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Oak Lawn Th. 5th Feb. 1846
Tragic.
The season of the following sheets is introduced with tragedy. I am troubled with much emotion. First, events in the order in whcih I received them and then the main notices. Some time ago, weeks ago, a terrible slam to the peace of families of high standing fell on the little town of Hertford, Perquimans County. A gentleman's honor was wounded in a most sensitive part by the insentience of his wife, who was caught with the family physician under suspic -ious circumstances that repressed but one opinion This was to the lady's shame and disgrace in violating the marital rites. This news was received with tremendous sensation. In confrontation of the truth of the report, the physician sold out in Hertford and embarked for the South. His practice was extensive and very lucrative. More of this anon. [Paper torn] two or three days ago I learned from verbal report [paper torn] Slidell our minister to Mexico was put to death by that government. A revolutionary party or faction had got into house, expelled those at the head of power and put Mr Slidell to death. This news wants authenticity. The newspapers have not I learn veted it A serious affair this if true. Just as we were about sitting down to dinner today we learned from good authority, that Whitmell Stallings Jus of Gates County, was killed by a run -away negro a day or two ago. That three run [paper torn-]way negroes were in a house - un Stallings [paper torn]ent wh-- one of the negroes made at him. [Paper torn]tallings told him not to come to him, that if he [paper torn] he would shoot hime. The negro heeding [struckthrough his] [paper torn] his warning rushed at Stallings, who then [paper torn] the negro [paper torn] the lower abdoman. The negro
still made for him, got to him and with a knife cut Stallings a cross through the belly and also his throat and killed him upon the spot! The negro ran off a little way, fell down and made known where he was and was taken. This is [inserted: a] really shocking calamity. Immediately after a[??] news arrived that Mr Jones, the husband of lacerated honor above noticed, and Dr. Johnson, the physician im- plecated as the destroyer of his honor, had fought a duel in Pennslyvania, and that Johnson was killed. My [inserted: brother] Albert who brought the news saw the [struck: news] the account this day in the Norfolk Herald. So it is true. O, what a chapter of tradegies. But I confess this [inserted: last] affects me more than all the others - indeed more than any thing that has occurred of such a nature in a long time If ever such did affect me before. I now write of it with different feelings from what I did in noticing its first occurence. Then I gave no name. It is now of such piblic noriety that concealment is useless. This affair [paper torn] -sailing of honor and character and of it tragi[paper torn] occurences, is overwhelming to the several families of the parties. They are all families in high life. I know them, are acquainted with them. One is a brother la[inserted: w]yer whom I regularly meet at court, The other I was well acquainted with, and for whom and his family I had and have huge esteem. Old Mr Charles Johnson the father of the fallen Daniel, I have understood was in great distress, now [paper torn] lamentation must be in dis enbable. He[paper torn] and his family, I do sympathize. They are educated and wealthy and moved in t[paper torn] first circles of society. They now feel adv [paper torn] quiver in a most poignant [paper torn]uarters.
Oak Lawn, Fr. 6th Feb. 1846
The Norfolk Herald containing the statement of the fatal duel has by this time reached all over the Eastern part of North Carolina producing wailing, weeping, lamentation, but no comfort. The friends of the respective parties are now aware of the mournful affair. The little town of Hertford where the first response to the truth of the acting broke forth in surprise, and anguish, now must be enveloped in gloom The veil of sorrow however cannot lie smooth. Feeling must be swelled, nigh to bursting. Emotions of sorrow deep heart-felt-rage, shame, mortification in mournful com[?ingl??]ent, rock the the [sic] little cradle of the variance in real life to and for. The news is in Raleigh where reside the distinguished and fashionable family of the disgraced lady and where also resides the elder brother of the fallen young gentlemen. These families at the head of society will enlist the real sympathies of the city - all Raleigh is ere this thrown into deep commotion, a sorrow amortiz-ing sorrow of no ordinary kind. Fashionable people in every home of the state know something of the standing of these family. The news journ -als will carry dismay every where In every portion of the West and South Western portion of the union are friends and acquaintances of the respective families and of the gentlemen principals. There the duel and its cause will be wafted caught hold of and examined with fearful interest, and will more grief, pity, and anquish. A thousand miles North and South, East and West, the tidings will be received and gossiped with moral and licentious coloring - While some will reprove with virtous indegridation, many disinterested pleased rather to be excited about something vouratie and tragic, will wither dis approve or reprove. It is a theme for display If those talents that delight to indulge in lectures can honor and morality. Such an affair is a pie for all to finger.
The Johnson's, the Deveresy's and Mr Jones's families a how dreadfully cast down in inconsolable grief, and I presence, in burning revenge, in mortification and shame for a fallen daughter and horrow at the foul blot on a proud family, in wounded honor and misery that anguishes like the "worm that dieth not" which the sweet revenge (if such it be) of championship in a fatal duel cannot efface. This melancholy affair will stalk in hideous mien through life. Important consequences it will have, which non can foresee. The wom -b of time may reveal it, when the posthaste story of days that are gone will offer itself to some liter- ary genius, and lo! a novel The parties, the families their position in soceity, are sufficent to give forth - such reminescense of thrilling importance to generations unborn. Family fueds for life, intimadies and marriages other channels and circles, and not with each other: Such of these families. Family revenge may spill more blood. May Heaven avert suct aggravation. Swelled heads will swell bigger and perhaps burst, or shrink into their true selves, when they may before they die, "see themselves as others see them." They will probably see their true interests, equals, and superiors which they will regret they never saw before or "with eyes saw not," "ears heard not." Such catastrophes are place to much mues clantines. I am sorry - these Fam -ilies have my sympathy. Would they under similar cicrumstances sympathise for me? I am not at all interested in such enquiry. It is sufficient for me that I speak truth when I say I grieve for fallen virtue and character, for distress and sorrow for consequences of ill omen. But in this private manner for my own improvement or what it may, I am at liberty to speculate as I please on men and ways, and manners,
I therefore pour out my private communings to while away my time because I have have [sic] nothing to amuse me at this time. It cannot be disquised that much of the vice that disturbs society and leavens any age with licentiousness is fostered, generated, and perpetuated in what is known as high life. People in Hertford in a grind exalted sphere revel in licentiousness with imprompie ty because the checking finger of virtue, from what they delve below them, cannot reach them. The most exem plary among them, saintly church new, know of these vices; And though they may not conscrit? these themselves now as they did formerly perhaps, app arently wink at them. They encourage such persuits, habits, and sentements that is eventually lead to their commision. There is However the veil of "charity that covereth a multitude of sins." These various, immoral licentious look to their standing for the agis of protection. If the lower class "sow wild oats" and romance and indulge in imagined but ephemeral pleasure like these great ones, why it is vulgar, mean and low. The lower class look up to the higher for examples of excellence and for self importance and welfare. Why not afford them good examples The answer is too true. Your example is of most pernicious tendency and you know not. Yet you look not back, but press on and [?????], curse and kick those humble and better ones in your way. Proved in previous, "clothed in a little brief authority you cut such capers that make the angles weep" as though you had not a soul to be saved or a sould to be damed, as yourselves; as though the were not for the lovely and the numble in virtue and Christian love It is feared that licentious romances of the French school and others fare in too much requiture [struck: in the higher] by the few ales of high life.