burgh coffee-house notoriety, kicking some one out of the bar-room of that Hotel, upon which McClung stopped and eyed him with something of amazement, which our hero recognizing, came up to him and familliarly putting his hand upon his shoulder, remarked.—‘Ah, Colonel, say nothing about the old affair, it takes us to do these things-you and I know who to kick.'" Another instance in which he made a friend's quarrel his own was related: "A Mr. B., broken in health, and somewhat impaired in mind, got into some dispute with another gentleman, which Colonel McClung, on account of his friend's infirm state of health, took up for him. The parties accordingly met on the old duel ground.' There appeared to have been a peculiar or malignant type of hate between McClung and his antagonist, which might have arisen from the former's esteem for his friend, and the idea of his being challenged when not in a proper state of health to defend himself; be this as it may, McClung had some of the Achillean revenge' in him, when he came upon the ground, for he most tauntingly asked his adversary to give him, as a memorial of him, a rich diamond pin that glittered on his bosom. This he refused to do. Then d- —n you,' said McClung, 'I'll blow it through your heart.' The threat did not fail in being executed; he sent the glittering gem through his heart. Thus he left another antagonist dead on the field of honor. 6 "While listening to a political speech, at New Carthage, from his opponent for the Legislature, Colonel McClung, exclaimed to one of his assertions-that's a d- -d lie.' The speaker paused, left the stand, and swore he would whip the man that gave that calumnious fling.' But on being shown the man that had so terribly incensed him-Lo, it was Colonel McClung! He was surprized-flurried and entirely incapable of carrying out his threat. He curbed his wrath, and invited McClung up to a stand, hard by, beneath an oak tree, and-treated him. "Mr. P., a wealthy planter, was called the 'best pistol shot' in Mississippi, and Colonel McClung the next. A challenge passed between this Roland and Oliver;' they met and McClung left him seriously, wounded on the field. "I am confident," says Jo, "it is putting it down low enough to say that he has fought a dozen duels, and in five or six of them, he 'stuck his man on the daisies.' "The last man he shot was in a Hotel in Jackson, Mississippi. This sad castrophe was the result of a quarrel with this gentleman. He shot him down dead in the bar-room. "I heard him relate," says my informant, "the following story of his adventures in the Mexican war: "He was riding out one afternoon, toward sunset, when suddenly, from a dense chaparral, seven guerrillas sprang out, like tigers from a jungle, and fiendishly attacked him with their sabres." Now 66 "Good night to Marmion." "But fear not-doubt not-which thou wilt, He'll try this quarrel hilt to hilt." 'Seeing himself beset by this hoard, he multiplied himself for the occasion, and dealt them the blows of a 'Ceur de Leon,' while they plied him with cuts and deadly thrusts on all sides, giving him a deep sabrewound on his head over his right eye, and two on the left shoulder; yet he fought like the hero of a thousand battles, till five of them were unhorsed and lay dead or wounded on the ground." "Each stepping where his comrade stood, The instant that he fell." "But the two remaining ones fought on with desperation, determined to kill their dreadful foe, till one of them, assured from his fighting that they had a hero to deal with, cried out to his companion, in Spanish,—' This must be Colonel McClung, for he fights like a bull dog.' "At which, McClung, who understood Spanish, cried out,—' Yes, you d―d wretches, I am Colonel McClung, but you will not escape to tell that you ever met him in battle,' saying which, he sent one headlong to the ground with a blow of his sword, and the other took flight and escaped." "My name," says our narrator, "is Charles La Crouix, but Jo was a favorite name with Colonel McClung, he called all of his servants by that name; it was necessary to be 'Joed' ere they became his servants. He would often, when under the spell of liquor, call out at the top of his voice-Jo,-Jo,-Jo,'-as if he loved to dwell on that soft monosyllable. "When he had been drinking I always took care of his money, which would sometimes amount to fifteen hundred or two thousand dollars, and sometimes he had not enough to pay his tavern bills. I have known him, when sober, to be up night after night, doing nothing but walking backwards and forwards, all night long, with two, and sometimes three candles burning."