The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-06-14
EDITORIALCORREsPONDENCE.
The whig Party MOvement-What u
Sable Philosopher THINKS OF MA
Devoted Friend OF Harry OF the
west-How Mr.. Clay Took His
Drinks-What He Thought Of Dis
union-Pol,ii Virginia Ap.
pOintmenfS

untOn-P0l littcs-West Virginia Ap'
| pointments.
WHITE SULPaUs SPRINGS,
..y Juue IL, 1877.
NEW PARTY MOVEMENT
Since Secretary THOMPSON and BRIs
BEN WALKER attempted to revive the
old Whig party and the newspapers have
been discussing it in rather serious
light, felt inclined to avail myself OF
every opportunity to gather information
as to the prospects of the movement, and
with thia view took the liberty of in.
terviewing JIMMY PATTERSON. or "Un.
! Gle JIMMY" as he is better known in
these parts. 1t may be well enough to
say that JIMMY PATTERSON is not
brother of BILLY, the man who
was struck by some unknown
hand, but JIMMY is gentleman ofcolor,
who for many years has been serving
man at these springs, and, as he says,
is of the old issue of Stree niggers;" that
is. he was free before the war. Uncie
JIMMY by reason of long service at the
Springs has been brought in contact
with the eminent men of the past, and
has many interesting recollections of
CLAY, WEBSTER CALHOUN, Polk,
ANDREW JACKSON, and others who were
wont to spend their vacations at the
White Sulphur, which In that day was a
favoritc resort for poiticsl celebrities.
Uncle JIMMY, or Mr.. PATTERSON, as be
prefers to be called, is an enthusiastic poll
ticisn, and was an old line Whig.
He is an ardent admirer OF MIR. CLAY in
fact he thinks that America never pro-
duced but one statesman, and that was
HENRY CLAY. JIMMY is now Repub-
lican, not because he thinks that the Re-
publican party is what it should be, but,
as he says, the dsrkey feels more at home
In their ranks than he does in the Demo.
cratic party. 1t was therefore with Pc
culisr interest that / listened 10 what Mr..
PATTERSON had to say. He holds sort
of sinecure position of superintendent OF
Walks-that is be goes around End II a
sprIg of grass is found growing in the
gravelled walks of the lawn, he pulls it
up, or il gravel is thrown out OF Its
proper position be replaces it. He looks
to be centennarian, but not being a
married man, he dislikes to be spoken
of as ali old man, and this Is why
he objects to being called "Uncle,
title often prefxed to the names OF the
old negroes of plantation. Finding
JIMMY at his usual occupation Of adjust
ing gravel, | opened the conversation by
inquirng, "How old ares you, Uncle
JIMMYp Raising himself up from MS
stopping posture, he leaned upon his hoe
and elevsting his eyes to the clouds for
the purpose OF taking in the prospects OF
the weather, as a preliminary to balanc,
ing his mind for an arithmetical calcula
tion before commencing on dates, said
Il am ffty-fve years old, sab. was
born in 1916. in Abemsrle county in ole
Vlrginny. In the year 1905 the legls-
lature of Virginia passed a law requiring
emancipated slaves to leave the 5 ate
! within twelve months, and then, sir, l
comes to Yves. Virginia and dat
| ia how | came TO be at the White Sui
pbur for so long" 1t will be observed
that while Uncle JIMMY is infslllbie as
to weather prognosticsting, and knows
the signs OF the times in the political
skies, vet he acknowledges his deficiency
in arithmetic, and sometimes gets bis
dates mixed q little. "Well, Uncle
JIMMY" as l continued my inquiries
81 understand that before the war you
was an old line Wing" "Ies, sab, dsts
q fact and l would be to this day if Mr.
CLAY hadn't died. l knowed Mr.. CLAY
WE'LL you may say l was intimate with
him, When he used to come to desc
Snrirgs I waited on him. [ blscked his
boots every morning. carried the
water TO his room. / used to mix his
drinks. He always drank mint-julep
made Of apple brandy. After Mr.. CLAY
had done took three julips, jist love to
here him talk. 1t would do your heart
good, sab, jist to hear wisdom flow from
dat mans mouth. When de gemmens
about the Springs would come to his
room and drink juleps wild him. ard den
Ak him if dere was danger OF dis Union
be divided. His eye would flash up, san'
more brighter than dat sun beam, and
il appeared to me dat when he talked An
angel done spoke A fact, sab, tsct'
but Mr.CLAY is done dead, and we have
hsd war, and de couRtry is stressed, and
dsr will be no mere good times And
SIS Uncle JIMMY pensiveIy reclined his
head upon his hoe handle at the con
clusion of this prophecy, and l gszed at
the striking attitude OF the old negro l
wondered whether the sunset OF life might
not bring mystical lore, and the predic-
ton of .good times coming no more" be
in process of ful6llment. But anxious TO
continue my Investigations aroused Mr..
PATTERSON from his reflections by asking
him what he thought OF the effort to re
vive the Wing party, and if he would not
be- glad to have an opportunity of ailying
/ L Il .,nliAinal frlln6s