Western Sun, Volume 1, Number 12, Vincennes, Knox County, 19 September 1807 — Page 1

THE WESTERN SUN VOL. I. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1807. NO.12.

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FOR THE WESTERN SUN Messrs. Stout fc? Smooth A3 to Mr. Secretary, Bates, who made the revocation mentioned in my letter of the 8th July laft, publifhed in the Weftern Sun, No. 5, it is proper to fay, that by has allured me that the charge or petition which accompanied that letter, was fo fupported and elucidated, or rather darkened by men who do not refide in the diftridt ; men who for fome reifons I had been in the habit of efteeming and treating as friends ; that in his opinion the public interefl would have been injured hy fufter. ing me to remain in office, and the public welfare materially endangered by fuflfcring Bie to be heard in my defence.

I connot thank thefe friends for their interference, neither do the people of th difiridt thank them ; as the fequel will prove JOSEPH M1 FEU RON.

To his Excellency FREDERICK BATES, Seerttarj, and S-.i.vjjicio governtr rf the territory of Louisiana. The fubferibers inhabitants of the diftrict of Cipe Girmrdeau, in the territory aforefaid, humbly reprefent that have heard with real concern and mortification, that your excellency has been induced to re move fjom office, Jofeph M'Ferron, who hasfmcethe eftablilhment of the courts of the American government in this territory exercilVd tir duties of prothonatory of the court of common ples, and clerk of the quarter.fcffi'-ms in and for the diftrift aforefiid. Deeply imprelTed with a ftrong fenfe of the nuir motives, and patriotic

care of ycur excellency, and confeious fj

the weight, which in the government ot,

United America, is given to a general ex predion nf the public will, we beg leave to rcprefent, that Jofeph M'Ferron was ap. pointed to the offices aforefaid, at a time wli'n proper buildings could not he had in the dillria for the reception of courts and offices, and which we are Hill deftitute f ; and that he labored under a grievous malady fnr a confiderable time after Jjis ap. pointment, and is but lately recovered therefrom i pet notwithstanding thefe difil. cultiei, ve have no hcfitatirtn to lay, that he his u rrformed the duties of faid offices well, and lias at his own expence provided himfelf with an ffice tmi, and all other things neceffary atid proper for the per. formani e of his dutir aforefaid ; we are will.ng to believe he is capable of performWig hf duties of the offices aforefaid ; and ire well convinced that no man is more honeftly. If futh

removal has taken place, we t re well aflu

red that your excellency has been induced

thereto by a total mifreprefentation of John Lark, John Welborn, Alexander

M'Fe rron'a real character. For thefe rea

fons we humbly pray that your excellency will reinffate the faid Jofeph MFcrron in the offices aforefaid (if he has been re mo

no fuch removal has taken place, and your .. . t i

petitioners in amy oouna will ever pray, 2cc . - -

Signed by

Ghriftopher Hays, firft judge of the

common pleas, and quarter feffions. John Byrd, a juftice of the common pleas, and quarter feffions. Louis Lorimier, a juftice ,of the com.

mon pleas, and quarter feffions.

Kooert Green, a juftice of the common.

pleas, and quarter feffions.

Abraham Byrd, a juihce of the common

pleas, and quarter feffions, and cel. com

mand ant of the militia.

federick Limbaugh; a juftice f the

quarter feffions.

John Guething, a juftice sf the quarter

lellions.

James Cowvin, a juftice of the quarter

lellions.

George Henderfon, judge of the probate,

deputy recorder and treafurer.

William Ddugberty, Coroner John HayS, fticriff. 1 John C. Harbinfon, attorney at law George G. G. Harbinfon, attorney at

law.

James Evans, attorney,at law. Stephen Byard, major in the militia Luke Byrne, Mofes Byrne, Morgan Bry.

