Shreveport weekly news., 1863-02-23
A Lesson for the Times.

We publish the following anecdote
Of Washington, hoping that many
will profit by the example set by the
immortal hero and statesman {:
In 1853 he was stationed at Alex
andria with his regiment, the only
one in the colony, of which he was
the colonel. There happened at that
time to be an election in Alexandria
for members of the Assembly, and
the ballot ran high between Col. G..
Fairfax and Mr.. VIM. Elgey. Wash
ington was on the side of Fairfax,
and Mr.. VIM. Payne headed tho
friends of Elgey. In the course of
the contest Washington grew very
warm, (for his passions naturally were
very powerful, though a wise regard
for duty, i. e., honor and happiness,
soon reduced them to a proper de-
mandy, and unluckily said something
to Mr.. Payne, who, but a cub in size,
was a lion in heart, elevated his shil-
lelal, and at blow extended our he
70 on the ground. News was soon
carried to the regiment that their
colonel was murdered by a mob On
the passions of the soldiers who dotted
on their commander, such n report
fell at once like a flash Of lightning
on a magazine of powder. In mo-
mcnt the whole regiment was under
arms and in rapid motion toward the
town, burning for vengeance. Dur
ing this time Washington had been
literally piled with cold water, acids
and volatiIes, and happily fer Mr..
Payne and his party, was so far re-
covered as to go out and meet his
enraged soldiers, who crowded round
him with faces of honest joy to see
him alive again. After thanking
them for such an evidence of their at
tachnreut to him, he assured them
that he was not hurt in the least, and
begged them, by the love Of him and
of their duty, TO return peacably to
their barracks. As for himself, he
went to his room, generously chastis-
ing his passion, which had just struck
but Il spark that had like to have
thrown the whole townin a fiame'and
feeling himself the aggressor Of Mr..
PAYNE, he resolved to make the hon
orIJIe reparation of asking his par
don. No sooner had he made this
heroic resolution than, recovering
that delicious gravety which everac-
.companies good purposes in virtu-
ous mind, he went to Il ball that night
and behaved as pleasantly as though
nothing had happened. Early next
morning he wrote polite note of in
vitation te Mr.Payne to meet him at
The inn. Payne took it for a chal-
lenge and repaired to the inn in tuli
expectation Of smelling gmpowder.
But what was his surprise, on enter
ing the chamber, to see. III lieu of n
brace Of pistols, decanter of wine
and pair of .tumblers on the table.
Washington rose 30 meet him and Of
terad his hand, with smile, began
'Mr Pavne, to err is sometimes ma
ture, to rectify error is always glory.
| believe | was wrong in the affair of
yesterday You have had, l think,
some satisfaction, and if you deem
that sufficient there is my hand let
us bufii+nds" An act of such sub
lime virtue produced its proper effect
upon the mind of Mr. Payne, who
from that moment, became the most
enthusiastic admirer and friend
Washington !; and, for his sake,
ready at any time TO charge up to q
battery of two-andtorty Founders.
On TO RICHMoND.-The CORES
pondent Of the New York Herald,
writing from the army of the Poto-
Nlnac,says: "Preparations-and orders
which always precede a movement
indicate that n very few days will
find us in notion" and as he hopes
o,9 or,Soo-. -, +bn J;rao.;op &C Rich