The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-05-07
Communicated.

Foster had previously passed some harsh Wofos
to each other, and on that day the difficulty
) appears to have originated at the dinner table
when Foster retired to an opposite room OF the
8 house, sMcKeown it seems commenced firing a.
him with adouble barrel shot gun, there being
in the dining room two double barrel guns
both heavy loaded with buck shot. Foster was
shot four different times; the first load, it seems
passed into the right hip, which it is supposed
caused him to fall to the floor; the second pass
ed into his right side, another broke the bones
Of his right leg below his knee, the other load
passed into his right arm above the wrist
There was also found small wound on the
back part of his head. 1t is not known wha
caused it, Foster Instantly died, living but g
few minutes. Aninquest was held on the body
McKeown was Immediately arrested, brought
before Justice Bush, and committed to bail, tc
await his trial at the regular term of our dis
trict court. It's not known what brought about
the difficulty, nor what caused it, as there was
no white person on the plantation at the time
of the murder. McKeown admitted having
done the deed. Mr.. Foster has wife and
some four or FIVE childrennear Vicksburg, Miss
1 A NEIGHBoR.
Vicksburg papers please notice.
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RorAr1os OF CRops.-An intelligent and en-.
terprising planter of Mississippi writes us as fol-
lows. Would that every cultiyator of the soil
throughout the south could be induced to emu.
late his example. 1t would add millions to the
value of our lands within the next ten years:
1 have taken the Cultivator for six or eight
years and would not be without it for ten times
the amount.
Crops of corn and cotton in north Mississippi
have never been better than the past year
My own crops, all upland, half of which came
up in June, made 500 pounds per acre; corn,
six barrels | raise my own meat, wool, mules,
flour, and, in short, every thing for the use Of
my little farm, and generally sell enough to
pay expenses of the same. without taking any
of the proceeds of the cotton crop. Ny land is
all rolling, well circled, and with hillside bitches
when necessary. After crop Of small grain
rest two or more years; pillow under with two
horse plows, and follow with subsoil, and fatter
myself that my little farm is improving daily.
To do this tits necessary to have double as much
cleared land as you cultivate in cotton and corn.
Any system of farming by which land is worn
out, or suffered to wash away by the rains, is
runous, no matter what may be the immediate
yield of crops. | have long since been impress
ed with this fact, but were | not continually re-
minded of it by reading the Cultivator, fear /
should not keep up the improving system, al
though convinced of its necessity. cultivate
from 9 to 10 acres of cotton, and from to 10
acres of corn, and SOW as much wheat, rye and
oats as l can to the hand. Ifmy efforts at
farming, in small way, have been at all sue
cessful, [ attribute it, in good degree, to in
formation obtained from your valuable paper.
But, as only intended to send you my subscrip-
ton money, and not write an article for publ
cation, you will pardon me for troubling you
with this letter about my mode of farming
fSouthern Cultivator
THE WAY LAWS ARE MxDE.-Under this
caption the Baton Rouge Comet relates how
many shoals and quicksands bill has to en-
counter after it passes the Legislature before it
becomes a law, lift ever do. The most danger
Gus place, it says, for bill is in the hands Of
the enrolling and translating clerks, and it gives
the following illustration of the fact
A law was in force up to the year 1858, pro-
vding for the payment of expenses in .'crimi-
nal prosecutions AS the State of Louisiana
is always party on one part of such suits, it
was deemed proper for the State to pay, and
that law stood in force to that period. Some
gentleman in the legislature of 1854, who no
doubt, stood pledged ON the retrenehment
question, had the law repealed. The conse-
quence was, that clerks and courts and sherifs
who advanced money to witnesses for their
claims We're minus the amount during the year
1856. The legislature of 1856 re-enacted the
law. The bill originated in the senate-passed
the house unanimously, and in the bill provi-
ding for the current expenses of the year, the
sum of $4,000 was appropriated to pay such
claims. Strange to say that the bill was lost
and never could be found even in sweeping out
the rubbish of the capitol The consequence is,
that although there is $50, 900 appropriated, yet
witness claims in criminal prosecutions cannot
be paid. Clerks and shertfs would do well to
make note of this.
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SANTA ANNA New Grenada correspond
ent of the New Y ork Herald lately visited the
ex-dictator of Mexico at his quiet residence, a
few leagues from Carthagena, and describes
his appearance in the following manner:
Santa Anna has all the appearance of we'll
ten or eleven inches in height, with large ro-
bustperson, erect and somewhatrotund;h his eyes
are dark, and the projecting brow gives them
sunken appearance, making their color change
able with varying light; complexion fine olive,
no whiskers OF moustache, and with the excep-
ton of "a few crows feet about the corner of the
eyes, no wrinkles are to be seen about his face
Or brow; his hair is of light iron gray color,
but | am told he uses dye for it. He enter
ed the room slowly, walking with some appa-
rent labor and quite lamely, using cane. His
dress was that of a plain southern gentleman;
pantaloons Of a small check on brown ground;
light vest, thin brown coat, loose neckcloth,
and well made boots The only ornament was
a pin of large brilliants in his bosom. From
his reference to dates during the conversation,
deduced his age to be fifty nine, and in reply
to the question, he told me that his birthday
was the 21st. OF February. .,@s-s...t .ss1.f
-- .t.trzseE .~~~~~rs~-o~~>-----~>--~ D.. .. .
A SINGULAR D1scovERY.-A correspondent
in Virginia writes that while some hands, en-
ployed by Mr.. William Keavons, were digging
out cellar in Botecourt CO.. Virginia, about
four miles from Buchanan, they came upon
quantity of coin, consisting Of some eight pieces
in an iron box about fourteen inches square.