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              A FAMliiLY •3X5IJR-JNr^I.™~I)IDVOTEr> TO I'OI.ITICS,']dl'i^;}Rv^TlJRIC, A&KICJTjt.T'XJKJS:, SCIKI^CE, JkM^, Al^UG^i^^-RJklallSfrt'ElL.Tjt&F.lS.^,,^
VOL.
A A.
WEST .LIBERTY, lOfiAN COUNTY, OHIO, SATURDAY, APRIL 20. 1861
NO. 26-
I
A LAWYER'S ADVENTUEE.
Aiiou't' tfhree or four years neo, more or less, ifliile I ¥;bs practising law in Illinois, on apret- tj large eirc'iait, I wa.s called on one dav by a very pretty woman, who, not withoat tears, told !iie that'ker husband had been arrested for hoise siealing. She wished to retain me on the de- fSKB. I asked her why she did not go to Judge t,, ex-Senator of the United States, whose of¬ lice was in that town. I told her tliat I was a young man at the bar, &c. She mournfully 'said tliat he had asked a retaining fee beyond lier means ; besides, he did not want to touch the case, for her husband w<r-&s, suspected of be¬ longing te an esrtensive %and of hoi'se-thievts, \vii6,se'he£;<S q'uai^ters were €-n Moore's prairie.— ia.sk'e(5'I:i(?r'to teli'i>ae the whole truth of tine mat- tei", f.nd if it 'was trvie that her husband 'did be¬ long to suoh a, band.
"Ah, sir," said she, "a feetter man a;t heart tkn my *G-eorge never lived, but he liked cards and firin'k, and I am afraid they made him do what he T.ever would have done if he had not drank. I fear it can be proved that he had the liorsc; he didn't steal it; another stole it and passed it to him."
IdWn'tMke the case. I knew there was a ;:reat dislike to the gang located where she nam- eil, and feared to risk the, case before a .jury.— ^liessemed to observe my intention to refuse ;he case, and burst into tears.
1 BGver could s«e -a woman v> cep without feel- :!!:;;libs a weak fool myself. If it hadn't been s brightened by " pearly tears," (blast the po- that made them come into fashion ,• praising them !) I'd never been caught in the Ksoaf aiatrimony. My would-be client was "xttf. The handkerchief that hid her stream- :i eyes didn't hide her ripe lips ; and her snow}' ):;oiu rose and fell like a white gull in a gale of V, ind at sea. I took the case and she gave me iiie particulars. Tifee gang of which he was not a member had persuaded him to take the horee. He knew iliat it was stolen, and, like a fool, acknowledged It wiien he was arrested: Worse still, ho had trimmed the horse's mane and tail to alter its sjipearatwe, and the oj.positi&5i could prov(||it. Tiie trial came on. I worked hard to get a iiry of ignorant men who had more heart than lirains; who, if they could not fathom the Jcpths ofarguiment or follow the labarynthine mazes of law, 'Could feel for a yoiiog fellovv in a !fid fix, a weeping pretty wife, nearly heart bro¬ ken, and quite distracted.
Knowing the use of "effect," I told her to dress indeepmourning, and bring her little cherub of !iboy,'3inly three years old, into court, and' set js near her husband as the olBxjers would let b', I tried that game once in a murder case, md a weeping wife and sister made a jury ren¬ der a verdict against law, evidence, and the Judge's charge, and saved a fellow that ought to ije Imng as high as Haman.
The prosecution opened very bitterly, and in¬ veighed against thieves and counterfeiters, who liiid made the land a terror to strangers and iravelers, and who had robbed eveiy farmer in i!ie region of his finest horses. It introduced a ivitness, and proved more than I fe-ared it would. The time came for me to rise in tfee defense.— Witness, I had none. But I d'etermined to make an effort, only hoping so to interest the jury ;isto secure a recommendation to gubernatorial tlemency and light .sentence.
