"I mean, do you know whether they have proved (now you mustn't git mad with me,) and they fit good or bad." for libity as well as them, and is as honest; how "No, I tell you; I don't know notin' 'tall 'bout comes it, that some people that's the smartest in 'em." "Well, now suppose a man should come to your shop and offer to work for you a month-at ploughmaking we will suppose—and when you asked him if he understood making such ploughs as were used in Georgia, he should reply, that he knew nothing at all about ploughs-his whole life had been spent in shoe-making; but that if you would lay two ploughs before him he could tell you which he thought best, and that, whenever you wanted his opinion, or vote, upon shop matters, he could give it as good as any one. What would you think of him?” the world, votes for no body havin' votes, but them that's got land?" Here several of the bystanders who had been interchanging winks and smiles, in token that they foresaw the dilemma into which Darby was leading his antagonist, burst into a loud laugh. "Now a'n't he the devil!" whispered one. "I tell you what it is," said a second, "the lawyears a'n't gwine to git nothin' out o' him." "Mighty smart man"-said a third, gravely— "powerful smart, for his oppitunities!" "I advocated free hold suffrage," returned Smith, "Then 'cordin' to your chat, no body ought to go" in the convention that framed the constitution, to 'ssembly but lawyers," said Darby. "I do not say so; but that no one should go there who has not some little knowledge of the business, which he has to do. If he possess this knowledge, it matters not, whether he be lawyer, farmer, merchant, or mechanic." By this time quite a crowd, mostly of unlettered persons, had collected round the candidates; and though it was impossible for Darby to hide his chagrin while he and his competitors were alone, it became less and less visible with every accession to the group; so that by the time Mr. Jones concluded his remarks, it was entirely dissipated; and Darby stood before the company, decidedly the most self-confident of the three. 66 "Well," said he, planting himself astraddle, and placing his arms akimbo, now I've heard you all through, let me see how the old blacksmith can argify with two lawyers at a time. I know I'm nothin' but a poor ign'ant blacksmith that don't know nothin' no how; and furthermore I don't think no body ought to go to the 'ssembly but lawyers nether, bein' as how they're the smartest people in the world. But howsomedever, that's neither here nor thar. Now Mr. Smith, you say I'd disgrace myself to go to the 'ssembly; and I reckon it's so, for I'm like my neighbors here, hard working people, who ha'n't got no business doin' nothin' but working for great folks and rich folks no how. But howsomedever, that's nither here nor thar, as the fellow said. Now I want to ax you a few questions; and you mustn't git mad with me, for I only want to git a little larnin'. And firstly of the first place, to begin at the beginnin', as the fellow said. A'n't a poor man as free as a rich man?" winking, with a smerk to the bystanders. not because I thought the rich man entitled to higher privileges than the poor man ; but because I thought him less exposed to temptation. Indeed, my proposition made no distinction between the poor and the rich; for there is not a farmer in the state who has not more land than would have entitled him to a vote under it. But I apprehend the time will come, when our state will be inundated with strangers and sojourners among us-mere floating adventurers-who have no common interest, feeling, or sympathy with us, who will prostitute the right of suffrage to private gain, and set up their votes to the highest bidder. I would, therefore, have confined this right to those who have a fixed and permanent interest in the state-who must share the honors, or suffer the penalties of wise, or corrupt legislation." "If Smith is to be blamed," said Jones, "for his course in the convention, so am I. I differed from him to be sure in measure but agreed with him in principle. I would have had a small property-qualification, without confining it to land; but his answer to this was decisive. If the amount of property required were large, it would disqualify many honest voters who are permanent residents of the State-if it were small, every stranger who brought with him money enough to bear his travelling expenses would be qualified to vote. But we were both overruled." "Gentlemen," said Darby, "you talk too much dictionary for me. I wasn't raised to much booklarnin', nor dictionary larnin'. But howsomedever; I think squire Smith, you said any body that didn't own land would sell their votes to the highest bidder; and I reckon it's so, for you great folks knows more than me; but the proof of the pud din's in chawin' the bag,' as the fellow said; there- | coat. "Gentlemen, I didn't go to squire Jones; fore, let's see how the thing 'll work. Jimmy he come to me and brought on the fuss, and I don't Johns, you don't own no land, and therefore 'ccordin' to the squire's noration, you'll sell your vote to the highest bidder. What'll you take for