Public Leger, Volume 2, Number 65, Richmond, Wayne County, 18 June 1825 — Page 2

COMMUNICATIONS.

TO THE ELECTORS OF UNION COUNTY. Fellow Citizens-I promised in my address to Mr. Cooper, to give the citizens of Union County, a short detail of the terms of a reconciliation proposed by myself to Mr. Cooper, shortly after the publication of mine of April 16th, 1825; which contained one or two questions directed to Mr. Cooper, concerning some services which he said he had rendered to the people of the county. Shortly after the publication which I have above mentioned, and on the day after the publication of his answer to me, Mr. Cooper called on me, at Liberty, to know if I would relinquish the controversy between us, a controversy, Mr. Cooper remarked, that could be a benefit to neither of us. I expressed much willingness to compromise, if the compromise could be made on terms honorable to both. I however assured Mr. Cooper, that since he had answered mine of the 16th, I deemed it a duty to myself and the public to make a short reply ; and 1 at the same time assured Mr. C. that I should make the requisition of a short statement concerning those services, on account of which our goose-quill contest first commenced. The reply and Statement were drawn up, and presented to Mr. Cooper for his signature, but he positively refused to subscribe his name to any article of the statement; believing that any acknowledgment of that kind to the public, would be incompatible with his honor, and an evidence of a mean condescention. I here give the reply and statement to show that Mr. Cooper has practised concealment to the public, and dissimulation to his distant friends in this county relative to his claims or "services as he sometimes calls them." "Through the channel of the "Flying Roll," I received Mr. Cooper's answer to a question which I acknowledge to have asked him in the Public Leger, in relation to the services which he had rendered to the people of Union County; but, as Mr. Cooper manifests a disposition to give his fellow citizens complete satisfaction on that subject, I shall make no rejoinder to his answer and content myself with his subjoined statement, so far as his services are concerned and the compensation therefor." JAMES PERRY." Union County, April 27th, 1825." "I, Asa Cooper, do state that I have said I had rendered more service to the county of Union, than any other man in the county ; and I acknowledge that I received twenty dollars from the trustees of the Liberty donation, as a compensation towards the payment for those services. I do further say that in making any unguarded declarations concerning my services, it was never my intention to influence, by reason of them, any of my fellow citizens to support my election for sheriff, on accounty of the services. I here frankly acknowledge, that I have no claims on the people of Union county for any services whatever; and that I rest exclusively on my merits and qualifications for their suffrage at the ensuing election." The above statement was presented to Mr. Cooper, but he refused positively to subscribe his name to any sentence of it. There was also an additional statement, presented for Mr. Cs. signature, which I

willingly consented to have stricken out, if

he would subscribe the others. It related alone to myself. I candidly appeal to the public, and ask what could have been Mr. C's. motive in withholding from the scrutiny of the public, a statement of facts in which every man must feel himself highly interested? Mr. Cooper does not deny but that he has frequently declared he had done more for the county, than any other man in it. He acknowledges that he received twenty dollars for his services. Why does he withhold a more satisfactory statement, than he gave in the Flying Roll? Mr. C. has declared in the presence of E. B. that he never intended to make a merit of his services. Why will he not say the same to the public? Mr. C. says in companies where his services are well understood, that he has no claims on the people of this county, and that he places his hopes of being elected on his qualifications. If this is the fact, it is very strange, that he should

refuse publicity of that fact. Mr. Cooper's conduct is very obvious to me, and I am prone to believe it is to every other man.who has been acquainted with the course he has pursued, since he became a candidate for the office of sheriff. That he has told frequently the story of his labours, he cannot deny; that he has denied the reception (in some parts of this county) of a compensation for his services, and has when all of the circumstances of claims were known, acknowledged, in other places in the county, that he received twenty dollars for the same services, is a fact to which a few citizens of the county can testify. That he

has alternately claimed and disclaimed the hbitious sycophants will do it. Itis a prac-

suffrages of the county on account of his

services, is without a doubt. For the truth of these assertions I appeal to the citizens of Liberty-to many other persons who reside in different parts of the county. It is not my wish, fellow citizens, to offer any thing to the public, which would tend t wound the feeling of Mr. C's. political friends, or to elevate the man whom I should be pleased to elect. But I wish you to examine his qualifications, for that office; examine his character, and his conduct since he became a candidate. I have no disposition that any man should participate in the personal enmity which Mr. C. and I feel towards each other. Exam ine the conduct of us both, and discover if possible wherein we have told the truth concerning each other, 1 as a private citizen, submit to your scrutinizing glance; and if Mr. Cooper feels the smallest degree of independence, he will bend to the investigations of his neighbours with more patience than he has evinced for a few weeks. The office of sheriff is one of high responsibility ; and I should feel very sorry to see any man invested with its duty, who had neither learning or integrity adequate to iti fulfilments. I have been charged with private interests in the election of sheriff, but I most solemnly disclaimany other interest than that, which every man in the county ought to feel in the present election : And indeed if I wished to elect a man favorable to my own views, William F. Elkins, or T. McMeans, or H. Brandenburgh, would be candidates of my last choice. With the other candidates, I am unacquainted. And, although, my own choice would be W. F. Elkins, yet there are other candidates who offer for the office, that are highly entitled to the suffrage of this county. JAMES PERRY. Union, June 4th, 1825.

