The banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, June 17, 1846, Image 1
THE BANNER.
t
- -r. ?? U
[WEEKLY.]
I
Vol. III. Abbeville C. H,, S. C, June 17, 1846. No. 16. 1
b
Published every Wednesday Morning, by
ALLEN & KERR.
S&eto Merino.
ONE DOLLAR AND FIFTY
GJLNTS per annum, if paid within three
months from-the time of subscribing, or
TWO DOLLARS after that time. No
subscription received for less thnn ?=iv
months ; and no paper discontinued until
all arrearages are paid, except at the op~
tion of the editor. Subscriptions will be
continued, unless notice be given otherwise
previous to the close of the volume. J
(Correspondence of the Banner.)
Abbeville, June 8, 1846.
frierul Allen,:?Although I have returned
from visiting Florida, and have
met with many friends, unto whose numerous
personal enquiries, I have responded.
Still, the ever increasing anxieties
of the people for more light, resnep.tinfT
the " l*n.-n/l nf T?Imn/>Tc " nm.
_r O -J i
duce such a corresponding increase of
enquiries, as I am unable to answer, except
in this public manner.
I will then endeavor, in a brief manner,
to answer such enquiries as have
been made.
Lake Monroe, is the head of steamboat
navigation, on the St. John's river.
It is probably 7 or 8 miles long, and 5
miles broad,?is a beautiful sheet of
water, and has on its borders, several
small hammocks. There are some
beautiful locations for dwellings on its
shores, some of which are already occu??;?,!
n/i?:? m 1_ -i - - -?
I>icu. luajui i ailuu s piace, on me
east side, is a splendid place. It is built,
on a mound of shells, 12 or 15 feet above
the level of high water, having a commanding
view up and down the lake,
and, directly in front, the infant town o(
Mellonville, the county site for Orange
county. On the left of the dwelling,
within 50 feet, is a beautiful bay, of perfectly
ciear water, well stored with fish,
having an outlet into the lake sufficiently
deep, to admit the entrance of a boat.
The bay covers a space of half an acre,
and receives the water of four springs,
one of which, is perfectly pure water,
and all the others are medicinal, each
possessing properties unlike the other,?
one a sulphur spring, nearly at bloodiiuuL
Dr. Sidney Speer, formerly a student
in this Village, has a very pleasant
habitation in the village of Mellonville,
one mile from the steamboat landing, on
lake Monroe. His plantation is a beautiful
tract of land, on the St. John's river,
near lake Jesup. It seems belter adapted
to the growth of sugar cane, cotton
and tobacco, than to the growth of
corn. Probably the large roots of weeds
* found deeply imbedded in the soil, have
hitherto prevented the growth of corn,
and, that jaothing is required, but subduing
tho?e roots, to make it as good
corn land as the world contains. Capt.
J. O. Duval's placets of the same kind
of soil, both plantations being on the
same prairie.
Mellonville, will soon be an important
village, inasmuch as it is the head
of steamboat navigation, on the St.
1 al - r
Juan s river, auu uie county sue ior
Orange county. The first county court
will be held there, in this month, and in
all probability, the cases will be decided
according to their merits, as they have
not a lawyer in the county.
The lands in the immediate vicinity
of Mellonville, are mostly pine lands,
with small hammocks on the lakes, and,
an extensive prairie on lake Jesup
Black hammock, on the south west
side of lake Jesup. is said to be very
rich ; a considerable part of it, is already
taken up.
The. lands on Manitee river, near
Tampa Bay, are said to be very rich ;
but are all taken up by the wealthy
planters from the region of Tallahassee.
There are said to be excellent lands on
tVl A HilUKnrn' an A WitUol oaaaaViaa kn# I
***** uuu ww iiudiuuwutruvi: j uul
all the good lands are taken up. The
lands about Fort King are very rocky;
and most of the waters fail in a dry
summer; but they are excellent lands
for cotton, and tolerably good for tobacco.
