Jasper Banner, Volume 4, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 July 1857 — The Celebration. [ARTICLE]

The Celebration.

The glorious Fourth —the birth-day of our nation—was a bright and beautiful day, and was ushered in at sun-rise by delightful strains of music from the Rensselaer Brassßand. The day was enjoyed and commemorated by a very large portion of our pitizens. The short space for preparation, and the insufficient time for notice, with other causes known to exist, had lead to the apprehension, that but

few would be present to participate on the occasion. The result, however, proved different. At an early hour in the day our streets were thronged with the aged, the young, the strong, and the beautiful. At 11 o’clock A. M., the procession was formed by the Marshal of the day, Wm. Hopkins, Esq., and marched to the Presbyterian meetinghouse, where, after an appropriate prayer by the Rev. Mr. Whallon, and the reading of the Declaration of Independence, an eloquent and patriotic oration, alike honorable to the head and the heart of the Speaker, was delivered by Dr. Wm. Martin, and was listened to with deep interest and profound attention. Dr. Martin was followed by Benjamin Hinkle, Esq., whose address, though of strictly ajocal having reference .tQJtlue'history and early settlement of this county, was exceedingly interesting, and interspersed with sallies of wit and humor. Some of the first soitFers were present, and as they listened to the recital of their early trials, hardships, and dangers, must have experienced emotions that can better be imagined than described. Among other interesting incidents related by Uncle Ben, as the speaker is familiarly called, was the fact, that he was at the christening of Jasper County, but neglected to say whether Rye or Bourbon was used on the occasion. He informed us, the name of ••Jasper” was given to our county in honor of the noble and intrepid Sergeant Jasper, who, at the attack upon Fort Moultrie, so galliantly recovered the American flag when it was carried away by a shot from the enemies’ gun. There is another incident related in history in honor of the brave Sergeant Jasper, not alluded to by the speaker, we will here relate for theweformation of some of our readers, who may never have read the “Life of Gen. Marir_ Those noble, patriotic ladies—the heroines of Charleston —as an expression of the high estimation in which they held the services of the brave Jasper, presented him with a beautiful banner, the work of their own hands. This he received with a pledge, that he would defend it at the expense oLhis life. True to his promise, he was afterwards found dead ttpdn a fearfully contested battle-field, clinging with a death grasp to the highly prized treasure. Another i nteresting fact related, was that our highly esteemed fellow citizen, David Nowlks, the son of the venerable John Nowles, has recently become the owner, by purchase, of valuable property, situated on the very site where his father first pitched his tent and reared his log-cabin having no neighbors save the Savages who then inhabited the banks of the Iroquois. Oiir space will not permit us to notice in detail the interesting incidents related by the speaker. We have only to regret that no allusion was made to the Kentons and the Parkisons, the deoendants of the heroic and renowned pioneer, Simon Kenton, who, we helieve, were among our earliest and are now numbered with our thriftiest and most enterprising farmers The exercises were interspersed with excellent and appropriate music by the Rensselaer Brass Band, recently organized, and which is under the leadership of Isaac B. Sayer, from the Band of the Ist Life Guard, Body Guard of the Queen of England, and late of Shelton’s Band, New York. After the exercises, the? assembly dispersed to participate in other festivities, having enjoyed a “feast of reason and a flow of soul.” - J 'Lt j —aft.—i’.'.u T~. V-i—l !.'* -

