Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-10-27
Gorrfsponotatt,.
FROM OUR EVANSVILLE c0RREsPoN-
DENT.
EvAYsvILLE, Oct. IS, 1854.

the Pocket" L have been tossed
about in all sorts Of ways since you
last heard from me, and have seen
sights enough to fill volume. but then
| don't know that they would he worth
the paper and the printing, much less
the writing. a aif
For months past we have had but
one subject Of thought and of CONVEX
sation among the sovereigns in this re-
gion-the election. This with the
matters growing out of it has engross-
ed the whole attention of the good peo-
pie, and they have been more excited
than ever before. But the agony is
over. The election passed off so qui-
etly here that no one could have told
that such thing was going on. if he
had not gone to the place where the
votes were cast. This was not as il
was anticipated. Many persons tho't
there would be great deal Of bitter
feeling between the natives and foreign
ers, and that thor would probably be
trouble if not bloodshed. The city au-
thorities took the precaution to employ
a number of deputy marshals, who
were seen on the morning of the elec-
ton moving about with large walking
sticks and the sign of thei: Office fast
ened TO the breasts of their coats
They were a sturdy looking set of fell
lows, these Deputies" and they
would have done good service if action
had been called for; but they had moth
ing 10 do but walk about and see how
very quiet the people could be.
But why was all this peace and qui-
etness? Was 1t because these officers
were employed and provisions made
for the prompt resistance and suppress
sion of any thing ike riot? No sir
The city Fathers took another precau-
ton, which had more to do with the
result than any thing else They had
all the drinking houses closed for the
day., l saw no man drunk during the
day, nor did l hear Of one. LIDO not
say there would have been riot if
these houses had been left open, but
there would have been more or less
lighting and it is highly probable there
might have beer. general riot Had
a difficulty occurred between half
dozen natives and foreigners, under
the excitement of ardent splits added
to the excitement growing out of the
elections, scores of men under the
same influence would have rushed into
it like madmen. and there is no telling
when the difficulty would have ended.
But the people were sober and felt no
disposition to fight like dogs. Say
what you will, after all the drinking
houses are the chief cause OF all the
riots in the land. Letlaws be enacted
that will bring this damnable traffic to
a perpetual end, and there will be an
end to mobs. Men do not feel like
rioting and fighting when they are So
Der. Two men may quarrel, get in
suited at each other, and fight. but
when any body around them is sober,
the fight will soon be ended. and no.
body will think of making general
mass out of it.
The result of the election here has
rather disappointed many of the peo-
pie. The "old liners" have carried the
day in this county; and it is now pref
ty certain that Miller is elected over
Hall, though by very small majority,
compared with that he received in the
former election. The democratic ma
jority in this district has been near 81
600; but Miller's majority if elected,
will probably be less than FIVE hundred.
This will probably be the only district
In the state that will send a Nebraska
man to Congress. II is said that the
Pocket" is dark region of the state,
and this will be taken as evidence of il
by many. As | have taken no part in
the contest, but have been simply "a
locker on in Vienha"-or rather in
Evansville, l win not undertake to
decide. but with your permission | will
tell an anecdoto or two 10 show that
the Pocket WAS ONCE dark region,
promising however that the darkness
has well nigh passed away and that
this is becoming one Of the bright spots
Of the Great West Some whore in
this region there was once Justice of
the Pence. to whom man went with
complaint that his neighbor had kill
ed his COW. lie insisted that his hon.
or should try the nun for MURDER
His honor hesitated. Two questions
arose which he could not at once set
tic, first, whether he had jurisdiction
| in murder case; and secondly wheth-
er the case under consideration was u
case Of murder. The question OF jur-
isdiction he soon settled; but TO decide
the second IL was necessary TO examine
the statute. The statute was carefully
read. aud he found thati Il said. "Who-
soever shall kill any reasonable crce.
turc" &c. "'rhero il Is" said his hon.
Ora cow Is n reasonable critter"
and the question was at once decided.
A jury was forthwith ompanolled, and
the man was duly arraigned on IA
charge Of murder.
The man began to think by this
time that he had better prepare for
defence. So he called in a lawyer
The lawyer endoayored 10 convince
the Squire that he was in error on the
two questions he had decided but no.
he saId.he had the law Leiore him for
his guide, he couldn't take u lawyers
word, especially when he was inter-
ested in The case. and the trial must go
on. The lawyer then turned TO the
jury and succeeded in convincing the
Jury that the inan was not guilty rs
charged, end he was acquitted.