Public Leger, Volume 2, Number 74, Richmond, Wayne County, 27 August 1825 — Page 2

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COMMUNICATIONS.

FOR THE LUBLIC PEGER. Mr. Editor Two weeks since there appeared an article in your paper ovei the signature of Junius. 1 would have answered it before had I not thought that, like most other pieces which appear in the papers, it would pass without exciting notice; but in this I have been mistaken. Many think it a good piece, and applaud its sentiments. For my own part, I can look upon it without passion or prejudice, as I was in no wise concerned in the late electioneering manoeuvres and I do think that its sentiments are most unworthy, and its fpti.lpi.rv mint nernicious. I never can

countenance any attempt to excite dissat- j isfaction with the officers chosen by the voice of the people, when deliberately and constitutionally expressed. We are sufti- j cientlv jealous of them already. There i

is a natural jealousy incident to a state of (i freedom which makes us watch our ser-;j vants with the severest scrutiny. It is well that it is so for lukewarmnesa and jj carelessness are the certain forerunners of , I destruction. But when we have deter-,! mined at the polls who shall serve us in the ,

different othces, it is certainly ui wise to excite dissatisfaction with the choice, iVhat confidence can the people have in otlkers with whom they are dissatisfied? And what interest can the officers have in the welfare of a people by whom they are despised? Human nature must be changed if such a course as this does not excite a mutual repugnancy of feeling, burning: jealousies, and interminable hatred. The good of the people can never have a place in the intentions of those with whom they are at enmity?. The only aim of officers in thi situation, must be to secure some se'fi-h advantage, to the entire neglect of th public ir.terests. And how can it be others ise ? There certainly can be no encouragement for a man to be active in the public service, when he knows his labors will not he appreciated. Hence will ensue a perfect indifference upon subjects of the mot vital interest. To endeavor, as Junius has, to produce an effect like this.

evidences a want of patriotism and, more

thai, this, a heart the receptacle ot the most malignant passions. Who, but a misanthrope, would thus wish to inflame the people against the servants of their choice and extite dire distrust in hearts where nntning but mutual confidence should

have a place? To me it speaks a heart of j the mM unsocial cast. A course directly ! opposite to that pursued by JiMl'S would j have been the proper one. Now . that it if j determined w ho sfvoll be our repiesenta-j fives for the enseing session of the Legis j lature, we should unite with earnestness.; and cordialh render them all the assist j anre we can in the execution ot their im- i portant trusts. Let u suspend our jndg-s ment until we have some evidence upoi ! whbhitmay be predicated, ft w ill be j time enough to condemn, w hen their mi I rub shall have laid them open to condem- i nation. ' Junius ha, on another subject, given u ! further vidcn e of the dark dispositions', of his nature. Whv should he wish to re- ' new the contention which formerly sub- j si-ted between Centreville and Richmond?! W-hy should he w ish to tear open wounds j so nearly healed? Why, but to compass j some selfish end, should he wish thus to! marshall one part of the county against the j

other, aid make it "henceforth the seat ofj

contention?" In this he bears a close resemblance to a certain subject of Byron's satire, who was li Tl f last to t'i'I thp err of warfare cease; Th1 fir-t to fuiik a malady of peace. " But it is to be hoped that be will not be

giatihed with the sight of a contention so! congenial to hi feelings. The citizens of Wayne count) are sufficiently convinced of; the good effects of union arid fellow-feel-i ing, not to suffer the interested clamors of!

a discontented individual to hurrv them into the effervescence of party rage. Let

remember the parting injunction of the j

great W ashivgton kkt3 frown indignantly upon the first dawnings of every attempt toaleniate any portion of our country (rom the rest, or enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts. I cannot look upon this production of Junius in anv other light, than as the malicious erudition of a dark souled stranger, or, what is more likely, the malignant overflowings of some selfish and disappointed citizen. Some of the sentiments of Junius are better calculated for the meridian of Turkey than for that of Indiana. His remarks on the Jefferonvil!e canal, betray, not only an opposition to that particular measure, hut to the principle in general. If the New Yorkers had been men with minds like his, they never could have asked the question so exultingly as they do "who is not proud that he is a New-Yorker?' He tells us that the taxes wt re reduced At the last session- and speak of it as ao

