Indiana Palladium, Volume 4, Number 29, Lawrenceburg, Dearborn County, 26 July 1828 — Page 1
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4 rri-,.i.AfAiuwT. EQUALITY OF RIGHTS IS NATURE'S PLAN AND FOLLOWING NATURE IS THE MARCH OF MAN. Barlow. Volume IV. LAWRENCEBURGH, INDIANA; SATURDAY, JULY 26, 1823. Number 29.
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Governor Raj's Defence. From the Indianapolis Gazette. To the people of the Slate of Indiana,
It has at length hecomc my unpleas
ant task to say something to my fellow
citizens, with respect to a controversy of
their own, and in which 1 had solemnly
prayed, l might never be forced by any
circumstance whatever, to engage. Bat learning that in the course of a few
days past, that the state is filled with lies and misrepresentations, intended and calculated to destroy my election and myself forever, I feel it a duty I owe to my political friends, to the state of Indiana and myself, to step forth-and meet the flood of" calumny, which my base political enemies are now thundering in the cars of the people. Never has man suffered more than I have from slander, treachery ami ungenerous persecution.! I ask my fellow country men, in the name of immutable justice, to pause for a moment, and listen to the simple story of my wrongs. They are more than I
can bear; and I must now c?dl upon the the magnanimity of all to arie and redress my injuries, committed upon me, hv base combinations. The dogs of war are again let loose upon me. Look my fellow-citizens at the time when slanders are fulminated against me. All is kept as still as the grave, until a few days before the election, and then, all at once, a concerted attack is made upon me in every quarter of the state, when it is impossible for me to go every where to explain. I can now, with propriety exclaim, Oi tempora, 0!i mores. Is it possible that ti.e people, after thev have
been so many times deceived, will be
lieve ail tnat tney hear floating through
the I nd on tne wings of the wind? Have
they forgotten that assertion is not proof?
My political opposers have made the
aiscovery, that the public mind is inflamed to that degree at this time, on the
presidential question, as to enable them, by misrepresentation, to control mv fate by it Their business seems to be at this time to lay aside all ebe, and take advantage of the alarming flame which is spreading through the land, and which threatens destruction to the very temple of our freedom, and to crush me, because in common with others, I enjoy the free
dom of opinion. Though 1 may be cut
down tor enjoying mv political and reli
gious liberty and rights, I shall never envv the immortality of those who eflfect it.
by riding upon the whirlwind. I shall
suffer a glorious martyrdom, at the shrine
of tho-e rights secured to me by the con
stitution ol my country.
In the first place, censure has alight
ed upon me. because I would not co.ee cut ml identify mvself with the frienus
of Gen. Jac'cson or the friends of Mr. Adams r; contest about he nresiden-
CV. ;
James Monroe, severally appointed hirrJ I was opposed by certain lawyers and been opposed to drawing the line; and
to high & responsible offices. Gen. Jackson was also confided in, in like manner, by all of our ex-presidents. Yet I am censured because I say that I am friendly to both of these men, and to their friends. Two great men have come in contact
and we must choose between them. If
1 cannot be elected, because I will not
come out and abuse one or the other of
these men then I must fail. If the friends of Mr. Adams suppose that I must win
their votes by coming out and crying
huzza for Adams; this is what 1 shall not do. If the friends of General Jackson expect me to come and cry huzza for Jackson; this is what I will not do. When either of these men have been assailed, unjustly, I have spoken the truth of them. I presume that more than an hundred letters have been written to me
at various times & by various individuals, in Indiana, requesting me to state what I
Jl 1 .L .fi . i Tl
uiougui oi uiese two men. l nave uniformly spoken well of them both in my replies, speaking of them as men and not as
candidates for office. But I do now boldly
state that it any letters ever have made their appearance, or ever shall, which makes me say that I would vote for either for the Presidency, I pronounce them base forgeries. I have written fa
vorably of them both, I have spoken as I ought of both, but I have always said.
