f.
VOCAT
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY A COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS JOR THE METHODIST EPIS COPAL CHURCH, SOUTH. RUFU9 T. HEFLIK, Editor.
VOL. IV---NO. 25.
RALEIG TTIIU RSDAY, JUNE 23, 1 859.
$1.50 a year, in advance.
AD
BJ1
Elo
O EI GIN A L.
For the N. C. Christian Advocate.
'"Calvinism Vs. Ar utinlanism,"
'"Reviewed. o. VIII.
Rev. R. T. IIeflin: In this No., I
take up, for consideration, P. T. P.'s
views of the V Juscice of God." As my
Jpresent purpose is only to review his ex
r.ion3 to Arminianism, I shall not cons'-Jer,
directly, the views which he says are
Cal -inistic. These may come under re
view in EubaKjuent examination of a Cal
vinism mCQ&i after I am done with P. T.
P.6 unfair rcf resentatfon of Arnnmamsni,
alias Methodism. .
He contends thai the " Arrmnian sys
in " is erroneous, b?can??, says, it
grips'' God of this atirMte. To prove
this, he quotes the following Sfom the
" Articles of Religion, of the Methodist
Book of Discipline ;'this is the 20& "Ar
ticle,"" not of the " Discipline," but of
ReVgivn." He quotes thus: "The
offering of Christ once made, is that per
fect redemption, propitiation and satisfac
tion for the sins of the whole world, both
original and actual' And then remarks :
" That a perfect satisfaction was made for
the sins of Ananias ana eappnira, au j
God is not satisfied, but is now pouring out
upon them His wrath and curse for sins
which Christ bore in His own body on the
treewhich is a piece of gross injustice."
X. C. Presbyhrian, April IS. In answer
to this, I observe,
1. The object of this Article. To show
that the " offering of Christ once made,''
demonstrated, that " no other sacrifice was
necessary ; and, therefore, " The sacrifice
of masses, in the which it is commonly said
that the priest doth offer Christ for the
quick and the dead, to have remission of
pain or guilt, is a blasphemous fable and
dangerous deceit," "Article of Religon
xx." Dis. pp- 29, 30. It was against this
"dangerous deceit," that the Article in
question was levelled; affirming the " one
offering of Christ, once for all," was suffi
cient for man's salvation, and that he needs
no other. St. Paul sustains this in Heb.
is. 23-23.
2. The so bjects of this redemption, ' ' The
ichote tcvtld.." All, as fallen in Adam :
sustained by St. Paul.Jlpui- v. 12-21; 2d
Cor. v. U, 15; 1. Tim. ii. lt ; Titus
ii. 11-14 ; Heb. ii. 9 ; and by St. John,
ii. 1, 2. (better authority for, than Pres
byterian Confession f taith, Chap. iii.
Sect. vi. against it.)
3. That a ' Satisfactory propitiation."
by the "taring of Christ once made,"
was actually accomplished for "both origi
nal and actual sin." This view is sustain
ed, 1. By John the Baptist. John i. 29;
2. By St. John. 1 John, ii. 1, 2. 3. By
Christ. John iii. 14-17. (Better authority
this, than Presbyterian Confession f
Faith, Chap. ii. Sect, vi., against it.
To P. T. P.'s slur about "Ananias and
Sapphira," I only need to say, 1. Their
sin was again t the '. Holy Ghost," as
their final act, aad this sin has never for
giveness, either in this world or the next.
Matt. xii. 31, 33, compared with Acts v.
