Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-01-07
Orig inal Shsttbss.
For the Monmouth Weekly Herald.
u


Mr.. EDIToR:-I see by the papers that
Mr.. Underwood, Of Oquahon, Prince
William CO., Virginia, has been senten.
ced to pay a fine of ever three hundred
dollars for expressing his opinion, that no
one had any right to make property Of
his fellow man.
Reading an Editorial in the New York
Tribune, IN relation to this Infamous pro.
ceeding, brought to recollection an incl
dent which occurred to US while travelling
in that part Of the Old Dominion. 1t
may serve to throw some light on the
causes why q sentence SO despotic In a
protested Republican Court, should have
been pronounced.
There is a bridge oyer a narrow stream
ON which the village of Oquahon is leca-
ted. We desired to cross it. A woman
about fifty years Of age was seated at the
door Of q house near the end Of the
bridge to collect toll. We accosted her,
when the following conversation ensued /:
Traueler.-What is the name of the
county on the other side Of the river !?
Woman.-Fairfax, | believe.
THAT is the county Washington
lived in. is it not :?
W.-Who did you say !?
T.-Gen. George Washington.
Wow long has he lived there?
T.-Oh he has been dead fifty years.
You certainly have heard of him, have
you not?
VT seems to me | have heard some
folks talk of a man who lived over there
a.good while ago. A mighty smart kind
of a man. | think they said he we was
What did you say his name wasi Bless
mel | have such a poor memory for
names.
T.--George Washington. He was the
man who fought for our Independence
Surely you must have heard of him
W.-Likely I have. But | have such
a wretched poor memory for names, thai
/ have almost forgot about it.
T.-Have you any children?
W.--Yes three girls and four boys
All of EN- grown up men and women.
Tt suppose they must have heard
something about Washington?
VI don't see how they could.
never told them any thing abouthim.
T.-But then they might have reaG
about him, you know?
W.--Bless me, there is only two of then
that kin read. Poor people about hers
don't have much larnin.
T.--How long have you lived in thi:
part of the country?
W.--About eleven years.
What shall | pay you?
W.--Ten cents.
We paid her, and in less than fyo min.
utes we were over the bridge.
Spirit OF the immortal! we exclaimed,
as we passed over, what is Fame? What
is human glory :? Here is an indiyidual
living within gun shot Of the county, and
not far from the home and Tomb Of the
mar whose name is a watch word for
Liberty whose deeds and virtues are
known in every land and yet she has
but a bare recollection Of eyer hearing
the name of W~ashingtoni The eonciu-
sion, self-evident is, if she is a fair repre-
sentative Of even a portion Of the Moth
ers of Prince William county, what can
be expected Of their sons? Aud if the
Jurors Of that benighted county have so
little acquaintance with the character Of
the noblest defender of Liberty. how can
1t be expected they should have much
knowledge of the true principles of Re
publicanism.
By the last census Of Virginia, we learn
that about one-eight 0. the adult white
population, are unable to read or write
and that in Prince William county, with
a population under three thousand, there
are nearly eight hundred in that deplora
bic condition.
Under these circumstances, it is not al
all to be wondered at that Mr.. Under
wood was so harshly dealt with in thai
benighted REGION.
FREEDOM.