Public Leger, Volume 2, Number 68, Richmond, Wayne County, 9 July 1825 — Page 1

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FRIENDLY TO THE BEST PURSUITS OF MAN,

FRIENDLY TO THOUGHT, TO FREEDOM, AND TO PEACE." Co'Per'

XUMBER 68.

RICHMOND, WAYNE COUNTY, INDIANA, SATURDAY, JULY 9, 1025.

VGLUML .

aiNTKD AND PUBLISHED EVERY' SATURDAY BY EDMUND S. BUXTON, Front street, opposite the Richmond Hotel, THE PRICE OF THIS PAPER I -One Dollar and Fifty Cents for fifty-two numbers to be paid in advance; Two Dollars if rata within the year, or Two Dollars anil Fifty Cent?, if no' Pai(l before the expiration of the e ir. payment in advance beingto the mutual interest ofboth parties, that mode is solicited. S'o subscription taken for less than six months, and no paper discontinued until all arrearages are ouil. . . . r.ilnrc to notify a discontinuance at the expira-

tion f the time subscribed lor, will be considered nv f najpment. Aji;.. HI Letters to the Editor must have the postage "Haldol tkey will not be attended to. TERMS OF ADVERTISING, fifteen lines or les, for three insertions One Polire h continuance Twenty-five cents, liT'r advertisements in the same proportion. "V ELECTION OF GOVERNOR. UY REQUEST. From the hidiatia P r I Indium. Isaac Blackford of Vincennes, and James B. Raj of Brookville, are candidates before the public for the chief magistracy of the state. Reuhen W. Nelson .Those name h;is also been announced in the pipers, it is understood has declined standing a poll. The contest then will be between t tie former: and as the ofiice sought for, is of the. highot dinity in ttie government, and associate? more patron

age and influence than any other; one that gives tone and direction to public measures and puhlic pcliey; 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 rhatever mav advanre her reputation, her interests, and her prosperity. It should be the honest endeavor of every one, who feels a laud hie pride for the honor of the siatf. arid fur tfv wisdom and respectabiltv of those who serve her, to make choice daman whose private virtues, ae, learning, and experience, offer the surest guarj v that the different functions of that

J p.rtme?it. ill in rutod with firm-I ' . .... . . !

r.es. industry, prudeno', tiuehlv and good seti-e, regardless of the importunities of private friendship, arid with an ee soleh ilirected to the public weal: such a man is ii.wc Blackford. From what I can learn, he received at school a irood education, which he has since qroatly improved hv a course of extensive rtadinjj. and the most sedulous and labori"js research. That hi private character without blemih or reproach: mild and conciliating in his temper, indulgent to the imperfections of others; frank, open, a d manly in his sentiments; ardent, resolute, ami inflexible jn his principles, with virtues that never temporiz?', t.ur stoop to individual advantage; cool caculating.and -earless in the discharge of his public du'WS he is re-p.-cted arid esteemed by all vho know him. Hp came as I am told, to .a state abmt thirteen r fourteen years 'o, where he has. resided ever since, fulfilling the duties of a private citizen and those 0f a p,,u. man, in the several important stations he has occupied, with great credit to himself, and usefulness and jdv;i.,hfp to his adopted tate. He has Speaker of the legislature and one of :ht : Judges of the Supreme court almost ever since we have been a state. In either fuaractrr, he ha evinced capacity and Tlifirations of a grade truly respectable. As a jurist he i said to be second to none l ffie state, if he is not the first. His ap Plication is iatei.se, and his judgment trwste, discriminating, and sound. Sensij!ef the illusions of first appearances, and 'trustful of inrentivc and soeciotis indue.

lhc investigates his subject with unlri;;g patience, nor pauses in his research

-, !. l:ivy t!lil,S r,'nKlins to learned, or

77 uimcuity unreso ved. With tho loftv

s of a patriot, he marches onward

course, witli ri i irm 'mi

"S only to his dutv, throwing from ,;ni uj' "m,,fJ lidain whatever might secc bim from its allegiance. As a finanvZ'it Slul to 1,0 snporior. In addi12 hl.s e,:lrgr d experience in fiscal

V! ! ' Slook at the lucid and able report be drew up, the witer before last,

leelirif

r; his

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, ., lfM- u, vvavs anil means. y

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r in mi

and perspicuity, the

our a Hairs.

