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y #* & ' v ' # v ?he Camben Journal. ^????rn^mmmm???^??^? ?????| VOLUME 11. " CAMDEN, SOUTH-CAROLINA, JUNE 4, 1850. NUMBER 44 ' Jpoctifal Department. From the Columbia Telegraph. THE HANDY MAN. "Full nrnny a gem of pureet ray ?erene, The dark unfathomed caves of orran bear." It shan't be so! it shan't be so! With one most precious gem, Which ail Columbia ladies know j Is worth a diadem; My muse shall trumpet forth his fame As loudly as she can. Oh would you know the jewel's name ! It is the "handy man." There is a certain "fancy store" Where ladies coi*gregate, *Tis there my hero bows before The little and the great: He often lounges at the door, A? lazv neonle can, ~ W I A Put oh! within that lovely store He's such a handy man! He twists and turn6 the goods about With such a knowing air, I And throws such inuendoes out Of bargains wasting there? Of people's folly not to seize Such bargains when they can; You buy his rubbish just to piease This very handy man. | He'll trim a bonnet, make a cap, A6 well as ladies do, I And oh! this very useful chap Can cut out dresses too! J wonder he's not married yet, ? t I , For certainty necHu Some nice young lady quickly get, He's such a handy man. Oh! what a husband he would make! How cozily he'd lire! His wife's department he would take And her no trouble gtvej j Ilell set the table, wash the cups, As well as Betty can, And watch the baby while the sups, He's such a handy man. He'd make the little baby-frocks Put on its little "toozes," (And when its little head it knooks, He'll cure its little bruise?. Now be advised some lady fair. And catch him if you can, For certainly the chance is rare Of such a handsome man. Columbia, May, 1850. M. W. S. iflisrcllancoue Department. From Noah'* Sunday Tinea. JAMES BOWIE; THE NAPOLEON OF DUELLISTS. Fonr years ago, when Theodore Parner, the eminent (heo-philnuihrapifl preacher of Hoston visited Europe, having a letter ol introduction for that purpose, he willed on Thomas Carlylc. The English solilnirr. plied the American with " "" O # - - # innumerable questions relating to our customs and habits of social existence on this side of the great water, but manifested the keenest curiosity concerning the people of the backwoods. Parker drew for the other's amusement a vivid sketch of the achievements of Bowie, the famous arch-duellist of Texas, Carlyle listened with sparkling eyes till the close of the narrative, and 'hen burst into exclamations of involuntary enlhusiasm: u By Hercules! the man was greater than Caesar or Cromwell?nay, nearly equal to Odin " ^? T~?nnnlit tr? hnilil liim nil or 1 nor. xut> idjuuii altar." The burning sympathiser with the heroic in all its phases, nibbed his hands together, chuckling in an ecstacy of savage glee, and made Parker repeat his story of bloody anecdotes.? Finally he put the question? " But by what miracle could it happen that the brave fellow escaped the penalty of the lawafter such countless violations ?" To this interrogatory Parker, as he himself confessed, could return no satisfactory answer, and as ten thousand readers have herhaps pondered the same problem without pqneeiving a rational solution, it may not be uninteresting to explain it briefly, especially as a clear elucidation can be detailed in a few words. Let it be remembered then, that although the great system of oommon law, that " p rfection, of human reason" for the Anglo Saxon race prevails throughout all the States of the west, wholly as to its definition of crimes, and partialJ nf nnnialimnnt jy as W Uie IIIUMP ??,v? uiwwm t" ? C"" annexed to each, nevertheless }n its practical application to-given cases it is controlled by the power of ? far mightier law theomnipotent law pf public opinion} because in most western pourts, juries are absolute judges of both the Jaw and the fact, and their interpretations often .evince direct antagonism with the dicta of my Lord Coke and the ciassio comments of 3lackstone. On the subject of homicide in particular, publ ic opinion lifts passed the bounds of all books [of jurisprudence, ana semeq as nn imniqijDie statute this extraordinary apdom : " it is justifiable po kill jn fair combat every body and anybody who ought to be killed !" In Bowie's numerous rencontres he always fcept within the prescribed limits of this latitudj. Pflrjan rule, and hence 1)9 was always acquitted by frpntior juries, and frequently with addenda j to tfcgjr virdicts highly complimentary to h{s phareptpr as a chivalrous gentleman, In truth, pipst qf.hls desperate engagementa grew out of' bis innate and invincible dis position to espouse the cause of the weak against the mighty.? One illustration