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 THE 
 
 LIFE AND DEATH 
 
 OF 
 
 SAM, 
 
 IN VIRGINIA 
 
 BY A VIEGINIAN. 
 
 "Yet have they many baits and guileful spells to inveigle and invite the 
 unwary sense." 
 
 KICHMOND: 
 PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOK. 
 
 A. MORRIS. 
 
 _ 
 
 1856.
 
 ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT or CONGRESS IN THE TEAS 1856, 
 
 BY A. MORRIS, 
 
 In THE CLBIK'S Omcx OF THE DISTEICT COUBT or THE UNITED STATES, JOE TH 
 EASTKRN DISTRICT or VIRGINIA.
 
 Cr/tfe JL 
 
 TO 
 
 THE DEMOCRATS OF VIRGINIA; 
 THE DEMOCRATS OF THE SOUTH; 
 
 AND tO 
 
 NATIONAL DEMOCRATS, 
 
 WHEREVER FOUND WITHIN THE BROAD LIMITS OP 
 THIS NATION, 
 
 THIS VOLUM E 
 
 18 RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, 
 BY IH1 
 
 AD THOR. 
 
 1118250
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 THIS little volume now goes forth to the public. 
 Take it. Deal with it as it deserves. If it proves 
 to be acceptable, the author will be gratified. But 
 if public opinion shall decide against it, he will 
 attribute the fault to the book, not to its readers. 
 Though whatever may be its fate, he will feel 
 the pleasing consciousness (of which he cannot 
 be robbed) that the volume is written with the 
 hope of doing good good to " the cause" for which 
 he writes the Democratic cause of Virginia, and 
 the Union. He (in common with his Democratic 
 brethren) regards Know Nothingism as absolutely 
 dangerous to the well being of our institutions; 
 and if, in his picture of "THE LIFE AND DEATH 
 OF SAM IN YIKGINIA," he shall bring one single 
 Virginian from the error of his ways, to the light 
 and truth of Democracy, then his effort has not 
 been wholly in vain. 
 
 vu
 
 fife anb eatjj of Sam in iirginia. 
 
 CHAPTEE I. 
 
 THE night was dark and dreary : 'twas half past 
 ten o'clock. The year was the early part of 1854. 
 The place was a city in Virginia. When and where 
 a small party of men had assembled together in a 
 remote room of a house, not too public. About the 
 conduct of each there was a sort of nervous rest 
 lessness exhibited, which showed too plainly that 
 conscience was at work, or that they found them 
 selves in a novel position ; perhaps about to assume 
 relations towards their fellow-citizens, the virtue, if 
 not the policy of which, might be questioned. 
 Scarce a word was breathed, and when breathed, 
 amounted not even to a respectable whisper. 
 Melancholy seemed hovering around those dark 
 walls; no cheerful light issued from the dark lan 
 tern to dispel the gloom. The men waited and 
 watched in silence and in sadness. "He will not 
 come ; so, gentlemen, I will leave you," said one of 
 the party. "No," "No," cried some half a dozen or 
 more; "delay but one moment, he will be here he 
 will not disap " "No, that he will not, in such a 
 cause," said a brisk little man, raising the latch, 
 
 2 (13)
 
 14 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA 
 
 and bouncing in their midst. "Why," continued 
 he in the same breath, "what's the matter, fellows, 
 good and brave, why do I see these long faces? you 
 have come together to discuss our country's cause 
 Americans should rule America; bah I The Locos 
 are gone; we'll fix the trap to take them. Come, 
 cheer up; a little of this will warm up your 
 spirits." And taking out a good sized brandy 
 bottle, he dispensed its contents to all around. "And 
 now," said he, "we'll proceed to business. Tem 
 perance is a good thing, and so is spirits ' of a cold 
 night.' " 
 
 The business before this assembly of individuals, 
 was to read over and discuss the principles of the so- 
 calkd American party, as put forth in their ritual 
 by the Grand Council of Northern fanatics, with 
 the view of attempting the Northern game on Vir 
 ginia soil. The discussion of these principles will be 
 recorded in another chapter. It being necessary to 
 make the reader acquainted previously with the 
 melancholy-looking gentlemen who figure therein. 
 Melancholy not naturally, but from circumstances, 
 as above intimated. All of which vanished as soon 
 as the brandy and water, mixed with the gay humor 
 and volubility of the frisky little gentleman began to 
 operate. He saw at a glance that the depression of 
 his companions arose from a sense of guilt in having 
 met together for a purpose that in their hearts they 
 could but feel should be foreign to a true Virginian's 
 aim. Therefore, it was all important that these silly 
 scruples, as he thought them, should be conquered 
 by a fair first impression ; hence his recourse to his
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 15 
 
 fund of humor and his brandy bottle. "We have 
 already said that this man was a little man ; we have 
 said moreover that he was frisky ; but as there are 
 other small men in the world, the reader would not 
 recognize him. So we must introduce him formally, 
 as Mr. Bob Dobby, familiarly known as little Bobby. 
 Sometimes simply Dobby. True enough he was 
 called Eobert at the baptismal font, when he was 
 very small, after his father, but unfortunately, his 
 parents could not agree as parents should ; so 
 one bright morning the elder Dobby took out for 
 Texas, leaving behind the little Bobby and a pre 
 mature widow. The widow was, as widows some 
 times are, of an unforgiving disposition. She would 
 never be reconciled to the desertion, no, not after 
 the time when the law would consider the husband 
 dead, and allow her to take another in his stead. 
 She " never, no never, would forgive him, it was his 
 business to have lived with her, even if she did worry 
 his life out of him, and what is more," said she "this 
 child shall not be called Eobert, it would be unchris- 
 tian-like to change his name after the good minister 
 sprinkled it into him. I will not change his name, 
 but he shall be called Bob ;" " Bob, my boy, do you 
 hear that ? Come, I will teach you to write your 
 name," and the old lady actually sat down and drew 
 the boy to her side, and taught him to scratch 
 " B-O-B." This early impression thus instilled in the 
 youth's mind by the gushing outpourings of maternal 
 kindness was not effaced by time, and we find him to 
 this day, signing his name Bob Dobby. They, that 
 is Bob and the widow, lived on a small farm in
 
 16 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 Lower Virginia. This farm was left by Dobby, Sr., 
 not out of regard to the welfare of Mrs. Dobby and 
 Dobby, Jr., but as has been shr/wdly guessed, because 
 he could not remove it to Texas, as he carried every 
 thing moveable, even a couple of new laid duck 
 eggs, that he picked up on his way to the stable. 
 
 As a general thing, there is no district of country 
 to be found anywhere in which the inhabitants enjoy 
 better health than in Lower Virginia, except in par 
 ticular localities ; it happened that the farm on which 
 the mother and son lived, was subject annually to 
 that chilling visitation which the malaria from the 
 swamps scatters broadcast over these localities. The 
 ague and fever seized hold of the poor boy, while he 
 was yet very young, and shook him well and tho 
 roughly, almost to the last shake; but, somehow or 
 other, he always came out of the spell just as the 
 neighbors and doctors were about to give him up, a 
 little more drawn in the knees, a little yellower, a 
 little tougher, but not dead. As the world might 
 consider it undignified in a gentleman of his standing 
 at the time we are engaged in reviewing his life, to 
 write his name Bob instead of Eobert, we deem it 
 proper, as a faithful biographer, to explain what might 
 appear affectation or foolishness ; it was wholly his 
 mother's doings, and no fault of his. And as some 
 persons, the ladies particularly, with what justice we 
 will not undertake to say, have more respect for a good 
 sized man than for the dumpy Tom Tit fellows, we 
 have therefore thought proper to state why he grew 
 so much and no more : he was doubtless intended for 
 a man of fine size and proportions ; it was the ague's
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 17 
 
 doings and no fault of his. The public, therefore, 
 should acquit him of all censure as regards his name 
 and size. He obeyed his mother that he was mo 
 rally bound to do; he obeyed the icy hand the foul 
 malaria suspended over his head and this he was 
 naturally bound to do; he obeyed his mother, he 
 obliged nature. Now who can dare utter a censure 
 against his name or size? So, on these two points, 
 Bob Dobby stands acquitted. By virtue of economy, 
 and by the happy quality possessed by but few, that of 
 showing only the gilded side of things to the world, 
 the mother managed to maintain herself and family 
 with surprising respectability, considering the cir 
 cumstances in which her Lord Dobby left her. She 
 wished to give her boy a good education, could and 
 did send him to a good country school, but feared 
 she could never enter him in a college ; she feared, 
 but still she hoped. She had an elder sister, much 
 her elder, who was very well to do in this world's 
 goods, which no Dobby, nor any of his kind, could 
 ever lay hands upon and scatter to the winds, as her 
 sister's had been scattered. The widow would oftimes 
 say to her son, " Now, Bob, if your old Aunt Jemima 
 would only take you up and send you to college, 
 what a kind act it would be in her. She has a plenty 
 and to spare ; she would not miss it at all. But she 
 will not do it. No; she has never loved me as a 
 sister should, since I ran off and married your father. 
 She has never made you a single present, except the 
 pair of little worsted socks, when you were too 
 young to appreciate them, which you did not wear 
 but once. I had put them on you, and held you to 
 
 2*
 
 18 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 a glass, and they made you laugh. You cried to see 
 them again, but your father said 'twas because they 
 scratched your little feet, and he snatched them oft' 
 and threw them behind the fire. Nurse told your 
 Aunt Jemima about it ; she became enraged, and 
 vowed she would never speak to either of us again ; 
 and to this day she has not spoken to me, has not 
 come near me in all my troubles. She says that all 
 her property is to be appropriated to some charitable 
 purpose. But, Bobby, she has never made her will. 
 Like most old maids, she has no idea of her own age, 
 and if she could only pass away when her time comes 
 I would not hasten it, for I want her to repent 
 without that will, I would be heir to all her estate." 
 The old lady died before Bob was too old to go to 
 college. Her papers were examined, and among 
 them was a piece of parchment, on which tlic-sc 
 remarkable words were written: "My will" " Hy 
 last will." "My testament" "The world was once 
 without form and void, says the good Testament; 
 this, my testament, says that this wiH is without 
 form, but it shant be void. I call upon all good 
 sherifis, constables, lawyers, and judges, to see that it 
 is executed. Out of my horror for Eoman Catholics, 
 and out of my abomination for all foreigners, I am 
 led to aid my countrymen. I therefore give and 
 bequeath unto General Scott, on account of the zeal 
 exhibited by him in maintaining the Native Ameri 
 can party, all my estate, both real and personal, to be 
 by him faithfully applied in furthering the great cause 
 of Native Americanism, in whatever manner his judg 
 ment may direct. The General, before he finishes
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 19 
 
 distributing the proceeds of the property to the end 
 herein designed, will please reserve so much as will 
 buy a pair of handsome boots, to be presented by 
 him to my nephew Bobby Dobby, of the State of 
 Virginia ; and I hope he, the said Bobby Dobby, 
 will entertain too kind a remembrance of his old 
 aunt to treat them as his father before him did the 
 little red socks." 
 
 This curious paper was written in the old lady's 
 hand, and evidently intended as her last will and 
 testament, but it was not signed, so that the lawyers 
 told Mrs. Dobby not to be uneasy, that it could not 
 be established, and therefore all the property was 
 hers. The old lady's hope was thus realized, and 
 she was enabled to send her boy, her dear boy, to 
 college. In selecting a college for her son, the 
 mother overlooked the many institutions of learning 
 in her own State and the South, and blinded by that 
 false idea of northern superiority of training the 
 mind, determined to send him to that pure and puri 
 tanical section. For this act, she knew not how 
 much she was to balme ; she thought not of the con 
 sequences it might lead to; she considered not the 
 traits of northern character; she reflected not that 
 rotten and vicious principles in religion, morals and 
 politics, would there be instilled in the youth's mind. 
 Oh no, like too many Virginia parents, her too exces 
 sive fondness for her son led her to err; she wanted 
 him to get a northern sheepskin, it would be worth 
 a dozen from Virginia, why we know not, unless it 
 be on account of the extras there thrown in, for 
 which nothing is charged beyond the ordinary and
 
 20 . LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 legitimate course of college education, such as an 
 occasional essay on free society or the higher law 
 doctrine, a lecture on that code of morals, which 
 makes it right in a Yankee, with humanity all oo/ini! 
 out at his fingers ends, to lay his nasty clutches on a 
 southern slave and steal him from his master, or else 
 a lesson or two in the less intellectual but more prac 
 tical and useful art in feats of Yankee legerdemain, 
 by which small swaps and cute trades are made 
 together with the knowledge which enables the pos 
 sessor thereof to perform all kinds of tricks and short 
 cuts which will bring money into his pocket, and 
 make him a sharp, shrewd, clever chap. 
 
 If Mrs. Dobby was to blame for sending her son 
 to a northern college at her time, parents'are doubly 
 to blame for doing likewise now. The times have 
 not improved there, on the contrary, fanaticism and 
 all the isms are fearfully on the increase parents 
 should remember, that what the heart of the human 
 body is to the body, Virginia is to the Union. Vir 
 ginia is the heart of the Union, and each pulsation 
 of this great heart sends the warm and gushing life's 
 blood to all the extremities of the nation. This 
 heart has never yet throbbed but for the country's 
 good, and proudly it beats beats beats, keeping 
 time harmoniously with the nation's onward march. 
 How important is it then that Virginia, in all essen 
 tials, in tone, character, sentiments, &c., should con 
 tinue as moulded by the master-spirits of republican 
 liberty, such as Washington, Henry, Jefferson, Madi 
 son, &c. And how is this high tone to be preserved ? 
 How is this heart to continue in its vigorous and
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 21 
 
 healthy action ? By educating Virginia's sons at 
 home. Send them not where the febrile symptoms 
 of that feverish mass of mad-caps may be contracted, 
 and thus be transmitted to this great heart of the 
 Union, and its healthy action destroyed. 
 
 Bobby, the youth, was highly delighted with the 
 prospect of a three years' sojourn at a northern col 
 lege, from which he intended to return a head and 
 shoulders above any of his acquaintances who only 
 had a common Virginia education. He stood well 
 in his class, and at the end of his course passed a 
 creditable examination, and then left its walls to bat 
 tle with the world in the great fight for its honors 
 and emoluments. While there was united in his 
 character most of the elements necessary for a suc 
 cessful fight he was nevertheless wanting in the 
 most important, viz., firmness of character; every 
 wind that blew changed his purposes ; his opinions 
 of to-day would hardly be his opinions of to-morrow ; 
 his education was doubtless the cause of this, as he 
 belonged to the firmest of families both sides of the 
 house, and when we take into consideration the place 
 he received his education, it is not at all surprising, 
 that in the spring of 1854, while on a visit to some 
 of his northern friends, that he should be induced to 
 be duly initiated into the mysteries of the secret 
 order of Know Nothings. How long he remained 
 a member, and some of his doings while in fellowship 
 with that foul abomination, rotten as it is, and stink 
 ing of fanaticism and all kinds of unholy and false 
 purposes, will be recorded in these pages.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 CHAPTER IL 
 
 HAVING thus introduced Mr. Dobby to tlie reader, 
 we will next bring some of his companions upon 
 the stage, and first, out of seniority, if not impor 
 tance, we beg to introduce old Captain Swyburg. 
 How he obtained the title of Captain, whether as a 
 commander of a " Cornstalk Company" of " Virginia 
 militia in time of peace," or served his country in 
 bloody wars is not known; though if the matter 
 were worthy of investigation, if the latter, his name 
 might be found on the roll of honor among the far 
 back musty records of the country, to which refer 
 ence is made if any reader feels sufficient interest to 
 conduct the research. One thing is certain, that 
 when any one in his presence would make any 
 inquiry as to the circumstance of the lower ex 
 tremity of his left ear being cropped off, the old 
 fellow would invariably give a knowing wink, then 
 a grunt a genteel, not a swinish grunt then a 
 whe whe whist, as if in imitation of a rifle ball 
 in motion, and this was all the answer he was ever 
 known to return. Many were the surmises as to 
 how it happened. Some said it was the natural 
 terminus of his left ear ; a few said it was doubtless 
 the work of the battle ball ; and the question would 
 be raised and discussed, whether, from the appear 
 ance of the wound, he was facing the enemy, or 
 had turned his course when the ball took effect
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIEGINIA. 23 
 
 In one thing all concurred: it must have been 
 either a front or rear, and not a side shot, for, in 
 that event, something more than the surplus portion 
 of the ear would have been carried away. Others 
 there were that said it was neither natural nor the 
 effect of powder and ball, but declared that it was 
 simply the mark of his parents, who were blessed 
 with such a multitude of responsibilities, that all 
 they could do was to turn them out upon the world, 
 and the crop was adopted as a mark of recognition 
 should they meet with them again. The true secret, 
 however, of the mysterious crop is known to us, 
 and will be revealed in a subsequent page. 
 
 Captain Swyburg, or, as he was sometimes called, 
 Captain Swy, was born, and lived a large portion of 
 his life, in a small country town. Well, everybody 
 knows that there is found in every town, at least 
 one great man, the ruling spirit, the great lion, the 
 king of all the villagers. In their opinion he never 
 opens his mouth but oracles issue therefrom; if 
 foolishness be his utterings, it is called wisdom ; if 
 wrong govern his actions, it is called right ; he is 
 the paragon of wisdom and justice ; he is perfection. 
 In the village in which the Captain lived, it was 
 his happy lot to be that lucky individual. In all 
 matters pertaining to the regulations of the town 
 he was consulted. No improvement, great or small, 
 from the laying of a curb-stone to the building of 
 a church, could be made in the burgh before his 
 opinion was asked and obtained as to the best and 
 most economical plan. All the guardians of the 
 rising generation, the teachers of the schools, had 

 
 24 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 to be examined and endorsed by him before they 
 stood the remotest possibility of procuring the first 
 little urchin for a scholar. If Squire Spangler's 
 bull trespassed upon neighbor Brown's field, the 
 animal was arraigned before him, and if his judg 
 ment was that the animal should be doomed to wear 
 the yoke, one was forthwith fitted to his neck ; or 
 if his judgment was death, it was executed, although 
 the animal was a first-rate oxen, but would have 
 made much better beef had he trespassed longer 
 upon Mr. Brown's field. 
 
 He stood god-father for half the children of the 
 town, the other half were named after him. Was 
 there ever a man proof against such treatment, 
 such deference, such homage ? That spark or 
 principle in human nature, however weak in youth, 
 will, and must inevitably, when subjected to such 
 treatment, grow grow, it is true, little by little 
 till, in time, the fruit will ripen and burst forth 
 into full bloom, odious vanity. So it was that 
 however _ beautifully modesty might have adorned 
 the Captain in his better days of youth, in riper 
 age its last delicate tinge had faded away, and in its 
 place the repelling presence of vanity displayed its 
 brazen face, and made the old man quite a stuck up 
 concern, very highly pleased with his own preten 
 sions, with an air and look which seemed to say, 
 old Solomon in all his glory was a fool to Captain 
 Swyburg. His dictatorial spirit was insufferable, his 
 voice of request had lost its tone of entreaty, and 
 sounded like peremptory command. 
 
 Such was the Captain when the present federal
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 25 
 
 administration came into power. Getting old, and 
 having, as he thought, rendered good service to 
 the party, so he gathered up a package of recom 
 mendations not that he thought he needed them and 
 forthwith proceeded to Washington to have a 
 reckoning with the Chief Magistrate for wages 
 due for party services, in the shape of a good snug 
 office ; with great dismay and astonishment he read 
 intelligence of the failure of his application, and with 
 a rush downward went the mercury of the ther 
 mometer which regulated and showed the variable 
 ness of his vanity, until it reached for once in the 
 space of many years the freezing point ; and he 
 returned home rebuked in spirit, with the lamentable 
 conviction forced upon his mind, that after years of 
 faith in his own importance, he was not such a 
 great man after all. Nor did his mercury begin 
 to rise again until his old companions at home 
 discussed with him the great grievance which had 
 been inflicted upon him, the ingratitude of the 
 Executive, &c., when it soon rushed up to fever 
 heat. Had it not been for this failure of the 
 Captain's, he would never have been found at a 
 late hour anxiously awaiting the arrival of Mr. 
 Bob Dobby, the pioneer in Virginia in the formation 
 of secret political societies. / 
 3
 
 26 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 WITH the foregoing brief outline of Captain 
 Swyburg's character, we must dismiss him for the 
 present, and bring forward a hardly less important 
 personage, who, it will be seen, acted no inconsidera 
 ble part in the times of which this veritable history 
 is a faithful chronicle. This gentleman was the 
 bearer of the slightly grandiloquent name of Jno. 
 James Gustavus Adolphus Fox. He was reputed 
 to be a man of good sense, managed his own affairs 
 with judgment, and was known by all to be a 
 thriving man. It is a little singular that a man of 
 such excellent judgment in all matters pertaining to 
 the ordinary course of business and speculation, 
 should be so completely at fault in his political 
 opinions. 
 
 Mr. Fox was, beyond all manner of dispute, a man 
 of decided business qualifications ; were he to lay a 
 wager on the rise or fall of any particular commodity 
 of merchandise, it might be set down as almost a 
 fixed fact that he would win ; but were he to stake 
 his thousands on an election, he would most certainly 
 lose; any one would be perfectly safe to take up 
 any proposition from him on an election bet, without 
 the least amendment, for he could not help but fix 
 it so that he himself would be loser. 
 
 His father belonged to the old Federal party, and 
 very naturally the young Jno. James Gustavus
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 27 
 
 Adolphus imbibed some very bad ideas and notions. 
 His father many years back, set him to going wrong, 
 and the year 185i finds him still mystified, and in 
 great error, far out of the broad track that Republi 
 cans ought to follow. By whatever name the party 
 that has opposed the great Republican party of the 
 country has been called, he has been invariably a 
 member of it. He has seen the principles, as they 
 are called, of that party, one by one give away, and 
 thousands of his countrymen go down with them, 
 but he would confidently expect them to rise again 
 and, probably, away off yonder, in the distance, after 
 awhile, he would discover something floating pre 
 cariously along. The patched up concern would 
 approach nearer and nearer he would know not 
 what it was at last some one would tell him that 
 it was the new platform his surviving fellow suf 
 ferers in the late downfall had erected. This would 
 be enough for him, he wanted no second invitation ; 
 he stopped not to examine the structure, or the sound 
 ness of the timbers; he inquired not if the thing 
 was constructed for the purpose of sailing in Northern 
 ports or Southern harbors, or whether the Captain 
 and crew were Yankee fillibusters. in search of 
 Southern property, or brave Southern tars on a 
 noble cruize, watching the liberties and guarding 
 the rights guaranteed to all by the constitution ; but 
 at it he would plunge headlong, and never be satisfied 
 until he had planted himself full upon the platform, 
 which he would vow was the very thing he had 
 always wanted. He had been on a good many plat 
 forms in his life, and it may be a little singular that
 
 28 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 
 
 the last is always the best, ^.s was his luck, the 
 old fellow was swamped, with the rest of General 
 Scott's army, in 1852, while endeavoring to force a 
 passage to the White House, situated at Washington. 
 He had nothing now to do but to wait quietly until 
 the survivors should go to work and build another 
 craft to work up. Nothing appeared to revive his 
 spirits till late in the year '54, while casting his eyes 
 far to the Northward, there loomed up something all 
 black and dark, just floating in the misty scenery 
 which midnight shadow cast upon the earth. He 
 was told that this suspicious looking thing was the 
 new platform of the new party. He was told that 
 its workings acted like a charm, that wherever it 
 had unfurled its flag at the North, that the De 
 mocracy was borne down and crushed to earth. 
 'Twas said that its bearings were in a Southernly 
 direction, that in time 'twould crush the Democracy 
 of Virginia. This was just the thing that Mr. Fox 
 wanted, and anxiously he awaited its approach. He 
 was warned by good and true Southrons, that if the 
 foul thing come to the land of Washington, to spurn 
 it, to shun it as he would the viper's bite. He was 
 told by the good and true rnen, that the leaders of 
 the new party were Abolitionists of the rankest odor, 
 and deepest dye, and the preachers of Christian 
 politics, that by them the liberty of conscience was 
 haltered with chains forged in hell itself; that around 
 their council boards proscription stamped her galling 
 heel, and asked to be heard ; that infidelity and all 
 the isms in the council's common caldron boiled; that 
 oppression after oppression, wrought out by the
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 29 
 
 unclean hands of degenerate Americans for the poor 
 and wayworn foreigner, welcomed by our laws to 
 the land of the free, were continually issuing there 
 from. He was told, too, that the very atmosphere 
 itself these false Americans breathed, was rank and 
 rotten with the breath of traitors. But all these fair 
 and honest warnings were not enough to deter Mr. 
 Jno. James Gustavus Adolphus Fox. The remem 
 brance of the good old days of good old Virginia 
 feeling could throw no beckoning light from the past 
 and softly woo him to a worthiness to be called her 
 son. No, no, he preferred the mixed company of the 
 Northern swarm, to sit cheek to cheek with the 
 Fred Douglasses, and mingle with all the rabble of 
 all the isms, to him was greater honor than to com 
 mune in spirit and in sentiment with the choicest 
 specimens of Yirginians bred and born. What 
 though proud Virginia's name be tarnished ! What 
 though her honor gone ! The new party promised 
 to defeat Democracy. This was his dearest hope ; 
 this the beginning and the end of all his patriotism, 
 and hence it was that we found him in company 
 with little Mr. Dobby. 
 
 3*
 
 30 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 
 
 CHAPTEK IV. 
 
 
 
 WE will now dismiss Mr. Fox awhile, and intro 
 duce to the reader Mr. Americus Winks ; he is 
 doubtless a descendant of the old and respectable 
 family of that name in Virginfa. He had no very 
 strong points in his character, except that he was a 
 most inveterate sponger, could do full justice to good 
 dinners and liberal treats provided, always, that 
 some one footed the bill. At pic-nics and parties, 
 pleasure grounds and fox hunts, he invariably par* 
 ticipated, without participating in their getting up. 
 So selfish was he that he lived to himself, never took 
 a better half to share his joys at home ; so selfish 
 was he, that he talked but little ; his thoughts were 
 very precious to him, and he wanted to enjoy them 
 all to himself. In fact, to such a grievous extent had 
 this master passion of his nature grown, that he 
 could not bear to see even animals enjoy themselves. 
 Consequently, if any one had visited his house he 
 would have found a demure old cat long since for 
 gotten the friskness of her kitten-days ; a melancholy, 
 grief-stricken dog, whose countenance said plainly 
 that that once jolly tail of his had given the last wag 
 in token of pleasurable emotions. His fowls were 
 idle, lazy looking fowls, with not energy enough to 
 scratch even the cock of the walk, instead of being 
 gay and gallant, like the generality of his species, 
 was dull and sleepy-looking, and had a most dolo-
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 31 
 
 rous crow ; his cow looked sad and care worn ; his 
 horse the very picture of despair ; his innocent little 
 lambs were never known to skip and play. 
 
 He would not hold in his possession any animal 
 that would ever exhibit any signs of pleasurable 
 feelings, and woe to the unlucky brute that "felt 
 his keeping," his hide would surely be off. Nor did 
 his selfishness end with his domestic and social 
 feelings, but was exhibited even in his opinions on 
 politics and governmental policy, hence Ms great 
 opposition to foreigners. The inner man was not 
 sufficiently burnished over with the soul-exalting 
 sentiment of charity to enable him to appreciate the 
 generous motives, the benevolence that actuated the 
 illustrious framers of the constitution in making this 
 the land of peace and promise to the oppressed of 
 every clime. He looked upon all foreigners, how 
 ever noble, generous, kind and brave, as unworthy 
 intruders on American soil ; whose opinions would, 
 in time, warp the great sentiment of American 
 liberty, who would occupy the gladsome, smiling 
 valleys that belonged to America's sons, but most of 
 all he feared that some of these unwashed sons of 
 Adam would encroach upon his own domains, or by 
 settling near him, by means of sturdy blows and 
 industry, accumulate to their own behoof some few 
 shining dimes, that otherwise might at last find a 
 lodgment in the deep recesses of his own selfish 
 pocket. The tyrant's iron hand, all dripping with 
 the blood of innocence, might be pursuing the unfor 
 tunate inhabitant' of a distant country misery and 
 oppression might meet him at every turn famine,
 
 32 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 gaunt and pale, restless and weak, might stare him 
 in the face, but to this poor man, noble Americas 
 would say, battle where you are with the circum 
 stances destiny has thrown around you. Assassinate 
 the tyrant, struggle with oppression, stem the dark 
 tide of famine, should you meet it bearing 011 its 
 relentless bosom pale corpses to their last long home ; 
 but cast not your eyes to America, her sons are fast 
 increasing, and her pure air of liberty, they alone 
 must breathe. Such, reader, was Mr. Americus 
 Winks, so it is not at all surprising that he should 
 have been among the party assembled, which you 
 read of in the first chapter.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIEGINIA. 33 
 
 CIIAPTEK V. 
 
 AFTEK what has been said about the Mr. Americus 
 Winks, he doubtless feels like retiring from public 
 gaze ; so he may hide his head for a while, and we 
 will proceed to bring forward Mr. Cincinnatus Pate. 
 He was the son of a good old parson, who strove 
 hard to bring the boy up in the way he should go. 
 Many pious lectures, many severe corrections, were 
 entirely lost on the youth. He began early in a wild 
 reckless career, and came well nigh bringing a sad 
 wreck upon the good old man, both in mind and 
 fortune. When in about his twenty-first year, all 
 thought he had about reached the end of his rope ; 
 that extravagance, folly, and dissipation could no 
 further go ; when a most wonderful and mysterious 
 change came over him. He ceased his wild and reck 
 less course, cut himself aloof from all his vicious 
 companions, cast the glittering wine-cup from his 
 lips, and vowed to live a new and upright life. All 
 said, and all were happy, that young Cincinnatus had 
 sown his wild oats, and the pious old parson was 
 seen to smile again ; he even killed the fatted calf, 
 and invited his neighbors and friends to come and 
 rejoice with him over the son that was lost but now 
 is found. The change was happily a permanent one ; 
 he never again fell back into the gulf from which he 
 had been rescued. He lived a sober, honest life, was 
 what the world called a respectable man. Although
 
 3-t LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 some of the evil seed that had taken root, being 
 planted by vicious associates, were cleansed from hi* 
 character, yet the rankness, the luxuriant growth of 
 some were so far advanced towards their full perfec 
 tion, that nothing could eradicate. In a religious 
 point of view, for instance, among sinners, he was 
 the vilest of the vile. He never attended church, 
 believed all professors of religion either visionary 
 fanatics or the most unmitigated hypocrites. Ills too 
 frequent exhibitions of blasphemy and irreverence 
 were shocking to the last degree, even to reckless, 
 irreligious men. Had all the curses which issued from 
 his lips, directed indiscriminately against persons and 
 things, rebounded against this king of profanity, his 
 condition would have been most pitiable. Were wick 
 edness a pleasant theme, we might dwell upon this 
 man's character, and tell of blackness there as dark as 
 Erebus ; but, out of mercy, we forbear, draw the veil 
 down just here, and ask tjie reader to excuse the heart, 
 and lay the blame to corrupt associations. Now does it 
 not appear somewhat extraordinary, a little surpris 
 ing ? does it not mystify, confound, and set our minds 
 to going down into and searching about among the od 
 dities and inconsistencies we find in human nature's 
 workshop, to know that such a man professed to enter 
 tain for that denomination known as Eoman Catholics, 
 a most pious fear and holy horror ? He was not a be 
 liever in the Protestant religion nor any other religion, 
 yet he feared that the Eoman Catholic religion would 
 eventually annihilate the Protestant. We omitted to 
 say that this man, as well as being a great sinner, 
 was likewise a great politician, two things which
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA, 35 
 
 seem to go together quite naturally. Among other 
 discourses that he frequently read from his political 
 text-book, was one in which there was a great 
 deal of prating about patriotism and the consti 
 tution ; but he could find no clause in the federal or 
 State constitution putting these worshippers of the 
 Eoman church under the ban of proscription ; on the 
 contrary, he found the principle that no man should 
 be proscribed on account of his religious opinions, 
 clearly set forth. 
 
 He was a Virginian, yet he disregarded the teach 
 ings of Virginia's great Jefferson on religious tolera 
 tion. He professed to be a historian, yet he set at 
 naught the great lesson which all history teaches, 
 viz.: that to make a denomination of religionists 
 great and powerful, the surest means is to raise the 
 hue and cry of persecution ; to seek to accomplish 
 by force and hardship and proscription, that which 
 the gentle voice of persuasion, the mellow influence 
 of charity, or the potent sway that sound argument 
 bears upon its breath. " Oh no ; use no persuasion, 
 show no charity ; away with arguments ; force down 
 the Catholics, and show no quarter. They are be 
 coming too powerful in our midst ; the religion of 
 our land will be subverted; our liberties, our laws, 
 our country is in danger. Americans ! ! think of the 
 temporal power of the Pope, and shudder." Such 
 expressions frequently fell from the pious lips of Mr. 
 Cincinnatus Pate. 
 
 " Think," said Mr. Pate, "of the temporal power 
 of the Pope, and shudder." Well, reader, think of 
 it as you please, but if it brings one shudder upon
 
 36 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 you, your nerves must surely be very weak, or some 
 thing else that you prize still higher than nerves, 
 still weaker. It is a notorious fact, that this raw 
 head and bloody bones, this bugbear, this monster 
 of wickedness, the poor old Pope, whose grisly mien 
 and destructive power is continually rising up before 
 the imaginations of individuals of Mr. Pate's stripe, 
 possesses very little power over his subjects at home; 
 how much less, then, must be his power away over 
 here across the Atlantic ! The fact is, that the people 
 of the United States are in just as much danger from 
 the power of the chief ruler of the most intelligent 
 race of Baboons that inhabit the earth, as they are 
 from the Pope of Borne. Indeed, were his majesty 
 of the Baboon nation to declare war against us, and 
 land his hairy troops on our shores, they might do 
 some little scratching and biting, and frighten some 
 few women and children, which would be, we dare 
 say, more than the Pope's army could do. "We don't 
 fear the Pope in Virginia, Mr. Pate so you had 
 better get some more popular hobby. Nor do you, 
 you sinner; you only hoped 'twould change the 
 political wind in Virginia, which always blows from 
 the same southeruly direction on election days ; and 
 for this reason you were among Mr. Dobby's party, 
 in the dark room, on the dark night.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 37 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 HAVING now introduced these several worthies, we 
 will return to the meeting spoken of in the first chap 
 ter. It appears that the course of proceeding on this 
 occasion was somewhat irregular, but the northern 
 Know Nothings were extremely desirous of extend 
 ing their principles into Virginia and the South. 
 Therefore, as Mr. Dobby was extensively known at 
 the North, a dispensation was granted him, and he 
 was allowed to test this matter in his State, by 
 sounding such individuals as he might think would 
 be likely to fall into his views, and give in their 
 adhesion to the party, by reading to them the con 
 stitution of the order. Mr. Dobby on receiving this 
 dispensation, immediately returned to his southern 
 home, and on conference with the gentlemen to 
 which the reader has been introduced, found them 
 kindly disposed towards the adoption of his creed, 
 he accordingly fixed upon a time and place for a 
 meeting, on which occasion they would read over the 
 ritual, and discuss it among themselves. They met. 
 at the time and place before stated. 
 
 Mr. Dobby opened business with a speech. " Fel 
 low-citizens," said he, " we have assembled together 
 under no ordinary circumstances; we come together 
 for the purpose of uniting ourselves as a band of 
 brothers, in a cause worthy of the best patriots onr 
 country can boast of; we are the Sons of the Sires of 
 
 4
 
 88 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 '76; we are proud of our country, her laws, her fame, 
 her liberty and her power ; of these her blessings we 
 are jealous, and to guard them must be the dearest 
 object of our lives. Times have changed, and are 
 changing ; but, companions, the greatest event of the 
 changing times, the greatest change of parties, was 
 the recent glorious organization, formed by our true 
 and conservative brethren of the northern States, to 
 which Order I esteem myself most happy to belong, 
 particularly as I find that I have united myself with 
 that Order at a time when it is in my power to ren 
 der some service to. that party, and thereby a service 
 to my country. I have met you here to-night, my 
 brothers, for I can already greet you by that most 
 endearing appellation, for the purpose of explaining 
 to you the objects of this organization, that I may 
 obtain your co-operation. I have selected you from 
 my fellow-citizens of this city, believing that to you 
 I can commit the secrets of the Order, and that you 
 will prove yourselves the most gallant of the Ameri 
 can soldiers in the contest anticipated in our State. 
 It has been decided, and I think wisely, by our 
 northern friends, that here as there, in future politi 
 cal contests, the name of Whig is to be abandonee!, 
 and the more taking name of the Supreme Order of 
 the Star Spangled Banner adopted. This, then, is the 
 prime object of the organization to defeat demo 
 cracy, or more properly, locofocoism. To do this, 
 it was, important that we should adopt certain princi 
 ples, such as would admit of appeal to the prejudices 
 of our native born population and protestants; the 
 most important is foreign immigration to this coun-
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIKGINIA. 39 
 
 try, and the Eoman Catholic question. Many of the 
 members of this Order are conscientiously opposed to 
 foreigners and Catholics having a voice in our govern 
 ment; there are many others though who entertain 
 contrary opinions, who do not wish to interfere with 
 the privileges of foreigners or Catholics, as now en 
 joyed ; but the principles of the Order make it 
 obligatory upon all who join, that whatever may be 
 their private opinions on these two subjects, they 
 must at least feign opposition to both the foreigners 
 and Catholics; this rule is adopted for the good of 
 the cause ; those who act conscientiously, I would 
 remark, are said to make the best Americans ; I would 
 therefore appeal to you all to try and school your 
 rninds in this direction; it is an easy matter for us 
 all to give our feelings any particular direction which 
 our judgment may point out as expedient. The mind 
 is most obedient to our will, our will to our interest ; 
 bring }^burselves to believe then, that it is the inte 
 rest of our party to oppose Catholics and foreigners, 
 and depend upon it, that you will soon be enabled to 
 act conscientiously in the matter. Remember .that 
 we have a subtle, and hitherto invincible enemy to 
 conquer in Virginia; buckle on the bright armor 
 then, that Sam has prepared for all his gallant sol 
 diers, and rest assured the sceptre will pass from the 
 dominant party, and a day of better things will dawn 
 in the old dominion. My friends, in conclusion, let 
 me congratulate you upon meeting me so promptly 
 this night; your fellow-citizens all around, are ere 
 this asleep, while you, whom I may most appropri 
 ately style a band of patriots, have sacrificed the
 
 40 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 pleasures of ease and comfort, and met together in 
 the silent moments of the midnight hour to consult, 
 and devise means for the happiness and prosperity of 
 your beloved land. 
 
 " I will now, gentlemen, read to you the ritual, by 
 laws, &e., of this organization. This is altogether 
 unusual, a regular course of initiation has invariably 
 been adopted; but as my northern friends were so 
 eager to set the ball in motion in our State, and 
 placing entire confidence in my ability to conduct 
 harmless an irregular procedure, they granted me 
 the privilege. I doubt not for an instant; the high 
 honour and integrity of each of you, under the cir 
 cumstances, however, you must pardon the necessity 
 of placing you, and each of you upon that honour. 
 If then, as I read, there be any objectionable feature, 
 you will please state the objection, and we will argue 
 the point. Should either of you, on hearing me to 
 the end, feel that you cannot unite with us in our 
 noble work, with your whole soul, you will be at 
 liberty to retire from among us, with this proviso 
 only, that you will never reveal in any manner any 
 thing you may hear from me this night." To this 
 each assented, and Mr. Dobby proceeded to read the 
 articles, as recorded in the Know Nothing Bible. 
 During the reading of this very delectable specimen 
 of Buntline composition, the most profound silence 
 was maintained. "Brothers," said Mr. Dobby, "you 
 have now heard me to the end; is there aught that 
 does not commend itself to the approval of your 
 judgment?" A unanimous "No," was the only re 
 sponse from that interesting group of interesting
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 41 
 
 gentlemen. Mr. Dobby continuing, "It only remains 
 then, for me to administer the several oaths you have 
 heard read, place yourselves in the posture prescribed 
 for receiving them." This request was complied with, 
 the oaths were administered, and old Capt. Swyburg, 
 Mr. Jno. James Gustavus Adolphus Fox, Mr. Ameri- 
 cus Winks, Mr. Cincinnatus Pate, and several others 
 were declared members of the " Supreme Order of the 
 Star Spangled Banner? 
 
 Mr. Fox makes a few remarks, and the meeting 
 adjourns. " Companions," said Mr. Fox, " how 
 pressingly do we feel the giant weight of gratitude 
 now bearing down upon us, we owe that great 
 and good man Dobby; he is present, but he must 
 excuse my remarks. I am called a wordy man, 
 but words fail to express half I feel towards this 
 great pioneer in the patriotic organization, into the 
 virtuous mysteries of which he has just inducted 
 us. How grand the scheme for the regeneration 
 and conversion of this land from the darkness of 
 democracy to the light and triumph of the progress 
 of the age ! How perfect the system I How thorough 
 and impregnable the organization ! I have been 
 on many platforms in my day. The party to which 
 I have heretofore belonged, may be called the 
 party of platforms. They have been compelled to 
 shift and change their sails to catch the popular 
 breeze, but adverse winds have invariably blown 
 them to that general retreat for all collapsed 
 politicians: I allude to ' Salt River? But, my 
 friends, the ship on which Mr. Dobby has this 
 night entered us, the passage money of which 
 
 4*
 
 42 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 voyage lie received in the spontaneous oaths of 
 willing freemen, will steer clear of the shoals and 
 quicksands of that dirty little river, and land us 
 in fat offices, our Governor in Richmond, our 
 President in Washington. Or, to change the 
 figure, I would compare this great organization 
 to a great national chariot, the wheels of which 
 are all burnished over with the true steel of 
 patriotism, the body is made of the most choice 
 material, selected from that great forest of imper 
 ishable principles bequeathed to us by the immortal 
 fathers of the Republic. This material is all bolted 
 and strongly braced with, what cannot be broken, 
 the willing oaths of Americans. The lanterns 
 brightly shine with the light and beauty of liberty. 
 The great Sam mounts the strong box and takes 
 the reins; he cracks his whip, and it smacks more 
 of mercy than of threat. The steed is the mighty 
 power of popular opinion, restive and panting to be 
 off. My friends, grand and glorious will be Sam's 
 drive over the beautiful hills, and through the 
 plains of Old Virginia. At each halting point, and 
 at every turn, he will take up passengers, and the 
 cry will be, ' still they come.' Salt River is to be 
 crossed, but the experienced and skilful driver, 
 Sam, holds the reins, so fear not, he will cross 
 over on a bridge made of defunct carcasses of 
 Democrats, and on the 24th of May, '55, haul up 
 at Richmond, and all hands of us be treated to 
 the good and fat things from the rich granary of 
 party. Three cheers for Mr. Dobby and our new 
 party !" The three cheers were given. When at
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 43 
 
 this juncture, and greatly to their surprise and 
 confusion, a side door, the existence of which none 
 were aware of, opened, and in walked a spare 
 figure in his night dress, with his piercing eye 
 glancing searchingly at the actors in the scene 
 before him. On the sudden appearance of this 
 mysterious individual, Mr. Dobby arose with all 
 the dignity it was possible for a little man to 
 assume, and demande:!, " Why this untimely 
 intrusion upon their privacy ?" It appears that 
 the room occupied by the party of Dobby was 
 a retired room in the rear of a hotel, where he had 
 been assured by the money-loving landlord that 
 he would be safe from intrusion ; but the mysterious 
 individual arrived late, and all the other rooms 
 being occupied, he had to be conducted to the 
 one adjoining Mr. Bobby's. "I came," said the 
 individual addressed, "to cry shame upon the 
 proceedings which circumstances have ordained 
 that should be revealed to me this night. I was 
 quietly taking my rest, when footsteps arrested 
 my attention in this room; after a while voices 
 were heard; my curiosity was aroused my first 
 surmise was, that it was a party of sportsmen, 
 who had assembled for their nightly calling. 
 But I was soon undeceived, and ascertained from 
 all which I could but hear, that you had assembled 
 for the purpose of introducing in our beloved State 
 that foul and infamous thing hatched by Northern 
 abolitionists for their own selfish and damnable 
 purposes. Can a true man sleep, while treason 
 is being plotted in his very hearing? Ask me
 
 4i LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 not then why I appear in your midst ; my appear 
 ance is no intrusion. I come to warn you of the 
 danger you would bring upon yourselves and your 
 country. Listen to a word of advice from one 
 who would do you no harm. Stop where you 
 begin, and pursue this matter no further. My 
 purpose in the coming State contest is to cry death 
 and destruction to the allied army of "VVhigs and 
 the discontented and captious of all parties, should 
 they show the signs of increasing strength. What 
 I have this night heard will aid me in the work, 
 shall I find it necessary to engage in it. I heard 
 the last harangue; it was that which brought me 
 into your presence. You may be honest in your 
 opinions, but surely you are misguided. You know 
 not what you would do. You consider not the 
 consequences. Allow me to take up the last com 
 parison of the gentleman who just addressed you, 
 and substitute more fitting similies. He compared 
 the organization commonly called Know Nothings, 
 to a great national chariot. On the contrary, the 
 thing is, from its very birth and nature, sectional 
 and must forever so continue. It had its origin 
 and structure at a place where the restless, nervous, 
 spasmodic character of the people is continually 
 giving rise to ridiculous and absurd notions and 
 t.octrines, and all classed under the general head of 
 progress and improvement of the age ; and this 
 thing at the North is doubtless intended as a piece 
 of intricate machinery, by. which they expect to 
 make encroachments upon the South. Can it be 
 possible that a section that is continually villifying,
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX TIRGIXIA. 45 
 
 abusing, and setting at nought, and trespassing 
 upon Southren rights, will constitute itself the 
 peculiar guardian of Southern interests, and con 
 struct political platforms and organizations that 
 protect and maintain those rights and interests 
 according to the Southern idea of justice. The 
 gentleman's great national chariot will, beyond the 
 possibility of a doubt, prove to be a yankee chariot 
 simply, and constructed with the view and hope of 
 crushing us at the South; it is sectional, and must 
 so continue. The wheels, he said, were burnished 
 over with the true steel of patriotism; he could 
 more appropriately have said, their tires were 
 moulded or forged in the hot furnace of abolition 
 traitors. The body, he said, was made of material 
 selected from the great forest of imperishable prin 
 ciples bequeathed to us by the fathers, of the 
 Eepublic ; he could with more propriety have said 
 that it was made of a rotten medley of Yankee 
 notions, and would soon fall to pieces, however 
 violent be the oaths extracted in its support. The 
 lanterns, he said, brightly shone with the light and 
 beauty of liberty ; he could with more truth have 
 saidy they dimly shine, the better to aid in the 
 work of persecution. The great Sam mounts the 
 strong box, and takes the reins : he should have 
 said, the insignificant little Sam is carefully set 
 upon the weak box, and timidly takes hold of the 
 lines. He cracks his whip, and it smacks more 
 of mercy than of threat; he could have said, he 
 cracks his whip, and it smacks more of proscription 
 and persecution than it does of mercy. The steed,
 
 46 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 said he, was the mighty power of public opinion. 
 Why did he not say that the motive power of the 
 Know Nothing car was the spoils of office glittering 
 in the future; that the followers were a pack of 
 hungry asses after oats? The delightful drive over 
 Virginia, which he spoke of, will doubtless prove 
 to be a grand pleasure excursion of the invincible 
 Democracy. And the bridge over Salt Eiver, 
 which he constructed of dead Democrats, will 
 surely prove to be a bridge of Know Nothings, 
 over which the Democracy will once more proudly 
 march. Remember my prediction." Having thus 
 spoken, he retired at the door through which he 
 entered, leaving the gentlemen at no little loss 
 to guess who, or what he was. It was then agreed 
 among the party that on the same night of the 
 next week they would hold another meeting, when 
 they would form plans for conducting their 
 operations in Virginia.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 47 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Ox the expiration of the week, they met again at 
 the appointed hour and place. Old Captain Swyburg 
 came prepared with screws and bolts, and before the 
 council opened, he secured the door at which the 
 intruder of the previous meeting had entered. The 
 most diligent inquiry of each of the gentlemen had 
 failed to procure any satisfactory information as to 
 who the stranger was. The landlord could give no 
 information whatever, as to where he came from or 
 whither going; all that he knew was, that he was a 
 traveler, that he came to the city by a certain mail 
 route, and that he only spent the night in his house, 
 and left early in the morning. This information, 
 indefinite as it was, gave some little comfort to the 
 gentlemen. They greatly feared that he would remain 
 in their midst, and give them no little trouble; so 
 they concluded that he was only a traveler, and by 
 that time far out of their way. In all probability, he 
 was a member of the Order himself; he might have 
 been a wag of a fellow, fond of a, joke and they 
 doubted not that he had enjoyed the one he had prac 
 tised upon them exceedingly. This was what Mr. 
 Dobby and his companions hoped, and the hope was 
 doubtless father to the conclusion. 
 
 They now form plans for conducting the campaign 
 in the State. Mr. Americus Winks, after a week's 
 reflection, and having read the most highly- wrought
 
 48 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 accounts of overwhelming triumphs at the North, 
 became amazingly enthusiastic. So to him and his 
 enthusiasm the Order was indebted, on that occasion, 
 for one of the most ripping, ranting, thundering, 
 storming, blasting speeches that ever fell from the lips 
 of man. " He had belonged all his life to the Demo 
 cratic party, therefore" said " he could tell of all their 
 rascality and ingratitude." "When he used the word 
 ingratitude, he doubtless thought of the failure of his 
 application for a certain office. But we cannot follow 
 him through his speech. He said, in conclusion, 
 " that having met together for taking some initiative 
 steps towards organization for the canvass, he begged 
 to introduce a matter of prime consideration to the 
 welfare and success of the Order. It would be admit 
 ted by all that it would be impossible to accomplish 
 anything without a press. He therefore proposed that 
 a committee be appointed to wait upon that estimable 
 and talented editor, Mr. Peter Willing Turner, who, 
 if approached cautiously and delicately, with just 
 enough soft sawder to show him that it would be to 
 his interest to strike his old Whig flag, and raise in 
 its stead the true American banner, that Mr. Turner 
 would doubtless give in his adhesion to our faith, and 
 his talents, and his press, for the propagation of the 
 immutable principles of our party. If, however, the 
 committee fail in their mission to Mr. Turner, that we 
 pledge ourselves in sufficient amount to procure all 
 proper materials, and establish an organ, to be con 
 ducted by whichever one of us whose talents may 
 best qualify him for the case." It may be remarked 
 that Mr. Winks was out of business, and who knows
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM ~IN VIRGINIA. 49 
 
 but that lie thought that by this means he might find 
 himself established at the very head water of influ 
 ence, with a goose-quill behind his ear. We do not 
 make the charge, but simply ask, might he not, by 
 the proposition, render himself liable to the charge of 
 self-interest ? This proposition was warmly seconded 
 by all, so Captain Swyburg and Mr. Americus Winks 
 were appointed the committee to wait upon Mr. Peter 
 Willing Turner, and report to the next meeting. Mr. 
 Dobby next begged to offer a few rules of action. 
 First, he considered it highly important, and should 
 be regarded in Virginia a fundamental principle, that 
 the members of the party should strive, by all possi 
 ble means, to make it appear that it was in no man 
 ner or form a Whig move that, if there was a 
 difference, the number preponderated in favor of the 
 Democrats. If we ever allow it to leak out, by any 
 manner or means, that Whigs are at the bottom of the 
 movement in Virginia, and my word for it, a most 
 inglorious defeat will be our portion. Let us there 
 fore pledge ourselves to caution on this point, and 
 whenever we find a Democrat among us, we should 
 treat him with the most distinguished consideration. 
 We must be sure of the politics of men before they 
 can join us, and guide our conduct accordingly. We 
 must candidly acknowledge that the Whig party is 
 dead, and contend that the Democratic party is as 
 good as dead, that the great American party is a union 
 of the good and true men of both, that the principles 
 of both the old parties were to be run through the 
 American sifter, and, if aught of good is discovered 
 in either, that it be retained and incorporated in the 
 
 5
 
 50 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 new creed, otherwise be cast away." Mr. Bobby fur 
 ther stated, "that if they succeeded in getting under 
 way with the newspaper, it would be highly important 
 to have the basis, principles or platform of the party 
 to continue in the issues of that paper, as standing 
 matter. To the principles of that platform no man 
 can object, and though they differed materially from 
 the true principles of the party, yet they could be 
 used with powerful effect in bringing converts into 
 the Order. That while there was great difference 
 actually, yet, to the great mass of individuals who 
 would come into the Order, the discrepancy would 
 not appear. This discrepancy, and the motive, would 
 at once be suggested to intelligent minds, who, for the 
 sake of union and success, would readily acquiesce in 
 the pious deception; while to the common rabble, who 
 arc always led by the intelligent few, it was a matter 
 of very little moment whether the scheme for catching 
 votes was ever revealed." 
 
