Rising Sun Times, Volume 2, Number 61, Rising Sun, Ohio County, 10 January 1835 — Page 2

Communication.

For the Timet. Mb. Editor Abenre has nol altered me. Though mutability sits soertign,at:d by :ud of tim?, places us mark on ;' thingHuman; yet, in many respects I am the lame I used to he. I Mill fid a livi h interest in all those subjects which aim at public or private good, and lo to wield my feeble pen in their behalf. I now, a formerly, take pleasure in ayranging thoughts for the perusal of v our readers, because among them 1 recognize some of my good friend , Then why, say you, h ave 1 been uUis long inactive? My answer is at hand Toe article of distance Ir intervened hel ecnusymd other circumstances which now I cannot describe, have ri'hor held hand or directed it in another course. But no change in disposition has mark td my character. .ow, sir, I wish to pro-ose n q-io--tion fir you to answer. What lias In come of your many other correspondents, who used to fill your col nuns with poetry as well as pro?e? I w remember two of them, who molesth assumed the title of Ril.v hot man thought their soaring was more like lhatof eagles than of bug. I alo recollect J., O. P. Q. and half a dozn Greek and Hebrew name, that Wf-r.. often found under articles more or le useful, in jour paper. Now. sir. gain last, what hs become nf all tlw.? Hastime,lhe rcvolutionizer of all tilings helped change to work Us mighty work on them! Have they gone the wav of 1831, and are they now numbered with those that were! If so, methinks we ought to have their obituaries, and not let their names thus sink into oblivion. But, sir, if they are let alive an ! in the vigor and prime of life, lei them again take up the pen, and doubtless y our readers will be advantaged in the result. With these remarks 1 give you the following article, hoping its tendenci nvn be good in helping to break down that system of evils w hich I have donominated popular superstition in America, l mtgni nave saia mere on ten suj rt I might have alluded to dream, and shown what an extensive infiuem e thev hold over the minds of our eoimirimen hut what I have mentioned w ill he lufficient to suggest the whole, or enough of the system to every ingenious mind. K. FOPULAR SVTERSTI TIOS IX AMERICA. Ameiica has long been the favorite theme of the orator. No subject of merit has he been called to discuss without refening to tt for his best illustra tions. Has it been his object to etilo gize liberty and exhibit its heavenlv in fluences upon those who exercise it? He has pointed to America and with an air of triumph exclaimed, here is its habitation! This is (he country in the ery heart of which "Fair Freedom" sits enthroned, and ivceives the grateful homage of an independent people. Ha education been his topic? He has mentioned America as.the country where it has been most generally disseminated where streams of intelligence have been flowing, of all sizes, from the mighty rivers of classical and scientific learnii g. do n to the little gently gliding rivulet of elementary knowledge. Hasthiislianity been the subject of his discourse ? He hascited America as the field w here it has flourished best, and shed its rich est, iis most wholesome blessings. He has delighted to contrast the situation of Americans, basking in the sunshine of liberty, and experiencing all the. attendant blessings of intelligence and a pure religion, with the situation of the Greeks and Romans, w ho, though they hoisted of intelligence and freedom, were destitute of a revealed religion. and had their minds cramped with the degraded principles of idolatry and the b.ise services of blind superstition. In Shcit, our character, as painted by the orator. appears almost stainless. Would that this picture were true! But stubborn facts proclaim jr.hr. In my subsequent remarks I intend Showing that America has no sufficient cause for this much boasting that ma ny of the virtues for which she has been

lo highly eulogized, exists hut fe.ehh jtem, is mi?npp.'yinr wo-d. For (he while her defects are tiunieio'is, and hen fit cf sui h individual, I w ould say, lome of them alarming. jtliat supeistition in any form, or (oany In exhibiting some of these defect. I j extent, has a w ithering influence on the shall pass by the most proniit'eM. I t intellect, and degrades the moral powwill not attempt (o describe t!e .'ul-jpcJ :or of the human mind. It sets hound of slavery, thai pernicious system which ;to improvement. and create n thousand deprives a peop.'e of liberty, and spro Is j soutccs of unhappino. Then style it its demorahnng influences over the f ti -1 not harmle-s, but rather give it its (rue rest portions of our Union; r.nr wiil I j character, and class it with those errors speak of our cruel treatment of the un at which public disapprobation is aimprojected rri mon, whom we have com- ed. It l ',e confined to heathenish felled to relinquish (he soil given him darkness tn'l 'he light of hotter times by the great benefactor of all, and for- sli.all disco er its native ugliness, and