act deserving the highest commendation. Here I must beg leave to differ with the wise gentleman. We have been in debt ever since we have fccaa ctate, and arc still in debt. We had lately a prospect cf having that debt discharged hut the prospect is Tiow blighted. How are we to pay our debts unless we have funds to do it witli? And how are we to have fund? without taxation ? Indeed, I think this one of those acts not warranted by the circumstances of the state and it looks to me like an electioneering scheme, got up by certain members of the legislature, to secure to themselves the "loaves and fihes,r by flattering the selfishness of their constituents. They might have thought, it is true, with certain political philosophers, that a national debt, w as not only not an evil, but an actual benefit, and therefore thought this act necessary to secure to us that in-

parts. Bolivar perceived that tV ' jnot a time to deliberate ou ihP,',!? C j schemes of government : he joined T15 my under Miranda, and engaged ):' ! contest with a zeal and rvr;,T.:- H

raised him to a speedy popularity lri flu ence. Prom that day to this hi' )

ry is in im; eyes oi me world- it h i

circumstance, in this county, for a man to sacrifice his ease so far as to be willing in the course of his life to serve as a representative a senator, &c; & those who are thus anxious to receive so high a trust, would do well to remember its nature and importance. They are, while exercising these duties, the guardians of the constitu

tion; the makers, repealers, and mteipre-jia succession of splendid achieve

tersofthe law; delegated to watcn, to j which have gained lor his name a m -f J check, and to avert every dangerous inno- . place on the same tablet with tU -vation; to propose, to adopt, and to cher- j Washington. The brightest record-f Uh every well weighed improvement , ancient or modern fame, hnve not! bound by every tie of nature, of honor, and prouder to offer. Time and future eve" mit that constitution, mus-t show, whether thi !,nr, , r.i . o lli

j I ii iinnii i" ....- - - - - i -ni u i in . . i i :r 1 i. . in ... v J,,iUr,

and those laws, amenueu u iussiuk, . wm complete me paraieii with hu in

least without any derogation. And how j ous model, which may thus far be ; unbecoming must it appear, in any mem- ! so much seeming justice.

ber, to vote for a new law, w ho is utterly ,j n some respects Bolivar' nlti

ignorant ot thcolU! n n:u Kinu oi m in

terpretation can he be enabled to give,

ft

Hi'tri.

run with

sue-

AclimnUi.lilKccinkr V h :i t e vp r 1 1 uv miolit n :i tmnrMr to the text UDOil WIIlCiI

have thought, I am certain my follow-citi- J he comments? Indeed, it is perlectly azens would not think it a very desirable j mazing that there should be no other state

thing to be in debt or, being once in that ; of life, no other occupation, art, or science, js one mark of a great mind to rise ai

eral times unfortunate in his early carV as a soldier, and more than once his ei mies in his own country, as well as t(Jc

from abroad, triumphed over him P,t v

am

situation, to continue in it till death, that in which some method ot instruction is not ; defeat, and restore the conid'ine '

paymaster who cancels scores at a dash, ! looked upon as requisite, except only inc shall extricate them. I could s.Vy much science of legislation, the noblest and most more; but 1 fear that I have already taken j' difficult of any . Apprenticships are held too much notiteof a writer whose oluect ! necessary to almost every art, commercial

appears to be the subversion of all peacefc j or mechanical ; a long course of study

harmony, and the awakening of the most n must form the divine, the physician, and

unworthy passions.

NUMA.

ill success has weakened. His

and a sincere desire for his couiitrv's .) F r a considerable period he was Suprerre Dictator, with all the army at Ins ot tr:iiw! t-k l t 'h?i n film nuc in

the practical professor of the law, but eve- eroe restored, a congress convened, ai

rv man almost thinks himself bom a legis

lator. I would not wish it to be understood, that I consider it absolutely necessary for a man to be a lawyer, to enable him to dis-

a knowledge of the Knglish language, and ! a better stock of legal information than