19. 2. Final unbelief is not atoned for,
as this is a rejection of the "propitiation '
made by Christ. Mark xvi 16 ; John iii
18, and 35, 36. 3. Apostacy from the
religion and grace of Christ, even from a
sanctified state, is not atoned for, and is
excluded by the gospel law. Heb. x. 26
29. 4. Some for whom Christ died, and
made " propitiation" sacrificially for them,
brought " swift destruction upon them
selves," &c. 2 Pet. ii. 1, 2. 5. From
these considerations, it follows that, while
the ' 4 one offering of Christ redeemed the
whole world," aad by his ' propitiation
and tatisfaclion," he provdied salvation
" for all ;" yet, Arminians, trfias Metho
dists, in this, agree with the Bible, that
the sins mentioned, cannot be forgiven .be
cause there is, in these instances, a final
rejection of this "propitiation, "and as there
is no " other sacrifice," therofore, they
must perish. Not that God punishes them
with " His wrath and curse for sins which
Christ bore in His own body on the tree,"
but for the sin of their own perpetrating,
in rejecting the atonement made by Christ
cu the cross.
As it regards his assertion that the Meth
odist doctrine concerning the " Justice of
God," would equally apply to the case of
the " Devil " as it does to men, I would
answer : It would upon Calvinistio princi
ples, but wot ou Armiuian. 1. Because
Arminians, alias Methodists, (according to
pp. 53,54 of "Doctrinal Tracts,") consider
men in a state of Probation, with gracious
ability to accept salvation as offered in the
gospel, without being forcibly constrained
by a power they cannot resist, passively to
receive and enjoy it ; or stubbornly, and
without "irresistible" influences, reject the
salvation offered to them ; and, therefore,
the "justice of God" is demonstrably
manifested in the salvation of the one, and
the damnation of the other, according to
Mark xvi. 1-5,16. But the " Devil" is
not now in a pr b ,timanj state, but of pe
nal suffering, so that his estate is one truly
without remedy, ac v. ill he the condition of
men who finally reject the salvation of ?od,
after the final judgment: for cf them as well
as of the " Devil," it may then be said :
" He that is unjust, let him be unjust still;
and he that is filthy, let him bo filthy still."
Rev.xxii. 2. that is now the condition of
the 'Devil.' Now.however.sinnershave the
" gracious ability " to repent'ar.dbe saved.
But, as Wesley shows, that Calvinism, by
its legitimate and logical consequences,
demonstaates, that God deals with-men by
such forcible, aye " irresistible "measures,
that they cannot, by any possibility.be and
do otherwise, than they are.'and do ; con
sequently they arerewarded and punished
more after the likeness of "machines or
atones,'' than intelligent, free, moral agents;
and herein the im'ustice is found : for if
none of the elect cart be lost, and none of
the " passed by " can bo saved, it is be
cause the former were " ordained," from
all eternity, to life, with all the means of
their salvation, irrespective of their faith,
or obedience ; and the latter were ' 'ordain
ed to everlasting wrath for their sins"
without any provision by Christ's atone
ment, for their recovering God's favor and
salvation. There is, however, no analogy
in the case of men, as sinners, and the
' Devil " as a judicially punished sinner,
as the two cases are viewed by Metho
dists.
These observations, also show the absur
dity and unjust insinuation against Metho
dism, on the subject of "Angels" and
" men "as " sinning " beings. His views
are thus expressed : 4 But the assertion is
justly made that whatever God has done in
the case of sinning angels, He could not
have justly left sinning men to perish with
out providing salvation for them." He
then gives garbled statements of Mr. Wes
ley's reply to the objection, founded upon
the score of Calvinism. See Mr. Wesley's
whole argument in " Doctrinal Tracts."
In reply, I offer a few out of the many, of
cogent reasons which support Methodism
in this instance.
