The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-09-11
THE MINNESOTIAN.
American Honor.

Chambers Edinburgh Journal of the 10th
of July, will not be without interest to
American readers. Ii has too oft, n been
the fashion 10 sncer at what is termed
Southern Ch,ualry, but il such feelings
p cvail in that region as are recorded in
this recital, S"ulherners may h've just
cause to boast Of their peculiar insitu-
tions. We know not wher her they have
"|aw OF limitations" Oh their statute
books, but if they have, it must be almost
dead letter.
About seven'y-five years ago, there was
al Ch r!eslon, in South Carolina, family
consisting Of several members. Ii be-
loaged to the middle class-that is to say,
contained barris'ers, bankers, merchants,
and SO on-all of them animated, at least
so far as appears by high sense of honor
and integrity. But noble sentiments are
no certain guaran' ee against poverty. One
oil the members of the family in question
became embarrassed, borrowed 9l COO of
one OF his relatives. but was soon after
seized with paralysis, and. having kept
his bed five years, died, leaving behind
him widow With several children. He
could bequeath them no property, instead
OF which they received as their inhcri-
tance high principles, and a strong affcc.
tion Tor the memory of their father. The
widow also was in this respect perfectly
in harmony with her sons. By dini,
therefore, OF prudence, industry and econ
omy. they am.ssed among them the sum
of f4OO, which tley rigidly appropriated
to the repayment OF part of their faith
er's debt. The Old man had, indeed,
called them together around his death
bed. and told them that. instead Of a for
tune, he left them duty 10 perform; and
that ii il could no, be accomplished in one
generation, ii mus: be handed down from
f.lher to son, until the descendants of the
BIS had paid every farlhing to the de-
scendants OF the SIS.
While matterc stood in this predica-
ment, the creditor part OF the family re-
moved 10 England, and the debtors re-
IN ,ire | at Charleston, struggling with dit-
iiculies and clnbarraSsmen,s, which moi
only disabled them from paying the pater-
nj debt, bu; hcpt them perpe'utIly in
honorable poverty. OF course, the wish
to ply in such minds, survived the ability.
l. would have been to them an enio, melt
o. a high order, to hunt out heir relatives
in Eng land. and place in their hands the
owing fGO0. This pleasure which they
We're destined never to TASTE, ufien formed
the subject Of conversation around their
tiresidc; and the children. as they grew
mp, We're initiated into the mysteries of
the E, 90.
But that generation passed away, and
another succeeded to the liability; no,
that there existed any liability in the law,
for though a deed had been executed, it
had lapsed in the course of time, so that
there was really no obligation but that
which was strongest Of alan nneradi-
Gated sense Of right Often and often
did the BIS of Charleston, meet and con-
suit together on this famous debt, which
every ono wished, but no ono could afford
10 pay. The sons were married and had
children whom il was incumbent on them
to support; the daughters had married
too, but their husbands possibly did not
acquire with their wives the c!livalrous
sense Of duty which possessed the breast
O. every member. male and female, OF the
B. family, AMI inspired them with q wish
to do justice when tnrtunc permitted.
1t would be infinitely agreeable to COL
lect and perusc the letters and records OF
consultations which passed or took place
between the members Of Il is family on
the subject of the f6O0. These docu-
ments would form the materials of one Of
the most delightful romances in the world
the romance Of honor, which never dies
i'll some families, but is transmitted from
generation TO generation, like treasure
above all price. When this brief notice
is read in Charleston it may possibly lead
to the collection of these materials. which.
with the proper names of all the persons
engaged, should, we think, be laid before
the world as a pleasing record Of heredi-
tary nobility Of sentiment.
After The lapse of many years, a widow
and her three nephews found themselves
in possession Of the n, cessary means to
pay the family debt. Three qua ters Of
IA century had elapsed. TIE children and
children's children Of the original borrow
er had passed away; bu, the honor of the
b. family had been transmitted intact to
the fourth generation, and search was
Immediately commenced 10 discover the
creditors i'll England. This, however, as
may be well supposed, was no easy task.
The members VI the >. family had multi
piled and separated, married and nterular-
ried, become poor aud wealthy, di>,in-
guished and obscure by turns, changed
ther Typographical as well as their social
position, and disappeared entirely from
the spot they had occupied OH their first
arrival from America.
But honor is indeiatigable, and by de-
grees letter reached person in Ken
sington. who happened to possess some
knowledge OF lady OF the S. family,
married 10 a solicitor practising with
great distinction in London. When the