ced to take a lat lingeriog farewell of j the spof whieh gave him hit th ; nor will I dwell on (he great evil of intemperance, w hich ha so long brooded over ur prcutMritv hVo some iar and dt-

r);nf r'W. and threatened estrurtion

to veiy ling ivc hold sun d. Thi so topics have been aid) disoussi d hi oth ers, and community me, t s,,me extent, sensible of their magnitude and Mightii.g effects. 1 u1 mine shall be the task of exposing '.'nose errors Inch are considered l-.iilmg or rather harmless. 1 hese -lta be denominate d popular supeist' iot:c. H man is not naturallv a M,,,'erstitiois being, he is tail) made o. Tiiere are principles in his nature '.o which superstitious notions may be successfully addiessed; and when these notion are embraced, noth'rg hut tin mighl) powirof tiue knowledge r u ei tdirate (hem. The following classes wilh xhihit the truth of this asset lion: CI lis first i;ns of gxnd and bat! luck. Some of these are putting en a garment wrong side out; the breaking of a ring presented by some loved one; the seeing of the new moon over the tight shoulder, and many others simi lar. These h ive been handed dow n ( us from the ancient. Ttiey prohabh had their origin in accident, and ban been perpetuated by indix iduah endeaI voting to bring that to pass which the ign ptedicied. Tiie second i lass which I shall mendon. seem to Inive theirorigm in man's ?noui.es of guilt and deserved Pu"wum'''1' im principle "'hi nature he is led to explain the lingular phenomena of natuie to be the !ole!u:i!KMS cl" 0!Tte disastrous events Pvhh h are horiy to affect himsc ll, hi fimily.or his com. try. Examples of this class are the appearance of unusual lights in the heaven-, the peculiar w histhng of the winds, the curious reflection of moon-light, etc. Tlie sloiies of haun ted hon-os and the spirits of the dead revisitit g earth in human fotms, are connected with this class. I shall notice but one other class. which is the si stem of fortune telling 1 nis ita us origin in a very common principle in our nature, which is, a deire to know our future destiny. In almost every region or neighborhood ma) be found one or more of these prognosj ,U a"),s ft"ure events, and reveaiei of my sloiies, who indeed are ignorant of almost every thing but the fact that man) people arc so foolish as to believe them capable of lifting the veil of futulity and explaining their coming desti nv. Under this same general head may be ranked ti e naming of apples and counting their seeds. But some may object to classing Ibis simple and innocent amusement with the family v( superstitions, because they think it is a harmless fissnion invented only to drive off dull care and kill time, and those who practice it have no faith in its predictions. That this last thought does not accord w ith truth, every careful o! j frver knows who lias watched the flush it pleasure on the fait one's cheek, when. in connection with a certain number of seeds has been ment ioned the name of her favorite. Though she may cont nd she has no faith in the project, yet her spaikhng eyes, her pleasant smiles. and her eagerness to practice it, speak a different language. What I have mentioned are hut specimens of (he complicated and extensive system of popular superstition in America. Had I time, I would enter more into detail, and show that though we laugh at (he Homans for (heir ah snrditt'S, we are not very far behind them in some respects relative (o this article. It is very probable that many of i hose whose e)es may glance over (hi essay, are clear of the charge of superstition; but thev are connected with a community against which the charge may with propriety be brought a community, some of the member of w hich are as much degraded, and their minds as much darkened by the bac notions of superstition,' as though thev j had been nurtured on heathen ground, i Tnen it becomes us as citizens of this community.as philanthropists and christians, to raise our voices against such destructive errors, and to ue our utmost efforts (o put daw n so dishonoring, so pernicinu a si stem. Some miv say I have attempted to throw around this subject an importance ill suited (o its c haracter that to apply smh terms as dishonoring ai d prrnicinus to such a S) s procure its cxpu'n from earth. But while we boast cf having burst Us hands which hampered l.he minds of our ancestors, and made fhe'm slaves to signs, gho?. hobgoblif, and oier imaginary