1. God's conduct toward angels." I
need say but little here. All he has to say
is in these words : " But the assertion is
boldly made that whatever God has done
in the case of sinning angels, He could not
justly have left sinning men to perish with
out providing salvation for them." This
objection is founded upon a false assump
tion, unknown to Arminianism, and un
true in fact. The assumption is, that " an
gels" and " men " as " sinning" beings,
are in the same position ; and, therefore,
what would be "just" in one case, must
be so also, in the other. The falsehood of
this assumption, will appear from the fol
lowing observations :
The cases are not analogous. " Angels"
sinned personally, and not under the ef
fects of the fault of another : " men," on
the other hand, sinned not personally, but
seminally in another. The fault of Adam
brought " condemnation " upon them ; the
actiou of each "angel" concerned, brought
condemnation upon it. The case of "men"
in this relation, is, their reprobation from
salvation, (upon the principles of Calvin
ism) is, because of the "one offering" of
another, and this taking effect upon them
personally as individual beings. It is here
that Calvinism shows its true character.
Arminianism allows that it was just in
God to damn " sinning angels," because
they apostatized from the grace and holi
ness of their creation ; but denies that it
would have been just in God to damn per
sonally, " men," who bad not personally
sinned. "Salvation" for Adam federa
tively considered, and " men " seminally,
was absolutely necessary ; and if none had
been provided, Adam and Eve, would have
been the only individuals that could have
been "justly" damned ; and "men" as
fallen in him seminally, could only have
been "justly " left in their seminal condi
tion. Had P. T. P. given the whole of Mr.
Wesley's arguments.he wsuld not have had
occasion to say what he did, in his farther
remarks on that subject, as they would
have unanswerably refuted his charge
against Methodism, and shown the.absurdity
and erroneousness of Calvinism. It does not
follow from Methodist doctrine, that "God
was led by His justice rather than His
mercy to provide a salvation for man, and
sinners can claim salvation as a debt which
God owes them," &c. If man as a fallen
being is saved at all, it may be necessary
for God to provide a salvation for him :
but it does not follow from henee, that
"He is under obligation," but only, that
if man was saved at all, an atonement was
necessary to that end.
His concluding remarks are equally er
roneous, and false in their assumptions.
Thus : " The great hinderance to the con
version of a sinner, is that he does not feel
that he deserves to be damned, and is con
stantly bringing a prize in his hands to
pay for his salvation, and will not receive
it as a free, undeserved favor. The Armi
nian system increases the difficulty. What
a beautiful system ? If God had not giv
en his Son to die, all men would have been
unable to obey his laws would be ma
chines,' ' etones,' instead of men." In an
swer, I observe,
1 1. The atonement, by which men are
redeemed, was not made necessary, be
cause "all men " sinned personally, but
because the "one offence of one," forfeited
the fife, i. e. being of all. If, therefore,
"God had not given his Son to die," in
stead of not being able "to obey His
law." they would not have had a personal
existence.
2. The gift of " His Son to die for sin, '
removed this forfeiture of life from ''all
men," and placed them in connexion with
' ' sufficient saving grace." So that their
final condemnation is consequent on their
" receiving the grace of God in vain,"
2 Cor. vi. 1; Heb. ii. 3,, x. 26-29.
Yours affectionately,
PETER DOTJB.
Lumberton, N. C, May 31, 1859.
For the N. C. Christian Advocate.
South I.. we II Academy.
Bro. Heflin. I have enjoyed the
pleasure this week of attending the closing
exercises of the South Lowell Academy.
' On the 7th the public examination was held
but not being present I venture no opin
ion, only to say that such a teacher as Mr.
Anderson is not apt to have any but a fair
and good one. The 8th was occupied by
the speakers. The little Ciceros entertain
ed' us for some time with declamation
They entered upon the work with earnest
ness and alacrity. When they had finish
ed we vere treated 'with several original
addresses. 'These were more than credit
able. They would compare very favorably
with similar efforts from older persons on
larger occasions. One of these: particular
ly won the attention and interest of the
whole audience. 'It so aroused me that I
had to expose myself to public scrutiny in
order to get close enough to see and enjoy
it Finally the excellent principal intro
duced to the audience the Rev. President
Craven of Trinity College. I was assured
beforehand by Mr. Craven that he design
to give a really practical discourse. A-t
this I was more than gratified. There is
generally too much fancy and display and
too little common sense and useful thought
in the addresses at literary festivals. If I
understand the object of those speeches,
they are to do good to enlighten rather
than win some evanescent eclat for the ora
tor. President Craven seemed to be bent on
saying something that had a meaning, a
Weight and a purpose. Nor did he fail.