ne, Andrew, Ramfey, fen. John Rouland Charles Bradley, BatUaft Eodar, Ifeec Smith, John Roche, Robert Piboney, Mat. thewScrugs, John Giboney, Andrew Ranifey, Tames Ramfey, Terrance Doyle,

fVV right Daniel, Charles Charters, Jolhua

Hunter, Jacob Friend, Jacob Jacobs Wm. Dunn, Samuel G. Dunn, Jofeph Neely,

Tohn VVilfon, Jeremiah Simpfon, John

Simpfon, Jofeph Simpfon, William Penny,

Martin Potney, John Kodney, rviicnaei Rodney, S. D. Strother, Dens. O. Sullivan,

John Camron, John Gafter. Neil Poice,

Elijah Dougherty, J. Uouglierty, r,zeiciei Able, Jeremiah Able, Edw. Davis, John

Davis, Samuel hew, John Uooper, jonn Fiftier, James Arrel, Jeremiah K'tky, David Holly, John Albernthie, Waftmgton Alberncthie, William Verdew, Simon Kinnen, John Sheperd, John Weaver, John Cox, James, Cox fen. James Cox, jr. John Hanley, James Cottle, jofeph Thompfon, Dudley Dent, Wm. Ramfey. Peter Eodeove, Ithmer Hubble, Jo feph White, D. Cooper, Gme. Lorimier, James Hannah,, Charles Wall, james Dontv, John Summers, fen- Lewis Latham, js. Boyd, Auftin Young, Henry Young, Henry Howard, Jnhn Boyd, John M'Carty Da vid Green, Nathan M'Carty, George Hays, lfaac Kelly, John Martin. Hugh Crefwell, Jos. Dennis, Anthony Randal, james Hughes, Johnathan Buis, Jco Tunt, Jofeph Giles, James Ruffell, Jcoh Kelly jr. Zedekiah Howard, John Hand, Levi, Bennett, John Skeen, Jacob Skeen, Edward Spair, jeams Williams, Kele Spear, jef-ph Bellew, Benijah Laghcrty, Charles Demoi, job Throckmorton, J. Taylor, Ens Raudale,jr. Ifaac Williams Jeremiah Conoway, M. J. Turner, John Seavers, David Farrel, John Hannah, Ithamer Hub. Me, jelTe Blanks, Reeder Green, George Wolf, Jofiah Lee, Frederick Limbaugh, jr. Ardiii Brown, David Patterfon, Pierre Pge George Myar Morry, Jafiah S. Ellis, Michael Schell. John Riftier, Aucullus Lorimier, Frederick Gibler, John Randal, Soloman Shorn. David Harris, Jofeph Clark, John V. Gilder, Saml. Randal, WHIiain

Rofs, Noah Rofs, Enoch Rofs, John Bald win, John Hogan, Alexander Andrew,

Milikin, Jefle Millikin, john Ramfey, P.

Coufin, Robert plair, Enoch Evuns, Thos. Welborn Joel Welborn, George Hacker, John Lane, Levy Hughes, Robert Groom,

ved therefrom) or renu? bis commiflions if jofiah Quimby, William Sowle, Stephen

Quimbey, Martin Tofh, Daniel Mullins,

Elijah Wellborn, james Wellborn, George

Cook, Charles Fenley, George Saddler,j

John Sadd'fr, Ifaac Hatfields, Wm. Htk-

er, Abfoom Hocker, Thompfon Byrd, Stephen Jones, Minos Mountz, James

Hannali, William Williams Levi Wol-

vertop i

District of Cepe Gnrardeau, 27 tk Jfaj,

1807. SfR, BUSIED in the exercife of official duties of prothonatory of the court of common pleas, and clerk of the general quarter feffions of the peace, and for this drift, 1 was greatly furprifed on Saturday the 16th inftant to hear it reported that my Commiffions had been revoked. En tertiining an opinion that your excellency is directed by motives the rnoft pure and diftihterefted, in your vigilant and patriotic guardianship of the interefts and happineft of the good people of the territory, I fuffered a petition to be circulated in my be. half, not with a view of dictating to the government, but from a confeioufnefs of having atled well in my official capacity aud of having moft carefully preferved all the papers of my offices. I hoped to be able to prefenuto your excellency a true

picture of my character. PoffVfling the moft high and folemn veneration, for the conftitution of-ray country, and peculiarlyattached by fentimentto the righteous prin. cipleofthe American revolution, and to the prefent adminifttation of the general

government, with a difpofition the moft ardent to perform, moft promply, faithfully

and impartially all the official duties of my ftation, and having performed thefe duties

during a feafonof ficknefs and want, to

the fatisfadlion of all the honelt and well meaning citizens of the diftricl Having at a confiderable private expence provided

mylclf with an office room, and all things

fitting and neceflary to enable me to per. form my duties in the tnoft fatisfaclory manner, having flattered rryfelf that the

govcrement of my country, would permit me to reap the reward of honeft labor, and give me time to recover my lofs, for hith. erto I have not made any money, but con.

