Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-04-30
ELEcrfaNEEMNe IN KENTUCKY;
High UP the Big Sandy, in Kentucky,

High up the Dig Odhuy, Ill hchtuChJ,
a mountainous region of country, known a
the "Knobs," where doctors and schoolmas
ters are unknown, where man under sil
feet would be curiosity, and the girls ant
good wives are all able to "whip their weigh
in wildcats" Annually or bi-annually, a
election days come round, the uncultiyatee
inhabitants Of this region become of impof
tance and their only property, their votes
are begged and bargained for by the would
he servants of the public. When Davy Trim
BILE was candidate for their sufrages he
was opposed by Col. D., who started up
on his 'sstumping tour" some weeks in ad
vance of his rival. The tributaries of the
Big Sandy had poured out their hundreds
all eager to drink the CalonePs whiskey, ,anc
the majority ready to receive such other to'
kehs of regard as he might think it necessa.
ry to give to secure their suarages. The Col.
lionel had declaimed against banks and Fed.
eralists, oppression and political chicsaneEyi
and was ringing the changes upon the Ia.
riff, when he was interrupted by an old fel-
low, who asked: ::
1 "Well now Kurnel will ye jist tell US
what sort of fellah this ere Tariff is, for
we've hern tell on him, from most every one
O. you town chaps what come up here to
git lected?"
"Why 'Squir, this tariff isn't man, but
machine like Carey plough that has been
invented by the Wings to scratch poor mems
backs with, and if they get into power you'll
be harried about the country like so many
dogs, and Daty Trimble is Whig, and is IN
favor of the tariff" Whereupon a shout
went up that if Davy Timble came after
their votes, they would shoot him at sight.
Sometime later, the lamented Richard
Mennifee and Judge French were canvas
sing the same district for seat in Congress.
The speeches had been made and a barba-
cue given, and the excitement OF the day
was to be wound up by dance at double
lose any opportunity of making friends, the
candidates were in attendance-Judge
French holding the button of young han-
ter while he discoursed of imposts and the
unconstitutiopality of erhalimprovements
and Mennifee with his coat thrown in cor
ner and his sleeves rolled up, swinging the
rosiest-cheeked lass in the room, through
the wild gallops of a country dance. Such a
contrast could not remain unobServed. and
It was soon whispered around that Judge
French would be ready enough to dance
with the fine folks at Owensboro but ire
was too proud to dance with the likes OF
us and cold shoulders and contemptuous
looks were bestowed upon the Judge, as
freely as were smiles and promises OF sup
port at the polls, upon the merry Dick Men
nifee.
The cabin was built at the base Of a high
hill that came TO point mile and halt
below, and upon whose opposite side was
another cabin, Tim Bufnm's) where SIM
liar iollifcation was being held on the same
night. To reach Buffuna' it was hecessa-
-ry to ride down to the point and up on the
other side, making the whole distance three
miles; or to take rough footpath across the
hill. Judge French determined to try his
tactics upon this new field of operations,
and mounting hi> horse lelsurely troted down
the branch when Mennifee, who had OBJ
served his movements, and suspected his IN
tention determined not to be out wltted by
his opponent, and took the "short CUT over
the bill.
Afterwards, in enumerating the causes OF
his defeat, the Judge was wont 10 close his
narrative of this recontre with --
"And what do you think / saw when ]
opened the door? Why there was that Men
nifee, coat and jacket of, stamping away as
if he were winning wager from Jim Grow
| thought the woods were full ofMennitee's
and left the next morning for Owensboro. !"
After the mountain canvass was over,
Nennifee stopped at the Amanda Furnace on
the Ohio, where twenty or thirty brawny
fellows had as many votes for whoever could
secure their interest. Mennifee called all
hands around him, and announced himself
as candidate for Congress. He would not
propose to buy their votes, hot he. He had
too much respect for the integrity OF any A
mericah citizen to offer him such an insult
Besides these people up ON the Knobs had
cleaned him out, and he had hardly thirty
dollars left. But he would tell them what he
would do;he would put up dollaf against ev-
cry man, land wrest tie for it, and if they threw
him they were to keep the dollar and ifhe
threw them, they were to vote for him.
AT first glance, to throw such a STRIPPING
seemed but boys play, but second look at
his compact sinews induced them to turn
out more worthy adversary than they had
at frst intended. After seemingly we'll
contested effort, he measured his length up
ON the turf; and John Dobins the best wres-
tier in the country, the one who had never
met his match, was pitted against the young
ster;;' but science prevailed over brute force,
and he too, soon had his heels in the air.
Whereupon it was unanimously resolved
that whoever could throw John Dobins would
make good laws, and they would vote for
him to man.-Great Vest.
A MELANCHOLY SpEcrAcLE.-Yesterday
evening the train of cars from Cleveland
brought several convicts from that city to
the Penitentiary. Among the rest were three
or four mere boys, who were sentenced for
years, in the very morning of their days,
to the walls of prison, for heinous crimes
against society. One boy was little over
ten years of age. two others only little
older and as they ratified their manacles,
and hobbled from the cars to the omnibus,
they laughed about their awkward fix; and
looked hardened, and indifferent to the ter
rible punishment awaiting them. The sight
was sickening. And yet how many parents
are permitting their young children to run
at large at ali hours of the night without
any restraint, thus imbibing habits that,