Editor of the Eunncr : Dan. F. Davies, the contemptible poltroon, whose name appears at the head of the Gazette , as the editor of that filthy sheet, had the impudence to make a personal attack upon me in the columns of his last week’s paper, charging me with gratuitous interference in “ overhauling his mail matter in the Pgstoffice,” etc. , This attack was one of two-fold cowardice, made, as it was, upon a private citizen who has no desire or disposition to mingle in the political arena; or to figure as a champion in newspaper quarrels, one who had given no cause, either public or private, to call forth personal or political controversy. It is due to the Postmaster, to the public and to myself to state plainly the facts in the case : Some two weeks since, during a severe illness of the Postmaster, I was requested by him to render any assistance his deputy might require, in the discharge of his official duties, until his own health was sufficiently restored to act in person. This i promised to do, and it was at the request of the P. M. nnd of his deputy also, (who was himself unwell at the time) that, as a legal deputy of the P. M., 1 was engaged in assorting the mails at the time to which this popinjay of the Gazette refers; and I will say to the sorrel faced Welshman who conducts its pages, that I will continue to render any assistance in my power to the employees of the Post-office, even to “ overhauling his mail matter,” whenever requested so to do, notwithstanding the anarls and ravings of the Gazette and all its petty imps. 1 would mention in this connection that Dan. F. Davies is a “ red mouthed furriner,” whomthe Know Nothings of this county have lately imported from the cesspools of Gin cinnati, to teach ethics and etiquette to the good people of Jasper. Since his arrival among us he has sought every opportunity to spring personal j quarrels with everyone who differs with him i:i his peculiar notions ol niggerism, thinking thereby to gain respectability for himself by contact with men of decency. lie has so far made himself a willing tool to spit out the personal venom and low-flung blackguardism of certain adjuncts and hangers on of the Gazette and has succeeded most admirably in converting his sheet into a perfect smut machine ol billingsgate and Five Points literature. " I thank fortune, that 1 have incurred the public displeasure of one whose touch is pollution, and whose commendation is everlasting disgracey— Mr. McCarthy —Having heretofore proposed to give a history of the Swamp Land transactions of this County, since June of the year 1856, I now proceed to do so,-in as suscinct a manner as possible. On the 13th day of May 1856, the following instrtetions issued from the State Auditor’s office, to the Auditor and Treasurer of this county. The original may be seen, if desired,, in —the hands of Mr. Merkel: State of Indiana, Auditor’s Office, ) , —p May 13, 1856. j Gentlemen: —You are here.by instructed to withdraw from sale the enclosed tracts (list) of land, if upon close examination the said land is'shown to be unentered. You will also request the Commissioner and Engineer, to prepare as many ditches for letting, as will absorb the amount of money for which the land thus withdrawn will amount to. You will draw upon this office for money, in order to defray expenses. Yours, 11. E. TALBOTT. To the Auditor and Treasurer, Jasper Co., Ind. I introduce the above letter to ..show, that the plan these lands was in contemplatfcr. twig before the so called “swindlfe” was perfected. At another time, I may have some remarks to make upon it ; but for the present, content myself by introducing the following, the original of which is in the hands of Mr. Merkel; and can be seen. - Indianapolis, May 22, 1856. Gentlemen :—Enclosed, please find a list of lands and letter from Auditor of State, requesting withdrawal from sale &c., so that no mistake will occur *c., and return to us. Respectfully, a; t CONDIT ACo. ■ff Auditor and Treasurer of Jasper Co. Wonder who the dickens the Company can be? To proceed* however, on the 10th day of December, 1* 56 » * n in ‘ junction issued from the Marion m Court to restrain tte But* ofccera-the Auditor and Treuaorer of Jaaper County —the .Swamp Land Commissioner and

Engineer and other person*, not necessary to name, bum doing acts, to give validity to title* to be acquired, on warrant* issued on advanc* certificates of the Commissioner; in other words, for work not done. On the 21st, or 22d day of December, 1851, tho then Secretary of State, (inreply to an inflamatoty telegraphic despatch, directed to Gov. Wright and Hon. Jos. K. McDonald, and published in the State Sentinel,) states iu that paper, over his own signature, that he has no further use for the Governor’s name, having issued nil tho patents prior to tbe service of the writ, in which he had been injoined. They all bear date and were issued on the 18th day of December, 1856. The Hon. Secretary was not caught napping. No one Democratic State office! had then been installed, nor did any of their terms of office commence for real, or quite, two nf&nths af:erwards. Yet papers of the kidney of the Gazette; throughout the State, publish the lying effusions of “Jasper,” knowing them to be false. Intending to follow up this subject, which lms been forced upon me, for the purpose of exposing the unscrupulous mendacity of “Jasper,” and not to censure the old State officers, for most of whom personally, I have the highest respect. I will close this communication. - A——Civ it. * • For the Banner. . Mr. McCarthy. — The Gazette of last week professes to state a conversation between myself and a citizen, Mr. Murphy, 1 suppose, is meant. Mr. Murphy is a subscriber to the National Era. That paper has been coming to him regularly since January Ist, 1857. Two or three persons have been in the habit calling at the Post-office for his paper, and it has always been delivered. JNli'- Murphy called on Saturday morning last, for the Era, when the subject of his unpaid postage came up, two quarters being due. I | informed him that the law required, prepayment of postage —then anti neverbefore, did he complain of tho non-delivery of his papers. It was then delivered to him. The Gazette states positively and without qtlaffification, that I did use certain gross language. The whole statement is untrue and I hope that the editors of that paper will not again drag my name before the public without a justifiable cause. 11. G. 11 owe, Deputy P. M.