In column close they form, In the deepest silence drew: Which would wrap us in its shroud, The blood within us rushed To meet at once the foe, But the throbbing heart was hushed, Fire! at length, our captains cried, when huzza, A sheet of vollied light, As volcano was it bright, On the air. Huzza! huzza! huzza! Destruction raged around, And our thunderbolts of war Scatter'd havoc o'er the ground, And the pride of British hearts 'gan to quail; And in path of blood they reel, Though they fail. The carnage it is done, Their thousands strew the plain, What courage could they won, They "quit themselves like men,' Than despise. But ere the song be ended, The tribute let us pay, To him whose skill defended Our commonwealth that day; A watchword be his name to the free, As would he. Then loud the song be sounded, Which Britain's force confounded, The storm from out the West, And Jackson be the theme of ev'ry tongue Our sons shall read the story Of battle-field so gory, High in the niche of glory "Twill be hung. And when summoned to his rest, Be the tear in woman's eyes; THE NEW HAIL COLUMBIA. FOR THE EIGHTH OF JANUARY. Hail Columbia! mourning land! Who fought and bled at New Orleans, Let pure elections be our pride, Rallying round Old Hickory; Once more ye Patriots! rise once more Let no vile arts, or base intrigue, Firm, united let us be, Rallying round Old Hickory ; He govern'd in the martial hour; When smiling Peace check'd War's fell rage; Rallying round Old Hickory; Rallying round Old Hickory; MR. EDITOR-We have so many great men now-a-days, and Dinners have become so frequent, that I should hardly think of communicating the following account of one, were it not of a character somewhat novel, and out of the common track. What a blessed country we have, when no description of greatness can pass unrewarded, and even those who have been remarkable for their dexterity in appropriating to themselves the property of others, can assemble and do honor to their chiefs. GREAT RASCALLY DINNER. It having been ascertained by the inmates of the State Prison or Penitentiary, that Mr. Leonidas Lightfinger, the celebrated Bank Robber, had just been committed for the crime of embezzling $40,000, the property of the Bank, a message was sent to the keeper by a committee of the most hardened villains within the walls, requesting his permission to meet their honored compeer at a Dinner, proposed to be given him in the public yard, at the expense of the prisoners generally. They offered to submit in the most quiet manner to any arrangement the keeper might make, by guards or otherwise, to prevent the possibility of any tumult or attempt at escape. At first the keeper was a good deal at a loss what answer to return, but reflecting that he was responsible only for the safe-keeping of the scoundrels, and being somewhat curious to witness so singular a spectacle, he determined to give his consent, and having taken the precaution to double his guards, the parti-colored company assembled precisely at 2 o'clock, and sat down to a Scanty Dinner, provided for the occasion. Mr. Peter Picklock, in his woollen cap, was unanimously called upon to preside, and was supported by Messrs. Burglary and Arson, as Vice-presidents. The utmost hilarity and good fellowship prevailed; the afternoon passed off in the most delightful jollification, and at the usual lock-up hour the whole party were severally conducted to their respective dungeons or cells, without the occurrence of a single circumstance to interrupt the general satisfaction. The following Toasts were drank with roaring applause, even greater, if possible, than that at the Barton dinner in Ohio, or at the Feast of Nullification in Charleston. 1st. Our distinguished guest, Leonidas LightfingerWe sympathize in his misfortunes, but glory in the brilliancy of his achievements; his is no ordinary grasp, he makes a sweep of forty. A bumper.-Music, Rogue's March. After the noise had subsided, Mr. Lightfinger arose, and thus addressed the company: FELLOW PRISONERS-With feelings of unusual emotion, I rise to return my sincere thanks to this assembly, which has not its parallel in the world, for the unmerited compliment contained in your toast, and for the very high honor you have this day conferred upon me. It shall remain deeply laid up in my bosom, and urge me to new exertions in our glorious cause, when the tedious forms of an unjust incarceration, against which I enter my solemn protest, are gone through, and I shall again be ushered forth to the world, improved and strengthened by the force of your example. Hunted from society by the despicable limbs of the law, for no greater crime than the venial attempt to distribute more equally the blessings of the earth, improperly accumulated in the hands of a few avaricious monopolists-I find myself unexpectedly thrown into the arms of my friends and fellow laborers in the great work of equalization. Since the courtesy of our keeper permits, ought we not to inquire for a moment, by what authority it is, that we are thus debarred the enjoyment of glorious liberty, the common inheritance of man? Why it is that they have thus shut upon us "the windows of the sky," and "robb'd us of sweet nature's grace?" Shall I be told that those arbitrary enactments, called laws, forbid the noble ends we aim at? Who, let me ask, made those laws ?—an aristocratical and tyrannical majority. Have we, the minority, ever assented to these gross usurpations of our rights? No-never, and may "my right hand forget its cunning," if I ever do assent to them. Has it not been recently demonstrated with a power and eloquence never before equalled, that majorities may oppress? Read the debates, if you can procure |