 Both of Mr. Dobby's propositions met with the 
 warm approval of the meeting, and were adopted. 
 Mr. Dobby then called upon old Brother Swyburg to 
 throw out any suggestions that would be of service 
 to the party. Captain S. began by saying " that he 
 was the most modest of men, did not know that any 
 suggestions of his would avail aught to the party, 
 yet as a member, a very humble member, he did not 
 feel at liberty to refuse his mite. It was well known," 
 he said, " that he had always been a member of the 
 old Democratic party, that he had acted zealously 
 with that party ; but now, for certain reasons best 
 known to himself, he felt called upon, from a sense
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 51 
 
 of self-respect, to repudiate that party and its princi 
 ples. That so captivating to his mind were the 
 principles of the new party, that he found himself 
 already willing to put his shoulder to the wheel, 
 and transfer his zeal from Locofocoism to the great 
 American party. What he had to suggest to his 
 friends was, the propriety of carrying out, in the con 
 test, the lesson taught in the adage about ' fighting 
 the devil with fire.' Democratic success in Yirginia, 
 he perfectly well knew, had resulted from the system 
 of bragging and exaggeration (I use, said he, this 
 word in the place of one far more appropriate) that 
 party has invariably adopted and followed. 
 
 They have always managed to cower and intimi 
 date the Old Whig party; which, by the day of 
 election, would be powerless and good for nothing. 
 But let us not, of the new party, be out-done at this 
 game, let us adopt their own mode of warfare, and 
 beat them with weapons of their own choosing. In 
 contending with the Democracy, be not over scrupu 
 lous of speeches, say what you please; and the 
 bigger, the grander you talk, the better. In talking 
 with Democrats, we should appear perfectly familiar 
 with political affairs and movements in different 
 sections, and receive an occasional letter from friends 
 in different counties, giving us the most flattering 
 accounts of undoubted triumphs ; and if it be put to 
 the test, we should fear not, apparently, to back our 
 judgment with our money. We must not fail to 
 make it appear, that the best men, the old leaders of 
 the Locofoco party, have, in various quarters of the 
 state, bolted the party ticket, and united under the
 
 52 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 great American Banner ; that a panic has seized the 
 Democratic forces, and that they are uniting with us 
 by thousands. Let our lungs be ever ready, and pre 
 pared to cry most loudly, hurrah ! for Sam ; particu 
 larly on public days, our forces must be instructed 
 to applaud vehemently our orators. We must be up 
 and doing. Sam's Boys must be every where, at all 
 times and all places, industriously pressing on the 
 American column. The greater the noise we make, 
 the more we brag and boast, the more we bet, the 
 surer our chances for success. If we take the enemy 
 in Virginia, mark my words, it must be by stratagem. 
 In an open field the old Democratic forces are too well 
 drilled, have been in too many engagements, to be 
 defeated by such new recruits, as we can draw around 
 us. If then we wish or expect success, stratagem 
 must be our study; and more than this, we must 
 select some safe place in which to deposit our 
 consciences, and then take them to our keeping 
 again, after the election. If the end justifies the 
 means, if it be well to do evil, that good may come, 
 then are we blameless in the course we must pursue 
 in this canvass. For my part, I am ready for the 
 consequences, and will fight for Sam under the 
 scheme I have laid down, whatever they may be. 
 Not a dissenting voice was heard against Captain S's 
 suggestions. Mr. Cincinnatus Pate was next called 
 out to contribute his quota towards the formation of 
 their plans. This gentleman remarked, " that the 
 Captain's suggestions had superseded the necessity 
 of his offering any thing for the consideration of the 
 meeting, inasmuch as the substance of what he had
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SA1I IN VIRGINIA. 53 
 
 intended saying, had been so well said by Captain 
 Swyburg. There was one subject, however, whicli 
 had been omitted by others, which he thought called 
 for the very earnest attention of the order, and that 
 was the Catholic and foreign question. The recruits 
 to this party, for the most part, were to come from 
 the ignorant and unlearned of the population. This 
 population knew very little about Catholics, or foreign 
 immigration; therefore, with the proper manage 
 ment, the American party could reap a rich harvest 
 from this field. By depicting dreadful horrors, per 
 petrated by Roman Catholics, it would be an easy 
 matter to frighten the ignorant and unsuspecting, 
 from voting with that party which tolerated that 
 religion, and by administering judicious doses, and 
 exciting the prejudices of our native laboring classes, 
 mechanics, &c., and harping upon the competition of 
 foreign labor, brought into their midst, we can easily 
 array the whole sentiment of this class in our favor. 
 Our chances, my friends, for a most perfect triumph, 
 are as bright as we could desire them; the odds at 
 this stage of the game are most decidedly in our 
 favor. We have but to play the game judiciously, 
 but to strike the chord which touches the interest of 
 the common rabble, or what are called the lower 
 classes, and the whole popular mass will soon be 
 vibrating in unison with the great American senti 
 ment. The field we have to work upon is as broad 
 as our imaginative faculties can reach ; for when we 
 have no case in point, illustrative of Catholic charac 
 ter, we can give full scope to our inventive genius, 
 and the bloodier the tragedies, our fancies paint, the
 
 54 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 surer will be the conviction they will carry to the 
 minds of the unlettered and unlearned. From the 
 intelligent, or what is called the refined portion of our 
 population, we cannot hope or expect many acquisi 
 tions to our ranks. Such, from this class, as are 
 disposed to come among us, will do so without our 
 persuasion or coaxing. Let us then direct our 
 attention to the poor and the ignorant, and from 
 these we will soon count our thousands. Capt. Swy- 
 burg's remarks in reference to the braggadocio, if 
 you please to call it, meets with my hearty approval, 
 and I hope will be followed. Tell as many tales as 
 we please on the rascally old pope and his corrupt 
 priests, and the old fellow nor his servants, will ever 
 hear of it, nor will there be many in Virginia to 
 deny our charges. And upon the nasty foreigners, 
 let us put the opprobium of all our tongues, as no 
 party in Virginia will dare to maintain their cause 
 in opposition to the native sentiment of the country, 
 now, after a lapse of many years, aroused from its 
 sleep to a sense of danger, bearing like a mighty 
 tornado all before it from north to south. The power 
 of this mighty sentiment will silence the batteries of 
 the opposition. They would not risk the storm of 
 indignation, the odium of outraged public sentiment, 
 and venture to patronize the alien born, and contend 
 for a continuanc3 of his rights, now enjoyed. Let us 
 raise then the war-cry against Catholics and against 
 foreigners, and be mindful that that war-cry ring 
 loudest in the ears of ignorance. These suggestions 
 I deemed most important for our consideration. I 
 have none others to offer, as Mr. Fox will follow me;
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 55 
 
 to whose better sense and judgment in aril matters 
 pertaining to this organization, I am most willing to 
 defer. 
 
 Mr. Fox rose, and said, "that every sentiment 
 that had been uttered commended itself to his judg 
 ment. The most important general rules, for the ' 
 conduct of members during the canvass, had already 
 been adopted. There were other matters, however, 
 that suggested themselves to his mind, which he 
 hoped would meet with the favor of all present. 
 Much good, he thought, could be accomplished by 
 the appointment of state canvassers, whose duty it 
 should be to thoroughly canvass every section and 
 county of the commonwealth ; declare the principles 
 of the order, form councils, and initiate candidates 
 into the order. Therefore, at the earliest practicable 
 moment, as soon as this council shall embrace enough 
 members, to enable us to make a judicious selection 
 of energetic men for the work, that it be done. 
 These men, of course, will have to receive some 
 remuneration for their services, and instead of a 
 fixed salary, I suggest that so much per head for 
 initiates, be allowed. This method will stimulate 
 them to vigorous action and industry." The question 
 was taken, and decided that the rate per head be 
 fixed at thirty-three and one-third cents, and all sums 
 paid for liquor treats, where the treats proved suc 
 cessful,, to be refunded. It, however, elicited some 
 debate. Mr. Winks contending, " that it was purely 
 a patriotic move, that the reward of patriots was 
 their country's love. He objected to any price b^ing 
 paid, if any, thirty-three and one-third cents wa>' too
 
 56 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 much, that twelve and one-half would be ample pay, 
 and the employees would make money at that rate. 
 Such would be the unprecedented rush for admission 
 into the order, wherever they went." The gentleman, 
 however, was out voted, and had reluctantly to 
 acquiesce. 
 
 This matter being disposed of, Mr. Fox stated 
 " that he had but one other proposition to submit, 
 and that was, that a stanJing committee should be 
 appointed, whose duty it should be to write letters 
 regularly each week, and furnish them to their organ 
 for publication. Said letters purporting to come 
 from various sections of the State, and giving the 
 most nattering and highly wrought pictures of the 
 prospects of the party. Even from the mountain 
 villages and valleys of Eockingham and Shenan- 
 doah; they must give frequent accounts of Sam's 
 glorious march towards final triumph, and strike 
 terror in the ranks of the heretofore self-styled un- 
 terrified." This proposition received the warm 
 approbation of all present. " "We have now," pro 
 ceeded Mr. Fox, "laid down all the general rules 
 for the conduct of the ensuing campaign. Other 
 matters will doubtless be suggested to our minds as 
 we press on in the glorious work we have espoused, 
 which can be acted upon as occasion may call for. 
 Let me, in conclusion, urge you to diligence in the 
 work before you ; let each and all study the interest 
 of the party, and strive by all possible means to 
 prove ourselves worthy of the work of reformation 
 we have begun under such flattering and favorable 
 auspices." "If there is nothing more before us, I
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 57 
 
 move that we ,now adjourn till the next regular 
 meeting of this council." This motion prevailed, 
 and the council adjourned. They were about re 
 tiring, when the panel in the door, which had been 
 secured with bolts and screws, was lowered, and the 
 countenance of the unknown, who had before in- 
 terupted them, appeared through the aperture thus 
 created, "Gentlemen," said he, " I have warned you 
 once, listen to me again." Such was the astonish 
 ment created by that unexpected voice, that each 
 man, without the utterance of a word, took his seat. 
 They wished to rebel against the intruder ; but such 
 was the tone of command expressed in the voice 
 and mien of the speaker, that they submitted meekly 
 against their will. " I warned you once, listen to 
 me again ; retire not from this midnight hall, till 
 you have heard me for the second time. I speak to 
 you as a Virginian speaking to Virginians, and ask 
 you, should her sons be engaged in such work as 
 this ? Do you not know, though you profess to Tcnoio 
 nothing, that you. are but aiding and abetting the 
 false-hearted and vicious exciters of strife and com 
 motion at the North, in their unchristian, unhallowed, 
 lawless, mean, selfish crusade against southern pro 
 perty, southern honor, southern prosperity? Each 
 proselyte that comes and kneels at your new political 
 altar, and there takes the horrid oaths that you do 
 there administer, adds but another link to the chain, 
 which they of the North hope to prepare, hope to 
 fetter you, hope to fetter me, and call it southern 
 subjugation for human freedom. On this point I 
 ask you to pause, to reflect, to read, and see what
 
 58 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 Know Nothingism has done at the North. The true 
 men it has crushed. The negro-loving and negrofied 
 imbeciles, it has elevated to posts of honor and dis 
 tinction. Instead of sympathising with these men, 
 you should array yourselves under the broad and 
 glory-bespangled canopy of southern honor, and 
 standing there, you should be ready to give a 
 cheerful beckoning to the hordes of mean and mis 
 erable miscreants at the North, should they but dare 
 to touch the faintest star that decorates Virginia's 
 crown of honor, and cry to your comrades, On ! war 
 to the knife I 
 
 " One of your speakers has this night indulged 
 very vehemently in his prescious anthemas against 
 the much abused foreigners. He very triumphantly 
 declared that the Native American feeling, now 
 arousing after the sleep of years, would silence the 
 batteries of the opposition, meaning the Democratic 
 party. That they would not risk the storm of in 
 dignation, the odium of outraged public sentiment, 
 and venture to patronize the alien born, and contend 
 for a continuation of his rights as now enjoyed. 
 Your applause that greeted the utterance of the 
 sentiment, is significant of your sympathy with him. 
 But let me say to you, that you are vastly mistaken. 
 There is, thank God! a party in Virginia, whose 
 batteries cannot be silenced, when right and justice 
 demand that it should speak. It invariably puts its 
 heel upon, and crushes to earth, all new fangled and 
 ill-shaped political monsters that rise before it. If 
 it swears at all, it is by the spirit of the immortal 
 Jefferson, and not by so hollow a ghost as your clup-
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 59 
 
 trap ' Sam.' And my word for it, this party, the 
 true Democracy of Old Virginia, will declare and 
 maintain, that foreigners shall be protected in their 
 rights. This party will surely risk the mighty 
 storm of indignation, and instead of being blasted 
 by its thunders, a nation's plaudit will greet its 
 triumph. 
 
 "The spirit and nature of our laws invite immi 
 gration to this country ; 'tis the Democracy's pride 
 and pleasure to sustain these laws inviolate, by all 
 honorable means, and will protect our citizens, both 
 native and naturalized. All your preaching and 
 prating about the elevation and election of foreigners 
 to office, is, to say the least, both idle and silly, as 
 reason suggests and experience teaches that the 
 natural prejudice of the native against the alien 
 born, supercedes the necessity of placing the latter 
 under any express ban in this regard. Just here the 
 Democracy desire to leave the foreign question ; 
 feeling secure in the strength of the Republican 
 principles as tested in this country, they have no 
 fears as to the perpetuity of these principles from 
 any baneful influence that can now, or can ever be 
 exercised on these shores by the influx of natives of 
 other climes. By bald and bare effrontery, by bold 
 impudence, you have assumed the name of Ameri 
 can party, and arrogate to yourselves to be the 
 peculiar defenders of American interests; when, in 
 truth, there is not a solitary American principle to 
 be discovered in your doctrines and teachings. 'Tis 
 not an American sentiment that instigates you to 
 despise and condemn, to turn away and shut out the
 
 60 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 fugitive to the land of hope, whose rich fields are 
 ample enough for the support of him and his. 'Tis 
 not an American sentiment, that prompts you to 
 declare in practice, if not in words, that a man shall 
 not serve his God according to the teachings of his 
 own conscience. 'Tis not an American practice, 
 among the honorable of Americans, to skulk in 
 darkness, and with the boldness that concealment 
 gives to sin, plot your dark designs, and weave your 
 political net, with which to catch the unwary and 
 unthinking, and compel them unwittingly to oaths 
 against their country's peace and good. This, sirs, 
 I charge against you. This, sirs, the voice of Vir 
 ginia will charge against you, when next her voice 
 is heard, and that voice will doom your Order to an 
 early end. Leave this work to those who are Vir 
 ginia's enemies; it does not become her sons to 
 temper the steel intended for her destruction. I 
 have no more to say. It may be due to myself, 
 however, to say, that I am no eaves-dropper; it is 
 only a singular coincidence by which I have been 
 made cognizant of your designs on two successive 
 meetings of your council. I do not purposely come 
 hither to disturb your deliberations. It appears that 
 this room was once a lodge-room of a section of 
 Sons of Temperance, my room was their ante-room, 
 and the panel I have just lowered was constructed 
 for their convenience. I am in this house just as 
 any other transient boarder, and not, as I have said, 
 from any special design to disturb you. 'Twas duty 
 that caused me to address you a second time."
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 61 
 
 CHAPTER Vin. 
 
 IT appears from what is recorded in the last chap 
 ter, that this council were in high spirits, quite well 
 pleased with the prospects before it, and sanguine of 
 success in the ensuing campaign. It was made the 
 duty of each one, during the week following, to busy 
 himself the most industriously in beating up recruits 
 to be proposed as initiates at the next meeting. 
 'Twas for this purpose that, on the next morning, the 
 fleshy legs of old Captain Swyburg very actively per 
 formed their part in carrying the ponderous body, at 
 the upper extremity of which nature had attached 
 the broad ruddy-brown face, with conceited and con 
 sequential expression. The acquaintances who met 
 that face in the street, remarked that its expression 
 was somewhat mellowed. It wore a more courteous 
 expression, and consequence and deference seemed 
 strangely blended together, which very plainly said, 
 true, sir, I am your superior, but never mind that. 
 The public had no idea that the Captain was elec 
 tioneering, and hence the astonishment occasioned by 
 his change of manners. 
 
 On the morning to' which allusion is here made, 
 Captain Swyburg was on his way to a certain cross 
 ing, the appointed place of meeting between himself 
 and Mr. Winks, the council's committee of consul 
 tation with Mr. Peter Willing Turner. The Captain 
 reached the place first. When, it is a fact worthy of 
 
 6
 
 62 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 
 
 record, that he made at least one dozen condescend 
 ing bows to passers by. After awhile Mr. Winks 
 also made his appearance at the place of appointment, 
 and these two gentlemen at once repaired to the 
 sanctum of Mr. Editor Turner. Into the presence of 
 the Editor, boldly strutted the pompous Captain, 
 followed by his friend Winks. Mr. Turner advanc 
 ing, received them courteously. Conversation took 
 a general turn : and the two gentlemen were at a 
 great loss, how to approach him upon the subject of 
 their mission ; at length minor subjects were dropped, 
 and they got upon the all-absorbing theme of politics; 
 when the shy old Captain began very adroitly to 
 throw out feelers, as initiatory to the object of his 
 call. Mr. Turner knew that Captain Swyburg had 
 belonged all his life to the Democratic party. Many 
 were the discussions they had had. Great, then, was 
 Mr. Turner's astonishment, when on uttering some 
 censure against a measure of the Democratic party, 
 and to the Captain's denominating it your party, to 
 receive the following reply: " Sir," said he, " I sym 
 pathize with you, in every sentiment you havja 
 uttered. Sir, I am, I beg to say, no longer a mem 
 ber of that party, and for ever repudiate its men and 
 its measures. 
 
 "I congratulate you most heartily, my old friend," 
 said Mr. Turner. " May I not hope that you will 
 henceforth, be found fighting in our ranks, the ranks 
 of the good old Whig party." 
 
 "Excuse me, Sir," said the Captain, " but to use a 
 homely expression, would not that be swapping the 
 devil for a witch. No, I can never join the Whig
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 63 
 
 party ; true, some of its principles I do not object to, 
 yet experience has shown that its principles can never 
 gain and maintain that ascendancy over the popular 
 mind of this country, that a great political party 
 should command. It has been thoroughly tested, 
 had its day, and is proven to be totally ineffectual to 
 check the onward progress of the dangerous Demo 
 cratic party. Whatever can cope effectually with 
 that party, should be the rallying point of all true 
 Americans. In my opinion, the party is now spring 
 ing up, which will prove a successful rival with the 
 old Democratic party, in which, if I mistake not, the 
 Whig party will soon be merged. With this party, 
 my friend here present and myself have already 
 united ourselves ; and the Council to which we have 
 the honor to belong, feeling the absolute necessity of 
 a public press, and duly appreciating your talents 
 and influence in the state, commissioned ITS, my 
 friend Winks and myself, to call upon you, and 
 solicit your co-operation in this behalf. We are 
 directed to say to you, that the Council simply desires 
 you to become an initiate of the Order, to strike your 
 old Whig flag, and raise the true American Banner 
 in its place. To save you harmless from any pecu 
 niary loss, from the change, the Council will enter 
 into bonds, guaranteeing to you an amount, equal to 
 the present proceeds of your establishment. This, 
 sir, is purely confidential, and if my proposition is 
 rejected, we will consider you in honor bound, to 
 reveal nothing that has been said to you. Mr. Turner 
 at once caught the cue, and replied, "that a man 
 should in all cases, act from principle alone, and not
 
 64 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM TN VIRGINIA. 
 
 be influenced in his actions by motives of self-inte 
 rest. I will therefore say to you that I have already 
 had serious thoughts of joining the Order to winch 
 you belong. Now that this charge may never be 
 laid to my door, that the possibility of suspicion may 
 not even attach to me, I would say to you, that it 
 would look better, for you to report to the Council 
 that you had failed to have an interview with me ; 
 then you may depend upon it, that I will solicit at 
 the next subsequent meeting to that which you will 
 report, admission into the Order. This, gentlemen, 
 is between us three, and I hope you will never 
 breathe a word of it. I have found in my dealings 
 with mankind, that it is the part of wisdom, to act 
 always with due circumspection and caution. Were 
 it to appear that I acted in this matter from the soli 
 citation of a committee from the Council pledging to 
 me no damage from the change to be made in the 
 politics of my Journal, it might at some day be said, 
 that I acted not from honest convictions and princi 
 ple, but from selfish motives; to avoid this, my 
 answer to you has been shaped." % 
 
 Mr. Winks, who up to this time had remained a 
 silent listener to the conversation, now combated the 
 objections of Mr. Turner, by saying " that no time 
 was to be lost; that if a paper was to be established, 
 the sooner the better; that there was really nothing 
 in the objection stated, as all done in and by the 
 Council was enveloped in the impenetrable folds of 
 secresy. and it would never be known that he had 
 been in this wise solicited ; that no one of the Council 
 would ever impugn his motives; for in truth we if
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 65 
 
 the Council thought we detected in late editorial 
 articles in your journal, a sort of leaning towards 
 our principles, and regarded you as ready to espouse 
 the cause on the first opportunity : and for this pur 
 pose my friend and myself were commissioned to 
 hold this conference with you. We can therefore 
 take no denial from you ; we cannot consent to lose 
 the honor of being the humble instruments of bring 
 ing such an acquisition into the Order as we know 
 you would be." 
 
 Mr. Turner gracefully acknowledged the compli 
 ment, and said that he preferred the course he had 
 stated, but was not proof against such zealous impor 
 tunity ; he would therefore yield to their wishes, and 
 be proposed to the next meeting of the Council. 
 
 " Sir," said the Captain, " it is a wise determination. 
 You will never rue the day, sir, you have made 
 this resolve the best, I dare say the very best 
 resolve you have made in the whole course of your 
 useful life. The Order, sir, will esteem you as a 
 prize, the best fish of the season, rescued from the 
 muddy pool of political error, and baptized in the 
 pure waters of Americanism. Your talents, sir, will 
 no longer be thrown away, but be used in a manner 
 well befitting a patriot's efforts for his country's good. 
 We, who have heretofore been separated in opinion, 
 as far as the poles asunder, strange to say, will soon 
 stand upon the same plank, meet and commune 
 together at the same council-board. Sir, you will be 
 
 proposed to the next meeting. Meet at Street, 
 
 No. , Friday next, in the time of night. Here is 
 my hand till we meet again." And thus terminated 
 
 6*
 
 66 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 the interview of the Council's committe with Mr. 
 Turner. 
 
 Elated at their success in bringing Mr. Turner into 
 their midnight orgies, the two gentlemen, on reach 
 ing the street, held a short parley, and determined to 
 spend the remainder of the day in looking out for 
 dupes. They met with good success, and by night 
 had the promise of seven more subjects for initiation. 
 Of this number there was one who, as he shall figure 
 somewhat conspicuously in these pages, calls for 
 rather more notice than bare mention. This gentle 
 man's name was Uriah Hawks, at least this was the 
 name he brought with him from his land of nativity, 
 which was somewhere in the vicinity of the Green 
 Mountains of Vermont. Very little is known in this 
 region of his early life ; in fact nothing, except what 
 he tells of himself. He says in his early days he was 
 not unused to hardship. The first he knows of him 
 self, was his escape from a workhouse, or some chari 
 table institution for the poor, in that land of philan 
 thropy, and then, as the saying goes, began to "shift 
 and scuffle for himself." He did this after the genu 
 ine Yankee fashion, and became quite an adept in the 
 art of trading, swapping, &c., and in the catch-penny 
 small business generally. Having by his twenty-first 
 year accumulated a wandering Yankee's capital, he 
 concluded, like many of his race, to seek an ample 
 field for the display of his genius, and forthwith 
 packed off to the town in Virginia (to take in the green 
 southerners,) where we this day find him. He now 
 belongs to that class of individuals who have no par 
 ticular business, always ready to turn his hand to
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 67 
 
 whatever turns up, and promises payment; some 
 times collector, sometimes book-keeper for small 
 stores, sometimes door-keeper for travelling monkey- 
 shows or banjo -players. He was of good address, 
 and generally managed to make quite a decent show 
 for a living. As agent for some concern, he had 
 travelled a good deal in the valley of Virginia, was 
 well acquainted in the Tenth Legion. This fact was 
 known to Captain Swyburg. The Captain thought 
 if he could make him a Know Nothing, he would 
 prove an admirable canvasser to go into the counties 
 of Shenandoah and Eockingham ; so he sought an 
 interview with Uriah, and at once set about the in 
 teresting task of making him a Know Nothing. This 
 was a very easy matter, especially as the Captain 
 understood his man, and only had to hint at the 
 prospect of making money through the means of a 
 commission from the Council. The Captain sug 
 gested the Tenth Legion as in all probability coming 
 within the bounds of his field of labor, to which Mr. 
 Uriah Hawks objected, and illustrated his objection 
 to the Captain by relating the following anecdote : 
 " When I was a boy, I accidentally caught a young 
 sap sucker, which I trained to a miraculous extent, so 
 much so that for a long time I made it my occupation 
 to carry the bird about to different farm-houses, and 
 engage with the farmers to have their orchards cleaned 
 of insects by the sucker. It would require but a few 
 days to clear the largest orchard of all insects ; all it 
 could not devour it would slay. How I trained the 
 bird to this I will not relate. After engaging' with 
 the farmers, I would take my little bird to the orchard,
 
 G3 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 set him at his work of death to insects, seat myself 
 under the shade, and go to manufacturing wooden 
 combs, and various kinds of ornaments for sale, or as 
 presents to the comely farmer's maids. The novelty 
 of the thing almost always ensured me employment 
 for my bird ; and if the trees were not cleaned to the 
 satisfaction of the owner, no pay, and board for the 
 bird and myself was the bargain. Well, I never had 
 to pay board but once, which happened after the fol 
 lowing fashion : I had done a good business in a cer 
 tain neighborhood, and was about leaving, when I 
 was advised by all means to visit a certain gentleman, 
 who was a large fruit dealer. I was told that he was 
 an eccentric gentleman; that if he should take a 
 liking to me and my bird he would, in all probability, 
 pay me high wages ; but I was also told to keep my 
 wits about me, else I would find myself caught by 
 some cute trick. Well, I considered myself just as 
 sharp as anybody, and did not care for tricks. So to 
 him I went, and told my business. You have, said I, 
 a large fine orchard, but the trees will all be killed 
 by insects. What say you to having this little bird 
 clean them of every insect? Give me $10 per day, 
 and the work shall be done in two days, if not, I will 
 pay board and leave. 'Du tell,' said the farmer, 
 ' that little wee bird will do all that ! wonderful, ain't 
 it? What will the world come to next? I like 
 your new plan of bug killing amazingly well ; and 
 now, to test whether or not you are a humbug your 
 self, my lad, I will say this to you : you must agree 
 to stay with me eight days, before you put the bird 
 in the trees. After the eighth day, you may begin
 
 LIFE AXD DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 69 
 
 work ; if all the insects in the orchard are killed, I 
 will pay you $10 per day for each day you stay ; but 
 if the bird fails to kill all the insects, then you are to 
 pay .me $10 per day board for each day. This is a 
 fair bargain for you, and if you are not an impostor, 
 will accept it.' Well, stranger, said I, just give me a 
 peep at your trees. Leave was granted ; they were 
 uncommonly filthy, and nothing more that I then 
 detected ; so I accepted, having every confidence in 
 the sucker's ability to perform his work to the 
 farmer's satisfaction. This was a big job ! one hun 
 dred dollars in ten days, and as many kisses from the 
 maids for trinkets in the week. The eighth day at 
 length past away. The little sucker was, by the 
 direction of the farmer, placed in the first tree of the 
 first row, and I was requested to continue throughout 
 the orchard by rows. The little sucker, having had 
 a good long rest, went busily to work, slaying his 
 thousands, so that by night he was half way over the 
 orchard. I fancied that night, that the old farmer 
 looked astonished, as if he thought he was paying 
 dear for his whistle, while I felt that peculiar satisfac 
 tion which the thought of a sharp trick, and with it 
 the prospect of money, always begets in a Yankee 
 boy's heart. Well, the next evening was to witness 
 my triumph. At length, after a diligent days' work, 
 but one tree remained to be cleaned ; up it the little 
 fellow flew, and the bugs began to fall ; the farmer 
 stood by my side, when, lo ! and behold ' such a buz 
 zing we heard in the tree, and the poor little bird was 
 thick beset with enemies ; he fought well, but had at 
 last to give up the fight, and leave the tree to his
 
 70 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 victors. He had attacked a huge hornet's nest. The 
 cussed old farmer knew that nest was there when he 
 contracted. He had the impudence to claim the $100, 
 and I had to plank the money down, and acknow 
 ledge that the old fellow was too much for me. In 
 following this business subsequently, I would have 
 you know that I always excepted hornets, per special 
 contract. And so it is, Captain ; I might perform the 
 good work you wish to engage me in, quite well, and 
 I hope to your satisfaction, in any other section than 
 the Tenth Legion ; but, for mercy's sake, don't send 
 me there, to preach anything but genuine locofocoism. 
 If you do, I will find myself in a hornet's nest a 
 devilish sight hotter than the Yankee farmer's. I 
 have had a foretaste of those mountain people ; a fine 
 set of fellows too, after their fashion, but let politics 
 alone. I was up there once, and remarked in a 
 crowd that Henry Clay was perhaps a greater man 
 than their Delegate to the General Assembly, and 
 thought no more of it. You may well imagine my 
 surprise, then, at being waited on, a short time after 
 wards, by a committee appointed by the crowd, to 
 say to me, if I had any more such remarks to make, 
 I had better leave town, or have the honor of strad 
 dling a rail horse, decorated with a suit of sap sucker 
 feathers. I had told the sap sucker story to the 
 crowd, all in good sport, and I thought it was hard 
 to have it thrown up to me in that manner. No, 
 Captain, I will go anywhere else in the State, but 
 deliver me from the Locofoco Kingdom of Shenan- 
 doah." 
 
 The Captain enjoyed his story considerably, and
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 71 
 
 laughed heartily at his ideas about the people of the 
 Tenth Legion, remarking, "We will discuss your 
 fears at another time, but I do hope you may be per 
 suaded upon to accept the Tenth Legion as your can 
 vassing field. Good day, Mr. Hawks; I am quite 
 fatigued with my labors in this work, but a patriot 
 must never play the laggard; so I must away, and 
 look for new recruits." 
 
 Mr. Winks did not once participate in the conver 
 sation which passed between Uriah and Captain S., 
 and, on being questioned by the Captain as to the 
 cause, remarked, that he believed the fellow was a 
 d d foreigner; upon which Captain S. broke out in 
 a long loud laugh. " Why," said he, " the fellow is 
 a most estimable mimic ; he is a good Irishman at 
 times, again a perfect Dutchman ; in fact, he can 
 speak the Dutch language of Shenandoah admirably, 
 and for this reason we should be solicitous about 
 sending him there." " Well," said Winks, " I am 
 glad you have undeceived me, for I feared you had 
 hung the wrong man, and that he was practising a 
 hoax upon you ; so that instead of hoaxing you, he 
 was hoaxing us ; and it occurs to me now, that he 
 did not give me a specimen of the brogue until you 
 touched upon the American question." 
 
 Each of the other members of the Council were as 
 busy as Captain S. and Mr. Winks, and by the end 
 of the week, had procured the promise of a large 
 number of initiates.
 
 72 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE Council met at the stated hour and place. 
 The usual form of opening was observed, while 
 thirty-two men were in waiting, ready to be intro 
 duced to Sam. Yarious were the motives that 
 operated upon these men, in taking this step, false at 
 least for Virginians. Curiosity, desire for change, 
 and notoriety, the rankling of disappointment, occa 
 sioned by the refusal of place or patronage of their 
 party, the hope of defeating the Democracy, the hope 
 of political plunder, the pleasure of riding a new 
 political pony, which would outdo the old Demo 
 cratic war-horse, and safely reach the grand and 
 glorious goal of political ascendancy in the old 
 dominion. These were some of the causes that moved 
 these men. How many were moved from genuine 
 conviction and principle ? If there was a single one, 
 he should be pitied, as he deserved better company. 
 Thirty-two men waited outside of the door, and a 
 great deal of tomfoolery and Yankee toolery was 
 being enacted inside of the door. After all things 
 were made ready, the worthy president having 
 snuffed the dark-lantern, &c., the marshall examined 
 the candidates. " Gentlemen, are you candidates for 
 admission into this organization?" Each answered, 
 " I am." Marshal. " Before proceeding further, it is 
 necessary that you take an oath of secre/y. Are you 
 willing to take such an obligation ?" Each answered
 
 LIFE AND DEATII OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 73 
 
 " I am." A very solemn oath was then administered 
 to each. Eight questions were then proposed. First 
 question : " Are you twenty-one years old ?" " I 
 am," said all, "and upwards," said Uriah Hawks, 
 being anxious to tell the truth to the uttermost 
 limit. Second question: "Do you believe in the 
 existence of a Supreme Being, the Creator and Pre 
 server of the universe, and that the obligation at this 
 time, will be binding upon you through life ?" " I 
 do," responded each, "and Amen!" said Uriah. 
 Third question : " Were you born within the limits, 
 or under the jurisdiction of the United States of 
 America ?" " I was," said thirty-one. " I cannot 
 answer that," said Uriah Hawks, not being remark 
 able for precocity, "I cannot say that my recol 
 lection extends back to the precise period of my 
 birth, hearsay is all the evidence I have that I was 
 born in the United States ; if the Council will receive 
 it as evidence, I suppose I can pass." Fourth ques 
 tion: "In religious belief are you a Eoman Catholic?" 
 " No," said thirty-one. " Nor any other kind of a 
 Catholic," responded Mr. Hawks. Fifth question: 
 " Have you, or have you not been reared under Pro 
 testant influence ?" " Yes," answered thirty-one. 
 " I cannot say that I was reared under any influence, 
 if I was, I cannot say under what particular kind," 
 said Mr. Hawks. " I dislike to be troublesome, Mr. 
 Marshal, but I have sworn to make true answer, and 
 ' blast my buttons,' if I don't." Sixth question : 
 " Are or were either of your parents Roman Catholics 
 in religious belief?" "No," said thirty-one. " Again 
 I cannot answer," said Uriah. " Indeed, sir, I some- 
 
 7
 
 74 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 what, in this respect, resemble my country woman's 
 (Mrs. Stowe) black Topsy, was it in the due course of 
 nature, so far as I am advised on this subject, I might 
 answer that I sprouted from something, and grew to 
 be what you behold, a very respectable looking man." 
 Seventh question : " If married, is your wife a Roman 
 Catholic ?" Thirty-one answered, " No." " I must 
 divide that question, before I answer it," said Uriah. 
 " No, I am not married. No ! she is not a Catholic." 
 Eighth question : " Are you willing to use your 
 influence, and vote only for native born American 
 citizens for all the offices of honor or trust in the gift 
 of the people, to the exclusion of all foreigners and 
 aliens, and of Eoman Catholics in particular, and 
 without regard to party predilection ?" " I am," said 
 the thirty-one, and Uriah Hawks. The thirty-two 
 candidates were then conducted into the presence of 
 the President, where they took other obligations ; 
 then to the Instructor, and so on the end of the 
 chapter, when they were declared members in full 
 fellowship, of the Supreme Order of the Star Spangled 
 Banner. 
 
 The Council then went into the transaction of busi 
 ness. The state was divided into districts, and a 
 canvasser appointed and assigned to each ; and, upon 
 the earnest solicitation of various gentlemen, old 
 Capt. Swyburg was appointed canvasser at large. 
 The Capt. said, " he disliked giving up the pleasant 
 Council meetings, in yielding, he but obeyed the 
 voice of the stern commander, duty." Mr. Uriah 
 Hawks was nominated for the Tenth Legion ; he 
 declined to accept, in a characteristic speech, but the
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 75 
 
 Council would accept no denial, and after much dis 
 cussion, he had finally to agree to take the Locofoco 
 kingdom of Shenandpah, &c. In obedience to a reso 
 lution offered and adopted at a previous meeting, a 
 committee of letter-writers was then appointed, Mr. 
 Peter Willing Turner being Chairman, and the 
 letters, be it borne in mind, were to be published in 
 Mr. Turner's own paper, and dated at various sections 
 of the state. Nor was there to be any end to the 
 correspondence, but each issue of the Journal had to 
 contain several of these, anonymous messages of 
 good tidings to the followers of Sam. 
 
 We will now leave the Council to work and hold 
 its regular meetings. We will not disturb Mr. 
 Turner, while he is experimenting with the workings 
 of his new helm. We will let the canvassers go their 
 way rejoicing in their patriotic and self-sacrificing 
 labors, but will return to the Council, to Mr. Turner, 
 and to these canvassers in their winding pilgrimages, 
 11 in good time, after we have turned the reader to 
 other scenes, and brought a heroine on the stage. In 
 taking leave of these several worthies, we would not 
 say to the reader, that when he sees them again that 
 the Council will have exploded from the too great 
 pressure of the innate patriotism of its component 
 parts. We do not say that Mr. Editor Turner will 
 again turn up, the very picture of grief and melan 
 choly, occasioned by the vexings of conscience, for 
 having too frequently published and issued a certain 
 coin, which, in newspaper parlance, respectable 
 editors " nail to the counter." We do not know that 
 old Capt. Swyburg will next appear in the street of
 
 76 LIFE AND DEATII OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 some interior village, as drunk as native juice can 
 make him. We do not know that Yankee Uriah 
 will get into another hornets' nest, or that his 
 co-laborers will find themselves in equally interesting 
 situations; but to use a trite saying, one that is 
 regarded by some as a truism, " We shall see what 
 we shall see." 

 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 77 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 IT was a few evenings after the events recorded 
 in the last chapter. It was a bright and beautiful 
 autumn night; the air was cool, just enough so to be 
 invigorating, and to infuse life and high spirits into 
 those who breathed it openly, and beyond the close 
 atmosphere of heated grates. The moon was at its 
 full, it shone bright and beaiful; an occasional cloud 
 would pass over its smiling face, as if to get its misty 
 particles, bedecked with a snow-white fringe, beauti 
 ful in its irregularity, inviting beholders to admire 
 its borrowed spangles of the moon's bright beams of 
 silvery brightness. The cloud-veil would pass on, its 
 silvery fringe would change to some sombre tinge, to 
 be succeeded by another, which would in like manner 
 be illumined for a brief moment, and then pass, pass 
 away. During the intervals, the queen of night threw 
 its waves of light upon the city in quiet after a day's 
 work with its bustle and confusion. The scene pre 
 sented a city in repose. Nothing disturbed the quiet 
 save an occasional bell-tap clove the still air, a window- 
 shutter now and then rattled on its hinges, or a dray 
 man's wheels rattling on the pavement, as he drove 
 his weary team towards home for food, for water, and 
 for rest. A little later, and lights gleamed from a 
 brilliantly illuminated mansion, situated on a fashion 
 able street; a little later still, and sleek, pampered 
 steeds, to handsome equipages dashed along many
 
 73 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 streets and crossings, and halted at the mansion door, 
 (iaily dressed pedestrians, male and female, in groups 
 of cozy couples or more entered the gate. All things 
 indicated splendor within, and a stranger would have 
 said at once, that it was a party of the Ton, and so 
 it was. The social entertainment was given by a 
 wealthy man; beauty, grace, elegance, refinement and 
 intelligence was there, such as is found in an assem 
 bly of Virginia's fair daughters. The fairest of the 
 fair, the loveliest of the lovely, was Fannie Bell. 
 That dark-brown hair in ringlets hung, and now and 
 then a tiny one would stray from beneath the tether 
 influence of tuck or pin, to rest upon a forehead fair, 
 and almost like a thing of life, waved to the zephyr's 
 touch; it sported there, and all unconscious of the 
 effect it gave the face, she moved amid the brilliant 
 throng. Her eyes of hazel dark were laughing eyes, 
 and laughing whispered, love me, I am a thing of 
 light and love. The penciling of the arches above 
 was nature's own, perfect and perceptible to the point 
 where the temples claim a place, which, to the glow 
 ing cheeks, were like the snow-flake resting on the 
 early rose. Her form was graceful and commanding; 
 her step elastic, but natural, and free from all false 
 airs which savor of affectation ; her spirits were light 
 and buoyant, her disposition trusting and confiding, 
 and about her a child -like simplicity and artlessness, 
 which rendered her extremely interesting; indeed, to 
 confiding friends would be intensely so, by the im 
 plicit confidence she would place in all their words 
 and acts: her mind was a woman's mind, strong and 
 quick, which had not been neglected in her school-girl
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 79 
 
 days, her days of bread arid butter, but cultivated be 
 yond the majority of her sex. Her education was 
 just completed, this her first winter in society, her 
 first appearance in the society of her new home. Her 
 father was a man of large wealth, and for the purpose 
 of educating his younger children had recently re 
 moved from the country to the city. 
 
 Among the young gentlemen present on this occa 
 sion, was Maurice Meredith. The reader has seen him 
 in worse company, though then his name was un 
 known to him, but the truth must out here, he was 
 one of the thirty-two candidates initiated at the last 
 meeting of the council. Bred to the bar, he was 
 already winning fame as a lawyer of talents unques 
 tionable ; he was regarded as a rising man, and one 
 that would surely mount higher and higher on fame's 
 alluring ladder; as a politician, he promised to be 
 popular, but like too many aspiring men, he could 
 not await time's slow course as he turns up events, 
 and with events mounts men on their topmost heights, 
 to guide the issue and direct the wind of popular fa 
 vor; he could not wait the deceptive gab of the 
 Know Nothings was an alluring song in his too wil 
 ling ear, promising immediate promotion and political 
 honor. Reason and prudence said to him, wait and 
 reflect; Know Nothings said, within our council lies 
 the key, go with us, in your hands it shall be placed, 
 and with it unlock the hard-bound gates that lead to 
 fame and immortality. He yielded, and was intro 
 duced to Sam ; they gave him the key, but the gate 
 it unlocked will be told of in a future page. 
 
 Maurice Meredith was regarded by the Order as an
 
 80 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 acquisition of more than ordinary interest, and rig! it 
 proud the members were that he had in solemn oaths 
 declared himself a believer in their doctrines, a parti 
 cipant in their sympathies, and a co-laborer in their 
 nefarious designs. His features, if not handsome, 
 were bold and indicative of honesty and manliness ; 
 polished in his manners, and gentlemanly in his 
 deportment, with that pleasant grace about him, which 
 told a poor man, when he shook him"by the hand, that 
 he was his equal. He had been a diligent student 
 from his school days, and, like most persons who are 
 really students, had spent but little time in the Com 
 pany of young ladies, and strange to say, had never 
 had a little sweetheart in his boyish days, with whom 
 to converse in child-like prattle or sport in child-like 
 glee. No, he never had a little sweetheart, with whom to 
 wade in pearly brooks, and gather snowy pebbles on 
 the green bank, and with the pebbles have a cozy 
 little game of checkers. No, he never had a littlo 
 sweetheart, whose name, if mentioned by Pa or Ma, 
 or big brother, would bring a blush to round, plump 
 cheeks. No, he never had a little sweetheart, for 
 whom he would cull the earliest flowers of spring, 
 and by stealth convey them to her. No, he never had 
 a little sweetheart, to love with the heaven-akin joys 
 of early affection, or one in whose ear to lisp forth 
 vows of fidelity vows to be consummated at earliest 
 manhood. But of late, now that he had established 
 himself in business, he had begun to seek the society 
 of the fair ones, and, surprising as it may appear, the 
 green, disagreeable, awkward Maurice Meredith, as 
 the fair ones termed him, was suddenly transformed
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 81 
 
 into the pleasant, agreeable Mr. Meredith some going 
 so far as to call him a perfect love of a man ; but this 
 is the way of the world, at least of its fair portion 
 but we have no wish to incur their displeasure by any 
 saucy criticisms. Mr. Meredith had of late attended 
 several parties, and played the beau admirably, and. 
 this was enough. Gossip, with her keen perceptibili 
 ties, sees portentous events in the most trivial circum 
 stances. She will magnify the simple act of picking 
 up a lady's fan into more than civility and common 
 politeness ; sees in every glance a wedding brewing ; 
 hears in every gentle tone a courtship, and sympa 
 thizes, in every unconscious sigh, for the luckless, 
 heartsick swain. She had already begun to pay her 
 respects to Mr. Meredith, and swiftly she used her 
 flying pinions, and cautiously and incautiously used 
 her many sayings, in discussing his prospects and 
 deciding his fate all in advance of the poor young 
 man, as he had never seen the object his fancy had 
 painted on the delicate canvass of his soul's bright 
 imaginings. His inmost soul had pined for the 
 appearance of his fancy's picture but she came not. 
 In every gay crowd he looked, but found her not ; he 
 hoped and still hoped, he feared and feared again ; 
 sometimes despaired, and then hoped and feared but 
 she came not. At times he would condemn himself 
 for fostering and cherishing the idea of his soul's 
 picture, and endeavor to fix his attention on some 
 fair one that had reality, form, bona fide flesh, blood 
 and sinews, but to no purpose : the ideal picture would 
 appear, and the real fair one fade in the comparison. 
 But why the change in Maurice Meredith's manner
 
 82 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 to-night? Why the changing cheeks, flushing now. 
 and in an instant pale? Why the varying spirits, 
 now flowing free and exuberant, the next moment sad 
 and silent, with the sometimes slightly interesting 
 shade of melancholy? Why were all the unchari 
 table questions, is he drunk ? does he drink ? &c., 
 softly whispered by members of the assmbled com 
 pany. No, he was not drunk ; he does not drink ; 
 but Maurice Meredith was excited ; his soul's picture 
 had appeared in the form of Fannie Bell, and he was 
 happy, was entranced, was in love. And oh, the 
 blessedness of that moment! the melting, soothing 
 heart-throbs, beating in the excessive feeling of 
 unspeakable joy ! he who has felt it only knows its 
 consolations and its pleasures. He sought an intro 
 duction, and a too-early betrayal of his emotions was 
 the difficulty prudence directed him to guard against. 
 A pause followed the introduction, and disquietude 
 was betokened in his countenance, as a grave thought 
 for the first time passed through his mind. In all his 
 imaginings, the casket had been only viewed ; he now 
 beheld the casket ; what if the better part, the jewel, 
 the mind, was not in sympathy with the casket ? He 
 addressed some common-place observations, and a 
 voice, soft and gentle, fell on his ear. He next called 
 from his fund of humor some little snatch of pleas 
 antry, and a musical laugh rung out clear and distinct. 
 His next experiment was with argument, and he found 
 his opinions resolutely and reasonably combatted, and 
 then the disquietude passed from his countenance, and 
 he had found a jewel with bright adornings. 
 
 How was it with Fannie Bell ; had she a soul
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 83 
 
 picture, too, seen in the future, or, like many Misses 
 of the present day, had she even, in her school days, 
 fixed her affections upon some precocious neighbor 
 hood urchin. Had she seen him, and seeing was 
 content, or did she sometimes build gaudy castles, 
 mounted and moving high in air, and in that castle, 
 at the dinner table, did just such a person as Maurice 
 Meredith preside, and at the table's foot do its graces? 
 Had she, in a girl's gay imaginings, traveled the 
 halcyon paths of earliest and dearest love, with just 
 such a manly form by her side, had she in traveling 
 love's path, come to one of its rough places, and 
 there felt a thorn, and tasted a poignant regret, and 
 had just such a voice, in pleading tones, asked her 
 to accept the consolations of a sympathising heart. 
 
 Is she pleased or displeased with his attentions ? 
 none can answer. She is dignified, self-possessed. 
 Is she aware of her conquest ? Apparently, no. 
 Does she show partiality for the handsome stranger, 
 at the risk of wounding the feelings of an old 
 friend at her elbow ? No. Does she now and then 
 seize pauses, and converse in easy confidence with 
 the old friend, as if to arouse the curiosity or the 
 suspicion of the stranger, of, perhaps, an old under 
 standing? No, Fannie Bell is no light-headed, false 
 hearted, airy thing of much ado and nothing, at last 
 called a flirt; but a true born Virginia lady; dig 
 nified, while affable, prudent and discreet ; and her 
 ways and manners are ways and manners of pleasant 
 ness to all. Much was the attention she received on 
 this occasion, and the most assiduous was young 
 Meredith, so that by the close of the evening, they
 
 84: LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 had, at least, began to be acquainted with the hope, 
 expressed by him on parting, that, " if agreeable, he 
 would be most happy to know her better," and some 
 thing, too, said about a call the next week, if agreea 
 ble, of course. Young men are so prone to lug in 
 that "IF AGREEABLE," while playing the agreeable 
 in winning hearts ; how many do it after the hearts 
 are won, and the priest has tied the agreeable knot ? 
 not many we fear.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA,, 85 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 MAURICE MEREDITH left the social hall that night 
 alone, and repaired at once to his room. Naturally 
 fond of company, yet this night he wanted to be 
 alone; he wished to commune with himself, in 
 blissful solitude, in stillness, to let his soul go forth, 
 and roam at will in the bright elysiums hope 
 pictured in the future. The smiles of Fannie Bell in 
 that elysium made all things bright; her presence 
 made all joy and contentment there. He was raising 
 the curtain to take a peep at the roseate field before 
 his mind, just as he entered his door, when, to his 
 mortification, a gentleman awaiting his return, put 
 all his mind- work in confusion, and chased his day 
 dream far away. The gentleman was no other than 
 Mr. Fox, the Know Nothing, mentioned to the reader 
 some time since. 
 
 " Well, Maurice," said Mr. Fox, " we shall give 
 them thunder I" 
 
 "Thunder! who thunder?" said Meredith, ab 
 stractedly ; he was thinking then of something Fannie 
 had said about a favorite little rose bud, and hoped 
 the shower would revive it. "Did you say you 
 thought it was about to rain, Fox ?" 
 
 "Why, man, what are you talking about, is 
 thunder and a shower inseparately connected in 
 your mind ? I said that we would give the Loco- 
 focos thunder; or if you are too stupid to comprc- 
 
 8
 
 86 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA 
 
 hend metaphors, we will give them, what you ought 
 to have, for leaving your post to-night, a sound 
 thrashing." 
 
 It should be known that Mr. John Jas. Gustavus 
 Adolphus Fox had been appointed by the Council a 
 kind of secretary or scribe, and was, also, one of the 
 committee of letter- writers. His purpose, in visiting 
 Maurice to-night, was to procure his assistance in 
 doing up a budget of letters, to be published in 
 Mr. Turner's paper. 
 
 " Well, Maurice," said he, "are you in a political 
 mood to-night? If so, you will be kind enough 
 to listen to several letters I have concocted in your 
 absence, which will be open to your criticism and 
 correction." 
 
 The weary young man assented, and Mr. Fox 
 read as follows : 
 
 " For the Virginia American. 
 
 "KANAWHA Co., VA. 
 
 " Mr. Editor. I have but few leisure moments this 
 evening, but cannot refrain from offering rny con 
 gratulations to you, sir, for the bold stand you have 
 taken in the great American cause. Your paper, 
 sir, does you honor, and is an honor to your State 
 and party. Send ten copies to the address enclosed. 
 You may. set this county down as all right in the 
 election. The old Democrats are fast falling from 
 their ranks, and uniting with us nightly. Who can 
 withstand the mighty tide of American might pres 
 sing hard upon the infamous dogmas of aliens born, 
 striving for ascendency here. Pile on the agony,
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 87 
 
 Mr. Editor, and in each issue give the natives glory, 
 and the aliens h I 
 
 " Yours truly, SALT." 
 
 "Since the letter is open to my correction," said 
 Maurice, " I would suggest a simple amendment ; 
 strike out the closing words in the body of the com 
 munication, and insert ' their dues,' or something to 
 that effect." He was thinking of Fannie, and this it 
 was that ruled the harsh word out. Love makes 
 the most obdurate sometimes strangely pious. Mr. 
 Fox agreed to the amendment, and proceeded to 
 read another autograph composition. 
 
 " STAUNTON, AUGUSTA. 
 
 " Mr. Editor Dear sir : Thinking that a word from 
 old Augusta at this time would not be uninteresting 
 to the numerous readers and friends of your valuable 
 (thrice valuable journal, now that it is in all things 
 most essentially American), I am constrained to write 
 you a line or two. The Americans in good old 
 Augusta are now organizing carefully and deliber 
 ately for the approaching campaign. All things 
 to this period have gone on most harmoniously. 
 We are wholly confident that no discord will again 
 divide our ranks, and through the unsightly breach 
 allow two members of the opposition to find seats in 
 the General Assembly, as was our misfortune in the 
 last general election. Seven American lodges are 
 already in successful operation, and several others 
 contemplated. We are skinning the unwashed most 
 unmercifully, and coining votes daily, so that Mr.
 