that in giving mv individual vote at the
polls, by ballot, a right secured to me bv
thc 1 aws and constitution of Indiana, 1 would he governed by measures and not men. It has been said, that I have written letters to Jackson men, declaring
that I should vote for Jackson and also
to Adams men that I should vote for Adams. These charges are false. The
course I have taken in elections, gives the lie direct to such accusations. I have been in thirty odd counties, and addressed the people both Adams men and Jackson assembled together, at the
same time, and my course has been uniform every where. The Hon. Thomas H. Blake, the
Representative in Congress in the first
District has been with me in ten counties, and he will tell the world, that my course has been uniform. I have told the people every where, on the stump and by letter as I have always admitted publicly and privately, that I was in favor of the present Administration, and have reasoned to convince the people, that they ought to be so too I am now in favor of it, and I am confident J ever shall be in favor of it , whilst the essential measures of the west, are so ablv vindicaled as they are. When I say I am in favor of the present Administration I mean the cause of the Administration the incisures of the Administration and not men. ) i'l never bind myself to any man. Ours is a government of lares and
Clip : liber guished friends.
V i the Gjvernor of the state. I was elected Governor of Indiana when no party
other official msn. I hese same men
instead of bowing to what the people had done, proclaimed opposition as soon as I was sworn into office. A d as it happened they were and are still, generally Adams men. These men have again voluntarily placed themselves at the head of the Administration party in thi? state. Last winter they sat on foot plans to ruin me. The Presidential conventions told a tale which is recollected by many. Last winter when the two conventions sat, these Administration men, and enemies of mine, proposed to the Jacksonians and requested them to draw the line and bring out a candidate for Governor; and then assured
them that they would do the same thing, and in that way they could defeat me, on
neutral ground. And if they found they could not leave me out in that wav,lhe
would then join the Jacksonians and si
defeat me by a concentration of two par
ties. And it 1 became an opto friend
for Mr. Adams, tiiey were prepared U
bring out another ( andidate on the same
side. This was the kind of management
attempted to be plated off upon me.
lungs passed on until the month of
Ma), when letters and information pour
ed in upon me from every quarter, that
the Administration men, were about to
draw the line upon me, and bring out
Harbin H. Moore, John H. Thompson or William Graham, on the question, all
avowed Adams men. Well, I thought ibis course a strange one indeed; ai d 1
could scarcely believe it until further in
formation came to hand. I received the
following resolution which was enclosed
to me by the chairman of the Jackson
Central Committee, as having passed
that body. It reab as follows (vz:) Sale:j, May 7, "Resolved, That a committee be ap
pointed by the chairman of this Central committee to write to Gov. Ray, to ask
him it he will consent to be run as the
Jackson candidate for Governor at the!
ensuing August election, provided, there
should be an Adams man brought out as
a candidate by the opposition; and if
Gov. hay shall so consent to be a Jackson candidate, provided he should have opposition as aforesaid then we as members of the Central Committee, will consider ourselves as pledged for his support as Governor; and the Jackson party throughout the state so far as we can control. This resolution or Gov. Raj '? answer is not to be publish d or made known, unless there be an Adams candidate for Governor, then Governor Rays name, is to be added to the Ry utduan ticket as a candidate for Governor. B this you can see that we are disposed to elect you ccsufferyou to remain perfectly neutral unless an Adams man shouh! opoo-e you for the office of G vi-rnor.?' HENRY S. HANDY, President. Thus speaks the resolution. Whether this resolution was passed, and sent' to
me to entrap me or not, I cannot tell.
e
was determined that I would not throw
the first stone. But I have rights as
well as others; and felt no dosposiiion to be sacrificed, because I had occupied neutral ground. Because I would not
ecome a parlizan. because I would
not prostrate the office of Governor for
party purposes. 1 his was my sm. If 1
ever said, that I believed Jackson ought
to have been elected my reason vas
that he had a plurality of the people's
votes,and majorities should govern; yet,
I believe that Mr. Adams was cvnstitu-
. I 4 I J f i
twnaily elected. II I Have saui mat I uis
h.-ht ve the charge of bargain and coirup
tion, I mean, because suffic ient evidence
has m ver met my eye to establish it.
