The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-04-02
} NINTH vOLUME--xUMBER 45s.
SENATOR wIGFALL.

SENATOR wIGFALL.
A correspondent of Harper's Weekly gives the
following description of Senator Wigfal
Senator Wigfall of Texas, is finished orator
probably the most charming in the Senate. His
voice is clear, melodious, and sufficiently powerful
to be heard everywhere. He speaks dramatically,
elegantly and without effort. He never bawls. He
never screams. His delivery is perfect, and his
action suitable. When to these merits I add that
he is witty and smart, 1 have said all that can be
said in his favor. For he has the misfortune of
being almost always Illogical incorrect, and often
absurd. He is duelist, and carries bis life in
his hand. When be was ayoung man, he went
to practice law in Ashmores district, in his native
State South Carolina. He wrote articles for the
county paper and made enemies-one of them
challenged him, they fought, and Wigfall winged
his man. Another took mp the cudgel, and was
winged likewise The leading men Of the county
notified the young stranger that he did not suit
their temper, and must go. Wigfall replied that
he preferred to stay. al will shoot regiment Of
you,' he said, "but I won't CO." He shot eight
altogether, believe, including the late Preston s.
Brooks brothe- who shot him too; the two beliig-
erents lay seven or eight weeks side by side, on
their beds, in a tavern an island in the Savan-
nah river. The end of the war was that Brooks
died, and Wigfal, notwithstanding his bravado,
left the State, and migrated to Texas.
His reply to Wilkinson and Chandler was ex-
trcmely smart. Mr. Chandler had abused Gov
Floyd as a common thief and scoundrcl. Wigfall
twitted him with Offering insults for which he
would not respond in the field. 81 will make
bargain with the Senator" he said. "If he will
write letter to Gov. Floyd, saying, Gov Floyd
you are scoundrel and am a gentleman. Hese-
kiah'-no, I mean, 'Jeremiah'-no, beg pardon,
'Zachariah Chandler will covenant that Gov
Floyd's friends shall pay the whole amount which
he is accused of stealing from the United States
Treasury" The Northern trains had just arrived
and the gallery was full of northern spectators
Waving his hand gracefully to them, Wigfall con-
tnued: "The difficulty between you and US, gen.
temen is, that you will not send the right sort of
people here. Why will you not send either Chris
tans gentlemen? Either people who will not
insult us with gross words, or people who will admit
their personal responsibility for their language"
CoTToN-It has now become fixed fact, says
the Charleston Mercury, that the cotton crop Of
l860-6l will be nearly million bales short. The
crop will not reach to four millions of bales Gal
weston acknowledges that she will be $4,000 bales
short; Montgomery 10000 bales; Columbus 40
including the overland cotton from Memphis,
which is now put into the New Orleans receipts
WILL it is said, increase the deficiency
TExAs.-The Legislature met onthe 18th. The
House and Senate took the oath Of allegiance to
the Southern Confederacy. A few members took
it under protest.
Gov Houston and Secretary of State retired
after having surrendered the seal and archives Of
the State
Houston has issued an appeal to the people, de-
nouncing the Convention.
Mr. BREcKINRIDGE.-Hon. j. g. Breckenridge
made speech in the Senate last week on the
meaning of Lincoln's Inaugural Address
Mr. Breckenridge said that the President, in his
inaugural, general terms Of Cancellation; but
it becomes 70 inquire what kind of peace are we
to have, and on what terms it can be maintained.
He feared the policy which the President seems
proper to pursue must result in bloodshed. He
read from the inaugural to show that Lincoln will
hold the forts and other property in the Confed-
crate States &C., to the full extent of his power.
A modification of this policy would occur only
from inability to execute it. The Administration
should address themselves to the issue. The only
mode earth to avoid collision is for them, with
or without the advice and consent of the Senate,
to all troops from within the borders of the
Confederate States. 1t would be bold act, but
one of patriot and statesman which all good
men will applaud and justify and will be heralded
from one end of the country to the other as the
does this, opinions will be various; some may
brand him false and faltering, but the majority
will declare him patriot, who refused to bring
on the country the calamities of civil war; He
said the border States would have their rights, or
Kentucky would turn her face towards her South
ern sisters.
A CURE FOR SLIPPERY SIDEwALKs.-The
Niagara Gazette tells story of two young ladies
who were promenading along the street recently,
when one of. them slipped and came down on the
icy pavement "like thousand Of bricks" Jump
ing quickly up, she exclaimed, sotto Uoce Before
another winter I'll have man to hang to, see if I
don't p
WHAT GRANT THoRBURN SAYS or HIMSELF.
That excellently preserved old man Grant Thor
burn writes to the Observer. under date of Feb
ruary 18th:
" This day enter on my eighty ninth year.
Mine eyes, ears and limbs fail, otherwise my health
is good. eat, sleep, and saw stoye-wood COM
fortably as | did twenty years ago. | am asked
bow | have lived. l answer / never was drunk in
my life; never eat enough since 1898; have worn
white flannel next my skin from my neck to my
ankle, summer and winter, Hence, never felt