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A Short Biographical History Of Nearly 70 Years Of The Life Of N. B. Beers, Written By Himself, January 1st, 1886

A Short Biographical History Of Nearly 70 Years Of The Life Of N. B. Beers, Written By Himself, January 1st, 1886 image
Parent Issue
Day
11
Month
August
Year
1886
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

I will uiention aome things that carne within the range of my observation while n Quiana and Brazil. The most comfortble way of traveling was in a kind of sean chair whieh is strapped on the back f a native. The natives are very large nd stout and wlll carry a man weighing 50 pounds thirty or forty miles a dayaparently without being tired. They take othing in their hands but a nicelyshaped ole about eight feet long with a spike in ne end which they use in going up and own steep precipices. We were carried 0 miles in this way to see a colony of white anta. The mounds covered about vc acres and on an average were five feet n height above tlie ground around thcm. 'heirapartments were some Iike a honeyomb. Cells and thoroughfares tilled with nts nearly the size of a honey bee. Some f the natives eat these ants witli a great rlish. They are prepared orcannedin one jars and put into the ground for a me then taken out and eaten. It would be useless to attempt a descripon of the beautiful birds, the horrid replen, and the strange animáis with which ie country abounds, but it really seeined o me that all the monkey family had seted there, they were so numerous and so vely, playiug in the tops of the large rees. The ourangoutang, the long-armed pe, and the smaller species all were there. We saw in the distanee ttiroujfh a telescope a real gorilla. It seemed to be about five feet in height wheu erect, and It was well proportioned with the exception of its long arm9. There were tropical fruits In abundance and very valuable trees, some scattering mahogany trees, but the wealth ol the country is in its dye woods. We noticed that where a large tree had been cut down, four or five small ones would grow from the stunip so that the supply seemed to be increasing instead of diininishing. Wc had instructions fraai our government to go to Cayenne, l'arimarlbo and Georgetown. Satisfactory arrangements were made with the three nations owning these parts, the French, Dutch and English, so that the people of this country could go there and cut dye-wood on the same terms as the most favored nations. Having finished the business with which we were entrusted, we were ready to return to our own country. We safely accomplislied our voyage and all feil llke havinga day of rejolcing when we entered the hnrbor of New York on the 30th of March. My flrst duty was to go to Washington and dellver the papers to the department, then I must return to my official duties in the survey, make a Ihorough examination and get all thlngs in order for starting on the l.'ith of April. I went with the vefsel on the first trip. found everything entisfactory, and then I made up my mind to stay in the city awhile, I had been absent so long. This was in the year 1828, a time of great political excitement and of great financial trouble caused by the old United States tmnk. The clrculation having been greatly iulated, inoney had become so plenty that speculators had run wild with excitement. A great many large expensive buildings bad been erected or commenced, and in the sumraer the U. S. bank withdrew its circulation for polltical effect. The withdrawal of the circulation was so sudden, it created a panic such as was never before Icnown in this country. There was scarcely anyone in any kind of business that escaped loss. It struck Mr. Fredenberg and myself and it was a terrible blow to U!, we had so many contracts tliat resulted In heavy losses to us, instead of realizing the bright prospecte we had in the beginning. Our loss amounted to $15,000 cash, all that we had made, my salary included. But it was harder for my partner than for myself, as he was several years older and had a family to support. I could keep on earniug my salary which was f2,000 per year and rations allowed all the year round, so I could pay something every year, but my office was a special one and I did not know how long it would last. But I did not go to sleep. I had a conference with Mr. Fredenberg relntlve to our business. The panlc had put the pcople In a conditlon that they did not know wliat to do. We made up our mi mis to do the best we could, keep the work coing on whcre there was any chance of gctting our pay. The politica! contest was going on, the people were fust foimlng Into unes of Bank and Anti-Iinnk, the two candidatos were Andrew Jaokson and Henry Clay, at lirst t looked all along the Unes as though the battle would be about equal between the two, but as time for the election approached it looked more favorable for Jackson. Every one to a man who had lost lus money in consequence of the panlc caused by the bank, would come over to the democratie party and would vote for Jackson. I lived in the secoml legisUtive district of the city of New York and was nominated for as9embly-man of that district. I had been absent getting the men started In some difllcult surveying nlong the southeru coast and liarbors, had been attendlng closely to business, and being somewhat affected by the change of cllmate concluded to return on a paalng vengel bound for New York. filie was hailed, hovo to, and trxklnjr row-lwat, we 9oon boarded her and tn 24 hours I was in the city. Affalrs were in a very unsettled condltion throughout the country. I WM I meditating upon the subject of a lien law. 1 liad recelved the noinination and lf I were elected a member of the legislatura, 1 was determinad to do all in my power to to have a law passed lor the protection of honest labor. Eleetion timo come, the democratie party gained the victory and a tnajority of the people feit quite sure that the bank charter would not be renewed. Some said the President would not dare veto it if It should pass both houses of Congress, but Oíd Hlckory as he was callcd proved himself equal to the emergency, he did veto the bill, and in a fearless manner took hold of matters of state, and.his veto for the benefit of the whole, regardless of the speeches and th reata ofhis enemies, gave the people snfficient confidence in hira for the second term.

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Subjects
Ann Arbor Courier
Old News