fiderably difburfed my own, in the ftrong hope that my offices would at a future daybecome profitable, having the opinion that men Ihould not be difgracefully driven from offices, to perform well the duties of which

require long practice, and all the verlatiii. ty and ingenuity of the human mind. Having perfectly recovered the enjoyment of health, how was I aftonifhed in finding that myinveterate and implacable enemiei, had prevailed againft me. With all the dtferrence due to the high authority with which your excellency it invrfted, 1 did hesitate a moment to take the fenfe of the rood people of this diftricl, not doubting

that yourexcellency when acquainted with my real character, would do me ample juf. tite ; for my friends, and 1 had no doubt

that I muft have been moft egregioufly mifrenxcfrnted, before your excellency

would take away my commiffions ; and

fonieftures were not groundlef, for or

22d inftant, (on which day Mr. Scott fhetved me his commiffion) and fince I have

difcovered fo much of this black and fe

cret bufinefs, as to underftand that it wa?

in confrquenct of the affidavits of Soloman

Ellis, Thouus Bcllcw, Rcbtrt Hall, na

jofiah S. Ellis, and perhaps two others.. Your excellency will readily perceive the difficulties to which I was fubjecled by this expert e evidence 1 was not heard ; I had no opportunity of crofs examining thefe men ; Bellew and Hall are gone, perhaps forever they were about to depart at the time they made thefe affidavits, and I know it was at the affiduous repeated in ftance of Soloman Ellis that thefe affidavits were obtained. . -SilUnaAn-Hllis Umlt vrug in this country from Georgia I became, acquainted with him in July 1806, we becaufe intimate., I venerated the old man I even thought him Jionctt plainly faw that he was not the wifeft man in the world But with me honesty and frankness compenfate for every thing elfc ; and I was foolifh enough to think he poGVffcd thefe qualities. 1 laid myfelf open before him, in his prefence I had no rcferve About this time I was dying with the cholick; this was the real cause of his friendfhip when 1 was gone fome of his family would ftrp into my place, for there were no rren befidrs himfe'lf and thofe of his choice fitted for the offices of thisdiftrict ; the old man's head and heart wer- full of thefe ideas. I began to re-, cover my health ; I rould not fupportthe old man in his projects. Neither the world nor my own heart can accufe me of ever coveting any man's place property or any thing that he was in the quiet pofft ffiori of, nor of rendering aid to thofe who. did Would to God that all men were fuch zt I am in this refpeel, I would not be under the very painful neceffity of making this addrefs. It was found that I would a littie while longer, the old man became impatient no'great wonder, 1 was doing him an injury, poffeffed a place that he' coi fi. dered bis, and wiffied to beftow it on fome more pliant friend 1 muft be removed Ah ! woeful day when I began to retrace

ny fteps to the grave the old man com

menced his machinations he is killed in envys wary wiles. The general character

of my accufer, and his views, are fuch

that on an expofition thereof, I hope all

the evil effects of his evil paffions will van-

Hi as the bafcJrfs fabric of of a vihon '

To attack or be inftrumcntal in expofmg i

the frailties of humanity, is all things the

moft foreign to my. heart and difpofition

But when no alternative remains, I owe

this reftraint upon my feelings t my freinds j

and to myfelf. I have foibles, all men are ; fubject to levities and indifcretions but when a man is befet by fpies, when men aparently the trneft friends, but fecrctly j

the molt impiacaoie ana invererate enemy s, ; their views finifter and fclfifh, aud com

pletely in oppofition with the moft com- 1 mon offices of humanity I fay when a man is befet, watched, and finally traduced

y beings of this defcnption, when all that

malevolence or envy can collect in this

way is expofed, who will appear fpotlefs ;

1 can fafely anfwer no man on earth. . ,

I received the commiffions of protnona- j

tory and cleik of this diftrict from govern- J or Harrifon, (to whom I had the honor of

being perfonally known) on the firfl enablifhment of the American government in.

litis country, lean appeal with pleasure! to all honeft and good men who have, -

known me from my birth, even until this

riay and I can fafely appeal to Uod and to my own confeience, of the reitude of my life nd convcrfation. in every fitu'ation in which I have been placed The happinefi and welfare of my fellow citizens of -very defcription hascer been the pride of my life it has ever been, and flnl i" the . moft ardent wiffi of my heart, to perform my duties as a good and faithful citizen, nd if I have ever deviated thrrcfroci, is not bttn cy choice

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