They, as well as the lands in the
whole of the Alachua country, also the
rich lands around lake Orange, are all
now in the hands of men who are able
to hold them, and will cost high. The
lan<Js around Micanopy, embracing
Paipe's prairie, are on the Aredunda
Grant, and are held, according to their
valu<>, at from $3.00 to $10.00 per acre.
These lands-are very rich, but generally
drouthy; and the drinking water is
out of foetid limestone?and even that
has, during a. drought, to be hauled to
a great distance.
' The richest lands that I saw, are on
the lakes Harris, Eustis, Griffin, &c.,
which I have called' the lake region.
They ar6 hammock lands; are elevated
from 10 to 20 feet above the level
of the lakes, at high water; are almost '
perfectly level, and perfectly dry The <
soil is 18 inches deep, and 7 lOths of it (
to that depth is pure vegetable matter,
in a thoroughly decomposed condition ; 1
the other 3-10thsis fine white silicious J
sand. The surface soil is of a dark i
mulatto shade. Such are the lands on }
Lakes Ahapopka, Okehumpkee, Harris, ,
Eustis, Griffin, and down the Ocklawaha
river. All these hammocks are 1
based on a bed of the richest quality of '
shell marl, which is generally from 12 '
to 18 inches deep ; and the marl is based ,
upon a bed of stiff blue clay. The (
growth upon these hammocks, is hickory,
wild cherry, mulberry, ash, red ma- (
pie, magnolia, live oak and sweet gum,
with any quantity of wild orange groves. <
The soil is exceedingly light, insomuch, ,
that the small growth, of the diameter
of one inch to one inch and a half, can be '
drawn from the soil with but little force, J
leaving the soil loose, as a bank of ashes.
The hammocks are, therefore, ea- <
sily cleared, and when cleared, are everlasting.
The place for a residence, is
on the high sandy plain, immediately in 1
the rear of the hammocks; and back of '
such residence, is an extensive plain, co- i
vered with grass, yielding an inexhau- j
stible pasturage lor any quantity of cat
tie. The water is perfectly pure,* although
hardly as cold as in this village.
As for health, I do not think it to be
healthy, but I know it to be so; and
why? because they have no stagnant
water there, and they have no decaying
timber, and they have a delightful sea
breeze 14 hours out of every 24 throughout
the year; and lastly,no family has ever
had sickness in that region yet. The
soil is as good and as well adapted to
the growth of sugar, cotton, and tobacco,
as any soil in ihe United States; and
the climate so equitable, that almost all
the tropical fr?Hs may grow there.
The weather is never so warm, as it is
at times in Abbeville, and never so cold
as to kill orange trees.
Game is abundant; deer and turkeys
may often be shot from the door of a
dwelling, and with a good dog. it is an
easy matter, to tree a bear in almost any
of the hammocks. Tigers, panthers,
wild cats, &c., are often killed in that
region, though, they never have been
known to attack an individual there,
unless first wounded; or otherwise gTeatly
provoked. Even the rattlesnakes
aro fmlvr T I
uvivj U1V ilUlJ UIU^uauiuivuo. X OlC|J" J
ped within an inch of one, which was
nearly 7 feet in length, and 12 inches in 1
circumference, who looked at me, with '
an apparent smile upon his countenance, ]
and seemed to say, " if you will let me |
alone, I will let you alone." But a gen- (
tleman immediately in'the rear, being
moved and seduced, by a spirit inherent 1
in our nature, immediately fired upon <
him, and severed his head from his body, t
Venomous snakes, are not abundant ,
there, but when you meet with one, you ,
will be satisfied, that he is, in himself,
a host. Yours truly, F. Branch. 1
(fob. the banner.)
A TRUE SOLDIER.
Mr. Editor:?As it is more than probable
the incidents I am about to relate
<
have never appeared in public print, I
have concluded to present them to your ,
readers.