Jf I have said that I discredit th
that he is hostile
3 I " 7
to internal improvements and the prolec
tion of home mdustrv , sim e the receipt
of his letter to me on those subjects, I
wish not to be understood as meaning ti
say, that it was his answer to my letter,
standing alone from any acts of his, tj.nl
saii-fied me. or that I am et satisfied
that he is in favor of either of those sys
Jr m, to that es'ent which I would wish. His vote in the Senate of the U. S. and
Ids letter have satisfied tne. that he be
lieves that the United S aUs ha e a con stitutional power to prosecute those ss terns: but the General has not in detail
as to matters of expedient v made him-
se)f explicit. His answers to questions,
were not direct as to particulais; but if
he is in favor of any tariti at all, he
thinks it constitutional if he is in favm of internal improvement at all he is in favor of the system; and this is all the opinion I have expressed. And when I sa I had doubts before I addressed bin., I mean as to the constitutionality of the
systems; and the
are removed. It I
measures and not of men. A man may
-d at an early period, to oc- kc a Lr00d man to-dav. and to-morrow he
' ground, that I might be at m;lV ne a vdlian.
i justice to both of the distin- if jon O aincv Adams, is re-elected
v. V . j . il 'sident of the United bf ales, and can- Bat what answer should be made to it
""'I'lVIJi llUUVlUU'itS IlUai t l., KIinnnrf rr....a m.wciiru I ..,!!
o .umco cujjnni j 'u un.ujun 7, i snail think thence, ves authorised to do, not! support hbn, others ise not. If Andrew
in o!iice, i cotiict ta!:e no other stand, as, Jackson, shail he elected, and shall be
in favor of good measures, I shall support
mm, not otherwise. If the man I vote
t admit
great
question was nrale by the people in com- fr at the polls does wrong, I must i mon; and when I saw an attempt mak- ;t. To use the lan.iH nf a :
ing to throw the state into two parties, I: statesman, I care not so much, who govdetermmed that I would not become the erns our country, as that my country executive of one party to the exclusion slal prosper.
of the other. Being elected b
panics
both, as long as mv term lasts, constif u!iof wlo'-h I am sworn to
!y ooth At the lashPresidiMifia! election. T vnt
I must continue the Executive of!
The
sup-
was the question. Could I say to tinfriends of General Jackson that I would not have their support when voluntarily tendered, then they would have turned their backsjustly on me, and have said
with just wrath, we shall have nothing to do with Gov. Ray. The friends of Gen. Jackson constitute afpart of the people of Indiana, and are entitled to notice as much as any other people. I am not
ashamed to acknowledge, that I va
have said of the Gene ral, that as between him and Adams, my eld feelings are renewed, I intended and meant to speak ol them as mm an individuals ; ai d not as candidates for the Ptcsidemy. Il l have nn d in saing to the tiiemJs ol General Jackson,! am in jour hands, dispose ol meai d mv i ame as you in your wisdom think proper, ii is an infirmity of my nature; for if the humblest man in socict should express a w ish to vote for me, I should tell him the same thing and thank him too; and let the first candidate foi office that will not do it, speak.' Have I erred in apprising the friends ol Geneial Jackson, that I should not become a partizan, and wished to be elected on m merits? Whilst I consent to receiving the oies of the General's friends on nn merits, I tell them, that that shall not make me a parlizan. I might well admit that I would not undo what the) did in state elections, because I had not
the power to doso. The people control
me, not me, them. It 1 said that 1 w ould admit, the election to be a test f strength, t meant to fix that idea to the condition proposed in the resolution ot the committee, that if the Administration
men drew the line upon me, b) which
be thrown away, and giddy and untried
ones placed in their stead. Harmony and good will, 1 hope will again be re-
tored. And I now pledge myself to the
nublic, that if the Administration men or
Jackson men do net make a question, if
