Indiana American, Volume 5, Number 26, Brookville, Franklin County, 7 July 1837 — Page 2

I AIC ATI OAS.

To the Editor of the Indiana Aaierican: Sir Herewith is presented my views in answer to questions contained in a communication signed "Voter?,"' proposing the follow ing questions: 1st. Ate you in favour of (he system as it is. or are jou in favour of classification? !2J. If in favour of classific atlon, how far would you sacrifice the interest of the While Water canal, to favour the clarification plan ? 3d. What plan do you propose for classifying the public vinih;! -Ith. Will you go against all intcriinl improvement in case y on cannot succeed with classification ? Ansv.uu. I am in l ivor of classification, inasmuch as it would occasion a great saving to the stale as 1 relieve to apply (ho w hole expenditure on a few of the most productive lines until ihey were comple ted, and proceed in succession hy this means we could cifect a saving, by the accruing profits that would to a considerably extent essist in prosecuting the other works. The plan I propose is as follows: 1st (, ass. he U m'e-H aler canal from I.awrcncclvirHi to turner termination in ! Wayne couo'v. t!ie Wabah and Erie from

the Oaio State 'lino to I.afavette. t!ic Contra! j tinue for fifty years, and the districts be ex-, bash canal and the Central canal. I he othcanal from Evansville to Indianapolis. t-mpt from any laxe-, but the just proportion ! ers tu lie finished according to their respec2.1 Class. The Madison rail road to La- to support the Legislative, Executive and Ju-jtive claims, layette, the Xew Albany & Vinqenncs turn-i dicial departments of the sli'.te. The districts! 4th. Will you go against all internal impike, Central canal north of Indianapolis, th? j assuming the payment of nil appropriations j provements in case you cannot succeed with .connection between the WSiite-Water and j made within the two districts. (classification? Central canals by a branch or rail road. I Let the act be submitted to a vote by the Answer No, I will not. If possible, I 3d Class. New Albanv and Crawfords-j district, and if adopted by a majority, allUvouId classify, but if not I am for going

VI IK r,,:,:!. (!.,- AV.-i has'- canal 'Vom Eafavetlo ! to Tcrre4Iaute. l!ie Cross cut canal from 1 er-i ie-IIaute to the Central canal, Northern canal from Fort Wayne to Michigan City. If this, or some other modification caunont be effected, sooner than sacrifice the interest of the White-Water canal. I should go for the present sastem."' To back out after commiting the faith of the !ae, and expending so much money, would indicate a want of energy, incompatible with the character of an intelligent and enterprising people, possessing our resources present and prospective. DAVID MOUNT. To the Ktlitor of'the Indiana American: Having seen in the. Indiana American of June Dili, some questions or interrogatories, propounded to several persons named, and I being one of them, I have thought proper to ripond. 1st Interrogatory. Are you in favor of the system as it is, or are you in favor of classification, I am in favor of classification, and opposed to the present system as it is. For two reasons: lirst. Ihe "system" as it is, gives too much power into the hands of the board of internal improvement; the board can involve the state into difficulties which the physical and legislative power of the state cannot extricate itseli from: Hecause the board is authorized to make what contracts they please, but when made the Legislature cannot, interpose their constituted authority', to rescind the contracts. Therefore, the. inability to pay such contracts can be the only plea, which is an unjustifiable plea; becau-e the legislature, through whose means, or the procurement of them, depends the fuliilaieut of the contracts. Therefore, they never should have given that power into the hands of the board. Secondly, (he wants of ihe country is always in proportion to tlie improvements, and the quantify of land under cultivation, and the fahric manufactured by the meclfanic, the quantity of supplies, produce, or fabric of (he mechanic in a new settled country does (in my iew) not require canaling to Ihe extent we have gone. 21 Interrogatory: "If in favor of classification, how far would you sacrifice the interest of the White AVater canal to further the classification plan?" 1 would adhere to the interest of ihe White-Water canal with a degree of tenacity, bordering on a .wie qua non. For these reasons; First: These old counties in the eastern pari of the state haee haretofore and continue to pay more tax info the stale treasury than ihe same number of counties in .any otiier part of the state. This should in some degree, eliim the preference. Secondly, the north have their canal in progress, and tiie f'jsteriug hand of the General Government to assist in the work. The west have the Wabash, a n ivigable stream, to carry oil" their t-urpluss produce. The south have the Ohio for the same purpose. The centre has had money spent among the in with a liberal hand, the .Mic higan road running from north t ) south, the National road running from east to west, and we have had nothing until the White-Water canal. 3d Interrogatory. "What plan do you propose for classifying the public works?" I would propose to arrange them into four classes, in the following order: First. The Wabash and Erie canal and the White-Water cma! should be the first class. The Central canal should be the second i lass. Thn Crosscut canal and the extending the Wabash and Erie canal south should be the third clav--. The railroad and turnpike should be the fourth class. And after the present contracts are completed, the Commissioner having charge of the work should appoint a boss or manager for (say) every four sections, who shall give bond and security and take an oath faithfully to perform his duty. Such boss should purchase tools, provisions, and hire hands, on the best terms they can be procured, and take duplicate recipt for all moneys expended, and the progress of the work so classified shall be directed brthei legislature from year to vear as the means ofi

