Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-12-17
THE KENTUCKY FoRGER.

| 1t is related of that unfortunate man, Martin
Brown-who was once prominent member o
the Kentucky Legislature, but was confined il
the penitentiary for forgery-that when he frs
settled in Texas the inhabitants were determin-
ed to drive him out of Austin's settlement o.
San Felipe, because he had been convict
Austin himself had forbidden such persons to
settle ON his ground, and the colonial law pass
ed by him was most strict, prohibiting an asy-
lum to refugees, and all persons rendered in
| famous by feonies, of whatever description
they might be-a law which the father of Tex
as always enforced with the utmost rigor.-
| Hence, as soon as the settlers inform d
the general of this new case, he Immediately
| sent an order warning Brown to decamp with
in three days, on pain of summary punishment.
| The messenger was William s., Austin's
private secretary, young man of cultivated
| intellect, noble heart, and generous to fault.
| lie arrived at the Green Heart Grove, the resi-
dence of Brown and his family, one summers
noon, and found the family circle just formed
| around their frugal table. 1t was the dinner
| hour.
s. forthwith delivered Austns written
| order, which Brown glanced over and then said
mournfully;-
"Tell General Austin that | shall never move
from this spot till move into my grave. 1t is
true | committed a great crime in my native
Dtulei DuI hlsO Suntreu buo seNtre ptHhity VI
the offended law and then, with my dear wife
and children, who still love me, stole away
from the eyes of society, which | no longer
wish to serve or injure, to live in quiet and die
in peace. am ready and willing to die; but
on my family's account cannot and will not
leave this spot"
His wife and daughter implored him to
change his resolution. They avowed their
willingness again to undergo the tolls and pri-
vations Of emigration, and, if necessary, to pre-
pare new home in the wilderness. But pray
crs, tears and entreaties were alike vain. To
every argument Martin Brown gave the same
answer in a calm sad voice:
~ chose my place of burial the first day
set eyes on my little grove, and I shall not
change my mind now.n
S. returned, deeply touched with the
scene he had Witnessed, related General Aus
tin the singular state of facts, and interceded
urgently for relaxation of the law, which
rested in the discretion of the colonial chief.
"You have suffered yourself to be smtten by
the charms of the beautiful Emma" said Aus
tin, with smile.
s. tried to look indignant, which effort
merely resulted in burning blush
81 will go on and see Martin myself" added
the General but he will have to make out a
strong case to alter my determination"
When Austin arrived in the evening at his
destination, the family of the grove were al
most distracted with grief. Browns counte-
nance alone wore its old mask of marble tran
guilty. His story to General Austin was sim
pie as il was brief.
alt is true he said, ~ was in the peniten-
tiary of Kentucky; but was in the legislature
before was in the state prison, and while |
member of the senate opposed with all my |
might the manufacture of so many banks |
Those banks soon afterwards beggared thous- |
ands, and amongst the rest me and my chill |
dren was then tempted, in order to save my |
family, to perpetrate forgery, or to do that |
on small scale which the state and its banks |
had so long been doing on large one. paid
the forfeit of my crime. While the grand
swindlers rolled in affluence, pinned alone in
felon's dungeon. Having served out my time,
resolved never again to commit another
wrong. | have kept my word, and have now
but one sole desire, that is to be let alone or
die"
General Austin did let the old man alone,
cancelled the order for his Punishment, and
was ever after his steadfast friend.
s., the private secretary, made other Wis
its to Green Heart Grove, and the beautiful
Emma is now the wife of an eminent lawyer,
and bright particular star" of fashions
sphere at Galveston.
Martin died at last in peace, and was buried
in his beloved grove, lat ms special requestD
in most fantastic Misunderstanding erect, in
n full hunters costume, with his right hand
raised towards heaven and his loaded rifle ON
his left shoulder.
His biography proves a great truth-one
which all the tones of human history pro-
claim, as with the warning cry of n million of
"That the crimes of governments
always produce their counterparts In tn, vices
Of their individual subjects. "-New Orleans
Ficdyune.