they will prove by their acts, that they w ill not vote for my competitors, because
thev are Adams men or Jackson men
and I am elected, (as 1 believe 1 will by
a large majont) ,) alter the election 13
over I will come cut and declare 10 uic
world the fact, that I was elected by no party whatever, but bv both the friends
of Mr. Adams and Gen. Jackson. When
the people ci me to the polls to vote for
Governor, they ought not to enquire for
a moment, whether the man they intt-na voting for is an Adams man or Jackson man, for the Governor has nothing to do in making a President, moie than giving one vote w ith the people at the polls. A charge has been going the rounds, that I called the Jackson party an outrageous and violent faction, at Brookville some time since. This is false and the Editor frrm whemit was said to come, has since admitted in his own paper, that he never asked me any such a question. It has also been said that the tavern registers over the mi untains, show a contradiction in my rtcoiding my name that I sometimes w re-le Adams, at d sometimes Jackson. Thisis also false M ft How citizens, this is the last time 1 can have an opportunity of addressing ou until the election. Tu-morrow I
shall leave this, not to return until aner August. My enemies may apply to me every kind of epithet, I shall not know if. They may circulate the basest slanders and' forgeries, and I cannot answer them. Whatever ought to have been said, should have come out in a Governor's election, three months ago, in justice to me. Look out for certain wi?e lawyers, who will oppose me, because I have said I would revise the laws. Let not the maxim be verified in this election, "that party is the madness of many for the benefit of a few.' Examine what I have done for your state since I have ocen in office, and remember, that I have three years to serve if you elect me before my constitutional term expires, and I am ce rtain you w ill award me justice. Whilst my enemies are writing my infirmities and errors in brass, I look to the people, the people in common, to place some of my good deeds on the same table JAMES B. RAY. Indianapolis, July 14.
Thr following is Mr. Jos lyn's explanation ofthatpait of bis interrpgaforif s to Guftmor Hy, heretofore copifd into ttas papr, wbtco iiiiide hini say "the Jackson party are an out-
r ous fhCtion. siul ought to be put down." t wish to sive the public all the information oa the subject lb We in derstand that the conversation w hich we published under date of the 14th nit., as having passed between us and Gov. Rav. has given umbrage to
port, compels me to execute the nuhlic
II" 11 i I Ml - .1 'II
win in an crn.-igs. l uis means me will liberty th. d of i-.fc rual
ot tne majority, renui 'g any question,! ments
tlianUtul tor their ripmhlnn. 1 Vm
son, I voted for Mr, Clay. I done so be-j elected before bv Jackson men and Adcause I believed turn to he a great man Jams men jointly-; and I never heard it 1 tl i Cr I j i f it CI . , i i It A rr urir'i ! C r--wi.i---ll- f j l
.... .m.. . u m.u, ! i..u.i.i..uuicurjmjrgfiu ueiore mai it was a disgrace to
improve-
me to consent to be supported by the
the question ;s settled, that I may be en
abled to execute tee will of the majority,! pressed Afric; without any bias which the prior exptcVjThes- same ,
siu;i ui i-puuun i.ugiu leave on tne mind, and without suspicion. I now stand on
r.f-vt Nnvpmhpr fnr Prpddpnf. P.n- ri
neutral grout d, with my ha.,dV untied,' !o say in these times of great excitement uncommitted to anv onrfv. rin.) H I rvJ i "i i i v .
: , . - ' 1 ""iwnoi snail vote ior, wouiu ue oiienng
to do tne people justice in my oilice. so I a direct bribe to the people. No office
iiiussi remain. who shall be elected next August, will
1 have been censured bv some who
have no charity for the opinions of
others, because I have said that 1 entertained a high opinion of both Gen. Jackson and Mr. Adams. I am justified in thinking much of them both, because they had good opinions nf each other. Mr. Adams at one time was the eulogist and defender of Gen. Jackson ; and Gen. Jackson in turn, has been the eulogist of Mr. Adams. I am justified in having a good opinion of Mr. Adams, because Geo.