yet he may be called upon to discharge im

portant services to his country. And first to demonstrate the utility of some acquaintance with the laws of the state. Let us only reflect a moment on the singular frame, and polity of this land, which is governed by such a system of laws. A land perhaps the only one, in the universe, in which political or civil liberty is the very end and scope of the Constitution. This liberty rightly understood, con Hsts in the power of doing whatever the laws permit, which is only to be etfected by a general conformity , of all orders and degrees, to those equitable rules of action, b which the meanest individual is proteced, from the insults and oppr ssions ot the greatest. A, therefore, very subject, is interested in the preservation of the laws, it is incumbent upon every man to become acquainted with those at least, with which tie is immediately concerned lest be incur the censure, as well as the inconvenience, of liv ing in society, without knowing the obligations which it lays him under. And thus much may suffice, tor those persons of inferior stations, who have neither time nor capacity to enlarge their view, bey ond that contracted sphere in which they are destined to move. The thorough comprehension of the law in all its distinctions, is too laborious a task for any but a lawyer by profession; yet still, the understanding of a few leading principles, relating to estates and conveyancing may preserve him, at leat from very notorious impositions. The policy of all laws,has made some forms necessary, in the wording of last wills and testaments, and also in their attestation. A want of the knowledge of the law in these must always be attended with dangerous consequences, to such as compile their own testaments. To become properly acquainted with the distress and con

fusion in families, occasioned hy a want ol this knowledge, it is only necessary to attend the courts of justice; the difficulties that often arise in discerning the true meaning of the testator, or sometimes in discerning any meaning at all. And again all persons are liable to be called upon to serve as Jurors, to estimate the injuries, to weigh the accusation, and sometimes to dispose of the lives of their fellow citizens. In this situation they have frequently a right to decide, and that upon their oaths, questions of nice import, in the solution of which some legal skill is requisite: especially w hen the law, and the fact, are intimately blended together. And the general incapacity of even the the best jurors, to do this with any tolerable propriety, has greatly debased their authority, and has unavoidably thrown more power in the hands of the Judges, to direct, and control, than even the constitution intended. But it is not as juror only, that they arc called upon to determine questionsof right, and promote the good order of society, tho' this is mainly confided to the Magistrates. And here an ample field is open for the justice of peace to exert their talents, by maintaining good order in their neighborhood, by punishing the dissolatc and idle, by protecting the peaceable and industrious, and above all by healing petty differences, and preventing vexatious prosecutions And yet farther, it is no uncommon

For the Public Legrr. Mr. Editor. As a knowledge of the

law, is not only an acquirement, which is ;

talent and perseverance to the person who!; charce the duties of a legislator, but that bs mnd,. it ,,,dv. n i nmd.t tn i they should have a more hberal education,

....... - " 7 " " " be the sure stepping stone to preferment. Por hrtvvr nhcriir :i nrrsnn m:v ti

and indigent in his circumstances w ithal, ! our representatives generally have, I think

IS aDSOlUieiy icquisue. luum i mil i in favor of selecting the actual professors of the law, to till high and responsible office?. I They do not properly belong to the general mass; their interest and livelihood are I at eternal variance with the peace and harmony of society. The. client is placed j in a situation with his counsel, similar to the patient under the hands of a physician : t and sometimes it appears that the affairs

of men become so situated, that it is absolutely necessary t get such relief from

both as the exigency of the occasion may require. It is an incontrovertable fact. and is plain to the meanest capacity, that j where that cause does not exist, which gives employ ment to either lawy er or phy sician, society is more at ease, and the prosperity of the people incicneed, en . ... - l c ni r k:

versa. u cvuAJii.

Krom the North American Review. HOLIVAR. The most brilliant star in Colombian history , indeed in the history of modern Revolutions, is Bolivar. To whatever it

I may be ascribed, w hether to accident, singular good fortune, the highest order of I personal merit, or to all combined, Bolivar lias raised himself to an eminent station, in the list of successful heroes, and remar1 kable men. He was horn at Caraccas, ai bout the year 17C5, and is said to be dcscended f rom a family of distinction in that

place. As a favor granted to very few of the native youths of South America, he was permitted to finish his studies at Madrid. He afterwards visited different parts of Europe, travelled in Italy, Germany, England, and France, and was on Very intimate terms in Paris with Humboldt and Bonpland. He returned tolVladrid, w here he married the daughter of the Marquis of Ulstariz, and soon departed for his na-