by incident will present this peculiaiity in the strongest light, and may, besides, reveal a thorough knowledge of the heart and soul of the manOn the evening of the fourth of June, 1835, the steamboat '* Rob Roy " started lrom St. Louis to New Orleans with a full crowd of passengers. Immediately after "getting under good head-way," to adopt a favorite backwoods phrase, one person attracted universal attention by the annoying eagerness with which he endeavored to make up a party at cards. Indeed, his oft-repeated and persevering efforts to that end soon became insulting and undeniable ; and yet his appearance M as guoh as to deter the bravest on board from administering the chas on finlilf rlncnm'orl Up U/'tfi llSflllflU WJIH.ll lie DU liviilj uwaexvu. ?.v a huge mass of mighty bone and muscles, with swarthy features, bearing the impress of many a scar; piercing dark eves, that seemed to possess the power of blasting the beholder?coldgleamjng eyes, such as haunt the memory painfully J a rank luxuriance of coal-black hair, immense whiskers and moustache. This savagelooking figure was habited in the costliest clothing, and adorned with a profusion of jewelry, while the outlines of several murderous weapons were plainly distinguishable beneath his gaudy vest and superfine coat, Nor did he need these to render him an object of terror. A connoisseur in the science of belligerent gymnastics, would have confidently pronounced * <!? on? hum) nn the duck. 111111 a iiiatvK ivi utij *? w ? ? ? ?9 without an)* aid from lead or cold steel. At length, after many failures, he prevailed on a wealthy young merchant of Natcbez to join him at a game of poker. They sat down beside a small table near the bar, and were soon absorbed in the most perilous of all excitements, of whioh the two alluring ingredients are the vanity and pride of individual skill, and uncertainty of general hazard. At first the stakes were small, and the run of the cards seemed wholly in favor of the merchant; but presently they bet more freely, and gold eagles W)d hundred dollar notes were showered down on the board with extravagant ardor; and then the current of fortune changed?ebbed away from the young merchant and flowed to the professional gambler in a stream like the ocean's tide. As usually happens in such cases, his want of success onlv niqued and maddened the loser, and lie Bought to recover himself by Venturing such desperate ventures us could not hut deepen and coofirin his ruin. And thus tliey continued during that long summer night. The intensity of their excitement became equivalent to insanity. Every nerve was strung? every energy of the brain was taxed to the utmost?their teeth were set hard as those of antagonists in the tug of mortal strife?the sweat rolled from their brows like great drops of rain. The passengers formed a circle around the players, and looked on with that interest which such extraordinary concentration of intellect and passion never fails to inspire even in bosoms flmt clmHilnr ut its excess. The merchant and gambler attracted all eyes, and kept many awake and gazing till morning. Among the latter was one presenting a countenance so piteous that it might have melted hearts of marble ! to tears. A pale and exquisitely beautiful face [ peeped incessantly from the half-opened door of the ladies's cabin, weeping all the while as if oppressed by some dreadful sensation of immedicable sorrow. It was the merchant's lovely wife weeping her farewell to departing | hope! There was one spectator also, whose appear hik'c and actions excited almost as tnuch curiosity as tlie j(layers did themselves. He \yas a tall, spare man, of about thirty, with handsome features, golden hair, keen blue eyes of preternatural brightness, and his firm, thin lips wore u perpetual smile?a mysterious smile of the strangest, the most inscrutable meaning. | With the exception of his red calico shirt, the person was dressed wholly in buck-skin, ornamented with long swaling tassels, and wild figures wrought out of variegated beads, after the fashion of some western Indians. He stood close beside the card-table, and liejd in hjs left hand a sheet of paper, in his rjght a large pencil, with which ever and anon he dashed off a i fnw wrnnls jia if enframed in tracimr the nroir ? ? O O O 1 u ress of the gatne. Still the merchant and the gambler persevered in their physical and mental toil. The dial of the stars, with its thousand fingers ofgojden fire, pointed to the world shadows of midnight; hut still they did not pause. It still was "shuffle and cut, and pass ante up, and 1 call you, and rake down the pile." Towards the morning a troinendous storm arose, Tlio red lighti ning flashed