 88 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 Skinner and Mr. Koiuer may expect to remain 
 in Augusta during the winter of '55 and '56. If 
 the good feeling and enthusiasm now existing con 
 tinues to prevail up to the election ; the opposition 
 will not poll over three hundred votes all told. 
 I have, to-day, conversed with an intelligent Demo 
 crat from the Legion over the way here, and he 
 informs me that even there, there is much disaffec 
 tion in the ranks of the Democracy. So much so, 
 that several very accurate Democratic prognosticates 
 have thus early given up the election. If this be 
 true, thus early, what may we not hope for, when 
 the leaven of true republicanism, now being poured 
 in upon the native masses, begins to perform its 
 natural functions ? "Will not then, I ask, the whole 
 body of natives to the manor born, rise as one in ass 
 of true men to a country dear, and proclaim that 
 1 Americans shall rule America.' 
 
 " I have no more to say at present, except to add, 
 that that truly noble old soul, and politically pious 
 old missionary, Captain Swyburg, of your place, 
 passed through our town a few days ago. lie has 
 began his canvassing tour, and will visit first some 
 of the extreme border counties ; success will surely 
 attend the efforts of such a man. 
 
 " Yours, respectfully, VALLEY." 
 
 " "Well, Mr. Corrector, have you any comments 
 on, or amendments to make to this ?" 
 
 " Neither," was the laconic reply. 
 
 " I perceive," said the indefatigable Fox, " that 
 you are becoming weary of my productions. So,
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIEGINIA. 89 
 
 by way of variety, with your consent, I will just 
 read you a letter come to hand to-day, from our 
 Yankee wag, Uriah. It is characteristic of the 
 author, and abounds in droll expressions, &c." 
 It ran as follows : 
 
 " IOTH LEGION. 
 " My respected Mr. Fox. 
 
 " Dear Sir. Hawk, if you drop the final s, to Fox, 
 without curtailment, greeting. You expressed the 
 desire on parting with me to be furnished now and 
 then with an account of my political pilgrimage in 
 the mountains of Yirginia. Well, punctuality is 
 one of my good points, so here goes for my account 
 rendered thus far. But, before I put another item 
 on this acccount, I want you to recollect that I am 
 no scholar, and in writing up my accounts do it in 
 a plain blunt way. Whatever pops in my head 
 skates out at the end of my pen, just like a shot out 
 of a shovel, and I write my debits and credits 
 all down together, taking care, however, to put the 
 credits down in pretty big letters. I suppose, with 
 the aid of the above elucidation, you understand my 
 patent double-entry way of keeping my journal, so I 
 will proceed. 
 
 " I have now been in this section about ten days, 
 and a less persevering man would ere this have des 
 paired of accomplishing any thing. But, I accepted 
 the mission reluctantly, and with a full view of the 
 difficulties to be encountered, so far I have not estab 
 lished a single lodge ; true, that by hook and by 
 crook, by screwing here and screwing there, and by 
 
 8*
 
 90 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 
 
 ingenuity every where, I have the promise of some 
 six or eight initiates ; who, if fortune favours, will be 
 'put through' in a few days; one of them has gone 
 down to Staunton to talk with the knowing ones 
 there, and if, when he returns, he reports favorably, 
 we will set the lodge to work. 
 
 "I am here ostensibly as agent for a certain insurance 
 company, for, was my real purpose known, I should 
 have to cut gravel, and no mistake. I reached a cer 
 tain little town a few days since, some time after dark, 
 and put up at the best hotel. Well, thinking I had 
 as well be there as elsewhere, if the good work was 
 going on, I concluded to spend several days, and told 
 the landlord, that I had business that would probably 
 detain me a week or so ; he expressed himself pleased 
 at my determination, saying, that I should have the 
 best the town afforded. Early in the morning, I 
 thought I would go out, and reconnoitre. On step 
 ping into the street, I noticed just opposite the house, 
 in about the centre of a small vacant lot, a rough 
 looking rail stuck in the earth, with a board nailed 
 to it just below the top, on which was inscribed in 
 large letters, * BEWARE ;' on the ground was a barrel, 
 and an old, dirty looking bed tick, full of something. 
 What to make of the things I could not tell; just 
 then the landlord came out; said I, 'My good fellow, 
 what's that over the way, is that lot posted? 1 'Well,' 
 said he, ' I reckon 'tis, and so is this whole town ; a 
 certain kind of cattle can't hunt in these parts. As 
 you are a stranger, I had as well explain it to you, 
 as the town folks all understand it, and it is intended 
 expressly for strangers. You see, every stranger that
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 91 
 
 stops in town puts up at my house, and not at the 
 ' One Ilorse ' tavern below here, the landlord of which 
 is a political heretic, and don't believe in Gen. Jack 
 son ; that spot was selected, my friends knowing that 
 T would at all times be in place, ready and willing to 
 explain its object. Well, we fixed the thing so that 
 it would surely attract the attention of strangers, and 
 they would as surely ask for its explanation as you 
 have done, and I have told them all, as I must now 
 tell you its meaning that upright is a rail that 
 barrel is full of tar and that old tick is full of 
 feathers; now, the first man that conies along this 
 way, disturbing our peace and quiet, and our politi 
 cal faith, by preaching the dogarotted nonsense about 
 Know Nothing-ism, is to be served as the signs in 
 the middle of that lot would indicate.' I replied to 
 my informer, that I was agent for an insurance com 
 pany, and asked him, had they better not have it 
 insured? ' No,' thundered out the fellow, 'our love 
 and veneration for the glorious principles of old Jack 
 son, is a sufficient insurance to us that no foul hand 
 will touch it there is but one man in town that 
 would like to do it, and he is the keeper of t'other 
 house, and he knows which side of his bread is but 
 tered, and ain't going to touch it.' I was just turn 
 ing away, thinking I had better order my horse and 
 strike for better parts, when an old farmer rode up, 
 and lighted at the tavern. 'Well, neighbor,' said 
 the landlord, 'what's the news over the creek? How 
 is politics? any Know Nothings down thar yet?' 
 ' Well, there ain't much news to tell on, old Squire 
 Sprowler's barn burnt down last night ; as to politics,
 
 92 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 thar ain't much stirring yet ; all things seem to look 
 pretty much right, except, that same old Squire Sprow- 
 ler, has got sorter twisted somehow or other, and they 
 say, if he ain't rectified by lection day, he will carry 
 all he kin agin us he is a powerful head-strong man, 
 and when he takes a notion, it is onreasonable hard 
 to change him.' Having heard this conversation, I 
 concluded that there was a prospect of my doing 
 something for our cause, down the creek with old 
 Sprowler, so I told the landlord, that as a man was 
 more apt to insure after a loss, I would, if he would 
 give me the direction, ride down to the Squire's, and 
 see if he would not insure. He approved my plan, 
 and gave me the directions. I rode some six or 
 eight miles over one of Virginia's patent mud pikes, 
 and turned down a rough country road, which soon 
 brought me to the Squire's house. I found him in 
 none of the best humors, being terribly out about his 
 loss by the fire, but no argument or persuasion could 
 induce him to insure. I then very adroitly intro 
 duced the subject of politics, and found that he was 
 really not in a very kind mood towards his party. 
 "Well, thinking he had taken exception to some po 
 litical measure, perhaps to some of General Pierce's 
 blunders, I endeavored to draw him out, so as to see 
 his bent, and shape my manoeuvres with him accord 
 ingly. What was my surprise then, when he very 
 quietly stated his grievances as follows : 
 
 " ' You see,' said he, 'our man Divers, while 'lection - 
 eering, came along this way, as he always does, gave 
 me a call, that wa'nt worth while, for he knowed old 
 Sprowler was gwine to vote for him, but I s'pose he
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 93 
 
 just wanted to be civil like ; that was all right enough, 
 but while here he made me a promise, of his own 
 notion, which he aint never corne up to, and I fear 
 never will. lie promised, stranger, to give me a 
 setting of Shanghai, or Shankly eggs, I don't know 
 which, he said they would grow high enough, to pick 
 corn off the old 'oman's dining table. After awhile 
 another candidate came along, who was a mighty 
 proper, promising young man, a running agin Divers; 
 I told him of the promise his opponent had made 
 me. ' Why,' said he, ' you will never get them eggs ; 
 if you do, it is a notorious fact, that Divers eggs 
 won't hatch, besides, I will give you a setting of Spa 
 nish mixture eggs, which will grow so high, that 
 when the cock crows the gauky Shanghai will be so 
 fur down below him, that he can't hear him ;' but my 
 word was out to Divers, and I thought I would be 
 content with the Shankly, but if you believe me, I 
 haint heard a word about them eggs to this day ; and 
 this is what I am quarreling with my party about ; 
 their man selected, has made me a promise, that he 
 never filled. I am no grumbler, but I hate to be 
 disappointed, and if they aint forthcoming next 
 spring, on the election day, old Sprowler and his 
 boys will come up missing ; or else they will give a 
 lift to the man that raises the Spanish mixtures. 
 
 " ' I am a Jackson Democrat, and if there is any 
 truth in my old heart, I intend to die one, but I never 
 intend to vote for a man, who makes me count my 
 chickens before they hatch. By the way, talking 
 about politics, reminds me of meeting with old crop- 
 eared Swyburg, the other day, down on the pike. I
 
 94 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 used to know the old fellow some years ago, lie was 
 called a proper man then, and was as good a demo 
 crat as ever voted for Jackson; so, says I to him, 
 " Come ride up with me, and spend the night, and 
 we will have a long talk about old times, and politics; 
 I want to hear you talk on that subject." " It would 
 do me good," said he. " Sprowl, you know I am, and 
 always was a candid man ; so I now say to you that 
 the scales have at last fallen from my eyes ; I am no 
 longer a member of the Democratic party I am 
 proud to say, I am now an American." " Bothera 
 tion," says I, " aint you always been an American ? 
 wan't you bora here ? I always thought that Ameri 
 cans were the very men to be Democrats." " But," 
 said he, " a new party has recently sprung up, a con 
 servative, a Union-loving, Union-saving party, called 
 the American party, by some called the Know 
 Nothing party." " Well," said I, " Swy, if you have 
 joined that nasty, nigger-stealing concern, which ris 
 up yonder at the North, among the abolitionists, I re- 
 retract my invitation to you to call at my house. My 
 house is humble, but an honest man lives there, one 
 that ain't going to turn traitor to his good old mother 
 State, this blessed old Virginia State, as you have done. 
 Go your ways, old fellow, and I hope God will give 
 you time to repent of this your great misdeed ;" and 
 saying this, I left him to go his journey. 
 
 "The old man having thus delivered himself, you 
 can imagine I was set back some; from what I had 
 heard, I had counted largely on him, and was pre 
 pared to make a higher bid than a setting of Shang 
 hai eggs, but I concluded, after this, that it would be
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 95 
 
 useless to make that bid ; so I ordered my horse, and 
 rode back to town, feeling, probably, as much like a 
 fool as it is possible for a smart man to feel. But this 
 evening I called on the keeper of the other tavern 
 here, and, as the boy said of his sweetheart, he, after 
 a few moments conversation, 'promised to be mine;' 
 he has put me upon the track of several others, and 
 he thinks we can start a very respectable little lodge 
 here, notwithstanding the fixture in the vacant lot. 
 You shall hear from me soon, and I hope then to be 
 able to impart better tidings. 
 " Yours truly, 
 
 " H. URIAH HAWKS." 
 
 " Well," said Mr. Fox, finishing the letter, "I will 
 trouble you with no more letters to-night. You have 
 been to the party, I suppose ; did you see my fair 
 relation there, old Bell's daughter, Fannie, my niece ? 
 Come, boy, did you see her ? make her acquaintance, 
 and fall desperately in love with her ? Something 
 more than usual is the matter with you. Come, tell 
 me ; was Fannie there ?" 
 
 "A Miss Bell was there, but I did not know she 
 was a niece of yours ; I never heard you speak of the 
 family." 
 
 " No, you never did. I had no good to speak of 
 rny brother-in-law, so I have been silent as to him 
 and his. But his daughter is a pretty girl, amiable, 
 and of a lovely disposition ; but I hope you have 
 not lost your heart with her ? Maurice, let her alone ; 
 stifle, at once, any tender feelings you at first sight 
 may have entertained for her. I am prompted in 
 this advice from no hostile feelings I entertain for
 
 96 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 her father. As the world goes, he is a high-minded, 
 honorable man; one act of his alienated me from 
 him, it was, too, an act most men would not con 
 demn. Take my advice, and think not of Fannie. 
 Ask me not why I say this, for I will not tell you. 
 I speak to you as a friend, and if you do not take it, 
 may live to wish you had." And saying this, Mr. 
 Fox left the house. 
 
 "Humph!" said the young man soliloquizing, 
 " I think I have made a pretty fool of myself. Why 
 did I not flatly deny Fox's premises, and then I 
 would not have heard his unhappy conclusion. He 
 assumed that I had surrendered my heart, and then 
 drew his conclusions that I would repent it. Ah ! I 
 understand it. I betrayed myself at the mention of 
 her name. Unhappy man; is this the beginning of 
 love! But I will pay no attention to his prating; 
 unworthy of the man to vent the spleen he does not 
 seek to conceal against father, upon the innocent, 
 unoffending daughter. I will apparently take his 
 advice, while this throbbing heart shall be my 
 monitor, and tell me whom to love and who to woo ; 
 a whisper came forth, saying love now, woo Fannie. 
 Will I marry her?" 
 
 But the heart oracle gave no satisfactory response; 
 hope and fear equally poised the beam which rested 
 on his new born affection, and which would pre 
 ponderate, he could not tell. When he thought of 
 Fox's advice, fear would press the balance low, and 
 hope would fly away. When he thought of Fannie, 
 as he saw her, hope got the better of its adversary 
 and the balance changed and changed.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 97 
 
 "I begun a mind-picture, as I entered to-night, 
 which Fox dispelled with his confounded documents; 
 'tis late, but I must pursue it further 'ere I sleep. I 
 will go to sleep just as I finish the picture, and then 
 come delicious dreams." 
 
 He then took up the thread of his mind- work, at 
 the point it was broken off, and traced his sketch of 
 future joys. He made life a paradise, and in all his 
 wanderings, Fannie was at his side ; should fame be 
 his, she should share all its immortal glories with 
 him ; should wealth be his, that wealth should be at 
 her command, and minister to all her fancies. He 
 saw no dark spot in all that paradise; skies were 
 always bright, happiness, contentment, love and 
 peace were always present there. With him, fame 
 and Fannie should walk hand-in-hand ; higher and 
 higher he mounted, and Fannie was beside him ; at 
 last he reached the topmost round, and there nations 
 beheld him, and blessed his name, and Fannie 
 embraced him. 
 
 His picture was finished. Man can ask for nothing 
 more, I am content ; and then he dozed, and wel 
 comed sleep, and hoped for happy dreams ; but just 
 then the words " Let her alone !" came unbidden into 
 his mind, grating on his soul, and tearing his rain 
 bow-picture into atoms, and, in the hurly burly, 
 Fannie wedded another fame foundered in ignoble 
 mediocrity his paradise changed to earth, and time, 
 as he traveled the world alone, seeking for peace and 
 rest, but finding none, cursed his unhappy lot, and 
 fell asleep. 
 
 9
 
 98 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 MAURICE arose the next morning restless and weary, 
 after a troubled night. He tried to forget himself in 
 business, and attacked vigorously the most difficult 
 cases on his catalogue of causes, but found after 
 a while that he could make no headway, and aban 
 doned his books and papers for reveries. Several 
 days passed in this way, when finally, on a bright 
 afternoon, he determined to call upon Fannie, hoping 
 to find some relief for his troubled spirit, and in her 
 presence at least, forget the words, "Let her alone." 
 
 During this interval, he several times was on the 
 point of going to Mr. Fox, and beseech of him an 
 explanation to the mysterious words. Fox was hjs 
 best friend, and why should he seek to avoid a con 
 nection with his neice, unless there was some good 
 cause? 
 
 He said she was a lovely, amiable, sweet-tempered 
 girl, that her father was honorable, &c., but then, he 
 said, ask me not why I advise you thus I will never 
 tell you. My approaching him on the subject would 
 be betraying too much; I will let him alone and go to 
 Fannie, and in time my wits will detect the mystery. 
 It may be that he knows of her betrothal to another. 
 If so, why did he not say so, and no more, as we say 
 in the lodge ; at any rate, the development will come 
 in time, and I will patiently await it, without harass 
 ing my heart to pieces with all kinds of surmises,
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 rational and irrational. And now for visit number 
 one. 
 
 He forthwith proceeded to her father's house, and 
 was somewhat, yea, greatly, disappointed, when told 
 by the servant that " Miss Fannie was not in." As 
 Maurice returns home, we will trace Fannie's steps, 
 and see what she is about, and why she was not in, 
 for Mr. Meredith's accommodation. 
 
 This evening, about an hour previous, Fannie, with 
 bonnet and shawl on, and with a neat basket with a 
 snow-white napkin over it, hanging on her arm, was 
 just making her exit out of the front door, when she 
 was met by a visitor. This visitor was a young gen 
 tleman, a very old acquaintance, and one of her most 
 devoted admirers ; who, if report be true, had been in 
 love with her for many a day, and, some said, had 
 met with more refusals than one ; however this may 
 be, he was still very attentive. He, too, was a lawyer, 
 having but recently come to the bar. Although a man 
 of most excellent sense, it was regarded by many as 
 doubtful whether he would succeed at his profession, 
 as he was supposed to be minus one essential apti 
 tude to business. He was the very soul of chivalry ; 
 honest to the square which blind old Justice marks 
 down for those who follow her ways, and with all, just 
 such a Democrat as old Virginia delights to raise and 
 cherish on her soil. 
 
 " Now, Mr. Dew," said Fannie, " I do not intend 
 that you shall diappoint me, just go in the house and 
 entertain the drowsy old folks until I return, I will 
 come back soon." 
 
 " Give me no such command, if you please, Miss
 
 100 LIFE AtfL> DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 Fannie; let, me accompany you; the old folks can 
 take care of Themselves, and I will take care of you." 
 
 " Come, then-^-but stop, you must promise to enter 
 into the spirit of m^iLmission, else you cannot go." 
 
 " I promise," was i^e hasty rejoinder. 
 
 "And now," continV^d Fannie, "to save a good 
 many enquiries from y<^Las to what this basket con 
 tains, where I am going,^kd what for, I will tell you. 
 To tell the truth, I had rather you had not met me 
 this evening, for such devas as this lose half their 
 pleasantness to me when I an^ detected ; but you won't 
 speak of it, will you ?" 
 
 " No, never but go on and tell me." 
 
 " Well, there is a poor invalid girl down at Mrs. 
 O'Neal's, who sometimes sews for mother a sister of 
 her's, who has just come to this country ; she was in 
 feeble health, and the voyage has worsted her con 
 siderably. She, poor thing, tells a pitiable tale of her 
 sorrowings and desolations in the old country. She 
 is young, and to have suffered so much ! It was sad 
 to hear her tell of her heart-yearnings to reach her 
 sister, her toils and struggles to lay top just enough to 
 bring her hither ; and then she speaks so feelingly of 
 the opinions she had formed of our happy country, 
 and the hope that buoyed up her fainting spirits, as 
 she launched on the deep blue sea^^looked towards 
 America as the promised land of^Rter Says to her, 
 as it has been to so many of the hapless sons and 
 daughters of old Ireland. And then she is so grateful 
 for the little services I render her, and calls me her 
 protector in a stranger land. Her old sister is good 
 and kind to her, but she, poor woman, can't do much.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 10x 
 
 I have visited her several times, and taken with me, 
 as to-day, this little basket of palatable food. I baked 
 these cakes and made all these little nick-nacks with 
 my own hands, for the poor Irish girl. I don't tell 
 you this to sound my praises, , or ask you to bestow 
 yours, but that you may avail yourself of the exam 
 ple, if worthy of your notice, and in turn grant some 
 thing of your living to some weary and worked 
 wanderer from his fatherland. 
 
 " Did the world know that I assisted this unhappy 
 girl, there are those who would say uncharitable 
 things of me ; such, for instance, as she does it to be 
 talked about ; she wants to be thought very charita 
 ble; she has her eye probably fixed upon some pious 
 young man. But her fancy is singular enough ; why 
 did she not select some poor native girl ? there are 
 enough, far more objects of charity than that rough, 
 coarse, foreign dame, that ought this moment be 
 down on her knees scrubbing floors for some gentle 
 man's wife. Let the world talk, and say as many ill 
 things as it pleases; that does not lessen our moral 
 obligation to soothe misery ; and as to the question of 
 nativity, that binds our charity to a given compassj 
 while humanity knows no bounds, but carries us to 
 the uttermost ends of the earth, and bids us be kind 
 to the afflicted, of whatever name or clime." 
 
 Before her companion had time to reply, they had 
 reached the humble abode of the sufferer, but his 
 sympathies were wrought upon, as was sufficiently 
 evinced by his handing a gold coin to Fannie, with 
 the request that it should be appropriated to the 
 wants of the invalid girl. " And now," said 
 
 9*
 
 102 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 the door, " as the family may not be pre 
 pared to entertain gentlemen visitors, if you intend 
 returning with me, just go over to the book-store, 
 opposite, and entertain yourself, while I tarry here 
 but a little while ; you will see me as I come out." 
 
 He walked over to the store, and who should he find 
 there, engaged in looking over the periodicals, but 
 Maurice Meredith? The gentlemen were but slightly 
 acquainted, having met but the single time, on the 
 occasion of the party before alluded to, when they 
 were introduced by Fannie. A mutual recognition 
 passed, each regarding the other as a rival, as if by 
 instinct or intuition, and each was prompted, by that 
 very natural feeling so often exhibited by rivals, to 
 become acquainted. It certainly is not any peculiar 
 good will or sympathy, that draws two men thus cir 
 cumstanced together. It must proceed, then, from 
 the desire of each to sound his opponent's depth, test 
 his capabilities, weigh him in his own balance, the 
 better to decide in his own mind whether his com 
 petitor in the mystic arts of love, is likely to prove 
 the better of the two. And if they be perfect stran 
 gers, it is a singular fact that, in nine times out of 
 ten, the first interview will terminate with the honest 
 conviction on the mind of each that the other is per 
 haps the biggest fool he ever met ; such is the prone- 
 ness of human nature to decide matters as we would 
 wish them to be. But from the very spirited and 
 animated conversation which folio we<Jfljlie few intro 
 ductory commonplace remarks, they could hardly 
 have formed such an estimate of each other. The 
 subject was politics, and each strove his uttermost
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 103 
 
 to maintain his point. Bystanders collected, and 
 were deeply interested in the controversy, whra6hjffl| 
 cut short before they had decided to which they 
 should award the palm of v-ictory, by the appearance 
 of Fannie on the opposite sidewalk, to whom Mr. 
 Dew at once hastened, saying, as he arose, " A lady 
 awaits my attendance, and you must excuse me from 
 farther debate on this occasion. At another time I 
 will be most happy to renew the discussion ; that is, 
 if you don't see the folly of Know Nothingism before 
 I have the pleasure of meeting with you again, and 
 thus terminate the friendly controversy, by acquies 
 cing in all the arguments I may be enabled to ad 
 vance, in proof of the honesty, wisdom, and patriot 
 ism of the principles, as held by the democracy of 
 Virginia." 
 
 " Possibly, concluded Maurice, " I shall not have 
 the good fortune to meet with another so capable of 
 enlightening me as yourself, so in all probability, my 
 opinions will not be changed when we meet again ; 
 and I will then gladly hear you to the end of your 
 chapter on democracy. But I excuse you now, and 
 turn you over to a more agreeable subject, one far 
 more interesting to bachelors like ourselves than the 
 one under present discussion." He did not know, 
 when he made this closing remark, that the subject 
 which he turned his acquaintance over to was one 
 of peculiar interest to himself. 
 
 He did not 1 know that the lady who claimed Mr. 
 DJW'S attendance, was the idol of all his worshipings; 
 and more than this, he was ignorant of the fact that 
 his disappointment in not finding her at home, was
 
 104 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 occasioned by her errand of love and charity to the 
 stricken one, reared as she was on Irish soil, reared 
 in the Romish Church ; had he known it, how would 
 he have felt ? what would he have thought ? He 
 was one of the midnight plotters, one of the crusaders, 
 working in darkness and in mystery, and sworn to 
 crush, politically, the Irish and the Catholic, sworn 
 to rob them of the only voice which can beget a 
 lively and abiding interest in the land of their 
 adoption. 
 
 Surely, young man, you are now working in the 
 dark. But work on ; we shall see what it will all 
 come to. Curse the Irish damn the Catholic. Your 
 idol, Fannie she, too, is working in the dark ; but it 
 is the darkness which modesty throws around brave 
 and generous deeds; the darkness which the Bible 
 principle directs us to follow in doing alms. 
 
 Happily for the young man, he did not know of 
 Fannie's mission, nor she of his political principles ; 
 but surely, he could not condemn her for a deed ot 
 charity ! Oh, no ! it would but commend her highly 
 to his esteem, was the object only worthy, and her 
 charity not misdirected. Alas ! though, he curses the 
 Irish, and he damns the Catholic. The poor girl that 
 Fanaie nursed so kindly was the one and the other, 
 so the object was unworthy and the charity misdi 
 rected ; and it was well for his peace of mind that her 
 light, which so beautifully shines to truly American 
 senses, was, to his American eyes, hid under a 
 bushel. 
 
 The conversation he had held with Mr. Dew was 
 not calculated to quiet the rising fears, already begin-
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 105 
 
 ning to intrude themselves in his serene moments, that 
 he might find him no easy rival in the suit for Fan- 
 nie's love. He had met him in warm debate, they 
 had drawn their weapons and stood face to face in 
 trial controversy, and the bright scintillations emitted 
 by the clash of argument's piercing dagger, told him 
 that he struck against true steel. This Know-Nothing 
 young man was now most unquiet ; what to do with 
 himself, how to while away the slow pacing moments 
 he knew not. His lodge met to-night, should he go 
 there, and participate in the interesting performances 
 enacted a way down in the culvert ? Yes, away down 
 in the culvert, where burned the dark lantern, sur 
 rounded by spirits of unrest and discontentment 
 spirits of every hue and color; some from innate 
 malice, native meanness of heart, went there, to vent 
 their malevolence on the unoffending stranger from 
 his foreign home ; others went there in whose hearts 
 rankled and festered the wounds of disappointed party 
 honors or emoluments ; 'some went there to get the 
 honors soon to blush forth from the new party's prison- 
 house ; others went there, thinking by stealth to gain 
 the long-enjoyed glories of Virginia's dominant party ; 
 some went there for the most excusable purpose that 
 can be mentioned, the bare curiosity of seeing the 
 great Sam, or Samuel the Great. But not one, 
 wounded of heart by capricious Cupid's dart, went 
 there to find his Lethean stream so Maurice did not 
 go, though he was expected to harangue Sam's boys 
 on this occasion, and make the very lantern's light 
 grow paler still with the vivid flashes of his eloquence. 
 He determined not to go for three reasons : first,
 
 106 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 because a man in his situation likes at all times to be 
 prim in apparel and of genteel appearance, which 
 would surely be sacrificed in the Culvert Hall. 
 Secondly, the secrecy of the culvert doings forbid the 
 idea that his Fannie would ever hear of it, even 
 should he there distinguish himself, and what cared 
 he for fame that did not tend towards the consumma 
 tion of his dearest wish. Could she be there to hear 
 him, and to see him, and to sympathize with him ah ! 
 he knows not that she is the friend of the Irish and 
 the Catholic. Thirdly, because to a man already 
 threatened with forebodings of melancholy, the idea 
 of a culvert suggests the most unflattering prospect 
 of relief. The argument he had held with Mr. Dew 
 had only aroused his feelings in the Know Nothing 
 cause, but yet, for the reasons stated, he did not attend 
 the meeting of the lodge that night, but retired to his 
 office, to yawn, to try to think, to try to read, to 
 indulge his growing habit of day-dreams, and to call 
 up his ideal picture from the past, and compare its 
 lineaments with Fannie's real charms and beauties. 
 
 He was doing, or trying to do, all these things at 
 the same time, when his door opened to admit a ser 
 vant, the bearer of an invitation to him to spend that 
 evening at the house of a friend. The bearer of the 
 invitation was an old negro slave, pretty well known 
 about town, and well thought of for his polite bearing 
 and good reputation for honesty; but somewhat 
 spoiled by the notice taken of him by young gentle 
 men, who frequently amused themselves by giving him 
 the opportunity to show off his learning.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIKGESTIA. 107 
 
 " Well, old Sip," said Maurice, laying aside the 
 invitation, " is it a large party at your house to-night?" 
 
 "No, massa, rather specks not, but few of de 
 ladies and gemmen, sir, and massa hopes you will be 
 'eluded in de number. Massa has extended de invi 
 tation to some few more young gentlemen 'sides 
 yourself, sir, but I specks dey wont all be dare, for 
 dis is de night for de meeting of de fraternity, and 
 dar is no telling who belongs to dat crowd dese days 
 and times." 
 
 "To what fraternity do you allude ?" 
 
 " Dey is called, sir, by mor'n several collusions : as 
 instance, 'Mericans, Know Nuttings, and Sams. I 
 hopes mars will 'scuse me, but I hope I may say you 
 aint one of dat dark crowd ; for it don't 'pear honest 
 and 'spectable-like to me, and I heard my master say 
 dey wan't to be trusted, and dat dey was danger's. I 
 know you ain't one, 'cause I would not talk dis way 
 'bout 'em, if you was." 
 
 " But how do you know they meet to-night ?" 
 
 " 'Cause, massa, colored folks knows heap of things 
 that white gentlemen don't 'quire into and notice ; on 
 dis very night ob every week, I meets 'em late gwine 
 'long some whar, and I has reasoned 'bout de matter, 
 and 'eluded dey was de 'Mericans." 
 
 " What is the object of this fraternity, as you call 
 it, do you suppose ?" 
 
 " I has no way knowing much ; I gits all my 
 learning from mars, and de gentlemen dat holds 
 argumentations wid him ; and it 'pears to me, from 
 what dey say, dat it is de politics of de state dey are 
 arter. Marster says dey is aiding de Yankees in all
 
 108 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 dar doings, and dat is what has set me agin 'em in 
 particular, for to tell de truf, sir, I don't like de 
 Yankees no how ; I sorter 'spises 'em. Dey ain't 
 gentle folks like you all down at de souf, no how, 
 and I don't like to have nutting to do wid 'em mor'n 
 possible. My private opinion is, dat dat quality of 
 peoples called de Yankee nation, ain't so fond of us 
 poor niggers as dey makes out dey are ; for instance, 
 marster, take dem dat comes 'mongst us dey is 
 mighty polite and gentle to de colored folks at first, 
 but arter dey has bin here awhile, sure massa dey 
 turns to de very debble, and treats de poor nigger 
 bad sure. I has noticed all dis by 'sperience, and 
 dat makes me know it are a fact. I has heard my 
 young marster at home, read a heap from a book 
 writ by one north woman name Miss Stowe, and it 
 am perfectly plain to my 'magination dat dat are 
 white woman was a real, genuine Know Nutting^ on 
 de subject she writ on. I has had a heap to do wid 
 niggers in my life-time, and I ain't ever seed any 
 Uncle Tom or any 'Liza yet; or has any of the bad 
 treatment she writ about, ever come under my 
 observation." 
 
 " Well," said Maurice, laughing, " we will have no 
 more of de politics to-night, but go on and tell what 
 young ladies will be at the party." 
 
 " 'Scuse me, massa, but 'taint no party. Mistis 
 says folks must not think 'tis a party, but just a 
 sociable gathering together of elect, fuss choice, big 
 bugs of de place. You see, young mistus, she sent 
 me wid a note to de young lady what has recently 
 arriv from de country to dis town; her father is
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 109 
 
 'mazing rich, one of the real old Virginny upper tens, 
 and his daughter is the beautifullest young lady sure, 
 and old Sip longs that young master at home would 
 just connect in that ar prime family ; dat young lady, 
 Miss Fannie Bell, is de name, and several others, or 
 more, will be dare to-night. Master will 'spect Mars 
 Maurice," and so saying, the old fellow went his 
 way. 
 
 Maurice felt, on the reception of this intelligence, 
 that fortune for once was favoring him, so he did his 
 toilet with more than usual care, was actually punc 
 tilious to a hair's breadth in arranging his locks, and 
 scrupulously exact in the tie of his cravat. At the 
 proper time the young man obeyed the summons 
 contained in the writ old Scip had served upon him, 
 and forthwith proceeded to the house of his friend. 
 He found the company already assembled. On enter 
 ing the parlor he recognized Fannie, and sitting by 
 her, oblivious of his entrance, and apparently all 
 absorbed in something she was saying to him, was 
 his friend of the book-store controversy. His first 
 impulse was that he would like to serve an ejectment 
 upon him, and land him in the street or some where 
 on "t'other side of Jordan," or at any rate serve upon 
 him an injunction against any further proceedings in 
 that direction. Fannie was looking, he thought, by 
 the furtive glances he now and then stole, more 
 beautiful, more bewitching than ever. Again he 
 was sorely perplexed in spirit ; always some difficulty 
 presented itself betwixt him and Fannie; he but 
 wished to enjoy her conversation, but when he called 
 upon her she was out ; when he found her in the 
 
 10
 
 110 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 social circle tier company was monopolized, and 
 when he met his best friend he was told to " let her 
 alone." He spent a short time in passing compli 
 ments with the other ladies present, and then resolved 
 to draw a halt in Fannie's immediate vicinity, and 
 by laying a siege for the evening, drive the enemy 
 from his pleasant retreat. He forthwith began his 
 task with commendable energy, and soon succeeded 
 in almost monopolizing her conversation, but to no 
 purpose the implacable young man held his ground, 
 apparently perfectly satisfied with getting in a word 
 " edge-ways " now and then. At last despairing of 
 getting rid of his rival in any other way, he resorted 
 to stratagem, and requested Fannie to sing, who, 
 without any whimperings and affected excuses, so 
 common now-a-days, arose and was conducted single- 
 handed to the piano by Maurice, so Mr. Dew was 
 left behind to join another group, if he desired. She 
 was an accomplished performer and a most admirable 
 singer. The young man stood by her side, grave 
 and motionless, as the mellow notes gushed, as it 
 were, from a living fountain of music waves, and 
 trembled on the still air. 
 
 His soul revelled in the flowing feast, and rode 
 upon the music tones as they died away in the dis 
 tance. He ' called the blessed moment bliss, and 
 desired nothing more. If he was in love before, 
 there is no term to express his situation after the 
 several songs were sung. 
 
 They then promenaded in the hall, and for the first 
 time he was alone with her. Lovers do so like to be 
 alone, there is something in the presence of others so
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. Ill 
 
 embarrassing; one can't look in company as he would 
 like to; can't act his winning ways, and can't adapt 
 his tones to the feelings of his heart. Maurice felt 
 all this, and felt the freedom of being alone. He 
 thought he acted well his part gave her credit for 
 hers, and concluded when the walk was terminated, 
 that he was getting along as well as he could hope; 
 that there was nothing at all in the bear bones his 
 friend Fox had endeavored to raise between them; 
 that he didn't fear his rival, Mr. Dew, at all, and that 
 it would all progress well, and end well ; at any rate, 
 he had good cause to rely on the same old buoy that 
 had saved many a lover's head from the dark sea of 
 despond; the little quivering buoy, sometimes faint 
 and almost cowardly, at others strong and bold, called 
 hope. Well, hope on, hope ever, 'tis a good motto. 
 
 We will leave Maurice to indulge his hope alone, 
 and to the conduct of his own personal suit for awhile, 
 and look after our Council boys, and the canvassers of 
 the mountains, and other matters.
 
 112 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 CHAPTER XHL 
 
 THE Democracy of Virginia had now met in conven 
 tion, and nominated their candidates for the several 
 State offices to be vacant on the expiration of the 
 official terms of the incumbents. The ticket was, all 
 in all, a good and an unexceptionable one; true 
 and tried men composed it; the party at once, in the 
 length and breadth of the State approved it. But of 
 the man they selected as champion leader; of the 
 veteran hero, on whose credit was placed the shield 
 of battle, and of whom it was expected, would at all 
 times be found in the thickest of the fight what 
 must be said of him? Must this feeble pen dare 
 attempt to draw but a faint picture of the noble 
 conduct pursued by the heroic leader of the Virginia 
 Democracy in the memorable political battle of 1855? 
 It must, or else a history of the Life and Death of 
 Sam in Virginia would be incomplete. 
 
 And first, did the distinguished recipient of the 
 honor, by word, by deed, or act, seek that honor? 
 Not at all ; it was but the willing tribute of an appre 
 ciating people to the fitness, power, genius, patriotism 
 and chivalrous spirit of the man. It was but a well- 
 timed decision of Virginia's friends for Virginia's 
 honor, but a judicious act of the mother State for 
 the Union's future honor and glory. How did he 
 accept the honor tendered him by the nomination 
 boastingly, and as a matter of right? Not at all,
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 113 
 
 but with the full sense of the responsibility conveyed 
 in the trust, and with the true born Virginian's proud 
 assurance, that if Virginia's interest for a time be 
 committed to his care, those interests must and should 
 be protected and maintained. 
 
 After acceptance, what was his course? Did he 
 supinely take his ease, and trust to the wonted 
 strength of the Democracy to protect and save the 
 State ? No ; he looked as with prophetic eye, and 
 told of the struggle that the enemy would make ; he 
 read their wiles, their falsehoods and chicanery in 
 the future ; and with a zeal worthy of the cause, pre 
 pared for the contest. 
 
 But to follow his course farther here, would be to 
 anticipate in our narrative. 
 
 We have said, the ticket was at once approved by 
 the party, throughout the length and breadth of the 
 state ; comparatively speaking, this is true ; but here 
 and there, the selected leader found an enemy in the 
 house of his friends. Who were these enemies ? 
 Some were men of character, men beyond the possi 
 bility of impeachment, in a moral or political aspect, 
 who honestly and conscientiously objected to the 
 selection made, and who boldly stated their objections'. 
 This was perfectly natural, and to be expected. Can 
 mortal man be found so varied, in his virtues, and 
 yet in all approach the perfectness, which many 
 men, of many minds, will lay down as their standard. 
 Good men and true men will sometimes, while 
 sighing over the disappointed hopes of their favorite, 
 forget that there may be points of objection to the 
 life, character or fitness of their favorite unseen to 
 
 10*
 
 114 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 
 
 them, but visible to others, and by this little piece of 
 forgetfulness sometimes make their man, the fit and 
 proper man, the man for the times, in conparison with 
 the majorities' man. And hence ikis, that whenever 
 a nomination is made, there are those to be found 
 who honestly differ from the action of the majority. 
 So it was in this case, some honest men conscien 
 tiously thought the nomination bad, and objected to 
 it, in consequence of what, in their opinion, consti 
 tuted misdeeds, in the political career of the nominee 
 others thought the nomination good, but still 
 objected, because they thought the best was not 
 made. Thus resisting a positive virtue, because the 
 superlative, in their opinion, could not be reached. 
 To one class or the other of such thinkers, for the 
 most part, were found all those who honestly ques 
 tioned the judgment and wisdom of the nominating 
 Convention. 
 
 But by far the larger portion of objectors was 
 composed of far less respectable material ; the prowling 
 mass that hovers over the surface of political parties, 
 and longs for mincing bits from the flesh-pots of the 
 party, calculated that precious and dainty morsels 
 \vould be dealt out profusely, from the newly erected 
 camp of the Know Nothings, and thought, that in 
 the general feast of fat things, their prospect for 
 something would be bettered ; and hence their new 
 affinities, and consequent opposition to the nominees 
 of the Democracy. 
 
 'Tis well now and then, to purge a party of the filth 
 that must and will accumulate upon it. The recep 
 tacle, so generously provided by the opposition, in
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 115 
 
 this instance, was surely worthy of its contents that 
 found a salubrious home in the cover of darkness, 
 secrecy and plots. The dead-broke political hacks, 
 already politically damned and consigned to the 
 shades of home the hades of collapsed politicians 
 were restless spirits, sad and cheerless, in the house 
 of their friends. If they looked back to their better 
 days, when they stood well with their friends, or 
 were the pride and admiration of their approving 
 constituencies, feelings of melancholy would oppress 
 them, and call forth curses upon the imprudent deed 
 that purchased for them their fall. If they looked 
 to the future, no ray of hope, no prospect of oppor 
 tunity to regain their wonted place ; no means of 
 self-sacrificing devotion, which would purchase atone 
 ment, and reinstate the fallen sinner to the brother 
 hood ; hence it was they looked for other and 
 sympathising friends. Know Nothings were ready 
 to embrace them ; and herein lied their objection and 
 opposition to the Democratic ticket. In short, who 
 is it, that is at all conversant with the history of the 
 late Virginia campaign, that will not declare that the 
 bone and sinew of the party, the true and reliable 
 men, the men of principle, almost as one man, stood 
 by the nominations ; while thoss who seceded and 
 objected were generally men of opposite character, 
 who, with advantage, could well be spared by any 
 honorable party, as proven by the unanimity with 
 which they esoused the Know Nothing cause ? 
 
 It is not our purpose, at this place, to speak of the 
 noble and patriotic conduct of the large number of 
 the Whig party who refused to acquiesce in the dis-
 
 116 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 graceful and unscrupulous game for power and for 
 spoils, played by the opposition ; who ignored their 
 schemes, their purposes, and the means employed 
 who had the wisdom to calculate the injury the 
 organization would work to the South and the Union 
 who had the fortitude to resist the movement, and 
 the moral courage and patriotism to enroll them 
 selves under the banner of the Virginia Democracy, 
 This band of patriotic allies more than compensated 
 the Democracy for the desertion of the poor miscreants 
 who fled from the lead of old Accomac-'s son, and hoped 
 to better their condition by being the enemy's allies, in 
 the predicted massacre, at the sacking of the great cit 
 adel, built by Jefferson, and defended by the dauntless 
 troops of the Virginia Democracy. But this decamp 
 ment, and this fleeing of black and shabby sheep, and 
 tough and battered rams from the Democratic fold, 
 were food for the enemy, who regarded them .as 
 tender ]ambs, from a precious flock, pure and mete 
 for immolation on the altar of their country. They 
 embraced them all with the generous fraternal hug, 
 and Tag, Rag and Bobtail found themselves honored 
 leaders of the now degenerate forces, who once swore 
 by the great Clay, fought under his command, and 
 advocated his principles. 
 
 It has been some time since we had a peep at the 
 Conncil, so we will turn to it, and see how the 
 several worthies and chief men of the secret syna 
 gogue are progressing. 
 
 That very delectable individual and scholar, who 
 received his education at a northern college, and to 
 whom belongs the honor and glory of introducing
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 117 
 
 culvert politics in Virginia, Mr. Bob Dobby, is still 
 the presiding dignity of the nightly orgies. 
 
 Old Captain Swyburg, who left the Democratic 
 party in disgust, because he failed to procure some 
 thing from the. hands of the administration, and who 
 held an office in the Council, is, as the reader has 
 been apprised, canvasser at large for the State, and 
 was from last accounts on the banks of the beautiful 
 Ohio, sojourning for awhile in and around the inter 
 esting village of Parkersburg; and Mr. Maurice 
 Meredith has been appointed to fill his place in the 
 Council. 
 
 Mr. Jno. James Gustavus Adolphus Fox, who 
 the reader knows as the man of platforms, who had 
 been buffeted about for years on the old Whig 
 platforms, and who would embrace any principles, 
 however obnoxious to southern interests, provided 
 they promised to defeat the Democracy, is still a 
 ruling spirit in their deliberations. 
 
 Mr. Americus Winks, whose most prominent trait 
 of character is loathsome selfishness ; whose heart was 
 formed of pigmy proportions on virtue's side, and of 
 huge measure of adamantine cast in those propensi 
 ties that lead to vice ; who was devoid of charity, 
 and without one drop of the milk of human kindness 
 in his whole make, form, composition, and nature ; 
 and who despised and persecuted the friendless 
 foreigners, is still a very choice man, with a very 
 choice office in the Council. 
 
 Also, Mr. Cincinnatus Pate, that prince of repro 
 bates, who has no respect for the divine teachings of 
 the Bible, nor any respect for any religion founded
 
 118 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 upon the Bible, but yet feared that the Eoman 
 Catholic religion would in time annihilate all others, 
 still stands well with the members, and has the com 
 mendation of efficiency and cleverness for his zeal 
 exhibited in the prosperity and success of the cause. 
 
 Let the honest reader here reflect, and he will 
 have no difficulty in calling to mind many Swy- 
 burgs, Foxes, Winks and Pates, who figured exten 
 sively on the Know Nothing arena in the Virginia 
 canvass of 1855. The picture is not overdrawn : 
 the characters present but true types of large num 
 bers of men who opposed the Democracy at that 
 time. A Swyburg, here and there, felt indignant 
 because his self-constituted merits were not appreci 
 ated and duly rewarded, and forthwith, in high 
 dudgeon, bolted, and by way of revenge, directed 
 puny thunder against the house of his quondam 
 friends. 
 
 The Foxes were numerous indeed ; in fact, most 
 of the old coons were converted into this sly and 
 covert-seeking animal. 
 
 The Winks family waxed strong in time, and 
 many, for want of truth and argument to sustain 
 them, prated loudly against foreigners. 
 
 The Pate family, too, had its numbers. As it 
 is an exceedingly easy matter for sinners to damn 
 the Pope, these were the most prominent of the 
 tribes of Know Nothings in Virginia. There were 
 many others, working in many devious and winding 
 ways, all striving for the same golden terminus, where 
 lay the glittering spoils, buried in the sepulchre of 
 the once powerful Democracy.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 119 
 
 Having thus paid our respects to the several prime 
 rulers, we will quite unceremoniously, and without 
 signal or pass-word, conduct the reader into the lodge- 
 room. 
 
 You will, perhaps, at the thought of entering such 
 a place, experience a sort of suffocating sensation; 
 verily, this is natural enough; but don't fear, the 
 place is offensive, the atmosphere is poisoned, but not 
 unto death, to those who breathe it through curiosity 
 only. The only essential change, since we last 
 entered, is that there is a much larger number com 
 muning together in delightful concert and brotherly 
 love, showing that dupes to the mystic tie have been 
 found in ample numbers even on old Virginia's 
 shore. 
 
 This is the first meeting since the Democratic nomi 
 nations were put forth ; and now it was that the evil 
 doers went to work with redoubled energy, and the 
 first business transaction on this important and 
 interesting occasion, was the appointment of a com 
 mittee, whose duty it should be to concoct, from the 
 generous flowing of their latitudinous imaginations, 
 long and ingeniously wrought fabrics sometimes 
 called yarns all to have the semblance of plausi 
 bility, if not exactly alike to truth itself, against the 
 nominees of the Staunton Convention. The only 
 limit placed upon the commission being, that no one 
 should go so far as to say that either of the gentlemen 
 placed upon the Democratic ticket had ever committed 
 theft or murder, or that either had ever aforetime, in 
 consequence of any imaginable crime, been a candi 
 date before any court of the Commonwealth for a
 
 120 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 term of service to the State, in the house prepared 
 for convicts. It' was surely a magnanimous impulse 
 that prompted this limit to the power of the com 
 mission. 
 
 In furtherance of the same plan, in addition to the 
 appointed committee, a general order was issued, 
 declaring that a gold medal should be presented to 
 the man who would concoct the biggest and most 
 effective story against Henry A. Wise. 
 
 A member then proposed the following device and 
 inscription for the medal: It should correspond in 
 shape with the geographical outlines of the thirteen 
 original States ; on one side, E Pluribus Uhum, then 
 follows the lie in bold relief; next, From our appre 
 ciation of the above, this medal is awarded to 
 
 by his brother Americans of Lodge, 
 
 Virginia. On the other side a ship returning to 
 Europe with foreigners ; a Catholic church on fire ; 
 the leader of the Virginia Democracy down on his 
 back, and a Know Nothing boss standing over him. 
 
 This proposition led to considerable discussion, 
 several gentlemen contending that the proposition to 
 inscribe the whole fancy essay on the medal was 
 tempting the .cupidity of gentlemen, inasmuch as 
 they-might strive to make the essay they called it 
 essay, as the rose by that name smelt sweeter as 
 long as possible, in order to obtain a wide surface of 
 gold. The advocates met the objection with philo 
 sophical arguments on the expansive properties of 
 gold, demonstrating the extraordinary thinness to 
 which it could be hammered, and that they could now 
 agree upon the value of the metal to be employed.
 
 LIFE AXD DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 121 
 
 The vote was then taken, and decided against the 
 advocates of the proposition. 
 
 The following inscription was then proposed and 
 adopted unanimously : '"Americans must rule 
 
 America ;' presented to our brother, in 
 
 token of the important service he rendered America 
 and America's cause, by his brother Americans of 
 
 Lodge, Virginia." The other side of the 
 
 medal was not debated, but passed as it came from 
 the hands of the great designer, and the medal bill 
 passed the Know Nothing assembly. 
 
 Mr. Americus "Winks then arose, and said : " Broth 
 ers of the Council however other gentlemen may 
 regard the issue, in my humble judgment the whole 
 matter turns upon one point, the foreign question. I 
 have addressed you on this subject before, but it is a 
 question that can't easily be exhausted. Every day 
 that I live I become more and more convinced, that, 
 if we succeed, we must do it by the proper use of the 
 great lever which circumstances and events have 
 placed in our hands. Every observing man knows 
 that every day the native population of this country 
 is becoming more and more alive to the danger from 
 the incoming foreigners. The natives are becoming 
 restive under the immense weight of foreign crime, 
 pauperism, misery, and more than all, the intolerant 
 and anti- American sentiments the foreigners are dis 
 seminating broadcast through our land. This pressure 
 must be thrown off, in order that the great American 
 heart may once more pulsate with the inspiring throbs 
 of freedom and of liberty. Our natives are preparing 
 for the effort, and at one grand upheaving of Ameri- 
 
 11
 
 122 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 can sentiment, the foreign mass will be thrown off", 
 and America be redeemed disenthralled. Other 
 States, at the North, have led in the matter, and let 
 us, Virginians, follow their worthy example. 
 
 "Another reason why we should give to this matter 
 our especial attention, is found in the ability, skill, 
 and management of the selected leader of our enemy. 
 It is said that he will canvass the State ; whatever 
 be our opinions of the man, we must acknowledge 
 the power of his eloquence, the seductive influence 
 of his capacity in the arts of wining friends ; he is, 
 by all odds, more to be dreaded by us than any man 
 they could have started. I say this within the veil 
 of this secret temple. If we beat him, we must do it 
 all by exciting the masses against foreigners ; prove 
 that the administration is anti-American in its cha 
 racter, and that the Democratic party, as a party, by 
 their policy, build up and patronize the alien, .to 
 the prejudice of the native ; and for this purpose I 
 have drawn up the following circular, a copy of 
 which should be forwarded to each State canvasser. 
 It runs as follows : 
 
 " DEAR SIR, 
 
 " Not doubting your capability to conduct intel 
 ligently the business committed to your hands by 
 your brother Americans in Council assembled, the 
 Council, nevertheless, has thought proper to address 
 to you, as to your associates in the work, the follow 
 ing letter of advice, with the hope, that you will* 
 receive it in the same spirit with which it is dictated. 
 In addition to the instructions you have heretofore
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 123 
 
 received, also in addition to the ways and means 
 your own native sagacity will suggest to you to 
 follow, as necessary to success in the exigencies of 
 the present campaign, the Council would particularly 
 and earnestly advise you to make the foreign ques 
 tion the strong point in the canvass. Appeal to the 
 prejudices of native Virginians, prove to them that 
 the great principle involved in this political struggle 
 is, whether natives or foreigners shall rule America. 
 Dwell upon the incalculable injury the foreign popu 
 lation is working to the country. Show that the 
 natural tendency of the principles held by tlie 
 Democracy is to foster and protect the alien rather 
 than the native ; and that the prime object, the proud 
 destiny of our organization, is to correct this crying, 
 this unnatural evil. Prove that the present admin 
 istration is the elevator of foreigners, the oppressor 
 of natives, and to enable you to do this effectually, a 
 table of statistics is herewith forwarded, showing the 
 large number of foreigners holding office. The 
 Democratic leader is in sympathy with the Pre 
 sident, and the most effective way of stabbing him 
 and destroying his influence is through the present 
 administration; and this is the chief reason that 
 induces us to the adoption of the course above sug 
 gested. Should the aforesaid leader appear in your 
 midst, as in all probability he will, remember you 
 must stand on your P's and Q's, or else the wily old 
 renegade will find you out : should this unfortunately 
 be the case the advice of the Council is to take to 
 your heels with considerable velocity, or otherwise he 
 might put you through an ordeal which would cause
 
 124: LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 
 
 you to remember ever afterwards the force of the old 
 adage, that the better part of valor is discretion a 
 word to the wise is sufficient. The purpose of the 
 organization is to allow him to have the whole field 
 to himself, in a public way, while we fight our 
 battle after our own peculiar manner. The Council 
 deems it useless to enter farther into detail or speci 
 fications, it has simply thrown out these suggestions 
 for your guidance, leaving it to your own good sense 
 and judgment how to give a practical and efficient 
 bearing to the hints herein contained. The Council 
 would request, farther, to be informed monthly of 
 the condition and progress of the canvass in your 
 particular bailawick ; and would thank you for any 
 general information that may come within your 
 range, touching the general interest of the organiza 
 tion. 
 