trve country. His wife, did not survive many year?, and he has not been married a second time. Whilst yet in Europe, he had formed the design of devoting himself to the cause of South American Independence, when the course of events should point to a suitable time; and as it happened, he arrived at Venezuela just as the standard of liberty was beginning to be unfuiled there by Miranda and his associates. Bolivar was not entirely satisfied, however, with the general system of measures pursued by the patriot party, and he avoided taking any active part. He did not approve the constitution, which the congress of Venezuela had adopted at Carraccns, and he declined a request to be united with Don Lopez Mendez on a mission to England, designed to promote the interests of the government formed on the principles of this constitution. But the time soon came when he felt it his duty not to be kept inactive by a mere difference of opinion. The constitution, as it is well known, did not succeed; the wars and disasters which pressed immediately upon its adoption, proved its insufficiency, and dispelled the hopes which its friends had entertained, of its power to concentrate the interests and the action of a scattered people, suffering under numer

ous privations, and engrossed with the necessary care of sclfdefev.ee in diflexexit

a &

favorable prospect seemed to optti, of er tablishing a solid basis of goven.mcrt, he : voluntarily yielded up all power, ar d jr,. sisted on returning to the rank of a private citizen. This was accordingly doie, t,ll he was re-chosen by the new .congas to be commander in chief of the aimv. undtf the constitution and the laws. Twice h

has by mere accident escaped asMiu. tion. In the first instance, the daer. which was intended for him, was Juiigel into the heart of his secretary, who l;p. pened to be sleeping in the hammoik us sually occupied by himself. Energy is the predominant trait (fiij

character. His movements are a!H$ I prompt, decisive, and rapid, ar.d ;. t'e same time directed with so mvuh di?( ration, that, with a force frequently iikri ; ! in numbers and discipline to that of ttif e;.- ' emy,he has been able to carry thn-irjH a successful warfare with Moridl, M 't;i!t-,

Jlontevcrde, and other ot t;ie most j enced Spanish generals. IIU gerenvlf

has been much praised; lie g:e us!.v.5 their freedom and is said to coi tn. n'. i

principal portion of the inonv cf h:

i . a er i" . ! r i. ii ;.l ., .- . .

; laies in auorun g renei to me v. k.i .

children of soldiers, w ho have U 1 '

I lives in battle. As a companion f eiv I cial and pleas int, temperate in l is l.ah:?, I abstemious in his diet, and drinks i f S uous liquor. Hi constitution l.nMJi!-rd

'by the severe trials, both of bouy t: ; mind, which he has gone thn-ui;h. His speeches and addressee, which hsi (been published, evince f-oui d :;i d J w-' I cal views and adaption of pur-c'. n'h

' than depth of thought and gi t at n M t-'

;al resources. His n icbratnl spnen i. !the opening of the Congres m I V iHJ ' ra, we suppose to he his most Kni'sk ') effort in this way, and that speech at least, that he has studied j; n ..'eunlij t

history and principles of various I-n "

! government, and had most m Hi,l"

! heart the object of establishing thtt M-j

which should be best Milted to ?t n ; prosperity and happiness of his ccui.uy

3

Kt-KTt'rirv UV :ire no IV ilS-urrd X-

me inenus oi me consunoiou, r

der and sound piinciples, have r. j succeeded at the late elec tiers u ur ; i state. A handsome majority u 1 ! the "Old Court," w ill be fonu d i' ti 1 legislature, and it is to be hoped 1 will be laid at the root of the tree' n " tfectually. A more deplorable f'1 things has not existed, we be!if?11 revolution, in an state t the 'n!

, Union, than has prevailed in K; 't ) ;(li ' the last two or three ye..r. fu,) t ,

dence destroyed individual rip": ,,j

ed the most solemn contracts riirtj , and the very foundation of t0l moral order shaken to its ft l ,rCt j1 mong the evils of what has been tern' Relief system whose influence !ir.rtH mtMt f;ifllv. to DrOStl'yfc ,

" v. j T f frrtitl acter, and ruin the resources oi r,p powerful and intelligent f'.'i u r,; The br:

who fought at the RaUin,at ,'1 the Thames, deserve a better ' ,

the p(licy ol the Juuge t ---have assuredly conducted il.eni.

We trust, however, that i

accompany the exerci?e olru(jiu mercy and victory go togethj'1" f ,,, .!, triumph is atlaii'ed, wl.cn v' 1 lf

are taught to admire the irl the victors. Crisis.

REWKmns.-For the gi.ut, fr tile, txtrt iM-, lor corns "SJ ' ,Vf t '"1" linii, nH flaunt I ai-it ntit ncr ' )J?" i it cut ; and ftr li' a ''"'-'