the state will afford, without burthening the! your interest, together with my own, which 11 venue, and the work have to stop, and perpeople with heavy taxes. I deem to be insepara ble. Yours, Scc, haps some or the whole not so far advan-

4th lntei ogatory. " HI you go against '

all internal improvements, in case you cannot succeed with classification?"' This last question is, in part, answered hy the pecuniary situation in which we are placed. To progress with the system as it is, is impossi

ble, but hetter tunes may succeed me present 1 .1 i ?i . 1 ". I .t Kn and me svsiem, ti auanuoneu, unm ni m. o env put in motion as if it were only sus - pended, and put within the entire control ot, tllO li'TitiMf II IP re and from vear to rear, ne enroctcd bv'lhe representatives, fresh from the

- - the 4th and 5th Congressio.-.al distriots, naming the counties therein, with a sufficient pow er to carry on the White-Water canal and otiier works ' w l.ich may be of general utility. The act should provide that ihe two districts should have all the benefits of the surplus revenue within the districts; as a No the net amount ot the state stock in the Branch Hanks within the districts. An actin of incorporation, such as I have named with nropcr gnrds to prevent abuses and to con-1 w ill unite and progre-s with vigor. I he so are the outlines ol my iews.

people. !lt is. or are you in lavour oi ciasmcau:i i Under the present state of tilings (if l j Answer I nrn in favour of classification, should be chosen as the servant of the peo-Uo all intents; Provided, the White-Water pie,) if the final question is taken on the. fail-'canal can be got in the first class, ure of classification, if vou cannot suspend or! 'Jd. If in favour of classification, how far classify, I wouIdotcf'Oininstructed) against ' far wouU you sacrifice the interest of the the svstem, but not, however, without an ef-1 White-Water canal to favour the classiiicafort to procure (!m passage of a law ineorpo-j lion plan?

In t inclusion, it is much easier to propound 2rcat and nugtity undertaking; to froccd oucstions. than to apply healing remedies land surmount alt difficult ies, will be honora(!r evils, when got a little beyond con-jbie in ihe highest degree. Hut to desist at trol. 1 wish to be plainly understood as net jtbe present approach of danger, and as a iiir.fT nnv pledges, save two. First. If Ilcoward retreat from (ho cause sacrifice our

should be elected as your servant. I will go; for tlie measures that will sustain the honour of mv country with a scrupulous honesty And secondly, I will, to the best of my judg- - ... .'-( ment, act for the good ol mv (. Slow citizens without partiality, favcur, or aflection'to any. believing at all times in constitutional instructions. Yours, etc. July 3d, lf-37. SPENCER WIEEY. TO THE PUBLIC In answer to a publication in the "Indiana American" of the Oth of June, IS37, over tlie term "Voters," I, one of the individunl.I herein called upon to answer certain ques