During one of my excursions in the
West, I received the particulars from
my friend, Col. W., who is a gentleman
of unquestionable veracity. I was introduced
by Col. W. to the Rev. Mr. J.,
who I subsequently heard preach several
times, and I soon ascertained was deservedly
popular for his great moral
worksjand unremitting perseverance in
the cau?e of Christ.
The Southern portion of Kentucky,
generally known as the barren or green
river country, was then very thinly inhabited,
and as an almost inevitable
consequence the people heard little or
no preaching. The Rev. Mr. J feeling
for their destitute condition in that re
spect, concluded to travel among them,
and preach wherever he could get hearers.
This he did,-and as he thought,
with every prospect of usefulness. He
therefore determined, after remaining
with his family a few weeks, to make ,
the second tour, praying that he might
be the humble instrument in the hands
of God, in doing much good. He accordingly
set out, and after travelling
several days, while passing one day
ilong a river bank remote from
my settlement, surrounded by large
rocks and thick scrubby trees, he was
suddenly attacked by three ruffians,
with guns in their hands, who ordered
trim to halt and dismount. This he did
without hesitation. . They dien approached
him and demanded his money ;
ihe Rev. gentleman handed them two
dollars, saying he gave them all he had.
The robbers, however, were very incredulous
and would not rest satisfied,
until they stripped the Rev. gentleman,
and searched every vestige of clothing,
but without obtaining any more money.
They next examined his saddle-bags,
where they found a few clothing, a Bible
and a Hyinn book. " I presume you
are a poor preacher," exclaimed one of
them to Mr. J. " Verv noor." was the
J I 7
modest reply,?" and as I feel interested
in your eternal welfare, I beseech you
all to desist from your present occupation
; cease to do evil, and learn to do
well, for if you do not, you will be rendered
miserable whiie you remain on
earth, and will be forever lost in the
world to come; no matter how great
sinners you may have been, if you will
repent, you can obtain forgiveness and
inherit everlasting life beyond the
sjrave. 1 Christ came to save the chief
of sinners.'"
One of the robbers then cried out, this
is not the man we took him to be, I
ivish we had let him passed on, and reserved
our work for a more profitable
abject, but as we have got into the scrape
we must get out; let us shoot him at
ance, and cast his body into the rivpi\
adding that it was an old saying, and a
very true one, u that dead men could tell
ao tales.
The second then said, " this man is a
true soldier, he is too noble a fellow to
lie, and is without exception, the bravest
man we have ever attacked. Do you
not perceive how composed he is, why
lie is no more afraid of dying than his
horse?I am clear of his blood and I intend
to remain I repeat, he is a true
5oldier_ we kill him hut wo
ire in the difficulty, let us take his briile
reins and tie him to one of these
trees, and make good our escape ; some
ine will come along and release him.
The third, who had been silent for some
time, as if maturing a plan, then gave
the result of his reflections.?"What
we do must be done quickly?the highway
is no place for such discussion ;
now let us either kill him forthwith, and
cast his body into the river, or
3wear him on this book," (holding up
the bible in his hand) " in which he
professes to believe, that he will never
divulge what has occurred, and we will
give him but two minutes to make his
choice."
" Although, I somewhat regret," said
one of the robbers, " having stopped this
man, still, two dollars is better than
nothing, and we have made it easier
than if we had plowed for it." The last
proposition being agreed on by all parties,
the Rev. Mr. J. took the oath, and
resumed his journey. The village of
B , was about 18 or 20 miles distant,
where he concluded to go that
night In riding along, he had many
reflections as the proper course to be
pursued by him in this affair. If he divulged,
he would violate the oath he
had taken. If he did not, the dismal
place from which he had escaped, might
soon be crimsoned with innocent blood,
and although he knew the oath was not
1! ?- ? . .
morauy qinaing, suit ne naa some kind
of punctions of conscience about the
matter.
On reaching the village of B , he
sent for a gentleman, with whom he
had some acquaintance, and after conversing
on the topics of the day, Mr. J.,
supposed the case to him, and asked
him, how he would act under such circumstances.
