Western Sun, Volume 1, Number 20, Vincennes, Knox County, 30 December 1807 — Page 1

WESTERN SUN

EACH CENTURY HAS ITS PECULAR MODE OF DOING BUSINESS, AND MEN GUIDED BY MORE BY CUSTOM THAN BY REASON, FOLLOW WITHOUT ENQUIRY, THE MANNERS WHICH ARE PREVALENT IN THEIR OWN TIME.—HUME.

VOL. I.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1807.

NO. 20.

FOR THE WESTERN SUN. (Continued from our last.) We the subsribers in order to do away as much as in our power, the evil impressions made upon the government against Joseph M'Ferron by the affidavit of Solomon Ellis, Thomas Ballew, Robert Hall, and Josiah S. Ellis, after being duly sworn bepose and say, that we have never seen the said Jofeph M'Ferron either in or out of court, in a state of intoxication, unfit to perform the official duties of his offices of prothonotary and clerk, and we are of the opinion, that he is in no wise, disqualified

by drunkenness, or any other evil habit for

the performance of those duties, and can-

not by any means be justly called an habitual drunkard. (Signed)

Medad Randel, Pierre Godare.

Persona!ly appeared before me, the sub-

scriber, one of the Justices of the court of

Common Pleas, the above subscribers, who

made oath, that the above certificate is just

and true Cape Girardeau, 17 June, 1807 (Signed) CARISTR. HAYS.

(F) I William Williams, refident of Cape Girardeau, in the Territory of Louisiana, in order to undeceive the government and the world with respect to the character of

sonally came before me Christopher Hays,

firft Juflice of the court of Common Pleas, and General Quarter Seffions of the peace, in and for faid diftrici, the above fubferiher

William Williams, and after being diily

fworn, on the Holy Evangelift of Almighty God, depofes and faV3, the foregoing

certificate is juft and ,truc, and ligned his

name thereto in my preflnce Given under my hand and leal the day and date a.

bove.

(Signed)

ritory aforefaid humbly acd refpeflfully re-j

prelent, 1 hat penetrated with a high fenfc ofpublic juflice, and aluated by motives purely patriotick, vre i fecoud time addrefs the higheft executive authority in tfcis Territory, for a redrefs of the grievance of Jofeph M'Ferron, vrhofe commif-

(ions your excellency has been induced to

revoke throuch the ffrounuleis, fallc and

mliiiouS accufations of three or four evil

difpo&d peifons.

From the confidence we repofe in your

U i 1 K lo 1 1 j r W a K HAT, l SJjexcellency, wedoubt not that the revoca-

Jofeph M'Ferron, Efqr. which has been uniullly, flft!y and malicioufly traduced by

the accufations of Sol onion Ellis, Thomas

Ballew, Robert Ha a:M JoG h S. Ellis

which accufttions have bren detailed by

George C. C. Harbiion, Efqr. do certily that I became acq Jointed with Jofeph

M'Ferron, fliortly alter his arrival in this dillri, and more particularly in the fpring if tlie year 1806, at which time I began to

V build a houfe in the tnvn of Cipe GirarJdeau, for John C. Harhifnn, Efqr. which 1 built, and alfo built a houfit far Jofeph M'Ferron, all? a houfe for Frederick Gibler, adjo'miug the ftrect, next door to M'Ferron, and alfo fome confiderable work at fundry hdufes in the town of Cape Girardeau. Djring which time 1 became wrll acq nintcd with M'Fcimn, and was

aim ft every day in his comnany, perhaps

lor the fpacc of fix months, curing which time I can fafsly aver, that I never have

f-en the fiJ M'Ferron, in or out of court, i l no wife intoxicated with liquor, fo as to difqTalify him from performing kis ofiicial duties as prothonotaiy and clerk of the court, and tint he cannot be jullly called a h ibitu l drunkard, hut fo f.r to the contra.