Laying down the questions, " Why should
we study ? What shall we study ? How
shall we study ?" he proceeded for an in
teresting hour to answer those points in
concise, and thought laden sentences. I
don't think I ever heard as much thought
in as few words. Simplicity and power
very happily blended in his whole speech.
The people were much pleased and
gave very flattering expresions of coui
mendatiou. A word about the Academy as to its fu
ture &c. On the 12th of July next the
Fall session will open. The school is very
pleasantly situated and surrounded. There
is not a better location for a fine academy
in the State. The community is an emi
nently moral one there are no vicious and
seductive evils to threaten the young while
there the principal is a most excellent
gentleman, a good scholar and a conscien
tious Christian. It would be difficult to
find anywhere an institution of the same
age with so much of the great and good in
its history and so little of evil and dissi
pation. I do not know one such in the
State. The relative position is also favor
able. It is high enough to make it safe
for those farther west and is a healthful,
sylvan summer retreat to the citizens of
Eastern North Carolina. There is also
(just discovered) a very superior mineral
spring in abount three miles of the acade
my. The water is a fine chalybeate im
pregnated with sulpher and perhaps other
constituents. As soon as an analysis of
this water is obtained it will probably be
published. Those in Eastern Carolina who
have sons to educate and wish likewise to
enjoy the pleasure and profit of a visit to
the hills and the springs could with great
propriety bring their sons to S. L. and
then daily visit Lipscomb's springs. One
special recommendation of South Lowell is
that it is under the good influence of reli
gious connections though by no means
designed as an unfairly denominational
school.
I have said this much for South Lowell,
because of my knowledge of what it has
done and may yet do. There is no ques
tion that our academies are our most im
portant division of the educational system.
If errors are made in a primary school they
may be corrected in the academy, but if a
student goes from the preparator school to
College with a superficial knowledge of
that which he should know thoroughly
with bad habits of both body and mind
with a half-trained and wayward and cow
ardly intellect then is it too late to reme
dy the evil ; and as the evil tree cannot
bring forth good fruit, and as the sandy
foundation cannot support the collegiate
column the result is sad and distressing ;
parents are mortified ; the hopes of friends
bligh'ted and the world robbed of an honor
and a blessing. Good academies make
good Colleges, while bad academies and
bad homes are responsible for a vast por
tion of the dissipation and idleness &p., in
iigber isstitutions. Let us then look to
academies !
DOLPH.
For the N. C. Christian Advocate.
Letter from the North West. 2.
Bro. HEFMS.-Vn fulfilment of my
promise, I now proe ed to give you an ac
count of the exercise' attending the erect
tion of the raonumen to Bishop Roberts.
As the Bishop warovidentialiv spared
the vexAiiorj lutx'- Jiurr.li.ga that at
tended the dismemberment of his Church,
we may apply to him, with slight change,
the language of Webster, on another occa
sion, though a kindred subject: "He
served and honored the Church, and the
whole church, and his renown is of the
treasures of the whole church." The South
has the same right as the North, to his
fame, and may reasonably take the same
interest in the honors paid to his memory.
THE MONUMENT
is a beautiful obelisk, about fourteen feet
high. Exjept the base, which is of lime
stone, it is composed of beautiful Italian
marble. The inscription was furnished by
Bishop Morris, and reads as follows :
'He was a traveling preacher for forty years
and Bishop of tie Methodist Episcopal
Church from 1S16 till Death. To him be
longed the scriptural qualifications of a
christian Bishop, humble, self-sacrificing,
apt to teach, of good report, given to hos
pitality, a man of God. With an impos
ing person, and commanding voice, he pre
sided gracefully, and ruled with authority
but with such patriarchal simplicity and
gentlenesss of manner as secured universal
respect and affecion."