FOR THE PUBLIC LEGER. The right of election is, perhaps, the most important and interesting which even the American people can call their own. Without this power,this inestimable right, our excellent form of government would be but a dead letter, a tottering fabric, subject to be levelled by every petty blast. With it, there is spirit and life in our constitution, and it is firmly secure against every attack of envious despotism or internal anarchy. There are many, too manv, who

hold this right in very low estimation; so low, as to make them entirely careless whether they exercise it not. But let such persons consider for a moment what would I be the consequence if all were of the same disposition. Our fundamental maxim is, that all power rests with the people; but

if the people will not exercise that power, what can we expect, but that some aspi-

ring and ambitious persons should usurp that authority of which the rightful owners are so careless? Let us but once suppose that a large majority of the people

entirely neglect this necessary duty, or, if more pleasing, this invaluable right, how easy a matter would it be for some enterprising party to get all the power into their own hands, and elevate upon the ruins of general liberty, a government of the few. If there were but few electors, those few could be more easily and more successfully tampered with and corrupted than if

they were numerous. If this culpable nelect becomes general, "farewell, a long farewell, to all our greatness" for then the moving principle of our whole system of government, will be no more after the spirit is extinguished, the body must soon follow to its home of corruption. But there is another class, a class who do not entirely neglect the exercise of this duty. This set of men go to the polls, when it is convenient, and if it is not they are very careless about it at any rate. Now it must be plain that where men are so careless of exercising this right or duty, that they may easily be won over to any

side, by artful and insinuating pretenders, and persuaded to give their votes to a cause manifestly at variance with the best interests of the country. If any thing,

these are a more dangerous set of men than those who entirely neglect it. The latter are negatively injurious, the former may be positively so. The one does not vote at all, the other votes as caprice or credulity may determine. It is this unwarrantable carelessness, which has given rise to the contemptible and degrading custom, that candidates should go from person to person, and either mediately or immediately, basely solicit their votes. It is this carelessness which makes the people give countenance to this practice of begging offices of them. It may be pleaded that as this practice has ripened into a custom, it should still be followed by the candidates-the people now expect it of them; but if a custom is bad in itself, as this evidently is, I can see no reason for giving countenance to it. An honest man scorns to stoop so low; and none but am-

tice disgraceful to our country, and should

be entirely discountenanced by the people. But, say they, by this we have an opportunity of judging whether the man is capable of the office for which he seeks. A goodly reason, truly! How easy is it for an artful candidate to put on an appearance of ability aand disinterestedness, and wear them, as he would his Sunday clothes, only for the occasion! And who is to penetrate into his inmost soul and find out there his true sentiments? Few are capable of doing this; and as few are capable of judging of the abilities of candidates from the evanescent test an occasional conversation, even supposing him to be candid and honest. We are in general so culpable on this important point, that it would be a happy thingif there was some plan devised to instruct the young on this and other correlative duties, and to convince the aged of the nameless importance of a due attention to this sacred right. I am much pleased with a passage of the valedictory address of the President of the Franklin Institute, of Philadelphia, and

shall close this essay by quoting it: "Our Government, civil institutions, and many other circumstances, require of all American citizens, the performance of many duties, and secure the enjoyment of many

rights, different from what belong to people who live under Monarchical Governments; and it is of great importance to the com munity of which we are members, that we should be qualified to discharge these duties with propriety. It is with great deference I mention this subject; but as we

are integral parts of the sovereignty of

this republic, and claim high privileges, it is most important that we should know

our duties, .and how we ought to act, should our fellow citizens call on us to fill any of the various offices under the government. The youth of this Republic should at least have some instructions on the duties of Jurors, Magistrates, Legislators, Supervisors, Guardians of the poor, &c. &c. We should have some instruction on the duties that belong to our

elective franchise, and the great moral ob-

ligation that rests upon us, when we vote for any officer from the President down to the Township clerk. It is important we should know that it is not a patronage vested in us, to bestow on a favorite, or to give to a friend, but a service we have to render society. We ought to know that where the elective duties are performed under any influence save the desire to benefit the nation, a species of moral treason has beebn committed on the present generation, an act of ingratitude to our predecessors, and one injurious to posterity. That instrucjtion in these matters is wanting, will be

admitted by all who reflection the subjec t." HOFFER.

Cuba. The editors of the N. Y.

: d i i . v r

mg com, nave oeen Informed bv man of respectability, and on wlJ ment they can rely, that a treat? ,ta' concluded between thp Pr... sVn

ish governments, by which th'. SP;ilH Cuba and Porto Rico, are to hi '""N

line vau!z, with the troop 0f th im nation. Of IG,000 French u- rn' r in the West Indies, G000 arc Vot'? for Cuba, and 4000 for Pnr dra"i

the garrisons now occupy!,,. ihW

arc 10 dp uisoanued and sent to Sn ' 1 some other station. A Fronri !!n,f,r!