(G) I Stephen Byrd, refident of the diflrift

of Cape Girardeau, in the Territory of

L.ouuiaua, do rrerrny cernty, tnat l wts

prefentatthe firft meeting of the board of commiflioneis and aflefiers, in and for this diQric, which I believe was on the fnft

Monday in March, in order to chufe a

clerk to the board, and that fom-r of the hoard faid they wifhed Jofeph M'Ferron

fent for, and that olomon r.lhs made re

ply, and faid that M'rcrron was lvincr

drunk. I do certify that I h-d jnfi come

from M'Fcrron's ofiice, and. tint he iwas

doing bufinefs in his officej and that, if he

was intoxicated I could not perceive it

Alfni, that I have been frequently in M1Ferron's office, and that 1 can fafely aver that I never favr M'tferron, either in or

out of court, in a (late of intoxication, fo

as to difqulify him from performing his

official duties as prothonotary and clerk of

the court, and that I think he is in no wife

entitled to the name of a habitual drunkard

Given undr my hand and leal this 22nd

day of June, 1807. (S'igned) STEPHEN BYRD, l s

District of Cape Girardeau, set.

P.e it remembered, that on the 23nd day of Tune, 1307, perfonally came before me.

the fubferiher one if the Juflices of the

court of C lnimon Pleas, in and for the

t fore faid diflrift, Stephen Byrd, the a

hove fubferiher, and after beincr duly

fworn on the Holy VLvangrlift of Almighty

God, drpofed and fays, that the forego inf certificate is iuft and true, and fubfrri

brd his name thereto in my pretence Ci

ven under my hand and feal the day and

date above.

Signed) UOBt. GREN, l s

Cape Ccrardecw, July I80f.

matter of juflicc that the enclofed copies

of two letters from Burr to that gentleman

Ihould he pubhlhed as they will not only evince Mr. Harrifon'i ignorance of his nefarious projects, hut will expose the bafe iiypociify and infamous falfelioods to which the little traitor could refort, to mafque his villainous purpofrs, and cheat even thofc whom he called his friends. JUST1TIA; Richmond October 26, 1837"

SIR,

I HAD the honour to addrefs a letter to your excellency, by the IaQ nuil ftm this place, which I hope you have dj ly received. -1 now enrlniV a number of certificates mat -;ed A. B. D. K. F G. the certificate markrd C. I will IVud with the

rv. tnu i uo not orueve mere 45 a man in urtmon. 1 nave taKMi t ie iiitrtv to en

this ddlriCM that will perform the offices ofrlnfe a copy of the petition now in circu

lation.

In nuxiety for the fit- ?ht av;aits mr, I am niofl ubcuiently, Signed JOSEPH M'FERRON. His Excellency, Frederick Bate-. tmat: '. : lm To his excellency, Frederick Hatrs, 5"ecre.

taiy, excrcii'u g the Government of the

Tenilorv of Louilina.

AVe the li jf,; riSers. :f;e iinl-ilitact- c.f

the difiiic el Capr (iirirdcau, iw thrJTcr

tion was made from the pureft and rnofl

laudable motives but we have to lam-

ent tnat any could ue lour.a Dale e-

4 nough to practice impofitions in fo con

temptible a manner upon the government of

our country, in fo important a point

Ve are verv far from offering to dictat-

but we are as far from being willing that;

impolitioiis fo grofs and flagrant, as the ac-j cufitions againlt M4Ferron, fliould prevail in matters which concern us fo nearly

as his temoval.

We beg leave to fay, that, although id

Territorial Governments, fuch as ours, the

voice of the publick cannot be collected in

any way pointed out bylaw, yet we are not

ignorant of the rational, jult, free and liberal principals upon which the governments of United America reft, and hiimbly hope

hat the wifh and prayer of this diflricl, will

not be altogether in vain.

We would not thus obtrude upon the

executive, were we not completely convin

ced of the flagraut iniuftice done to M'Fer

ron, and at the fame tune of our own

nowledge fully fatisfied of his faithfulnefs

and punctuality in the difcharge of his of

ficial duties, and his well founded claim to confidence Wc are moreover convinced

from M'Fcrron's official qualifications, and

fairnels ot charaaer, that none or but few

will difcharge the duties of prothonoury

and clerk as well, and fo much to the latisfacVion of all.

We can never he of the opinion that an

enlightened and virtuous government can commit injuftice one day, and the next.

(when convinced of the mjufbee) be una

ble to repair the iniary (tern jullice sviie

poliiy- the reafon and nature of things,

all cry out pgninft, and peremptorily foibiu

fuch a mrafure. On the contrary wife and

virtuous governments, wife and virtuous men, will ever be willing and ready to

learch out and learn the errr rs of vtficr4 d-y, in order this day to rctradl them, and

repair the mifchieU they may hae occad-j ond i We conclude in lumihly b fecc hing you eycellrmy to renew to Jofeph M'Ferron, the comtniffior.s rf jrothorjotaiy of the roujt of Coniuu n l'iean, nul ch-ikofthe Genersl (v u :r f ili.m? of the peace, in

;nd ior tlu-i i.iurii. nd nir p-iituueri is in duty bonne?, will ever pruv he.