The gentleman promptly
i:_ .1 .1. . i i ? '
rujmeu, inai ne snouia ccrtainly divulge, j
and have the rascals brought to justice.
In the mean lime, one of the State (
Judges came in, and the case was pre- 1
sented to him likewise, in the form of a
supposition, and he* was asked how he j
would act. The Judge replied that j
such an oath was not binding?he 1
would therefore tell it, and have the 1
monsters apprehended for the good of 1
the country. (
The Rev. Mr. J., then gave a minute ,
account of what had occurred, designa- !
inor tVio or\n* nnrl oil IT1 o?1 ?
... g ...u U|iui uuu uu, J-JU1 t y 1IVAI 111U1*
ning, a party of gentlemen set out in 1
quest of the robbers, and on reaching
the spot where they had stopped Mr. J.,
the company all left the road, and passed
through a valley about three hundred
yards distant, where they came
across the robbers, who surrendered
without making any resistance^ notwithstanding
they had in their posses- i
sion many implements of war. The
robbers were comfortably situated under
a very large rock, which projected from
the side of a hill, forming a shelter, that I
completely excluded them from inclement
weather. On entering this cavern,
the assailants found several hundred dollars
in gold and silver which the robbers <
subsequently confessed, they had taken
from travellers by force. " Did you 1
meet with no resistance from travellers," '
inquired one of the gentlemen. On be- ,
ing answered in the negative, the robbers
added, that it had always been their
policy to attack but one man at a time,
they also slated that they had never met
with but one man, who they considered
a true soldier, and as -he was a preacher,
thpv pnncliiHpH fn Int him irn
J ? ? ...... fc,~In
due time the robbers were nil tried, '
found guilty and sentenced to 20 years
confinement in the State Prison, where
they still renuun, unless they have been
summoned to a wofld of spirits.
In reacting on the narrow escape of
Mr. J., I was forcibly reminded of that
beautiful passage of scripture, " If God
be for us, who can be against us."
Ruhiocolast.
The Texas Senators.-1?The followletter
will be read with interest by all.
On Wednesday, Gen. Houston, of Tex
as spoke. J
The speech was a good one, and great
attention was paid by a crowded house
and gallery to the orator. He possesses 1
distinguished ability, fine appearance, (
and the most courtly and prepossessing
manners. There seems to be a " manifest
destiny" attending this man, which |
has impelled on from scenca to scene of ,
an eventful and romantic life; has ena
bled him to establish a Republic in an
Indian wilderness, to become President
thereof twice, to have it received as a
confederate part ol another great Repub- 1
lie; and which will, in all probability, I
make him President of that. His, like ,
the Star of Napoleon, seems ever to be !
in the ascendant.
But the most remarkable part of the
display upon that occasion was the cir
cumstance, that whilst one Texas Senator
was addressing the Senate and an !
immense audience, the other was presi- !
ding in the Chair-?Gen. Rusk having 1
been invited thereto by the polite Presi- *
dent of the Senate. This was.certainly 1
a very appropriate compliment -to two
great men of the " Lone Star"?the
youngest sister of this great national ,
family. .
Indeed no State in the Union at this
time presents a more imposing and inte- 1
resting tepfesentation in the Senate,
than Tiwtas, - Her .two Senators unite ^
ail that/is calculated to attract the admi- i
ration of manlrihd, being men of distin* i
Mlithpj] nkiHridl liAfh in tha fieU ox<4
? 5 wvm 411 ?UV Mvivl atm I J
Advertisements
VILL be conspicuously inserted at 75
ents per square for tne first insertion,
nd 37? cents for each continuance?
rtnrroi> nnno nl>n>?r?n?1 ? ? * * rn'
v..u.e^u in prupurnon. j nose
lot having tho desired number of insertions
marked upon them, will be continued
ntil ordered out, and charged accordingly.
For advertising Estrays Tolled, TWO
)OLLAllS, to be paid by the Magistrate.
