The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-12-09

ANEcDorE FROM HARPER's DRAwER-"I was
once present on the hu tings at discussion be-
tween two rival candidates for Congress in an ex.
cited election contest in Tennessee. Both gentle
men are now in high station; one Of them for
twelve years was in Congress, and has been Post
master General, and the other has gained repu-
tation for brilliant and classical oratory almost as
wide as that of his illustrious kinsman of the same
patronymic in Virginia. But to the discussion.
Mr.. - had been rather equiyoDlly comph.
menting his opponent--who was called the Eagle
oratorp--on the remarkable suavity of his man
ners, and his affability with the people; and went
TO say that he had ali irresistible way OF seizng
the hands OF his constituents between both his
own, and bowling 80 affectionately as to win their
whole hearts. ~ must confess" continued Mr.
il, that have practiced for hours before
looking glass to acquire that fascinating manner,
but without success. ! must yield to my friend
Mepalm in shaking hands,"
In reply Major H said:
Ifmy honorable opponent wishes to make him
self agreeable to honest people, he must leave of
practicing before the glass; and cultivate more as
siduously the kindly feelings of the heart. He Is
the last man who should accuse me Of practicing
behavior to WIN votes / win tell you little am
ecdote illustrative of the peculiar electioneering
abilities of my honorable friend in his intercourse
with our intelligent constituents. Wewere can
wasting in remote part Of the district; and, hav-
ing an appointment to speak near the house Of q
very influential SQUIRE spent the previous night
at his house together. TWAS well known that the
Squire controlled all the votes in that precinct,
and that his better half controlled him, SO that it
was all important to get on the right side OF her,
We had agreed not to electioneer with the Squire,
while we stad with him; but did not think this
forbade me to do my best with his family. So
arose about daybreak the next morning, and,
thinking that should make friends with the mis-
tress Of the house by bringing water to cook the
breakfast, I took bucket and started off for the
spring. / was tripping off on 20 light fantastic
toe, singing merrily as went along, when what
on earth should I see, as I looked into the barn
yard. but the old woman milking the COW, while
my honorable friend, with his face ruddy with
morning exercise, and his long locks streaming in
the breeze, WAS holding the COW by the tall /
saw instantly that he had the start of me- i re-
turned to the house discounted, and abandoned
all hope of a vote in that region"
The LATE MASSACRE in THE MORMON SETTLE
MENTs.-An officer of the army who was stationed
nearly year in Utah, and who passed over the
Spamish trait--from Salt Lake City to Los An
gelos, in command of detachment Of United
States troops, in l855-informs us that lie camped
for several days at Mountain Meadows, the scene
of the late horrible massacre Of over one hundred
emigrants, and that there is no room for the
zant Of and instgated this horrible butchery. The
Indians in the vicinity Of Fillmore, Parowan, and
all the southern settlements, extending to the Vr
gin river, are entirely under the control of the
Mormons; the chiefs are recognised members Of
the Mormon church, and missionaries are con-
stantly residing witch them. He further informs
US that it would be impossible for the Indians to
plan an attack upon even a single wagon train
without the knowledge Of the Mormons, and that
Of hax,
been safe in travelling this route. As a matter of
necessity all small trains have assumed the name
Of Mormons to travel safely. These Indians are
well armed with rifles, and supplied with ammuni-
ton by the Mormous and at the time of the pas
sage of the United States troops through their
try, in 1866, every effort made by the Mormons
to induce the Indians to attack them, and they
we're only prevented from SO doing by the superior
strength and great precantion shown by the troops
This fact was communicated to the War Depart
ment, at the tinle in an official report.-JoarnaI
of Commerce. $50