Corydon Press, and Anti-Masonic Democrat, Volume 2, Number 8, Corydon, Harrison County, 18 August 1830 — Page 2
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fine-, Struct ion, arc freely poured foith, in A only upon t!o organ of government, but upon hi abetters ami advisers. In the evening alter tliu execution, a number of men, of dilfercut political and national complexion'!, met by concert in the
,a9a prisoner and in prison several time? iv hen a minor, lie was an accomplished and hardened villain, inured to all kinds of plunder, de predation, and even blood, lie is at the same time, k trembling base coward, and a contempti
ble quibbling ivhining hypocrite. In,this he is not Northern Liberties. They raised a fund, wen:
surpassed by any; and t ho mjstertj is, that such a iv retch a9 he should have been selected furwu dvc clemency and sympathy The only obviom way to account for it is, that there 13 a fellow feeling in kindred couls. Wd.jon and his own father have been tenants of the same prison. This shows that there are men among us ready with biush and tub to whitewash every clappcrdogen who mny have been steeped in crime, if he is only .a snivelling hypocrite an i a base coward. If it be found true that a blank or blanks have been delivered to Air. Harry, as repotted, we think the act little if any Ic'S than an impeachable offence, it was in the power of the President to have sent on a respite, until he elio&M have time to m ke the proper investigations. This act, a3 recited, would throw rcspondbility from his own shoulders, and also set a precedent unparalleled in the annals of our repu blic, and unknown in any (rovcrnment of Europe, whether limited or despotic. The King of England ha? power, constizuli tiialliji to enable his lieutenants abroad to act thus; but not otherwise, nor has it ever been infringed. The people of that country are jealous of their relic of liberty, and such an act would bJovv up the nation. Men's lives are not thus to bn trifled with. There is, in every breast, a sense of moral justice which indignantly rises against every invasion of that sacred attribute. Even those who will not themselves do a righteous act, are outraged when they see it done. The present excitement pervades all classes and conditions; nor would it be safe to express an opinion openly in opposition. As; the chronicle of passing events, we give what is going, and vouch for the fact only when we have it authenticated by good and respectable men, or know it. The spectators of the pub ic execution of James l'orter behaved with great decorum. Many reports were in circulation, all arising from the same source, that his countrymen were preparing to rescue him. We had heard much on this point. We were told that nich had been the design, but wc are glad to refute it. The men who have been thu3 basely slandered know how to respect the laws. The feeling was not theirs alone, though it is thought these calumnies were intended to separate them from others, that it might be viewed a? a national feeling. Nothing is more wicked than such a suggestion, or more easily refuted. Every man we meet in our streets will pronounce it a base calumny. Americans, German?, Irish, and Freuch all participated in the same feeling. But men claim the privilege to express their free and independent opinions. Here it was done in its fullest latitude. The Scripture mode is not always rcgaided. The ruler of the people is freely spoken of, and many evil things, said to be true, -are spoken of him. Kniihcts of no delicate or re-
to a tavcrnkeeper, who-e sign was a rude carica
ture of Gen. Jackson; i hey asked his price for'H, bought the sign, paid for it, took it down, again hung it up, swung it to and fro with groans, and then took it down and hung it over a slow (ire, where it was gradually consumed. On the fifth, celebrated as the fourth, a stuffed likeness of the General, we are told was regularly hanged, and afterwards blown up! In another quarter, a sign, full length, was taken down, an auger hole made in it at the picture's e ns on each side, a rope passed through, and it hanged up!! Several Gen. Jackson signs have been taken down and hung afain. keels and left Misnended for the derision
of the populace. In this' way have the people been pleased to express their sense of executive clemency and justice. That these anomalous proceedings have been dene in all ostensible tctaperancc and peaceablenes of demeanor is true. There has been no breach of the peace no disturbance no alarm. The men who have done these acts, were hia quondam friends perhaps exclusively so. Those opposed, in former instance.-, have pitied the author of this revolution too much, any longer to make opposition, and been quiet. The actors say they have as good a right to express their opinion against, as for men. They say, that, if they see cause to repent of their former support, they have a right to indicate ihet repentance in such a way, and as openly as thiy have sinned! They do not wish to be as vitupero'us in putting down as in raising up. Having learned by experience, (hey wish now to do their work in "decency and in order' These things wc record for two reasons: First, as a warning to statesmen not to seek the elevation by .steam lest that steam, on being raised too high, should lurst the boiler! Second , because these things may be useful to ourfves hereafter, and it is well to have them before us. But th calamity and vengeance of the people didr.ot fall exclusively upon the "image of the nan' as figured on the signs of taverns. The hickory poles also fell, like Dagon, as by a word and stroke: They camp down like grass before the mower. They 'have been laid along side the curb stones in the gutter, where the filth runs!! They are kept there as a memento, and have a direct w taphoriral meaning in their position. There has been much solemn silence pervading this whole business, that we are inclined to the
opinion it i too dcrp not to be -permanent. Ve are now come to a point of not leS3 impor tance in this history than any we have placed on record. It is, to show, that in all this extraordinary business, there are strong and decided traces Of MASONIC INFLUENCE, FOR, CERTAIN ENDS.' From the moment in which these mail robbers were taken, until the time when Porter expiated bis crime, there was a singular and mysterious
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