it?" "No body better not tell me," said Jim, "that I'll sell my vote; or I'll be dad seized if I don't fling a handful o' fingers right in his face in short metcher-I don't care who he is." "I did not say," resumed Smith, "that any man now in the State would sell his vote-nor do I believe any true Georgian by birth, or adoption, ever will; but the time will come when idle, worthless vagabonds, will come amongst us, who will sell their votes, for a pint of rum, if they can get no more." Oh, well now," said John Reynolds, (the bully of the county,) cooly, "if there's to be any furflying here, I must have a little of the pulling of it. And Darby, you're not going to knock the 'squire till you walk over me to do it. He's holpt my wife and children too often when they've been sick, for me to stand by and see him imposed upon, right or wrong—that's the racket.” "Well squire, now it seems to me-but I don't know-but it seems to me, some how or nother, that it'll be time enough to have land votin', when that time comes; and not to begin upon poor folks now, to stop mean folks when we're all dead and gone. Them folks, I reckon, can take care o' them-ways voted for him-don't you know I did Johnny-selves." "Then it will be too late," interposed Jones. "Men who have a marketable article, will never give it away, or allow it to be taken from them. Should they be willing to renounce it, there will be factious demagogues enough to prevent them from so doing. No, Darby, if you would establish a good government, you must do it at its organization. Thenceforward there is a ceaseless war between the governors and the governed. The rulers are ever usurping the rights of the people, or the people are ever resuming the rights of the " "Stop a little thar," interrupted Darby. "You say thar's a war 'tween the governor and the gov'ment. Now what's the reason I never hearn of that war? I've hearn of the old French war and the Rev'lution war, and the Indian war; but I never hearn of that war before. "Well, Johnny," said Darby, readjusting his coat, "I always liked the 'Squire myself, and al but then you know yourself that it's mighty hard for a man to be called a fool to his face-now a'n't it Johnny!" "Why it's a thing that don't go down easy, I know; but then look at t'other side a little. Now you made out the 'Squire eat his words about the war; and that's mighty hard to swallow too. Now, he told you he didn't mean they fit; and you know any body's liable to make mistakes any how, and you kept makin' out that he had to back out from what he said and "Yes, Darby," said Jimmy Johns, "that's a fact. Johnny's right. You brushed the 'Squire a little too close there, Darby, and I can't blame him for gitten' mad. I'll stick by you when you're on the right side, but I can't go with you there. I couldn't a stood it myself." Yes, Darby," said Fields, “you must confess "I don't say," continued Jones, impatiently, yourself that you began it; and therefore you "that there is a war—a fight "Oh, well, if you take that back, why we'll start agin. But howsomedever, when I'm gwine to a place, I always try to take the right road at first, and then thar's no 'casion for turnin' back." "Well, Darb," said Jones, "you are certainly a bigger fool than I took you to be, and that's not your worst fault." "Well, now you see," said Darby, bristling, "that kind o'chat ain't gwine to do for me no how; and you must take it back, quick as you did the war, or I'll make the fur fly to the tother sorts." 'Yes, I'll be dad seized if I didn't," said Jimmy Johns, becoming furious-" talkin' 's talkin,' but callin' a man the fool, 's no sort o' chat." "Uncle Darby," said John Field, "you gwine to swallow that? If you do you needn't count on John Fieldses vote." "No, I'm not," continued Darby, touching his oughtn't to got mad--That was wrong, Darby; and I can't go with you them lengths." "How was it?" said Snatch, as if he were at the beginning of the affray. "How was it?" "Why," said Johns, "Darby made out the 'Squire eat his words; and then the Squire called Darby a fool." "Oh, chuch!" said Snatch, "was that the way of it! Darby's wrong. If I'd o' know'd that, I wouldn't 'a' open'd my mouth." "Well," said Darby, "I b'lieve I was wrong there Johnny; and if my friends say so, I know I was; and therefore, I am willing to drop it. But I was only jokin' with the 'Squire and didn't mean to make him mad; and I am willing to drop it-I always looked upon the 'Squire as a mighty good, kind-hearted man." "Oh yes," said three or four at once, "drop it." "I was just waitin' to see a rov," said Sam Flat, (bully number 2,) "and I'd 'a' kept up all and asked every body to vote for him. "Oh, yes," said John White, reeling under a Before White concluded this very luminous and satisfactory explanation, the attorneys and their friends had retired, and Darby proceeded: "Gentlemen, when I first talked 'bout bein' a cand'date, I had no notion of bein' one-I jest said it in fun, as all the boys here knows; but now you see since they go to puttin' on me after this sorts, I'll be blamed if I don't be a cand'date, even if I git beat. This is a free country, in which every man