 " Yours, with brotherly love, 
 
 " Signed , President. 
 
 , Secretary? 
 
 The circular was received without amendment, and 
 the secretary directed to forward a copy to the ad 
 dress of each State canvasser. The next business in 
 order, was the reading of communications relative to 
 the progress of the cause. The first on the docket 
 was from old Captain Swyburg, dated Parkersburg, 
 and ran as follows : 
 
 4 
 
 "Dear Brothers, 
 
 "It is with feelings of indescribable delight, I am 
 permitted to say to you, that the work goes bravely on.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 125 
 
 I have now been in this section for some time; my 
 kind reception here, and the courtesy and hospitality 
 that has been extended to me by the citizens, is more 
 than gratifying. The whisperings we have so often 
 heard in the East of the want of fidelity to the South, 
 on the part of these people, is, I am pleased to say, 
 slanderous in the extreme, as proven by the alacrity 
 with which they espouse the Union's cause in uniting 
 with our organization. A greater degree of conser 
 vatism is found to pervade the Western mind than is 
 observable in the East; hence, the public mind here 
 is in a better state of preparation for the reception 
 and application of the conservative principles of our 
 organization. You may confidently count largely on 
 the Western vote, as I doubt not, the same spirit 
 prevails elsewhere as in the sections I have visited. 
 Nearly all the influential men in this region,, of both 
 the old parties, have united with us, and are now 
 worthy sentinels, guarding the rights of Americans. 
 The work, in this delightful section of Virginia, is 
 already nearly accomplished. I will leave the re 
 mainder to faithful hands, and in a few days start for 
 Point Pleasant, Mason Co., and certainly hope to find 
 recruits and co-laborers among the descendants of 
 the heroes of the battle of Point Pleasant. By the 
 
 way, there is a man in or near that place, Col. , 
 
 peculiarly fitted for some office of distinction from 
 our organization; he has heretofore been honored, 
 more than once, with democratic suffrages. It is 
 said that he is predisposed to the chief objects of 
 our organization ; if so, certain instances of independ 
 ence of character places him conspicuously before the
 
 126 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 American party. I shall see him, and if he proves 
 as I have been led to hope, you will be advised more 
 particularly on these points. From Point Pleasant I 
 expect to travel up the fertile valley of the beautiful 
 Kanawha, and spend some time among the genial 
 souls and hospitable citizens of Kanawha Co. In this 
 county I expect to accomplish much; you know the 
 political complexion of the people there. Standing 
 upon the far-famed soil of Terra Salis, I will unfurl 
 the American banner, and the cry of the sentinels, 
 from day to day will be, still they come. The editor 
 of that excellent, yea, invaluable republican journal, 
 published there, who is peculiarly a northern man 
 with southern feelings, has already, through his 
 columns, espoused our principles, and this will prove 
 a most valuable auxiliary in the work before me. 
 As Kanawha goes, so goes the congressional district 
 of which it forms a part. From Kanawha I shall -go 
 to Lewisburg, thence te South-western Virginia, which 
 section I particularly desire to visit, with the hope of 
 counteracting the influence of an ex-governor of the 
 State, who, it is said, will take a conspicuous part in 
 the canvass, it being strongly suspected that he has 
 an eye to Senator James M. Mason's place in the 
 national council. I would say in conclusion, that the 
 news of the Staunton Democratic nominations fell, in 
 this region, like a wet blanket even on the deepest 
 dyed and most zealous of the Anti-American party. 
 They are sadly dispirited, and will not go to work 
 with that degree of spirit and vitality that has here 
 tofore characterised their action in an important cam 
 paign. My brothers, the fruit upon the tree of
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 127 
 
 liberty is now ripening for our refreshment, let us 
 beware that no serpent of Democracy tempts us from 
 the honest tenor of our ways; also, let us remember 
 the injunctions placed upon us by the council that 
 recorded our names among the honored brotherhood 
 of the Sires of Seventy-Six, and touch no fruit forbid 
 den in the commands, lest in the touch we fall. The 
 prospect of success is so flattering, that my old bones 
 grow tremulous with joy, and my old heart pulsates 
 big and strong with emotions of patriotism in antici 
 pating the consummation of our wishes. When will 
 our wishes be consummated ? Not till Democracy 
 shall lie prostrate in the dust, and Americans shall 
 rule America. You will hear from me again before 
 long. With brotherly love, yours, &c. 
 
 " PETER SWYBURG, 0. G." 
 
 Several other communications were then read from 
 canvassers, giving reports of the condition of mat 
 ters in their respective sections ; there was nothing 
 important in either of these, so we will not trouble 
 the reader with a perusal, but proceed to recqrd the 
 communication of Yankee Uriah, as it fell verbatim 
 from the lips of the secretary. This document called 
 forth from the members of the Council laughter, 
 frowns, and half-suppressed anathemas against its 
 author, who, being safe in his mountain home, had 
 little to fear. 
 
 " Gentlemen, members of Council: 
 
 "DEAR SIRS Some few weeks ago, I wrote to 
 Mr. Fox, who has probably reported to you the sub-
 
 128 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 stance of that communication. If so, you will re 
 member that although at that time converts were 
 coming into the Order quite slowly, yet I was san 
 guine of success finally. Well, for some time after 
 that I went about bush-whacking, with an energy 
 and perseverance that I am sure would have chal 
 lenged the admiration of every man of you. Well, 
 I might have continued in the business until I re 
 ceived a commission from you to leave it off', but for 
 the happening of a little circumstance, which it is 
 incumbent upon me, as a man of honor, to report to 
 you. Premising that there is no way of calculating 
 the extraordinary mutations that may take place in a 
 man's mind, owing to the befogged condition our 
 foresight is generally in, I would say that a change 
 has come over the spirit of my dreams, growing out 
 of the circumstance referred to, which happened 
 after the following slightly painful and exceedingly 
 ludicrous manner, and which resulted in the glorious 
 consummation of the dearest wishes of your obedient 
 servant. 
 
 " It was just before sunset. I had been on a hard 
 day's canvass had made one convert. A tremendous 
 thunder storm came up. I took refuge in a cabin by 
 the road side ; it ceased raining ; the sun shone out ; 
 a beautiful and gaudily tinted rainbow arched the 
 eastern heavens. Animated with the success of 
 getting one convert that day, and zealous in the 
 cause, resumed my journey, and rushed on for a log 
 rolling some distance off there to work, work for 
 Sam, at 33] cents per head for initiates. I came to u 
 mountain creek, swollen by the flood, its waters leap-
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 129 
 
 ing and foaming, rushing headlong on ; but, nothing 
 daunted, I spurred my noble animal, and the brave 
 fellow plunged headlong in. Well, the horse and I 
 soon parted company. What became of him is not 
 positively known, though it is presumed that he was 
 washed down the stream. I, too, was washed down 
 the stream some half a mile or more, and then provi 
 dentially thrown upon the shore, though in a deci 
 dedly damp and somewhat dilapidated condition. 
 Gentlemen, you know it is out of reason to suppose 
 that a man could retain his mind and sensibilities 
 while tumbling along down at the bottom of a 
 muddy stream, buffeted by stumps and angles in the 
 bed, and chunked by heavy stones and rough old 
 logs for ten or fifteen minutes, without getting a little 
 daylight to breathe, so that, at the period of my 
 landing or running aground, if you please, I am not 
 certain but what I thought, if I thought at all, that I 
 was clear gone forever, and that you all would have 
 to procure another canvasser for the Tenth Legion. 
 How long I laid in that condition I do not know, nor 
 did I know how I got there, or for what purpose I 
 was there ; it appeared to me a dream. On returning 
 consciousness, the first object that struck my obser 
 vation was a beautiful mountain lass, stroking the 
 water from my dishevelled locks. 
 
 " ' Poor stranger,' said she, ' can you walk ?' 
 
 < D d if I kin,' said I. 
 
 '"If you can't,' said she, ' I will run up for father, 
 and he will fetch you up, and take care of you.' 
 
 " In a few moments a hale, hearty, jolly, old farmer, 
 of Dutch extraction, of some fifty summers, was by
 
 130 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 my side, who, without any questions, shouldered me, 
 just as if I, an American Canvasser, had been a bag 
 of potatoes, and carried me up the hill to the house, 
 and there the good people treated me kindly, and in 
 a few days was able to be out. 
 
 " Not wishing to impose too much on the kindness 
 of my preservers, I repaired to the tavern near by ; 
 and in a week or so was as well as ever, and ready 
 for work ; but then, alas ! I was in no condition to 
 work, as the image of the fair girl, at whose request 
 her daddy toated me up the hill, and cared for me in 
 distress, was continually haunting my mind, and I 
 suddenly turned my attention to poetry, &c. On 
 reading the works of the immortal Shakspeare, I was 
 struck with this passage, 
 
 " ' There is a tide in the affairs of man, 
 "Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune." 
 
 ' Well, it appeared to me, that my case fitted that 
 exactly. The tide in my affairs was the flood that 
 washed me down the torrent; the fortune it was to 
 lead to was the old Dutchman's, at his death, pro 
 vided, I could marry his daughter ; and forthwith 
 made up my mind for the effort. I became a frequent 
 visitor at his house, and was at all times well 
 received. After matters had run on long enough, I 
 one eveing asked the object of all my adorations to 
 walk with me to the spot where we too had first met. 
 She consented. I intended to be eloquent ; but, on 
 getting to the spot, felt a little insignificant, as 
 nothing but a little thread of water was passing 
 along its tiny bed, and I felt ashamed that such a 
 modest branch, in dry weather, should have, at flood
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 131 
 
 tide, used me so roughly. However, I made out the 
 best I could, declared my love at that very spot, was 
 accepted, and felt that the whole circumstance, was 
 perhaps, the most romantic event of the present cen 
 tury. All in good time, I asked the old man's 
 consent, who simply said, ' Well, as my daughter 
 found you, I suppose she has as good a right to you 
 as any body else.' And we are to be married, week 
 after next. 
 
 ' ; The old man is going to give us a grand wedding, 
 and I hope you will all come up, and see your old 
 friend joined in matrimony. I would ask your 
 worthy president to come up and give me away, but 
 as this might put him to some trouble, I calculate I 
 will take the responsibility upon myself, inasmuch 
 as the gal aint either a Catholic or a foreigner, and I 
 can't see that I am violating any of the oaths, by 
 which I swore myself away to the Order. The old 
 man is pretty stiff, and is going to do a handsome 
 part by us, say to the tune of several thousand, and 
 a valuable farm where I intend to devote my time 
 to the raising of stock and cattle on the farm, and 
 young Hawks in the house, which will, I dare say, 
 be a more independent way of living, than my pre 
 sent somewhat contingent income. The old man is 
 a thorough-going, out-and-out, Tenth-Legion Demo 
 crat ; and you know it is a good and happy thing to 
 keep peace in a family, so it strikes me as more than 
 expedient that I should follow the example of a great 
 many big men of the state, and join the same party, 
 particularly as I see nothing peculiarly objectionable 
 in their principles. I would, therefore, most respect-
 
 132 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 fully solicit of you a withdrawal from your organi 
 zation ; you need entertain no fears that I will ever 
 betray any of your secrets, for God knows, I am the 
 last man that will ever refer to my connection with 
 the Know Nothing organization. Below is my ac 
 count, which I would thank you to remit as soon as 
 possible, as I wish to present half to a Catholic church, 
 the other to the first poor, needy foreigner I meet, 
 as part remuneration for the injury I have done to 
 Catholics and foreigners. You will observe, that in 
 the account, the one third of a cent is not charged. I 
 have done this, feeling that I owe you something for 
 terminating our contract so suddenly. You will ob 
 serve further, that there is an item charged in the 
 account, for half an initiate ; this might appear mys 
 terious without an explanation. The one-half charge 
 is for a fellow who after coming in, and taking one 
 half the oaths, refused to take the other half, and, 
 without ceremony, bolted out of the lodge room. I 
 will state, in passing, that this man was a Democrat, 
 and it was thought proper, by those who were in the 
 room at the time the bolter made good his escape, 
 who were all Whigs, to take proper notice of the 
 desertion, and after much debate and deliberation, the 
 following somewhat equivocal resolution was passed : 
 
 " ' Resolved, That our half brother, Ike Davis, smelt 
 a rat, and decamped before he saw the elephant.' 
 
 " If, however, you think this charge for the half 
 initiate, ought not to be made, just strike it out, and 
 forward the remainder ; you may rest assured I will 
 never warrant you for it.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIKGINIA. 133 
 
 " The Members of Council No. 1 of the American Organization, 
 State of Virginia, 
 
 11 To H. Uriah Hawks, Dr. 
 
 Nov. 5, To procuring one initiate, 33 
 
 " 6 drinks, 3 straight, 5 cts., 3 with sugar, - 35 
 
 " 7, procuring one initiate, - -.' ' 33 
 
 " 12, " " " . '-+ : -Ci; '-v.y . ->* ; _ *; 33 
 
 " 17, " two " .- -..-.. Y ->-.. . 66 
 
 " 1 qt. of beer, 25 ; 2 drinks with sugar, * 45 
 
 " 21, " " " one initiate, - - . ri 33 
 
 " 27, " " " " - - ..- - 33 
 
 " 28, " " " a half initiate, 16 
 
 " gal. old rye, 50 ; 7 drinks, straight, 85 
 
 Eeceived payment, - - - - $4 12 
 Dec. IQtfi, 1854. 
 
 " Now, gentlemen, being about to bid you a long 
 farewell, if I were permitted so to do, I would advise 
 you to appoint no successor to me in this district ; I 
 have worked for you hard and faithfully, and am. 
 well convinced that Know Nothingism 'aint going 
 to take in the Tenth Legion ; you had as well try to 
 make white-wash out of pumpkins and flints as to 
 try to beat anything into the heads of these people, 
 that does not start with Democracy, go along with 
 Democracy, and end with Democracy. My private 
 opinion is worth nothing, gentlemen, but I rather 
 think you will be beat in the election. I shall not 
 have a vote, as I will not have resided here long 
 enough to entitle me to exercise that privilege so 
 much prized by us all in this land of liberty. Desir 
 ing to take leave of you in all kindness, 
 " I am, gentlemen, 
 
 " Yours, most respectfully, 
 
 H. U. HAWKS. 
 12
 
 134 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 This letter was the occasion of an exhortation from 
 a zealous member, who entreated his brothers not to 
 be at all dispirited or disheartened by what they had 
 heard ; that there was nothing in it entitled to one 
 moment's consideration ; that the author was at best 
 nothing but a traveling Yankee ; that the Council 
 deserved such treatment for making such an appoint 
 ment as the individual in question, &c., &c. He then 
 branched out on the importance of selecting honest, 
 tried, capable men for such offices, and concluded by 
 making an appeal to his brother, Maurice Meredith, 
 to accept and win laurels on the field so unworthily 
 surrendered by the ungrateful author of the commu 
 nication they had heard read. 
 
 There were attractions for Maurice at home about 
 this time, so he most peremptorily declined the 
 honor, saying, he was willing to make any and all 
 sacrifices for his party, but he owed a duty first to 
 himself, and he could not accept the mission without 
 neglect to the legal business committed to his hands. 
 
 It was finally suggested and agreed to, that old 
 Captain Swyburg be requested to go thither, after his 
 tour through the South- West was completed, and 
 this arrangement seemed to satisfy all present. It 
 was determined that the whole amount charged in 
 Mr. Hawk's account be paid, that his withdrawal 
 card be forwarded to him, and thus ended Uriah's 
 sojourn among the tribes of Virginia Know Nothings. 
 
 The following resolutions were then offered : 
 
 " Resolved, That no member of the American Order 
 of Virginia shall enter into public debate with the
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 135 
 
 leader of the Democratic party, and that even private 
 conversations with him be eschewed." 
 
 This resolution was referred to the standing com 
 mittee on rules and regulations of the canvass. 
 
 " Resolved, That a committee be appointed, whose 
 duty it shall be to form some uniform and practicable 
 plan by which the influential members of the Demo 
 cratic party, who are disposed to bolt their party 
 nominations, may be approached wisely and judici 
 ously, and thus be induced to throw their weight 
 and influence into the American scale." Adopted. 
 
 " Resolved, That in the opinion of this Council, that 
 when the American party shall meet in convention 
 to nominate candidates, that at least two of the 
 nominees be selected from the Democratic party." 
 Adopted also. 
 
 Much other business detained the Council until a 
 late hour, but as it was of no great importance to 
 themselves, nor the rest of mankind, we will bid its 
 worthy members good night, and once more let the 
 curtain fall that excludes them from the outward 
 world.
 
 136 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 CHAPTER XIY. 
 
 MB. Editor Peter Willing Turner now claims a 
 notice at the hands of the chronicler of Sam's doings. 
 Through inadvertence, this gentleman's claim to a 
 more extended notice in this history has been entirely 
 neglected ; so to atone for the wrong, he shall now 
 have u chapter appropriated to his service. To do 
 him justice, he was, as the world goes, an honest, 
 well-meaning man ; naturally of strong mind, it was 
 also well-stored with general and useful information. 
 He had for some years been connected with the pub 
 lic press, was a bold and ready writer, and by bis 
 courteous editorial career, commanded the universal 
 respect of his brothers of that honorable and influ 
 ential profession. He had always been a zealous, 
 wide-awake Whig in politics, was apparently most 
 devotedly attached to the principles of that party 
 had been a firm and constant friend of the great Mr. 
 Clay taxed his abilities and devoted the columns of 
 the journal he then conducted, to the support of that 
 distinguished gentleman for the presidency. 
 
 The great expounder of great principles, the Hon. 
 Daniel Webster, was a man whose political doctrines 
 and teachings he most heartily endorsed. And then 
 to come to a later day, there was a man of whom 
 fame speaks well in telling of his glories on the 
 tented field, but when transferred to civic life, as a 
 candidate for its highest honor, being an American,
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 137 
 
 betrayed too great a weakness for the " rich Irish 
 brogue and the sweet German accent," was also 
 warmly sustained by Mr. Turner, who, like the great 
 General, then had a fancy for the rich brogue, and 
 thought the German accent was sweet enough. 
 
 Such was Mr. Turner's life and character prior to 
 the introduction and progress of Know Nothingism 
 in Virginia. Let us now look at his career after he 
 became a sworn subject of this native king, and 
 see how it contrasts with his former professions. It 
 was stated above, that Mr. Turner was a warm 
 admirer of Henry Clay. Mr. Clay was for a time 
 the master-spirit of a great party : it is conceded that 
 that party had principles worthy the man ; and that 
 its opponents differed, not in contempt, but from the 
 conviction that other principles were better adapted 
 to our form of government. This party, of which 
 Mr. Clay was the great embodiment, openly, honestly 
 and boldly took issue with the opposition on great 
 subjects touching the national policy that ought to 
 be pursued. The Bank question, the Tariff ques 
 tion, the Internal Improvement question, (by the 
 general government,) &c., &c., were all subjects on 
 which great minds and pure patriots have differed. 
 How is it then, at so early a day as 1854, that men 
 are found, Mr. Turner included, who swore they 
 would live and die by the principles as expounded 
 by Clay and Webster, ignoring those principles, or 
 blotting them out from their political creed, and 
 essaying to make a political struggle in this intelli 
 gent land, on the poor, miserable, insignificant 
 question, whether it ought or ought not to be, that 
 
 12*
 
 138 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 naturalized citizens and Catholics should exercise 
 rights of citizenship, and hold offices in this country ? 
 How is it that men who, but a few years ago, sus 
 tained the distinguished General Scott in his bid for 
 the foreign vote, and played on the harp of a thousand 
 strings, with manifold variations to the tune he had 
 most artistically struck, in which was most harmo 
 niously blended the Irish brogue and the German 
 accent have so changed ? Such, though, has verily 
 come to pass in the days of Sam, and hardly have 
 the mortal remains of Clay and Webster become cold 
 in their graves before their once valiant friends have 
 turned their backs upon their teachings and ex 
 amples. Hardly, too, has the music their valiant 
 general raised in singing paens to noble foreigners, 
 in which the party joined in boisterous chorus, died 
 away in the distance, before another song is sung, 
 far different in sentiment and in tune. In which the 
 words, " down with Catholics, down with foreigners," 
 are often repeated. Upon what grounds of con 
 sistency Mr. Turner, and those who think and act 
 with him, reconcile this to their former position, it is 
 impossible to conceive. He, nor none of his col 
 leagues, have ever vouchsafed to tell the uninitiated 
 what course of policy they intend to pursue in 
 administering the affairs of government. Whether 
 they were for or against the Bank, Tariff, internal 
 improvement, distribution, the annexation of Cuba, 
 Canada and the rest of the world, that small portion, 
 the outside portion of mankind, was never advised. 
 They were non-committal, non-comatible on all of 
 these subjects. They all, however, seemed to agree
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 139 
 
 with extraordinary unanimity upon one point, namely, 
 crush out the foreigners and Catholics that are con 
 tinually licking up the grease from the wheels of 
 Government, and then the old Government would 
 roll on and on, to all time, without getting out of gear 
 or without requiring any more administrative power 
 to keep its motion regular and uniform. This cer 
 tainly, is a new theory in political economy, well 
 worthy of the modern schools of free, free, free, free, 
 free, free, freeisms at the North. 
 
 We will now copy from Mr. Turner's Know Nothing 
 journal certain passages, which were put forth as 
 precious doses for the stomach of that respectable 
 patient called Sam. Among the first issues that 
 came out, after the nams and political character of 
 the journal were changed, as if by way of apology to 
 the numerous patrons of the old Whig sheet, the fol 
 lowing passage occurred : 
 
 " After much study, reflection, and observation, 
 after a patient investigation of the wants of the 
 times, after looking into the condition of parties, 
 after looking to the past to find a lesson for the 
 future, the result of all our deliberations is the fixed 
 and firm conclusion that the salvation of our country 
 now depends upon the adoption of the principles as 
 set forth in the American platform. Such being our 
 conscientious conviction, there is but one path of 
 duty for us to follow, viz. : to go with that party, 
 and contribute our best endeavors towards the accom 
 plishment of its objects. To our old friends and 
 patrons, who cannot go with us, we must tender a 
 reluctant farewell. They cannot ask us to stay with
 
 140 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 them when our country calls us to its aid ; the prime 
 article in their creed is that natives should rule 
 America ; where is the man that does not endorse the 
 sentiment ? We desire it, however, to be distinctly 
 understood, that in taking this position, we renounce 
 none of the great principles the Whig party has so 
 long and so nobly contended for. These principles, 
 as it were, are laid on the shelf until the accomplish 
 ment of a particular result, which can only be accom 
 plished through the means and instrumentalities as 
 proposed by the American organization ; this result 
 accomplished, and we will be free to raise once more 
 the time-honored flag which floated in the breeze 
 when Harry of the West was chieftain of our clan." 
 
 This latter clause was most wisely put in, which 
 simply means, in unambiguous English, that the 
 editor intended to experiment a while with the work 
 ings of the mysterious charm Know Nothingism was 
 said to possess, and then, if it did not come up Jo 
 representations, he would immediately fall back upon 
 his old stay, and be as good a Whig as ever. He 
 was probably dubious as to what the sense of a ma 
 jority of his. subscribers was on this question. So 
 he assumed the position which may aptly be likened 
 unto a stick of candy, with a new flavor at one end 
 and an old flavor at the other, which he threw out 
 among his patrons, and if a man did not like the 
 taste of the new he could reverse the stick and go to 
 sucking the old, and vice versd ; though he strongly 
 recommended the new as the best, yet concluded that 
 it was, nevertheless, a matter of taste. 
 
 That his position was appreciated by at least one
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 141 
 
 man, the following letter will show, which came to 
 hand a few days after the publication of the passage : 
 
 " DEAR SIR, 
 
 "I observe in the leading editorial article of last 
 date, that you have shaped your trap and constructed 
 your triggers with the view of catching birds of dif 
 ferent feathers at the same fall ; and, from the bait 
 used, I infer that you desire doves and owls (night 
 birds.) Now, permit me to say to you, that these 
 birds do not generally associate together in harmony ; 
 and, moreover, it being left to my discretion which 
 one of these birds I shall represent myself by, I 
 would state that I choose the dove, and must say, in 
 conclusion, that I can find no place under your trap 
 upon which I can rest the sole of my foot. So you 
 had as well discontinue my paper. 
 
 "Yours, &c. ." 
 
 Happily for him, however, nearly all of his patrons 
 were pleased with the new plan, so that his subscrip 
 tion list was not materially changed. Shortly after 
 this, the following passage occurred, in which the 
 editor exhibited his gift of prophecy, and in so doing 
 ran the risk of bringing himself within the applica 
 tion of the old adage, which says that " a guilty con 
 science needs no accuser." 
 
 "It is perfectly certain," said the editor, "that the 
 Democratic press of this State will endeavor to prove 
 that the American party of Virginia is in sympathy 
 with the Northern Abolition party. It is a notorious 
 fact, that no party in this State can support a man
 
 142 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 for State or federal officers that the Democratic party 
 will not endeavor to show that he is not faithful to 
 southern interests. For instance, look to the late 
 presidential election look to the gubernatorial cam 
 paign that elevated Gov. Johnson to his present posi 
 tion, and it will be remembered that both the 
 opponents to the Democratic ticket were accused of 
 northern affinities. 
 
 " The proper way for us to meet such charges and 
 insinuations is by the contempt which silence carries 
 with it. For our part, we shall notice no such dis 
 graceful and slanderous efforts to retain power and 
 place now in their possession. 
 
 "The American party must stand upon the justice 
 of its own native cause, or Ml, so far as we are con 
 cerned.". 
 
 Well, Mr. Editor, you concluded very patriotically; 
 but, when you penned the article, did your conscience 
 tell you that your party was amenable to the charge ? 
 You must, at any rate, have felt, the uncertainty of 
 your position ; you must have felt obnoxious to such 
 a charge, though even your political enemies did not 
 so regard you; or else, why did you anticipate the 
 charge, and plead not guilty, before you were 
 arraigned before the Democratic Court of Inquiry, 
 which court has never yet soiled the ermine of 
 justice, but sits with majesty on its elevated platform, 
 tries all causes with impartiality, and mingles in all 
 its orders and decrees mercy and moderation. True, 
 its judgment has more than once been that the Whig 
 party should be transferred for awhile to the regions 
 of Salt Biver : and would you not call this clemency ?
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 143 
 
 Moreover, do you not know that these cases have 
 been more than once taken to a higher court, a 
 supreme court, the court of the people the viva voce 
 court of Virginia's sovereigns ? And when was one 
 of these judgments reversed ? Never ; but every one 
 has been sustained ; and upon what grounds can you 
 complain ? 
 
 But to return to the editor's assertion that the 
 Democracy would charge his party with abolition 
 affinities. That prophecy failed ; no such charge was 
 ever made. The Democracy well knew that whatever 
 political opinions true Yirginians might entertain, 
 however far asunder her people might be in those 
 opinions, there was still one common ground upon 
 which all could meet and hold counsel together, with 
 one heart and one mind. The Bible which their 
 immortal forefathers read, and found slavery there 
 authorized, before they consented that it should be 
 introduced into this country is still in the hands of 
 their descendants. The law which declared slaves to 
 be property is still recorded on the pages of the 
 nation's statute book ; and so long, then, as the Bible 
 is accessible to the people of Virginia so long as 
 that law remains upon the statute book so long will 
 Whigs, Know-Nothings, Democrats, and what not, 
 meet on this common ground, defend and protect 
 their rights and their property. Not until a party 
 shall arise in Virginia, as at the North, which will 
 trample under foot the Bible, will there be a party 
 here,'so deadened in all the finer sensibilities of 
 human nature, so poisoned by the putrid stream of 
 man -fanaticism which must have its origin in free
 
 14:4 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 society so callous to all the precepts of common 
 humanity, as to advocate the measure of tearing the 
 slave from his kind master, and throw him upon the 
 cold charities of a world, to earn perhaps, at best, but 
 a precarious subsistence, and finally, from the force of 
 his unrefined and sluggish nature, degenerate to his 
 original state. True, self-interest has its sway over 
 southern as over northern minds ; but a louder voice 
 than that which bids us keep the slave as property 
 for our own behoof, and our children's use the voice 
 of humanity in pleading tones, touches the south 
 erner's heart, and tells us to protect the negro ; and 
 this Virginia will do, come what will, what may. 
 
 That respectable northern woman, Mrs. Stow, may 
 sit in her easy chair and create as many brutal Haleys 
 as she pleases ; let their name be legion let them all 
 draw the blood from the poor negro's back let that 
 blood all unite and flow in one sanguinary stream 
 through the South, and, to finish her picture, let it 
 stain old ocean even to Boston port. Let her paint as 
 many good old Uncle Toms, and delicate, gentle 
 Elizas as she pleases ; and let her pitying strains, in 
 bewailing their condition, be touching in the extreme; 
 and as she excels in the art of taking portraits of 
 negro girls, let her paint a Topsy tenfold blacker, 
 more ignorant, and more devilish than the original ; 
 and let all of her picture-evils of slavery, as it exists 
 at the South, be drawn in deeper colors and what 
 would be the effect of all her writings ? Why, simply 
 to make the maddened abolitionist madder still, and 
 the southern gentleman to clench his property with 
 a tighter grasp, and cause him to wish for more of
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 145 
 
 such characters as the authoress has such an aptitude 
 for delineating. Though it would be well for tnat 
 lady to know, before she takes up her brush to paint 
 representations of southern life, with its peculiar 
 institutions, that the Haleys, if they ever existed, have 
 long since been numbered with the things that were. 
 The place of this raw head and bloody bones, this terror 
 to the Virginia negroe, has been filled by the Yan 
 kee, who the negro, by his keen sensibilities, at once 
 recognizes when he appears in our midst ; and with 
 that instinct, observable even in lower orders of ani 
 mals, which points their enemies out, he fears and 
 dreads the Yankee. 
 
 No, Mr. Editor, your gift of prophecy failed when 
 you predicted that the Democrats of Virginia would 
 charge you or your party with abolitionism. But 
 what the Democracy said of your party was said in 
 the spirit of truth and friendly admonition. They 
 entreated you not to strike your old colors, but to 
 meet them in open and manly fight, as you had 
 often done before. They told you not to hoist the 
 Know Nothing flag on Virginia's soil. They said to 
 you that southern breezes should not kiss the dark 
 folds of the flag that had waved in victorious battle 
 over Virginia's enemies. They directed your eyes 
 to the birth-place and the birth of the party that 
 carried that flag. 
 
 New England was its birth-place; how produced? 
 That land is famed for its multitude of isms, and the 
 direst of all is abolitionism, which is regarded by all 
 the manifold isms as common ground. Now that 
 this mongrel and mixed up set might work together 
 
 13
 
 146 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 in concert on their common tract leading to the devil, 
 they concluded to hold a convention, in which there 
 should be representatives from all. They met and 
 resolved to throw all their isms together, each to be 
 bound by the progeny, whatever it was. This was 
 done, and Know Nothingism was the offspring. The 
 worthy grannies all pronounced it a proper child, 
 very much resembling its chief father, abolitionism, 
 but with bolder features ; though, before it was 
 dressed, some one wiser than the rest whispered, 
 " Hush ! at the South it would be called a monster ; 
 so we will closely veil it," and hence the secrecy of 
 Know Nothingism. The whole family of isms, which 
 constituted a large portion of the population of the 
 Northern States, having centred upon Know Nothing- 
 ism, who could withstand its progress, who check its 
 victorious march! and in an incredibly short period 
 of time, all that was pure, noble, patriotic and na 
 tional in the Northern. States, was torn to pieces by 
 the rabid dogs of sectionalism let loose from the 
 Know Nothing kennel. As the desert's hot breath 
 prostrates the weary traveller, so has the effluvia 
 emanating from Northern culvert-holes poisoned and 
 suffocated the spirit of true republicanism there. 
 
 The advice the Democracy of Virginia gave you 
 and your party, Mr. Editor Turner, was to stand 
 aloof from that party. But finding that this advice 
 availed nothing, they then charged you with giving 
 aid and comfort to Virginia's foes, by joining the 
 party these foes had formed, for the accomplishment 
 their own sectional, and worse than abominable pur 
 poses. The Democracy asked you, if southern men
 
 LIFE AND JJEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 147 
 
 should not be slow to join that party, after all the 
 insults that have been heaped upon southern charac 
 ters, and southern institutions? After the many acts 
 of violence perpetrated in the very face of the consti 
 tution itself, by the phrenzied fanatics of that land, 
 who were in truth the formers of that party. That 
 question was in all conscience a proper one, and 
 surely pertinent enough. But what respect did you 
 pay it? AY here and how did you answer? Why, 
 in the Lodge room, and by swearing yourselves away 
 to those very enemies of Virginia. 
 
 It has been argued by some, that the fact, that 
 there are those to be found in Virginia, to unite in 
 political action (with those who are continually vili 
 fying and trampling upon their rights,) under a 
 political organization, which had for its object syste 
 matic aggressions and encroachments upon southern 
 rights, shows that the high toned, the chivalrous 
 spirit of the people, which has been Virginia's pride 
 and boast for so many years, is sadly on the de 
 cline ; and that Virginians have so far forgotten their 
 ancestry and their fame, as to be ready to lick the 
 hand raised to strike them. Must this argument be 
 assumed as correct ? Virginia pride revolts at the 
 idea, and would fain find some palliating excuse for 
 those who so shamefully become the willing dupes to 
 a northern plot ; and attribute it to the furor of po 
 litical excitement, rather than acknowledge that Vir 
 ginians are capable of feeling the ignoble sentiment 
 of servility. But let Virginia pride be their apologist 
 and what would be the best excuse it could frame, 
 for those who joined the Know Nothing party?
 
 148 LIFE AND DEATII OF SA.M IX VIRGINIA. 
 
 Why, that in their desire to conquer the Democracy, 
 they so far forget themselves as to hope that by the 
 aid of the culvert's secresy and the culvert's morals 
 they would succeed, and Democracy would fall. 
 This, though, would be the artful politician's excuse, 
 who would hope for acceptance in the license allowed 
 gentlemen of his stripe. 
 
 But what says old Virginia ? The good old State, 
 with pitying eye looks upon all, who, by their unna 
 tural acceptance of a northern creed, put in jeopardy 
 her interests ; and says, for the hope of reward you 
 parted with your birth-right, and are no more worthy 
 to be called my sons, until you break all party con 
 nections with my enemies. Having traveled north 
 in search of (political) food, I know you are hungry, 
 and fain would fill your bellies with the husks of 
 office. If you return to your old mother's house, 
 you will find no fatted calf upon my table, though 
 after years of devotion to southern interests, my 
 people may, perhaps, reward you amply, by the 
 bestowal of some office, trust, or honor. On your 
 return to my house, be modest, mourn for awhile, in 
 sackcloth and ashes, ask nothing of my people, until 
 you become acclimated to your southern home, for I 
 say unto you, that you shall" have nothing, and to 
 my law-makers, that they shall give you, not even a 
 doorkeeper's place in their sanctuary. 
 
 As before remarked, the Editor's prophesy, that 
 the Democracy would charge his party in Virginia 
 with abolitionism utterly failed, no such charge was 
 ever made; but Sam in general is, nevertheless, a 
 very criminal individual, even, after admitting, that
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIKGINIA. 
 
 Sain in Virginia, is a northern man, with southern 
 feelings ; and some of his crimes will further appear 
 -as the editor's career is a little further sketched. 
 
 When Mr. Turner first turned around, and got 
 with the Know Nothing current, his journal was con 
 ducted on the half and half principle, half Know 
 Nothing, the balance Whig, but by and by, with 
 graceful and almost unapparent diminution, whig 
 ideas, began to disappear, so that by the time it was 
 ascertained that the Whig party was becoming com 
 pletely Know Nothingized, he came out as strong 
 and as bold in the native cause, as the maddest fana 
 tic could desire. His party " honeyfuggiing" articles 
 were original, lofty, grandiloquent, poetic, humorous 
 and long. His tirades and satires against the De 
 mocracy, and especially its leader were simply awful; 
 and might have been withering, except that they 
 wanted one essential element, called truth. 
 
 As fast as one coin of his manufacture came out, 
 respectable gentlemen, on the other side, took it upon 
 themselves to "nail it to the counter;" but, nothing 
 daunted, the next issue would contain another of 
 different size, value, and dimensions. This would 
 meet with the fate of its predecessor, and so on, until 
 'people began to wonder at his extraordinary facili 
 ties in that department, and in the absence of all infor 
 mation on this subject, concluded that he was 
 indebted to his very brilliant imagination for his 
 facts and truths. He studied northern journals, soon 
 became well posted on the foreign question; and de 
 tailed to his readers regularly a good deal of his 
 learning, on the evils resulting from the immense emi- 
 
 13*
 
 150 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 gration to this country, thereby showing, that his 
 opinions from some cause (not mentioned by him) 
 have undergone some modification since the tim 
 when he so zealously sustained General Scott for the 
 presidency. 
 
 As has been stated, he had for many years been 
 connected with the press, and during that whole 
 period, like a good Christian, was never known to 
 publish or issue any thing to the discredit of any 
 religious creed, thinking, no doubt, very properly, 
 that religion was a matter of will and conscience, 
 whose terms were not to be dictated and prescribed 
 by man to man. But as he advanced step by step in 
 Know Nothingism, the evil and prescriptive spirit of 
 the party was instilled into his very heart ; and with 
 a high hand he entered the holy sanctuary of the 
 Eoman Catholic denomination, and dared to mingle 
 the emblems of the cross in the mire and filth of 
 political strife. He made the wonderful discovery, 
 that the handful of Eomanists in Virginia were dan 
 gerous to the well-being of the State, and should be 
 judged as criminals by the protestant population of 
 State. But not to follow him any farther, at present, 
 in his downward career, it may be said in conclusion, 
 that his journal progressed in evil with its cause. 
 The numerous correspondents from various sections 
 located in truth in the editor's office contributed 
 their quota of blackguardism and abuse ; real corres 
 pondents vied with them in this- elegant and literary 
 pastime; while every thing that savored of low-bred 
 political abuse and vulgarity, was snatched from every 
 source, until the journal became absolutely such a thing 
 as could only be read by Know Nothings.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 151 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 THE intrepid leader of the Virginia Democracy was 
 now at work. He studied the nature of the enemy he 
 had to deal with, and his master intellect soon pointed 
 out the course he should take ; his mind once made 
 tip, firm as adamant, he followed it to the letter. He 
 was his own counsellor in the formation of his plans, 
 and those who were prepared to do him service, caught 
 as it were, some of the fire of his genius and resolu 
 tion, and worked, if it may be so expressed, in the 
 second degree of efficiency, for it must be acknow 
 ledged, that on his shoulders alone rested the force 
 of the political struggle. He believed that the foe 
 which had arrayed itself in hostility to the Democ 
 racy, was unworthy of that respectful recognition 
 which would elicit courtesy from those Virginians 
 who were jealous of her prosperity and her integrity 
 to her reputation. He believed that party destitute 
 of principle traitors to the South and if their coun 
 sels should unhappily prevail, all that was worth pre 
 serving in the old dominion would bleed and waste 
 away upon the barren failure of northern ideas, sent 
 South for experiment. He knew that in covert dark 
 ness, behind the oft repeated declarations of conser 
 vatism, the wildest radicalism laid in ambush, ready, 
 should opportunity offer, to pounce upon the modest 
 precepts of wisdom, tried and tested by long expe 
 rience. He knew, that under the specious cover of
 
 152 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA 
 
 disinterested patriotism, there lurked the black spirit 
 Proscription, more galling than any that ever visited 
 his native State before. " We ask not for offices; we 
 ask not for honors, we work only for our country's 
 good;" this he correctly translated we demand all 
 the offices, we demand all the honors, we work only 
 for the spoils. How true that translation was, events 
 have fully proven. He regarded all those engaged 
 in the work as an immense company of undertakers, 
 who, if let alone in their excess of folly and mad 
 ness, would weave the funeral garments for Virginia's 
 glories, and dig deep the sepulchre for the interment 
 of all her rights. He looked to the North, and saw 
 the ruin and desolation their co-laborers had there 
 worked; asked himself the question, shall this be Vir 
 ginia's doom? His proud spirit rebelled againsts any 
 other answer to the question but the most emphatic 
 no. And with this answer his resolution to save Vir 
 ginia was begot; he felt the might and power within 
 him, and went forth conquering and to conquer. Did 
 he adapt the maxim of most politicians in treating 
 with their opponents, viz.: 
 
 " Being to their virtues very kind, 
 And to their vices very blind." 
 
 No, too proud to ask favors of a party whose 
 patronage might be questionable, he boldly rais <l 
 liis voice against them, and painted their follies in 
 colors such as bold and undisguised truth only 
 bestows. He was not the man to cringe to the 
 reputed power of the secret party not the man to 
 bend the suple knee, and with hypocritical words,
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 153 
 
 sue for peace and good will from his political foes. 
 But his course was just the opposite, clad in the 
 steeled armor which right gives to action, every fibre 
 of his manly heart felt the justice of his cause, and 
 boldly he bid defiance to the allied army of Whigs, 
 Know Nothings and deserters, who were madly 
 intent on storming the proud works of the Demo 
 cracy. He went forth among his people, and halted 
 at many points ; where'er he went his fame was in 
 advance of him ; the people came to hear the voice 
 of the orator plead the cause of their dear old State, 
 and in these addresses he failed not to awaken 
 feelings of patriotism in the right-minded, and to 
 administer scathing, blasting, withering rebukes to 
 the party that so ingloriously dared .oppose the 
 rights and interests of Virginia and the South. 
 
 How stood matters when he entered the field? 
 Know Nothingism was on the increase ; day by day 
 added new recruits ; and, inspired by the desire for a 
 Virginia victory, natives and northern emissaries 
 madly pressed on, and by their shouts and boasts 
 declared the victory won. Many a lover of the Old 
 Dominion was made to shudder, fearing that their 
 words were true. Consternation and dread was 
 beginning to spread in the heretofore sanguine ranks 
 of Democracy. All eyes were then turned towards 
 their leader ; he came forth, and ere the tones of his 
 first address had died away, Know Nothingism in 
 Virginia had received its first weakening blow ; and 
 here began the decline of the Know Nothing party, 
 heretofore waxing strong, and daily becoming more 
 obnoxious' to all lovers of order and morality.
 
 154: LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA 
 
 The bold and manly stand thus taken by the 
 Democratic leader was regarded by the opposition 
 as a warning voice to more vigorous action and 
 endeavor on their art, and hence it was that their 
 former efforts in furtherance of their designs were 
 but the mild preparations, initiatory to a course of 
 unparalleled disregard for decency, honesty, and 
 truth. Now it was that the infernal machines, which 
 had been employed at the North with such melan 
 choly effects, blasting to every sentiment of truth, 
 conservatism, and nationality, were forwarded South, 
 and distributed among the peace and order-loving 
 citizens of Virginia, here to deal out its work of 
 moral death, or leave behind its foul contagion of 
 political pollution. And, strange to say, men of 
 sterling worth, of irreproachable character, distin 
 guished for intelligence, men whose every interest 
 was identified with Virginia, were so blinded by the 
 deceptive glare of the dark lantern, as to take 
 charge of these infernal machines, arid with their 
 thumbs upon the secret springs, went about stealthily, 
 traversing dark holes and corners, and there let loose 
 Northern explosive elements, the chief of which was 
 Know Nothingism, upon the devoted heads of Vir 
 ginians ; some too ignorant to detect the true nature 
 of those principles, many too honest and unsuspect 
 ing to think of fraud and deceit in others. 
 
 All the resolves of the Council, to which reference 
 was made in the thirteenth chapter, were now carried 
 into practical and systematical operation. The 
 honorable committee appointed by the Council to 
 concoct ingeniously wrought yarns against the
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIKGINIA. 155 
 
 Democratic nominees, held its sessions, and never 
 was a committee more faithful to the object and 
 intent of its appointment. Sam's boys surely 
 exulted in the distinguished ability with which the 
 duties of that committee were discharged, and 
 thought they discovered faint indications of success 
 glimmering through the thick and black net-work 
 of fabrication daily put forth for the edification and 
 encouragement of the members of the secret party. 
 
 Long and illustrious was the list of doughty com 
 petitors who strove for the gold medal offered by the 
 Council, to which reference was also made in the 
 thirteenth chapter. So much talent, ingenuity, and 
 skill was called into play in this behalf, that it was 
 only by long, weary, and arduous sittings, that the 
 judges were enabled to decide on whom the honor 
 and the medal for the biggest story should fall. In fact, 
 it was found to be a matter of utter impossibility 
 ever to decide between the comparative merits of 
 several that were presented, as to which was the 
 biggest. In this respect, they were equal ; and not 
 until the worthy judges took into consideration the 
 probable efficiency and practical utility that thoy 
 could come to a decision. The occasion of presenta 
 tion was one of much pomp and circumstance, a 
 description of which will hereafter be given. 
 
 The next instruction, noticed in the thirteenth 
 chapter, which issued from the Council in session to 
 their political friends, was that the foreign question 
 should be made the great issue of the campaign. 
 The leader of the Virginia Democracy was in sym 
 pathy with the administration ; the administration
 
 156 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 was anti- American, and the Democracy of Virginia 
 was to be weakened through the administration ; and 
 to this end, a table of statistics was made out, exhi 
 biting a vast majority of the federal offices as being 
 filled by foreigners. ' How they expected to accom 
 plish anything by this means it is impossible to con 
 ceive, as it was a most barefaced outrage upon truth, 
 and its perpetrators must have known that nothing 
 was easier than to stamp it as such. The members 
 of the party being sworn to obey instructions, at 
 once participated in that abominable and disgraceful 
 expedient of arraying class against class. This 
 practice, whether for political or any conceivable end, 
 cannot be censured strongly enough by words and 
 ideas. It is one of the evil devices sometimes re 
 sorted to, the disgustful abhorrence of which cannot 
 be expressed by the right minded of mankind, but 
 only felt, pitied, and lamented. 
 
 Whatever may be the evils of emigration to this 
 country, it affects for the most part the Northern 
 States ; and when this course was resorted to in Vir 
 ginia it was only an exhibition of the most wanton 
 and illegitimate proscription. Admit that these 
 foreigners are troublesome and a burthen to some of 
 the States north of this latitude, is that any reason 
 why Virginia should compromise her reputation for 
 charity and philanthropy? Is Virginia so far be 
 holden to those who are from time to time robbing 
 her of her property, and setting at naught a great 
 Constitution which she at least has always regarded 
 as too sacred to be tampered with, as to lend herself 
 a willing tool for the correction of evils that affect
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIEGINIA. 157 
 
 only those people ? Does the Know Nothing creed 
 contain the principle that States, like men, when 
 smote on one cheek should turn the other? or that 
 States, like Christians, should return good for evil ? 
 If such indeed be their creed, they could hardly 
 hope to find a Southern independent sovereignty 
 such as Virginia, to practice these pious rules of con 
 duct. If -emigration be an evil, it should be corrected 
 by those who inhabit the regions where the evils are 
 felt. When the Yankees let our slaves alone, it will 
 then be time enough for them to ask our assistance 
 in ridding them of any evil; surely, not till then 
 should Virginians volunteer it. Has this State ever 
 felt that her foreign population was a burthen to her? 
 Her population of this class is spare, and they are for 
 the most part worthy and useful citizens, infinitely 
 more so than the straggling Yankees who sometimes 
 stray in this direction, having escaped from the din 
 and confusion of a tin-cup manufactory, the routine 
 and drudgery of a notion emporium, or from the pre 
 cincts of one of those modern establishments, digni 
 fied with the name of college, where Yankee youths 
 are taught new and improved theories in every imagi 
 nable branch of education, from the most approved 
 method of currying Jackasses in English to the safest 
 way of crossing Coesar's bridge in Latin, the locality 
 of which is said to be but a few paces this side of 
 Yankee graduation. 
 
 There was a time when foreigners were not so 
 abused in this country there was a time when the 
 natives stood upon the beach and gave him a hearty 
 welcome to America. There was a time when he
 
 158 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 was wanted, and none thought of laws to expel him. 
 That was the dark and troublesome time, when the 
 British lion sent over his whelps of tyranny, and 
 thought to perpetuate bondage in America. Death 
 to bondage and oppression, was the cry of those that 
 purchased our liberties; and that cry was nobly 
 responded to by those foreigners t en in America. 
 They armed themselves as Americans they fought 
 side by side with Americans they bled and died for 
 America. Then, this country was weak, and needed 
 foreign aid, now, it is strong, and there has arisen a 
 party anxious to drive them from our shores. 
 
 The descendant of some patriotic hero, whose 
 blood was drunk by American soil, whose body filled 
 a soldier's grave, whose right arm struck valiantly 
 for our liberties, might come to this country, feeling 
 that his ancestor bequeathed him an interest in these 
 liberties, as enjoyed by Americans. What would 
 this party say to him on his arrival ? " You are 
 permitted to land in this country, to take care of 
 yourself, if you can, to enrich yourself, if you can ; 
 but farther than this, we grant you no permission ; 
 especially, do we enjoin it upon you to stay away 
 from the ballot box, as ' Americans must rule 
 America.' We esteem the right of suffrage too 
 highly to be participated in by any but Americans. 
 We cannot acknowledge that you derive any claim 
 upon this country through your ancestor, however 
 heroic, brave and true he might have been. Be con 
 tent, then, to live in our land, f>nd to receive the 
 protection of our laws. But ask not for farther 
 privileges." And within this narrow compass would
 
 LIFE AND DEATH UF riAM IN VIRGINIA. 159 
 
 Know Nothings proscribe foreigners ; they grant 
 them life and laws to protect them, and their pro 
 perty ; they grant them a free passport to roam at 
 will in this land of liberty settle our western wilds, 
 contribute to our country's wealth, and free to par 
 ticipate in all the grosser things of earth that minister 
 to the mere animal nature of man. But some of the 
 higher attributes of man, for instance, the refined 
 sentiment of liberty, the full appreciation of which 
 can only be induced by the practical enjoyment of 
 its dearest privilege the right to choose one's rulers 
 and law-makers. Of this privilege he is debarred ; 
 and must remain a stranger to liberty's sweetest 
 right, in the land of liberty ; although he has 
 abjured his realm, sworn allegiance to the United 
 States, been here sufficiently long to become ac 
 quainted with our institutions, and has identified 
 himself thoroughly with the interests of the country. 
 What then is his condition ? He finds himself 
 under the shadow of the great tree of liberty, whose 
 roots have grown deep in American soil, whose great 
 branches, like protecting arms to the world, are 
 reaching out and extending to all parts of the earth. 
 This tree affords him shelter and protection from the 
 tyrant's cruel persecution ; showers of blessings 
 descend from its branches, some of which he is per 
 mitted to enjoy, though the most choice fruit must 
 fall for natives. And then, it is the happy custom 
 of the country for every man, if he choses to dig 
 around the roots of this tree, to give it life, vigor 
 and perpetuity. But while this interesting work is 
 going on, the poor foreigner, who is as much inter-
 
 160 LIFE AND LEAT1I OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 ested as any, in its vigor and perpetuity, must stand 
 aloof, and never deal his blow. Such is the sordid 
 nature of the Yankee, such his narrow mind, always 
 intent on gain and thrift, that he has no time to 
 devote to heart feelings; no time to calculate the 
 nobler sentiments of man ; therefore, it is not aston 
 ishing that he should cherish no fond remembrance, 
 no grateful emotions, for those foreigners who fought 
 at Bunker Hill, and on every northern plain where 
 American shot were aimed at British hearts. That 
 the Yankee should play an ungrateful part astonishes 
 none. 
 