For announcing a Candidate, TWO
)OLLARS, in advance.
DO" All letters or communications must
>e directed to the Editor, postage paid.
he cabinet; uniting the polish of tho
gentleman with the heroism of the sollier,
and graced with a most courtly apaearancc.
And these qualities are enlanced
in Gen. Rusk, by his extremely
youthful appearancc and modesty of dejortmcnt
Nor docs General Houston
ook at all old for one who has passed
hrough his vicissitudes, hardships and
lair-breadth escapes. He represented
Pennessee in Congress, was elected its
Governor, voluntarily resigned, retired
:o the wilds of the western wilderness,
ivhen a handful of heroes were struggling
to be free ; joined them, and, by
lis gallantry and skill, was soon made
;heir chief. At the memorable battle of
San Jacinto, the wreath of victory and
triumph was awarded him. He was
made President of the. Republic when
its independence was established, served
Lhe time allowed by law, retired, was
clcctcd and served again. " The Lone
Star" was admitted into the Union and
becamc an integral part of another
great nation, and he has become one of
the representatives of her sovereignty.
In all this is a romantic vicissitude that
no man in the old world ever before experienced,
or contemplated, and it was
reserved for Gen. Houston to be themas6
ir spirit to do all this, and enable a new
nation to emerge from chaos into national
existence in a day, and enjoy the novelty,
splendor and immortality of the
great achievement.
Columbus Democrat.
Gen Thomas J. Rusk, Senator from
Texas.?General Ruslc, the associate
Senator of Gen. Sam. Houston, from the
new State of Texas, is"one of the very
finest looking men in the Senate. He
stands full six feet; strong, sinewy
frame; well proportioned? and perpenj:
n. - _ n .i ^4 i *
Liicuiur. ne is a ooum oaronruan ur
birth and education. He studied law nrv
that State, and in 1822 removed to Geor-\
gin, where, in the CQurse of a ten years \
residence in practice?the practice of '
the law?he married. In 1834 he removed
to Nacogdochcs, in Texas, (the
Red River country,) where he resumed ^
the practice of his profession. In thj^^^T
formation of the Provisional GovSffl^^
ment of Texas, in December, 1835, of .*>
which David G. Burnet was appointed r
President, Gen. Rusk was Secretary of y|
War. He was present, in his official ycanacitv
at thn battle nf San Jacinto I
April 21st, 1836. At this battle Gen, J
Houston was wounded early in the ac. H
tion, and taken off the field j when Gen- t
Rusk and Major Wharton headed the.
charge upon the enemy's entrenchment $
and carried the day. Subsequent to J.
this victory. General Husk assumed the A
command of the army, on its Southward IjJ
march in the expulsion of the enemy.
In the summer of '45 he was chosen
President of a Convention called for the
consideration of the resolutions of anexation
proposed by the United States, and
the States having accepted the terms,
and, having adopted an acceptable constitution,
and having been admitted into
the family with the clear certificate of a
legitimate daughter, Uen. liusk was
elected one of the Senators to represent
the new commonwealth at Washington.
Gen. Rusk is a man of family, and of
considerable property. He is a cotton
planter of the Red River country. His
residence is at Nacogdoches. His history
is more like a chapter of the Arabian
Kinghts than of an American politician.
Pleasure?The nature of pleas
ure is vain,empty and unsatisfying,
biggest always in expectation, and
a mere vanity in the enjoying, and
leaves a sting and thorn behind
when it goes off. Ever laughing,
if it be loud and high, commonly
ends in a deep sigh; and all the
instances of pleasure harve a sting
in the tail, though they carry beauty
oi). the face and sweetness on
the lip*
Argument in favour of marriage.
?It appears by the report of the
keeper of the Kentucky Penitent
tiary, that of the convicts in that
institution 3* are married and
125 are bachelors. Does not this
Fadt show the vast importance of
matrimony? There is not one
married woman in the peoitentia*
ry?