Sa I painted his picture. A young man en¬ tering into life, wedded to an angel; beautiful a person, possessing every noble and gentle, at- •ribute. Temptation lay before and all around .im. He kept a tavern. Guests, there were ;iany; it was not for him to enquire their bu- -mess; they dressed well, made large bills, and isid promptly ; at an unguarded hour, when he ;vasinsane with liquor, they urged upon him ; :ie deviated from the path of rectitude. The .ernon alcohol reigned in his brain, and it was :ii,s first offence. Mercy pleaded for another liance to save him from ruin ; Justice did not :equire that his young wife should go downsor- ;o\ving to the grave,, and that the shadow and taunt of a felon father should cross tho path of that sweet child. Oh, how earnestly did I plead fir them ! The woman wept; the husband did the same ; the jury looked melting. If I could Ijave had the closing speech, he would have been .:leaved ; but the prosecution had the close, and tiiiew ice on the fire I had kindled. Bul they did not put it quite out.
The .fudge charged according to law and ev¬ idence ; but evidently leaned on the side ofmer- •y. The jury found a verdict of guilty, but >:naniffiously recommended the prispner tQ tho
taercy of the court. My client was sentenced to the shortest iffiprisoRment the Court was em¬ powered to give, and both jury and court signed •fe, petition to the ''Goverhor for an unconditional pa^'don, which has since been granted, but not before the following incident occurred:
Some three months after this, I received an account for collectioli from a wholesale house in New York. Thfe parties to collect from were hard ones; but they had property, and before they had-a?? idea of the trap laid, il had the prop¬ erty, which thev Vere altout to assign before they broke, under attachment. Finding I was a neck ahead and bound to win, they "caved in" and forked fever $3,794:,18, (per memorandum book) in good moRpy. Thej' lived in Shawnee town, about thirty-five or forty miles south-east of Moore's prairie. 1 received the funds just af¬ ter the banli opened, but other business detaihe'd me till aftet dinner. 1 then started for C-^'^-^"-, intending to go as far as the village of Mosnt Vernon that night.
I had gone along ten or twelve miles when I noticed a splendid team of two horses attached to a Kght wagon, in which were seated four men, evidently'Off tike high strung order. They sw^pt past me as if to show how easily they could do it. They shortened in and allowed me to come U!p with them,and hailing me, asked me to "wet,^' or in other words, diminish the jug of old rye they fead a.board, but I excused myself, with t^e plea that I had plenty on board. They ask^ed me how far I was .going. I lold them as far as Mount Vernon, if my horse didn't tire out.— They m'etntioned a pleasant tavern ten or twelte j miles sliead as a 5iice stopping place, and then | drove os. j
I did not like the looks of those fellows nor i their actions. But I was bound to ,go ahead. I had a brace o'f revolvers and a nice knife '; my money was not fa a vahse tai&er my sulkey, but in my belt arouwd my bod^y. I drove slow in hopes they v-ouM go on ^nA I shomld see them no more. It was nearlj^ dank when I saw the tavern sign ahead. At tho same time I saw their wagon standing before the door. I would have passed "on but vnj horse needed rest. I hauled up a^d a woman ¦came to the door. She turned as pale as a sheet when she saw me.--- »She did not speak, but with a meaning look she put her finger on her lips, and beckoned me in. She was the wife of my client.
When I eetered., the party lecognized me, and hailed me as an old traveling friend,and asked me to drink. I respectfully but firmly declined to do so.
" But 3''ou shall drink or fight !" said the nois¬ iest of the party.
"J«st as you please ; drink I shall not!" I said, purposely shoving the butc of a Colt, which kicks six times in nipid succession.
The others interposed, and very easily quited my opponent. One offered me 'a ciger, which I should not have received, but a glance of the I woman induced me to accept it. She advanced and proffered me a light, and in doing so, slipped a note into my hand, which she must have written the moment liefore. iNever shall I for¬ get the words—they vere—
" Beware ; they aremembers of the gaug.— They mean to rob and murder you. Leave soon , I will manage to detain them."
I did not feel comforable just then., but tried to look so.
" Have you any room to put up my horse ?" I a.sked, turning to the VToman.
