Indiana Palladium, Volume 1, Number 24, Lawrenceburg, Dearborn County, 17 June 1825 — Page 1

0

Equality of rights is nature's flan And following nature is the march of man. Barlow. Volume I. LAWRENCEBURGH, INDIANA; FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 1825. Number 24.

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED M. GREGG & D. V. CULLEY, 0V EVERY FRIDAY.

FOR THE PALLADIUM. Isaac Blackford of Yrinceniies, and James B. Ray of Brookvilie, are candidates before (he public for the chief magistracy of the state. Reuben W. Nelson whose name has been also announced in the papers, it is understood has declined standing a poll. The contest then will be between the two former: and as the office sought for, is of the highest dignity in the government, and associates more patronage and influence than any other: one that gives tone and direction to pubHe measures and public policy; that mainly contributes to elevate the character of the state abroad and to render it respectable at home; by infusing into the public councils a spirit of virtuous rivalry, in whatever may advance her reputation, her interests, and her prosperity. It should be the honest endeavor of every one, who feels a laudable pride for the honor of the state, and for the wisdom and respectability of those who serve her, to make choice of a man whose private virtues, age, learning, and experience, offer the surest guarantee that the different functions of that department, will be

executed with firmness, industry, prudence, fidelity, and good sense, regardless of the im

portunities of private friendship, and with an eye solely directed to the public weal: such a man is Isaac Blackford. From what I can learn, he received at school a good education, which he has since

greatly improved by a course of extensive

reading, and the most sedulous and labon

ous research. That his private character is

without blemish or reproach: mild and con-

ciliatincr in his temper, indulgent to the im

perfections of others; frank, open, and man

ly in his sentiments; ardent, resolute, and

inflexible in his principles, with virtues that

never temporize, nor. stoop to individual

advantage: cool, calculating, and fearless in

the discharge of his public duties, he is re spected and esteemed by all who know him

He came, as I am told, to this state about

thirteen or fourteen years ago, where he has

resided ever since, fulfilling the duties of a private citizen and those of a public man, in

the several important stations he has occu

pied, with great credit to himself, and use-

fulness and advantage to his adopted state.

He has been Speaker ot the legislature and

one of the Judges of the supreme court ai

most ever since we have been a state. In either character, he has evinced capacity and qualifications of a grade truly respectable. As a jurist he is said to be second to none in the state, if he is not the first. 1 lis application is intense, and his judgment chaste, dis

criminating, and sound. Sensible of the il-

lusions of first appearances, and distrustful

of inceptive and specious inductions, he investigates his subject with untiring patience, nor pauses in his research while any thing remains to be learned, or any difficulty un

resolved. With the lofty feelings of a patriot, he marches onward in his course, with a firm and steady step, looking only to his duty, throwing from him with proud disdain whatever might seduce him from its allegiance. As a financier.he is said to be superior. In addition to his enlarged experience in fis

cal concerns, look at his lucid and able re

port which he drew up, the winter before'

He is moreover about forty years of age,

has grown up with the state and witnessed the devclopement of her whole history. Fa

miliar with her wants and resources, cognizant of all her privations and embarrassments

from the earliest times to the present.a great

part of which, having passed before his own

eyes; profoundly acquainted with our laws and capable of discovering their defects, few men could be selected, who would conduct

our affairs with greater prudence and wis

dom, or better promote the true and substantial interests of the state. I have heard

it asked, why he is not better known among us? I answer, he is known by character at least, bv every man of intelligence in the

state; and, if he is not personally known, to but few in our end of the state, the reason is.

that, unlike his competitor, he has not been

every year a candidate for some oflice of pro

fit, traversing the country from house to

house, to flatter and cajole the people to sup

port him. Nor has he as a public officer

been seen riding through the state, visiting

places for the execution of malefactors; taking his stand by their sides, and like a

peacock waiving his line plumes to the aze

of thousands: Nor has he kept around him a trained set of hireling puffers, who expect

to bask in the sunbeams of his official patronage and feed upon the public bounties, to blazon his pretensions in the public prints. Plain, unostentatious, and unassuming, he has kept the "noiseless tenor of his way," winning by his merit the confidence and esteem of all who have had the honor of his

acquaintance. His object has been, not to

acquire a spurious and fictitious elevation among his fellow men, b' making a parade of virtues he never possessed, but to arrive at noble ends by honorable means. To deserve the confidence of his country before it was bestowed on him, and by his toils and

unremitting devotion to the public interest,

in the station assigned him, to lay up ior him

self a permanent and lasting fame, the only

one a man of real worth will ever aspire to

Such is the character of Isaac Blackford,

feebly though faithfully delineatcd,and such

his claims to the confidence and support of

his countrvmen. May I not in his favor ask-

to ive them audience and solicit for them

a fair and. candid consideration? Intrigue

and falsehood may sometimes deceive the

people, virtue and talents may meet with oc

casional depressions, and from the bosom of

the turbid and agitated elements dross and

feculence may be thrown upon our shores,

but the calm will ultimately come, and vir tue and true merit will have its reward. Let me now turn my attention to his op

ponent. Col. Ray. He came to this state

some six or seven years ago, from the clerk's office in Cincinnati, where he had acted as

kleputy clerk for several yeais, and settled in

the town ot iirookvilie as a practising attor

ney. It was stated he was then about of ase, which would make him at this time, a-

bout twenty-eight years old. His education was very limited; and those who know him now, and are capable of judging, know that he cannot write the English language grammatically. As a proof I might refer to all his productions which have met the public

eve, not one of which would bear the test of

criticism. I will go farther and say, there is not one of them of which a man of sense and learning, would not be ashamed to ac-