tions therein propounded, cheerfully comph (To tlie Vein of FianMiu County, with the request cf "Voters," as I .have ni-i ri.i.i,ov-Cni7.r:Ns : You doubtless have ways believed it to be the duty of voteis to,h-ard of my being a candidate for the next to make strict inquiry concerning the talent, j legislature of our Slate. If is my desire in integrity and political iews of ail those per-jsome way for my fellow citizens to become ons who cohie forward and cfler to serve , ;w ouainted with at least some of my political

the public, in any political tapaiity aiidvicv; Mid as I now am, and ever have been, j

tii. rebv, enabling themselves to make choice of such meu as can best serve tlie interest ot the poeple, and preserve their own honor, and the dignity of the state. the 1st question of ''Voters," cont ruing the system of internal improvement.! I am not altogelner in favor of it as it is, but j would be better sa'isfit d with if. if the Hoard j of Internal Improvement were limited in the i amount of their contracts, on (he public works, to a certain sum Jo be expended in each year, and the said sum to be ascertained by the Genera! Assembly, from a fair calculation of the state revenue, ami all other resources of (he state, and to such a sum as would not burthen the state with heavy taxation. !2d. I am so far in favor of classification as to believe that justice and equity declares that some of the public works have superior claims to others; and if the state should be found not able to prosecute the whole of them, at tiie same lime, those of superior claims ought to be first attended to, and would not be in favor of saci ificing the interest of the Wh'le Water canal, further than

iustice would require, taking into considera-'.stances,

tion the claims of the difFcrcnt works. our political affairs And hence 1 would ob3d. My plan, at present, of classification, sen e that 1 am in favor of c lassification, prowould be to limit the board, as to the amount jvided it is found to be unavoidable by reason of co.itracts, as before stated, and reduce thejof too heavy burthens falling on the people; number of members on the board of internal jand the class so arranged as for those eonimprovement, and make a judicious arrange--! tracts now on hand to be finished; and also, ment of those retaine d, thereby making less jso finished as to be found of service to the division of sectional interest, and thereby ; State. And I do think that it will be found by better enabling the board to agree to ex- j that the public work at the eastern part of

pend fie annual available funds on those j lines of the public works having (he superior claims. 4th. I wish it distinctly understood that I

would go against any bill or resolution, pre-j to (he State. And as for the State now fo sented (o ihe General Assembly of the state abandon the work entirely, I do think would of Indiana of eighteen hundred and thirty I be a piece of down-right madness and folly seven, having in its view or tendecy, the nul-jand be attended with the worst of conscquenlilication of the system of internal improve-ices, and a disgrace to the State; but sfie ment, even as it is; but would rather tuist tOihould always be careful not io extend her the discretion of the board of internal im- contracts too far beyond her means to aecomprovement anothf r year. . jplish the work: but endeavor lo complete And now I would say to ''Voters," should (that part that will be of the most utility to any candidate neglect or lefuse to answer jthe Slate: and let the proceeds of that part those questions, or give his views of matters (if any ) help to complete another part; and so of state "in some (aiiirfle form" or other, it , in this way proceed until she has gone should be considered by "Voters," to be an j through with the whole work, entire withdrawal of his name from bet'oiel If this method is pursued, I have but little the people as a candidate to fill any political jdoubt but cur State will accomplish that not station. lonly profitable but renowned undertaking; Now, fellow-citizens, should these, my no-Jand posterity yet to come will reap the benetions of the matters and things above related, ;tit of her labors, and bless their ancestors fori

comport with youis, or meet your approbation, 1 earnestly solicit a portion of your fayours on tiie first Monday of August next, and should 1 be so fortunate as to receive a suflkient portion thereof, (o entitla me to a seat in the legislature, be assured that while there, 1 shall be found exercising my hum-; ble talent, with untiring zeal, in promoting JOHN ALLEN.

TO THE PUBLIC.

