New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-21
cAHAwBA (ALA.J TWENTY YEARS AGO.

To de Editor Of The NJ Y. TSsesss
SIR; notice by the papers that party engaged
in the book business has been suspected Of Abolition
eeliyities by the enterprsing citizens Of Cahaw ba,
Alabama, and has, DO doubt learned something of the
eouteses and amenities that characterize the inhsbi
taass Of that village.
Twensy years or more ago l wss in Cahawba, dis
tbu,ns work of considerable value, and had the OPP
pority 20 ascertain something Of the business of the
mace aud the character of i've inhabitants
The work was distributing had two important de-
fecss in the judgment Of the Cahswbs people, and the
hrst and least considerable was that it treated Of Ca
hawba in about the following words, 10 wiz: Ca
"hawba Ala situated at the junction of the Alabama
and Cahaw ba rivers formerly hOur1shiDg VII
"lsee and the capital Of the State, but since tie re-
"moyal of the capital to Tuskaloosa, II has been mostly
deterted." The main and empowering defect
however WIS a wood-eut, about twice the size Of a
dollar representing South Carolina rice plantation
with slaves their labor, and Overseer standing
conveniently by, with his arms folded, holding whip
N hand.
The little woodcut excited the ire of the intelligent
and patriotic citizens Of that Alabama vi age in most
expsordu airy degrse, Indeed, Cahawba awoke from
It's accustomed letbargy, and devoted one day at
least to business and excitement. l was then bat
mere youth Of Is years OF age and not as well pre-
pared. perhaps 10 meet the shock of war as at
more mature agei but when committee of respect
able citizens" appointed for that purpose called upon
me- each armed with swordCane or other implement
Of warfare, 10 demand an explanation for the misrep
resentAlions and personalities which the work con-
tanned, believe stood my ground with toieTaole
degree of fortitude and complacency.
The physician of the place, coarse ignorant brute,
opened The for the peopls by reading 10 me in
fond tone Of voice the article Cahawba, and then
commented il at some length, saying, among other
things that Cahawba had been deserted. Yes, it had
been deserted by Iogues, and reinhsbed by honest
men: and the business of the place. he could well
youch for that. Standing where / did, could count
thirteen gambling bells, one store--ful half of the
overture in trade" in which was whisky-one old
roOkery called tavern and a small warehouse short
distance from the village, OH the bluff of the river
kept by sober, intelligent business man. In view of
these facts hat argument could be made against the
character of the inhabitants, the business OF the
place to sustain the integrity Of the book. There stood
the thirteen drinking and gambling saloons in fun blast
and alive with activity. IL 100 iudicrOus 10 be
spoken Of The Doctor next Opaped the book to the
article South Carolina, and with appearance OF
importance becoming the occasion, pointed to the
wood-cut repref nting slave plantation. The crowd
became now immeasurably excited. TIE violent.pas
soDs that ragged within could even be seen IN thel
eountenances, though distorted, swollen, and bloated
with whisky. could only demand TO know in reply
II plantations wi,h slaves them not common at
the South and also il did not usually attend
the slaves at their labOrs One cried out There is
whip-wbat do you say 10 that % and several stimuli
taneously proclaimed that IT was iDcendlary any way.
told them If they could establish that overseers did
not carry whips would grant it was error; aud
that 10 far its ncendary tendencies concerned,
hardly thought any engravngs, whether character
istc OF otherwise, would cause an eIsue among mas,
tiers against Slavery; and that probably slave would
ever see the engraving; and II he did, possibly the
sight of an Overseer with whip in his hands would
be no strange sight 10 his eyes.
The Doctor like most of his companions was suffer-
ing under two disabilities, to wit: the liver complaint
and dry throat; and he advised adjournment to
the nearest gToggery; and need hardly say, owing
to prevailing drouth among the crowd, his motion
was unanimously carried.
TIE adjournment enabled me 10 better prepare my
sef fol The second onset The Warehouse-map on the
bluff enlisted himself in my behalf, and altogether
felt in a stronger position than had previously BEEN
But whisky proved stronger than PATRIOTISM and the
eroggeTes eDgrossed their future attention for the day
Such was Cahawba twenty years ago. That there
has been chance for improvement since that period is
sufficiently manifest That it has not detenorstsd
can most safely vouch 70 The public. L.
Uaioa Cross Depot Via. Jan 4, 1860.