The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-10-25

with the origin or the WOrlu tl2N It's IfedtOT, anu
can tell us more of its end than Its Final Judge.
-~--~
The WORKING OF TIE FREE NEGRO LAW IN
LoUIsIANA-The New Orleans correspondent OF
OF the St. Louis Democrat writes as follows:
The chief item of public note since my last is
the enforcement Of the law passed at the last ses
sior Of the legislature, and duly promulgated Civ
ing warning that it would become an active statu e
on the lst of Sept. By this Law free negroes born
without the State must leave it within sixty days
of the above date, 90 into slavery, being allowed
to choose their own masters in the event OF their
taking the latter alternative. 1t is law hard on
the few, but for the good Of many, who have long
felt this Parish class to be nuisance III the COM
munity. 1t has caused great panic among them
of course, and while some are ''mountlng in hot
haste" to 90 beyond the limits of conUravention,
others are busted in selecting soliciting masters,
or in dcvising means Of cvading the law Many
will be successful in doing this, and those will
certainly do so who have flt J or hundred dollars
to tempt couple of white witnesses to swear that
they are natives A good many have already
selected their masters, and those in most instances
they find little difficulty in persuading the chosen
to add gratis, negroes to their personal wealth,
! there are many instances where refusal has been
met. One lucky individual aud excellent fellow
arose one morning darkeyless, and went to bed
that night the holder Of the right and title to ten
his acceptance. The negroes, with their quick
appreciation of character, understood his, and
hence their selection. ...
WHEN bent upon matrimony, look more than
skin deep for beauty drive further than the pocket
for worth and search for temper beyond the good
humor OF the moment.
| SWAPPING WIvEs-In some of the English
provincial towns the barbarous practice OF a
! husband bringing his wife to market with halter
round her neck and selling her to the highest
| bidder might be witnessed few years ago An
Improvement upon this system has taken place in
Beardstown, Cass CO., Illinois Leroy Taylor a
carpenter. and his family, living there, happy to
all appearances were visited in 1887 by sister of
Taylors wife, from Richmond, Indiana. She is
described as gay, good looking, and very winning
| in her WAYS and without exciting suspicion, was
noticed pay particular attention to her brother
n-law. Last year the husband made arrangements
| to leave the neighborhcod with the Ostensble
object of improving his condition, having moro
literally than usual provided for his family before
taking leave. Weeks elapsed without any tidings
of him reaching his wife.
The first intmation received was that he had
repaired to Richmond, Indiana, where his sster-in-
law lived and Informed her husband that he was
on his way to Pittsburgh. Pa, to visit his mother
i1-law The wife concluded that it would he q
favorable time Tor her also to visit her hother ana
that she would 20 with her broher-in-law. Il
would be such favorable time, the husband
consented, and the parties prepared for theil
intended trip; but instead of visiting Pittsburgh
they left for parts unknown. These facts becoming
fully known, the wife, despairing Of ever seeing
her husband, brought suit for divorce from he
husband She has lived in Beardstown until las
Monday. Industrious and respectable, when she
with her family, started for Indianapolis, Indiana
where her brother-in-law resides, (Mr Nm. IL
Higgins who was SO unfortunate as to lose hi
wife he having also obtained divorce; an(
strange to say married Mrs Taylor. This seems tt
be fair exchange. Taylor runs off with Higgins
wife, and now Higgins marries Taylor's wife
Hiegnsappears to have the bestofthe bargain-th'
: best woman and the three children to boot.