 Again, since money is his god, and foreigners 
 generally present to him but feeble opportunities of 
 making money from, it is not very astonishing that 
 he should seek to keep them out of the country ; but 
 that a large number of Virginians should be found to 
 take up this hue and cry against the foreigners was 
 surely not to have been expected. Virginia's enemies 
 sometimes throw at her the taunt, that she lives on 
 her memories ; but so far from its being a taunt, it is 
 her pride to cherish memories of the past. It is one 
 of her glories that she has a Yorktown, with its his 
 torical associations, within her borders ; 'tis one of her 
 pleasures and while a pleasure, her honor to cherish 
 for the brave Lafayette, and all the foreign soldiers m 
 the War of Independence, the remembrance due their 
 deeds and sacrifices. 
 
 The cold, calculating Yankee settles all the accounts 
 of those who fought for America in dollars and cents 
 the soldier had his pay. With generous southerners 
 their accounts are never settled, but their deeds live
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 161 
 
 in their hearts to all time, and their descendants offered 
 a home in the land their fathers died to defend, How 
 then was this hue and cry raised in Virginia ? How 
 was it that that Yankee voice was echoed and re 
 echoed in the South ? For answer, the reader has but 
 to step behind the scene, and read the commands 
 issued by the Council to its liege men and oath-bound 
 subjects, that the foreign question was to be the prime 
 issue in the campaign. The command issued from 
 honorable and respectable men men who had the 
 advantages of wealth, education and position in 
 society. Their example was a soothing salve to the 
 consciences of many who, without the light of such 
 worthy examples, would have been troubled with 
 many scruples; and doubtless the inborn sense of 
 right, honesty and justice battled with the oaths many 
 a Virginian had taken, as he went about doing the will 
 of his masters as he went about arraying class against 
 class, exciting the prejudices of the native against 
 the foreigner. When he met his neighbor in .the road, 
 and told him that the administration was the friend 
 of the foreigner, and the enemy of the native, proba 
 bly he did not know he was telling a lie ; his masters 
 had directed him to say this he thought his masters 
 were true and honest men, who would scorn to deceive. 
 When on public occasions he exhibited his table of 
 statistics, showing the large number of foreigners in 
 office, he did not know that table was a base fraud, 
 prepared by foul hands for disgraceful purposes. And 
 thus it happened that many honest Virginians were 
 made dupes and tools to a scheme and practice which 
 their sense of honor would scorn to countenance. 
 
 14*
 
 162 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE campaign was now waxing warm. Politics is 
 the only subject now discussed in Virginia. It is the 
 latter part of January. As yet the Know Nothings 
 have not nominated their candidates ; for reasons they 
 prefer to have their men but a short time before the 
 people. Mischievous people might draw inferences 
 from this fact, but not being envious to be classed 
 among the mischievous, we shall draw none, but leave 
 the task to the reader, who can satisfy his own tastes 
 on the subject. In the midst of a political canvass in 
 Virginia, where do we find wire- working and election 
 eering carried on with intense interest and industry? 
 All will answer, on the Court-green on Court days. 
 Therefore, in putting down "jottings " about Sam, it 
 might probably be amiss to overlook him on the 
 Court-green, where he was quite busy, and seemed to 
 feel as if he was in the very height of his glory. We 
 will sketch him as he was on the Court-green of the 
 county seat of the good old county of , in east 
 ern Virginia ; which will probably apply to him as he 
 appeared at corresponding places on like occasions, in 
 different parts of the old Commonwealth. 
 
 The county seat of county is a modest, 
 
 unostentatious place. A tavern-house, court-house, 
 clerk's office and jail are the buildings of the quiet 
 village, all told. The Court-house bears the marks of 
 time upon its weather-beaten exterior. Its architec-
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 163 
 
 ture is of antique pattern, and might have been called 
 a handsome structure at the time it was erected. A 
 stranger, whose eyes are accustomed to look upon a 
 handsome hall of justice, might say, I should expect 
 the pride of the present generation would prompt to 
 the desire to tear down the ancient walls and erect a 
 modern structure on its site. But ah ! hallowed asso 
 ciations are connected with the building. The voice 
 of soldier-patriots, in the times that tried men's souls, 
 resounded there, calling men to action. To tear the 
 old house down would be to break a link that binds 
 the hearts of the county's sovereigns to the past. 
 Years ago, a soldier stood there, calling men to arms 
 to protect the rights of man. There might be some 
 thing to justify the stranger's conclusion, did not the 
 year 1855 find men upon the same spot, desecrating 
 the sanctity of the place by calling upon men to enlist 
 in a cause threatening to Virginia's honor. Virginia 
 Know Nothings were there electioneering. How did 
 they electioneer? Were ever such means before 
 resorted to ? They did not attempt to reason. They 
 addressed no arguments to men's understanding. 
 They did not fortify their position with facts ; were 
 content with assertions, and with these were prodigal 
 enough. The first thing each and all of them did, 
 was to disclaim, with all the force and power of words, 
 that they had no connection with " the Order ;" but 
 in the very next breath, would try to indoctrinate 
 men with what they called American principles, and 
 endeavor to inveigle them into the order. When they 
 fell upon a man who did not read the papers, and 
 keep up with the events of the times, it was an easy
 
 164 LIFE AND I}EATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 matter to say, " What do you think of Sam ? He is 
 about, ain't he ? It is a glorious party it will save 
 the country ; come, I will join if you will. I hardly 
 know your politics ; but I tell you it is neither a 
 Whig or Democratic move, but a move of Americans 
 against foreigners and Catholics." This was a favorite 
 mode of electioneering. 
 
 Another mode, in which they exhibited some 
 ingenuity, was to address themselves to the aspiring 
 politicians; which class of men constitute no very 
 inconsiderable portion of the Virginia population. 
 They would first worm themselves into the confi 
 dence of a man, by flattery or otherwise, then declare 
 that they have no connection with any order, express 
 sympathy for the American cause, own to great ad 
 miration for the talents and abilities of the prey they 
 were cunningly fixing their talons upon, and give 
 the finishing touch to the conference, by declaring 
 that if he would join "the Order," his merits would 
 be appreciated, and he would at once be promoted to 
 some political office. Every aspiring man upon the 
 ground was approached in this manner, the same 
 pledges made to all, and not an application failed, 
 when the ropes were brought to pull upon a weak 
 head, with a credulous turn of mind. Could a list 
 of all that were brought into the Order by this trick 
 be published, it would astonish many, and be a 
 strong argument to prove that cupidity and credulity 
 were qualities not entirely wanting in Virginians. 
 
 Another mode of electioneering was adopted, after 
 the following fashion. Private interviews were held 
 with laboring men and mechanics, and with these
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 165 
 
 men their class-arraying speeches were made. "Lis 
 ten," said they, "you are poor men, you have your 
 families to support, your little ones are crying unto 
 you for bread, how are your wants to be supplied ? by 
 the profits derived from your trade. You may pos 
 sibly, find it a Lard matter to maintain respectable 
 circumstances now. Do you want your chances of 
 gaining a respectable livelihood diminished? Your 
 chances though are diminished, more and more every 
 day, through means which have probably never been 
 suggested to your mind. The foreigners that are 
 pressing to this country are fast undermining you, 
 they for the most part are laborers and mechanics ; 
 and every one that comes enters at once into compe 
 tition with you. Of all classes in this country, you 
 are more seriously effected. "What then, does the first 
 great law of nature, self-preservation, bid you do? 
 What does charity, which beginneth at home, bid 
 you do? Why, to join the party which is hostile to 
 foreigners, and would protect native industry, the 
 party which is purely and emphatically the saving- 
 friend to all poor Americans. The party which your 
 wants demanded, and which has arisen in obedience to 
 the crying voice of the poor of America, saying, ' help, 
 save, or we perish ?' That party is now established 
 on a sound, conservative, and lasting basis ; onward 
 it speeds in its mission of love and charity. Will you 
 not then, contribute towards the success of this party? 
 Ask your neighbor, B., who is a Democrat, and has 
 joined this party, if all of this is not true. Apply to 
 your neighbor, L., who is a Whig, and has also 
 joined, and he will say the same to you ; so you will
 
 166 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 
 find the old political parties have nothing to do with 
 
 tins organization. Be you Whig or Democrat, in 
 joining this Order, there will be nothing to conflict 
 with your opinions." 
 
 As usual, on Court days, during a political canvass, 
 a large number of sovereigns were collected. Very 
 few had business in Court; the great majority having 
 come for no other purpose but to see what was trans 
 piring in a political way ; on this occasion, the Court 
 adjourned at an early hour, much to the satisfaction 
 of the lawyers, who thereby gained an opportunity 
 of mixing with the people, and of indulging in their 
 gift of gab, in discoursing on politics. Groups of gen 
 tlemen were seen standing about on the Court green ; 
 here and there, off at a distance, and in the corners, 
 industrious members of the American Order would 
 hold a solitary sovereign by the button-hole, and most 
 beautifully discourse with him on the wondrous and 
 manifold beauties of the valiant Samuel. The land 
 lord of the tavern had once voted with the Democracy ; 
 but of late had given evidence as if he were about to 
 fall from the faith, and some said he had already 
 fallen in the arms of Sam. However this may be, 
 one thing is certain, at all time of the day, men were 
 seen going and returning on his stairs, which led to 
 a dark, cuddy way up in the "cock-loft" of the 
 house. These men, going and returning, were mem 
 bers of the Order, and doubtless they were prepared 
 up there to show Sam and " Bed-eye," to whoever 
 desired to behold the one or the other. 
 
 How did the doings of these men, on this occasion, 
 compare with the conduct of the Democracy ? What
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 167 
 
 the members of this party had to say, was said openly 
 and above board. They were not ashamed of their 
 name and party; therefore, if they electioneered 
 they did not call themselves mere sympathisers with 
 the Democracy, but were proud to declare themselves 
 as standing upon that platform. They did not seize 
 upon ignorant men, and try to deceive and mislead 
 them. They did not avail themselves of the unfortu 
 nate weakness of aspiring politicians, and promise 
 them honors and rewards if they would give in their 
 adhesion to the Democracy. They did not condescend 
 to use the bread and meat argument with the poor, and 
 promise fat things from Democracy's store. In short, 
 they resorted to none of the small tricks adopted by 
 the opposition. They boldly warned men against 
 the many seductive appliances brought to bear upon 
 them by those who were endeavoring to inculcate 
 dangerous and mischievous dogmas in politics, and 
 called upon Virginians to stand by their ancient 
 faith, to be governed by the same old landmarks 
 which had brought this nation to its present proud 
 position. They dwelt with pride upon what the 
 Virginia Democracy, in times gone by, had done for 
 the country ; pointed to the crisis soon to come, and 
 asked if Virginia's valiant and tried men would then 
 be found wanting ? 
 
 In the evening, proclamation was made that a 
 Democratic orator would address the people on the 
 issues involved in the campaign. The speaker 
 mounted the stand, and made a stirring appeal to the 
 people. His address concluded, invitation was then 
 publicly given to some champion of the opposition
 
 168 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 
 
 to come forward and speak for his people. But 
 where was Sam, that he made no response ? Ah ; at 
 this day he was not allowed to speak in public, so it 
 is fair to presume that he was up in the dark cuddy, 
 with closed doors, there working in secrecy, binding 
 men with oaths, there doing the bidding of his 
 Yankee friends, there forming plans, which, if the 
 objects contemplated could be consummated, ruin 
 and wars, destruction, calamity and death, might call 
 for a pall around a nation's name ! ! 
 
 Later in the afternoon, the natural result produced 
 by a too intimate acquaintance with " Red-eye," began 
 to tell upon many of Sam's boys, who had been up in 
 the. garret. Now it was that confusion and excitement 
 ran high, the din of voices rose high, and what the 
 voices were trying to say was difficult to ascertain, 
 though now and then the name of Sam was pronounced, 
 and distinctly heard far above the voice of the multi 
 tude. An occasional scuffle, a rough, roll and tumble 
 skirmish, gave variety to the scene, and a few bloody 
 noses and black eyes gave variety to the countenances 
 of those engaged in the melee. But Sam's friends wi're 
 not the only ones who had imbibed a "drop too much ;' 
 several good Democratic boys had a weakness for the 
 ardent critter, and having passed the quiet and pru 
 dent condition, added a note or two to the harmoni 
 ous music of the day. 
 
 The Christian name of one of these was Sam ; an 
 odd sort of a fellow he was, too ; and not being in 
 the secrets, he was somewhat puzzled at hearing his 
 name so often called, so by way of showing his spunk, 
 he declared that " if any gentleman wanted "him, he
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 169 
 
 was upon the ground, ready to give him satisfaction, 
 or whatever else he wanted." No one taking any 
 special notice of his proclamations, and the shouts 
 and hurrahs " for Sam" becoming louder and louder 
 every moment, he started off, in a doubtful gait, 
 towards home, with the vague impression upon his 
 mind that by some lucky exploit he had immortalized 
 himself, or else his fellow-citizens would not cheer 
 and applaud him so enthusiastically. The sovereigns 
 now began to start for their homes, leaving many of 
 Sam's boys addressing fence posts, descanting on the 
 many excellencies of the American organization. 
 And thus ended a day upon the court green, in the 
 
 old county of , during the political campaign of 
 
 1855. 
 
 Through such arts and appliances this party had 
 triumphed in many States, and even in local elections 
 in Virginia; and this it was that emboldened them to 
 hope for a triumph in the State. That they had 
 succeeded through these means in carrying towns 
 and cities in Virginia, was no argument for them to 
 have raised their calculations for the State. Those 
 who dwell in cities and towns in Virginia are, hap 
 pily for her, not those who shape, mould, and give 
 tone to her character and position. Virginia's power 
 and strength lies in a harder race than that which 
 dwells in stone houses and in shops. The hardy sons 
 of toil, the tillers of her soil, are those that Virginia 
 looks up to for support >upon whose broad shoulders 
 rests that dignity which commands for her a place- 
 first in influence among the States of the American 
 Union. Merchants and merchant's clerks; shop owners 
 
 15
 
 170 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIliGINIA. 
 
 and those who keep their counters, with all the trades 
 that belong to and of towns, may waver and yield to 
 encroachments on the time-honored usages in politics 
 but Virginia's farmers, never. A secret party in 
 politics ; that was enough, they cared not to inquire 
 what the principles of that party might be. There is 
 a deeply running tide of virtue and correct feeling, 
 a sound conservative sentiment, found to pervade the 
 agricultural classes of the mother State, obnoxious to 
 fanaticism in whatever phase it may present itself, 
 and suspicious of all new ideas in morals, religion, or 
 politics, especially, if they be of northern origin. How 
 then could Know Nothings hope that their principles 
 would be acceptable to the Virginia fanners ? How 
 could they hope that the State which gave from its 
 rural districts first a Washington to liberty, and next, 
 a Jefferson to Democracy, would, in 1855, give aid to 
 a party which would jeopardize the blessings which 
 her first son gained for her, aid to a party which 
 would trample upon the rich legacy bequeathed her 
 by her second. There is a saving power in the agri 
 cultural districts of Virginia, to which all friends of 
 law and order all friends of the principle which de 
 clares honesty the best policy all friends of right 
 against wrong all friends of liberality and moderation 
 in opposition to proscription all friends of peace and 
 union in opposition to strife and disorganization, may 
 look to with confidence in all times of danger, with 
 out one fear that this power will not be exerted in 
 the proper direction.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 171 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 IT will be remembered that Mr. II. Uriah Hawks, 
 in his last communication to the Council, which com 
 munication was written about the first of December, 
 stated that he contemplated taking a partner for life 
 "week after next." For some cause, the day was 
 postponed to the latter part of January, and as we 
 have brought this history down to that period, it will 
 be in order at this place to respect the great event in 
 that gentleman's life, and give an account of it here. 
 
 It was a cold, frosty night, a large number of 
 neighbors had assembled in old Mr. Laubinger's 
 house, where the ajnple wood fires were cracking 
 and blazing most merrily. The hilarity of the occa 
 sion was suddenly suppressed by the entrance of the 
 neighborhood parson, who took his stand in the middle 
 of the floor. All was still and expectant ; a rustling 
 was then heard in the next room, and in the next 
 moment Mr. Uriah Hawks proudly led in Miss Lucy 
 Laubinger, preceded by six couples of attendants, and 
 stood before the worthy parson. The ceremony was 
 progressing, and during this time the father was in con 
 versation with a young man who had just arrived. 
 There was an earnestness exhibited in the young man's 
 manner, as he strongly emphasized the few whispers he 
 was enabled to make. His communication seemed to 
 give a doubtful cast to the old man's countenance, 
 but in an instant, resolution, if not anger, took its
 
 172 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 place, and when the officiating clergyman asked, " if 
 there was any one present who could show just cause 
 why these two persons should not be joined together, 
 let him now speak, or forever after hold his peace ?" 
 The old man stepped forward, and requested the 
 minister to proceed no further in the ceremony. 
 
 " Neighbors and friends," said the old man, " 'tis 
 only the stern command of what I conceive to be my 
 duty to myself and daughter, yea, to my whole 
 family, that bids me interfere in this manner, at this 
 juncture, after the matter has progressed thus far. A 
 moment's delay, but a pause, would be fatal ; had her 
 deliverer delayed but a moment longer, it would 
 have been too late. Thank Heaven it is no worse ! 
 I do, therefore, now, in the presence of this assembled 
 company, declare that that man shall not marry my 
 daughter. In justice to all parties I will state my 
 reasons. The first and greatest is, that he has most 
 basely Deceived me. He well knew my politics, he 
 knew in what estimation I held those who are called 
 Know Nothings, and being one himself, true to the 
 instincts and practices of those who belong to that 
 organization, he never told me he belonged to that party. 
 But a young gentleman is here prepared to prove 
 the fact. My daughter, you doubtless love that man 
 with that devotion due to the act you were about to 
 consummate. I pray that this cup of sorrow, which 
 this act of mine will bring upon you, will soon pass 
 away. Bear up, my child, with a stout heart, against 
 this sudden and unexpected change of fortune. But 
 you had better die ; I would rather lay you in your 
 cold, cold grave; rather drop a tear, however bitter it
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 173 
 
 might be, upon your bier, than see you living, and 
 wedded to a man belonging to a political party whose 
 practices and principles are a black tissue, a rotten 
 medly of Yankee abominations, gotten up with no 
 other view than that of bringing internal troubles and 
 difficulties upon this happy and prosperous land. The 
 originators of that party live upon excitement, strife 
 and commotion ; let it then be confined to them, for 
 their own peculiar use and behoof, and never, no never 
 disgrace Virginia with its worse than abominable 
 doctrines and teachings. My daughter, withdraw 
 now your arm from him who stands beside you ; 
 and that he may not go away, complaining of ill- 
 treatment and injustice at my hands, my good friend 
 Ike Davis, will now come forward and confront him, 
 here, in the presence of us all." 
 
 The young gentleman called upon, then came for 
 ward and stood before Uriah, who at once recognized 
 him as the same man that he had half initiated into 
 the Order, but who " bolted," before he had been 
 fully bound. 
 
 Mr. Davis declared that he knew, of his own 
 knowledge, that the gentleman, Mr. Hawks, was a 
 member of the Know Nothing Order. 
 
 Just here, old Mrs. Laubinger, who had very 
 becomingly held her peace, could do so no longer, 
 she must and would have her say. 
 
 "She didn't know nothing about politics; didn't 
 care any thing about politics. Mr. Laubinger might 
 be right, or he might be wrong ; she could not decide 
 that question, but she was inclined to the opinion that 
 he was wrong in acting as he did ; she thought the 
 
 15*
 
 174 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 proper course was to let them be married, and Mr. 
 Laubinger could then give their son in-law correct 
 lessons in politics. For this circumstance to go forth 
 to the world, it would be a slander upon all the Lau- 
 bingers. There too, was Lucy, poor child, all rigged 
 up and beautified, and so expectant she had been, and 
 so full of confidence in Mr. Hawks ; she had fore 
 bodings too, of " Lucy's mind and health," should 
 Mr. Laubinger's counsels prevail, and then there was 
 all the trouble and preparations she had been at all 
 the cakes, pyramids, jellies, creams and syllabubs, 
 which would all spoil, as none present could partici 
 pate in them under the circumstances." 
 
 And then she was going on to speak of Lucy's 
 hopes and anticipations; but here the kind-hearted 
 old lady fainted, and had to be taken out of the room, 
 and the " usual restoratives applied." 
 
 The spectators looked upon the old man, to see if 
 his good woman's entreaty had produced any feelings 
 of relenting. But the same stern determination was 
 fixed upon his brow, as he asked Mr. Hawks if he had 
 anything to say ; " if so, he had better give the com 
 pany the benefit of it, especially if, by possibility, any 
 extenuating circumstances could be mentioned by him 
 self in his behalf." 
 
 " Sir," said Mr. Hawks, " had you asked for an 
 explanation before placing me in this questionable 
 attitude before this community, it would have been 
 more in conformity with your usual upright life and 
 character. Unfortunately for me, I am in no attitude 
 to defend myself, by proof, to rebut that which you 
 thought proper to produce against me, in the person
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 175 
 
 of this young gentleman (Mr. Ike Davis). I have, sir, 
 but the word of a gentleman to bear me out, which 
 you, sir, can receive or reject as you think proper, 
 (which is more than I would admit of under other 
 circumstances). I was, sir, at one time, a member of 
 the organization you have spoken of. The young 
 gentleman who has pleased to give you this informa 
 tion, was himself an applicant for initiation into that 
 order, and had gone half way through the forms and 
 ceremonies of the occasion, when he thought proper 
 to leave the hall without receiving the final oaths, &c. 
 Well, sir, soon after becoming acquainted with you, 
 and having frequent opportunities of availing myself 
 of your superior knowledge of parties and politics, I 
 wrote to the proper authorities, and demanded my 
 withdrawal from that organization ; I also expressed 
 in that communication, repentance for having ever 
 acted with that party, and my determination of acting, 
 in future, with the Democracy. So far, then, from any 
 desire to deceive, I am more amenable to the charge 
 of displaying too great a desire to sympathize with 
 the father of my betrothed. But, if I know myself, 
 this charge could not be substantiated against me ; for 
 my head was convinced by arguments from you, sir, 
 and others, before I penned the letter requesting my 
 withdrawal card. But that withdrawal card has not 
 yet arrived, why so I am unable to say." 
 
 After hearing this, the old man was somewhat 
 mollified, and was about to move a postponement, in 
 view of further instigation, when, just at this time, 
 the post-master of the neighboring village, who was 
 present, bethought himself of a letter in his pocket
 
 176 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 
 
 which he had brought for Mr. Hawks; this was 
 handed him, and sure enough, it was the withdrawal 
 card. Mr. Hawks glanced over it, and handed it to 
 the old man, who read it aloud, apologized hand 
 somely to Mr. Hawks, and expressed his willingness 
 that the ceremony should be concluded. 
 
 The whole scene was a novel one, and anything but 
 agreeable, particularly to the half married couple. 
 The old lady was informed of the reconciliation, 
 awoke from her swoon, and came tearing into the 
 room, bearing down all before her, and in her anxiety 
 to congratulate Lucy and her new son, she upset the 
 good old minister, who was .just giving the finishing 
 touch to the knot he had begun to tie some minutes 
 before. As the custom was, all came to congratulate 
 and kiss the bride. When Ike Davis presented him 
 self, Lucy refused to take his hand, saying : 
 
 " Ah, cousin Ike, it was a sorry trick in you a 
 mean way of getting your revenge, just because I 
 refused to marry you." 
 
 Thus letting out a secret never before divulged. 
 
 And Mr. Hawks taking out his note-book, and say 
 ing, "Here, gentlemen, is the man who was the 
 subject of the following resolution, passed by the 
 order :" 
 
 " ' Resolved, That our half- brother, Ike Davis, smelt, 
 a rat, and decamped before he saw the elephant.' " 
 
 The company, which was sorely dispirited by the 
 unexpected difficulty, now that the difficulty was re 
 moved, and a happy reconciliation effected, entered 
 with all the zest and gaiety common to such oc 
 casions; and the old lady had the satisfaction of
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 177 
 
 knowing that all the niceties which adorned her 
 supper-table were duly appreciated "by her happy 
 and hilarious guests, who by this time, gave no evi 
 dences that any thing had marred the pleasures of the 
 evening. 
 
 One apartment was set apart for the especial re 
 creation of the gentlemen, in which apartment was 
 the old gentleman's decanters, well filled with wines 
 and all the most choice beverages ; and to this room 
 had Ike Davis retreated, as he found no favor with 
 the fair ones present, after the part he had acted to 
 wards their dear Lucy. But even here, he found 
 himself in hardly more agreeable quarters, as most 
 of the young "sparks" present were good, sterling 
 Democrats; and it having been shown that Ike had 
 applied for admission into the secret order, they 
 determined to shame, him well for it, and having 
 done so to their heart's content, it was understood 
 that they were to feign forgiveness, and ask him to 
 drink. This was done, and they all stood around, 
 glasses in hand, when also, as by previous under 
 standing, the following toast was offered : 
 
 " Here is to the man who smelt the rat, may he 
 never see the Know Nothing elephant." 
 
 "Well, poor Ike bore the rigging of his young 
 Democratic friends quite well, because he felt that they 
 had a right to take those liberties with him. Among 
 those present were several not of the Democratic 
 party, and one of these ventured to ask Ike what 
 the rat smelt like. Now, this was more than hu 
 man nature could bear; his political friends might 
 rig him, but his enemies shouldn't; so Ike, who
 
 178 LIFE AND DEATH OP SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 had an impediment in his speech, thus delivered him 
 self: 
 
 "Fr-fr-from you, sir, th-that is an im-m-pertinent 
 qu estion; but, sir, I will answer it, because it will 
 give me an op-opportunity of v-vindicating myself 
 be-b-before my Democratic friends. It s-s-smelt d-d- 
 d d Whigish in the first place, n-next it smelt of 
 the ab-ab-abolitionists, and n-not at all of Democracy 
 and of Yir ginia principles; therefore, I left outright, 
 leaving c-chaps of your stripe t-to carry it on; chaps 
 of y our stripe to lie and deceive honest men; D- 
 D-mocratic comrades, do you b-b-lame me?" 
 
 This speech brought all of those friends who had 
 been rigging him at once to his rescue, and the gen 
 tleman who had put the question, seeing the direction 
 the current was taking, thought it best not to reply, 
 but took himself quietly off to the company of the 
 ladies. 
 
 All of Ike's friends promised to intercede with the 
 ladies in his behalf, in which they were quite success 
 ful, as before the close of the evening he was getting 
 along quite "swimmingly" with those who, in the 
 early part of the evening, had given him downright 
 rebuffs. Even Cousin Lucy agreed to forgive him, if 
 he would promise, in future not to interfere in other 
 people's business, particularly on occasions like the 
 present. But Ike could not understand that he had 
 been guilty of any impropriety of conduct. As it 
 turned out, he had only been mistaken as to a fact, 
 the withdrawal of Mr. Hawks, he was perfectly con 
 scientious in all he had done ; it was only her good he 
 had sought, and the honor of the family he desired to
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OP SAM IN VIRGINIA. 179 
 
 protect ; which would be compromised, in his opinion, 
 by an alliance with one of Virginia's secret foes. 
 
 Now that Mr. Hawks could present a clean record, 
 he did not know that he had any thing particular 
 against him, and could only wish them all the hap 
 piness they could possibly anticipate in their new 
 relations. This gallant congratulation brought back 
 the old lady to his friendship, who all this time had 
 been standing aloof from him, and she very warmly 
 declared, that if any person present, gentleman or 
 lady, should be guilty of any slight towards that 
 young gentleman, she would regard it as a personal 
 affront to herself. After this declaration Ike felt per 
 fectly at home, and that he could play the beau with 
 impunity ; consequently he joined in the dance, and 
 being a good dancer, none present enjoyed more 
 smiles and favors from the fair than he, so that Ike, 
 the poor fellow, who was in the early part of the 
 evening, reviled, shunned, and slighted, is now rising 
 more and more in the estimation of all present 
 while the young man, the lion of the evening, on his 
 arrival, who put the question to Ike in the gentle 
 man's room, and received for his pains, Ike's broad 
 side rebuke, was losing caste every moment; as from 
 the manner in which he received Ike's insinuation 
 against him, all concluded that he was a veritable 
 
 O. 
 
 Know Nothing. Thus, in this little society, we have 
 an example in miniature, of what is taking place in 
 the great world, namely: that a man may err through 
 mistake, and have a clear conscience on the side of 
 error, and for the apparent sin, he will fall and be 
 condemned, but truth, which is sometimes slow, will
 
 180 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 finally come to his relief. The condemned deed will 
 bear its scrutiny, and the individual will again be 
 reinstated in the opinions of his fellow-men, while he 
 who knowingly persists in wrong, will fall, fall, fall, 
 till at last sunk too low, for the redeeming grace of 
 willing public opinion. When the guests were pre 
 paring to depart, the old man invited all the gentle 
 men into his room, and there, in many a bumper, did 
 the whole souled mountain boys drink health and 
 prosperity to Uriah and his pretty bride. The old 
 man took this occasion to say, that he hoped that in 
 the remarks he had made, he had wounded the feel 
 ings of none present, (under misapprehensions he was 
 harsh with his son-in-law, so that of course his remarks 
 did not apply to him,) if he had, it must be regarded 
 as an unavoidable breach of hospitality, he would not 
 intentionally wound any man within the threshold 
 of his own mansion. What he said, was but the 
 out-spoken feelings of a father's heart, regarding the 
 fate of his child. " If there be one injured on account 
 of my expressed opinions of the secret organization, 
 say so for he shall not cross my door, till I have 
 retracted here, what I will be ready to repeat in any 
 public place, should occasion require." 
 
 No one spoke. Ike Davis's questioner was on the 
 point of saying something, but the last clause the old 
 man uttered deterred him, and thus ended the cele 
 bration of Mr. H. Uriah Hawks's nuptials. 
 
 All the company having gone, the two old people 
 sat in their apartment; the old man was dozing, and 
 was about to make preparations, for the short nap he
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 181 
 
 could take before daybreak. But the old woman was 
 wide awake. 
 
 " Mr. Laubinger ?" said she. 
 
 " Madam," said the old man, opening his eyes. 
 
 " I desire to speak with you, Mr. Laubinger ; 'tis 
 late, but my curiosity must be satisfied on one point, 
 before I give slumber to my eyelids." 
 
 " Damn the one point," drawled out the old man ; 
 " wait till morning." 
 
 " Mr. Laubinger !" continued the old woman, "I am 
 astonished at you ; such profanity, and in the presence 
 of your wife! Sir, I'll not be baffled. Are you 
 drunk? Now, my good old man," changing her 
 manner, "the best way for you to make a long 
 matter short is just to make me an explanation, else 
 I will tease and fret you until morning." 
 
 " The Democracy fallen !" said the old man ; he was 
 dreaming, and thought the Know Nothings had con 
 quered. 
 
 " Mr. Laubinger !" screamed the old woman. 
 
 "Hillo! house a fire!" responded the man, tho 
 roughly awakened. 
 
 " Mr. Laubinger !" persevered the old woman, 
 " please make me an explanation ; you can do it in a 
 few words, and then I will let you sleep, O! so 
 sweetly!" approaching him, and patting him under 
 the chin. 
 
 "Well, what about?" 
 
 " I want you to tell me why you treated our Ury 
 so badly to-night, and why you called him a Know 
 Nothing, for I am sure he converses very fluently on 
 politics ; besides, I don't think it any disgrace not to 
 
 16
 
 182 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 know anything about politics ; for my part, I believe 
 the less a man meddles with them the better off he is. 
 "Why then did you so abuse him, and swear to break 
 off the marriage, just because you thought him a 
 Know Nothing in politics ?" 
 
 "Mrs. Laubinger, your ignorance on a subject 
 which has now been some time before the country is 
 astonishing; and that you may not expose yourself 
 in company, I will try and arouse myself, and explain 
 to you, even at this hour." 
 
 " Do, good man, it is so kind in you." 
 
 " Well, to begin, there is a political party now in 
 the country called the Know Nothing party; this 
 party is working in opposition to the Democratic 
 party. Its members are trying by all kinds of tricks, 
 to carry Virginia ; the party originated amongst the 
 Abolitionists, those fellows who several years ago 
 stole six of the negroes belonging to your father's 
 estate. And, in order that they might commit these 
 depredations upon our property on a grander scale, 
 they organized themselves into a party ; and many 
 Whigs of Virginia, are availing themselves of the 
 machinery employed by that party, with the hope 
 of defeating the Democratic party of Virginia. The 
 Whigs of Virginia, of course, ain't going to steal 
 any of our negroes, but then by joining the organiza 
 tion, though for different purposes, they are encoura 
 ging the Abolitionists in disgraceful schemes and 
 practices. Ike Davis told me that Mr. Hawks be 
 longed to that party, and hence my interference 
 during the ceremony. But I have not told you all 
 yet; that party is a secret party; the members are
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 183 
 
 sworn to obey the orders and commands of the chief 
 men called the Council ; they meet in the night, in 
 dark places, and there do all kinds of things that you 
 would not have your husband engaged in." 
 
 "Now, Mr. Laubinger, are you joking, or are you 
 in earnest? If you are in earnest, then I shall 
 expire at once. Are you perfectly satisfied that this 
 man, Uriah Hawks, now in our house, our daughter's 
 husband, is not a member of that awful party ? who 
 knows but before a week has passed over our heads, 
 he may start for the North, with all our servants ? 
 And then he has to obey orders and commands ; who 
 knows but what the members of the Council may be 
 wicked men, and command him to murder our dear, 
 dear Lucy ; and even if he should not do anything 
 so horrid as this, still you say they meet in the night, 
 so at best, I shudder to think of poor Lucy's fate ; in 
 the still and lonely hour of night, when he ought to 
 be with her, to cheer and comfort her, he will be with 
 wicked and bad men, doing what? Ohl nobody 
 knows ! O me, me, me, why did you consent to the 
 marriage ? Oh I Mr. Laubinger, the thought is hor 
 rible ; do tell, my dear, good old man, that you are 
 perfectly satisfied that Mr. Hawks is not a member of 
 that party." 
 
 " I am perfectly satisfied have indisputable evi 
 dence ; else the marriage could not have been con 
 summated." 
 
 " Thank you, thank you ! the best, the dearest of 
 men ; and now, good soul, you may go to sleep !" 
 
 She gave the old man permission to enjoy a bless 
 ing which she herself could not think of indulging
 
 184: LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 in that night. She had every confidence in the old 
 man, but still she could but fear; so she laid awake 
 till light, thinking that in all probability Uriah would 
 make an effort to make off with the negroes before 
 morning. But all the old lady's fears proved ground 
 less, as Uriah answered the bell the next morning, 
 and came down to breakfast like a good, worthy 
 Benedict. 
 
 After breakfast the old gentleman went out on his 
 farm, and the old woman sought an interview with 
 Uriah. 
 
 "Now, Uriah," said she, "I want to have a little 
 private talk with you. You don't belong to that 
 wicked party that Mr. Laubinger thought you did 
 belong to last night, do you ?" 
 
 " Indeed, madam, I do not." 
 
 " You are your own master, aint you, and are not 
 sworn to obey anybody or any man, except that it 
 would be becoming in you to obey Mr. Laubinger 
 and myself?" 
 
 " I am my own master, ma'am, and sworn to obey 
 no man." 
 
 " You don't think it right for a man to carry off 
 negroes that don't belong to him, do you ?" 
 
 " Certainly not, madam." 
 
 " You won't leave Lucy by herself at night, and go 
 off with wicked men, and in the dark do all kind of 
 bad things, will you ?" 
 
 " Most assuredly not, madam." 
 
 " Well, now I am satisfied ; I put these questions 
 to you to see whether or not you were a Know 
 Nothing. Your answers are perfectly satisfactory,
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIEGINIA. 185 
 
 and I shall now give myself no more uneasiness on 
 the subject. You and Lucy will move over to the 
 other plantation in a few days ; and whenever either 
 of you want any advice or assistance, we two old 
 people will always be glad to render it, if it is in our 
 power." 
 
 Uriah returned his profound thanks, and happy he 
 was to escape from the prying old lady and her cate 
 gorical inquisition. 
 
 16*
 
 186 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 A LITTLE more than one month of the new year 
 1855, has gone. The farmers now are busy at 
 home, preparing Virginia's soil for the yellow grain 
 of autumn. The merchants are going North for their 
 spring stocks. Merchants going North I is not this 
 a reflection on Virginia, that they are compelled to 
 do this ? It is a melancholy fact, that nearly all the 
 clothes we wear are woven by Yankee machinery, 
 or have passed through Yankee ports before they 
 reach us. No vessels in direct trade now ply for us, 
 and pause in Virginia harbors. Who loves Virginia 
 that does not beckon with delight the independent 
 day, when Virginia merchants will not be forced to 
 deal with Yankee tradesmen for their goods, wares, 
 and merchandise? The men who assemble in the 
 Capitol at Richmond, sometimes say that day is com 
 ing. Ye legislators, be not false prophets, but act, 
 that your sayings may be true, that Virginia's pos 
 terity may honor and not curse you! "We did not 
 intend to make this chapter an essay on direct trade, 
 but set out with the intention of telling the world 
 what the Virginia people were doing in February, 
 1855 ; and having defined the position of the farmer, 
 comparatively independent at home, and of the mer 
 chant, deplorably dependent abroad. Next and last 
 in order will be the politicians. And where were 
 they, and what doing ? One thing is clear, as a
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 187 
 
 general rule, their positions are harder to define" than 
 the positions of farmers, or of merchants. To this 
 general rule, however, there is one bright and honor 
 able exception ; it is found in the leader of the Vir 
 ginia Democracy. He stood upon a platform whose 
 corner-stone was laid in truth, and all the choicest 
 gems selected from the rich mine of Republican 
 institutions. A platform, in which the ponderous 
 intellect of Jefferson had inserted its lever, and 
 declared, that it would stand the test of time. A 
 platform, graced, and studded by the immortal Reso 
 lutions of '98 and '99. The platform of the Virginia 
 Democracy, never circumscribed, never added to; 
 fixed immutable ; the same to-day as when the sage 
 of Monticello stood upon it, and said, 'twas finished. 
 The leader of the Virginia Democracy, now standing 
 on this platform, a world was free to view his con 
 duct and his actions ; and its truth and honesty might 
 scrutinize his utterings. From this position he may 
 be supposed to have indulged in reflections like 
 these : I have cast my eye over Virginia, and wished 
 that an opponent would arise and meet me in manly 
 combat ; the scene is dark, there is no one to appear. 
 But from below the sound as of many voices in mut- 
 terings of mingled confusion and discontent rend the 
 air; the voices issue from the culvert holes, and there, 
 in darkness, lurks the foe I have to contend with ; 
 would that a dispensation were granted some valiant 
 knight of the mystic order, that he might rend the 
 oath-bound tie, come forth adorned in all the emblems 
 of the secret worth ; meet me by daylight ; advance 
 arguments of his own, and oppose mine ; Democracy
 
 188 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 well could stand the test, and be gainer by the public 
 contest. But none came forth; he addressed the 
 people, and to his arguments none ventured to reply. 
 He was, however, not to be outdone in this way, 
 so on these occasions, in the studied and designed 
 absence of his opponent, he held up to public gaze 
 the picture which he, the artist orator, had taken of 
 his enemy. That picture was black, and wore the 
 sullen frown of treason on its brow; cunning, deceit, 
 and treachery played in its eye, unaccustomed to 
 look on daylight ; the fiend-like malignity of the 
 abolition desperado compressed its lips ; the flush of 
 unhallowed victory marked its cheeks ; its form was 
 an unsightly mass of monstrous deformity; and to 
 finish the picture, it looked like a stranger to Vir 
 ginia soil, a stranger to Virginia chivalry and hon 
 esty, morals and manners. 
 
 So like to life, was this picture to the original, the 
 veritable Sam, that none could fail to recognize it; 
 and in such a light, did the orator depict the morals 
 of the monster, that many Democrats, who had been 
 by trickery and deception brought to worship at that 
 altar ; now, like true and honest men, sought to be 
 relieved from oath-bound obligations, and were once 
 more happy to find themselves Virginia Democrats 
 having returned to their first love, which exacts no 
 sworn obligations, but leaves it to their sense of 
 right, to appear with their licenses, at the appointed 
 time, the election day, there to consummate vows 
 made not to mortals, but to principles, and Eepubli- 
 can right. True it was, that wherever the Demo 
 cratic leader addressed the people, many there were
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 189 
 
 who saw the errors of their ways, and came out from 
 among the Know Nothings. The members of that 
 party, were sorely perplexed by this interference in 
 their rights ; but how to prevent it, where to look 
 for remedy, they knew not. They still, however, 
 resolved to work and hope, work and hope, never 
 say die ; except that a despairer was now and then, 
 found, who was content under the circumstances, to 
 cultivate a spirit of good will and charity towards 
 his persecutors, which was done, however, in quite a 
 novel manner, simply, by wishing the aforesaid 
 leader was at the devil, and then there might be 
 ground for hope. All such were regarded by the true 
 worshippers as heretics, whose sayings ought not to 
 be listened to, and who would have been expelled the 
 Order, except that their assistance might be needed 
 on a particular day in May. Their out-door work was 
 done, as has been heretofore shown, except, perhaps, 
 with still greater disregard for honesty and fair dealing. 
 Let us now attend another session of the Council, 
 and see how the withdrawals are received, also ascer 
 tain what is the general condition of the organization, 
 as this is the only place where a true state of facts 
 can be approximated, and hear some reports, &c. ; 
 and these must be taken with many grains of allow 
 ance, as the members, from force of habit, not un- 
 frequently deceive each other. The Council being 
 opened, according to the prescribed forms always 
 duly observed the subject of withdrawals, which was 
 now becoming a matter of almost daily occurrence, 
 occupied the attention of the members present. 
 Several remedial plans were proposed and discussed ;
 
 190 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 no one of which could command a sufficient number 
 of votes to make it the law of the Order. Finding 
 themselves in this dilemma, several gentlemen en 
 deavored to throw oil on the troubled waters, by 
 arguing that gentlemen were^ giving themselves un 
 necessary anxiety in regard to the matter, that this 
 thing was to have been expected ; no true man, no man 
 thoroughly imbued in the true American principles, 
 had yet deserted their flag; the deserters belonged to 
 the floating, the unsettled, the mercenary class, whose 
 votes could always be bought, and the fact only 
 revealed what might have been expected, namely, 
 that the Democratic party had made a secret bid for 
 their votes. There being no remedy within their 
 reach, the members very philosophically acquiesced 
 in those opinions ; feeling no little ill will against the 
 Democracy, who were so dishonestly buying off their 
 voters ; it being contrary to Know Nothing morals 
 and practices, to counteract the effect, by offering 
 higher bids, and here the matter was passed over. 
 The committees were then called upon to report, 
 when the chairman of the special committee, which 
 was appointed with the view of forming some prudent 
 and efficient plan, by which the influential members 
 of the Democratic party, who were disposed to bolt 
 their party nominations, might be approached wisely 
 and judiciously, and thus be induced to throw their 
 weight and influence into the American scale, stated 
 that the committee had had the matter under serious 
 deliberation. And with all the lights before it. 
 
 Such was the peculiar nature of the subject, that 
 the end designed could not be embodied in any set
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIEGIXIA. 191 
 
 form or written plan. The gentleman then went on to 
 state, that the result could better be accomplished by 
 addressing a circular to the chief men and councils in 
 the various sections of the State, calling attention to 
 the subject, and requesting them to act as the circum 
 stances of each case might demand. This proposition 
 gave unusual satisfaction, and the committee was dis 
 charged from further action in the premises. The 
 committee on the state of the organization then sub 
 mitted a report, exhibiting the Order as being in a 
 highly prosperous condition, gaining public favor 
 more and more every day ; that reports of harmony 
 among the members of the fraternity came from all 
 quarters; that such enthusiasm, and such a spirited de 
 termination for victory, was unprecedented in the his 
 tory of any party. The report then went on deducing 
 certain triumph from these facts, and concluded with 
 a patriotic nourish about the duties of Americans, &c. 
 Now it happened that one respectable gentleman 
 was not present during the early part of the evening, 
 when the subject of withdrawals was discussed ; and 
 after the report was read, he rose and said : " Most 
 worthy president and brothers, the details of that 
 interesting report, which has just been submitted to 
 us, would, under other circumstances, afford me 
 unfeigned pleasure and gratification, and fain would I 
 believe the condition of the Order to be as therein set 
 forth. I impute no blame to the gentlemen who have 
 submitted that report, but there is ' a screw loose 
 somewhere ;' let us be careful that in deceiving others 
 we do not deceive ourselves. The report represents 
 the Order as never in so prosperous a condition. How
 
 192 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 can this be, I ask, when it is a melancholy fact that 
 withdrawals are taking place every day ?" 
 
 Here the president stated to the gentleman that he 
 was " out of order," that the subject of withdrawals 
 had been discussed and acted upon before his arrival, 
 as the minutes would show. 
 
 On motion, that portion of the record was then 
 read, for his especial benefit. But he did not infer, 
 from the minutes as read, that the Council had taken 
 final action on the subject. " The subject was a most 
 important one, one that deeply involved the interests 
 of the order. Therefore, with the view of giving 
 finality to the question, and, at the same time, a 
 remedy for the evil," he desired to offer a resolution. 
 But he was again out of order. A motion was made 
 that leave be granted him to offer the resolution, and 
 it was sustained. He then offered the following pre 
 amble and resolution : 
 
 " Whereas, evils are now being felt by the Ameri 
 can organization by reason of too mild initiatory obli 
 gations ; therefore, be it 
 
 " Resolved, That all who may hereafter be initiated 
 into this order, that they do so with the positive and 
 express pledge, that it shall be discretionary with the 
 Council whether or not it shall grant them with 
 drawal cards, until after the day of the general 
 election." 
 
 As there are different grades of offenders against all 
 moral laws, so this resolution exhibited the fact that 
 there were different grades or parties of Know Noth 
 ings the extreme and the conservative, compara 
 tively speaking. The extremists affirming the expe-
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 193 
 
 dieucy and propriety of this proposition, the conserva 
 tives denying it. The moral influence of the 
 conservative party may, however, be somewhat 
 impaired, when it is stated that their conservatism 
 looked only to the good of the Order. The resolution 
 led to a lengthy argument, but it appearing to the 
 understandings of a majority present, that it would 
 be productive of more harm than good to the Order, 
 it was of course lost ; and here ended the disputation 
 on the important subject of withdrawals. 
 
 The committee on rules and regulations next 
 reported, and submitted sundry binding amendments 
 to existing laws, enforcing in each greater stringency, 
 &c., but advised the repeal of the law which forbid 
 their candidates from speaking in public, the law to 
 take effect from a particular day, and to embrace can 
 didates for all the offices except for Governor. This 
 proposal was acted Upon, and, after some little debate, 
 passed by a large majority. It was argued by several 
 gentlemen, that it would have a good effect to let the 
 fact, that the party regarded it as beneath the dignity 
 of the aspirant for the first office in the gift of the 
 people, to go forth among them, appeal to their 
 passions or sympathies by stump-speeches, or other 
 public bids for favor and popularity. But the true 
 secret of this restraint upon their candidate for Gov 
 ernor was found in the fact that they had no man, in 
 all their boasted numbers, whom they would dare 
 allow the indulgence of so rash an act as the meeting 
 of the Democratic leader before the people would have 
 been. Thus did they endeavor to cover over all their 
 designs, and ask for a public verdict of virtue, when 
 
 17
 
 194 LIFE AND DEATU OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 but ordinary sagacity would rend the veil, and truth 
 and fair-dealing be compelled to decide against them. 
 The next business in order was the reading of 
 communications from the canvassers. That from the 
 canvasser at large, Captain Swyburg, ran thus : 
 
 Abingdon, Va., Jan., 1855. 
 " GENTLEMEN: 
 
 " It becomes my duty again, after the lapse of 
 some time, to render to you an account of my stew 
 ardship. For two reasons, this affords me great 
 pleasure, first, because I have nothing but good 
 tidings to impart ; secondly, because of the conscious 
 ness of having discharged the important duties com 
 mitted into my hands, with an eye single to the best 
 interests of our cause. My last communication was 
 dated at Parkersburg, in which I announced my 
 intention of visiting Point Pleasant and Kan awl ui, 
 thence to the South-west, via, Greenbrier. I had 
 the gratification of finding the good cause progressing 
 well in the county of Mason. This county \vill 
 most undoubtingly give a large American majority. 
 If you remember, I stated in my last communication, 
 that there was a gentleman of Mason, who, from 
 
 reports I had heard of him, Col. , deserved well 
 
 of our party. On acquaintance, my expectations in 
 regard to him have been more than realized, and I 
 would say that his claims before our Nominating 
 
 Convention for the office of should not be 
 
 lightly passed over. He has heretofore been of the 
 Democratic party ; has more than once been elected 
 by that party to Congress ; has the entire confidence
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 195 
 
 of that party, and his name will be a tower of 
 strength, both in Transalleghenj and in the Valley, 
 where he is well known. I paused but a brief period 
 in the good county of Putnam. I found the Ameri 
 cans there as brave, as gallant, and as patriotic as 
 he whose name the county bears. I would have 
 remained longer in this county, but was told by the 
 Americans that all was as it should be, and that they 
 would give a large majority. In Kanawha, one of 
 those truly American paradises, I remained for some 
 days, and was exceeding loath to leave. No where, 
 in my travels, have I seen the people so thoroughly 
 aroused. The opposition in this county cannot pos 
 sibly poll over two hundred ; they have given, afore 
 time, some six or nine hundred. From there, I came 
 hurriedly on to this place, and therefore, am indebted 
 only to reports, for information regarding the cam 
 paign in the counties through which I passed ; these, 
 however, were all nattering. I have now been in 
 this section some days, and am happy to reiterate to 
 you the same tale of glory unspeakable, the American 
 boys are working out for themselves. I approached 
 this section not without many fears that the influence 
 of ex-governor F. would operate greatly against us. 
 But I find his influence and eloquence impotent to 
 check the onward progress of this great revolution in 
 public opinion. This gentleman will make a des 
 perate struggle to get to the Legislature. Sam, how 
 ever, is no respecter of persons, and will chop an 
 ex-governor's head off with just as much grace as if 
 were a novus homo, just entered upon the political 
 arena ; and I am told that he has determined to serve
 
 196 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 the gentleman in question just in this manner. I do 
 not deem it necessary that my stay here, should be a 
 protracted one. I shall visit all the Councils, address 
 them on important matters, and call upon them to 
 continue in the good work. Your letter, requesting 
 me to take the Tenth Legion in my route, has come 
 to hand ; that request shall surely be complied with, 
 for apart from the general guidance of the Council, 
 whose obedient and willing servant I now am, and 
 to whose commands I always yield obedience, there 
 is another reason that bids me enter the deserted 
 field with the greatest cheerfulness; namely, that 
 infamous deserter, Hawks, was through my instru 
 mentality, sent there, to the Tenth Legion, therefore, 
 will I hasten, nor shall the heathenish Democracy of 
 that politically benighted land, be long without an 
 instructor to break to them the true principles of 
 Americanism. Unless I am greatly mistaken, that 
 Democratic fortress is not proof against the entrance 
 of our principles. I am known there, quite exten 
 sively, as a Democrat ; I will bring them in under the 
 cover of their own garments; once in, an obligation, 
 clinched with the strong triple bars of an oath, is 
 not easily broken. I think it highly probable that 
 that fellow, Hawks, so far from accomplishing any 
 good, has only prejudiced our cause there; if so, I 
 shall endeavor to ferret him out ; once found, depend 
 upon it, he shall be shown up in his true colors. 
 You shall be duly apprised of my movements, and 
 success in that quarter. I frequently think of the 
 happy unions you are having around your old Coun 
 cil board. I would like to be with you sometimes, and
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF 8AM IN VIRGINIA. 197 
 
 participate in those deliberations so dear to my soul ; 
 but then , the thought of being usefully engaged else 
 where, almost disarms regret of its sting. 
 
 " Good Council boys, accept the love of your obedi 
 ent servant, 
 
 "PETER SWYBURG." 
 
 Several other communications from the canvassers 
 were then read, but as they all told the same tale of 
 prosperity, &c., of which the Captain's may be taken 
 as a specimen, it is useless to give them a place in 
 this history. 
 
 This over, the president rose, and stated "that this 
 was the evening fixed upon for the presentation 
 of the medal for the most effective electioneering 
 article, or item, and requested that the gentlemen 
 would at once proceed according to the programme 
 as laid down." 
 
 The judges, or committee appointed to decide 
 upon the merits of the several articles, or items, 
 now seated themselves on a temporary platform 
 constructed in the hall for the occasion. 
 
 Invitations had gone to the Councils of the State to 
 be present, and a large number of gentlemen had 
 availed themselves of the invitation, and were pre 
 sent to witness the interesting ceremony, so that the 
 hall was full. 
 
 The he,ad judge, or chairman of the committee, 
 now rose and said, "The contestants for the medal 
 will now be presented before the tribunal." 
 
