Indiana Palladium, Volume 3, Number 29, Lawrenceburg, Dearborn County, 28 July 1827 — Page 1

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EQUALITY OF RIGHTS IS NATURE'S PLAN AND FOLLOWING KATURE IS THE MARCH OF MAN. Barlow Ju. Volume III. LA WRENCEBU RGII, INDIANA ; SATURDAY, JULY 08, 1327. Number 29.

PR1JVTED AjVD PUBLISHED BY M. Gregg & D. V. Cullej, OjX EVERY SATURDAY.

The public is an inquisitive kind of hody; juat hint at something singular or out of the usual course of affairs, and it is all attention, all interrogation to gather some farther particulars, on which to found new theories and opinions. A short time since we mentioned in the Palladium the probability of a political rupture, between Gov. Ray and Secre tary Merrill, by which a good deal of the lava of discord and ill feeling would be thrown forth, to be analyzed by the people. This was enough four columns of our own matter could not have set the inquiring spirit so fairly on his feet. Having done the mischief, we must needs do something to mend it, or, as others wiser have done, make it worse. To this end, as we are rather clumsy hands at telling other people's stories, we have devoted a portion of to-day's paper to the publication of all yet said on either side, except by anonymous and irresponsible writers, whose productions cannot appear in our columns. The inordinate appetite of the inquirest must submit to a little restriction, that his digestive powers may be kept in perfect order for a full enjoyment of the "feast of reason"1 here set before him. FROM THE INDIAiTArOLIS GAZETTE. Messrs. Smith 6 Bolton Please to insert the following in your, paper and those persons who have read the three last numbers of the Gazette are rroupst ed to consider this as an answer to chaiWto es thought worthy of notice. Yours &c. . S. MERRILL. It seems at last to have become necessary, that I should pay some attention to several publications in the Indianapolis G.izette. On my own account, I would prefer submitting in silence to anonymous accusations, I do not intend to complain at contributing my share to the amusement of others, when wit is attempted at my expense, and I shall never I trust without absolute necessity ask the attention of the public to my individual concerns. A person who claims no merit but that of having done his duty and whose first object is to live honestly and peaceably in the world, when publicly assailed, may generally trust his case without much defence, for it is dif ficult to give, to matters, unimportant in themselves, sufficient consequence to attract examination. This would have been my course of proceeding, had the attack been directed at me alone. But an attempt has been made to implicate me with others in extensive party organization, and for purposes best known to the authors, every thing odious, in character and design, has been attributed to this supposed party. For some weeks past, the G.izette has contained remarks in substance as follows. "The Executive of our state is the untiring friend of Internal improvement" "a party, in the state, is in systematic opposition to every measure, which looks towards improviner the land we live in." "In the meridian of Indiana the conduct Ci such men is unpardonable." "The Governor has done more for the state, than all his predecessors together." The Treasurer of Slate is supposed to be the head of one party." "He was

unsuccessful in getting a Governor andioring to ruin persons opposed to him.

senator elected to suit his wishes." uIIe has the character of being the greatest party organizer in the state." The Executive officers are divided and mosf interested in the elections." (in this county) "The head intriguers reside at I idianapolis." "Nothing but the downfall of the man, whom the people delight to honor can afford peace to certain disappointed spirits." "Their every effort has been directed towards putting him down." "What good will resuit to the state from having a represen tative Opposed to the GovPrnnrV "Where is the man whose soul glows with more ardent devotion for the state than the present Executive 2" "The faction which the Treasurer of state is en deavoring to raise in the next Legisla ture."- 4Ask Samuel Merrill and he if willing ciu riijwiu uiut.il ii"in, ins dreams arc frightful. lie and others have fears and it is the people who dis turb their ouiet." insinuations are also made in relation

to my caucusing, my need of friends in!