ations of an

or our state,

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.rili - . illi'iLI ti filllJ 7" t 9 1211-

oSu-,lUlCVil a,(! rv.peilv regulated. ialtiaui!v.li5Pe6iLl-ouL: that high

T, u. "'neial situation of ; o.eof the first ijualilica -M'-ticul.Hyfi, irnl,'. . uras ;i:t-' limited

otticer should not only understand business in the general, but he should be able to enter into its details, and lay down the plan of operation. Should he not, how will lie be able to detect the errors and de-

llinquencies of the different departments ! l: Ll a l

n.iuie 10 nis supervision, so as to report them to the legislature? and would not such a man be exposed to continual impositions? It will at once be conceded that he would, and that'the interest of the state requires a man, who is capable of grasping the whole extent of public business, however complex and multifarious, and of executing with accuracy and efficiency whatever may devolve upon him in that department of the government. Need I tell you that that man is Isaac Blackford. He is moreover about forty vearsof age, has grown up with the state and witnessed the developement of her whole history. Familiar with her wants and resources, cognizant of all her privations and embar

rassments 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 creater prudence and wisdom, 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, by 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, uidike his competitor, he has not been everv vear a candidate for some oflice of profit, traversing the country from house to house, to flatter and cajole the people to support 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 waving his fine plumes to the gaze 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 puhlic bounties, to blaz rf 1 is pretensions in tho public prints. Plain, unostentatiou,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 tictilious elevation among his fellow men, by 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 hy his toils

and unremitting devotion to the public interest, in the station assigned him, to lay up for himself a permanent and lasting fame, the only one a man of real worth will ever aspire to. Such is the character of Isaac Blnckford, feebly though faithfully delineated, and such his claims to the confidence and support of his countrymen. May I not in his favor ask, to give 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 occasional 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 virtue and true merit will have its reward. Let me now turn mv attention to his opponent, Col. Ray. He came to this state some fix or seven years ago, from the clerk's office in Cincinnati where he had acted as deputy clerk for several years, and settled in the town of Brookville as a practising attorney. It was stated he was then about of age, which would make him at this time, about twenty-eight years old. His education is very limited: and those who know him now, and are capable of

judging, know that he cannot write the i Knglish language grammatically. As a proof 1 miirht refer to all his productions

which have mot the mihlir eve. not one OI

, i . . . I j which would bear the test of criticism. 1 ! will go farther and say, there is not one

of them of which a man of sense and learning, would not be ashamed toacknowledge himself the author. Look at his late electioneering address written at Salem. Who ever saw such a composition before from any man or in any country? His speech to Gen"!. Lafayette is also an unique and de

serves to be particularly noted, w tun man ever read such a piece on such an occasion? The best, however, he ever made. And what citizen of Indiana does not feel sjitqw and regret when he knows it will jo

I abroad as coming fr m the highest officer

in the state? Cold, vapid, and inflated, labored and pedantic, w,ithout one vigorous or soul-animating expression, it stands at an immeasurable distance below every address of the kind which. lias been delivered to that venerable and illustrious patriot, in the progress of his triumphant tour through our cc'Uitry. Never was there a finer theme for eloquence, and never was there a failure more complete. How painful to a sensitive mind is the contrast between that speech, and those of our neighbourip Ohio. And, what kind of a communication would such a man make to the legislature? Young, whimsical and illiterate, with verv little experience in public business, could he deliver a message to that body, fraught with sound and useful information, 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 among our sister states. If he could, the age of wonders has not yet passed. 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 young man was respectable. In this respect he stood upon an equality with the rest of the vounc men who started with

him. And in point of sprightliness of m ft a m ,t

mmd, it not in judgment, lie was naraiy

interior to any of them. Were he less ambitious, and would devote himself to study and literature until his judgment has had time to mature, he might at some future time, become a prudent legislator and an useful man in our councils. At the presentee is thoughtless, rash, and inconsid ate, crude in his conceptions, superficial in his attainments, and in forming his judgment, hasty and immature. Delivering himself up to the excursions 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 wei :h every thing in the scales of reason ri!: ! :ai..i utig the good and evil on ever side, he seizes with intuitive celerity on the first suggestion of his mind, and pursues it with an ardor, and precipitation seldom witnessed in any other man. These qualities are illy suited to a public man, and in my opinion, would be danger ous t the office to which he aspires. The?A every thing should be matured, and the oi Ver should never act, but from the convil Ions of his unbiased and enlightened reaion. The constitution requires the governor of the state to be thirty years old. Col. Kav, from his own uniform declarations.

until latelv. is onlv twenty-eight. How

could such a man take the oath of office?