 There were ten competitors for the prize, who were 
 now conducted in, one at a time, each one was led 
 
 17*
 
 198 LIFE AND DEATU OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 several times around the hall, through the audience, 
 and then took his stand before the judges. Each 
 bore aloft, attached to a staff, and printed in large 
 letters, on pasteboard of different colors, in ink, 
 blue, black and red, his electioneering item. Some 
 of these items were very short, others very long, so 
 that when they all stood in a line before the judges, 
 there was quite a variety and display of pasteboards 
 and printers' ink. 
 
 The judge then rose, and delivered himself, as 
 follows : 
 
 " Valiant Knights of the Mystic tie, ten in num 
 ber, you now stand before us, in friendly contest for 
 the prize offered by our Council. The duty which 
 devolved upon us, my associates, and myself, that 
 of deciding to whom we should award the prize, is 
 truly a delicate one. In the discharge of this duty, 
 no feelings of partiality, in fact, no influence what 
 ever has operated upon us save the good of the 
 cause. Our award in favor of one, must not be 
 regarded as detracting aught from the excellencies of 
 all, for I must say that each of you, in your effort to 
 serve our orgnization, deserves well of all Americans, 
 and under the proverb which says that he who does 
 the best he can is as worthy as he who does the best, 
 each of you must share the glory with your successful 
 rival. Stimulated by the desire to serve your party, 
 and each emulous to excel, you all stand most 
 worthily before us, and in the name of the Council I 
 now thank you for your efforts in furtherance of the 
 glorious, the patriotic principles of the American 
 party. The several items you have placed in com-
 
 LIFE AND DEATH UF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 199 
 
 petition for the prize will be recorded on the minutes 
 of this Council, and thus your names will be trans 
 mitted to posterity, as worthy workers in the move 
 of American principles in opposition to foreign in 
 fluence. I will now read the article to which we 
 have awarded the prize. When I have read it, he 
 who displays its duplicate on his staff, will please 
 come forward and accept the Council's token of 
 regard, this golden medal" holding up a small 
 angular shaped piece of gold to the admiring gaze 
 of all present. 
 
 Mr. Editor Turner, the successful competitor, now 
 stepped forward and accepted the much coveted 
 treasure of honor. He acknowledged the compli 
 ment in handsome terms, feared that injustice had 
 been done some one more worthy than himself by 
 the decision, that he had been actuated in his deter 
 mination to compete for the prize more by the desire 
 to serve his State and his party, than by the desire 
 to possess the offered prize, and concluded in a cut 
 and dried curl, in which his eloquence spouted afar- 
 off and lofty, the substance of which was that the 
 little medal should never pass from his possession, 
 should never be moulded into dollars, but be ever 
 prized in remembrance of its distinguished donors. 
 
 Several enthusiastic gentlemen then made patriotic 
 speeches, sustaining the committee in their decision ; 
 expatiating on the mighty genius of the man whose 
 mind could concoct such an article, by far the hap 
 piest hit of the campaign, and prophesying for it 
 that it would produce a mighty revolution in public 
 opinion. Some going so far as to say that a copy
 
 200 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 
 
 of the prize essay should find its way to every 
 Virginia home; that around the quiet fireside the 
 sovereigns should ruminate over the facts therein set 
 forth, and that no true lover of his State after reading 
 it could, with a due regard to the best interest of his 
 commonwealth, vote the Democratic ticket. 
 
 It may be remarked here, that each of the other 
 essays entered for the prize were fabricated with 
 reference to some political misdeed of the Democratic 
 leader, while the one which received the reward was 
 a base slander upon personal character, together 
 with an attempt to excite the prejudices of particular 
 classes of population against others. Thus showing 
 that in their decision the committea were true to 
 their Know Nothing feelings and practices. And 
 now, after a resolution directing a large number of 
 copies of the prize essay to be printed for distribu 
 tion had been offered and adopted, and the morning 
 star having arisen, the Council adjourned.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 201 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 SOME time since, the reader was advised of a little 
 affair or suit in Cupid's Court, which, according to the 
 surmises of one of the parties, the plaintiff, was pro 
 gressing well and would end well. Some months 
 have now elapsed since Maurice Meredith obtained 
 that first interview with pretty Fannie Bell, and the 
 impression made upon his mind that it (his suit) was 
 progressing well and would end well that is, in mar 
 riage. Since then, a lover's restless life has been his ; 
 he has felt all the hopes and fears, the changes and 
 the doubts of such a life. He who lives upon the 
 smiles and glances of any fair one, must needs be 
 subject often and anon to mental changes. Now 
 happy, full of hope and glee ; now, oh mercy ! miser 
 able, full of fear and sadness ; a glance may elevate 
 him to the seventh heaven another glance may hurl 
 him thence, and back to the cold realities of life and 
 its troubles. 
 
 In all the other circumstances of life, left to future 
 development, where a man's interest is enlisted, there 
 is nothing so distressing and perplexing, as uncer 
 tainty ; while in the little matter of love there is an 
 indefinable something, so peculiarly intoxicating, that 
 a man sometimes draws pleasure even from uncer 
 tainty. This balance-wheel, this little voice whisper 
 ing hope when clouds are dark, is so attached to the 
 heart's feelings for wise purposes, and has stayed
 
 202 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN- VIRGINIA. 
 
 many a despairer's hand, raised to shed his own 
 blood. But nothing has yet happened to drive Mau 
 rice to this extremity; on the contrary, he has passed 
 along as pleasantly as gentlemen in his situation 
 generally do. He has had rivals to contend with, but 
 they have only stimulated him to more vigorous en 
 deavors to bear off the prize. He has been with 
 Fannie on divers occasions, had pleasant and happy 
 little tete-a-tetes, talked of poetry, of flowers, of 
 moon-beams, and of love, but never yet has told his 
 own. He has told her that he had a mind-picture 
 which flashed forth before his fancy in his happy 
 days of youth's gay dreams, so beautiful that he could 
 not describe it; he told her many other things about 
 that picture, and might have made the impression 
 that it was exactly like unto her own beautiful self, 
 but then he did not exactly say so. 
 
 Thus has Maurice been occupied in his world of 
 sentiment and of love, since we last saw him. How 
 has he been getting along in the political world ? He 
 has attended the meetings of the Council regularly, 
 and is still zealous in the cause. Those who induced 
 him to join the organization, it will be remembered, 
 told him that they would place within hie hand the 
 key with which to unlock the hard-bound gates that 
 led to fame and immortality. True at least to one of 
 their obligations, the promised key is now in his 
 hands. He is their candidate for Congress in his dis 
 trict; they have promised to elect him. "Will the 
 key, when applied, turn the good old Democratic 
 lock? This remains to be seen; so there is some 
 thing still between him and fame. Will that some-
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 203 
 
 thing give way? Yes, if Know Nothing trickery 
 and deceit can prevail against truth and fairness; 
 otherwise, that hard-bound gate will not swing upon 
 its hinges for the admission of such applicants as 
 himself. 
 
 During this time, Mr. Dew has, from his country 
 home, paid several visits to Fannie, who was always 
 happy to see him, as he told her all the news of her 
 dear old country neighborhood, in which she was 
 born, and had resided until her father moved to the 
 city. During one of these visits, he chanced to 
 inquire after her Irish invalid. 
 
 " Ah!" said Fannie, "she is well and happy. Yes, 
 married to a sturdy son of old Erin ; he pursued her 
 across the occean, and claimed her hand in marriage. 
 I suppose she was not proof against such devotion." 
 
 "But for your kindness, Miss Fannie, the poor 
 fellow might have found his ruddy bride a corpse- 
 Indeed you are a benefactress. But what would some 
 of your Know Nothing beaux say to this exhibition 
 of charity towards an alien?" 
 
 " I have none such, Mr. Dew." 
 
 " Beg your pardon, but may I ask what proof you 
 can offer me that such is the case ?" 
 
 " Certainly, the best proof in the world, I have 
 asked all and every one has positively denied it." 
 
 " But do you not know that the members are 
 sworn to do that ?" 
 
 "Yes, but I know they would tell me ; besides, I 
 have another knock-down argument, as you wicked 
 politician- say, it is the old adage about 'birds of a 
 feather,' &c. Now you know I don't belong to the
 
 204 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIKGINIA. 
 
 Order, neither does father or either of the boys, so 
 no Know Nothing would desire to visit our home." 
 
 " But you know they are making converts to their 
 faith, how do you know but that some one has designs 
 of this character upon you ?" 
 
 " Certainly ; but do you imagine they will make 
 many converts of persons of my religious faith to 
 their political faith ? Surely they would not ask 
 those they are seeking to proscribe to become traitors 
 to their church and join in the work of persecution." 
 
 " The demand is unreasonable, to be sure, but that 
 does not justify the conclusion that it is never 
 made." 
 
 " Though the faith that is in us," replied Fannie, 
 warmly, "justifies us in the conclusion that the 
 demand is never complied with." 
 
 Mr. Dew, perceiving that the conversation was 
 about to take a religious or doctrinal turn, and not 
 being disposed to combat any of the tenets of her 
 church, changed the conversation; moreover, he sup 
 posed that he had good grounds for the opinion that 
 the rival he most feared (Mr. Meredith) was a member 
 of the Order, and he had only introduced the subject 
 to doubly assure himself of what he had already per 
 fectly satisfied himself, viz., that Fannie had no 
 affection for Know Nothing principles, and she had 
 said enough to satisfy him that in the event of Mr. 
 Meredith's proving to be of that party, whatever 
 might be the relations he bore to Fannie, the fact 
 would greatly prejudice him, in her opinion, and 
 thus his rival's anticipations would never be consum 
 mated in marriage with Fannie Bell.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 205 
 
 The reader has doubtless inferred, from the con 
 versation above, that Fannie was a member of the 
 Koman Catholic Church. This is really true, her 
 father had placed her, while she was quite young, at 
 an institution belonging to that denomination, there 
 she began and finished her education. She was 
 allowed to attend public worship at that church, and 
 very naturally imbibed the doctrines, &c., apper 
 taining to the Catholic creed' and when, in maturer 
 years, she asked the permission of her father to con 
 nect herself with that church, the old man offered no 
 objection, and though he might have regretted his 
 first step, that of placing her in an institution of that 
 character, yet he did not feel authorised in opposing 
 his parental authority against the conscientious con 
 victions of his child, in the matter of religion. - 
 
 This was the one act of Mr. Bell which had alien 
 ated his brother-in-law, Mr. Fox, from him. Mr. Fox 
 had endeavored to dissuade him from sending his 
 daughter to the Koman Catholic Institute; and later 
 than this, tried to persuade the old man from yielding 
 his const nt to her wishes to unite with the Church. 
 Mr. Fox's counsels, however, not prevailing in either 
 instance, particularly in the latter, he has shown a 
 coolness towards the family ever since. And here, 
 too, was the secret of his advice to Maurice : " Let her 
 alone ; ask me not why I advise you thus, for I will 
 never tell you." When he gave this advice to Mau 
 rice, which so perplexed the young man, he (Maurice) 
 had been a member of the Order but a short time, and 
 Mr. Fox, fearing that an attachment might grow up 
 between the two young people, and fearing the 
 
 18
 
 206 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 unhappy consequences that might be occasioned by 
 such an attachment, he employed that significant 
 expression, " let her alone," with the hope of deterring 
 him from cultivating the young lady's acquaintance. 
 It was an easy matter for him to have apprised 
 Maurice of her connexion with the Eoman Catholic 
 Church, which certainly would have resulted in either 
 one of two things: Maurice would either at once 
 have abandoned all idea of the young lady, or, if his 
 attachment to her was already growing ardent, he 
 would have withdrawn from the organization, and 
 been a mere sympathiser with the party. Mr. Fox 
 thought the latter most probable, and being a very 
 good friend to Maurice, and holding his political 
 advancement near to his heart, he forebore to make 
 any communication to him, which would cause him to 
 take a step that would have been fatal to that advance 
 ment; and concluded within himself, that it would be 
 time enough to make the revelation before matters 
 progressed too far, or after his Council had promised 
 promotion, which would bind him to the Order by ties 
 not easily broken ; at least, in his opinion, the desire 
 for fame was greater than the desire for requited love, 
 so he was content for the present with his admonition 
 to " let her alone." 
 
 It has already been seen what effect this warning 
 had upon Maurice. He determined to keep his own 
 counsel, and Mr. Fox was the last person, under the 
 circumstances, to whom he would have revealed his 
 secret ; so Mr. Fox, not hearing the matter talked of 
 at all, concluded that Maurice had taken his advice, 
 while, in truth, his attentions to Fannie had all this
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 207 
 
 time been of the most assiduous character. Thus did 
 he postpone his revelation to Maurice, till the making 
 of it would have been impotent to rectify his first 
 error, that of not making it when he gave the 
 warning. 
 
 It happened that, during one of Mr. Dew's visits to 
 Fannie, himself and Maurice met at Mr. Bell's house. 
 Maurice was there before Mr. Dew, and was the first 
 to leave ; probably, what he had to say was intended 
 for Fannie's ears alone. He probably did not care to 
 engage in general conversation, and left forthwith. 
 The two gentlemen treated each other with more than 
 usual courtesy ; the extreme politeness of each was 
 almost embarrassing to the third party. Mr. Dew was 
 much relieved when his rival rose to take his leave. 
 He had come this time to breathe his tale of love into 
 Fannie's ear, and now that other ears had vanished 
 from their hearing, with his big heart throbbing strong 
 and high, he ventured to declare his hopes. He 
 recurred most touchingly to their old neighborhood 
 scenes ; the happy hours they had passed together in 
 their school days, when the fly-leaf of every book of 
 his had her name written upon it, in a boy's big, round 
 hand. Then he spoke of the rides, the slides, the 
 skating on the littfe ice pond ; then when he grew 
 older, and went to a boarding-school, how he thought 
 of her how he wished to see her, and when 
 that happiness was his, how diffident he was. And 
 then he went on to speak of manhood's hopes " the 
 greatest of them all was to be thought worthy of her 
 love." Here he paused. 
 
 " Worthy enough yea, too worthy ! But, Mr.
 
 208 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 Dew, remember me as a friend forget me as a lover. 
 You would not have a heart unaccompanied with its 
 best affections; my feelings do not prompt me to 
 bestow these upon you. You understand and appre 
 ciate my answer, and it will be more agreeable to both 
 of us to change the subject." 
 
 The subject was changed, and after a few moments, 
 Mr. Dew went away in a most desponding mood. He 
 next day returned to his country home, laboring under 
 the belief that Fannie had trifled with his feelings, 
 inasmuch as, in his opinion, she had encouraged his 
 suit. And being not a little vexed, the first thing he 
 did on entering his law office, was to take down one 
 of his books, and wrote upon a blank leaf the follow 
 ing satire against the fair: "He who in youth, or 
 mature years, attaches himself to the apron-string of 
 his sweetheart, unless he is positively certain that he 
 will, in time, possess the fee simple right in the owner 
 of said apron-strings, may find, perhaps, the raving 
 little Cupids, which have been for so many nights 
 hovering around his pillow, and whispering sweet 
 dreams of bliss into his eager ear, have quite unex 
 pectedly to him received their quietus by the decision 
 of the owner of the aforesaid apron-string a decision 
 not favorable to their pranks. But then, when the 
 Cupids have vanished, and carried away with them 
 their gaudy bows of hope, their visions of priests, of 
 ceremonies, and of wedding-cake, if he whom they 
 have so often paid their respects to, be but a philoso 
 pher, he will have a fair vision of his past folly, view 
 with dignified disgust all his little fooleries, while 
 ministering to the vanity or caprice of the angel now
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 209 
 
 lost to him, turn himself over and go to sleep ; and 
 in the morning go to work." 
 
 As politics was now the order of the day, he de 
 termined to drown his grief in excitement, he forth 
 with took the stump, in favor of the Democratic 
 ticket, and most nobly did he work. Wherever he 
 went, he gained the approbation of his hearers, and 
 soon ranked among the most efficient men of the 
 party. He was thus indebted to his disappointment 
 for his fame, for this it was that called forth the 
 latent fires of his intellect. Heretofore he knew not 
 his own powers, his love for Fannie had grown with 
 his growth, and strengthened with his strength, his 
 ambition ended in winning her ; but now that dream 
 had passed away, her answer had dissipated all his 
 heart-fondling sentimentalities, and he found him 
 self in the wide world dependant upon the sober 
 realities of business ; these realities he soon learned 
 to rely upon for support. These made a man of 
 what so short time ago had been but a mass inert, all 
 its powers spent in dreamy idealities, or puffed away 
 in vapory sighs. It has been said that the Council 
 
 of had nominated Maurice as their candidate for 
 
 Congress. Publicity, however, is not given to the 
 fact; he is directed to go forth, electioneer for the 
 cause and for himself secretly. This he consents to 
 do, but before taking a long tour through the country, 
 he imagines that he can go with a lighter heart, with 
 a better determination, and a stronger nerve for the 
 arduous work of a canvass, if he goes off the acknow 
 ledged possessor of Fannie's love. It was to seek 
 such an acknowledgment, that he went there on the
 
 210 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 evening he met with Mr. Dew, but being interrupted 
 he went the next evening, made his declaration, and 
 was accepted. He next day started on his tour, in 
 high spirits, and, probably, felt in a better humor 
 with himself, and with the world, than he had ever 
 before. No one was better calculated to make a 
 good impression upon strangers than he was, and the 
 party fondly imagined that they had a champion in 
 the field, not easily to be conquered, and in truth, his 
 prospects of success did seem tolerably fair. The 
 Democratic majority in the district was at no time 
 very large, in fact, as between the Democratic party 
 and the old Whig party, it was hard to say which 
 out-numbered, so that an exceedingly popular man, 
 of either party, could sometimes carry the district. 
 "What alteration Know Nothingism had produced in 
 the district was not ascertained. 
 
 Maurice, now would gladly have remained at home, 
 and enjoyed the first days of his engagement in 
 blessed communion with his betrothed ; but an im 
 perative duty, a duty that he owed both .to himself 
 and his party, called him out among the people, and 
 he went. But in all his travels, in his weary rides, 
 along the lonely country roads, he did not forget 
 Fannie ; she, and a seat in Congress occupied all his 
 thoughts; but the better part of them were given to 
 her. He thought of the eclat, they would gain in 
 Washington, he in Congress, his accomplished bride 
 in the fashionable circle, she was in his thoughts by 
 day, and visited him in dreams, in his sleeping mo 
 ments ; one dream he had that troubled him much, 
 and gladly would he have found a Joseph to inter-
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 211 
 
 pret it. He stopped one evening, just as the sun was 
 sinking behind the western hills, at a neat little cot 
 tage by the roadside, and finding the owner a hospi 
 table old man, with a merry mind, and withal, the 
 right stripe in politics, according to Maurice's under 
 standing, he availed himself of the gentleman's polite 
 invitation to spend the night. After a neat and 
 savory supper of buckwheat-cakes, beef-steak, and 
 coffee, according to the custom of the country, they 
 all soon retired, and Maurice was shown to a com 
 fortable little room, the window of which was crossed 
 and recrossed with rose-vines. 
 
 Maurice's thoughts to-day had more than usually 
 been turned upon Fannie, and now to-night, he was 
 thinking, probably that she might not approve of 
 his political principles ; "But pshaw," said he at last, 
 "what am I troubling myself about; what does a 
 a woman know or care about a man's political 
 opinions ;" he was satisfied, and soon fell asleep, and 
 with his sleep came the dream, for which he wanted 
 an interpreter. His dream was as follows: He 
 thought a little bird was singing most sweetly at his 
 window, perched amid the rose-vines; he approached 
 the window, so as to catch every note, as the little 
 warbler issued them from its throat, to tremble, 
 quiver, and then die away upon the still air of 
 night; but his approach frightened the little song 
 stress, and it flew away, and alighted upon a laurel- 
 tree, growing upon the banks of a little rivulet, not 
 far off, and there began its song; but suddenly the 
 song was hushed, the bird had flown, and in its place 
 a brilliant light gleamed forth from the thick foliage
 
 212 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 now the light would disappear, and then suddenly 
 burst forth into view again. He had heard those 
 many superstitious tales about the horrid jaunts lost 
 travelers had taken in pursuit of the Will-o'-the-wisp, 
 and he was suddenly seized with an irresistible de 
 sire to follow the light, which was now receding from 
 him. So he thought he started in pursuit of it ; it 
 led him down the little rivulet, which, after some 
 miles was lost in an immense marsh, full of bogs, 
 briers, and quagmires. Away down in the lonely 
 marsh, he entered, as he supposed, the Council-room 
 of his organization. The hall was brightly lighted, 
 and there was Mr. Fox, Mr. "Winks, Mr. Pate, Mr. 
 Dobby, old Capt. Swyburg, and all his associates he 
 was accustomed to meet in the lodge. He heard his 
 name often mentioned, and many prophecies regard 
 ing his fame, &c. He then passed on through the 
 lodge, and following the light, he soon emerged out 
 of the marsh, and suddenly found himself in the 
 most beautiful and picturesque country that eye ever 
 rested upon ; the view before him was a magnificent 
 mountain and valley view; he paused at the base of 
 an immense mountain, and then the light vanished, 
 not to appear again. Being much fatigued, he looked 
 around for a place to rest; just at his feet a clear 
 spring of water gushed from the rocks, and on its 
 moss-clad banks he reclined for rest. After awhile, 
 when gazing on the mountain's lofty summit, a 
 female form appeared upon its jutting crags, and 
 leaping from point to point, it descended rapidly, 
 and soon was by his side. He thought he had seen 
 that face and form before; ah! yes, it was the ideal
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 213 
 
 picture he had so long cherished, it was the vision of 
 Fannie that had come to visit him in his romantic 
 retreat; but the figure uttered not a word pointed 
 with its finger to the topmost point of the mountain 
 projecting over a stream running below, and upon 
 that projecting point stood Fannie, personifying jus 
 tice she had balances in her hand which were 
 suspended over the precipice; just a little to Fannie's 
 left he saw a beautiful bridge, adorned with many 
 Democratic mottoes, spanning the river. Fannie, or 
 justice, as she then appeared to him, seemed to be 
 acting as gate-keeper of the bridge ; and then he saw 
 his political enemies (and conspicuous among them 
 Mr. Dew) passing over that bridge, singing songs^of 
 triumph. Then he recognised some of his Council 
 boys coming along, they approached the gate, but 
 Fannie pointed to her scales, and then to the preci 
 pice; they obeyed the inclination of her finger, and 
 one by one went tumbling headlong down into the 
 stream below. He then looked at the river, saw that 
 it was spanned by an arch of black vapor, and in the 
 vapor the letters SALT BIVEE, were dis 
 tinctly visible. He then arose to hasten to the spot, 
 where Fannie stood, but before he reached her he 
 awoke, and found that he had been only dreaming. 
 
 Maurice was not superstitious, was not accustomed 
 to ponder over his dreams, but this one had im 
 pressed him deeply. He could not banish it from 
 his thoughts, and the more he pondered the more he 
 was perplexed; and in his perplexity became an in 
 terpreter of his own dream. The interpretation of 
 which "may be gathered from the following soliloquy :
 
 214 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 What if, after all, I have erred in uniting myself 
 with this party? May not the alluring song of the 
 night-bird be a representation to me of the songs 
 sung to me by the members before I united with the 
 party? May not that will-o'-the-wisp be embla- 
 matical of the principles of the party, all mere ignis- 
 fatuus? Was there not something significant in the 
 location of the Council Hall, away down in the 
 gloomy marsh, and did the hall blaze with unwonted 
 light, that I might detect errors? or was that beau 
 tiful country beyond intended as a view of the bright 
 haven of prosperity which the bark that bears our 
 principles would led us into ? I halted at a spring 
 did that mean that purity is still to be found in the 
 world ? Fannie representing justice well that was 
 natural enough and needs no interpretion. My poli 
 tical enemies passed over a bridge that means 
 victory my party went helter-skelter into Salt 
 River! So the whole thing simply resolves itself 
 into this I had a vision of the defeat in store for 
 our party, ha! ha! Well, sink or swim, survive or 
 perish, I am with the party heart and soul. And 
 spurring his horse, he hastened his speed towards 
 home, which he expected to reach before night. 
 Maurice had put the above construction upon his 
 dream more in sport, or burlesque of his superstition 
 in regard to it, than in reality, for he was too fully 
 persuaded within himself that his party would be 
 successful to have his faith weakened by the mere 
 vagaries of a dream, and why he had allowed it to 
 cause him any anxiety he could not tell. 
 
 He reached home that evening, and had not been
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 215 
 
 long in his office, before one of his most intimate 
 friends, politically and socially, hearing of his ar 
 rival, came to see him ; he was also his confident in 
 some matters, BO, after the young gentleman had 
 inquired, and Maurice had given him a detailed 
 account of his travels, &c., Maurice concluded bj 
 relating his dream, and told him that the thing had 
 vexed him not a little. His friend laughed heartily 
 at him, but told him that, unfortunately, it was 
 totally out of his power to render him any consola 
 tion, as he did not profess to be an interpreter. 
 " But," said he, " there is an old man in our town of 
 great repute among his fellows for his wonderful 
 accuracy in 'the art.' I would advise that he be 
 called in. I mean old Sip, the marvellous darkey." 
 
 Old Sip has already been introduced to the reader 
 on the occasion of bringing an invitation to Maurice 
 to spend the evening at his master's house. Maurice 
 accordingly dispatched his servant for the old inter 
 preter. Maurice nor his friend, of course, did not 
 believe that the old man was possessed of the gift, 
 and merely indulged in the ridiculous farce for 
 amusement and curiosity. The old fellow in due 
 time presented himself, ready to obey the commands 
 of Mars Maurice. 
 
 " Well, Sip," said Maurice, " I have heard of your 
 wonderful gift at declaring dreams. I have had one 
 that troubles me, and have sent for you to tell me 
 its meaning." 
 
 " I has," said the old fellow, " an increase of repu 
 tation in this respect. I don't take much upon
 
 216 LIFE AXD DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 myself, but if I kin be of any use to you, I am at 
 your service." 
 
 Maurice then related his dream, taking care not 
 to describe the hall in the marsh as a Know Nothing 
 Hall. He also omitted to mention the name of the 
 young lady upon the mountain. 
 
 Old Sip began his interpretation with a few 
 general rules of construction to be observed. 
 
 " For instance," said he, " dreams goes by de con 
 traries; if de fuss thing seen in de dream be of a 
 contrary nature, as an obstinate man, or 'oman, a 
 jackass, or a mule ; but if the fuss thing seen aint 
 obstinate, but goes right straight along, then de 
 dreatn aint to go by de contrary. "Well, less 'ply 
 dis rule to your dream ; now, de fuss thing you seed 
 was a little bird; birds aint obstinate, darefore your 
 dream, aint to go by de contrary, but right straight 
 along, with all de lights we can gather from de 
 sembols. Now, it are plain to my imagination, that 
 de place you started to in your night vision was de 
 hall down in de big swamp, you started there to 
 meet your friends, and de situation of de hall being 
 in de swamp, shows that de people what meets in it 
 is bad people. The sweet song of the bird was 
 unnatteral in de time o'night, and means de pretty 
 tale wat de bad people told you to get you to jine 
 'em. Dat Jack-'o-lantern means they was deceptions 
 people, and that big light in de hall was kindled up 
 to your vision, that you might see their wickedness. 
 The pretty country you went into was a view of 
 what you would possess if their promises to you 
 were true. You saw that spring, that you might
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 217 
 
 wash your hands of such people ; that lady on do 
 mountain means that dar are one who has de tender 
 place in her heart for you, and would save you. 
 Your enemies passing over de strong bridge, and 
 your friends tumbling into de ribber, means that 
 your enemies are agoing to rule over you; dat lady 
 was a- warning you to prepare yourself to go safely 
 over de bridge; and these are all de revelations I 
 can draw from your dream." 
 
 It should be stated, that Maurice had laid before 
 his friend his own interpretation, before he de 
 spatched his boy for old Sip, and his friend being a 
 frolicsome fellow, and fond of a joke, as soon as the 
 boy started on his errand, he pretended to have an 
 engagement out, which would occupy him but a few 
 moments ; but in truth, he only went out to meet and 
 post old Sip. He told the old fellow the interpreta 
 tion he wanted him to place upon the dream, which 
 he made, as is seen, to correspond as nearly as possi 
 ble with Maurice's own construction. 
 
 Maurice did not like the interpretation of his sable 
 worship at all, so he just tossed him a piece of silver, 
 which the old man received with many thanks, and 
 left. After he was gone, Maurice asked his friend if 
 he was not "struck with the astonishing agreement 
 between his own and old Sip's interpretation ?" The 
 young man replied that he had observed it, "and 
 regarded it as most extraordinary." 
 
 Maurice sat for several moments in a very thought- 
 fill, solemn mood, and then, assuming a gayer humor, 
 proceeded to say that there was mystery about the 
 thing which he could not comprehend ; that it was 
 
 19
 
 218 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 well calculated to impress seriously men of weak 
 nerves, and women and children, but he thanked his 
 stars that he was made of sterner stuff, of material 
 not to be operated upon by the foolish twaddle of an 
 old black mountebank ; and he should only regard 
 the agreement in this construction upon the drearp, 
 as one of those unaccountable coincidences that some 
 times happen, and nothing more. 
 
 His companion declared that what he (Maurice) had 
 said, " was unmitigated affectation ; that he was more 
 seriously affected than he was willing to own. Now, 
 if you will acknowledge this, I will, in a few words, 
 furnish you with a solution to the remarkable coinci 
 dence, and thus put your mind at ease ; provided, if 
 the solution is perfectly satisfactory to you, that you 
 give me permission to take you and your interpreta 
 tion off, before the first merry company we get 
 into." 
 
 " Agreed !" said Maurice. 
 
 " "Well, to be short I met old Sip on the street, 
 and told him what to say 1" 
 
 Maurice begged that he would not mention it in 
 any company until after the election ; " for you must 
 perceive that were this farce to get about, no one 
 would vote for such a superstitious booby to go to 
 Congress, as the revealing of it would represent 
 me." 
 
 His friend promised; and Maurice did not think 
 of his dream again for many days, when circum 
 stances brought it back vividly to his mind.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA 219 
 
 CHAPTEE XX. 
 
 THE contest in Virginia has now excited more 
 than a local -interest, it is not regarded as a mere 
 State contest. A Nation's eye is looking, with 
 anxiety, upon the struggle. A Nation, too, is di 
 vided in sympathy all the southern sisterhood of 
 states, whose chivalrous sons partake of the generous 
 nature of the warm wind's breath, and of the genial 
 nature of blazing suns, sends forth one mighty stream 
 of southern sympathy for the Democratic hosts. 
 They ask and beg Virginia to crush the night prowl 
 ing monster, ere its seductive influence has palsied a 
 single nerve, that runs through the southern heart. 
 
 There are among you, as us, said these southern 
 sons, many (foreigners) who, in pleading tones, are 
 saying to you, I was a stranger, and ye took me in ; 
 I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was 
 thirsty, and ye gave me to drink of the sweet waters 
 of life of liberty. Will not Virginia protect the 
 stranger that is within her gates ; and more than this, 
 will she not protect religious liberty liberty of con 
 science. Thus did the southern mind address Vir 
 ginia Democrats. While it cheered their leader in 
 his bold career, and bid him deal forth, fast and 
 heavy, his manliest blows. The answer was returned, 
 fear not brave and generous friends, Virginia Demo 
 crats know Virginia's duty. 
 
 From this quarter the Democratic party received
 
 220 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 sympathy. From whence came that of the American 
 party? why from the opposite direction, from the 
 northern States. The rankest leaders of isms there, 
 looked upon this thing called Know JSTothingism, as 
 the most precious and promising child of all its off 
 spring ; and anxiously did they watch its progress, 
 when some of its scions, from the original trunk, 
 were transplanted to a southern clime. With what 
 yearnings and anxiety they looked after its growth ! 
 with what feelings of delight did they read and 
 devour the accounts, telling of the immense popu 
 larity their affectionate child was gaining in the 
 South ! And oh ! how they spoke of the national 
 mind of the child I How it, even in infancy, became 
 disgusted at the bare mention of any thing sectional 
 in its character ! How it loved southern institutions ; 
 and evinced an early desire to travel in that direc 
 tion ! IIow at the north it had made such havoc 
 with the fortunes and popularity of the foreign-loving 
 admin stration at Washington ! So much interested 
 were they in its progress here, that self-sacrificing 
 emissaries were found, willing to leave the pleasures 
 of home, and travel south, to exercise a guardian care 
 over this precious darling. And then, it was so 
 excessively American in all its feelings, abominated 
 the idea that foreigners should be permitted to come 
 to America ; and withal, was very pious, moral and 
 religious ; and would pay especial attention to the 
 religious welfare of its followers, that one set of wor 
 shippers, the Eoman Catholics, were nothing more 
 nor less than the Devil's vicegerents on earth, and 
 ought, by no means, to be tolerated.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX V1RGIXIA. 221 
 
 These were some of its virtues publicly expressed, 
 while its chief virtue, for Virginia , was only whis 
 pered in select companies, and among known indi 
 viduals ; this was, that Sam \vas a first-rate Whig, 
 the worst enemy Democracy had in all the Union. 
 It was said that it was christened " Sam" at the bap 
 tismal font, by some distinguished preacher of " Chris 
 tian politics," after its old father, " Uncle Sam." 
 They thus endeavored to procure a family influence 
 for young Sam, knowing the stress laid in Virginia 
 upon " family ;" but it does appear, by this very act, 
 they issued a slander against Uncle Sam, and placed 
 Sam, Jr., at once in a questionable attitude before all 
 those who harp upon family pride ; as the records of 
 the country will go to show that " Uncle Sam" was 
 married, many years ago, to a chaste Virgin called 
 Liberty; and "Sam, Jr.," certainly did not bear any 
 of the family marks of the legitimate issue of this 
 connexion. Such were some of the many garbs the 
 cunning Yankees threw around their own precious 
 offspring, before they introduced him to the Virginia 
 people ; and, strange to say, they found their dupes 
 in numbers. Thus it was, that while the Virginia 
 Democracy drew sympathy from their natural allies, 
 allies in feeling, sentiment, and community of in 
 terest, the southern sisterhood of States, the opposi 
 tion found sympathy in the northern States, where 
 dwell the vilifiers of southern character, where dwell 
 the false-hearted philanthropists, whose excited 
 brains are continually trying to invent some mighty 
 plan for the alleviation of suffering humanity, held 
 in slavery at the South ; though, so far, all their 
 
 19*
 
 222 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 labors of love have been productive of no plan more 
 dignified in character than that which the merest 
 rogue would devise ; they have only stolen our negroes 
 when they could. 
 
 But, becoming weary of this slow process of ob 
 literating slavery from the South, they bethought 
 themselves of a systematic plan of secret, oath-bound 
 work ; and Sam, with his tricks, after he had laid 
 low all the national, conservative men at the North, 
 traveled South, as has been before described, and 
 here established himself chiefly in the affections of 
 quondam Whigs, who, while they ignored Sam's abo 
 litionism, still thought it proper enough to avail 
 themselves of his secret machinery for party purposes. 
 
 It may be admitted that the original purposes of 
 Know Nothingism at the North and Know Nothing- 
 ism at the South, were essentially different. Charity 
 suggests that this much must be said of the southern 
 branch, (though this admission is at the expense of 
 their claim to nationality ;) still, they have so many 
 political sins resting upon them, that if ever, in time 
 to come, they should desire to return to their first 
 love, (the old Whig party,) its chief priests could 
 never grant them full absolution. 
 
 The American party has now met in convention at 
 Winchester, and nominated their State ticket. They 
 nominated a ticket this much is known ; what else 
 they did, the rest of the world will probably remain 
 in blissful ignorance. 
 
 It was said that great harmony prevailed during 
 the sittings of the body, this much was laudable, 
 brothers should always meet together in harmony.
 
 LIFE AXD DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 223 
 
 
 
 It was, moreover, said by them, that they had put 
 forth a very acceptable ticket, to the people of Vir 
 ginia, and one that would surely be triumphant. Now 
 this was not so laudable, inasmuch as they did not 
 know that when they said so that it would prove to 
 be true. This, however, might be overlooked as a kind 
 of political license, and excused, had the assertion 
 iiot indirectly conveyed a slander upon the Demo 
 cratic party of Virginia, that it was to be defeated. 
 Again, a man has the right to predict the amplest 
 success for himself, so long as he expects to reap that 
 success, from his own proper domains. That party, 
 of course, could not expect success without encroach 
 ing upon the Democracy, so that on the very thres 
 hold, the members of that convention, stand con 
 victed, first, of slandering their neighbors the De 
 mocracy, and next, of the grave sin of covetousness. 
 Had their sins ended here, they might have been for 
 given. But look to the ticket nominated, and a 
 graver charge yet, may be preferred against them, 
 for did they not in the time of night actually steal 
 two members of the Democratic party, and place 
 them on their ticket ? 
 
 To their selected leader, the Democracy did not set 
 up any claim, right, or title ; he belonged to that party, 
 and they had the undisputed right to do just what 
 they pleased with him. To the second on the ticket, 
 the Democracy did claim a contingent right, which 
 right might have been enlarged into a fee, by a very 
 simple operation, as most politicians on their last legs 
 are apt to bite at any little bait thrown to them. But 
 probably, his membership with the party was not
 
 224 LIFE AXD DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 deemed, absolutely necessary to the fortunes of the 
 party, and this may account for his reported passage 
 through the national corn-crib, at Washington, with 
 out receiving one little nubbin from the President. 
 The President, moreover, is decidedly southern in 
 his affinities, and had probably heard of that vote in 
 Congress, for the abolition of slavery in the District 
 of Columbia. 
 
 To do him full justice, he was a gentlemanly, 
 honest, intelligent, well-meaning man, but exceed 
 ingly unfortunate of late years in his attempts to 
 please the Democracy, and they very willingly re 
 nounced their interest in him. 
 
 To the third gentleman upon the ticket, the De 
 mocracy did not so willingly renounce their interest, 
 his talents commanded their respect, and although 
 they could not exactly see his consistency, were yet 
 willing to attribute this to their weak minds; and, 
 giving him credit for more sagacity than fell to their 
 share, concluded that he saw clearly his own con 
 sistency. They regretted that he had been stolen, and 
 had signified his own acceptance of the appropriation 
 they had made of him. No process, legal or other 
 wise, was ever instituted for his recovery ; the matter 
 dropped, and has been little talked of since by hu 
 former friends. 
 
 The framers of that ticket, were regarded as 
 righteous men; and the impression was gradually 
 getting abroad, that a political millenium had dawned 
 upon Virginia, and the old political Devil, who had 
 for so long a time been stirring up party strife, was 
 chained head and foot, else how could enemies so
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 225 
 
 stand together, side by side, upon the same ticket. 
 How far this belief would have gained upon the 
 people is not known, had not the promulgers of 
 the doctrine and their party friends, by their own 
 acts, showed indisputably, that the reign of party 
 peace, good will, brotherly love, and honesty had 
 not yet began in Virginia. The framers of this 
 ticket regarded it as undignified to have indulged on 
 the occasion in excessive laudation of their nominees, 
 and did, as has been seen, content themselves with 
 declaring its acceptability to the people, and bespeak 
 ing for each a triumphant career. 
 
 But the formation of the ticket was the signal for 
 Councils, and for party men generally, to raise their 
 jubilant songs, and forthwith there came from their 
 culvert holes, and from Sam's hosts, one long, loud 
 and mighty shout, declaring the incomparable excel 
 lence of the ticket. 
 
 Acting upon the principle, that the hair of the dog 
 was good for the bite, they had carefully prepared 
 their drug, with which they intended to purge Vir 
 ginia of every vestige of Democracy; which prepara 
 tion was composed of two parts of Democracy, Beale 
 and Patton. 
 
 Certificates were soon showered upon the country, 
 testifying to the wonders this invaluable patent medi 
 cine was working. One nurse would declare that 
 it acted finely in chronic cases, and then publish a 
 list of reputable names, all of whom had been suffer 
 ing for years with Democracy in its most virulent 
 form, who were suddenly cured by the compound 
 ticket. Another certified, that it was invaluable in
 
 226 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 all cases of despondency, and soon restored life and 
 high spirits to the mental sufferer. A third ventured 
 to say, that so far as his practice and experience went, 
 the effects produced were somewhat similar to the 
 effects produced by ether, (except that ether acted 
 differently upon different minds or constitutions;) this 
 always was uniform in its effects, producing feelings 
 of patriotism. A fourth thought it very similar to 
 the liquid used by the marvellous doctor, who, when 
 ever he sprinkled any of it upon any person, the 
 individual at once became deeply attached to him, 
 and followed him wherever he went. In short, all 
 agreed, that it was a sovereign panacea against all 
 the ills of Democracy, with one very striking pecu 
 liarity, that while it infused life, hope, and health to 
 all natives and protestants, it was the deadliest poison 
 to all foreigners and Catholics. 
 
 While they were publishing all these advertise 
 ments of the inestimable value of this compound 
 with the hope of increasing its reputation, the old 
 Democrats simply read the advertisements and gave 
 them credit, probably, of possessing as much truth as 
 the notices of quack medicines generally. In fact, 
 they rather looked upon two-thirds-of the compound 
 as two political corpses that had died of the American 
 fever. The American party, however, was nothing 
 daunted by the manner in which their compound 
 ticket was received. They had hoped that the De 
 mocracy, on the promulgation of this ticket would, 
 like Crockett's coon, come down without being fired 
 at, and lay at their feet. But being deceived as to 
 the result of the trick, they at once resorted to other
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 227 
 
 moans, as their brains were never idle on that im 
 portant question of defeating the Democracy. They 
 n\)w threw themselves upon the bosom of Sam, 
 bemoaned their piteous condition in Virginia, and 
 begged that he would show the same spirit in the 
 struggle here that he had exhibited in a northern 
 latitude; and prayed that his sceptre might not pass 
 from him, until Virginia was rescued from the rule 
 of Democracy. 
 
 They followed now, with still greater energy, all 
 their tricks, which have before been described in 
 these pages; and where these failed they resorted to 
 others, and new ones. . They felt that all their for 
 tunes hung upon the election; with them 'twas life 
 or death ; they knew they could not recover from the 
 first fall; once down, prostrate, dead 'for ever. 
 
 The fear of this fall lends vigor to their determina 
 tion. The hope of reward lends its incentive to their 
 anxious minds, as they work, work, work for the 
 spoils by night and by day, in secret, and some 
 times now, in public; in crannies, and in corners; 
 in by-ways, lanes, in short, wherever a sovereign could 
 be found. 
 
 In secret, the Councils still continued to issue pri 
 vate orders, to meet the exigencies as they arose, 
 Avhich the workers were sworn to obey. While in 
 public, the sum and substance of all their arguments 
 may be told in three words, namely, huzzah for Sam. 
 
 But turn from the contemplation of the tricks of 
 this party, to the course pursued by the Democracy. 
 The contrast is singularly striking. The Democratic 
 party has long been thoroughly organized. It has
 
 228 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA 
 
 truth, e^ual rights, southern rights, nationality, 
 liberty of conscience, religious liberty, Virginia, 
 union and the constitution, together with many other 
 mottoes of freedom and of right, emblazoned on its 
 banner. Its candidates are now all in the field, and 
 with calm dignity they are nobly breasting the dark 
 tide of fanaticism, which has at last overleaped the 
 strong barrier of defence the southern conservative 
 sentiment had raised up; and unless this tide is 
 thrown back, these candidates, so nobly meeting the 
 storm, must at last give way ; their banner of free 
 dom's mottoes must trail in the dust; Democracy 
 must fall, and fanaticism, with its foul spawn of hor 
 rors, will rush in to revel in wanton liberty with the 
 sacred principles of our fathers. 
 
 Must all these precious blessings waste and wither 
 away before the hot breath of the oath-extracting, 
 oath-binding monster? 
 
 Must all Virginia's trophies, all her relics of olden 
 time, be snatched from their hangings on her tri 
 umphal arch an arch invisible, 'tis true, to the eye, 
 but distinct to the mind, as it is seen proudly span 
 ning the old Commonwealth from Atlantic beach to 
 where Ohio laves her western borders. Let the mind's 
 eye approach this arch and read what the finger of 
 time has traced upon it, as year after year has glided 
 away, and it will be found to be the history of the 
 Democratic party of Virginia. Democracy's enemies 
 (in other words, Virginia's enemies) cannot look upon 
 that arch with favor or affection. A phrenzied mad 
 ness contemplates its downfall, which, in the still and
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 229 
 
 dark hour of midnight, busily plies the dastard's tools 
 under either abutment. 
 
 Patriot, will it fall? Ah, that's a question 
 reserved for the month of May. If it falls, Vir 
 ginia's honor and fame lies under its ruins. A nation 
 feels the shock 1 
 
 20
 
 230 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 ME. TURNER'S paper displays the American ticket 
 from its mast-head, and rejoices, with exceeding great 
 joy, that such an unexceptionable ticket, in every 
 respect, had been put forth for the approval of Vir 
 ginia's sovereigns; and not a doubt was expressed 
 in this sheet, which so faithfully adhered to its party 
 tactics, as to the triumphant success of the nominees. 
 It occasionally descanted on the subject of with 
 drawals, which was now reaching an alarming extent. 
 This question was treated by the editor in the light 
 est manner possible : it was but the cry of " wolf! 
 wolf!" raised by opponents, when in fact there was no 
 " wolf." " It was intended," said he, " merely to 
 intimidate Sam's followers, while the field before them 
 was one of hope and promise on all sides, through 
 which the American boys were proudly marching in 
 one unbroken phalanx, with joy unspeakable in store 
 for them when the march was over." And then, to 
 prove his position, he drew from his imagination, 
 away down in the realms of fiction, many beautiful 
 and consoling little fancies, of which the following 
 may serve as specimens : 
 
 " It is certain that the ticket has struck terror in 
 the ranks of the Democracy ; and it is already whis 
 pered, that men high in Locofoco repute have advised 
 that the party forthwith withdraw their candidates
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 231 
 
 from the field and allow ' Sam' to walk in without 
 an opponent." 
 
 " A friend who has recently traveled extensively 
 through the State, gives it, as his opinion, that our 
 majority will certainly not fall below twenty thousand 
 and will probably exceed forty thousand." 
 
 It is reasonable to suppose that the friend here 
 alluded to, was the " New York Herald's" reporter, 
 who was sent here to follow gentlemen about, and fur 
 nished garbled reports of their addresses. 
 
 " In Chesterfield, the city of Petersburg, and all 
 the south side counties, ' Sam' is bearing down all 
 before him. So writes one who knows." 
 
 " A gentleman, from Franklin county, who has, 
 heretofore, been a Democrat, assures us that Bocock 
 will be defeated in that congressional district by a 
 crushing majority. ' Our Nat,' is & powerful man." 
 
 " Chastain White, that fiery young orator, who 
 aspires to a seat in the state senate, from Hanover 
 and Henrico, will find that his ambition has received 
 a check, from the strong ' Eeins,' which the American 
 party has placed upon him ; these two counties will 
 give not less than five hundred majority, for the 
 whole American ticket." 
 
 " In the north-west there are at least one hundred 
 initiates, to one withdrawal ; the American leaven 
 will leaven the whole lump, in this section, so says 
 one of our exchanges." 
 
 " A writer, from the central west, gives the best 
 tidings of ' Sam,' in that section ; but counsels his 
 party not to exult too highly, lest thereby, the feel-
 
 232 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 
 
 ings of the unfortunate Democrats will be greatly 
 wounded." 
 
 " The south-west is thoroughly aroused. The 
 death-rattle will soon be heard in the throat of the 
 once powerful and popular Democracy ; peace to its 
 ashes ! So writes an intelligent farmer from that 
 section." 
 
 " We learn that ( Sam' is well received and gaining 
 popularity, where least expected, in the counties of 
 Eockingham and Shenandoah." 
 
 " It is useless for us to speak of Loudon and old 
 Augusta ; if the opposition, in both counties, poll a 
 baker's dozen, they will be doing well." 
 
 "We don't encourage betting, but boys plank 
 down the tin, when solicited by the green horns, but 
 never take advantage of ignorance, by playing an 
 open and shut game. It would be dishonest in you, 
 to bet on the result without saying more ; so, for the 
 sake of fairness, always bet on twenty-five or thirty 
 thousand majority for our ticket." 
 
 " Let us hear of more withdrawals, such news is 
 always refreshing ; for we are assured by it that the 
 good grain is being separated from the chaff. We 
 want not a grain of smut or cheat left in the great 
 bulk our party is laying aside for the final reckoning 
 up, on election day." 
 
 These were, some of the slightly extravagant say 
 ings of Mr. Turner's paper, the acknowledged organ 
 of the Know Nothing party, though this extrava 
 gance of assertion and bragadocio, may be regarded 
 as the least objectionable feature of all its career. 
 
 By this time most of the Whig papers of the State
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 233 
 
 had wheeled into line ; and it was quite amusing to 
 hear the savage yelpings of the little " ten by twelve" 
 village thumb papers, as they tried to imitate the 
 sonorous growls of the big party mastiff. They 
 copied all his howls and whines ; and whenever he 
 issued a savage bow, wow, wow, close at the Demo 
 cracy's heels, all their little tails wagged with inex 
 pressible delight. 
 
 Unfortunately for the cause, the Know Nothing 
 pack did not consist of trained runners, but of every 
 variety of genuine and mongrel species, so that, in 
 the chase, they did not keep well together ; and it 
 was only when they heard a bugle note, from the old 
 leader, that all agreed that that was the true track by 
 which to reach the spoils. So the huntsman cheered 
 and whooped whenever Turner opened, declaring 
 Democracy too impotent for the contest. Thus went 
 the night hunt, "'over the hills, and far away," 
 through old Virginia's plains. 
 
 Nearly every Whig paper, probably there was not 
 a single exception, supported the Know Nothing 
 ticket, while it was not uncommon at all to see 
 lengthy articles in these very papers making the 
 assertion, and endeavoring to sustain it, that this 
 party was not the old Federal party under a new 
 name ; in this they must have trusted largely on the 
 credulity or the ignorance of the Democracy. In 
 truth, there never was a more abortive attempt at a 
 deep game. Never were men's real designs more 
 thoroughly read, through the thin transparencies of 
 deceit and trickery, than theirs by the Virginia 
 Democracy in the campaign of 1855. 
 
 20*
 
 23i LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 But fearing to rely too much on these shallow 
 transpariencies, lest in so doing they might shoot 
 wide of their mark, they endeavored to fortify them 
 selves at all points, so as to make assurance doubly 
 sure, and to this end they not unfrequently devoted 
 whole columns, endeavoring to prove, what has never 
 yet been disputed, in America at least, that Ameri 
 cans should rule America. Foreigners were some 
 what scarce in Virginia, and they could well afford 
 to lose them all, provided that in making this 
 sacrifice they could win the affection of every native. 
 Then, again, in the absence of everything like prin 
 ciples to sustain them, (true, they had a public basis 
 of principles, which they in secret ignored them 
 selves,) which is inferred, from the fact that they 
 never in good faith declared any, or so much as in 
 timated, under what policy the government would be 
 administered under their rule : they attacked private 
 character, dwelt largely in personalities, and in 
 Billingsgate, against the gentlemen who composed 
 the Democratic ticket, and against prominent mem 
 bers of this party generally. In short, the Know 
 Nothing presses did well and faithfully the bidding 
 of their supporters, these engaged in midnight con 
 spiracies against Virginia's fame and honor.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 235 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 OLD CAPTAIN SWYBURG, Know Nothing canvasser 
 at large for the State of Virginia, expressed his wil 
 lingness to take the Tenth Legion in his tour, and 
 " contribute towards the beautiful dawn of Ameri 
 can light in that heathenish land of Jackson in 
 Democracy." 
 
 He has now entered within its borders, and it may 
 not be out of place here to trace his course for a 
 while, and see how he is getting on in his work of 
 love. 
 
 The reader can appreciate his sorrowful feelings, 
 as, solitary and alone, he entered that country, which 
 the vote of years has consecrated to the stately step- 
 pings of Democracy. His heart throbs for sympathy 
 from some quarter, and after traveling for a day, and 
 finding none, he at length drew a halt at the house 
 of an old friend, and spent the night. His friend, 
 with whom he stopped, was a Democrat. Politics 
 was the subject discussed, but the old Captain was 
 afraid to show his cloven foot, and never did a man 
 discourse more beautifully than he did on the prin 
 ciples of Democracy. The Captain practised this 
 deception, that he might get certain information that 
 would be of service to him ; so, just before retiring, 
 he asked his friend if there were " any enemies of 
 our country," in the neighborhood ? 
 
 " Enemies ! What do you mean ?"
 
 236 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA 
 
 " I mean these disgraceful Know Nothings." 
 