the next Legislature, mv public contracts and political principles. These publications, if not from thr i pen of the Governor, as some of them i are generally supposed, yet being made at the place of his residence, and con tinued from week to week under his inspection, must have been approved b him, for such statements w(.uld not have been made by friends against his consent. It is I think, evident from them 1st that he has concerned himself in the election in this county. 2nd that he does think it necessary, in an early part of histerroof service, to talk of and contrive to strengthen his party. 3rd that for this purpose, he is attempting to shew that his cause and that of Internal Improvements are connected. 4 h that he is already fearful, his services will soon bo forgotten or they would not be so often trumpeted at his very door; and 5th he must feel, that his conduct in this place is not deserving approbation or it would not be admitted that "a few of the citizens who voted for him at the last election have since joined the clamor of his old enemies," nor would a caution be necessary against believing "numerous reports" or in relation to the impressions of "strangers who have visited our town." But while the above conclusions respecting the conduct and opinions of the Governor, may be safely drawn from t lie publications referred to, I must take thf liberty to add, that every statement or insinuation intended to be prejudicial to mo is absolutely and unqualifiedly falsr. I have never been concerned in party organization or electioneered either for Governor or Senator, and never have attempted to influence either voter or candidate in this county for any election whatever. In fact I do not know the opinions of my nearest neighbors with whom I converse in friendly terms al most every day. Accustomed however speak" freelv on all subjects with mer.as ?ma. acquaintances i nave no doubt sometimes made remarks that I should not wish to be repeated, but 1 cannot be mistaken respecting my intention neither to electioneer, nor to use such language either to candidates or voters as they could take offence at. r - T .1 m 11 From what 1 have seen of the Govern or J have long believed him destitute of principle and all sense of propriety becoming a person in his situation and as I have sometimes when spoken to, on that subject, made remarks to that rifect, 1 will give what arc believed to be facts in justification. 1 i TT. 1 A isi ne is accused ot naving drawn - - . monc) , in repeated instances, improperly from the Treasury and when the fact was stated to him, he at first refused to re fund any thing, then paid back part, but retained and still retains other monev to which he knows he has no right to. 2nd. He is accused of attempting to make an advantageous bargain on his private account, by promising favors at the expense cf the state. 3rd. He is accused of having stated for years his age to be such that he could not constitutionally hold the office of Governor; and yet he did not hesitate to take the oath of office.

4th. Ho is accused of interfering' shewn, has been the motive for the course frequently with the elections of members! here taken. . No faith,' nor credit ,"nor inof the L?islaturc, of soliciting candid-j fluence i? expected from this publication

ates to offer and others to decline and of! open electioneering for and against different persons. 5th. He is accused of the mostbarcfaced fraud, falsehood, and oppression, : making false representations respecting property he was selling, denying his! debts, disputing just claims, quarrelling' wiin magistrates and others and endeav Gth. He is accused of making use of

his ofHce of Commissioner, in the late! usually have to give voluntary statetreatv, to sell property of his own andiments for the public.

charge the United States with five or'; . . . I six times its value. Many other charges not less disgraceful in their nature, have also been made against him, but it is very possible, that a person, guilty of so much misconduct, may still be misrepre sented, for many persons would believe almost any thing of him. The last of the above charges is given on common report, uncontradicted and never within my knowledge denied; the proof respect ing some ot the others may not be easily procured, but enough can be established in a court of Justice, should he think proper to bring me there, to shew that opportunity alone has been wanting if he be not guilt v of them all. It may be asked, why it is, that a per son guilty of such acts, should still havf warm friends and zealous partisans? To this it may be answered that many per sons would prefer a public olliccr, with

whom they could bargain for a favor as

with a merchant for his merchandise. Such men will not acknowledge- them selves convinced either by fact or argument. The majority of the people I presume know nothing of many of these facts, for the truth is that "his enemies" as he calls them instead of "attempting to blacken his character" would renerally for the credit of the State, have concealed his conduct, if he had not forced them to publish it in self defence. Let him point to journals edited by persons who know and despise him and show one mark of a persecuting spirit. If such can he found, it has not been seen by me. But groving bolder, as he advances in crime he is throwing offall restraint, monopolizing all merit, and declares that no one is his fiiend, who does not approve his whole conduct. Every one is to be sacrificed, who denie3 his infallibility.vThat he ha done the State service, is freelv admitted. He was certainly instrumental in obtaining the donation for the Michigan Road, but h far from being entitled to the whole credit of that act. The participation of others may at some day be shewn as it existed. Whether his salary and incidental charges as Commissioner, a has been stated, amounted to ,s,'1C00, for two months service, during which he was also receiving pay as Governor, I have not the means at present to shew, hut I would think that even a less sum ought to be a "ufiicient reward without his being allowed to trample on the rights of his ellow citizens with impunity. It is no consolation to persons abused, defrauded or oppressed that the author once benefited the state and still talks of "dying in the la d that withers" and of "thinking acting a id Iivi g o;lv tor his country. It migiit keep tS-m silent for a while but the cii.z ' 'S f ii ia; are not yet prepared to l;i.-, hr: hai.d that is raised to destroy tiiem. It has been lay ambition to pass along quietly in the world never asking nor expecting any favors but surh as are due to the faithful performance of a trust, and during seven years of public service, first in the" Legislature and then in the ellice of Treasurer, a larg'. share of liberality has been exercised towards me. But ever since it has been known, that I was acquainted with facts prejudicial to the character of the Governor, and when bullying had been tried and was found inertectual, threats of ruin and attempts at injury have been making. Tin ee or more articles containing injurious insinuations were inserted in the Gaz.tte last winter, and an attack by certain members of the Legislatuie foli i rin i . . -l . iowcu. i nese were su omitted to, in preference to contention. Silence has only made opponents more vindictive, the attack has again been renewed in such a manner that regard for character and friends will not permit a longer forbearance. To resist or be ruined has become necessary, and it is fortunate for truth that the time at which this publication is made admits of every opportunity of refuting its statements if they are false. To avoid no necessary responsibility to bring the contest to issue, and trust the event to substantial facts that can be alone. Whatever the Governor shall deny is not asked to be Ixdirvcd until it shall be fully proved. A fresh torrent of abuse will no donbt be poured upon nv?, but if truth has been stated all the! vcruiage oi ijiningsgare cannor cnange u; into falscho od. i should prefer his seeU - ing redress in a court of Law, for there evidence can be procured not liable to suspicion nor to be held bark by the unwillingness which respectable persons It will naturally be asked what is the rea--l..! II.1