Washington entertained it, and said of
him many flattering things, such as, that he was the ablest of our foreign ministers. Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and
they ail went asr imst me: and I was;tomeof our fellow citizens, whom wc
without any act of mice um;u vidably ! most sincerely respect, and especially compe lled to throw my self upon the mer-jihe third (question, as it seems to be cy of the friends of General Ja ksoe, lor'suppost d that by k,an outn gcons and my election, standing on neutral gi o??i(,j violent faction' we intended to embrace that 1 would not at'terwaids leit a lie! all the friends of Gen. Jackson in about it. If true, that the) did elect me i the country; concerning which we say I must say so; and so I uould say, if; that we intended ro such tiling, and elected by ihe friends c f Mr. Adams in a'strove so to arrange our interrogations, party controversy. Bmlsurtly intend jas, if possible, to prevent any such lined to speak of the election of myself and;prcssion, either among hearers or readmy competitor, and not Jacksois anu; ers, for Ave have no more doubt and nevAdams's, w hen speaking of a test ofjer have had of the sincerity, and intcnstrength. If I objected to the publication j tion to act from principle, of the booyof of my letters, it was to support the pi si-jthe friends of the General, than we doubt tion, which I took oiigir ally, that I wouhi'our own motives in supporting the Adnot nn ddle with the Presidential eh c-; ministration which the" denounce. linn? l.'!.mvii:T ib.-il n niiblication of all rVn PT'ilain nnr mpnuinff. .mif fo snti5-
sal retdorn, and to strike from the op-' do not w ash to make distinctions. What- thme I mh'hi write to the committee'fv anv candid man. that we intended no
in his bonds his ietters.,ever has been said or written inn WwnnM bf fbmed an interference. If nrK "nnvnl m,d unlimited nmdirntion
motives will control irf!, careless, private and ennfidrnti ? wnv. .J.1,!:ibp lipids .d' General Jackson nro- nf tb. ,.mfk "mitrnwmis fori inn." s if
wheel shall give my vote at the pollsnever intended for tin- r nblic ew-. Wuosed to take me up. knowing as I de-!i, nr.-fer.drd to be believed bv some
explanation would have accompamedjclared to them, that I was in favor of the that we did, we need only refer to -d my remarks) I claim before a candid measures of the present administration, 'and 3d questions in the series. In the world the privilege ofqmihfy iMr; and of ai d upon neutral ground, and neither; first of which, we referred directly to the laying before it the real sentiment ef m lap. ins! ihem nor for them, to save me. charge of corruption, bargain and sak?4 mind. 1 have too often, it is ti ue, w rit- tr-an the cruelly of a party about to urged by their opponents, against Adten in a very loose and general manncr;;crus.! me because I would not abuse ams and Clay, in the case of the last Prewhat I would always claim the right of. J.n kson, what other acknowledgement sidential election;" and upon this, and
explaining. Ylr hatrver has been said, cc.uld 1 make to them, than to say liijthe uovernors answer to it predicated has been with an eye single to the condi- truth, that I stand committed to admit, the latter."
as strong as the Andes, that they elected me? ThU was all the committal means,
ie.,,.it.SmyJu(r lo stand still, un-il;,, whn h . " " ... L." ... I,.. ' l PreveM
. t" jmt; mi HHiu ui ,uj oi my ieliow men. I
have any thing to do with the Presidential election. There is no reason for making a question of it. A man should be elected Governor of the state upon his own merits, and not upon the popularity of an other man. Whenever the names of Iavo popular men, shall control all state elections, the people will have their liberty on paper, but not in reality. Despotism soon follows. I will now proceed to tell my fellow citizens, of the manner in which I have been treated by men sailing under Presidential flags, and who have stood prepared to sacrifice either Adams or Jackson, to destroy me, At my last election
tion proposed to me by the Jackson com
mittee, that zthe opposition (that is the Adams party) drew the line upon me standing upon neutral ground, that they would step forward and save me upon the 6ame ground. Whatever was said was to be considered as if it never had heen said, as a perfect nullity, unless I was first forced from the ground on which I stood unless I was compelled to throw my st If upon the mercy of any, who might think proper lo support me. I have ever
and upon the conditions named. The
Jatkson committee made the proposition to me not me to them Examine dates of resolution and answer. But it now gives me great joy to discover and believe, that no party question will be made that all men will be elected upon their merits. This was the way in which I have been desiring elections to take place. Faithful public servants will not
Lightning. On Friday evening, 4fhf inst. the house of 3Ir. Isaac Clark, in Stratford, N. II. was struck by lightning. It entered by the chimney, which it completely shattered, and passed into the eclier, where Airs. Clark w as employed in household business. She received the shock on Kerface and shou!denand was almost instantaneously a corpse Mr. C. was also stricken down, bi shortly recovered.