-Here Jo got up and showed me how he walked the room-" With arms folded this way," says he, "like an Alexander, and with the most perfect military tread I ever saw—he moved as straight as a Choctaw. If any one spoke to him while thus walking and talking to himself, he would stop, take off his hat, give you a gentlemanly attention, and having heard what you had to say, would answer you very politely and correctly.. "He lived in Jackson the most of the time when I was his servant, where he owned several houses and lots. He never married but was very fond of the society of ladies." "Ever the first to scale a tower As venturous in a lady's bower." "He would often ride out with them in his carriage, for he was a great favorite with them, and in their society he was a very polite gentleman as he was always when sober, and was never inclined to be quarrelsome or insult any one; and no gentleman could insult him. His maxim was: "A moral, sensible and well-bred man, Will not affront me; and no other can.' This is the end of Jo's narrative. Colonel McClung was twice the candidate of his party for a seat in Congress and twice defeated. He had entertained no doubt of his election in this last contest, and the defeat came upon him like that of Philippi upon Brutus, he was terribly chagrined, and felt from his inmost soul, that: "Nor poppy nor mandragora, Nor all the drowsy sirups of the East Could medicine him again to that sweet sleep That which made his opponent sleep well, had "murdered sleep" for him. "His doom was a sad, though perhaps not a strange one, when the history of his life is impartially reviewed. It was one of violence and blood. In a moment of apparent calmness and composure, he cut short his own life by blowing out his brains." He has passed through a life of sad reverses to escape which, he finally made a desperate "retreat." And now: "After life's fitful fever he sleeps well." But, traveler, stop not to weep over his grave, pass on: Pass on; and when the ringing of "fame's old bells" shall tell of valorous and heroic deeds in war, think that they rung for him once at Monterey and Beuna Vista, when, "Old Zack! Old Zack! the war-cry rattles, Among those men of iron tread, COLONEL JEFFERSON DAVIS. Of this distinguished son of the South we have no reminiscences, but give the following notice of him by a Northern young lady, who made a trip down the Mississippi with Colonel Davis, as it exhibits a fine trait of the man. "Senator Davis I like very much, and when I tell you that upon our arrival in Vicksburgh, he went to the officer of the McRae'-the boat we took for Deer Creek-and requested him, as a personal favor, to see that everything was arranged for my comfort and convenience during the trip, and that I knew nothing of this until Mr. Porterfield told me, you will acknowledge that he possesses as much chivalry and courtesy for the fair sex as he has credit for in the Southern World.' He is plain in dress and appearance, but possesses great suavity of manner, and is one of the most brilliant conversationalists I ever listened to. The "casket" is rough, but it contains "A gem of purest ray serene." On our passage down the Mississippi the passengers, more particularly the ladies, were very anxious to hear his views on the present topics of the day. They hence addressed him a very polite note to that effect, when they received the following from him; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN; STEAMER J. C. SWAN, MARCH 20TH, '59. Accept my grateful acknowledgements of your kind invitation to hear my views upon the public questions which concern the welfare of our common country. Flattered by the wish you express, and willing at all times to interchange opinions with my fellow-countrymen upon the issues which it devolves upon us to decide, I regret that my physical condition will not permit me to comply with your request in the manner indicated. In the present posture of affairs, there is much to excite the patriotic anxiety of our people, and to arouse to earnest effort every citizen of the land. Blessed with an inheritance of peculiar value, won by the blood of our ancestors, it requires but a small part of the wlsdom and virtue of those from whom we are descended, to secure the transmission of the institutions we enjoy, to posterity. And I trust, however gloomy our prospects may be, that the cloud will pass as the April shower, leaving to us the sun of our political existence all the brighter for the temporary shadow which obscured it. Our government was formed to bless the people by the conjoint action of the sovereignties united for the common good. Its powers were defined and restricted so as to ensure its action for the protection of all, and to prohibit the oppression of any. Its benefits, whilst its true theory is adhered to, will fall like the gentle dew. To pervert it to other than the purposes for which it was established, would be treason to our fathers, to our children, and to the hopes of human liberty which hang upon their last best efforts for the maintenance of self government. With my best wishes for your individual welfare and happiness, I am your obliged fellow citizen. JEFF. DAVIS. |