" Them that honor me, I will honor,"
1st. Sam. 2. 30.
" Erected by the Methodist Preachers
in Indiana."
The above is inscribed on the shaft. On
the die, in raised letters, is the following ;
" Sacred to the memory of Rev. Robert
R. Roberts, Bora in Frederick county,
Md., Antr, 2 1778. Died in Lawrence Co.
ndiana, March 26th, 1843."
Though the Bishop died, asabive stat
ed, in Lawrence County, in the southern
part of the State, yet, a" few years after,
by a resolution of the Indiana Conference,
his remains wereremoved to this place,
and buried in the grove of the University,
ast Fall his widow, who had resided here
since the removal of his body, was buried
by his side.
The exercises connected with the erec
tion of the monument, did not call togeth
so large an assembly as vas expected.
Indeed, in this respect it might be called
almost a failure. There were but a few
dozen from abroad, and but a few hundred
of our own citizens.
The exercises consisted of singing, prayer,
reading selections of scripture, and an . ad
dress ; the lattei by Rev. Aaron Wood,
the oldest Methodist preacher in Indiana,
but still a halo and active presiding Elder.
He was listened to with marked interest
and attention, giving, among other things,
many personal reminisciences of the Bis
hop. A few items I will repeat. Bishop Ro
berts moved to this State in 1819, three
years after he was elected to his high of
fice. He spent the greater part of his life,
both before moving' here, and afterward,
in log houses. The location that he se
lected, was not very favorable for farming ;
but by his industry he made it quite pro
ductive. With his own hands he cleared
one hundred acres of land, and superin
tended, and performed the principal labor
in building five dwelling houses, and two
mills. It was he that first conceived the
grand scheme of our present Missionary
operations.
While on the summit of the Alleghany
mountains, looking down upon the almost
boundless expanse stretching away to the
East and the West, and with the eye of
his imagination, and his faith taking in a
still more ample sweep, over the whole
country, and the entire world, he felt that
some new plan must be devised to carry
the gospel to the teeming multitudes where
cabins were already dotting the western
wilderness, and to the uncounted millions
of other lands. He revolved the matter
prayerfully in his own mind, and on arri
ving in New York, laid his plans before
Dr. Bangs, and other perminent members
of the church. The result was our Meth
odist Missionary Society, which has already
blessed untold thousands, and is destined
to accomplish still mightier works. This
is glory enough for one man, even if he
had done nothing more. The speaker sta
ted that he had heard several statesmen,
whose names he gave.some offtbem presi
ding officers of distinction, say that they
had never seen any man occupy the chair
with more ease and dignity than Bishop
Roberts.
The interest of the address waa augmen-
ted by the presence, in full view of the
audience, ot a tuli length, lite like portrait
of the Bishop, which had been brought
from its resting place on the rostrum of
the College Chapel. The portrait repre
sents him as a portly, light complexioned
mau, with a full ruddy face, his large head
partially bald, and the white hair careless
ly thrown back over the shoulders. J udg-
ing the portrait alone, I should conclude
that he was a man of strong mind and de
cided character, but lacking somewhat, in
refinement of taste and habits.
THE WEATHER,
After several weeks of the very finest,
suddenly changed a few days ago, and
brought us back to the middle of March
There was a severe frost, extending from
Western New York, to Illinois, and how
much farther Ilo noJ' know. Iu some
parts of Canada East, snow fell. Partly
severe for the 5th of June ! In many pla
ces the corn and other young plants have
been cut down; but I think they will
generally shoot up again. If not, it is not
too late to re-plant. It is stated that in
some sections the wheat is killed. If this
should prove true, it will be a great calam
ity. Youry truly,
J. A. D.
Greeneastle, Ind., June 8, 1859.
For the N. C. Christian Advocate.
JLcnoir Collegiate Institute.