has a right to do as he pleases, and 'cordin' to their chat, no body ha'n't got no right to be cand' dates but lawyers. If that's the chat, I don't know what our rev'lution was for, and I fit in it too. Gentlemen, you see how I've been persecuted!" By these means, his popularity increased wonderfully. Three months lay between the barbecue and the election; and before the expiration of the first, the wise began to fear, and the foolish to boast, that Darby Anvil would be elected. Another month placed the matter beyond dispute; and left to either of the other candidates the alternative of making common cause with Darby, or of staying at home. The temptation was too strong for Smith's integrity. He formed a secret alliance with Darby. It was affected with great care, and much cunning: but it was soon exposed by his conduct, and its results. It was the first instance of such self-abasement that I ever witnessed in Georgia, (would that it had been the last!) and it was received with becoming indignation by the virtuous and intelligent of the county. They took the field almost to a man in behalf of Jones; and but for his magnanimity, they would have succeeded at last in giving Smith the just reward of his treachery. But Jones implored them, by their regard for the future welfare of the State, to level all their forces against Anvil, and not against Smith. "If Smith," said he, "is returned to the legislature, he will serve you with profit, if not with honor; but if Darby be elected, he will be worthless as a member, and ruinous as an example. Encouraged by his success, hundreds of stupid asses like himself, will make their way to Darby's resolution was applauded by some, and the General Assembly; and the consequence will his insulted dignity soothed by others. He now be, our government will become a despotism of surrendered himself unreservedly to electioneering. fools, and a disgrace to republicanism." By these, His first object was to secure the favor of John and many other more forcible arguments, which I Reynolds; for the bully of a county was then (as have not room to repeat, Jones prevailed upon his he still is, though lessened much in importance,) friends to sacrifice their private prejudices to the a very desirable auxiliary in a canvass. This was public good, and to bend all their exertions to the easily effected by a little kindness, and a little hy- exclusion of Anvil. They did so, and for a time, pocrisy, and Darby wanted neither when his in- wonderful were the effects of their efforts. So terest was at stake. He soon persuaded John, that commanding was their position, that even the comall he had said to Mr. Jones was a joke, or, (what mon people were attracted by it, and many came was the same thing to John) an error in Darby; and over to them from the ranks of the coalition. Smith as the bully of a county is too much occupied in was cowed by the noble bearing of his old friend seeking glory, to attend much to his trade or his towards him, and remorse greatly paralized his exfarm, and is therefore constantly in need of some ertions. Darby, too, grew so much alarmed, that little assistance from his more industrious neigh- he became serious; and by as much as he grew bors, Darby had opportunities enough of concilia- serious, by so much did he lose his influence. In ting John by kind offices. These he improved so short, there was every reason to believe, that after handsomely, that John was soon won by gratitude, all, Darby would have been beaten, had not a little and came out his open supporter. Marvellous was incident occurred, which secured his election, in now the "change" which "came over the spirit spite of opposition. It was a strange incident to of" Darby's "dream." His shop was committed be followed by such an effect. to the entire management of Sambo and Cuffy, and his little strangers," to Nancy. He rode night and day-attended every gathering in the county-treated liberally-aped dignity here, cracked obscene jokes there-sang vulgar songs in one place, talked gravely in another-told long, dry The winds are not more propitious to the "silstories-gave short, mean toasts-jested with the ler'd lassie, than unpropitious to the candidate. If women, and played with the children-grew liberal ever he has committed a fault, no matter when or in suretiships-paid promptly-dunned nobody-where, the wind will blow a babbler to him. It was 66 There is an old Scotch song which says: Be a lassie e'er sae black An' she hae the name o' siller, The wind will blaw a man till her. so with Darby-though unfortunate, only in a mo- | finally succeeded in gathering round him every voter ral, not a political sense. on the campus. They were soon reduced to siAbout three weeks before the election, a travel- lence, and Bugg commenced reading, in a slow and ler stopped at a public house in the county where audible voice, the cruel certificates. In the mean several persons had collected, and among the rest time Darby, as one very truly observed, "look'd was Your Uncle Nicky Bugg. This was a title powerful bad." He stared like an owl at noonday, which he assumed himself, and which was accord- and trembled like