J knowledge himself the author. Look at his

:i , i t' j i . : n i c.,i

lust, for the committee of ways and means,! electioneering aaure net u at omun. exhibiting with fulness and perspicuity, thejWho ever saw s.uch a composition beiore,

of ouraliairs. This irom mv IIia.n OT 111 . v -uull". "'T11

whole financial situation

is one of the first qualifications of an executive officer, particularly for our state, whose resources are so limited and so diiiicult to be

educed and properly regulated. Indeed, it

to Gen'l Lafayette is also an unique and de

serves to be particularly noted. What man ever read such a piece on such an occasion? The best, however, he ever made. And what

i,. r ,

n ;n,i;cn;n,iMP nno: That hhrh nfnrr citizen ot Indiana aoes not leei borrow una

13 till HIUIOUUUU.. ...w . v. I .111 i I I I J should not only understand .business in the' regret when he knows it will go abroad as i w hn chmild h nhlo rntpr inin coming from the highest officer in the state?

its details, and lav down the whole plan of; Cold, vapid, and inflated, labored and pe-

that body, fraught with sound and useful in

formation, and written in a clear, nervous,

and manly style: one that would promote

our prosperity at home, do us honor abroad, and give us a standing and a name anions our sister states. If he could, the age of wonders has not yet past. In what manner he has advanced both at the bar and in public life, is too well known to be repeated. It is due to him, to say, that as a practising lawyer his standing as a younc man was respectable. In this respect

he stood upon an equality with the rest of

the young men who started witn mm. ;na in point of sorishtliness of mind, if not in

judgment, he was hardly inferior to any of

them. Were he less ambitious, and would devote himself to study and literature until

hid judgment has had time to mature, he

mieht at some mture time, become a pru

dent legislator and an useful man in our

councils. At the present, he is thoughtless,

A. -

rash, and inconsiderate, crude in hisconcep

(ions, superficial in his attainments, and in forming his judgment, hasty and imma

ture. Delivering himself up to the excur

sions of an erratic, and unbridled imagination,

he roams amid the delusions of twilight, and

with a superstitious credulity, believes every apparition a reality. Without waiting

to weigh every thine: in the scales ot reason

and balancing the good and evil on every

side, he seizes with intuitive celerity on the

first suggestion of his mind, and pursues it

with an ardor and precipitation seldom wit

nessed in any other man. These qualities

are illy suitod to a public man, and in my

opinion, would be dangerous in the oflice to

which he aspires. 1 here every thing snouici

be matured, and the officer should nevei

act, but from the convictions of his unbias

sed and enlightened reason. The constitution requires the governor

the state to be thirty years old. Col. Kay,

from his own uniform declarations,until lately, is only twenty-eight. How could such a

man take the oath of otVrfe ? Be fore he can act,

he must swear to support the constitution Oueht he not to satisfy the public on thi

ground, by producing the register of hU

birth- or nn :ittt;tad certlticate OI lUS age

from some person ncnornnted with it. Ihi

is easily done, as his relations live among us. who could miike the necessary affidavit, if required. To conclude, there are a number of men of good standing, who are supporting the election cf Col. Ray, some of whom have heretofore been his most strenuous opposers. Is it because they expect to speculate upon his gratitude and the pliability of his virtues, to obtain public appointments? Or how happens it, that all their evil opinions of him are now abandoned ? u ' Tis strange ! 'tis passing strange!!" Something must be in the wind, or those amiable and supple enemies would not be seen rushing fondly into

the arms of each other. Let the people look to it. It is for them to ratify or break up the coalition. But I trust they will be faithful to themselves and select a man who is connected with no parties, and who will look solely to their own and the general good; whom no solicitations can bias, nor individual influence could induce either to forego or comprumit any of the sacred du

ties confided to his hands. By doing so.

they will preserve the purity ot their government, and give a felicitous action to all its operations. They will put an end to parties, and defeat all their artifices and combinations. No soldering of old enmities for piivate cain; no coalition will be able to succeed," but the supposititious and mischievous foundling, will be cast out from amonst us "unhouselled and unannealled,"

ply of ammunitions of war. This was our first attempt by sea, and it was the first n

tory that graced the now crowded wreath of our navy's fame. It was the first effectual

effort that was made in vindication of those

rights, so sacred to man, and which are coe-

yal with his existence. It was in fact, the scintillating germ of Liberty, which has since evolved its real lustre, and radiated its no

ble spirit as far as civilized man extends,

even to the very throne of tyrants.