Bro. Hkflin. Having been appointed
one of acommittee.to visit Lenoir Collegiate
Institute, at the close of the past scholastic
year.and being the only one present, all the
time, the duty devolvs upon me to make
known to the public, the condition of the
school. The village composed of about
thirty families, is handsomely and health
fully situated the buildings are new com
modious, well finished and furnist cd. The
grounds, both private and public are tasti
ly laid off well shaded and improved,
and the entire village is attractive, and pre
sents ideas of unusual quietness and home
comfort. Both departments of the school
as I learned from the report to the board
of directors, are out of debt, increasing in
patronage, gaining on public confidence,
and in every sense in a healthy and hap
py condition. The examinations, witnessed
by myself, were thorough and creditable.
original orations, were well-timed, well
studied, neatly and in some instances forci
bly written, and read and delivered with
marked ability. Every thing impressed
me with the firm conviction, that Mr. Bran
son, the Principal, is more than ordinarily
qualified both as an instructor and gover
nor for the position he occupies ; and sus
tained by the co-operation of a liberal
minded board of Directors, the future of
the schools under his care, can but be
bright. I have no hesitancy in saying
that this school is entitled to all the reputa
tion it has and is well worthy of all the
patronage it now has, or can have, and
with the utmost candor, I can recommend
it to parents and guardians who have boys
or girls to be educated, or young men or
women who wish to educate themselves, as
possessing advantages and affording facili
ties, at least, equal to any school of its kind
in the State, with which I am acquainted.
I have endeavored to speak soberly, and
avoid all exaggerations, forasmuch, as I am
speaking by the authority of the Confer
ence. This report is, in a manner, en
dorsed by them, and nothing should be
said that could mislead our people in se
lecting a school for the education of
their children. The preaching, speech
making, party, and other exercises, not
connected with the schools proper, are
subjects with which I have nothing to do,
in this paper. JAS. H. BRENT.
June 7, 1859.
SELECTIONS.
From the S. C. Advocate.
Across the Continent. No. II.
Up the Mississippi High Water Le
vee8 From Shreveport to Waco At
Anchor in the Prairie Trials by the
Way Riding a Creole Mexican Horse
men Texas, a Paradox.
On Tuesday, the 27th, of April, at 5
P. M.. we left New Orleans on the Steam
er Lecompto for Shreveport. As we as
cended the Mississippi, we realized how
just ti e fears entertained of a general over
flow. The waters were higher than dur
ing the freshet of last year the most dis
astrous ever known and only need to rise
an inch or two more to flood the entire
bottom. The idea of embanking such a
volume of water swollen, ever and anon,
by the rivers that run into it and the rains
of heaven falling on a dozen States.consider
ed as an experiment, would be pronounced
wild, chimerical, and yet it seems to be
prajticable. The levees on either bank
are confining this tremendous current, and
despite an occasional crevasse, are protect
ing the fields and flocks of the planters
from submersion and ruin. In the pro
gress of the country, I have no doubt the
time will come when these alluvial bottoms
will be denuded of timber, and the sugar
cane and cotton plant wave instead, and on
each side, the home of the master and the
habitations of his servants will so multiply
as to make a continuous town Jor a thou
sand miles. Lands will be divided, like
city lots, in the partition of estates with
forty or fifty acre fronts running back ac
cording to the capital and necessities of the
proppatec All along this great artery of
commerce, moneyTind taste will rear .archi
tecuralVoaders the lordly mansion the
less imposing, but more beautiful cottage
and vines and gardens and trees will em
bosom a population, rich, refined, (oh !
-that history may add,) religious,
Our first night was dark and stormy
I might say tempestuous. We made very
slow progress and ;tg vrry g?,nd to hail
the morning light. The Lecompto is a
slow boat, but her commander, Capt. John
son, I can recommend as a prudent and
safe officer. The lives of his passengers
are precious in his sight, and with him are
secure as they could be in human hands.
