The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-06-23

with the accumulated interest of wears
J that orphan boy twas yet to wipe out with
one terrible blow which should cover the
British Isle with mourning.
After the death of his mother, he wen
to live with Major Thomas Crawford, anG
still later, entered the family of Mr.. White
an uncle of Mrs. Crawford. Camden hav.
ing been evacuated by the enemy, the
Waxhaw settlers were left unmolested.-
Many of the wealthiest citizens Of Charles.
ton, who fled when the city was captured
had taken up their residence at Waxhaw,
with whom young Jackson became init
mate. This led to habits of dissipation,
and he soon squandered the little patri-
mony left by the family. At the close Of
the war, these wealthy and gay compan-
ions returned to Charleston. Mounted on
q splendid horse, the last of his property,
jackson soon followed them to seek his
fortune. In the hotel at which he stop
ped, he found some of them engaged in a
game OF dice. In the recklessness of spir-
1t, which had characterized him since he
departed from the counsels of his mother,
he staked his horse against a sum of mo-
ney, and won. The sudden stroke of good
fortune instead of intoxicating him, as it
would have any other character, sobered.
The youthful follies to which all are sub
Ject, and which, in his case, were the re-
suit of his lonely condition, and the excite
ment they furnished him, were suddenly
thrown aside, and he resolved to change
at once his whole course of life. Mount
ing his horse, he turned his head home
ward, wiser and better youth. That
long journey had not been in vain, for it
had reformed him; and day after day, as
he rode thoughtfully towards home, the
past came back with fresh sorrow, and
the gentle pressure of a mothers influence
was felt upon his heart, and he resolved
to devote himself to the profession to
which in his infancy she had dedicated
him.
But after continuing his studies awhile,
he changed his mind, and adopted the le-
gal profession as more congenial to his
tastes. He removed to Salisbury, in his
native State, where, in the winter of l7s6,
he was admitted to the bar. At this time,
he was but nineteen years of age, yet by
his energy, good conduct, and superior
ability, he soon Won the confidence and
esteem of the most influential men of the
State, and two years after, without solici-
tation on his part, was appointed by the
| Governor solicitor for the western District
of Carolina, now the State of Tennessee.
ECrossing the mountains to Jonesborough,
he remained there several months. He
then visited the settlements on the Cum
berland, where he found that the debtors
who composed large portion of the pop
ulation, had monopolized the services of
the only lawyer in their dictrict, and thus
tied up the hands of their credit rs. Of
course the latter focked around jackson,
and he issued seventy writs the morning
after his arrival. The rude and fierce
frontiers-men did not relish this interfer-
encnce with their plans, and they threat
ened him with personal violence if he did
not desist This was the only mode to be
adopted successfully against such a man
as Jackson, and he determined at once 10
remain. There being no hotels or board
ing houses in the settlement, he, together
with Judge Overton, took up his residence
in the family of Mrs. Donelson, widow,
near Nashville.
The animosity which his arrival had
excited soon began to manifest itself in
attempts to embroil him in quarrels, and
thus drive him out Of the country. Men
who dared not attack the young Carroll
nisn themselves, hired buliies noted for their
E physical strength and brute courage,to do it
for them. A fax-breaker, huge, powerful
. man, of whom all the neighborhood stood
in awe-was first set upon him. Advan.
cling in the full expectation of giving the
: young lawyer sound drubbing, he was
about to strike him; when the latter, whose
rapid movements and almost ferocity O
countenance when enraged took the stur
diest fighter all aback, siezed the bully.
winding-blades, that lay near, and beat
him over the head with such violence that
the bruised and astonished fellow begged
Justify for quarter. He expected regu.
lar fist-fght, and not such a fierce and
murderous attack.
Not long after this, while he was atten
ding court in Sumner County, a noted
fighter, whom he had never seen before
deliberately walked up to him and trod on
his feet. Jackson Immediately seized q
slab that lay on the ground by his side
and sending the end full against the fel
.. lows breast, bore him heavily to the earth
The crowd standing around then interfered
and separated them. But the baff1ed ant
enraged bully rushed to the fence, and
wrenching out stake, came back OF
Jackson, swearing horribly, and threaten
ing to dash out his brains. The crowc
{ again attempted to interfere, when Jack
son begged them to keep aloof, and le
the villain come on. They immcdiately
! drew back; when, with his slab poised lik,
J a spear, and his cleaning eye fixed on tha
, of his antagonist, he fiercely advanced up
on him. The terrified man gazed for
moment on that embodiment of wrath
, then, throwing down his stake, leapet
, over the fence, and ran for the woods
q Physical force he understood, and ha,