Fem-ow-Citivexsj Having become a can - didate before you to represent this county in ihe General Assembly of the State of Indiana, and having been called upon through the medium of the Press, by one or more of ca.i v ..-,- .-ii.f Ait .r.if i i i run f O I n VI! I uu) iui -" - """'?) l myself of this means to answer in a brief manner the intcrrcgatoric s. prcpciindc a 10 tiie candidates lor me :ate Legislature. I !-t. Are you in favour of the system as . ' . r i r i . a Answer Not at all, unless it might be to suspend, for a lew years, the operations alter it is hushed as far as brookville, or n lew miles above. 3d. What plan do you propose for classifying the public works? Answer I have yet laid down no particular plan, as a perfect .one-, but would be favour of proceeding immediately with the j most important improv ei.ieiu w orus; ae, lor instance, me inte- aten canal, Hie aiiemi. v e know inai we nave cmnarKea in a honor and interest, would be highly repre kcusiidr. Now, gentlemen, in conclusion, it is much easier to ask questions or lind objections, I -t I At 1 than to remedy eviis when mey have occur reo. i wish io ne distinctly unaerstoou, ns not giving any positive pledges to you, should vou select me as your servant. 1 will try to sustain the honor and credit of our state, and secondly, I will, to the best of my judgment, (uninstructc go" for the good of my fellow citizens, And remain vours, Src JAMES IIALSEY. Julv 3d, 1837. i i . it-. . i opposed to tlie practice of electioneering by candidates riding through the county from house to l u.'C. as I think to infiluence the people's minds in their favor, 1 have (bought proper to address a few lines fo you to give ou some of my views on that subject. Alio in doing tins I wish to leas explicit as possibly lean be. I am et. and ever have been among these called the Clay party, but have never been as warm a partizan as some have, for I have always contended that the pi evidential question never ought to have ef fected our elections at. heme, in clmosing our county or township olhcers. And for my own part 1 have never been so tenacious of partyism as to throw away a good candidate, and vote for one whom I thought not qualified. because he was of my way of thinking, as some have done. I nminuch in favor of internal improvements; but do perhaps difler in my views from some people on that subject. I am in favor of prudent and economy in that undertaking, so as not to increase the fax ro as to be oppressive on the people, which I fear will perhaps be the case under existing eircumwithout care in the management of me JMate v ill, by justice, fall at least among the first class But no part of the public works should be so classed as when finished to be of no utility the accomplishment of so great a work. Hut on the other hand, if this Stale should jover - reach herself, and undertake more at jonc time than her capital will justify, and j not use prudence and economy, and hence to j resort to so heavy taxation as to oppress the people, and cause them to become factious, land refuse in some degree to support our re ocd as to be useful to the State. Would it