 " Oh, ho! I understand. No, happily for us, none 
 just about here; but there are several suspected of 
 the thing some miles below this, in the village of 
 ," calling their names. 
 
 This was all the Captain wanted ; and he went to 
 bed, congratulating himself secretly at his masterly 
 art of deception. 
 
 The old Captain started next morning, bright and 
 early, for the village in which he had been told there 
 were several Know Nothings. Now this was his 
 native village ; he had resided there many years, 
 knew everybody, and everybody knew him as a first 
 rate Democrat ; he anticipated glorious success ; and, 
 as he wrote to his Council boys, he intended " to 
 bring them in under the cover of their own gar 
 ments." 
 
 This, too, was the same village in which his prede 
 cessor, Mr. Uriah Hawks, had stopped, and noticed 
 the structure in the vacant lot, opposite the tavern. 
 
 About midday the Captain reined up at the tavern, 
 and was met by the landlord. 
 
 " "Well, bless me," said the landlord, " if this ain't 
 ' old Swy !' Glad to see you glad to see you, Swy ; 
 old fellow, how do you ?" 
 
 The greeting over, the Captain glanced at the 
 structure, and inquired for what purpose it was 
 there. 
 
 " Oh, it is not worth while to tell you; it was not 
 intended for such as you." 
 
 " Maybe not ; but still you can gratify my cu 
 riosity, can't you ?"
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 237 
 
 " Oh yes, as to the matter of that I can ; but come, 
 walk in, and while I am mixing you up a toddy I 
 will tell you." 
 
 He began, and used the same words and gestures 
 he had employed in explaining it to Mr. Hawks. 
 
 " Well," said the Captain, u suppose I tell you that 
 / am a Know Nothing ?" not knowing exactly what 
 reply to make. 
 
 " If you were to tell me that, I reckon about the 
 first thing I would do would be to tell you that you 
 lied ; and if you insisted on the truth of it, I expect 
 about the next thing I would do would be to order 
 you out of my house, and if you didn't go, I pre 
 sume about the next step I would take in the premi 
 ses, would be to kick you out. No, Swy, it is im 
 possible .for you to be a Know Nothing. Why, don't 
 I remember that a long time ago you licked a fellow 
 over the Ridge, at the barbacue, because he said 
 Jackson had removed or taken all of the funds of 
 the United States Bank ? And did not that same 
 fellow, in the scuffle, bite off the lower extremity of 
 your left ear? Why, Swy," raising his hair from 
 his left ear, " this crop is a lasting monument to your 
 Democracy." 
 
 Swy was fairly overcome, and was thus forced to 
 declare his adherence to the Democracy. He re 
 mained in town several days, receiving the honest 
 greetings of his old acquaintances, who were really 
 glad to see him. His stay here reminded him of the 
 good old days when he lived here, and when his 
 opinions on political subjects were highly respected 
 by the Democracy. He hoped that during his
 
 238 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 
 
 sojourn, something would turn up which would 
 enable him to make known the subject of his 
 mission. But so far from this, his very presence 
 seemed to enliven and stimulate the Democrats. 
 They at last held a meeting, and appointed a com 
 mittee to wait upon the Captain, and request him to 
 address the people on a particular day ; but he 
 pleaded urgent business in another section of the 
 county ; and as the Captain rode through town on 
 his departure, his coat pockets stuck out full of good 
 wholesome electioneering documents, which the De 
 mocratic boys had handed him, with the request that 
 he would distribute them in his travels. What be 
 came of the documents is not known, though it is 
 supposed that, before he traveled many miles, he 
 dismounted, and buried them in the ground. 
 
 His visit to his native village resulted in not one 
 initiate into the Order. He traveled for several 
 days with very poor success, so he at last concluded 
 to make a bold stand to make a desperate effort, 
 make or break. This was to address the people in 
 behalf of Americanism and the Winchester ticket. 
 He could do this now without violating any law of 
 the Order, as the day fixed upon for allowing mem 
 bers of the party to speak in public had now come. 
 The Democracy in the neighborhood he was in were 
 making preparations for a barbacue, when several 
 addresses would be delivered, and gentlemen of the 
 opposite party invited to be present, and to put for 
 ward a speaker or speakers if they desired. The day 
 came, and to the barbacue went the Captain, and when 
 invitation was given for some opposition orator to
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 239 
 
 address the people, up he arose, to the astonishment of 
 all who knew him. He began "by saying " that the 
 American movement was entirely disconnected from 
 the old parties, but was in truth very Democratic in 
 all its features ; was the very party for all true Demo 
 crats," &c., &c. 
 
 In the course of his remarks, he stated " that the 
 cause had been greatly prejudiced in the Tenth Le 
 gion by a traveling Yankee, who had proved an 
 infamous traitor to his party. He had heard, to his 
 s xrrow, that he had imposed upon a trusting maiden 
 of the mountains, and was actually married. He 
 warned all, should they meet with this fellow, to have 
 as little as possible to do with him. His name is H. 
 Uriah Hawks." 
 
 Just then a gentleman in the crowd arose and 
 asked to be heard ; and who should it be but the 
 veritable Mr. Hawks, who up to this time was unob 
 served by the Captain. 
 
 "Fellow citizens," said he, "I am no speaker, but 
 such language, from such a source, cannot be passed 
 in silence. I certainly should not have recognised 
 my portrait, which the individual drew of me in such 
 strong colors, had he not attached my name to the 
 bottom of it. 
 
 " Gentlemen, as to the question of my birth, my 
 being a Yankee, &c., I think you will all bear me out 
 in saying, that that was a matter over which /could 
 exercise no possible control. I have endeavored 
 always to live an honorable and honest life. The 
 great misdeed of my life the one which has caused 
 me more genuine sorrow than all others put together
 
 240 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 he who has so villified and traduced me here in your 
 presence to-day was wholly instrumental in bringing 
 it about ; I allude to my brief connection with the 
 political organization which he has the honor of 
 representing on this occasion. By him I was most 
 importunately solicited yes, by him induced to join. 
 I did not profess to be a politician ; but placing confi 
 dence in that man, I listened to his honeyed words, 
 and fell. But the same hand which struck me to 
 that position low, indeed, among men who love their 
 country was indirectly the cause of my salvation ; 
 for it was at his persuasion that I was induced to 
 come among you, who soon taught me the error of 
 my ways, and I at once requested and received a clear 
 acquittance from the oath-bound organization. 
 
 " Traitor did he call me ? To what party had he 
 always belonged, until he failed in an application for 
 office from the present administration? He was a 
 Democrat, and you have read in my language the 
 secret of his change. This, I have understood, is his 
 native county ; moreover, that he resided here long, 
 and was favorably known. If such be true, then the 
 old man has sadly changed. He deceived me he is 
 here to-day to deceive you beware of him. If no 
 one hearkens jto his voice here to day, I shall not so 
 much regret the character he gave me before you, 
 inasmuch as his slander gave me the opportunity of 
 showing him off in his true colors. I shall not ask 
 of him satisfaction for his attempt to injure my repu 
 tation his age protects him on this score so I con 
 tent myself with simply turning him over to the 
 tender mercies of the Tenth Legion Democracy.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 2-il 
 
 Deal leniently with him ; but heed not his voice, I 
 beseech you, one and all. I thank you, gentlemen, 
 for the attention you have given me." 
 
 The applause with which this explanation was 
 received, showed that the sympathy of the company 
 was with him. 
 
 " Three cheers for Hawks," shouted one of the 
 auditors, in a deep-toned voice ; and forthwith went 
 up, with deafening roar, the three cheers for Hawks 
 and Democracy. 
 
 When order was restored, the old Captain desired 
 to say a few words, " He perfectly well knew that 
 the sympathy of the crowd was not in his favor, but 
 he stood again upon his native soil, after some years 
 of absence from it, and he thought that his old friends, 
 and the sons of his old friends, would give him a 
 respectful hearing." He then went on to say that he 
 "did not come to the place to get into a personal con 
 troversy with any one, but to declare the glorious 
 and immutable principles of the American party." 
 These descriptive adjectives of the American party, 
 were received with shouts of laughter from all quar 
 ters of the ground, and it growing late, several voices 
 began to cry out, " dinner, dinner, let's go to dinner," 
 "go it, old Swy," "go back to Tuckahoe," "you 
 can't come it over the mountain boys," and old Swy, 
 was actually forced to sit down ; and thus ended his 
 boast to the Council, that " if he found that fellow, 
 Hawks, he would show him up in his true colors ;" 
 so that the Captain found himself somewhat in the 
 predicament of the man who went out " after wool, 
 and came back shorn." He began, now, to realize 
 
 21
 
 242 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 the difficulty of bringing " the Tenth Legion boys in, 
 under the cover of their own garments," (principles) 
 and determined in his future electioneering, in " the 
 Legion," to pay his respects especially to the Whigs. 
 He did not attempt to accomplish any thing for the 
 cause at the barbacue, after the treatment he received, 
 while endeavoring to advocate his cause publicly. 
 The truth was, Uriah stood very well in his neighbor 
 hood, and his remarks placed the Captain in such an 
 awkward attitude, before the sovereigns present, that 
 he saw that it would be worse than useless to attempt 
 to make any converts at that place. He also came 
 to the conclusion that it was unwise to declare his 
 principles publicly, in the Legion, and determined in 
 future, to adhere to his clandestine measures. He 
 was the most indefatigable of men ; it was one of his 
 boasts, that he never would be out-done at what he 
 attempted, and if he could not succeed in one way 
 he would try another. His treatment, and his poor 
 success in the Tenth Legion, had now aroused all his 
 energies, and to get initiates, he was not at all scru 
 pulous as to the means employed. After some days 
 of hard work, fortune, as he thought, began to favor 
 him. Some of the Know Nothing lawyers, from 
 Staunton, had attended one of the courts in Rock- 
 ingham, and had prepared the minds of some of the 
 old Whigs, in a particular locality, for the reception 
 of Know Nothing principles. Well, the old Captain 
 had the good luck to get into this locality, and sure 
 enough established a lodge. But the truth is, Know 
 Nothingism never did flourish to any great extent in 
 the Legion, notwithstanding the strenuous efforts of
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 243 
 
 the Captain, and the band of recreants he had drawn 
 around him, and he was really delighted when he 
 received a communication from his Council, saying, 
 " that doubtless he had already set the ball in motion 
 in that section, which would roll on, and on, accu 
 mulating, till the day of election, and directing him 
 to visit certain counties in eastern Yirginia. 
 
 It afterwards appeared that the Captain, as soon as 
 he established the lodge alluded to, wrote to a friend, 
 confidentially, to procure his recall from the district, 
 and it was at the solicitation of this friend, before the 
 Council, that the order changing his field of labor 
 was issued. Notwithstanding all this, the Captain 
 had the impudence to write and publish the follow 
 ing letter, in Mr. Turner's paper soon after leaving 
 the valley. 
 
 " MR. EDITOR : 
 
 "I have recently traveled extensively through 
 several of the valley counties, Rockingham and She- 
 nandoah included, and it may appear incredible, but 
 it is nevertheless true, that a strong current has set 
 in in favor of the American ticket, and, I d verily 
 believe, that had the nominations been made sooner, 
 we would have carried the whole Tenth Legion ; as 
 it is we shall press the foreign ticket hard. There 
 being nothing in our principles incompatible with 
 the doctrines of the Democratic party, in fact they 
 being essentially Democratic. The Tenth 'Legioners' 
 are delighted with them, and a great many have told 
 me openly, that they intended to vote our ticket. 
 Mr. Editor, wherever our bases of principles are read,
 
 244 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 they cannot fail to impress the reflecting with a sense 
 of their conservatism. The old questions that have 
 heretofore divided the parties, are as nothing com 
 pared with the great questions now appealing to 
 every patriot, and Christian, as to whether foreigners 
 or Americans shall rule America; or as to whether 
 the religion of our country shall be subverted by the 
 base heresies of Komanism. These are the questions, 
 the prime questions, which the people of Virginia 
 will be called upon to decide, and to these questions, 
 the valley counties will give a favorable response, in 
 May next. It is generally hard to break in upon the 
 long established affinities and opinions of any com 
 munity, but the potency of American principles is 
 being felt even in the Tenth Legion, that land of 
 Democrats, and the opposition party is fast tottering 
 to its fall. 
 
 " Your truly, 
 
 " TRAVELER." 
 
 It should have been stated before, that several of 
 Uriah's friends, urged upon him to demand satisfac 
 tion of " Mr. Swyburg," for the insulting remarks he 
 had made towards him. But Uriah, like most of the 
 Yankee race, was not particularly noted for courage, 
 and had the greatest horror for bloody noses, scratches, 
 fist thumps, and gouges (not to say any thing about 
 powder and ball) imaginable, so he persisted, that in 
 consideration of the man's age, &c., he had taken 
 the right course in exposing him to the gentlemen 
 present. 
 
 While his friends were importuning him to " lick"
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 245 
 
 the Captain, his father-in-law, old Mr. Laubinger, 
 arrived upon the ground. The case was soon stated 
 to him, and he thought Uriah had acted perfectly 
 right. " But," said he, " show the fellow to me, and 
 if he is about my age, I will take him in hand, and 
 he shall retract, or whip me, certain." Swyburg was 
 pointed out to him, and old Mr. Laubinger stepped 
 up to him, saying, " You are a stranger to me, sir, 
 but I have understood that you have to-day insulted 
 my son-in-law, Mr. Hawks, who very bravely and 
 generously, in consideration of the inequality of your 
 ages, declined to demand satisfaction; but, sir, there 
 is no great difference in our ages, so you have your 
 choice, to retract your offensive epithets against 
 Hawks, or entertain me, for a few brief moments, 
 in a fight." The old Captain was true game, but as 
 he did not care to carry a black eye about with him 
 on his electioneering tour, he very flatly declared, 
 " that he had no hesitation in saying that he had only 
 applied the epithet, traitor, to Mr. Hawks, in a politi 
 cal sense ; that he had nothing to say against him, 
 derogatory to his personal character, and that he had 
 only warned gentlemen to beware of him, politically." 
 The bystanders, thought this apology sufficient, and 
 old Mr. Laubinger turned down his coat-sleeves, and 
 allowed his rigid muscles to relax, much to the relief 
 of the Captain.
 
 24:6 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 THE most of Maurice Meredith's time is now spent 
 in electioneering. His friends are looking up to him 
 to carry the district. They are continually minister 
 ing to his vanity, and telling him that the question 
 of defeat or victory in the district rests upon him. 
 Thus encouraged, he bends every nerve to the con 
 test, and labors with a zeal worthy of a better cause. 
 All the time he does not devote to the canvass he 
 devotes to Fannie ; he is a very frequent visitor at 
 her father's house. What a happy man he is! so 
 confident of his election, so well convinced that his 
 love for Fannie is honestly reciprocated. How beau 
 tifully he sketches life's journey before them, which 
 they have pledged to travel together ! She is to share 
 all his joys ; and if perchance adverse fortune should 
 vent its vials of wrath upon them, he tells her with 
 what confidence he will look up to her, the strong- 
 minded woman, with a woman's tender heart, strong 
 in adversity, to whisper peace to his troubled heart, 
 and teach him to bear the ills of life. A warm 
 hearted, trusting girl, she enters into the spirit of all 
 his bright and beautiful anticipations, and bids him 
 not invite the ills of life by speaking of them. Many 
 were the blissful hours they passed together, under 
 the influence of that elevating and refining sentiment, 
 where two young hearts are locked together in sym 
 pathy. After a while, these two hearts form a world
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIEGINIA. 247 
 
 within their secret courts, and in this world they live, 
 oblivious to the stern realities that are being enacted 
 in the cold, outer, everyday world ; and in this little 
 world, heart speaks to heart, glance answers glance, 
 tongues utter vows, and vows anticipate a wedding. 
 
 So while Fannie and Maurice were communing 
 together in this world of their own creating, so unro- 
 mantic a subject as politics had never entered their 
 heads, and consequently she knew nothing of his 
 political principles ; true, he had spoken of his con 
 templated trip to Washington, but he never thought 
 it necessary to tell her that he was going as a Know 
 Nothing representative to Congress ; and if he ever 
 thought of telling her of his visit to Washington in 
 that capacity, a mysterious foreboding would warn 
 him against it. Nor had they in their own little 
 world ever talked on the subject of religion, so Fan 
 nie had never told him of her connection with the 
 Roman Catholic Church, and, strange to say, he had 
 perhaps never heard it from any other source ; in all 
 probability, the fact was not generally known. She 
 was frequently seen in her father's pew in the Episco 
 pal Church, during service, though she by no means 
 neglected her own church. If Maurice was aware of 
 the fact, he never spoke to her of it ; if he was aware 
 of it, he doubtless calculated on procuring her with 
 drawal from that Church before the nuptials, as it was 
 against the rules of the Order for a member to have a 
 Catholic wife. The probabilities are, though, that he 
 had no idea of her connection with that Church. 
 
 In politics, Fannie's father was a Democrat. lie 
 had frequent conversations with Maurice on political
 
 248 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIEGINIA. 
 
 questions, from which the old man inferred that he 
 was an old line Whig. He entertained the highest 
 respect for Maurice, and by no means sought to dis 
 courage the alliance which he desired to make with 
 his daughter. Maurice had not yet asked his consent 
 for the bestowal of his daughter's hand in marriage; 
 but then he had learned how matters stood, from Fan 
 nie, and he offered no objection to her choice, but 
 advised her to weigh well so important a matter, and 
 not enter into it unadvisedly, and without thoughtful 
 consideration. 
 
 A few days after he had given his daughter this 
 advice, he attended court in an adjoining county, on 
 which occasion notice had been given in the papers 
 that there would be political speeches delivered. It 
 was not yet known, publicly, who the Know Noth 
 ing candidate for Congress was, though the nomina 
 tion had been made some time. When the time for 
 the speaking arrived, Mr. Maurice Meredith was 
 conducted to the stand by his friends. 
 
 He stated that " his friends had confered the honor 
 of the nomination for a seat in Congress for the dis 
 trict of which this county is a part." He accepted 
 the nomination in handsome terms, and then pro 
 ceeded to harangue the people at some length, and 
 in the course of his remarks, dwelt long upon the 
 Roman Catholic question, and indulged in a great 
 deal of useless wrath against this denomination. His 
 speech, upon the whole, was just such as is fre 
 quently heard from an able man when he finds 
 himself on the wrong side of a question, exhibiting
 
 LIFE AXD DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 249 
 
 a great deal of sophistry, but very little of truth or 
 candor. 
 
 It was well received by his political friends, who 
 frequently applauded most uproariously, and when 
 it was finished, pronounced it " a masterly effort." 
 
 A Democratic speaker was then introduced, and 
 who should it be but Mr. Dew, with whom the reader 
 is already acquainted. He made a spirited and 
 " masterly effort," and never were the arguments 
 of an opponent more thoroughly answered, than 
 were Meredith's ; one by one, he attacked the posi 
 tions assumed by his opponent, and with unsparing 
 hand tore-off the specious dresses of sophistry in 
 which they were clothed, and exposed their fal 
 laciousness. Never did a party appear in a more 
 unenviable light, than the American, when he was 
 done dissecting it. He dwelt long and forcibly on 
 what the Democratic party of Virginia had done for 
 the Union, ancj. the anxiety that was now felt for its 
 success in all the southern land of chivalry; and 
 concluded with an eloquent appeal to the old Demo 
 crats once more to stand by their ancient faith, once 
 more save Virginia and the Union. 
 
 This was the happiest effort of Mr. Dew's life, and 
 never was a speech more enthusiastically received 01 
 more justly complimented. 
 
 Mr. Meredith attempted a rejoinder, but he got 
 along badly, feeling, no doubt, that his adversary 
 had the advantage of him. 
 
 Mr. Dew then concluded in a few happy hits. 
 The Democracy came off the acknowledged victors 
 in the discussion, and Mr. 7)ew fell; a peculiar satis-
 
 250 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 faction in having thus worsted his old rival before 
 the people. 
 
 It was said above, that Mr. Bell (Farmie's father) 
 was present at this discussion. Yes, he was there, 
 and heard the whole of it. Greatly astonished, 
 greatly mortified was he, to know that Maurice was 
 a member of the American party. 
 
 The old gentleman returned home in a reflecting 
 mood ; he doted with a father's warm and burning 
 love upon his daughter; yea, he idolized her. He 
 thought of Maurice's awful denunciations against 
 the Eoman Catholics, and argued from thence that 
 breakers were already looming up in the distance, 
 upon which the happiness of his almost angel girl 
 would be shipwrecked, and she be tossed on the 
 wild waste of grief's black waters, whose angry 
 billows no pitying tear from a father's eye, no gentle 
 consolation from a mother's heart, no buoyant word 
 of hope from the tongue of a friend could assuage. 
 
 He felt satisfied that Maurice did not know of his 
 daughter's connection with the Roman Catholic 
 Church. If he did know it, he was playing a mys 
 terious part. Can he expect to influence Fannie, 
 and get her to withdraw from her Church ? At any 
 rate, I fear and tremble for Fannie. Poor girl. She 
 certainly did not know of his political affinities when 
 she promised to marry him. And in this wise the 
 old father mused within himself, not knowing ex 
 actly what course to take. 
 
 Several days after the debate, he determined to 
 hold a conversation with Fannie on the subject, and 
 sent for her to come to his library. When he heard
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 251 
 
 her gentle footsteps approching, lie brushed a tear 
 from either eye, and tried to appear as composed as 
 possible. He glanced at Fannie, and observed that 
 there was an unusual paleness resting on her cheek, 
 but concluded that this was occasioned by this 
 unusual summons into his presence, and that she 
 anticipated some unwelcome news from him. 
 
 " Fannie," said he, "I wish to converse with, you 
 on a subject which I dislike to mention, but I desire 
 that you will speak candidly and freely with me. 
 
 " Were you aware, at the time you promised to 
 marry Mr. Meredith, that he belonged to a political 
 party, one of the chief objects of which is to proscribe 
 the members of the Church to which you belong ?" 
 
 "No sir," said she, calmly and deliberately, "I 
 was not ; but I have to-day received an account of 
 his speech, delivered a few days since in behalf of 
 that party. Some kind friend was good enough to 
 send me a copy of the paper containg the notice, 
 marked." 
 
 The old man thought he read in this answer the 
 secret of the palor, which marked her cheeks, when 
 she entered into his presence. Alas ! meditated he ; 
 the blighting chill has already entered her heart; 
 and he offered up a prayer that its ravages might be 
 staid, ere the genial nature of her noble soul would 
 be frozen to its very centre. Continuing, he asked, 
 " Do you suppose, Fannie, that Maurice knew you 
 were a member of the Koman Catholic Church ?" 
 
 " I do not know, sir. I have never endeavored to 
 keep the fact at all a secret ; Mr. Meredith has never
 
 252 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 mentioned the subject to me, and it is possible he is 
 altogether ignorant of the fact." 
 
 " My daughter, since these developments have 
 come upon us, I would most earnestlv beg you to 
 .ponder well on the subject. Do not allow your mind 
 to dwell too much on the bright anticipations which 
 you and Maurice have pictured for yourselves. "Tis 
 woman's heart that's strong in the dark and melan 
 choly hour her sun of hope may have set but she 
 frequently emerges from the hard folds of grief a 
 better and happier woman. Prove yourself, then, 
 equal to the task, be worthy of your womanly nature, 
 be strong, the storm will break, and you will once 
 more partake of the fleeting, transient pleasures of 
 earth and time. I am speaking to you as if the worst 
 had come to the worst. I wish to prepare your mind 
 for whatever may be in store for you. True, it is, 
 lovers' ways are, sometimes, quite incomprehensible 
 and it may be that Maurice and yourself will be able 
 to reconcile your antagonistic sentiments and opin 
 ions. How you are to do this, I confess I do not 
 understand. When you see him, have a free, candid, 
 open explanation then take your coarse. 
 
 " Father, dear father, let us not continue this sub 
 ject now, at another time " 
 
 He nodded his assent ; the suffering girl left went 
 to her room, and there the first tears of genuine 
 sorrow coursed down her cheeks. 
 
 Who is it that has felt the first tears of genuine 
 sorrow, that does not remember the burning sting 
 they left behind ? These first tears constitute an era 
 in the life of man, from which, when in old age, he
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 253 
 
 looks back on his life, and begins to count his trials 
 and his sorrows ; that first dark shadow which hung 
 the drapery of sadness around his heart, and he is 
 disposed to regard it as the progenitor of all his sub 
 sequent sorrows. 
 
 In solitude, Fannie gave vent to her grief. What 
 a change had come over her feelings. In the morn 
 ing happy thinking of Maurice as her lover, of the 
 happy day when he would return from the country, 
 and come to talk with her ; but, ere the day has fled, 
 she learns that an obstacle raises its frowning visage 
 between them, threatening to frighten the little bul 
 of promise from its nestling place around her heartf. 
 
 She sits in the calm shadow of twilight, and medi 
 tates. She calls up many reminiscences of their past 
 acquaintance, but instead of bringing pleasure, each 
 one is armed with a burning sting. She sat a long, 
 long time, and before she arose, her resolution was 
 taken. " The world shall never know my sorrow 
 ings. I scorn its pity ; nor shall it laugh at my 
 calamity. Within the portals of my own bosom will 
 I keep the secret I will go on, and on, through the 
 world, and none will suspect me of having known an 
 early attachment. I shall laugh when I will be gay 
 at times, and when I sorrow, none shall know it. 
 But may not all this be premature ? he shall not be 
 cast off without a hearing ; I will take my father's 
 advice, and talk with Maurice on the subject. She 
 then arose from her retirement, to join the family, 
 and to all appearances, was as gay as ever. Thus, 
 in a measure, quieting the fears of her parents. 
 Several days past away, and Fannie still retained 
 
 22
 
 254 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 her usual flow of spirits, at least, she did this in com 
 pany, and her father was beginning to think he had 
 given himself unnecessary anxiety on her account. 
 Bat ah ! when alone, when no human eye could see 
 her, then she was under no studied restraint. She 
 now had two lives, one for the eyes of others, this 
 was her life to seem ; the other was for solitude, this 
 was her life to be ; and her life to be, was to be 
 wretched. 
 
 Maurice did not remain long out of town; on the 
 evening of his arrival he called to see Fannie. She 
 met him cordially, but still he thought there was 
 more reserve in her manner than she had been 
 accustomed of late to show towards him. 
 
 He made some jocular remark in regard to her 
 unusual display of dignity. But Fannie, apparently 
 not hearing his observation, said : 
 
 " Your newly acquired fame has preceded you, for, 
 I have read a very complimentary account of your 
 late political harangue before the people, besides, my 
 father was present at the discussion; I suppose you 
 saw him?" 
 
 " No, I did not see your father, but if he reports 
 as favorably of my speech as the account you saw, 
 then I shall get a vote I did not expect, as he is a 
 Democrat ; but, may I ask, does the old gentleman's 
 daughter take any special pride in my newly acquired 
 fame?" 
 
 "Alas! to be candid, she does not. Are you aware 
 that / am a member of the Roman Catholic Church ? I 
 being entirely ignorant of your political opinions up 
 to the time I saw the account of your speech, you
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 255 
 
 possibly may be ignorant of my religious principles. 
 It might have been better for us, had we known 
 more of each other before " 
 
 " A pretty game you are playing, Fannie, indeed ; 
 with a little more practice, (if you will only make a 
 public exhibition of it,) I may in turn compliment 
 you upon your ' newly acquired fame ' in playing a 
 part. I suppose you have been rehearsing this little 
 play ever since you heard of my speech, in anticipa 
 tion of my coming ; and did you expect me to leave 
 the room, blubbering like a great awkward school 
 boy, at some unexpected treatment from his sweet 
 heart? do draw out the pocket handkerchiefs you 
 have prepared for the occasion. But come, to be 
 serious, I have found you out; so off with your 
 assumed gravity, and let's both be natural ; I havn't 
 long to stay this evening." 
 
 "I am playing no part, sir; have spoken only the 
 truth; have assumed no gravity. I am a Koman 
 Catholic in religion; you^ in politics, an American, 
 and would proscribe, persecute, yea, crush that Church 
 even out of existence, were it possible. Can you 
 now construct the bridge to span the broad gulf that 
 divides us? Look; here I stand, and according to 
 the dictates of my own conscience, I seek salvation ; 
 there you stand, sworn to war against me, and all 
 those who, in religious matters, think and act with 
 me." 
 
 " This bridge, I should suppose," said Maurice, " is 
 very easily constructed. I have but to go with a fee 
 to one of your priests, who will grant me absolution 
 from the crying sin you have so eloquently convicted
 
 256 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 
 
 me of. I still persist that you are jesting you a Ca~ 
 tholic!" repeating the last words with a visible sneer. 
 
 "/am," said Fannie, proudly, the warm blood mount 
 ing to her cheeks, "and your imputation against the 
 priest your taunt at me is unworthy of you." 
 
 Maurice was now convinced ; and with the con 
 vincing proof came the full realization of the un 
 happy development and its ultimate consequences to 
 his peace of mind. 
 
 "I have deeply wounded you, Fannie, and the 
 spirit with which you met my unintentional insult 
 does credit to your nature, for I admire above all 
 things, the right kind of spirit in a woman. But, 
 Fannie, let us now call upon the spirit of love to 
 hover around us while we set our heads to work, and 
 see if we can't settle most amicably and satisfactorily 
 this ugly difficulty, so frightening to us both. The 
 simple fact, that I am a member of the American 
 organization is, you would say, prima facie evidence 
 that I am not very favorably disposed towards your 
 Church." 
 
 " But I would take," joined in Fannie, " your re 
 marks, as quoted by my father, as positive evidence 
 that you are decidedly hostile to my Church." 
 
 " Granted," continued Maurice, " but as I was going 
 on to say, my opposition to that Church, as a Church, 
 does not preclude me from entertaining for indi 
 vidual members the most exalted respect. I do not 
 say there are not individual examples in that Church 
 shedding the most beautiful light of Christian piety. 
 I war upon the Church, not upon individuals." 
 
 " He who touches my Church, Mr. Meredith, touch-
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 257 
 
 eth that which nearly concerneth me ; and in selecting 
 these individual examples, you are casting an unwar 
 ranted reproach upon the Church, and declaring that 
 such is their natural purity of character, that they 
 cannot be corrupted by the Church. If, in the appli 
 cation of your remark, you intended to select me as 
 one of these bright examples of natural piety, then I 
 must say you are robbing the Church to flatter the 
 
 i/ */ c_J 
 
 individual." 
 
 This reply caused Maurice to change the basis of 
 negotiation which he had marked out in his mind. 
 After a pause he began again, as follows : 
 
 "You object, Fannie, to my political opinions, 
 because those opinions lead me to declare against 
 your Church. I am honest in these opinions. My 
 party friends have honored me with a nomination for 
 Congress. Therefore, however disposed I may be to 
 accommodate myself to circumstances, and withdraw 
 from the organization, for the purpose of retaining 
 your confidence, respect yea, love I could not do 
 so without a breach of all the rules of honor and 
 good faith by which I am bound to my party." 
 
 " I would not have you sacrifice your political aspi 
 rations for me," said Fannie. 
 
 " How then can I ask you, Fannie, to sacrifice your 
 Church for me ? for, in the simplicity of my untutored 
 mind in regard to Church attachment, I was about to 
 appeal to you to withdraw from the Eoman Catholic 
 Church, and unite with some other, if you .chose ; 
 supposing the pleasantest road to the future land was 
 hardly the one which runs through purgatory." 
 
 " If you expect, sir, to win me over to the sacrifice 
 22*
 
 258 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 
 
 you would ask of me, then surely you are wide of 
 your aim, when you are resorting to ridicule. Cast 
 another such reflection upon my Church, and I shall 
 consider it time to end this interview. As to the 
 question of withdrawal, let us settle it now, once for 
 all. To do so, I never, never will consent, for no 
 earthly consideration. I might sacrifice wealth, all 
 my worldly possessions, fame yea, everything, save 
 the privilege of worshipping at the throne of Grace 
 as I will." 
 
 " I suppose then," said Maurice, " I must come with 
 some other basis of negotiation, before you will be 
 willing to treat with me ; so let us now sign a truce 
 to this controversy till we meet again. Let us not 
 break lightly the happy relations we sustain to each 
 other ; for believe me, could I but harken to love's 
 sweet voice, and do its bidding, I would freely 
 renounce all worldly honors, and cling only to Fannie. 
 Our minds, just at this time, are not in the proper 
 mood to talk over this matter. I will see you again 
 soon." And so saying, left the house. 
 
 Maurice left in a gloomy state of mind ; but he left 
 not without a little ray of hope. From whence came 
 that dear little ray, glancing along through the thick 
 and dark shadows of forebodings ? Ah I it comes 
 from that ideal picture, which he had cherished long 
 years before he met with Fannie. He had always 
 regarded it as one of fancy's dainty treats to his long 
 ing soul, and he had so encouraged the idea that its 
 counterpart in nature would be his wife, that fancy 
 and reality had swapped places; and to think now
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 259 
 
 that she would not be his wife, was only one of fancy's 
 little wiles. 
 
 He mingled the -next day with his political friends ; 
 every one of them sang songs of victory in his ears, 
 and encouraged him on to the political struggle. 
 That evening found him again at Mr. Bell's house. 
 But he went there having too much to ask of Fannie, 
 lie intended to insist that she was the proper person 
 to remove the difficulty, by withdrawing from the 
 Eoman Catholic Church. That apart from his obli 
 gation to his party, it would be considered unmanly 
 in him, by the world, now becoming a stern, weather- 
 beaten politician, to harken to the sentimental feelings 
 of the pliant school-boy, and be moulded to his sweet 
 heart's will. He went there, not prepared to offer any 
 new basis of negotiation, but to insist on the same 
 propositions they had before discussed ; and he calcu 
 lated much on Fannie's love being a faithful ally in 
 the settlement. But he did not see Fannie ; the ser 
 vant, who presented her apologies, handed him the 
 following note : 
 
 "MR. MEREDITH: 
 
 " Having reflected duly on the subject of our last 
 evening's conversation, I cannot think it possible, 
 that another interview would be productive of any 
 thing more satisfactory. Therefore, to avoid a meet 
 ing which could only be disagreeable, I have pre 
 pared this letter, in anticipation of your coming. 
 
 " In so important a matter as marriage, there should 
 be a fitness, a congeniality of sentiment, between 
 the contracting parties.
 
 260 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 " I have asked myself these questions : 
 
 " Must I marry the man, who has kissed the lids 
 of the Holy Bible, and uttered the vow to war 
 against my Church ? 
 
 " Must I marry the man, who would rob me of my 
 conscience, and dictate to me the terms, upon which 
 I am to base my hopes of -salvation? 
 
 "Must I marry the man, who in this happy land 
 of liberty, would rob me of a right, which God im 
 planted in my bosom the right to serve Him as the 
 teachings of my conscience would dictate ? 
 
 "Must I marry the man, who raises his voice 
 against the benevolent and charitable invitation of 
 our laws, to the world's oppressed, to flock to free 
 dom's home ? 
 
 " Must I marry the man, who has prescribed the 
 bounds, for humanity's kind offices, to American soil ; 
 who can listen to no tale of suffering, or of misery, if 
 the relator of his woes but breathe them with a 
 foreign accent ? 
 
 " Must I marry the man, whose political opinions 
 would lead him to no higher aim than the proscrip 
 tion of foreigners and Catholics ? 
 
 " Must I marry the man, who could ask of me, 
 that I should abnegate my religious faith, in order 
 that he might adhere to his political faith ; thus ask 
 ing, that the holy charm of religion should yield to 
 the politician's worldly aspirations. 
 
 "I must say to you, that the invariable answer to 
 all these questions has been, ' no' and in obedience 
 to this response, I have now to sever our engage 
 ment it is done. It would be affectation in me now
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 261 
 
 to say, that I did not admire your manly, noble 
 traits of character. The contemplation of these drew 
 me towards you ; we communed pleasantly together, 
 and I promised to marry you in this I was sincere. 
 I saw no spot, or blemish upon your character; but, 
 alas ! I see it now the link is broken you are 
 released. 
 
 " Let us only think of the pleasant hours we have 
 spent together, as so many little finger-boards, in 
 life's fitful journey, reminding us that life's dearest 
 hopes may crumble ; but pointing to a happier land, 
 bid us fix our affections there. You are a man, go 
 mingle with the world, and in its excitement forget 
 your love. I am a woman, and 'tis in this dark and 
 cheerless hour, that the Church you so much abuse, 
 is my only comforter. O, noble Church ! now do I 
 prostrate myself upon they bosom, and view from 
 afar off, that beautiful dawn of holy light, which 
 thou dost promise to all those who follow thy com 
 mands in righteousness ! How bounteous hast thou 
 been in preparations for all thy daughters, who are 
 weary of time's gaudy bubbles ! The serene solitude 
 of the cloister beckons the weary pilgrim of time to 
 its sacred shades. Thy brave and generous sister 
 hood, always ready to go wherever the cry of suffer 
 ing is heard ; always ready to peril life in the face of 
 disease, to offer succor to the sick and dying: and 
 should I weary of the vanities of life, thou, blessed 
 Church, hast a place prepared for me. 
 
 "I beg, Mr. Meredith, that you will excuse this 
 outburst of feeling 'tis the last you will ever hear 
 from " FANNIE."
 
 262 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 Maurice did not open the letter till he reached 
 home, and there he read it with an aching heart. He 
 now thought of the words, "fix not your affections 
 upon that girl, for you may repent it," which Mr. Fox 
 had said to him ; and now for the first time he under 
 stood the significance of the words, " let her alone." 
 And now too, his dream which so much troubled 
 him, in which Fannie represented Justice, came fully 
 before his mind. He felt, for the first time in his life, 
 that he was a doomed man, his hope for Fannie had 
 fled from his heart, and in its flight too, borne away 
 his little ideal picture, which he had so long caressed 
 in fancy's happy view. 
 
 " I bid adieu to love, and hie away for fame ; fare 
 well, Fannie ; farewell, bright and beautiful girl. I 
 shall often think of thee in sadness. Thou wert a 
 ray of sunshine to my path, for a little, little while. 
 But now thou art gone from my gaze, like a beautiful 
 dream. 
 
 " As I told her yesterday, could I but hearken to 
 love's sweet tone, and do its bidding, I would freely 
 renounce the prospect of all worldly honor, and 
 cling only to my (now lost) Fannie : but I am bound 
 to my party. I have sworn to do its bidding that 
 oath cannot be broken. But, perhaps no yes 
 may she not relent, and accept me with all my sins 
 against his Holiness the Pope, and against her 
 Church. But I will not encourage the thought 
 come now that little ideal picture ! Ah I it comes 
 not ; it too has fled such alas ! is life 1" and thus, 
 concluding his soliloquy, he committed Fannie's letter 
 to the flames.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 263 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 How was it that Maurice treated Fannie's letter so 
 lightly ? Is it natural that a man of an ardent tem 
 perament should meet with such a disappointment, 
 and then treat the whole affair in a cool, stoical man 
 ner, and dispose of it, as if it were but a mere trifling 
 circumstance, met with in the course of everyday 
 life? But these were only the feelings of the mo 
 ment; his pride was wounded, and he was not ex 
 actly in a frame of mind to realize fully his loss. 
 
 Fannie's letter had been committed to the flames. 
 After some hours, how he regretted that act ! How 
 he wished he had that sheet of paper back upon 
 which she had traced those lines, evidently with a 
 trembling hand ! True, the recollection of some few 
 words, he was enabled to call to mind, were beginning 
 to burn in upon his very heart ; true, the sentiments 
 contained in that letter were not grateful to his feel 
 ings; but then he could run over those lines again in 
 grief; and he would derive a melancholy pleasure 
 from them, even though they told him that the " last 
 link was broken." 
 
 He had for some months past been looking upon 
 Fannie as the charmed goblet-bearer of his hopes and 
 anticipations. This goblet was full of bright and 
 beautiful dreams ; and on the many occasions when, 
 with unaffected simplicity, she had spoken the feelings 
 of her heart, in remarks full of confidence in him, he
 
 264: LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 was not disposed to grumble with his lot, but thanked 
 Heaven that "things were as they were." Alas! 
 though he could not see what gates the key which 
 the Know Nothings placed in his hands would un 
 lock ; they pointed to fame and immortality, and told 
 him the key was for the gates thereof. He conse 
 quently went down with them into darkness. He 
 hurled his denunciations with high hand against those 
 he was sworn to crush; one of these bolts which he 
 had forged in his place of covert darkness, and which 
 he hurled forth with the hope of carrying devastation 
 in its train, had struck the hand that was holding the 
 goblet to his lips the hand was palsied by the 
 stroke, and it could never again return the warm 
 pressure of love to the hand that hurled the shaft. 
 The goblet, too, was shattered, and all the bright 
 dreams it held were drunk up by the black drapery 
 which despair had hung around the burial-place of 
 hope. 
 
 The more he pondered over the subject the more 
 he was oppressed and dispirited. Where now was 
 he to go for consolation ? Where could he find the 
 Lethean draught to cause forgetfulness of the past ? 
 Could he mingle in the political furor of the day, and 
 forget his love in the shouts and hurrahs of those 
 who would advance him in the world of fame? 
 What though he was successful in his aspirations for 
 a seat in Congress? Would all its honors fill the 
 aching void of his heart, now mourning the loss of 
 that which for some time past had held its seat there, 
 ministering to that voice which says to man, " It is not 
 good that thou should'st be alone ?"
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 265 
 
 However intellectual a man may be, however gigan 
 tic his mind, he is not at all exempt from that desire 
 implanted within him by the hand of Providence, to 
 seek a partner for his life from among those who are 
 rightly termed the fairest portion of created hu 
 manity. 
 
 There are those who contend that it argues a weak 
 ness of mind for a man to yield to the tenderer 
 passions of his nature, and lament the failure of his 
 suit for woman's heart and hand; but the voice 
 which utters such a sentiment is only the snarl of the 
 morose cynic, who has built up an unnatural philoso 
 phy for himself, and is ashamed, in the gigantic pro 
 portions of his mental faculties, to acknowledge the 
 potency of the feelings of the heart. 
 
 Maurice was far from being one of those surly mis 
 anthropes. He was of an ardent temperament, of 
 strong passions and prejudices ; and he felt not 
 ashamed to mourn the loss of so rich a prize as he 
 esteemed Fannie. 
 
 And now it was, after he had calmly reflected on 
 the subject, that the war began within him. 
 
 Now it was that two of the strongest passions in 
 the breast of man, love and ambition, had arrayed 
 themselves for a conflict, that could only result in 
 the complete annihilation of the one or the other. 
 Love had much arrayed on its side; Ambition much 
 on its. Love spoke first, and said, banish me not 
 from my courts in thy heart, lest you rue the day. 
 Look not upon me as unworthy of thy notice. True, 
 unlike my adversary, I cannot lead you along the 
 royal road to fame, I cannot deck your brow with 
 
 23
 
 266 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 glory's chaplets. Mine is an humbler sphere, un 
 ostentatious I am, but then I go with thee where'er 
 thou goest. Your home is the place where I deliglit 
 to dwell, and there will I remain with you. I will 
 be your constant friend, and in the little ordinary 
 things, which make up the sum and substance of 
 life's bitter part, I will be thy best comforter. Look ! 
 What is man, unless he permits me to reign in his 
 heart? Is he not surly and morose? Does he not 
 often live uncared for, and pass away unlamented? 
 I it is who will go with thee in pleasant places. I 
 it is who will lead thee along pleasant paths. I it is 
 who, from my bounteous store of little joys, will deal 
 these out to thee, nor will that store be emptied by 
 the constant demand you may make upon it; keep 
 but the fountain pure, and the stream that fills this 
 store is as exhaustless as the sea. Banish me if you 
 will, and you will find in the sere-leaf of your 
 autumn years, that you have despised your best and 
 surest comforter. 
 
 Ambition next spoke. I was implanted in your 
 breast to raise you above the common rabble, or the 
 brute creation. I point you to the pinnacle where 
 sit the great of earth. The world would never have 
 known a statesman, a hero, or a conqueror, had I not 
 reigned in his heart, and ne'er deserted him till he 
 reached the crowning glory of a mighty deed. I 
 elevate you above the common walks of man ; above 
 the pinings of the sentimental school boy. Go with 
 me to where nations meet, in serried ranks, upon 
 the tented field ; I hover around their colors, I 
 glisten on the white steel's shining face; my voice
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 267 
 
 is heard in tho cannon's roar. Look to the thrones 
 of earth, where sit the kings ; I decked these thrones 
 with purple and with gold. Look to the crown ; I 
 placed the diamond there ; and could you read the 
 hearts of those who wear the crowns, you would find 
 me even there. Look to senate halls, where the 
 great men of nations meet, and you will find these 
 men do not despise me. Look last to yourself, and 
 would you retrace the steps you have taken with 
 such nattering prospects of success on the road to 
 popular favor. One step backward, even a pause, 
 would now be fatal. Look ahead, and faint not, I 
 will be with you. 
 
 Listen but to the delirious w r ooings of my rival, 
 who is now treating you to anticipation's golden 
 views, and you will find, when anticipation ripens 
 into reality, that distance lent enchantment to the 
 view. 
 
 Is the applause of men grateful to your ear ? Does 
 the warm breath with which fame speaks of heroes 
 and of statesmen animate your bosom? Are you 
 emulous to compete for the honors which will surely 
 fall upon some, during your day and generation? 
 Then you must harken only to my voice, and listen 
 not to love's entreaties. Love is seldom my rival, 
 we frequently dwell together in the same heart ; there 
 are, then, no better friends, and we frequently join 
 our incentives in elevating the man ; but, unfortu 
 nately, for you, Maurice Meredith, we are arrayed 
 in hostility to each other, and you must decide 
 whether you will listen to the voice of love or the 
 voice of ambition, and that right speedily.
 
 2G8 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 
 
 How fiercely rages now the war in Maurice Mere 
 dith's breast, between love and ambition. 
 
 Both have addressed him. Love has told its little 
 tale of simple joys, and asked that, like the dews of 
 heaven to the thirsting plant, withering on some 
 sterile waste, it may be permitted to hover around 
 him, and now and then refresh his inmost soul. 
 
 Pompous ambition, boasting of its intimacy with 
 the kings of earth, and the part it has played in all 
 the great and glorious deeds of time, held out its 
 alluring gifts before his eyes, and promised that 
 those gifts should be his, provided he decided against 
 his rival. 
 
 What was Maurice to do ? This was the per 
 plexing question. Should he choose for his part, 
 love or ambition ? "When he thought of Fannie, he 
 was almost on the point of saying, farewell ambition, 
 farewell honors, farewell all ye intoxicating dreams 
 of fame, I will yield to love's voice, go to Fannie, 
 ask forgiveness, and sin no more ; I know she will 
 take the repentant wanderer back. But ere the 
 thought could ripen into a firm resolve, there came, 
 as it were, the voice of the multitude, sounding his 
 praises and his name ; he saw fame and immortality 
 towering far above the simple offices of love. The 
 decision was made he chose ambition. But he 
 determined, if possible, to reconcile the two opposing 
 passions, by seeking one more interview with Fannie, 
 and conjure her to remove the obstacle in their way. 
 If, however, she persistently refused, then to bid that 
 final adieu to her, which love so imploringly warned 
 him against.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 269 
 
 Maurice, as the reader is aware, had, on a former 
 occasion, failed in obtaining an interview with Fannie. 
 He therefore concluded, that before he would venture 
 to make another call, he would write her a note, and 
 inquire whether or not it would be agreeable to her 
 for him to do so. The note was despatched ; Fannie's 
 reply was not repulsive. She probably thought that 
 he had seen the great error he was in, and would 
 come prepared to make all due concessions. But, she 
 was not satisfied in her own mind, that should he 
 even do this, that she would be justified in agreeing 
 to a re-establishment of the relations as they formerly 
 existed between them. Their engagement had been 
 broken off by herself, in obedience to what she con 
 sidered to be her duty. Should that engagement be 
 renewed? that was the question. She determined to 
 be governed by future developments. If he came 
 with the proper spirit, prepared to make a full renun 
 ciation of the opinions he had advanced against her 
 Church, and if this renunciation was brought about 
 by the conviction that he was in error, and not a 
 mere device to entrap her, then she would take the 
 matter under serious reflection, and try to forget the 
 difficulty which had so perplexed her. 
 
 In truth, she began again almost to think of Mau 
 rice as a lover, and found herself almost, at times, 
 hoping that a reconciliation would be effected; but 
 she dared not indulge the thought too far, the matter 
 was not yet settled she did not know what the result 
 would be, though the terms of that reconciliation were 
 fixed; she had stated them to him when she saw him ; 
 they were not to be departed from. Will he come 
 23*
 
 270 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 prepared to accept these terms? And such reflections 
 as these were passing through the proud girl's mind 
 from the time she received his note till he called. 
 
 The evening after Maurice wrote to Fannie, he 
 went to see her. It was an embarrassing meeting to 
 both ; Fannie did not know how to receive him, nor 
 he exactly what humor to adopt. They both felt the 
 extreme awkwardness of the meeting. They felt as 
 if a third person would take away the solitariness of 
 the occasion; and just at this time, a bright-faced, 
 prattling little girl (one of Fannie's sisters) of some 
 four or five summers, came bouncing into the room, 
 as if she were sent by some mysterious power, a 
 messenger of relief to Maurice and Fannie. The 
 child's presence had the desired effect, and they were 
 beginning to feel at ease, when the unconscious little 
 innocent begged her sister "to hear her say the 
 prayer she had taught her ;" and before Fannie could 
 say, wait till another time, the little thing was down 
 upon her knees, and with its head buried in Fannie's 
 lap, was lisping the prayer which Fannie, the Eoman 
 Catholic girl, had taught her. The prayer was just 
 such a one as any pious Protestant would teach his 
 child ; Fannie respected her father's religion, and she 
 would scorn to mould his young child's mind to her 
 her own way of thinking. This circumstance, at 
 another time, would have been regarded as trivial, 
 but now, it strangely effected Maurice. It brought 
 fully before his mind the unfortunate difficulty 
 between Fannie and himself her Romanism, his 
 Americanism. After a few minutes, the nurse cap 
 tured the little wanderer from her care, and took it
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 271 
 
 back to the privacy of the nursery walls. Maurice 
 and Fannie were again left alone. 
 
 Maurice now referred to their difficulty, " and 
 came," he said, " with the hope that it could be re 
 conciled, and then they would go on as smoothly as 
 if nothing had happened to throw them out of the 
 current which, for so long a time, had borne them 
 along together without a ripple on its smiling sur 
 face." 
 
 "I would ask you to state," said Fannie, "the 
 grounds upon which you expect an adjustment." 
 
 " Were I in a condition, Fannie, to let the voice of 
 love lay the basis, there would be no doubt of your 
 acceptance. But the same impediment is in the way 
 as when you last saw me. Would you have me vio 
 late an oath I have made to my party ? I came to you 
 to ask you, yea, to implore you, to remove the dif 
 ficulty as I suggested in our last interview. Do you 
 not appreciate my situation? Do you not see that I 
 am bound to my party? that I cannot break the 
 bonds unless I break an oath, and be guilty of 
 treachery. Speak, Fannie! and say you will take 
 me, with all my short comings and political errors? 
 Why, love and politics should be kept as distinct as 
 the Church from the State." 
 
 " Am I to understand, then, Mr. Meredith, that you 
 have no other terms to offer? If so, you already 
 have my decision. No argument, no appeal to my 
 sympathies, would cause me to change that decision. 
 Therefore I beg that you will change the subject ; 'tis 
 idle to pursue it further." 
 
 "'Tis idle, did you say?"
 
 272 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 " Must all end here ? Must we never think again 
 of each other ?" 
 
 " Yes, think ; but to regret that we ever met" 
 
 " Then the sad farewell must now O, awful word ! 
 be spoken. I utter it, and it bears me hence from 
 Fannie. And now, one last request. Teach that 
 little angel-innocent, who but a while ago prayed so 
 touchingly, bowed upon thy lap, to pray for me. I 
 am hardly able to bear up against this sad wreck of 
 all my hopes." 
 
 She took the hand extended to her; and thus 
 ended the last interview between Maurice Meredith 
 and Fannie Bell.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 273 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 THE election day is now not far distant. That 
 day will be an important one to Virginia. That day 
 will decide whether Virginians will stand by the 
 vows their fathers made to religious liberty, when 
 they declared that no man should be proscribed on 
 account of his religious opinions; or whether, with 
 sacrilegious voice, they are going to break these 
 vows, and declare for a Northern ism. 
 
 That day will decide whether Virginia is still 
 worthy of her name and fame, or whether she has 
 sunk to the level of some of her fallen sisters. That 
 day will decide whether Know Nothingism shall 
 receive its fatal blow, 'or whether it shall roll on and 
 on in its black evolutions of plot and counter-plot, 
 secrecy, falsehood, and crime, till the whole southern 
 land is cursed with its presence, and crushed by its 
 proscription. 
 