- viiii, n k

heen annnintnH tnc,. -

,rr .uciri'u uenenl v

in the government of Cuba, which, with

Porto Rico, is to be held by the French,

until !.- .

uu.1" ."7 ,,m"V ""sing from revf,luli,,;'' Drti.ciDles. and from th f. .

' - " - uv iv fir i r t....

has completely subsided. Whether Great

Rntoin ..rill , : .1 ' Ufrrf

Duelling.-The subjoined anecdote of La Fayette contained in a letter from NewOrleans, adds another to his many claims to our esteem and veneration. It is to be lamented, that all men who possess influ-

ence, do not employ it as beneficially as the General has done, in the present case. If they did, the number of duels would be much diminished: "If any thing can serve to bind us more closely to La Fayette, than what has already transpired during his eventful life, it will be the recollection of an act of disinterested kindness which his visit to this place has afforded. I will relate it. A time was appointed for the militar) officers in the city to call upon the General. They

assembled at the Exchange, and started from thence to the General's quarters ; but unhappily in consequence of some misunderstanding upon certain points of military etiquette, the officers of the Legion mo-

ved off without the remaining Brigade officers; this led to reproaches, insults, and challenges. La Fayette heard of it, and

with truly paternal concern for his "chil-

dren, immediately summoned all the officers of the Brigade to his quarters (yesterday) and there after having addressed them very affectionately for half an hour, made them embrace each other, renounce all animosity, and seal their declarations in a glass of wine. This is an act of magnanimity, which ought to be recorded in letters of gold ; but to those who witnessed it, on their minds it is stamped indelibly. rrl i ll .i . J

Three duels have thus been arrested-at 4 o'clock yesterday one was to have been fought, and it was only at half past three that the disputants were compelled to lay down their swords."

invasion,

Britain will permit this

o-rri-H n.t .! 4 . 'tu

vu...u crufi i, remains to be . She has from 17.000 to 18,000 troops her West India Islands, and a powerful val force, equal at least to that of France and Spain. It is scarcely possible that great a European force can continue on this station, without coming in contract with each other; and if the views of the different cabinets are not in union, we may expect soon to hear of some decided event arising out of the present uncertain state of affairs in this quarter of the world. BRAZIL.-All those imprisoned at Pernambuco, as being concerned in the late insurrection, have been executed am them a native New-York named Rodgers -who met his fate with teh greatest firmness. He said that he was to die for holding a different opinion from the emperor, and in that opinion he would die. CHILI-appears to be much disturbed by political factions or parties--so much so that the congress had proposed to invest the governor with dictatorial power, that energy and celebrity might be given to the measures of the executive. A number of distinguished individuals had heen arrested as leaders in a projected revolution. COLOMBIA.-Carthagena papers, to the 16th April, mention that a law had pased the Colombian congress, making it death for any citizen of the republic to be engaged in the slave trade. Al ships concerned in introducing slaves on the coast of Colombia, to be confiscated, and the crew, if foreigners, imprisoned for tea years; the slaves to be sent out of the country, or, if they choose to remain, declared free. The National Gazette says tht a law

had passed the senate of Colombia, by

which no Colombian man who has not com-

pleted his 21st year, and no Colombian wo-

man, who has not completed her 18th year can contract marriage, without the consent of the father and the mother. EGYPT.-This ancidnt land is again rising in the scale of nations, and bids fair

to resume its rank among the empires of

the earth. At present, the bulk of its population is sunk in the most abject state

of servitude and moral degradation. The Turks have long held undisputed sway over this fine country; and the condition of

its inhabitants is a necessary effect of the ignorance and barbarity of its rulers.The fellah of Egpt is little more than a beast of burthen, subiect to the caprice of

his Mahomedan master. Civilization has

long since fled from a land in which anciently she loved to dwell, and which is associated with our earliest recollections.

But a redeeming spirit is at work, even degraded and fallen Egypt. The indus-

try, the arts, and even the civilization of

... :

Europe, are reversing the usual order of events, migrating from the west to the east and they will, in time, effect a complete revolution in the moral and political condition of the people. Her staple produce

tions are numerous, and invaluable to Eng land as a great manufacturing country Already a vast number of british vessels

and especially vessels from Liverpool.

engaged in transporting the raw produce

of Egypt to this country, and the trade between the two states is every day increase

The Cashier of the Union Bank of South Carolina, cautions the public against receiving of fifty dollar notes, purporting to be issues of that institution. The bank never issued any bills of that denomination.

Counterfeit notes of the denomination of

two dollars, on the Washington and War ren Bank, are in circulation. They are so well executed that many have been taken by the Brokers,

ing. The export of goods from hence

bears no proportion to the import

thence. Bullion is the principal medium

things cannot continue long. The princi-

ples of trade will soon come into active eration, and the pacha be made to disgorg

the vast treasures which he has swallows.

THE DISSENTERS in England amount

about six millions of persons, and

are compelled to support the ministers

who are a minority of the whole tion. CANADA.-Many "settlers" are arriving at Quebec, from Ireland; and it is suppo sed that 15,000, will be sent out during the 7 ,linn

present year; many of whom

doubt, soon be found upon the lines great Ohio canal.