il,
Mr.. Blenkinsop9 Do you regard this
wig and pigtail period rs constituting
The good old times, respected iIricnd2"
"Therc was Queen Annc's golden
reign, sir" dcferentiolly suggested Mr..
Blcnkinsop.
"a golden rcign' exclaimed the sta
tue. "a reign OF favoritism and court
,rickery at homo, and proflicss war
abroad. The time Of BoIingbrokc S,
and lIarlcy's, aud Churchill's in,rigucs.
The reign Of Sarah, Duchess Of Marl-
borough and Of Mrs. Mnslam. 4 gol-
den iidd|csiick! imagine you must
80 farther back yet for your good d
times, Mr.. Bicnkinsop.'
"Wel|, answered the churchwartlcn,
81 suppose | must, sir, after what You
say
"Takc William the "Third's rule"
pursued the statue. "War, war again;
nothing bu, war. don, think you'll
particularly call these the good old
times. Then wha, will you say to those
OF James The Sccond' We're they the
good old times whcn Judge Ietirics sat
on the bench? When Monmou,h's re.
tel!ion was followed by tic bloody rs.
size. When the king tried TO set him.
se'fubove The law. and lost his crown in
consequence. Does your worship fan
cy these were the good old ,imes2'
Mr.. Blenkinsop admitted Tint he
could no, very we'll imagine that they
were.
"Werc Charles the Seconds the good
old timcsf demanded The statue. "Whh
n court full Of riot and debauchery; q
palace much less decent than any mod
crn casino; while Scotch covenanters
wcro having their legs crushed in The
Boots under the auspices and personal
superintendcncc Of His Royal IIighness
The Duke Of York. The time Of Titus
Oates, Bcdloc, and DangerGeld, and
their sham plots, with the hangings,
drawings, and quarlerings, on pcrinred
| evidence, that followed them. When
Russell and Sidney were iudicially
murdered. The time Of The grea,
plugue and fire Of London. The public
money wasted By roguery md embez
element, while sailors lay starving ii
the streets for tho want Of their Just pay;
tho Ouch about the same time burning
our ships in the Midway. My friend
| think you will hardly call the scanda
lous monarchy ofthe "Mcrry monarch,
the good times"
al feel tho difficulty which you
suggest, sir,' owned Mr., Blenlinsop.
"Now, that man Of your loyalty"
pursued the statue, "should Identify the