" A¥hat, are you not g»ing on to-TiJght?" ask¬ ed one of the men—"we ire."
" ii>[o !'•' said I, " I shall stay heP3 to-night."
" We'll all stay, then, [ guess, and make a night of it," said one of ths cut-t}iroats.
" You will have to put ip vou r own horse— here is a lantern," said the worn an.
" I am used to that," I'said. " Gentlemen, excuse me, I will join you ia a drink when I oome in."
" Good on your head ! ?JI,ore, whiskey, old gal," shouted they.
I went out and glanced at thc;ir wagon; it was old fashioned, and "linch-jiMs" secured the wheels. I^o take out my li dfe and pry one from the fore and hind whe-el;, was but tlie work of a moment, and I threw th an into the dark¬ ness as far as I could. To ratie my horse and dash off was but the wor); of an instant. The road lay down a steep hi'.L 1 tutaiy lantern light¬ ed me somewhat.
I had hardly got under liill lead way, when I heard a yell from the P'artj I hxi so unceremo- nioasly left. I put ',vhi.|} to ny horse. The next moment they stfirted. il lirew my light away and kft my horse to pici h\^ way. A 1 moment lailfif I hear I a crash—-ahorriMe shriek.
The wheels came off. Then came the rash of the horses, tearing along with a wreck of the' wagon. Finally they seemed to fetch up in the woods. One or two shrieks I heard as I swept on, leaving them far behind. For some time I hurried riiy horse—you'd better believe " I rid." It was a httle after midnight when I got to iJ/Il. Vernon.
The next day I heard that Moore's prairie team had run away, and two men out of four had been so badly hurt that their lives had been de¬ spaired of; but I did not cry. My clients got the money ; but I don't travel that road any more.
THE WAS COMMENCED.
WHAT  .f\  BRECKIKBIDGE   PAPER  THINKS OjP'  I'HE CBIS18.
OuK telegraphic columns to-day willbe found to contain matter of all absorbing interest.— The rebel army has opened fire upon iE^ort Sum¬ ter, and civil war has been in augurated by the act of the drunken minions of JelF Davis and his Slave Oligarchy.
The hour for political speculation and com¬ promise policy has passed. Things have assum¬ ed a definite shape. Civil war is upon us, and it is now the business of the Government to pursue such a course as will most speedily and most efiectualiy silence ihe traitors and re-es¬ tablish the supremacy of law and order. All squeamish sentimentality should be discarded, and bloody vengeance wreaked upon the heads ofthe conterapible traitors who have provoked it by their dastardly impertinence and rebellious acts. No quarters should be shown to rebels, and traitors shcald hang.
The dispatches received during the night, con¬ sidering that the telegraph office at Charleston is in the hands of the enemy, are encouraging.— What may arrive this morning and afternoon we await ¦u-ith impatience, but with a firm reli¬ ance on t]je God of battles and the loyalty of Anderson, and his men.
Whet her or notSumter falls into the hands of the enemy, treason must be quelled. It would be looked upon as the work of a special Provi¬ dence were Anderson to sustain himself for any considable time against the combined rebel for¬ ce i. But if such interposition is to be had, all gjod men will anticipate it on the side of Liber- 'i'Y, as arrayed against Slavery.
:}: -.H * :i! * * *
President Lincoln is called upon by the pop¬ ular voice to pursue a determined course—a course that will most speedily and most effect¬ ually silence the vile traitors who would convert the land of the free into a chattel mart, and the Goddess of Liberty into an ohgarchic harlot. It is too late now to consider plans of pacific poli¬ cy. The rebels have opened the batteries of the B'ederal Government upon a loyal garrison, and for this flagrant outrage and insult there is no punishment known to the annals of warfare too summary or severe. Let the people understand that we have a Qovernment, by at once wiping out this Southern rebellion, though it cost ten thousand patriot lives. There are twenty mil¬ lions in the United States who are oppo:5edto the institution of Negrc Slavery,and as the aiia and intention ofthe secession movement is to le¬ galise and extend that institutio.i, and event¬ ually to re-open the African Slave trade, these people will be found steady and anxious to as¬ sist the Administration in any effort to stay the march of so damnable an enterprise.