For the first time in my experience I
found Red River low and falling, but still
high enough for easy navigation. We
reached Shreveport on Saturday night, and
there spent the Sabbath, preaching both
morning and evening. The people were
present in large numbers, and seemed to
give earnest attention to the word spoken,
May their profiting appear in future time 1
The travel westward is heavy. The ex
tra stages left on Sabbath morning, each
full of passengers. The rjgular line left
on Monday.but I was crowded out and had
to hire a conveyance to Marshall the
agent assuring me that I should be provid
ed for from that point. We got in next
morning in time for the stage, but not time
enough to see my old friends. We took
passage for Henderson, and had as pleasant
travel as a crowded vehicle on a very warm
day would allow. In fact, in all my wan
derings I never ttruck a more agreeable
crowd. One centleman, who had been
over the plains, encouraged us much as to
the prospects of our journey. He thinks
there is no danger, and that the discom
forts are not greatly to be dreaded. He
gave me much useful information as to my
outfit, and I hope to profit by his sugges
tions. Supping at Henderson, we passed on to
Rusk, arriving in due time next morning .
Spent two days with my sister and her de-
ceasedahusband's family ,and then took up
the line of march for San Antonio.
After much debate and various opinions
from those best informed, I took the route
by Palestine, Waco and Austin to San
Antonio, expecting to go through expedi
tiously but have been sadly disappointed.
We started with a stage and four horses :
at Palestine, after stopping all night, we
dwindled to an inferior hack and two horses.
Nevertheless, we moved along, maintain
ing about the same speed, as when we had
more locomotive power. At the end of
fifty miles we cast anchor again, and long
ed for day.
With a vastly improved vehicle and rap
id horses, we sped over the praries for fif
teen miles, and driving up to the stand,
hailed, but no answer came. Dismount
mg, we examined the stable, and found
neither hostler nor steeds. On inquiring
at a house near by, we learned that the
corn and fodder were exhausted, and that
the horses had been turned out to graze
could not be found. The postal arrange
ments of the country are deranged some
what, and I suppose contractors and agents
must be forgiven for landing passengers in
the middle of a prairie without horses to
carry them on. All hands save myself,
turned out to hunt up the lost. I tried
to sleep and forget.
In about two hours they returned, hot
and weary, having found but one of the
span. Taking one who had just run his
race and the found one, we prepared to
start once more. Both horses refused to
pull, but presently were persuaded to their
duty. We went off at a pace too fast to
endure, and at the first little hill we halt
ed, but not till we reached the top. After
coaxing and pushing, we got off once
again ; accomplished several miles and then
baulked for an hour; Is any thing more
provoking than a horse when he takes ' the
studs?" I had reproved the driver for
swearing, in the morning, and under this
provocation be restrained himself finely.
At last, turning to me, he said "you
rebuked me for swearing at the stand, but
this is enough to make a preacher curse.
It would relieve me mightily to curse these
horses, and the contractor who put them
on the load." " Have patience, my good
fellow, cursing will not start them." I got
out to drive, while a fellow-passenger led,
and the driver pusheed the stage upon the
horses. At last they moved but in a
minute they stopped again. Alas ! alas !
This time we halted in a bottom of mud
and sand, and well nigh despaired of ever
moving again. I went off in search of
help, and to my joyful surprise on gettting
halfway back, found they had started.
Finally we reached the stand glad enough
I to part with the bcasta which had wi tried
us eo much.
We heard all along that, more than
likely, one could not cross ' Tahuachana
creek ; and the driver who always spoke
according to his impulses, took the most
discouraging view of things and professed
to speak from personal knowledge. LJe 1
was inclined to stop, affirming that if the
water had gone down, it was impossible to
climb the opposite bank. We insisted
upon going on and seeing for ourselves.
Late in the afternoon we reached the dread
ed creek, and found it about kue3 deep.