awfully?the hail poured like a frozen cataract - the great river roared till it rivalled the loudest thunders of heaven; and the yery pilot at the wheel was alarmed. But the mud players heard it not. What was the tumult of the raging elements to them whose destiny hung on the turning ofa card { And the smiling blue-eyed stranger in laiokskin still 1 1 | stood beside them witn ins pencil ana paper, calmly noticing the developments of the game. Finally the storm passed, as the beautiful daybreak panic out liko a tiling of glory in thu greqt gray eip?t. Then the infatuated merchant, distracted with his heavy losses dared the clij max of folly. He staked five thousand dollars, I comprising his last oeqt of money in the world, I on " two pajrs of kings," The whiskered gam bjcr " called" hjm; showed hands; the black* leg had " two pajrs of aces," and <f raked the board." The merchant dropped tq the floor as if hp had boen shot through the brain, and that beautiful young wife flew to his side and shrjolting upon his bosoni. They were both borne away insensible to tho ladies' cabin, As ho deposited the winnings in his pocket, the gambler emitted a hoarse laugh that sound, i ed frightful as tho chuckle of a flond; but ho Instantly lost color as a low, calm voice remarked in his car? ' Villain, you play a strong hand at many different games, but here stands one* who can beat you at all of them!" He turned, met the glance of those keen blue eyes so preternuturally bright, and shuddered, But he immediately regained his presence of mind, for he was no coward, and then he frowned till his shaggy brows met like the coil of a serpent, and demanded sternly? " Beggar, who are you to banter a gentleman thus rudely ?" "I am James Bowie, of Texas," the other answered with a ringing laugh; "and you are John LatHtte, a bastard of the old pirate!" The gambler reeled in his chair as if he had been struck with a thunderbolt, but recovered again from the shock in a moment, and asked id a arm tone? " What game do you wish with me?" " Poker first, arid pistols afterwards if you play foul!" replied Bowie. "Very well," rejoined the other, and they took their seats at the table. For a time the success seemed about equally balanced, the gain and loss being alternate. At last, the gambler ventured one of his skillful manoeuvres in dealing. Bowie smiled strangely as his quick eye detected the trick. He said nothing, however, but looked at his hand, and bet five thousand dollars, slaking the money ten large bills. The gambler went five thousand dollars higher, which resulted in a "call'' Bowie held " four jacksbut with his habitual fiendish chuckle, his antagonist showed " four queens," exclaiming as he did so? " By heaven, the pile Is mine!" "Not vet," shouted Bowie, as with both hands he raked the heap of notes to the tune of twenty thousand dollars into his own pocket Choking and purple with rage and shame, the gambler roared? " To the hurricane deck, and let pistols be trumps this turn!" ' Good as gold!" replied Bowie, and the two hastily ascended the stairs and assumed their separate positions?the gambler over the stern and tfowie over tlie prow. At that instant the sun was just rising in a cloudless sky. Nature looked sublime?a bride worthy of her Almighty Husband and God.? The woods and waters appeared as parts of one divine picture, with the boundless blue of h?U' vcn for its back-ground. The broad-bosomed river rolled away like an immense sheet of burnished silver, speckled hero and there with the flash of golden bubbles; shining fishes gam. holed in the sparkling wave; and all the bright birds?those sweet singers, whose life is a dream, and that dream only music?chaunted their wild anthem to the new day; while the two great duellists, the most deadly ever known in the Southwest, stood with cocked pistols, l xt. t-?i_ ! oyo to eye, and tlielr lingers nxen oil mo nairtriggers, prepared and waiting to slay and bo slain. " I am ready. You give the word," cried Bowie, in bis clear, ringing voice, and with that inseparable smile ol'strange meaning on bis lips. " I am ready. Fire !" shouted tiie gambler, in tones murderous as death. The two pistols roared simultaneously.? Bowie did not move, though ho had handy escaped with his lile, for the bullet of bis foe bad cut away one of the golden locks of bis yellow hair. Toe gambler was shot through the heart, and, dropping on the brink of the deck, had almost tumbled into the river. He was buried by the squatters at the next wood yard. And thus perished justly a bastard sou of the great pirate La tit to. There never was a jury empanueled in the west who would haye brought in a verdict against any man lor killing him, and