 The great contest is to come off on that clay 
 between truth and its sister virtues, and its opposite, 
 with all its attendant train of evils. 
 
 " Truth is mighty, and will prevail." 
 
 The Democracy are buoyed by this inspiring 
 thought, and it gives vigor to their action, and hope 
 to their patriotic hearts. 
 
 Their leader, the " fearless tribune of the people," 
 is still addressing the people ; and on no occasion yet 
 has he raised his voice in vain. On these public
 
 274 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 occasions, that master orator drew oft and anon from 
 his exhaustless quiver, arrows pointed with truth, 
 which, with unerring aim, clove falsehood's sayings, 
 and carried conviction home to the hearts of men. 
 See that man going he goes his enemy; see him 
 now returning he is his friend. 
 
 Look at another, as he rides along with his neigh 
 bors to the "speaking." He is a Democrat, but is 
 not satisfied with the party nominations. Hear him 
 abusing his party for the nominations, and declaring 
 that he cannot and will not support the ticket, to the 
 infinite satisfaction of his Know Nothing neighbor, 
 who intends to claim the honor and glory of having 
 brought him over to the true faith. But see him as 
 he returns home he has heard and was convinced, 
 is now enthusiastic for the success of the very 
 nominee he so much objected to. 
 
 Another goes. He, too, is a Democrat, but has 
 joined the oath-bound Order. The deception which 
 has been practiced upon him is laid bare to his gaze, 
 and he returns with a thorough disgust for his de 
 ceivers, and with the determination to seek an early 
 withdrawal from the secret organization. 
 
 Another goes there, a full-blooded, deeply-died 
 Federalist, a rank Know Nothing Whig. The ma 
 lignity of years is festering in his heart ; it is the 
 worst kind of party malignity. He carries, too, with 
 him a black spirit, that he may cavil, criticise, and 
 denounce; but the orator held up to his view the 
 picture of Sam, as described in the eighteenth chap 
 ter ; held up to his view the absurdities which were 
 traced within the Blue Book of the secret worshippers.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIKGINIA. 275 
 
 The man saw Know Nothingism depicted in its most 
 glaring deformities, and went away a better man, 
 politically. 
 
 Thus continued the Democratic leader, in his work 
 before the people, from the tide-water flats, to the 
 rolling hills of Piedmont, from Piedmont to the great 
 Valley, and from the Yalley to the wild (mineral 
 imbedded) mountains of Trans-alleghany. 
 
 But he did not confine himself to discussing and 
 pointing out the dire evils of Know Nothingism. 
 The subject of state policy claimed his attention and 
 on this subject his views, as expressed, met with the 
 warm approbation of the people. Being thoroughly 
 aroused to a due sense of state improvement, progress 
 and wealth ; he vividly sketched the plan of progress ; 
 and the people saw that under his system the kind 
 old State would soon blossom as the rose. They 
 believed that under his advice the great lines of rail 
 way would speedily be completed, and that Virginia 
 would soon be checkered o'er with a judicious net 
 work of railway. 
 
 His position, in regard to that improvement, whose 
 first rail will touch the bank, where roll York river's 
 waves. Whose last will rest where Big Sandy's 
 waters glide, was especially captivating and pleasing 
 to the people. As he descanted on the incalculable 
 importance of these several lines, connecting and 
 forming one grand continuous highway, through the 
 state, his auditors were carried some few years in 
 advance of time, and then they beheld the great iron 
 horse, being richly freighted at Big Sandy's mouth ; 
 eastward he wends his course along easy curves and
 
 276 LIFK AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 gentle grades, through that country blessed with 
 untold mineral wealth ; anon, he speeds his course 
 along the jutting crags of New river, whose lofty 
 piles of stone seem like nature's fortresses against 
 man's improvement. Emerging thence, by and by 
 old Alleghany stares him in the face ; but the great 
 mountain barrier bends to the force of steam. The 
 Valley now is gained and crossed, and then Blue 
 Ridge's height is conquered by that crowning monu 
 ment to Virginia enterprize, the tunnel, with' its 
 grade, from thence, onward he rushes with his accu 
 mulated treasures to a Virginia harbor, where the 
 white sail rustles, ready to bear the products of Vir 
 ginia soil and of Virginia labor, to the distant nations 
 of the earth. But the products of Virginia soil and 
 labor was not all that was to be borne along the line. 
 The people saw that it was to become a great national 
 highway ; for there stood Kentucky, Virginia's fair 
 daughter, meeting Virginia at the western terminus 
 of this road, with one of her roads, who, with filial 
 affection, was ready to pour the rich bounties of gen 
 erous nature into the old mother's lap. Nor would 
 the line find a filial terminus in Kentucky ; but be 
 taken up, and pressed onward to the great western 
 world. 
 
 But while, as has been said, his views in relation 
 to this great work, were probably pre-eminently cap 
 tivating to the minds of the people ; yet, he by no 
 means, slighted any of the lines that were worthy of 
 state patronage. 
 
 Such indeed, was his judicious and comprehensive 
 view of state policy, in regard to her improvements,
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 277 
 
 tliat it stamped Mm as a man, well qualified to fill 
 the first position in the gift of the people. 
 
 And then again, he not unfrequently took, in his 
 peculiar style, the picture of what Virginia really 
 was, and placed in contrast with this, what she ought 
 to be. Dependent now, she should be raised to that 
 position for which the God of nature so eminently 
 qualified her. 
 
 The waters of her numerous streams were allowed 
 to mingle with the ocean's tide, as from primeval 
 day, without imparting their generous force to the 
 spindle or the wheel ; while yearly, there goes forth 
 to the northern States the fruits of honest labor; 
 which, in Virginia's great time journal, should be set 
 down as huge credits to her folly. 
 
 He sometimes told of the rich mines and minerals, 
 now in the bosom of the soil locked, with inaction, 
 holding tight the key, and hardly ere a gate to wealth, 
 unlocked; while other States, less abundantly blessed, 
 were busily using the miner's tools, and reaping 
 profit, gain and thrift. 
 
 The people heard him, and were satisfied that if 
 Virginia's honor and interests were committed to his 
 care for awhile, that that honor would be sacredly 
 guarded under his administration, that these interests, 
 while under his kind supervision, would be carefully 
 attended to. 
 
 He went through the State gained friends where 
 e'er he went. His course was bold, open, straight 
 forward, and peculiarly Virginian in every feature. 
 
 His opponent's course was just the opposite, and 
 the people of Virginia would soon be called upon to 
 
 24
 
 278 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 decide between the two. The Virginia Democracy 
 looked to Virginia feeling to save the state. The 
 opposition placed hope upon the idea that this Vir 
 ginia feeling had yielded to the introduction of new 
 principles. And thus stood the parties a short time 
 previous to the election of 1855. If the spirits of the 
 dead can view mortal actions, and sympathize with 
 mortal effort, then the spirits of the departed patriots 
 of the country, may be supposed to have hovered 
 over the actions of the one party, and exercised the 
 guardian angel's care over its destinies; while, around 
 the other, the spirits of traitors stalked, in midnight 
 darkness, and ever and anon whispered treason in 
 the ear of sin, and encouraged the actors on in their 
 dark designs. 
 
 A short time previous to election day, it became 
 apparent that Sam, at least in Virginia, was diseased. 
 The copious hemorrhages, which he was daily throw 
 ing off from his secret lungs, in the shape of with 
 drawals. His great sufferings and profuse night- 
 sweats, were symptoms of an awful malady. Many 
 of the old Whig doctors, who had not visited him in 
 his secret writhings and contortions, expressed it as 
 their decided opinion that he showed unmistakable 
 evidences of the galloping Consumption. While all 
 of the Orthodox Know Nothing school, who were 
 admitted into his bed-chamber, down in the culvert's 
 damp, declared that his lungs were perfectly sound, 
 and that these hemorrhages were but the evidence 
 of a healthy tone of constitution ; and that in throw 
 ing off this superabundance of watery expectora-
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 279 
 
 tion, his lungs were but performing their natural 
 functions. 
 
 In addition to this, his bones were said to be ter 
 ribly bruised and dislocated, by the ponderous blows 
 he had received from the Democracy generally, and 
 from their leader particularly. 
 
 He was also subject to excruciating suffering from 
 mental anxiety ; and sometimes general debility 
 seemed to prostrate all his energies. But it is a 
 singular fact, that those who chiefly officiated around 
 his couch always wore, in public, the happiest coun 
 tenances, and declared that Sarn was never in a more 
 thriving condition. They would persistently deny 
 that he had ever received a single blow from the 
 Democracy ; that he never evinced the least mental 
 anxiety or suffering, nor had they ever seen the least 
 evidence of general debility. 
 
 Though while they endeavored to make this public 
 impression, they still thought it necessary to hold a 
 grand consultation over Sam's condition. This they 
 did, by calling the chief men of the Council together. 
 In what a gloomy, miserable place they have stretched 
 him, upon his bed of languishing. Away down, in 
 the deep, damp, dark culvert, where dimly burns the 
 sickly light of the dark lantern. Poor, pale, cada 
 verous, grief-stricken creature, did'st thou expect to 
 find so early a grave (as thy prospects now seem to 
 indicate) when thou wert induced to travel South ? 
 Look, how he gazes upon the dark, black curtains, 
 that hang in such ample folds around his couch ! but 
 those black folds are sacred to his eyes, for they
 
 280 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 envelope his secrets and his plots. But here comes 
 thy physicians. 
 
 See them now crowding around poor sick Sam. 
 First comes little Mr. Dobby, who brought him to 
 Virginia; he feels Sam's pulse, and recommends a 
 dose or two of a most abominable quack compound 
 in which there was every conceivable pernicious and 
 nauseous drug. Next stepped forward old Captain 
 Swyburg, (whose practice all his life, previous to the 
 rise of Know Nothingism, had been according 1<> 
 that followed by the Democratic School,) he looked 
 at Sam's tongue, felt his pulse, shook his head know 
 ingly, and then declared that all the patient wanted 
 was active exercise, that a few struggles with the De 
 mocracy, on public days, would bring him all right 
 before the election that his friends in Virginia had 
 not bragged enough upon him ; he was in consequence 
 only a little dispirited. He therefore recommended 
 shouts, roars, and enthusiastic demonstrations, as the 
 course best calculated to ensure speedy convalescence, 
 lie thought Sam had been too modest and moral in 
 his habits and practices to cope with the Virginia 
 Democracy. He therefore advised his friends to try 
 and impress him with a sense of his real .worth and 
 merit ; and call upon him to show a bold front to the 
 Democracy if necessary, should lay aside his moral 
 compunctions for a while, and condescend, to some of 
 the low tricks resorted to by the Democracy. 
 
 Mr. Fox, that rank old federalist, who had been 
 politically bewildered all his life, who had stood upon 
 divers platforms, and whose greatest earthly hope 
 was to defeat the Democracy, next came in, felt Sam's
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 281 
 
 pulse, prescribed a dose of verbiage, peculiarly anti- 
 Democratic, and retired, apparently well understand 
 ing the cause. 
 
 Next came in, that vilest of sinners, Mr. Pate, who 
 believed all religion but the invention of man, who 
 scoffed at its divine origin, but still feared the Eoman 
 Catholic religion would annihilate the Protestant. 
 He expressed it as his opinion, that the patient's 
 malady was only mental, and proceeded, doubtless, 
 from an over anxiety in regard to the growing power 
 of the Romish church in this country. lie, there 
 fore, advised Sam's friends to encourage him in this 
 behalf, and assist with their acts and sympathies, in 
 his glorious work, in aid of religion. 
 
 Next came in Mr. Americus Winks, whose life had 
 been, but an exhibition of the most disgusting selfish 
 ness, whose views were all of a narrow, sordid, con 
 tracted nature, he had no humanity, no charity, no 
 loving kindness in his heart; and whose greatest 
 pleasure was to vent his wrath against all in America, 
 who were not born upon American soil. He ex 
 amined the patient, and stated that all he wanted was 
 to be encouraged in the work before him. His great 
 desire was to see America ruled by Americans. He 
 would, therefore, call upon "sam's" friends to raise 
 high the great American voice and " Sam" would 
 soon rouse from his despondency, and be fully strong 
 and equal to the task of conquering the foreign party, 
 by the 24th day of May. Many others practised in 
 the healing art, came forward, and rendered their 
 opinions in regard to the condition of the patient. 
 Hardly any two of which agreed as to the remedial 
 
 24*
 
 282 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 
 
 agents, that ought to be employed. Nor could they 
 come upon a compromise, and agree upon a course 
 of treatment. The grand consultation, therefore, re 
 sulted in the determination that the Dobby party 
 should prescribe as they thought best. The Swyburg 
 party, the Fox party, the Pate party, the Winks 
 party, and all the sub-parties should do the same ; 
 hoping, at least, that the treatment of some of these 
 parties would certainly be correct, and conducive to 
 Sam's speedy return to convalescence and health. 
 While these men endeavored to conceal Sam's real 
 condition from the public, they still had many fears 
 on his account, and following out the idea that des 
 perate cases require desperate remedies, they went to 
 the uttermost limit that desperation would allow, 
 endeavoring to bolster up the poor, bruised, beaten, 
 mangled, despised Yankee Sam, whose character had 
 been well ascertained, and who, in consequence, was 
 now shunned by true men, and contemned by all 
 Virginia-loving Virginians. He bore the 'leper's spot 
 upon him : patriots shunned his presence.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 283 
 
 CHAPTER XXYI. 
 
 BUT a few days now remained before the test of 
 party strength will be tried in Virginia. The Know 
 Nothing party is preparing for the final struggle. 
 The Councils are holding their last meetings, and 
 issuing their commands ; and the orders they issue, 
 here, alas ! in old Virginia, are worthy to be classed 
 with the orders issued by a Massachusetts mob of all 
 the isms of New England. The general order goes 
 forth, that the Virginia Democracy is to be defeated; 
 and in addition to the plans the Councils lay down, 
 strictly to be followed by all its sworn men, every 
 man of the Order is requested to work for the party, 
 and use whatever falsehoods and tricks he pleases. 
 The leading men every where are instigating their 
 tools, which they selected from the common mass, to 
 every kind of dishonest and disgraceful expedient. 
 Votes, votes, votes, for Sam; get these, get these, 
 get them as you please. The end justifies the means, 
 so press on Sam's bold American column. The tools 
 obeyed, and virtue, honesty and truth were trampled 
 under the ruthless tread of party malignity. They 
 raised in advance the shouts of victory, so soon to 
 dawn upon them in Virginia; these shouts were 
 prolonged through all the northern line of States, 
 but met with no response from the land south of 
 Virginia. The Know Nothing press, also, now in 
 creased in recklessness, depravity and licentiousness;
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 personal character was traduced most shamefully. 
 The most reckless assertions and barefaced false 
 hoods were showered forth to minister to the de 
 praved appetite of degenerate Virginians. The 
 damnable heresies in religious, politicial, and sacred 
 morals of the northern hive of fanatics, were in 
 geniously coated over by the Pharisaical editors of 
 that party, and in Virginia presented to the people 
 as the only true principles of Republicanism. Yes, 
 it is a sad thought, but it is nevertheless true, that 
 the freedom of the press, this great palladium to 
 American liberty, so far transcended all legitimate 
 bounds, as to riot in unrestrained fabrication, and 
 corrupted and vitiated where it should have exercised 
 its saving power for southern morals, manners, rights 
 and interests. It endeavored to weaken where it 
 should have offered strength, and the effects of its 
 blows were felt at the source from which it derived 
 its freedom. American liberty and the constitution 
 felt its blows. About this time the party had 
 counted noses, and discovered that they had seventy- 
 two thousand sworn initiates, and thirty thousand 
 sympathizers, who would certainly sustain them. 
 Many hallelujahs were sung over these numbers; 
 many boastful and joyous predictions made, and 
 bruited about, from Mr. Turner's organ, down to the 
 little village puppets. 
 
 Had a stranger suddenly entered Virginia, without 
 having the circumstances of the uproar explained to 
 him, he would have supposed that the old State had 
 been converted into a general asylum for lunatics, 
 and that the bedlamites of the world were turned
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 285 
 
 loose within her borders, such were the shouts and 
 yelpings and ravings of delight occasioned by the 
 news of this unwanted number of anti-Democrats in 
 the State. How strange it seemed to Democratic 
 ears, to hear that Virginia had seventy-two thousand 
 sworn enemies within her borders, and thirty thou 
 sand sympathizers with these sworn enemies ; but 
 their faith was not yet weakened, their hope not yet 
 extinguished; they looked to their leader, and to 
 Virginia, and concluded there was some little gas 
 connected with the numbers seventy-two thousand 
 and thirty thousand. 
 
 Now it was that the working members (and they 
 were all workers) were up very late, and very early. 
 Now they began a systematic process of button- 
 holding, never before approximated in Virginia. 
 Now they formed deeper and more damnable plots 
 in secrecy. Now they besieged men with impor 
 tunity, almost akin to force, and compelled them to 
 oaths against their consciences. Now they arrayed 
 class against class. Now they reeked their venom 
 and malevolence against the poor foreigners. Now 
 for religion's sake they snatched the cross from the 
 Church, and with impious hand trailed it in the 
 arena of politics. Now Virginians, Democrats, Union 
 lovers, Southerners, were frequently pained to hear 
 the assertions that the professed principles of Sam, 
 of Yankee origin, were more consonant with the 
 true spirit of Republicanism than the principles of 
 the great southern sages, statesmen and patriots, 
 Jefferson and Madison. 
 
 Now, the members of this party, who, like slan-
 
 286 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 derous vampires, live upon the fame and reputation 
 they detract from men of worth and merit, descended 
 from principles to men, and assailed the characters of 
 the Democratic leaders, which were, however, too 
 lofty and elevated to receive a wound from the 
 pigmy shafts of slander, from their would-be detrac 
 tors. Now the name of a once respectable party was 
 hardly ever heard in Virginia; the Whig party had 
 been completely destroyed, the destruction of which 
 may be described after the manner of Pharoah's 
 dream : " And behold, there came up out of the river 
 even kine, fat fleshed and well favored, and they fed 
 in a meadow;" this is the old Whig party. "Arid 
 behold seven other kine came up after them, poor 
 and very ill favored, and lean fleshed such as I never 
 saw before in all the land of Egypt for badness ;" 
 this is a good description of the Know Nothing party. 
 And now for the destruction of the old Whig party 
 "And the lean and ill favored kine did eat up the 
 first seven fat kine ; and when they had eaten them 
 up it could not be known that they had eaten them, 
 but they were still ill favored as at the beginning." 
 / Now the party ran wild with various demonstra 
 tions of delight; now Sam was declared well and 
 healthy; now his friends were bragging, and betting, 
 yes, betting, and giving odds; now deception and 
 trickery was the order of "The Order;" now fan 
 aticism ran wild in Virginia. 
 
 Now it was that a party of reckless political ad 
 venturers, desperate for the accomplishment of their 
 object ; and for this accomplishment, ready to engage 
 in any work, however questionable in its character;
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 287 
 
 a party of night workers, and every other description, 
 except bold, manly, and honest workers. This party, 
 boasting in its strength, and inflated with victories in 
 States where the spoils of the vanquished accrued to 
 abolitionism, now dared to contend for supremacy 
 with the Democracy of Virginia. But the Democracy 
 resolutely breasted this dark tide. They felt that 
 the salvation of the Union itself, rested upon their 
 shoulders. The Democracy of Virginia had never 
 yet proved recreant to their country's cause, when 
 they have been called upon to. speak, at the polls, 
 and being now impressed with the conviction, that the 
 universal feeling of American nationality was impor 
 tuning them to stand by the Union and the Constitu 
 tion, they determined to prove themselves worthy of 
 their country's expectations. They took their stand, 
 nor did they quail while such a noble son of liberty 
 drilled their forces as 'old Accomac's gallant general 
 and fearless tribune of the people. And in this stand 
 what a spectacle did the Virginia Democracy present 
 to the world ; the idea was fast gaining ground in the 
 American States, that the grand experiment of self- 
 government on these shores was at last to prove a 
 failure, as the tendency of Know Nothing principles 
 was to sap the very foundations of our government. 
 Wherever Know Nothingism had unfurled its flag, 
 all the principles by which the government had been 
 so successfully administered, had been ignored; and 
 in this state of things, wherever there lived and 
 breathed a patriot, either North or South, he looked 
 to the result in Virginia with breathless anxiety.
 
 288 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 CHAPTER XXYII. 
 
 THE Council into which the reader has been several 
 times introduced, was not, as he will remember, the 
 grand Council of the State, but the first Council 
 formed in Virginia, under the auspices of Mr. Bobby 
 Dobby, the gentleman who received a sheepskin from 
 a northern college. We have confined our observa 
 tion's to the mischievous doings of this Council, with 
 out endeavoring to ferret out the carryings on of the 
 numerous other culvert holes, or halls ; this, though, 
 were an endless task. We must now ask the reader 
 to go with us once more down into the culvert, while 
 the Council is in session. This is its last meeting be 
 fore election day, and was the occasion of many 
 speeches and congratulations. The canvassers from 
 the mountains and from the lowlands were all present, 
 who were addressed by old Captain Swyburg, can 
 vasser at large for the State, as follows : 
 
 " Brothers, Patriots, Americans! You have just 
 returned from your arduous work. You have for 
 the last several months foregone all the comforts of 
 home, clad yourselves in the bright armor of truth 
 and Americanism, and gone forth among the people, 
 to break to them the true principles of liberty and 
 republican right. America's great heart thanks you 
 for the work. America's posterity will record your 
 names on that page of history where live the names 
 of Virginia's benefactors. You have all of you per-
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 289 
 
 formed well your tasks, and the Council was singu 
 larly felicitous in the selections made ; but a single 
 one has proved traitor to the cause - that one, thank 
 Heaven, was not a Virginian. I allude to Mr. H. 
 Uriah Hawks, the Yankee. I met with him in my 
 travels, after he had deserted our ranks, and you may 
 depend upon it, I spared him not, but lashed him into 
 shame and contrition for his disgraceful conduct. 
 But the struggle is not yet over; a few days will 
 decide it. You have now left the peculiar bailiwicks 
 assigned you for action, but let me beg and entreat 
 you all to exercise your best powers, to work for Sam 
 up to and on the election day, wherever you may be. 
 You are now discharged from the Council as can 
 vassers; we still claim you as Americans. In the 
 name of the Council, in the name of Americanism, in 
 the name of religion, I now, in conclusion, thank you 
 for the good work you have so zealously so admi 
 rably performed." 
 
 Mr. Dobby then entertained his friends present 
 with a speech. 
 
 " Brothers," said he, " this is the last time it will be 
 our pleasure (before the great contest in Virginia) to 
 commune together with fraternal feeling around this 
 common council-board. Pleasant indeed has been 
 our many re-unions around this council-board. What 
 ever may have been our differences of opinion, ac 
 tuated by the praiseworthy desire to serve our country 
 as best we could, we laid all those differences of 
 opinion down at yonder threshold," (pointing to the 
 entrance of the culvert,) " and here swore to protect 
 American interests. Were you a Democrat, you 
 
 25
 
 290 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 found nothing here required of you inconsistent with 
 true Democratic principles. Were you a Whig, you 
 found nothing here required of you that would not 
 have commanded the approval and admiration of the 
 lamented Mr. Clay, the great head and front of the 
 Whig party. You saw that the great object of those 
 engaged in fostering the fortunes of this organization 
 was to allay sectional differences of opinion, which 
 were unfortunately distracting the peace and welfare 
 of the whole land. You saw at once that this party 
 was the Union party, the conservative party, which 
 the patriotism of the country had called into existence, 
 to save the Union from the destroying hands of its 
 enemies. This party asked nothing; no glittering 
 spoils lured them on to action, no honors they asked, 
 save and except the honor of being the friends to 
 Liberty, Union, and the Constitution. As was reason 
 ably expected, such a party, with such principles, has 
 found friends in Washington's native land. Vir 
 ginians have done well their duty, and now number 
 seventy-two thousand men, who have voluntarily 
 come forward, and declared for America and her 
 cause; while thirty thousand men, standing just 
 outside, and who are called outsiders, but are never 
 theless sympathizers, and will on election day press 
 the great column to one hundred and two thousand 
 which places the result almost beyond the possibility 
 of a doubt. But, lest you might infer from the last 
 remark, that the time has now come when we may, 
 with impunity, rest from our labors, I would say, 
 such is far from the advice I would offer you. Let 
 us work to the very last, as if the result of the elec
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 291 
 
 tion depended upon your very last effort. Our aim 
 is, not only to defeat, but to annihilate all opposition 
 to the American movement in Virginia. But, my 
 friends, notwithstanding the acceptability of the prin 
 ciples of our organization to the American people, 
 they have still, I am sorry to say, met with a more 
 obstinate resistance from the Democracy of Virginia 
 than from any other quarter. Here they have 
 thought proper to indulge in much bitter vitupera 
 tion against us. Many and base have been the slan 
 ders they have issued against us. Hard have been 
 their endeavors to brand our principles as pernicious, 
 and dangerous to southern interests. But, my friends, 
 we have borne all this with manly composure, feeling 
 that we could not be injured from the source from 
 whence came the imbecile blows that were aimed at 
 vis. The people regarded all the reports, so industri 
 ously circulated against us, as so much silly twaddle 
 of those who would hold the spoils all in their pos 
 session. The people were not to be deceived, and 
 they flocked to our council-boards, till now the Coun 
 cils are well filled with men animated by a common 
 zeal, desirous of but one end, that of seeing America 
 ruled by Americans. My friends, I am not much in 
 the habit of indulging in self-laudation, but I must 
 say to you, that I do feel some little self-pride when 
 I reflect that I was the first to set this ball in motion, 
 in our good old State. If I have done an act in my 
 life for which I may be excused for indulging in a 
 little self-glorification, it is that I was the pioneer in 
 Americanism in Virginia. But a few months ago, I 
 came to this city, stated my plans to a few noble
 
 292 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 friends, who sympathized with me in my desires. 
 We came together, formed the first American Coun 
 cil that ever convened in Virginia : from this Council 
 the great work dates its origin among us, and has 
 gone on increasing; till now, sister Councils have 
 been formed in every corner, county, and town of the 
 State. Gentlemen, I am more than happy that it has 
 been my good fortune to do something for my 
 country." 
 
 Mr. Fox then made a long speech, in which he 
 lauded his present platform, and was intensely severe 
 on the Democratic party. Mr. Cincinnatus Pate fol 
 lowed, and dealt in pretty sharp denunciations against 
 the Catholics. Mr. Winks then arose, and, true to 
 his hobby, expatiated on the evils of foreign emigra 
 tion to this country. 
 
 A member then arose, and begged leave to offer 
 the following preamble and resolutions, which he 
 hoped would be adopted by the Council, as a matter 
 of justice : 
 
 " Whereas, it is regarded by the members of this 
 Council, and all true Americans everywhere, as a 
 grand principle, never to be departed from, that the 
 warmest and best friends those who have sacrificed 
 the most for the cause should meet with warm 
 hearted sympathy, confidence, and remuneration, 
 from their fellow-laborers, therefore, be it 
 
 " Resolved, That our brother, Mr. Bobby Dobby, 
 stands pre-eminently before the American party of 
 Virginia, as one who has labored zealously for the 
 propagation of our principles, and is worthy of our 
 confidence in every respect.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 293 
 
 " Resolved, That we, the members of this original, 
 this northern Council in Virginia, which was formed 
 mainly through his instrumentality, do bind ourselves 
 to use all honorable means to procure for him, from 
 the next Legislature, the office of Secretary of the 
 Commonwealth. 
 
 "Resolved, Moreover, that when the constitutional 
 term of Mr. Flournoy shall expire, that we pledge 
 ourselves to exert our best endeavors to procure for 
 him the succession to that responsible position. 
 
 " Resolved, That in our estimable friend and true 
 American, Captain Peter Swyburg, we find a man 
 who has labored hard for us, and that, so far as our 
 influence goes, we will exert that influence with the 
 Legislature, and endeavor to procure for him the 
 office of Treasurer of Virginia, and that he be placed 
 upon the succession ticket, as candidate for Lieuten 
 ant Governor. 
 
 " Resolved. That our brothers, Messrs. J. Gr. A. Fox, 
 Americus Winks, and Cincinnatus Pate, fill respec 
 tively the offices of Clerk to the House of Delegates, 
 First Auditor and Second Auditor of the Common 
 wealth. 
 
 " Resolved, That all the other basement offices at the 
 Capitol be filled exclusively by members of the 
 American party. 
 
 " Resolved, That in the opinion of this Council, our 
 Governor, soon to be elected, ought not to appoint 
 any but members of our party to any place within 
 his gift. 
 
 " Resolved, That our party men, in every county in 
 the State where the party predominates, will, in the 
 
 25*
 
 294 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 local elections of the spring of 1856, regularly or 
 ganize, and vote only for members of this party, 
 except, however, that in the counties where we are 
 not in the majority, it would be well to cry, 'no 
 party' in county offices." 
 
 These Resolutions were adopted unanimously ; this 
 too in the very face of Mr. Bobby's declaration, which 
 he had just made in his speech, viz. : " that this party 
 asked for nothing ; no glittering spoils lured them on 
 to action ; no honors they desired, save and except 
 the honor of being the friends to Liberty, Union, and 
 the Constitution." This was a fair specimen of what 
 all their high-sounding speeches about Liberty, Union, 
 &c., amounted to, when reduced to practice. 
 
 At a stated meeting of this Council, a recommen 
 dation had been addressed to all the Councils in the 
 State, that they should not fail, a short time previous 
 to the election day, to form well all necessary plans 
 for operating on that day. This Council now went 
 into this business. A committee was appointed to 
 fabricate and have printed, ready for distribution, and 
 at the various precincts, all kinds of base and dis 
 graceful slanders against the Democracy, supposing 
 they would come to public view too late to allow the 
 Democrats to successfully controvert them. One of 
 these, which will serve as a pretty fair sample, was 
 the notorious certificate of one Thornburg, in refer 
 ence to removals made by the President from tho 
 Portsmouth navy yard ; in which the Executive was 
 charged with removing competent men from posi 
 tions, simply because they refused to vote the Demo 
 cratic ticket. Men were assigned to their various
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIKGINIA. 295 
 
 posts at the precincts on election day. Runners were 
 appointed to go through the country, beat up voters, 
 far and near, and bring them to the polls.' Nor was 
 there any restriction placed upon these runners, but 
 each one was enjoined to work and employ whatever 
 tricks he pleased in getting voters to vote the Know 
 Nothing ticket. There were among those runners, 
 enough who were ready to do the dirty work and 
 engage in any practice however odious to decency, 
 good morals, and honesty. That privilege of select 
 ing one's rulers, when rightly appreciated and under- 
 standingly exercised, is indeed a dear privilege, was 
 most shamefully abused by members of that party. 
 They seemed to forget that it was a solemn and mighty 
 thing for a man to approach the polls, and there cast 
 his voice for or against that which might result in 
 good or evil to him and his ; yea, to his country ; 
 and they so formed their plans, that many a weak 
 but honest man would be robbed of his better judg 
 ment, and with the drunkard's reel wind to the bal 
 lot-box, and there cast a drunken vote for their 
 candidates. But not to shock the reader with a de- 
 detailed account of the abominable expedients re 
 sorted to by the original Council in Virginia, pre 
 paratory to election day, we will pass it over with a 
 general remark, that so utter a disregard for all the 
 rules of propriety, honesty, and Virginia practices, 
 was never before exhibited by any party of men any 
 where w'thin the borders of the whole State. 
 
 After they had gotten through with their dirty 
 work, a talented young gentlemen of the Order was 
 called upon to deliver the valedictory to the Council
 
 296 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 Boys, now about to disperse for the last time, before 
 the result would be known in the State. 
 
 " Friencls and brothers," said the the member called 
 upon, " I thank you for this honor, this mark of 
 esteem you have been pleased to tender me on this 
 occasion. You will excuse the few desultory remarks 
 I shall make to you. 
 
 " My friends, we are now about to disperse. For 
 some months we have been meeting and communing 
 together here. These very walls, from the glorious 
 principles that have here so often been discussed, are 
 sacred to our eyes. We have met for the purpose 
 of devising ways and means for the salvation of our 
 country, for we believed it is in danger from many 
 dangerous elements from without. The most promi 
 nent of which is the devastating tread of progressive 
 Eomanism, and the influx of foreginers to these shores, 
 These evils we have sought to check, actuated as we 
 have been by the true spirit of Keligious and Ameri 
 can liberty. Added to these elements from without, 
 there has been an internal element, stirring up strife 
 among brothers who ought to dwell together in peace, 
 I allude to the slavery question. The position which 
 we have taken upon the great question is strictly 
 national. The opposition has all along been howling 
 and bellowing most discordantly about southern 
 rights, and all kinds of similar sectional nonsense. 
 The American party, acting upon national principles, 
 ignores all sectional differences, and standing upon 
 the Constitution of the United States, has thrown 
 out the invitation to all Virginians, who are willing 
 to swear by that instrument, to rally around the
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 297 
 
 American banner. The invitation has not been un 
 heeded, thousands have rushed to the call, and are 
 now prepared to ' lick' the opposition on 24th of 
 May." 
 
 This thundering " curl" brought down the house, 
 and cheer after cheer rent the silence of the midnight 
 hour. When the confusion subsided the speaker 
 proceeded. " My friends, as soon as the American 
 party gets into power in this country, the turbid 
 waves of sectionalism, strife and discontent will 
 subside, and peace and good- will between the now 
 contending parties resume its sway. Do you ask me 
 why I say this ? I answer, that if a national admin 
 istration sits in Washington, and has the confidence 
 of the people, a national sentiment will pervade the 
 whole nation, and, believe me, the difficulties now 
 perplexing these States, arising from this question, 
 is due in a great measure to the imbecility of the 
 administration, and the lack of confidence the people 
 of all sections have in him. Gentlemen, I am not 
 committed to the fortunes of any man, but take this 
 occasion of saying, that Yirginia, the land of Pre 
 sidents, has a man who is most emphatically the man 
 whom the American party will take great pleasure 
 in elevating to the chief magistracy of the nation. 
 Without calling his name, you will understand, if 
 you have not already anticipated me, when I say, 
 that he is the man who, when placed in nomination 
 for that office against the nominee of the opposition, 
 ' will head him or die.' (Tremendous cheers again.) 
 My friends, our pleasant meetings here are about to 
 terminate for awhile. Who is it that is among us
 
 298 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 that can look back over the times we have met here, 
 around this board, without almost regretting that 
 time, which waits for no man, has borne us all along 
 almost to the period when the object we have had in 
 view will be consummated, that is to say, when the 
 American party will prove itself triumphant in 
 Virginia. It remains now but for me to say farewell, 
 brave and generous Americans, you have fought 
 well the great fight, Virginia is redeemed. When 
 we meet again in this Council, it will be but to sing 
 songs of glorification over the happy victory that 
 has placed our party in power in Virginia. Farewell 
 patriots, go forth now, and be mindful that you 
 render a good account of yourselves on election 
 day." 
 
 And then the Council dispersed, and this was the 
 last meeting of that band of night-workers before 
 the election day. They put out the lantern. The 
 culvert hole was black and dark. The secret con 
 spirators groped their way towards home, perfectly 
 satisfied that success would crown their labors. 
 Poor deluded mortals, pray for thy short comings, 
 "and sin no more."
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 299 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 LET us now, just before the election day, take a 
 brief review of trie two political parties ; and first, of 
 the Know Nothing party. It has been seen that this 
 party had its origin among the abolitionists of the 
 free States ; that there its effects were blasting to 
 every sentiment of liberty and republicanism; that 
 there it bore down every thing like nationality and 
 conservatism; that it was gotten up with the view of 
 furthering the views of the fanatics of that land in 
 their own sectional designs. 
 
 Then, in time, it was cunningly introduced South. 
 It came to Virginia covered in the folds of darkness 
 and of secrecy. It came exacting oaths from those 
 who would be initiated into its mysteries. It came 
 the professed friend of liberty and of republican 
 right. Its followers professed to be actuated alone 
 by feelings of patriotism; that they were strangers to 
 the politician's corrupt desires to reap the spoils of 
 office. It came to tell us in Virginia that Americans 
 should rule America; and that the Eoman Catholics 
 were becoming very powerful. It thought America 
 in danger from foreigners, and that the Protestant 
 religion was suffering greatly from Romanism. It 
 came with the hypocritical whinings of Yankee abo 
 lition preachers, taking much righteousness unto 
 itself, while in truth, it was the foulest ism that ever 
 dared to ask for acceptance in Washington's native
 
 300 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 land. It put forth a public declaration, or basis of 
 principles, as the rules of faith it adhered to rthere 
 was nothing in this basis of principles that Virginia 
 Democrats could object to. But, lo and behold ! this 
 basis was put forth but to deceive and mislead the 
 public while the rules of faith, which they were 
 sworn to follow, were revealed only in the Council- 
 room to sworn men. Who were the men who, in 
 Virginia, first embraced this northern creed ? Why, 
 the old-fashioned Whigs and Federalists led the van; 
 these were followed by the discontented, the disap 
 pointed, the captious of all parties, and all who hoped 
 to better their political fortunes, apparently not re 
 flecting on what they were doing. 
 
 This party sprung up, as it were, in a day 
 thorough organization was speedily effected ; and 
 very soon midnight Councils were in operation in all 
 sections of the State. 
 
 After organization, then it was that this party 
 began a career which increased in iniquity, till in 
 time, it gained the signal distinction of having sur 
 passed in evil and disgraceful devices and expe 
 dients, any party that ever strove for ascendancy 
 in Virginia. Something of that career the writer 
 has imperfectly sketched in the foregoing pages of 
 this history. 
 
 A review of the course of the Democracy may be 
 summed up in a word, The Virginia Democracy, 
 true to their ancient faith, adhered to their land 
 marks stood upon their platform a platform not 
 made for a year, or a campaign, but for time un 
 furled their same old flag that had witnessed so many
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 301 
 
 brilliant triumphs ; and with a true man to bear these 
 colors, they feared nothing, but were ready for the 
 final struggle. They felt that they had done their 
 duty and if Know Nothingism in its might had 
 come to crush Virginia and the South, they could 
 only lament it. They had striven to roll the black 
 tide of fanaticism back from Virginia. They had 
 endeavored to protect civil and religious liberty, and 
 were it possible for Washington to rise from the 
 grave, they could look him, the great father of the 
 country, in the face, and proudly say, father of this 
 happy land, we have done our duty; and can any 
 doubt that his answer would be, "Well done, good 
 and faithful servants." 
 
 They had fought their best fight for truth against 
 error, and could do nothing more. 
 
 Election day now dawned, and Virginia was to 
 declare for Democracy or for Know Nothingism. 
 Look now at Sam on the morning of that day, how 
 happy he looks how hale, hearty and strong, as 
 he struts around the polls how he exults in his 
 seventy-two thousand sworn backers, and the thirty 
 thousand who are ready to come to the rescue. He 
 brags, he bets, he treats, he drinks, he does every thing 
 to try to increase the one hundred and two thousand. 
 His valiant runners are abroad in the land to bring 
 to the rescue the blind, the lame, the palsied, and 
 the sick. Wagons, with strong teams and fleet, are 
 brought into requisition, to bring in those who keep 
 no beasts of burden, and would remain at home but 
 for Sam's generosity. The wagons empty their pre 
 cious cargoes of Sams, and roll away for more. 
 
 26
 
 302 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 The voting now begins ; a Sam goes up, the cryer 
 ealls out, "FLOURNOY, BEALE, PATTON," and that 
 Sam's work is done. The cried vote is the signal for 
 immense applause from all of Sam's boys in hearing 
 every vote thus given calls forth renewed applause. 
 
 The day advances, and much of Sam's strength is 
 evidently spent. His huzzahs become weaker and 
 less frequent. Another hour goes, and his strength 
 is failing him fast he seldom cheers now, and looks 
 care-worn and dispirited. All this time the Demo 
 cratic column is steadily advancing. The last rays 
 of the sun now linger on the mountain's top and 
 Sam is prostrate. The sun goes down, the polls are 
 closed, and alas ! alas ! for the hopes, the boasts of 
 man the great Sam is no more "dead" "dead" 
 " dead." The poll is counted the last sad requieum 
 is sung. 
 
 His sudden death called for the Coroner and his 
 jury. This mournful task is done his lifeless corpse 
 examined; and here is the verdict, rendered by good 
 Democratic jurors ; for the officiating officer did not 
 wish to harrow the feelings of any of the friends of 
 the departed, by calling them to the examination : 
 Sam, the Yankee, alias the old "Whig party, alias 
 Know Nothingism, alias Americanism, who has, 
 within the twelve months past, been quite notorious 
 in Virginia, and who, with high hand, has been trying 
 to introduce dogmas into Virginia, and the South, 
 that ought not to be countenanced among us, did sud 
 denly come to his death, on the afternoon of the 24th 
 day of May, 1855, by the pierces he received during 
 that day, from Democratic votes. His whole carcass
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 303 
 
 was stuck full of these unerring arrows of truth, and 
 Republicanism; and, on estimation, he received 
 some ten thousand more than were necessary to pro 
 duce death. 
 
 The verdict rendered, he was then placed in the 
 hands of his sorrowful friends, who bore the mangled 
 corpse down into the damp, deep, dark culvert. 
 
 The hall was decked in the full draperies of 
 mourning. Who could describe the melancholy- 
 scene there enacted, on that dark and dreary night? 
 The glare of the dark lantern, shedding an uncertain 
 light upon all around. The pallor of the corpse the 
 black hangings around the couch upon which it was 
 laid out the swollen and lugubrious countenances 
 of sorrowing friends, rendered the scene utterly be 
 yond description. Funeral services, appropriate to 
 the occasion, were conducted. Many highly wrought 
 eulogies pronounced over the transcendant virtues of 
 the deceased many mournful dirges sung ; and 
 lastly, preparations made for carrying the corpse to 
 its last resting place, high up on the banks of the 
 salubrious " Salt River." 
 
 The next night the funeral procession, composed of 
 something less than one hundred and two thousand 
 Virginia voters, started for the boat, which was to 
 convey them along the delightful waters of the river, 
 up to the deep dug grave, close to the mound which 
 marks the resting place of Whiggery. 
 
 The formers of the original Council in Virginia 
 were the pall-bearers. The procession embarked 
 upon the boat, that was to bear them away. A 
 curious craft it was too, such as was never seen in
 
 304 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 Virginia before. It looked like a Yankee model, 
 and was composed of the odds and ends of every 
 description of weak, rotten and sappy timber. The 
 flag floated at half-mast a light breeze sprung up, 
 as if anxious to aid them in their efforts to leave Vir 
 ginia's shore, and ere the light of day they had safely 
 reached their place of destination. Dust to dust; 
 and Sam was lowered into the tomb, by the honored 
 pall-bearers ; so that the reader who first beheld Mr. 
 DJbby, Captain Swyburg, Mr. Fox, Mr. Pate and Mr 
 Winks, in the dark room, on the dark night, taking 
 the initiatory steps towards the introduction of Sam 
 into Virginia, now beholds them for the last time, 
 while they are performing the last sad act of respect 
 to the remains of Sam, from Yankee land. 
 
 A simple slab marks the grave; on which is 
 written : 
 
 HERE LIES THE VALIANT " SAM. 
 
 HE DEPARTED THIS LIFE 
 
 ON THE 24TH DAY OF MAY, 1855, 
 
 FIGHTING BRAVELY FOR AMERICAN PRINCIPLES. 
 
 PATRIOTS ; BE MINDFUL J 
 AND TREASURE A REMEMBRANCE OF HIS DEEDS.
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 305 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 AND now that Sam, in Virginia, is dead and 
 buried, high up near the head waters of " Salt 
 River," all nature seems to wear a smiling face, and 
 to rejoice with the invincible Democracy in the 
 great glory they had so gallantly won. In slaying 
 this great monster of darkness, more like to his 
 " Satanic Majesty," than any demon that had ever 
 set foot on Virginia soil before, a great incubus was 
 removed from the State ; and everybody seemed to 
 breathe freer than while the poison which emanated 
 from it floated on the atmosphere. 
 
 The news of Sam's death, so gratefully received 
 at the South, was, at the North, the occasion of much 
 weeping, mourning and lamentation. 
 
 It now only remains for us to take leave of those 
 who have been actors in this little drama. -<The 
 curtain has already fallen upon Mr. Dobby, Old 
 Captain Swyburg, Mr. Fox, Mr. Pate, and Mr. 
 Winks, as they pitched the cold clods into poor 
 Sam's grave. 
 
 Mr. H. Uriah Hawks is still upon his mountain 
 farm, as happy as a prince, with his pretty moun 
 tain bride, conducts himself well, has never carried 
 any of old Mr. Laubinger's negroes off; and, lastly, 
 he gave a good Democratic vote on the 24th of 
 May, 1855. 
 
 26*
 
 306 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 His friend Ike Davis settled near him, and never 
 saw the " Know Nothing elephant." 
 
 Wail after wail, issued from Mr. Turner's paper, 
 and from all the little sub-organs of the villages. 
 Mr. Turner will not be comforted, his reputation for 
 prophesying is entirely lost ; and more than this, he 
 has caused many a poor Know Nothing to lose the 
 money which he so rashly advised him to lay 
 against good Democratic stakes. 
 
 Black Old Sip is still alive, and has been heard to 
 say, with a hearty chuckle, " Well, de 'Mericans is 
 'feated, Sam are kilt, and I are very glad intotally 
 that it is as it is. Marster knows de right, he say so, 
 and dat am enuff for dis chile. I is glad at what 
 ever disappints de Yankees. Marster telled a gen 
 tleman, tother day, dat dey will grieve to hear de 
 'zult in ' Old Yirginny.' I is agin these North folks 
 all time of de day, I is sartain." 
 
 The Know Nothing canvassers have nothing now 
 to do politically, nor are they likely to be employed 
 again, at least, for some time to come. 
 
 The tavern-keeper in the Tenth Legion, who 
 guarded the " structure in the vacant lot," did, on 
 the reception of the news declaring the result, burn 
 "that barrel of tar," concluding that the occasion 
 could not now arise which would call it into 
 requisition. 
 
 Maurice Meredith was defeated in the election. 
 The key the Know Nothings placed in his hands 
 had failed to unlock the promised gates. Though 
 two gates, not promised, not hoped for, yielded to 
 the force of that key. First, disappointment in his
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IX VIRGINIA. 307 
 
 political aspirations ; second, disappointment in the 
 delicate and tender matter of the heart. He wished 
 now that he had only yielded to love's voice, and 
 turned a deaf ear to ambition's alluring promises. 
 But it was, alas, too late ; the fatal decision had been 
 made ; he had lost Fannie ; he had lost all prospect 
 of rising politically. Reader, behold him now for 
 the last time! See that man with flushed cheeks, and 
 swollen eyes, bloodshot and heavy see how he reels 
 along hear his wild, incoherent yells that rend the 
 air ! Do you recognize him ? That man is Maurice 
 Meredith, who began life with so much promise. 
 Disappointment and despair have driven him to the 
 wine-cup ; and unless he is rescued early from his 
 downward course, he will fill the drunkard's grave, 
 and then that fatal Know Nothing key will, in 
 directly, unlock other gates the gates of endless 
 woe. 
 
 And next of Fannie? What of her? She is 
 happy at her father's house. The reader will re 
 member, that in her first hours of grief, her mental 
 anguish was excessive; that in one of her letters to 
 Maurice, she went so far as to intimate that the 
 sacred shades of the cloister were beckoning her in 
 that direction. But since Maurice had refused to 
 make any sacrifice for her, she concluded that he 
 was unworthy of woman's constant love, and soon 
 learned to feel, 'tis well that we have parted. 
 
 Mr. Dew, her old lover, who rendered such dis 
 tinguished service to the Democratic cause, is again 
 a frequent visitor at her father's house; he is, too, a 
 great favorite with the old gentleman, and people
 
 308 LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 are beginning to say, "Well, well, I do believe that 
 Fannie Bell and Mr. Dew will make a match after 
 all." ' 
 
 The gallant leader of the Yirginia Democracy 
 waits to be crowned Virginia's governor. He will 
 wear well the honors of a single State, and should 
 the nation ever call him to its service, he will serve 
 well, with "STATE'S EIGHTS" and "UNION" for his 
 motto. He would throw the Constitution as a shield 
 around State's rights a national administration 
 would be a buckler to the Union. 
 
 THE END.
 
 CALL'S VIRGINIA REPORTS, 
 
 VOLS 1, 2, AND 3 THIRD EDITION. 
 
 To which are added Copious Notes and Keferences to Statutes 
 , and subsequent adjudications, by LUOIAN MINOR, ESQ., Profes 
 sor of Law in William and Mary College. Price $15 00. 
 
 NOTICES OF THE PEESS. 
 
 " Call's Reports are, perhaps, the most valuable and useful of 
 the Virginia Reports, as they contain the opinions of Judges 
 Roane, Pendleton, Wythe, Lyons, and others of our early and 
 most eminent Jurists, upon nearly every legal question of impor 
 tance. "We have carefully compared the third edition, now pub 
 lished, with the second edition of CALL, and find that a large and 
 really most valuable amount of matter has been added by the 
 accomplished editor. 
 
 " All of the changes in the train of decisions, over-ruled cases, 
 and additional light upon points obscure and uncertain, have been 
 industriously and admirably arranged and collected in the present 
 edition. 
 
 " The learned editor has added not less than twenty important 
 decisions to the original authorities cited in one case, collected 
 from all the more recent English and American decisions. A new 
 edition of Call has long been needed in this State, and the third 
 edition can be safely recommended to the profession." Richmond 
 Examiner. 
 
 " After a careful comparison of this with the former editions of 
 the work, we can unhesitatingly pronounce its vast superiority ; 
 and this is so distinctly marked, and the advantages of these 
 volumes so very great, that the practising lawyer, even though he 
 should now be in possession of former editions, should not fail to 
 possess himself of this." Evening Bullttin. 
 
 " The peculiar advantages of this edition, consist in the Notes 
 of Cases which have been added, and the emendations of the Sylla 
 bus of the Cases reported, which are made by the present editor. 
 
 " Mr. Minor's well known accuracy entitles these changes to the 
 strictest reliance on the part of the members of the legal profes 
 sion, and we doubt not, that they will regard this book as a valua 
 ble accession to their libraries. 
 
 " In acknowledging the receipt of the third volume, we need 
 only repeat, that Mr. Minor has fulfilled his task admirably." 
 Sjut/terti Literary Messenger.
 
 PREPARING FOR PUBLICATION, 
 
 The most Important and Valuable Work ever offered to the considera 
 tion of the Lawyers of Virginia. 
 
 MR. LUCIAN MINOR'S 
 EDITION OF THE VIRGINIA REPORTS, 
 
 Upon a similar plan to that adopted by Judge CURTIS in his 
 edition of the Decisions of the Supreme Court of the United 
 States, which has met the hearty approval, not only of the Judges 
 of that Court, but a large number of the ablest members of the 
 profession in the United States. 
 
 Reports of Cases argued and determined in the Court of Appeals 
 of Virginia, from Jefferson to 6th Randolph, inclusive ; em 
 bracing a series of 27 volumes. In six or seven royal octavo 
 volumes, of about 600 pages each. At the low price of $6 00 
 per volume. By LUCIAN MINOR, Esq., Professor of Law in 
 William and Mary College. 
 
 The plan of this important undertaking has been meditated by 
 the talented editor for a number of years ; and the publisher, after 
 repeated applications from the profession for such an edition of the 
 VIRGINIA REPORTS, has made arrangements for their publication, 
 provided he receives from the profession a promise of that material 
 aid necessary to complete a work of such magnitude. 
 
 All arguments of counsel will be omitted, except when required 
 to make the points of a case intelligible, by the Court's having 
 given no reason for its opinion. The arguments not omitted will 
 be abridged ; and the original reporter's narratives of the cases, 
 and the opinions of the Judges, will be yet more abridged ; and to 
 each case will be appended the substance of posterior enactments, 
 or decisions that confirm, alter or modify it. 
 
 VOL. I. IN PRESS, 
 
 Embracing the four volumes of Hening & Munford's Reports, in 
 one elegant super royal 8vo volume of 800 pages. Price, $6 00. 
 
 VOLS. II. AND III. 
 
 Now preparing, will embrace the six volumes of Munford's Re 
 ports. 
 
 The volumes of the Reports which the publisher proposes to 
 furnish at from Thirty to Forty Dollars, now cost, even at the pre 
 sent reduced prices, One Hundred and Twenty-tcL-en Dollars. 
 
 Gentlemen desiring the work will please address the publisher, 
 
 A. MORRIS, Richmond, Va.
 
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