evil, and w hile we profes to have broken aw ay Iro n the shackles of antiquity and come forth from the daikness oi former times, into the splendid light of modern improvement, let not these

bands and shackles still hold their victim among us, nor that darkness still brood over us and hold a portion of our citizen in destructive slumbers. Let it no longer be true that the sun of science has arisen and shed hi vivi()ing raison our happy land, and yet man) of our inhabitants are so enshrouded by the double ami impenetrable veil of ig norm re and superstition to remain iti-affected by this enlivening influence. Let it no longer be true, that a kind providence has given us the w ritten revelation of his will, in which we may learn sound morality , and to fear none of those nonentities which so much afIrighten the. ignorant, and to place no dependence upon the mean absurdities of superstitious antiquity; and yet the intelligent must mourn over our nation's folly, and rcgiet that some of its members still cling with a lover grasp to principles unworthy of an enlightened and a christian people. Let parents and others who have the care and teaching of infant minds, do their duty, and the woik will be done. The foul stain w ill be w iped from our character, and Ameiica, in this respect, at least, will be independent. F. For the Times. IXmtXAI. niPUOVKMEXT. Mr. Liutor: There are tluee, and only three justifiable methods of ma king internal improvements. The first on the list are those of a national character, embracing great roads, and the improvement of the navigation of rivers, passing through several Slates, with a view to strengthen and perpetuate the Union, facilitate the transportation ef munitions of war, and the exchange of the products of distant portions of the country. An appropriation of the Pe ople's money for the construction of improvements of this character, would be justifiable. The second class embraces such as a State might be justifiable in making by a common tax on her citizens such as a canal or rail road, connecting important points in the State in which they are made, which can he finished within say five years, and when completed will certainly yield a revenue to the State sufficient to sink the cost of construction within five or ten years from its completion, and ever after he a source of revenue that would lessen the burden of taxation. If we can make (he burden of taxation lighter to posterit y, we have the right to do it. 15;it ve have no political or moral right that I know of to embarrass the generation that is to succeed us. The last and most equitable method of making internal improvements i bv the enter. prise of individuals and companies possessing surplus capital, who will always seek an investment in stock of thisL iml whenever there is a fair prospect of gain. This last method seems to me to he the most equitable and just, as well a the mot eligible, particularly in newStates, whose revenue must he small without oppressive taxation. Let the Slates then grant charters lo companies, under suitable restrictions, to construct canals and rail wai s, connecting important commercial points, and whenever the trade and intercourse shall be sufficient to justify it, the enterprise and interest of those w ho are to be benefitted, will, if (hey have not the capital themselves, invite it from abroad; and thus without opnressiner the neonle. etioct t ie object desired. Out wouid it be expedient oi prudent for ihe State of Indiana at this time to embark in any scheme of infernal improveuenl reauirinrr ih vioiliinrr of morj money than the revenue ari- .... i M I sing Horn me present rate of taxes, w ould at least enable her to pay the interest of? Are not our iav' li.l enough? Is there not some complaint about high taxes? And if the whole people were consulted, would thev not call for a reduction of taxes raiher'thau the inciftase contemplated by (he proposition to borrow 2,000,000 dollars, now under consideration in our Legislature, to be scattered or squandered over the State on nroiecls. as n nt(M n commencement or experiment, which will cost to complete mem sit least ten million more? It is true enough that (he resources ot (lie otateare constantly being developed, and her industry as well as enterprise, are in a regular and licaltliv sit of nroi'ression. hiiiI in respect is like a new ly married pair, w ith every fair prospect of wealth and happiness before them, w ith well direc ted industry, enterprise, ana economy. in. i it l....r imm-ndcnllv rvh;iiict i !,.,;.. capital iii the purchase of a fine house .... i c iliov will he ltfi n-iiK n itIIU lUIIMlUll, tf"V ' "nun small stock in trade, and he compelled to labor to great disadvantage to keep

up flie present establishment, without increasing the stock of comforts proper for their middle age and declining years. So if by an ill directed legislative action, our young and flourishing State shall reach out her young and feeble arm to grasp the acluevment ol objects in her )outh, that icquires the strong arm of manhood, and the steaty nerved of niatute age to accomplish, it may require the labor of another generation 'o redeem her insolvency, and place her noon a footing equal to th.it she now occi.'PieJ and thus cheat posteriti out of their just right. Mc ADAM.