more especially under the circumstances, because public opinion pronounced that "he ought to be killed." And such were the desperadoes that Howie commonly exterminated. The irenerous victor immediately proceeded to the ladies' cabin and restored the winnings of the gambler to the young merchant and his beautiful wife, who both received the boon as a gift from heaven, with us much gratitude and juy.. If we should write a volume concerning the exploits of James Howie, his character could not be rendered more transparent than it is revealed in the foregoing anecdote, lie was always the same?the friend of the feeble, the protector of the oppressed, and the sworn enemy of tyrants, llu was brave without fear and generous beyond precedent; and though lie had faults, gigantic ones too, he atoned for all '* ' ? ' '? lx?. tin, crili>iul,ii. <?|* |ii?2 uk! errors cm a siuruij mi: uj mi ...... ... magnificent death, His tomb is the Alamo, hid epitaph the word " Texas," and his fame will till an humble though safe niche in the temple of freedom through all time. He can never be forgotten till the bowels of the earth cease to furnish metal for the fabrication of those bright blades of steel which bear his imperishable name. MANUFACTURES AT THE SOUTH, The growth ofthe manufafituring interests of the South is one of the most gratifying eviden' I'mir ovnti ces oi our increasing jnuapui?i.j. ?v.,, among our intelligent citizens, aro.iuyare of the extent to whjch our people are engaging in this branch of industry ; and no one acquainted with the importance of manufacturing establish? ments in developing all the varied interests of the coqntry can can fail to see in the movement a greater degree iof prosperity than has heretofore characterized the southern States, while confining themselves chiefly tu the pro, duction of raw material. But tho most gratifying fact connected with this growing interest, especially to us as Gergi-. ans, is tho lead which our JStato is taking, It has been estimated that there are now in ope. ration in Georgia forty cotton mills, employing near 60,000 spindles, and consuming 45, 000 bales of cotton annually. In this estimate, which seems to us to he below the true mark, no calculation is made in our paper mills, bucket factories, iron establishments, flouring mills, &c. In Tennessee, it has been reported to the Secretary of the Treasury that there are thirty factories, employing 36,000 spindles. In South Carolina, the Hon. William Gregg says there are sixteen factories, containing 30,500 spindles, and about seven hundred looms, consuming 15,000 bales of cotton per annum. He estimates the capital invested in these establishments at about one million of dollars, and the number of operatives they give emyloyinent to at 1,600. There are jn Alabama twelve factories, with a capital of ?500,000, containing 12,580 spindles and three hundred looms, and cnnsiimitur about 5 500 hnlesnf cotton aiinnnl!v. It is said that machinery for others is contracted for sutficent to make the number of spindles 20,000, and the looms 550. Thus we have in our States ninety-eight manufactories of various descriptions of cotton goods, containing 140,000 spindles. There are doubtless many other cotton mills in the other southern States, which would swell the number somewhat In addition to these, there are others going up not only in tins State; but everywhere else at the South. We hazard but I'.il .1 i a .1 1 f xl . n nine saying, uiat at tae ena 01 tne next nve years there will be perhaps two hundred cotton lactones in operation in the Southern States, consuming near two hundred and lifty thousand bales of cotton per annum, and giving employment to twenty-five or thiritv thousand operatives. The effect of such a diversion of labor upon the productions of the South, the price of cotton, and the habits of those who Mill likely be employed as operatives, must be immense. All the cost of the transportation of the raw material to England, of its manufacture there, and its transportation hack to this country, will be saved to our people. The genoral price of cotton will lie increased by the competition which will ensue between the manufacturing establishments of Europe and the nortuern aim somuern suites ; ana great good to society must result from the employment of thousands of idle and immoral persons, who are now consumers and not producers. Savannah Hejtublican. WHO IS GENERAL LOPEZ? This question has frequently been asked. The subjoined sketch of his career, we find in the Philadelphia Hulletin, condensed from a longaoooqut jn a New Orleans paper: " Narciso Lopez was born of wealthy parents, in 1708 or '9, in Venezuela, and is now a little over fifty