North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-02-15


hard cider compaign of 1910, politics ran high in
washington county, Arkansas. The field was full
of candidates for the Legislature. and amongst the
rest the unfortunate writer of this article, who was
most deicio0sly and entteracGnlPoasy slaughtered.
But the rarest Specimen was candidate Familiarity
known by the so6riuquet of Black Jack; one who
scorned all knowledge OF those hlerogyphlcs, that
rendered the name of Cadmus immortal. Large meet
ngs held and the candidates harangued the SOW
reigns on the state of the Union.
Upon one occasion, when the excitement was at
the highest point, almost every voter In the county
attended the meeting. Three lawyers and preacher
opened the service, and spoke in succession. Matty
Van Buren, with all his red fox cunning was depicted
in the most vivid coors. Swartwout. Price and
thousand leg treasurers running of with millions OF
the money of the people, were drawn to the lfe Mr.
Ponsetts standing army painted in coiors truly
horrc. The yells of the Florida blood hounds were
made ring in the years of the audiences and tears
were made to flow at the dying shrieks Of the poor
Indians torn to pieces by them.
On the other hand, Gen. Harrison exhibited
with the black cockade of federalism in his hat The
deepest sympathy excited in behalf of the 'poor
white sold for debt" under the law approved by
him, while Governor of Indiana. The old veteran of
the revolution-some hero who lost an arm at Bunk
eris H leg at Saratoga, received lasting wound
Yorktown, was brought up, tried and convicted I'M
der the operation of that law, for knocking down the
of old tory, with his clutch, for having called
him tory. Unable to pay his fne he was sold to
the highest bidder; purchased by heartess master
and treated with every indignity. His proud spirit
rebelled-the blood that against the crown of
Great Britain, was aroused against the petty tyranny
of his master. For act of in breach OF
the law, he was again tried convicted, and publicly
whipped by the sheriff.
Appeals more powerfully piercing than I" the wing
ed lightning that rends the gnarled oak were made
captvate the voters and enlist them in the support
of the various speakers, and their respective political
parties.
At length it came to the of Black Jack speak.
He rose I" with fire in each eye and papers in each
hand: :" .
FelIer-Citizens: You cannot expect for me to de-
tain you with great speech like them big lawyers,
and that high larnt preacher don't pretend to eny
SIGH thing, for warnt born in the fundiment of a
college. No, gentlemen, I'm plain farmer, like you
all. was born and fetched up in Arkansaw, when
they didn't have no schools. Yes, war here when
the first man cum. war here before the cane begun
to grow and stad till twsr eat out. Before twenty
years had kissed my infant cheeks was here. Pm
an old settler! An old cane breaker! and, gentle
man, when first cum here, lawyers want here
to be making their big speeches. No, nothing was
then heard but the yelling Injun, the lowing buffalo,
the screaming painter, the bowling wolf, the hootng
owl and the whistling possum.
Gentlemen, there's many things the next legislator
do, but hant got time to talk bout EN-
They say my politics is doubtful that I'm strad-
die of the fence Yes, this charge is made by some
pestifgerous lawyer canndate to beat for the leg
latur-but he can't nigh cum it. I'm one fthe boys
"A plain farmer jist the for the people of old
laws for them, and not these lawyers who want laws
passed to make law suits plenty.
''Go it Black Jack Give it to 'em!" Shouts
the crowd.
My politics doubtful Me a-straddIe of the fence
No, gentlemen, Pm not the fence, L not the
man.
Who you for, for PRESIDENT" demands a
voice.
I'll answer the gentleman, want every body to
know who I'm for.
As for general Harrisson they say he's granny,
and sells poor white men for debt-Now I'm poor
white man (; most of you Teller citizens are poor
white men-if we make him president he mout sell
US for debt. But for Martin Van BURN he's no
more fit to be president of these United States than
-than-than spite OH. I'm a Jackson man, and
agin Henry Clay. Whar wer Henry Clay. when
Gineral Jackson war whipping the British at New
Orleans, up to his waist in water, sleeping on tree
tops and eating acons! He war snoozng the
downy beds of Kentucky, or playin poker with the
crowned heads of Europe, thousand dollars ante
and marry pair.
And whar war [ gentlemen! In the hills of Ar
kansaw. Slowing of the bear!
Jack closed amidst the most tremendous and deaf
ening applause. I" Hurra for Black Jack.'' He'll
give 'em h-l-O! he's got them lawy down
Go it my Black Jack!''
And 90 it, he did. " With head erect, and tail
curled. eye balls glaring distorted, and sides
distended," he charged into the legislature "with
ease and elegance" two hundred votes ahead of any
other candidate; and THEY'VE came to Texas.
.4afstin (Zeras) State Gazette