the shoe of a grist-mill. He ed to him by universal consent. The company changed feet as rapidly as if he had been upon hot were all supporters of Jones, and their conversa- embers; and as for his hands, suffered them to do tion turning upon the approaching election, they as they pleased; and they pleased to go through denounced Darby Anvil in unmeasured terms. The evolutions that no pen can describe. I can only stranger, probably emboldened by their sentiments, say of them, that they seemed to be in frantic after putting a few questions as to Darby's personal search for the mind that had deserted them; for identity, stated, that Darby had left Virginia be- they wandered all over his body and all through tween two days, in order to avoid a prosecution for his apparel-giving occasional hints to the materiperjury. The stranger said, he was not himself alists, that the mind may at last be seated, where personally acquainted with the facts, but referred none of them have ever yet placed it. To add, if to a number of persons in Virginia, who would con- possible, to Darby's embarrassment, your uncle firm his statement by certificates. The certificates Nicky was one of those men to whom a fight was were immediately written for; and to make their an accommodation; Darby could not therefore with effect the more decisive, it was resolved by the safety resort to the usual expedient in such casescompany, that they would not whisper the impor- a quarrel with the author of his mortification. He tant discovery, until the certificates arrived. For- received a consolation, however, the most grateful tunately for Darby, they did not arrive until the that could have been offered to his tortured feelevening before the election. At an early hour of the succeeding day Darby made his appearance at the court-house, at the head of about thirty mensome in wagons, some on horseback (single and double) and some on foot. They all had their tickets in their hats, with the names of Smith and Anvil, written on them, in large characters. As they proceeded to the polls, they made the village ring with shouts of "Hurra for Smith!" "Hurra "Ah, well now," said a second, "if they go to for Anvil!" "Hurra for the Blacksmith, and the takin' these in-turns upon a fellow, they a'nt gwine people's candidate!" Darby had provided a table to get no good of it; and you'll see it. The clean and a dozen bottles of rum, to which he led his thing's the clean thing; but this whapping a fellow friends, and told them to drink freely and vote up all at once, when he's no chance, is no sort o' boldly. He was reminded, that if he should be doin's." ings, even before Bugg had disposed of the certificates-it was from the cry of "persecution!" which issued from a number of voices, accompanied by other consolatory expressions, which increased as soon as Bugg had concluded. "It's too bad," exclaimed one, "to attack a man so, right on the 'lection day, to his face, when he ha'n't got no chance o' defending himself!" elected, he would have to swear that he had not "Walk ticket!" exclaimed a third, (tearing up a gained his election by treating, canvassing, &c., ticket on which was Jones' name) and come over &c., to which he replied, that he "could swaller the old blacksmith! Into my hand flitter: fair play's that oath mighty easy, for he reckoned nobody a jewel; and that's what I goes for in 'lectioneering wa'n't so mean as to vote for him just because he treated 'em." as well as every thing else." "Never mind, Darby," added a fourth, "you a'n't dead yet, if you are down and kicking. There's enough here'll stand by you yet, keep a stiff upper lip and you'll come through yet." "I swear," added a fifth, "it's too bad! It's enough to hurt any man's feelings to be so put upon Owing to some misunderstanding of the magistrates who were to preside at the election, or from some other cause unknown, the polls were not opened until an hour or two after the usual time. The delay was extremely annoying to Darby; for in the interim his friends paid such profound res- unbeknowens." pect to his first injunction above mentioned, that These and many other expressions of the like several of them were fast becoming hors de suf- kind so far restored Darby's equanimity, that he frage, if I may be allowed the expression. At was able to take the step in his defence, as soon length came the magistrates however, and no sooner as Bugg descended from it. When he mounted had they entered the court-yard, where was col-the rostrum, his appearance was quite unparliamenlected an immense throng, than your uncle Nicky tary. He was dressed in a full suit of mud-colored took the topmost step at the door of the court- homespun; the workmanship of Nancy's own house, and demanded the attention of every gen- hands, from the carding to the weaving. His pantleman present. The demand had to be repeated taloons were supported only by his hips, for susseveral times before it was heeded by all; but it' penders were not then worn; and even with this VOL. X-7 "Why Darby," cried the third, "what makes you swaller so? Stand up to your fodder like a man! You've got a plenty o' friends here yet." advantage