Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-07-12
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Rev. DR.. CARTWRIGHT, THE METHo-
DIST PREACHER WHO WHIPPED ABE LIN
CoLN.-The Rochester Democrat, the other
day, in announcing the fact that DR.. Cart
wright, the pioneer Methodist clergyman
of the West was to lecture there, gave the
following anecdote, as related by him, and
added that it would sbear repetition In
view of certain fact, we think sit would
bear repetitoin,' and here it is from the
Democrat, and DR.. c. related it:
The first time T ran for Office in Sanga-
mon county, I was on the north side of the
Sangamon River, as We say in the West,
eleotioneering or, rather, trying to get &C.
quainted with the people, for I was at that
early day great stranger to many Of them.
Passing through bushy point of under
growth, near ferry where intended to
cross the river, I heard, just before me, some
one talking very loud.
I reiued up my horse to listen. I heard
some one say that Peter Cartwright was
id rascal; and so were all Methodist
preachers; they would all steal horses, and
that it was a scandal to the country that
such man as Cartwright should offer as
representative of the country; and that the
first time he saw him he intended to whip
him for his impudence. This surprised me
a little, and I looked round for some way to
pass without coming in contact with the
company; but there was no path that |
could see, and the brush was SO thick |
could not get through. So l summoned
all my courage, and rode boldly up and
spoke to the men. There we're six of them,
and, as I learned, but one of them had ever
seen me. So said:
'Gentlemen, who is it among you that
is going to whip Cartwright the first time
You see him?'
The man who had threatened, spoke out
and said-I am the lark that's going to
thrash him WE'LL %
SaidI, Cartwright is known to be much
of a man, and it will take man to whip
him mind you
sOh no p said he, Il can whip any Meth
odist preacher the Lord ever made
well, sir, said I, you cannot do it; and
now I tell you my name is Cartwright, and
I never like to live in dread if you really
intend to whip me come and do it now
He looked little confused, and said,
'Oh, you can't fool me in that way; you
are not Cartwright
WELL said I, sthat is my name, and [
am candidate for the Legislature, and
now is your time; if you must whip me, do
it now
He said, NO, no, you are not Cartwright
at all you only want to fool me-
By this time we had moved slowly to the
boat, and when we got on it, he broke out
in fresh volley of curses on Cartwright.
I said to gentleman on the boat, 'Here,
hold my horse and stepping up to this
cursing discipline, 1 said; sternly, to him,
'Now, sir, you have to whip me, as you
threatened, or omit cursing me, or | will
put you in the river and baptize you in the
name of the devil, for surely you belong to
him.
This settled him, and strange to say,
when the election came off, he went to the
polls and voted for me, and remained ever
afterward my warm and constant friend.
The fact which makes this story worthy
of repetition is that the man who ran against
Mr. Cartwright for Representative of Sanga-
mon county, and was beaten, was Abe Lin
coin, the Republican candidate for the
Presidency.
Mr.. Cartwright is staunch Democrat,
and has been from his boyhood. He don't
conceal his sentiments either on political or
religious matters.