sonof the violent attack on me? and what;on for pr00f: but, that they" will hold can suddenly have made me of sufficient! vou accountable for those falsehoods

consequence to be called the head of a party? I can conceive no other reason than that some scape goat was necessa ry to bear the sins of his Excellency. There must be a cause for the acknowledged decrease of his popularity, and 1 have been selected to bear the odium, with what justice time will determine. SAMUEL MERRILL. TO SAMUEL MERRILL, Sir, On my return home from the eastern part of this my adopted state, I found in the columns of the Indianapolis Gazette, an unwarrantable attack made upon mc overyour signature. Your intention to force me into a newspaper controversy, with the view of inflicting a wouud upou mj reputattOD, requires no

other proof than the apology which you have made for pointing your six poisoned daggers at my breast; but sir, i defy their point. The occasion which you have selected to let your thower of calumny fall upon my name in my absence, to make impressions which could not be immediately counteracted; the deceptions, evaiive and insinuating features of your premeditated and voluntary epistle, and the sly and cautious manner in which it is written, without exposing its merits, add additional testimony to my own assertion, that its author is the organ of a faction, a slanderer end a ccziard. Treat me as you may, traduce me as much as

you please, and persecute me to the most shameful extremeties. vou can never drive me into acts of imprudence, excite my passions, or eo far gratify your advi sers as to engage me in a newspaper quarrel with a man w ho expects nothing from the people; and especially one who has wronged me as much as you have; thinking that your own salvation depends upon my political prostration with a creature who possesses none of the qual ities of a gentleman. The editors of the very paper which you have chosen, to hurl your unprovoked arrows and firebrands at an unolfending public servant, leave you in no enviable situation as to ti uth. They tell you to your hypocritic face, that you have aimed to deceive, and written that which is not. You are charged with trying to make yourself the leader of a faction, to oppose and put down those authorities, which the voice of the citzens of Indiana has established, by all the means in your power; thus,' giving fresh evidence ot vour hatred to republican principles. Vou are charged with making mischiet y ur sport, w ith frequent misrepresentations of the conduct of your fellow man, and with a lack of honor with endeavoring to ralh around vour standard for wicked purposes, the disappointed and disatfec ted spirits of the day. You are charged with extending your c flicial patronage to business establishments, and then becoming interested in them yourself, and so directing their machinery as to ?uit your political and private interest. You are charged with other deeds disgraceful to your character which some other dav may develop; and I charge 7Jou xvith writing a stud'ud and deliberate false and malicious libel, in the 2bQth number of the Jndianapolis Gazette concerning jnyse'f. HaTing this vew of your character, and entertaining the most contemptible opinion of you as a man, allow me to repeat to you that I will not be dragged into a newspaper controversy with a man of whom I have such bad impressions, as 1 have long since been con strained to form of you. I have thought fit to notice you now, not on your omi ac count, but because you are believed to be the tool of others of more standing than yourself, who are aiming at my de struction, by means of all that is unholy and irreligious, because I have been ele vated to the place I now occupy by my fellow citizens. You was one of those men, sr, who secretly opposed my election for Governor, whilst y ou pretended friendship to my face, and afterwads felt unwilling to submit to the decision of the mninritv. Now. if it he true, that von.