IMiE.MOUS ;WBUEKV. A poor man recently died in Grand street, New York; and although a Papist, yet his Protestant acquaintances made a collection and defray d the expenc.es of a respectable funeral. Alter the bill for the interment was paid, there was a balance of 75 cents in the hands of the collector, w hich the friends gave to the widow. Not long a Tier the death of her husband, the supersti tious woman pretended that she had seen a vision, or had a dream, in whivh her late husband came to her, and requested her to have t:co marsts sung for the peace cf his soul. In c onsequence of this folly, she went to Priest , and informed him of her bus band's supposed situation ; and begged the Priest to say the two masses for hi troubled spirit. That Jesuit immediately asked the woman HIoiv much money have you got to give, in ordei that you may have the. benefit cf the church for your husband?" and then demanded one dollar for the (;co i;v??srs.' The widow pleaded poverty; and told the Priest, that the Protestants had been so kind to her as to collect money enough decently to bury him. "Go away,"' said the Priest, "and get mote money from the heretics, and bring it to me." The woman replied, (hat she could not do that for shame, hut she acknowledged (hat she had 75 cents winch the Protestants had givi i i -i t- . en ner oesioes me tuneral expense? Upon this information, after long en treaty on her part, and many vain at her besides the funeral n.vs,J tempts to squeeze 25 c ent more out of the poor distressed and deluded woman, the priett finally concluded to send her husband to heaven for 75 cents; which the woman gave to the deceitful priest. Nkwuy. (c!r!f Father Mc , a thai Roman Priest is usually called, wishes lo knew the writer of the above statement, we are authorized (o give his name; for he adds in a poscript to his letter "I am sureof (he truth of (he information, because I heard the collector cf !h money tell the circumstance and if the woman got her husband's soul saved out of hell and put into heaven for 75 rents it was is the cheapest job I ever heard oi. especially considering (hat the Priet knew that it was heretic money." This (he common method by which the Roman Priests of N. Yorkrob (he widow, the fatherless, the orphan, and the poor. Protestor! I T'itHiiiator. rortsn rRiFsrs" turtf.r ix holy TR 1FFIC. A confirmation by tne Popish prelate of fhis city, took place some time ago in Prooklvn city, N. V. The persons lo be confirmed were rhiefiv laboring men, and female servant. To accommodate them, the meeting was held at six o'clock in the morning. After going through the usual edifying mummery, and talking a deal of m ankish Latin, to ihe no small instruction and edification of poor laborers, and ignorant uirls. (he bishop (bus addressed them in English, that is to say, monkish English. "In laying my hand ond ye, mee fiients, I have communicated ond to e, te holy ghooset; the fcry saam hooly gliooset fat came town ond te to apostles, ond te lay of penteeost! Tat same very holy ghooset Pve put ind (o ye, even to each one of ye. Now, te holy ghooset is in ye: and ye all (oo need him very moosh. For, you are idl poor craters, and poor Irish kirls. who live ind do Protestant houses: and tees pioteslanls flatter you, and seem kood matured all of deni: but le all do hate ye as (e deiil: and fey will persecute ye all, wIvmi (hey can get the chance, even as if te hell was in dem!" These were the ideas, and they are expressed as nearly as can he recollected, in the prelate's words. I have two observation lo add on this extraordinary stereotype nddicss, which this nu mber of Antichrist, makes in the Popish chapels over our Stale, in what he calls his diocese. 1st. This poor man who knows nothing of practical religion; who may truly say with some of ool, "Ve have not even heard if there be any Holy Ghost;' does actually profess to convey the Holy Spirit, and saving grace, by the laying on ot his ungodly hands -Jd, These in-

fiamalory addresses nurse in the minds of his deluded victims, a deadly malignity against their protests, t masters and mistresses, and their kindest benefactors. The spirit of Popery i not that of love. It is the very essence of that spirit of Antichrist, and unreforroaide malice. May the Lord open the eyes of the abued and trodden down people, and deliver them from the f.ital sorcery of foreign Jesuit?! Protestant VindicaUr.