Men \tho t*oierated Slavery as a compromise necessary to the Union of the States, will not be found pandering to the base appetites of a South¬ ern Oligarchy, and it is necessary that Cottort- dom be taught this trath. Where there is no Liberty there can be kq> Democracy, aad the great Democratic party which established and has maintained the Union ot these States thus
taught to reverence Jefferson,and worship AVash- ington as the Father of his Country. It is too late Hov/' to enquire who or what caused the war. It \% or ought to be, sufficient to kno vr that Y/ar exists, and by the act of a band of rebels and traitors. The Government is assail¬ ed, and its stability and power threatened by an,- unscrupulous faction. The issue is bet wee a Freedom and Slavery, and^ thus joined, who Ja so base a coward as dare doubt the result ?— Columbus Fad.
far, will be found as a
rallying around the
uiaer haaded down to a seuoration who are
THE PESSIDEHT'S PKOCLAMATIOi^.
Washingtoi^, April 14.—The President's Proclamation says:
Whereas, 1'he laws of the United States have been and are now opposed in several of tho States by combinations too powerful to be sup¬ pressed in the ordinary way ; I therefore cal forth the Mihtia of the several States of the Union, xo the aggregate number of 75,000, to suppress said combinations and execute the laws. I appeal to ail loyal citizens to facilitate and aid this eifort to maintain the laws, the integrity of the National Union, and the perpetuity of pop¬ ular governments, and redress wrongs that have lohg been endured. The first service assigned to the forces will he to repossess the forts, places and property that have been seized frotn the Union. The utmost care wili be taken, consist¬ ent with the object, to avoid devastation and de¬ struction, or interference with peaceful citiKCiis,, in anj'- part of the coxmtry, and I hereby cotra- mand pe rsons composing the aforesaid eoaibina- tions to disperse within twenty days from date. I hereby convene both houses of Congress for tlie fourth of July next, to determine upon m,atterH; which the public safety and interest demands.
Signed : ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
President.
By W. IL Sewaed, Secretary of State.
G-lJi. SGOTt 0M THE SVACUATIOiSff .©F'FOST SUMTEE.
The following letter to the Boston jiddeAis/'^r Vfill put a quietus on the reports of a disagree¬ ment between Gen. Scott and the Administration as to relieving Fort Sumter, and of his probable resignation. The people will be gratified to know that in this emergency the Government will have the benefit of his experience and ap¬ proved military qualities. We give the letter, with the Advertiser's introduction;
It gives us the utmost pleasure to call the .at¬ tention of our readers to the letter which wc print below,and which disposes of a repol't whi<.'k, although-coming from no responsible authority, had caused some uneasiness. The public can Tcly upon it that the Administration^ has tnken no steps without the -co-operation, and certainiiy none against the advice of the great soldier iu whom the whcle nation now lias such implicit coiifidence :
Boston', April if 3.
To the Editors of tlie Boston Daily Advertiser ;—¦ I have just read in the telegrapliic dispatches to your paper of this morning, the following para¬ graph ;:
" The expedition for the relief of Fort Sumter is said to be undertaken against tlxe advice of Ge,n Scott, he having urged the evacuatidii of both Forts Sumter and Pickens."
As this paragraph might cause muchsafcisrac- tion to the Disii.nionists here and elsewhere, I have great pleasure ia informing you that it is iintrae.
Gen. Scott wa.3 asked a lew days siaca bj a IT„ S, Senator a^ tO' the eyaiuatiii,ii of Fort ^mx- ter, and he rcpliei} ;
"I had rather los,'; m-j left arm, ves my right arm, aye both armKj_ tiitan  have  Fort  Sa,p!>t;63:/ evactAottd.'^ ' . ¦
The gentleman to wao^t,ni this wa^ said is a Senator fi'om the interior; jou ftari folly jfvf/ upon his statement, v/liirjii ht* gava r^c? y^jtefua^'^ iKoraiug.