Before he can act, he must swear to support the constitution. Ought he not to satisfy the public on this ground, by producing the register of his birth, or an attested certificate of his age, from some person acquainted with it. This is easily d ne, as his relations live among us, who could make the necessary affidavit, if required. To conclude, there are a number of men of good standing, who are supporting the election of Col. Ray, some of whom have heretofore been his most strenuous opposers. I it bemuse thev exnect to speculate upon

his gratitude and the pliability of his vir-

tues, to obtain, public appointments ur hw brinnens it. that all their evil opinions

of him are now abandoned ? ' Tis strange! . r At a I

His passing strange I r bometning must ne in the wind, or those amiable and supple

enemies would not be seen rustling lonaiy 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 compromit any of the sacred duties confided to his hands. By doing so, they will preserve the purity of their government, and give a felicitions action to all i s operations. They will put an end to parties, and defeat all their artifices and combinations. No soldering of old enmities for private gain; no coalition will be able to succeed, but the supposititious and mischievous foundling, will be cast out from amongst us"unhouselIcdnmt unanneallcd."ecnc vcrtant.

From the New-York American. GEORGIA. Our readers have recently seen in the treatment by the Georgians of the Creeks, and in the speeches and talks of Gov. Troup, how accurate their notions are of humanity, justice and fealty to the Union. The subjoined artic le may illustrate the purity of the law in that state, where a slave is the sufferer. We restrain our pen from comments. The following is the substance of the evidence in a case tried at Jefferson Superior Court, May Term. The State vs. Scarbrough. This was an indie tment for the murder of a slave. The prisoner was an overseer; and Ishmael.a hired slave between 50 and 60 years of age, very infirm, and subject to violent fits of cholic; but it appeared to be the opinion of his mistress, which was imparted to the prisoner, that he was deceitful and sometimes feigned illness to avoid labor. One morning Ishmael and the prisoner were seen crossing a road, and going towards a field on the other side the prisoner leading a horse, and the deceased carrying a plough, which he did without apparent inconvenience, walking as one in health, with a firm step. The prisoner had told the other slaves that he would return to them, after he had put Ishmael to work, but he remained long at the field and at length came back,agitated and heated, in his shirt sleeves, and his clothes wero stained with mud. He said Ishmael "had worsted him," and then related in detail the punishment he had inflicted on the slave. He had doubled the leading lines four times and worn them out upon him

he had gathered many switches and severe-

Iy chastised him he had "dragged mm

30 or 40 yards over the field "by the horse, Ishmael fainted, and he face to restore him. A heavy shower of rain followed the return of the overseer, and after it was over, negroes were sent to see what fiad become of Ishmael they came back supporting him lifted him over a fence and he was told to go into a small cabin. He advanced two steps and fell. His face was swelh d and bloody, and his coat, a very old one, much more tattere l than when he had been seen in the morning. Ishmael remained in the cabin from Tuesday to the Friday following; he complained of inward bruises, putting his hands on his breast and sides to indicate where he felt pain. In this situation he was seen by his mitress, to whom the prisoner applied to know what was to be done; no physician was employed, and at last when the prisoner suggested the propriety of resorting to medical aid, the employer was unwilling, because he did not think the slave in a dangerous situation. The deceased did not walk after entering the cabin, but once crawled on his hands and feet to a imall stream of water, about 20 steps distant, for the purpose of washing the blood and dust from his face. Salt9 were given him, he swallowed with difficulty, and the prisoner said "he had the devil in him." tie was afterwards bled, and when the mistress expostulated, saying he had no blood to lose, the prisoner replied "d n him, he has too much blood in him I will take out some." The lancet was struck into his arm and but little blood followed. On Friday Ishmael was removed to a more comfortable situation, and on Sunday he died. A physician was the foreman of the Jury of Inquest held over the body he could not say from external appearances, the body was not examined internallythat the deceased came to his death by the act of the prisoner. The lip, the cheek, and the forehead were bruised and slightly wounded there was a large blackish blue spot on the right side, in diameter eight inches the back was marked and slightly cut in several places, and around the neck there was the impression f something like a cord or rope that had been tightly drawn. It was in evidence that the prisoner was a humane overseer, but a man of violent temper towards his equals when offended. The deceased, by some of the witnesses was said to have been a faithful and industrious slave, by others he was represented as lazy and deceitful. The jury retired and after deliberating several hours returned a verdict of NOT GUILTY!!!

The editor of the Franklin Republican, Chambersburgh, Pa. says he will insert the names of all his runaway subscribers in Gothic. That being the blackest kind of letter, we presume he intends it as emblematical of their nrinciplee.

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