FROM THOMPSON'S ISLAND. The editors of the Norfolk Beacon, write

us by the steam boat which left there yes-

terday morning, that a gentleman who ielt Thompson's Island, 8th April, informs that it was quite unhealthy there; the deaths avaraging about 3 a week, at the U. S. Na

vy Hospital. He was assured by the commanding officer of Marines, that out of SO on his muster roll, only about ten were well enough to perform duty. He also heard

that the citizens residing on the island, were also suffering; that even the negroes and

others, who accompanied the road contract

or out to Key West, 5 months ago, had been

compelled to discontinue their work, in consequence of sickness but not before they had completed two important roads.

operation. Should he not, how will he be

dantic, without one vigorous or soul-anima

ting expression, it stands at an immeasura-

ble distance below every aauress oi tne Kind

UplyltiUUilt 7 " able to detect the errors and delinquencies j K ;roTit flnnrhnrnts. liable to his ?n-

pervision, so as to report them to the legis-j which has been delivered to that venerable lalure? And would not such a man be ex-jand illustrious patriot, in the progress of his

posed to continual impositions? It will at cr.ee be conceded that he would, and that

the interest of the state requires a man, whoj

triumphant tour through our country. Never was there a finer theme for eloquence,

and never was there a failure more com-

is capable of grasping the whole extent cfjPte. How painful to a sensitive mind is

the public business, however complex audi contrast oeiwcen i uwiu', a.m i iue

multifarious, and of executing with accura- oi our neigiinor in wmu. .m, mu ki uu cv and efficiency whatever in iv devolve Up-jff aommumcatioii would such a man make on him in that department of the govern- to tne legislature? oung, whimsical, and meat. Need I tell rou that thM tv.n b Isaac illiterate, with very little experience m pubBhckford, ' r!C 'JU5inS5j could he deliver a message to

AMALGAMA TIOJY. Two Irishmen were travelling in the United States. Patrick had a black horse which was very good, and Sawney a trAic, which was dull,"wrestive, blear-eyed and a little blind with all. Their finances were rather low, they convened together how they should contrive to convert their two steeds into one. They could both ride on the same horse, and this would save half the expense of keeping. When they stopped for the night, they suggested their plan to the land" lord, a cunning yankee, who approved of it, and offered his aid. It happened that he had a pye-bald, wrestive, uncomfortable animal, black ajid white, with one blear eye. He told them that he, by a process of amalgamation, could convert the black and the white into one, which should bear an equal portion of both. The Irishmen retired to

rest, pleased with their prospects. Beiore they awoke, the crafty landlord had contrived to convey both of their horses away, and in their stead produced the black and white, "Here," said Patrick, "is part of the black ;? "and here," replied Sawney, "is part of the white." "Here,1' said Patrick, "is one eye of the black-" "and here," replied Sawney, "is one eye of the white." As Patrick's horse was the best, he claimed and obtained the right of riding forward. They started on, Patrick before and Sawney behind. They had not however proceeded far before the black and tvhite began to show his tricks. He was first on one side of the road, and then the other he reared up, kicked, and refused to go on. "Patrick," exclaimed Sawney, with a triumphant sneer, "what do you think of the mixture?" "Ah, Sawney," replied Patrick, "I fear that rogue of a landlord has put in too much of the white horse. Columbian Star

bene vcrtat.

FIRST AMERICAN JVAVAL VICTORY. It was on the 1 1th of May, 1775, that Joseph Wheaton and Dennis O'Brien with two

other young men, took forcible possession ofj

a small lumber sloop lying in the stream, and brought her along-side of the wharf, at Machias. They beat up for volunteers, and were soon joined by about twenty others, armed with fowling pieces, pitchforks, narrow-axes, &c. They immediately set sail in pursuit of the Margarette, and after a

chase ot a lew hours, overtook ner. A battle ensued, in which many fell on both sides. Her captain was killed, and the Margarette captured. She mounted ten six pound can

nons, and tvCenty swivels, with a full crew of sailors and marine?."" nd an abundant sup-.

A Lawver, who was notorious for his volnbility, and the exuberance of his technical terms, asked a witness the following questions: Counsel Did vou not see Mr. raise his muscular arm, and attempt to inforce a preponderation of the fears and timidity of my client? Witness Sir? C Did not Mr. attempt the infliction of the most violent and outrageous corporeal contusion, and coerce chastisement? rSir? C Did not Mr. attempt to strike the plaintiff? IV Yes, Sir. C From your situation could you not have the most commanding view of the altercation, and was there anything interfering between vou and the object that could in any wise dim your opticular faculties, or create any obtuseness of vision ? H' Sir? C I say, sir, were your organs of sight in a situation to have the most clear, unclouded and bright view of this most villainous, foul and indecorous transaction? JF Sir? C Did you not plainly see Mr. knock Mr. down ? V Yes, sir, I did.