Burlington tri-weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1852-1855, 1855-01-27
A Brisk Little Party.

a Southern friend used TO relate with
much glee, the particulars of an affair that
occurred at Little Rock. at an carly period in
the history of Arkansas, while that now
fourishing State wa. still a territory, and
while justice was sometimes administered in
a manner equal primitive and Summary
Our friend was passenger on steamer up
the Arkansas river, and there was on board a
gambler, whose tricks and impudens roguery
had furnished some amusement TO the spec
tators. He had boosted that on arriving at
Little Rock, he would over reach the dull
people Of the place with the most profitable
results. But it so happened that he was de-
tected in his first attempt at cheating, tried
by jury of the vic:nage, consisting of three
teamsters and two fat boatmen, sentenced to
be severely logged, and the punishment in
fcted-the whole performance occupying
less than thirtv-fve minutes. The baffled
gambler was taken all aback by the despatch
of the thing. 'sReally," SAID he, writing
under the smart Of the lash, 81 was mista-
ken in this town. l thought they were a
slow set here. had no idea Of finding so
lively place thus far up the Rackensack.
don't know when Eve seen a brisker little
town.
We were reminded of this story by seeing a
statement of the number of slayeho lders in
the United States -347 ,225 in all, and re-
fecting upon the enormouse influence which
this handful of men-only one in SEVENTY
TWO of the population of the country
welded in directing the course IF the gov
eminent. Certainly they must be regarded
as a brisk little party. The Little Rock pco
pie were as nothing to the shareholders, in
the matter Of Lively and energetic proceed
ngs, Or speedy accomplishment of their OBJ
!jects. We do not blame the Southern men
for this state of things-not in the least. il
the non-slaveholding voters, outnumbering
the shareholders more than ten to one, are
content to submit to this rule of the min r.
ty, it is their own fault. The Albany jour-
al prints the figures 347 ,225 in big, black
style, and adds the following comments:
There they are. That is the whole. That
is the number of the people who shape and
control the policy OF our Government, the
caoce Of our Public Officers, and the leeis-
lation Of Conoress-in other words, the
Shareholders of tho Union. Treaties, laws,
appointments, decisions are made with the
view OF pleasing them before all others. If
you doubt il, name the President, the Senate,
the House of Representatives, or the FEEDER
al Court that rronounces against their views
in any case where they Rave taken sides !?
BY the ''rule of three" 341 ,224 is to o.
100000 as is to y. Each one Shareholder
exercises more political power than seventy
two freemen. The next question s-ifa coun-
try where the seventy-second part of the in
habltants govern, is a republic, what sort n
thing is IA despotism?
What an cutlery and hustle there would be
II the national policy was devoted solely to
fostering the interests and increasing the
size of the State of New York. Yet the
State of New York at the last election cast
$4,000 more votes than all the shareholders
put together Buffalo Commercial.