years of age. He was the iinlv'sitn that crew fn munlinnd tlinmrli lie Im< 1 numerous sisters. He was trained to the saddle. as is the custom in South America. His father being obliged by civil disturbances to remove to Carraccas, where he entered upon a commercial life ; his son Nareiso superintended a branch of the House at Valencia, in the in? terior. Here, during the troubles of Bolivar's time in 1814, young Lopez took a prominent part on the popular side, and narrowly escaped from massacre. At length, when reduced almost to desperation, he enlisted in the army, as bis only chance for life. At the end of the war between Spain and the insurgents, Lopez found himself a Colonel, at tlie age of 2."1. He had iuucnvu tm; imim in ? ?111 i 1:1 11?11inn, a further reward for various gallant deeds during the war. On the evacuation of the country by the Spanish army, Colonel Lopez returned to Cuba. "Since that time, (lH'JIL) Lopez has been a Cuban, having married and established himself in the island, lie was known to he possessed of liberal principles, which prevented him from obtaining oliieo in the island, and thus remained in retirement. During the first of the C'arlist troubles in Spain, Lopez happened to be in Madrid with his wife, urging a private claim on the government side, was made first aid-de-uamp to the Commander-m-CIuel, Gen. Valdez, and received several military decorations. lie became the warm personal friend of Valdez, who was afterwards the most popular Captain General of Cjiba. lie was for a time Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard of Spain, and subsequently Commander-in-Chief of several provinces, During all this period of favor wjtli the royalist party, it is said that be remained faithful to his democratic principles; and though caressed by the Queen and Mother Christina, he despised and distrusted her. On the insurrection which ended in the expulsion of Christina from the regency, Lopez was made Governor of Madrid, a post which he held until Espartcru became regent, when lie positively refused to hold it, in spite of the solicitations of Espartoro, .\s Senator of tiie Kingdom, from the Liberal city of {Seville, lie ... i....i o i:*: i ? MIHIICU II1U JHJilllCa UIIU 11 ISl 11111 M11 lo HI OJI.llll, ami then lirst learned the condition of the Spanish colonics, ami especially the oppressions uniler which Cuba, the country of his adoption, , labored. The expulsion of the Cuban deputies front the Cortes further disgusted him, and, re- ' signing his otiices, he departed for Havana, not without some trouble in obtaining permission. At this time, (lb.'W,) General Yahlez was Captain General of Cuba. During the various nolilieal troubles of Snain. Lnuoz ln>ld <lilTV>ri-ni I ~ 1 ' I ' ? I ? *? posts of honor una emolument in the island, but, at length he resigned all except his rank as < Ionera!, and then undertook the working of an abandoned copper mine, as a pretext for returning to the Central Department. Hero he began to mingle with the people and concert a plan for the liberation of Cuba, The enterprizo of last year, which miscarried so completely, was the result of his first efforts, A Ladies Physiological Institute in lioston, has been created by the Legislature, Political Department. From the Newberry Sentinel. * TO THE PEOPLE OF NEWBERRY DISTRICT, Mr. Editor; The questions propounded through your columns by "Many Voters" to the candidates of Newberry for the next Legis. lature, are, or should be, of no ordinary interest to the people of this Distiict. And, per. haps, it may be expected I should answer in full detail; but to do so, would be to obtrude front your columns other and perhaps more in. teresting matter to your readers, I will say, however, that I have never doubted the correctness of the policy of the Bank of the State of South Carolina, in any view that I have had of the subject. No one, I presume, will seriously rlmihf tha rinrlif f\C tha l??i?rA o Y* and, through its instrumentality, furnish her citizens with a currency. No one can have a doubt as to the character of that currency.-And every reflecting man, of any experience, J * knows how to appreciate a currency of the highest credit and most uniform value, such aa ' we have had from this institution. No one can look through its business, vouched by the annual reports of its officers, who are men of high standing and unimpeachable character, the reports of the investigating committees, chosen from your Legislature, composed, very often, of the most efficient men of the Suite, friends and foes to the institution ; and the reports of l.,. IV t 11 1 -II ? L il- - me vi'uijjtruiivj vrmirrui, an corrouoraiuig mo testimony of each other; and not be satisfied that it has been profitable, convenient, and of almost incalculable benefit to the State Govern-, ment, as a faithful fiscal agent, and to the peo* pie, by furnishing them with the best paper currency they could have, at the same rate of intercst that they would be compelled to pay, for the use of money, to capitalists in the absence of their own Hank; which would not go into their treasury, leaving it deficient to the amount of the annual profits of their Bank; for every nnnt Hint 5a nittilii l?ir Hiot 5ocfifnf5i\n aa o imtf VVMV ?