at the one extremity, they were full five " Tuck in your shirt tail, and norate away the best inches too short at the other. They reached his you can; we'll see you out!" socks only, when he stood firm on both legs-that is, when they were suffered to hang in a right line; but as Darby rarely used both limbs at the same time, there was an alternate flashing of naked skin "Why, gentlemen," proceeded Darby, "it's from either limb, of the most agreeable and be- enough to make any body swaller, and feel bad too, witching novelty. His vest was more uncourteous to be put upon after this sorts, all unbeknowens, to his pantaloons, than were his socks; for no po- when he ha'n't got no chance o' defendin' himself— sition of Darby's body, could induce it to come no manner o' chance. Gentlemen, I fit in the rewithin an inch of them. His under-garment, how-volution, and if I'm now to lose my character, beever, acted as a mediator between them, and grace- cause I'm took all unawars, I shall think it the fully rolled out into the vacant space, seemingly to hardest case I ever hearn of in all my born days. encircle the orator, with a sash of coarse, but clean, Gentlemen, my charricter's as much to me, and white sausage. Darby wore no cravat, and from any hard workin' man, as any man's charricter is accident or design, (the former, I suppose,) his to him; if he's lawyer, or a doctor, or a storeshirt collar was thrown entirely open; leaving keeper, or I don't care, what he is. For what's a exposed, an most unsightly Adam's-apple, that gave man worth that a'n't got no charricter? He's like to his neck the appearance of a little dromedary. a pair o' bellowses that ha'n't got no nose, or a saw Upon his coat, Nancy had obviously "spread her- that ha'n't got no handle-they a'n't no manner o' self," as we say in Georgia. She seemed to have count-you can't use 'em at all. (That's the taken the pattern of it from the wings of a horse- truth, Darby,' interposed a voice, gravely.) Genfly. From a point about seven inches above the tlemen, I've lived a long time with you; did any os coxygis, it debouched to the right and left, with of you ever hear of my usin' perj'ry? I reckon if daring encroachments upon his calves. Two large, I had time I could get ce'tif'cates too; but you all plano-convex, covered buttons, marked the salient see I a'n't got no time at all. Gentlemen, I dont' points of the skirts; and as many (on either, skirt think I ever seed any one that was so persecuted, one,) their nether limits. The moulds of these gorgeous ornaments were cut by the measure of a half dollar, from a dried gourd of course, therefore, it was in the covering that they took the shape, which I have given to them. Five buttons more, ejusdem generis, stood in open order upon each lapel; and from every button, advanced in marvellous length a button-hole, worked with 'indigo-blue," so that they looked like two little detachments of artillery, drawn up in battle-array The cry of "hurra for Anvil!" from many voiagainst each other. Coarse sharp-pointed shoes, ces, as Darby descended from the steps, plainly tesand a low crowned, broad-brimed white hat, com- tified that he had the sympathies and support of pleted the costume of the first orator that I ever the majority. In vain did Jones and his friends had the pleasure of hearing address the electors of reason with them, upon the difference between exa county in Georgia. Indeed, he was the last posing vices, and persecuting innocence. It was also; for though it is not now an unusual thing, in vain that they argued against the injustice of for candidates" to respond in strains of glowing visiting Bugg's fault, (if fault it was,) upon the eloquence" (see gazettes passim) at dinner par- head of his friend Jones. The time, and the seties and barbecues, it is a very rare thing for them verity of the attack, were sufficient to transfer to address "the sovereignty" when assembled to Darby to an object of persecution, in their eyes. exercise the elective franchise. But Darby had To make matters worse, if possible, for Jones, no alternative. The greetings which he met with your uncle Nicky undertook to reason with the from the crowd, when he ascended the tribune, were malcontents. This was a very unfortunate step: such as would have confounded any one, who did not understand the spirit with which they were uttered. Strange as it may seem to the reader, they were meant for encouragement, and were so understood by Darby. : "Hey Darb!" vociferated one," you're too strong in your runners; you've pushed your legs too far through your breeches!" "Never mind that, Darby!" cried another. in all my born days; and if I'm beat now, I shall think I'm beat by persecution, and there's my wife and ten children, and they must all lose their charricters too, just by bein' taken unawars. I never knowed nobody to git nothin' by persecutin', but if me and my wife and children's all to lose our charricters by it, why I s'pose it must be so; but I shall think it mighty hard. Gentlemen, you can do as you please with me; and whatever you do I can't help it." for though he was fully competent to reason, and Ir |