University of Virginia Library

NOTE BY THE EDITOR.

Here the manuscript of Mr. Hugh Roger Littlepage, jun.,
terminates. That gentleman's feelings have probably forbidden
his relating events so recent as those which have
since occurred. It remains, therefore, for us to add a few
words.

Jaaf died about ten days since, railing at the redskins to
the last, and talking about his young massers and missuses
as long as he had breath. As for his own descendants, he
had not been heard to name them, for the last forty years.

Susquesus still survives, but the “Injins” are all defunct.
Public opinion has, at last, struck that tribe out of existence,
and it is hoped that their calico bags have been transmitted
to certain politicians among us, who, as certain as the sun
rises and sets, will find them useful to conceal their own
countenances, when contrition and shame come, as contrition
and shame will be sure to succeed such conduct as theirs.

It may be well to add a word on the subject of the tone
of this book. It is the language of a man who feels that he
has been grievously injured, and who writes with the ardour
of youth increased by the sense of wrong. As editors, we
have nothing more to do with that than to see, while calling
things by their right names, that language too strong for the
public taste should not be introduced into our pages. As to
the moral and political principles connected with this matter,
we are wholly of the side of the Messrs. Littlepages, though
we do not think it necessary to adopt all their phrases —
phrases that may be natural to men in their situations, but
which would be out of place, perhaps, in the mouths of those
who act solely in the capacity of essayists and historians.

To conclude: — Mr. Littlepage and Mary Warren were
married, in St. Andrew's church, a very few days since.
We met the young gentleman, on his wedding tour, no later

than yesterday, and he assured us that, provided with such
a companion, he was ready to change his domicile to any
other part of the Union, and that he had selected Washington,
for the express purpose of being favourably situated for
trying the validity of the laws of the United States, as opposed
to the “thimble-rigging” of the New York Legislature.
It is his intention to have every question connected
with the covenants of his leases, that of taxing the landlord
for property on which the tenant has covenanted to pay all
taxes; that of distress for rent, when distress must precede
the re-entry stipulated for by the leases; and that of any
other trick or device which the brains of your “small-potato”
legislator may invent in order to wrong him out of his property.
As for ourselves, we can only say, God give him
success! for we are most deeply impressed that the more
valuable parts of the institutions of this country can be preserved
only by crushing into the dust this nefarious spirit
of cupidity, which threatens the destruction of all moral
feeling, and every sense of right, that remains among us.

In our view, Oregon, Mexico, and Europe, united against us,
do not threaten this nation with one-half as much real danger
as that which menaces it at this moment, from an enemy
that is now in possession of many of its strong-holds, and
which is incessantly working its evil under the cry of
liberty, while laying deeper the foundation of a most atrocious
tyranny.

I forgot to add, Mr. Littlepage significantly remarked,
at parting, that should Washington fail him, he has the
refuge of Florence open, where he can reside among the
other victims of oppression, with the advantage of being admired
as a refugee from republican tyranny.