THE LADY OF THE WEST, OR, THE GOLD SEEKERS.
[Let us live to love, for lo! our time is passing— As the tolling bell's last solemn sound, when fading, Each moment is severing a cord that's now United in such strains of heaven-like glory.] Written for the Great American Nation, BYJOHN BALLOU.
CINCINNATI: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY MOORE, WILSTACH, KEYS AND OVEREND.
1855.Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, by JOHN BALLOU, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of Ohio. Stereotyped and Printed by WM. OVEREND & CO., PRINTERS, CINCINNATI.
PREFACE.
IN writing upon a subject in which the character and principles of my great nation are placed before the whole world, I feel that I have ventured into a field of literature where no other novelist has yet presumed to travel, and where my own incompetency may render me as a target for the criticism of reading millions. Consequently, it is but fair for me to express my timidity, or even my anxiety, in placing such a book into the hands of one of the most literary nations on the globe; for however noble and exalted have been my intentions—however favorable and extraordinary have been the subjects of illustration—however indisputable I know the general character of my story to be—I am well aware that worthy minds will perceive defects in composition, and I fear, perceive that I have attempted to accomplish that which ought to have been assigned to a person of higher literary attainments. Though I have written it expressly for my own nation—never losing sight of the glorious principles of liberty and equal rights—hoping to awaken among the people in general a higher moral sense of the interests and privileges of all men than are now maintained by the stern advocates of partyism; yet, it will go further—and, in the distance I see above the clan of creeds, a crimson blush that would give a world to have had its truth not been! Certainly then, Americans! fellow citizens! you may justly ask the cause of this; for such is the nature of our government that whosoever lives upon our Republican soil is somewhat accountable for the conduct of the nation, and must necessarily feel himself subject to the censures and the praises that other countries bestow upon our public administration.
In reply to such a question, I shall abandon all claims to distinction, and merely refer to my sojourn among several of the most important nations of the earth as being one of the principal incentives that has induced me to attempt a conciliation of these mighty powers; for when I remember that the sun and moon cannot shine without giving light to some of my friends or acquaintances upon some quarter of the globe, I feel that I am as at link in an endless chain—sorely scourged by the man that lisps aught against a distant people! So, likewise, when I roamed over foreign lands, many thousands of miles away, and heard the word American! spoken in smothered whispers, I perceived a tone in their accent that caused my soul to chill within me! Then when I have asked my fellow countrymen the cause of this, the answer has been, We are—Americans! Americans page: iv-5[View Page iv-5] icans! Though we have done nothing to merit their denunciations—then why comes that voice so cold and foreign?
Many of the scenes represented in this book came under my own observation; and in no instance is there a single fact related but what something similar did actually occur; however, their arrangement, and the names that I have given, are mostly selected to suit a continued story. To avoid the plan of connecting too many fortunes, or misfortunes with a single personage, has caused the introduction of more characters than is common to most novels; but, in this, I have only sought to place before my nation—facts that are worthy of their most serious consideration. So, also, to avoid making it a trifling love-story, I have had an excellent fact to illustrate, and have related only such incidents as particularly apply to the subject that ought to interest everybody. Certainly, I have represented the glaring outrages of a partial law, in its most extravagant light, for such was my privilege; and it is the only way in which the public will ever be led to investigate the consequences that always do result from partial legislation. Therefore, to blend the useful with the extravagant, the unpleasant with the pleasing, the good with the bad and horrible— in order to give a general view of society—and yet make an attractive story for the public, has so far been attempted, yet I hesitate very much about sending out the first edition until it could be rewritten and revised by a person of more gifted genius; but, being very much pressed for time, and knowing that my nation is an indulgent friend to a book, especially when it has been written for the purpose of social reform—I publish it, trusting that I shall receive pity for my weakness, rather than contempt for my presumption; for everybody will surely admit that, as no other has attempted to write upon the subject in a masterly way—I am not to blame for doing the best I could.
Lastly, of the personages represented, I have mentioned no names that need to cause uneasiness, notwithstanding, many may perceive their characters portrayed more fully than they ever supposed any one to have a knowledge of.
In conclusion, to my fellow countrymen I would say, that our administration may advance in promoting good-will among all nations—peace and love among ourselves—is the earnest prayer of one of the most devoted Republicans.
J. B.