have consented to become the championl " 1 he rtcent cbinKa ,n ,he E"S,ish Cabsner of a party, to try to put the will of a mi-j9"008 to;nd,"!c J ? ore f"r-b,e 10 "l . Vl l r.u mi rii Llaima of the Lathohci. than has yet been the nonty in the place of the will ot the ma- ' . , 1 . . . J , ..... consequence ol tbeir untiring zeal. Inedisa-

pnty, and so trample upon me r.gnis o lilt' .t:ujn , iiiu uavu utiunic v.uulc t uuu in the press here, which receives by your patronage part of its sustenance from the treasury ot which you have the control, ft me advise vou to desist, for vou must fail in y our object. Every effort which you make will rebound upon yourself. The people will never consent to be cheated out of their opinions. You must not so far deceive yourself as to suppoe mat the people nave aa much con fuiencn in you as to receive your asscr . . " which you have recently asserted. Remember, that in attempting to ruin the present incumbent of the Executive Departmental to make his character appear odious by the constant circulation of falsehoods respecting him, you are disgracing the state; and offering insults and contempts to fifteen thousand of her freemen, who solemnly voted to establish the powers that are, and which you with your coadjutors are straining every nerve to its utmost tensure to destroy. It is the office which y ou are attempting to bring into disrepute amongst the people, as well as the man who fills it. I shall not attempt to notice your base insinuations in detail, or assume the nttitude of a controvert ist with you; nor shall I induct you into a court of justice

to expose your, deformity and sins; but, sir, I will arraign you a9 a criminal charged with malicious falsehoods before a tribunal, the impartial bar of public opinion, which has the power and the virtue, to pass that . condemnatory sentence, which always awaits the thief of character. You may hereafter write on, and charge me with every crime, from hightreason down to a petit misdemeanor, you may fret and fume until y our haughty and "revengeful heart bursts with its own malignity, and y ou will still be no tice 1 as the felon of that which you can never restore, and the pensioned instrument of a party. Awful must be your predicament in the eyes of an offended public, when the people hear the extent of the evidence which yon are challenged to adduce, in support of those charges which you have insinuated against me. Go on, serv e your employ ers faithfully, investigate my character from my cradle to the present time and publish the result pf your labours, then prepare yourself for the people's judgment.

I shall now dismiss you 10 ngni you. battles' with the air. J. BROWN RAY. June 30th, 1827. TO THE PUBLIC. In the Gazette of to day is a communication addressed to me by J. Brow i Ray , to which I will give merely a passu g notice for the present. 1 had heptd that our difficulties might have keen settled before a tribunal in which the public would have regarded nothii g but tho decision and in which there could have been no evasion as to evidence. Il set ms however, that "he will not induct me into a court of justice' but has chesefc tho "impartial .bar of public opir t p" and 1 shall not refuse to accept the trailer ge, It w ill be rieeessarry for me to take some time to procure proof of the state nt.nts that have been made, for this was not attempted while it was supposed reci uree might be had to a court ol law. In a few weeks the public will be furnished with the facts, and my impressions are not y et changed as to their nature. S. MERRILL. Indianapolis, July 3, 1827. More Superstiiioyis. It is said that the Physicians of Middlesex, Connecticut, have determined not to visit the sick oa the Sabbath, unless on urgent cases. We would deprive every physician of his license, and the law should be so shaped, who offered such an impious apology for a dereliction of duty; and in case a man died from this wicked excase, the physician should be punished. Can there be any thing mere inhuman, uncharitable, and unchristian like than such an apology J Does not he eat on that Sabbath? And would he let a fellow creature. suffer, probably die, tiom such neglect? "It is lawtul to do good on the Sabbqth day ;" but probably ibe Middlesex physicians doubt their capacity to do good on any day. Were they to make no charge tor a visit to the sick on that day they would come neare to the mark. jYoati. . Ccihdh Diszbiliiiet. The subjoined is HO extract from the W. Y. Statesman. biriliof wbich thcy C0IDpl ar( re principally . iUeBe . A Catholic Peer cannot sit and yote ia th House of Peers; Nor a Catholic Commoner ia the Houi or Commons; A Catholic freeholder is not entitled to TOtfr at elections for Members;' A Catholic cannot sit in Privy Couicil; dot become a member of the Cabinet; Nor can he be ajudgp; Nor can be hold any office under the Crcrrs ia the spiritual courts, or courts of Chancery or common law; He cannot be a Kins Counsel, nor be cho' sen to any office in any of the corporations; Nor graduate at either of the Universities, nor hold eo? bent fice connected with them; Nor hare his marriage ceremony performed except by a Protestant Clergyman; Nor settle any property on any Catholic school, or churth, or any Catholic paryoit; Nor can he vote at a Vestry; Or presented to a living, thacgh appendant to his okii propf rfy. . These are the chief disabilities undrr which the Catholics sufiVr, and set forth in an address adopted by the British Catholic Association, at its annual meeting in June last. The writer rriht have included among the chief abilities. the legal incompetency of a Catholic to hold an office higher than lieutenant in the navy or captain ia tha army, ever though possessing the judgment and virtue of a Washington, or the energies aad n&rl&3zeal of Nelson or Nanoleoa ,

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