! not produce effects more dishonorable and

1 more destructive to the interest of the State than if she Iiad never undertaken those im provements, m Ujider these circumstances I think (ho citizens of our state should feel spirited and bear as heavy burthens as they can, seeing the enterprise is so great. ABRAHAM LEE. A SERPENT TONGUED INFANT. " Tiverton, (R I.) May 22, 1S37. I embrace f he eai liest opportunity to make you acquainted with such of the facts as have come to mv knowledge relative to the serpent 1 ion I'M (I in'f'int,''' of which we had casually heard. just previous to my at pnriuie ior uiock Island. Quite unexpectedly, day before yesterday, 1 found myself in the very neighborhood of this strange and wayward production of nature. My curiosity, as yotimay well sunnose. was greatly excited, and I confess 1 felt an intense anxiety to examine for myself an object which began to excite so much interest in the neighborhood of its occurrence. jr- x . n worthy old gentleman in the vicinity, a former acquaintance of mine, with whom I accidentally met, kindly offered to accompany me to Mr. Ws. the father of the unfortunate child. We reached there about 9 o'clock this morning, md were received very courteously by Mr. AV and his interesting ycung wife. After an agreeable intro duction, my aged friend stated Ihe object cf our visit, and the desire 1 bad manifested to see their unfortunate little child "of whom I had just heard. Mr. W informed us that for several weeks, he had, in allmost every instance, declined admitting strangers, as he thought their presence" had an unfavorable elFect upon ihe child: but as 1 had come a considerable distance out of my way, he was disposed to gratify my wish, the more especially as he thought I might give him seme advice in relation to the course he ought in future pursuer We wete then invited info an iidjoining room, in one corner of which we beheld, tied in a small low chair, a most horribly emaciated little chiid, apparently about tuo ears old. I am aware that I shall totally fail in giving y ou any thing like nn adequate idea of the miserable object before us. Imagine if you can, an infant, or mere child, of about (he age above supposed, reduced to a very ske leton, hairless, and covered with a parched and shrive led skin, dark and unelaslic as the corresponding structure in the withered octogenarian. Its little red firey eyes, relling restlessly , in the deep recesses of its ficshlcss sockets, sent forth horrid Hashes of indignation, when the door to its apartment was tin own open. . The little sufferer opened his mouth, and in the place of its tongue, and for a tongue, a serpent's head and neck were thrust out, vibrating' and Iiissing with an intensity peculiar to the more venomous varieties of that repulsive spec ies of animated nature ! I con hi not for several minutes, muster sufficient courage to approach the object of my curiosity. I was fixed lo the spot w hich I at first occupied while the serpent-headed tongue continued to dart forth and recede with the - quickners of thought; its little forked and fiery tongue at Ihe same time playing about the lips and nostrils of the child, equalling in velocity the lightning's flash '.Mr. VV .the father, gradually approached Ihe child, all the lime speaking very soothingly to it, and in a few minutes succeeded in producing quiet the head receded arel the lips closed over it, and the infant exhibited the aspect only of extreme emaciation. Hut the moment I moved towards the child, even but a single; step, the mouth would open, the he'ad suddenly dart forth; and the same dreadful spectacle 1 have already imperfectly described, would be again presented. The father, however, beckoned me to approach, which 1 did; but never shall I forget ihe tremendous hissing which came from thn serpent-headed tongue of the little sufferer. It was several minutes before quietude could be produced, and even the slightest motion on my part would cause an instataneous protrusion of the unsightly organ, accompanied by a hissing sound more or less intense according to the lears of the child. I had several fair opportunities of seeing the strange member, and will endeavor to give you n description of it. Its color is a dark copper, shinning, and in places inclining to streaks of green. lis eyes are a jet black, and when the light strikes them favorably, no diamonds ever send more brilliant scintillalions of light! A bright yellow ring encircles tVie neck, and really has much the appearance of gold. The mouth of this serpentheaded tongue is quite large, and was always slightly open when the head was protruded hey ond the hps. Its little forked tongue, as 1 have already said, was incessantly in motion. We stayed in the room just 30 minutes, during the latter part of which time the child becamo very quiet, and took freely of milk, itsuseal food. The father told me he had known the tongue to bite several times4 and once when it fastened upon one of his fingers much swelling and soreness followed; indeed he was only relieved by a copious bleeding. He informed me also, that the child ate voraciously of milk, and sometimes other kinds of

food, but that it preferred the former. The jthe present system in order that they may achild is of the female sex. He staled further ; dopt another including their own favorite that several eminent physicians and surgeons works. la. Monitor.

had been to see the child, and that it had I been recommended by one, the. eminent Dr. W. that the tongue be extirpated. 1 coincided in this opinion, and adv ised that the Dr. be called on to perform the operation. The father, Mr. W is a bout "28 years old, and the mother, I should judge, about twentytwo. She is very beautiful, has been married about five years, and this is their first and onlychild. I have omitted names in this hasty