( Snldcrihed by thiee l.in'dt.-i!

; (COPY.) ' Lexington, 24th 0U 13Cct iy der Sir, BY the handt of my frieid and relation Major Wcfcott, you will re ceive a newfpaper, containing the orderi lately ifiued by General Jackfon, to the

mihtu of Welt lennehee, being the diviCum under his command. It occurred to me that you might deem fomething fimilar to hc addrtfTed to the militia of Indiana, not

unexpedient at this moment, and that the

perufal of this production might be accep

table. , . , , ?

All refledtinsr men cotifider a war With

in to be inevitable ; in fuch an event, I

prothonotary and clrrk, with more pundtu-

alky, or more to the 1 itistactiou o! toe peo-p-generally In witnelV wheieot 1 have i ei eunto fct 'in hin-1, this 19th djy of Jtri-, in tli y-ar our Lord, one tLoufand eigV.t liunJied and fevcu. (Signed) WILLI A VI WILLIAMS. District of Cape Girardeau ssy V: it rcm-tnbrred t!;at on the 19th day of Jtine, in the year iti the year of our Lord one thoufaud eight hur.dicd and fcvcn,per-

ward, of the very M nr 1 uus .4ti2ens of the diftricl ci Cije

To be cou;irud.

and im

r fj.'M;lahh On iidcau.

x FROM THE INQUIRER, Perccivinr: an obhrur attentot in t! a oracle cf ttu'.h, the Weiie.n World tn ro!.c;te Guvei oor Hanifn, lor fume ;'ir fined fyirpathv, in relation to Lurr, or I u.cotT-pl'ur, l)vis Ployd il:Srt; 'i Mr Harrifcn's character ai d conduct v- 1 f tlce to rrpcl ociy Lai ii-.iitiuatiji: it ii ;

Spain

think you would not be'at eafe as an idler f

fpeator. If it mould be, my lot. to he employed, which there is reafon to- cxpeclj

it would be my highefl gratification to be aflociated with you.

1 1 pray you to believe in aflurance cfthe very great refpe Ci and clleem with whithj , lam, 44 . Your friend &c. . ' (Signed) . . " ; a A. fcURR. HU Excellency Governor") - Harrison, Vincennes. 5 ; , Louistille, Nov. 27tb; I80f.'

Dear Sir, . CONSIDERING the variouJ ad extravagant reports which circulate concerning -me, it may not be unfatisfaclbry to you to be informed (and to you there enn be no better fource of information thaa inyftjj) that I hive no wifH or defigh to attempt a frpjration of the union, that I have no connexion with any foreign pow er or government, triat I never meditated the introduction of any foreign power or in"

Hue nee into the United States, or any parti of its territories; but on the contrary Oiould repel with indignation any propofition cr

in-afure having , that tendency - in fine,

hat I nave r.o project or views hoitile to

the intereft or tranquility or union of tha

Lnitecl otatcs, tr prejudicial to its gqyernnient; and I pledge you my honour for

lie truth ol this declaration. It mj true

that I am engaged in an extenfive fpecula

ion, and that with n.eare aficciatcd fome

of your intimate and deareft friends.

The obir.j zrc fuch as every mn of hqam

nour, and every good citizen mult ?pprcve.

t hey 'nave been communicated to ieveral

f the ptir.iipal ( fficers of our government particularly to one hih in the confidence

wf the dmimrlration. lie ls aliurrcl me ny tiews wttiU be grateful to the admiii ilrati .n. It. deed, r "l the nature of them t cannot l?r a'.he rwife, ai d I 1iave nodoubt of l.iin , irteived your adlirc fupport, if

r i on 4i i "iniiiuiiiv aiiQii vvnii ycu couiu.

0

4 L-

J.a. e oren ho. ntcident and tndifpenla .:S cccuptio:ss l.;vc prevented me fioni . if.ting yru f n tl c purpafc. Tl is expla utirn frcnieJ due to the frankntfs of your vlnracier, and yuiir irfpcnfible fttir;if ta ny own feeling, ;nd the attachment witli