A Jesuit i: Co.xcstss. This may surprise some four readers but it is averted as a well know n fact. A Jesuit Priest for severnl years had his flock in Michigan so well trained that he was clerfed several limes, Delegate to Congress of that territory . And to delect the delinquency ef his subjects lie had his ticket? printed on colored paper!! What would the editor. nf political papers say, and say wild propriety, if Presbyterian ministers should ni;!:c polifi ul parfizan of (he members of their churches, and then offer themselves ns candidates for representatives of the people in Congtess?!! WABASH U1VEE. O.i (ho I Oth ttlf. Mr. Hendricks, from the committee oti Roads and Canals, reported to ihe Senate a hill making an appropriation for tim irnptoi ement of 'he river Wahssh; which ;vas read the first time. VU21.TC AMIS. O.i the 221 ul'. the h;M authorizing the relinquishment r.f the IfJth sections of land granted for the use of schools, and the cut rv of other lands in lieu thereof, wa o.onsidcted in committee of the whole Senate, intended, and ordered to he engroscd for a ihiid reading. On the 2.1d. the bill was accordingly read the third (irne mid pa-sod. On the IP.'h ilf. Mr. Ci iy. frcm the committee on Public 1 , r d-. reported to the House a ! :! for th ir ey f certain public land in Ohio; v, hie! " ' ? iu.hm; : ..o, a m.l ... . .... I ... I -.. i i i ... I io a 'i i uonz negaters ami Iveoivet. of Land Oilier to ;id;ninister oaths, in connection with the cntiv of lands; .which was read (he first time. On the 2 '.2d. hist nam d hill wa read a second time, and ;.fier some debate, ordered to he im-grossed h r a (i ird reading. On the 2.3d. said hill was accordingly read the third time, passed, and s'-nf to the Senate, where it v a? nnd the first time. On the 24'.h, if ;i considered in committee of the who!", in the latter body, repoited back, and ordered to a third reading. On the 23d, Mr. Clay. f,, m the committee in Public Land, reported u (he Mouse a bill supplementary to the act granting pre-omptie-n to "certain settlers on (he public lands - which was twice read and com nil led. onstit; tio. j. .ami npmknts. O.i Ihe 1 Of ti nl(. Mr. Ilamer submitted to (he Hone a resolution, w hu h wa agreed (o, ir.(ruclitig the select committer io which was referred so much of the President's .Message ns n kites lo (lie election of President and Vice Presidon, to irq-iire into the expediency of so amending the Constitution of ihe United States ns to provide for the election of President and Vice President, by a direct vote of the people in districts: the number of districts in each State to he equal to ihe number of Senators and Representatives to which each Strite nny b- entitled in Congress, and each district having one; vole the election of said officers in no event to devolve upon Congress no person who has been elected President, to be again eligil lo to that cdUce and dial no Senator or Representative shall be nominated or appointed to any office of honor, trust, or profit, under the authority of the United Slate?, whilst holding a seat in Congress. l : i : ( i l u T i o a 1 1 v CLAIMS. On the 23d nil. Mr. Johnson of Ky., from the committee on Military Affairs, reported lo the House a bill to revive and continue in foice (lie act to provide for persons disabled by known wounds received in the Revolutionary war; which was tu ice read and ordered lo be engrossed for a (bird reading. MILITARY LM WARRANTS. Oa the 22,1 till, the hill from (he House (o extend die lime for the issuing of land warrants to the officers and soldiers of the last war w ith Great Britain, was read twice in the Senate, and referred to the committee on Public Lands. On (he 23d, Mr. Poindexter from the above committer, reported back said bill without amendment. FltF.N'CH spoliations. On (he 22d ult. the Senate resumed the consideration of the bill providing indemnity to American citizens, who su tiered by spoliations on their commerce, committed by the French, prior lo U100; when Mr. Shepley took the floor, and spoke at some length in favor of the bill. Oa the 13d. Mr. Hill