j sketch at the icqdest of the pai tics concern

ed. Phlia. Saturday Lvritr. Indian Marriage Promise. A young Indian faile d in his atte ntion to a young Squaw. She made complaint to an older chief, who appointed a heal ing or trial. The lady laid the case btfere the judge, iind explained the nature of the promise made to her. It consisted ofsuiidiy visits te her wigvi nm, 'n;:i v little undefmable altentie ns,' and i resents, i, hunch of feathers, and several yards rf red flannel. This vns the charge. The f;u':liles swain denie d the 'untie finable attt iitic i,s' in loto. He lu:d visite d her father's v-iMhni for the pin peso of passing nway tine, when it was not tonvenifbf fo hunt : unci fad given the feathers and fl-.nnel through frie i dly motives, and nothing furl o'er. During the latter part of the de fence, the young squaw fainted. The pica was considered iny.-Jid, and the offender sentenced to give (he hdv 'a yellow feather, a broach that was tlieii dangling from his nose, and a dozen of coon skins." Th sentence was no sooner concluded than the squaw sprung to her feet, and clapping her hands, exclaimed with joy , Now n.e ready to be courted again." The following letter dated Mississippi, June Gth. is from one of the most respectable, and influential men of Jackson politic sii tlwit state, to his friend in this c ity . "Should tlie Congress of the United States, at-ils early se-SMon, chatter (as I thin!, they will) a National Bank, the star of our prospo rity will again be in the tiscendnnt. Mississippi is resolved to throw olf the shackle-; of politieal thnildcm mid for the ealwilion of'tl.c country. I have ever been ajiukiuu Vim Huron man, hut I w ill nof, cannot, fur party pm poses, see the nation bankrupt, and lier citizens reduced to beggary; and rely upon it Mississippi is aroused to a true sense cf hir duty on the subject of the currency. The question now is l!ar,k. or no Dank, and 1 suv rfvith confidence, that no man c an get the vote of our people, for any c flic e, who is not for ;i National Daak." Indiana asburv Universitv. The cere'monv of laying the corner stone of this institution took place in Greencastle on Tuesday the 20lh instant.' Aotwithstaiiding the inclemency cf the weather (it having rained, .it short intervals, ' the greater poition cf the day) a concourse of about 4,C()U persons were in attendance p rtly for the purpose ef witnessing the core mony, biit Ihe piinc ij al attraction, no doubt, as the fame of the eloquent divine (Mr. Uascom) who had bee i. uppointed, on thai occasion, lo bear a conspicuous! part. After the conclusion of the ceremony of .laving the corner stone, the crowd moved inproccssion fo (he woods, a few hundred y ;ird south of (he (own. where seabi had been provided, and a platfoi in erected for the occasion. The inclemency of Ihe weather precluded the possibility of notes being taken of the Address; and it would be the height of prestiirption to attempt, without notes, even a fiiinf outline of reaionie.g and eloquence thatcoulJ have rivetted the attention of so large a concourse of people in defiance of suc h '-M ind and weatner as prevailed uur.mg nsui miry. The clearness of the orator's voice, (lie expressive character of his countenance, ami (he appropriate nature of Ids notion and general elocution, very happily supplied through the eye of the auditor many splendid passages that would, in consequence of (he weather have been lost to the ear; and in this way only can we account for the breathless silence w hiclupcrvaded the audiente during the period of three hours occupied in the delivery of the Address. It was in truth, a noble and eloquent plea for education in its nioft brotd and liberal 'senst and. whilst every sentence of the AddrcM was replete with point, strength, and beauty, there was an earnestness an enthusiasm in its delivery, demonstrating that co?nii iion, and not vanity of style or of expression, was n paramount object with the speaker". Afleriirovinsr the imnortance of education in evtrv walk of life, he alluded to mischiefs done by those theories who deem learning entirely c unnecessary to Ihe pious professors of religion On this point he was very forcible, and if, after his allusion fo (he characte r of St. Paul, and to the fact, so strongly exemplified in hi case, that "religion was mightiest in the mighty," there were any advocates left in the crowd of the pernicious error he eombatttd. we do not envy them the acuteness of their intellect. We hope the nddress will be published, ns we have no doubt it cannot fail fo have powerful effect in awakening, throughout the State, a lively interest in the cause of education. Wabash Courier. ' If the faith of the state once pledged is to be violated by classification, w e will not giye our aid in favor of the suicidal measure. Wc have not yet seen (he validity of a single argument offered by the editor of the Democrat in favor of classification. Besides his abettors in the cause of classification are very generally all those who ha-ve been radically opposed to the whole system of internal improvement: and who are only anxious to destroy The Small Pox is prevailing to an unusual extent in New .York, Introduced by emi grants.

The Cohens of Baltimore still continue t redeem their notes in specie, and it is saiJ that they offer (Jper cent, premium upon t-Ie,r paper in exchange for other sate paper. Cin. Rep.