( ? l+J Mlltuv *JJ WIUV IllOWbUiiVllj UO ? IfVVV profit upon its business, is directed to the pay-, merit of State debts and State expenses, that would otherwise have to be paid by an increase ol taxation upon the people. The people pay about ?300,000, by their direct taxes, to defray the ordinary wants of the State Government, and the hank pays about three-fourths of the same amount, annually, to meet the engagements of the State otherwise; which, in the absence of the Bank, would have to lie paid by the people, sooner or later. For, if the capital and assets of the Bank, as has been suggested, were now taken and applied to the <lebts of the State, it would soon be exhausted, and then we must tall behind our sister States in the go, neral improvements of the age, progressively increasing, and in general prosperity also, or the people must be taxed to raise money to accomplish what we have hitherto been able to do, by the agency of the Bank, without taxation, it keeps all the funds of the State profitably employed, whereas much of them would be often idle if there was no Bank. It advances money for the State very often with great saving to its government It is obliged to furnish a good currency and keep its ulfairs in a sound condition, or the Legislature will fail to perform its duty; for the Bank, its officers and business, are ali under the supervision and control of the Legislature. And when 1 hear that the Bank has done this or that thing wrong, 1 am ready to believe that the thing done is misunderstood, and not wrong, or else tue blame ought to be laid at the doors of tlio State House. 1 will dismiss tiijs subject, for 1 take it that there are 1 nit lew men who will doubt the correctness of these statements. In reference to the annual profits and the annual capital of the Hank, though a laborious task, I ujil endeavor to respond in detail. And that the people of Newberry District may understand tire operations of the llank correctly, and the precise annual prorits us well as tne rate of interest received upon all the funds placed in the Bank by the State, 1 will calculate interest upon the funds so furnished and to be used by tiie Bank, from the time it received them until removed again by the Legislature} j notwithstanding it is unfair to charge the Bank i with that part of the Lire Loan borrowed in Ihirope, as capital, for the reasons that the extraordinary expenses attendant upon that fund, (which the Hank has to pay,) will amount to near ?;J*?I0,000; while the Hank is restricted in its use of it as capital, and was ordered to lend it to the sufferers by lire in Chailcston at a rate of' interest not exceeding what it cost the State, and upon such a time as rendered it totally unlit t<> be called Hank capital. 1 will not regard what is called tho Sinking i-'und as capital as it has soilietiincs been done, for that is nothing ? I i.. .A* Al _ ) l_ 1 !.! I L\ out me proms 01 ine jjhiik lam uy, iroin year to year, to meet the debts of the Citato, and is applied, in part or whole, to the payment either of interest or principal, or both, every year. 1 presume " .Many \ ulers" want the naked truth and nothing else, or to know what rate of interest the funds furnished the Hank by the Citato has produced. The Hank was chartered in December, 1NT2, but having to procuro a house and every other outfit necessary to bankimr and being delayed by the existence of war at that time, it did not commence its operations till the fall of lNiti. Its capital, according to the act of incorporation, was to consist ol certain funds in the treasury and certain stock, etc. that had to be reduced to cash. And, in con -.r?!.,. o,..,I .....I | Ml I III ll\/V." Mi ot?nitivu <11114 lUiinni'H Ll'llUltii>n of these funds, but little was dune before tlio 1st of October, 1N13. lly which tiimvand to the 1st of October, lblf), various sums, form, ing an aggregate amount of capital of 22d 40, were received by the Bank, and upon, which it. realized nearly 25 per cent, gross, but having every expense, preparatory to common, cing business, to defray out of that profit, it had loss than 2 per cent, as nett profit, or tjjsl],.