The banks were very steep and high, near
ly perpendicular, and slick with slim j mud.
Of course we had to dismount. , -
A follow passenger took Mrs. 'IV-and -j,
our little daughter down the stream to a '
log crossiug, whilo I ieuiain to he'.p the
driver lock his wheels, and descend to the
water's edge, where I was to get in, cross,
and be ready to help np on the other side.
Fortunately a Creole living not far off, came
down to assist if necessary, and wc found
him very serviceable. The descent was so
steep that the driver could not control the
horses, and accordingly they carried the
stage beyond my reach. In this dilemma
the creole proposed to carry me over on
his back ; so I mounted him and rode over.
On going down to help Mrs. P. over the
log, I found it too high and narrow for a
safe transit. To cross on it safely would
have taxed the nerves of a coon. I recom
mended all parties to go back to the ford
and ride my creole. This was agreed upon,
and the descent and passage was effected
amid no little merriment. While the Cre
ole was slipping and catching under his
burden he would cry out, "do not bo
alarmed madam, Billy is a safo horse, and
will take you over dry shod." To little
Ann the incidents of the day were very en
tertaining, and will be chronicled in her
memory as " the funny passage of Tahua
chana in Texas."
. On our arrival at Waco, we found that
we had to lie over a day. So wc rested,
wrote letters, and at night I preached.
During tho day I saw a novel scene. A
herd of six hundred beevef, driven by
Mexicans riding their Spanish ponies ar
rived. The Brazos was very full, and
the cattle very reluctant to take water.
Xtie litmintnca, liuwc-ei, i i, - J .
shouts urged them on ; after a few stamp-
edes, those in front plunged in, the rest
followed in quick succession, and presently
a forest of horns covered the rushing wa
ters. One timid steer, preferring land to
water, resolved on flight. Tho Mexicans
at full speed, lasso, in hand, pursued him.
Soon they returned : one had him by the
horns, another by the tail the lasso in
both cases fastened to the horn of the ead
cle, and the well trained horses pulling as
though they were in harness. When the
chase began, I saw a young horse " pitch,''
as they call it out here. He soon threw
his rider (who was an American,) and set
out for freedom. A Mexican took after
him, full speed, in fifty yards overtook,
lassoed him, threw him down and held him
fast till his fallen comrade came np, took
possession and remounted. The dexterity
of these riders is amazing. When a man
from the old States expresses his antonixh
ment, they laugh at his simplicity. The
whole secret of their security seems to be
in their fearlessness and thin is the result
of habit. Neither man, woman, nor child,
is considered naturalized, until they can
ride a "pitching horse, run down a muU
rabbit rope a wild cow drink lad wa
ter and call it good.
Texas is a curious country a paradox.
Everything is in the superlative, or con
tradictory, or marvellous. It is the rich
est and the poorest has the best and the
meanest water ; is the hardest country to
live in, and has the most to live on ; the
days are the hottest, and the nights tho
coolest ; the beet roads, anj the slowest
travel ; the finest building material, and
the least use made of it ; more plains, and
less timber ; more ropes to tie horses, and
yet more estrays ; a poor country for far
ming, and yet the most productive ; the
least work and the largest yield ; the hors
es are small and the cattle big ; the frogs
have horns, and the rabbits have cars like
mules ; the people arc intelligent without
general education inventive without be
ing tricky refined without mannerism
rich without money honpitable without
house bold, generous and brave. In fine,
hero is an empire in extent and resources,
but in the slowest process of evolution, and
yet destined to population, wealth and
power. There is much to admire, but lit
tie to deplore ; many things to enchant,
but few to offend ; and for the people and
their institutions, there is a splendid future.
G. F. PIERCE.
4th of July Oration in Raleigh.
ZiTR. C. Badger, Esq., has been se
lected Orator for the Fourth of July cele
bration in our city. Mr. Badger is a
young man of great promise, and the put
lie may expect a good oration.
f
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