Western Sun, Volume 2, Number 14, Vincennes, Knox County, 4 March 1809 — Page 1

THE WESTERN SUN

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

SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1809.

i No. 14.

THE WESTKRN SUN, IS printecUweekty at Two Dollars, paid in advance, or an attested Note, payable at the end oF the year for Two Dollars and Fifty Gents. No Subfcription will be received for a lefs term than one year iand will not lie dircontinued until all arrearages are paid Advertisements of no more length than breadth will be published at Fifty Cents for the first insertion, and

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To avoid unpleasant difputes, it is re

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Thofc fcnt without fuch directions will

be continued till forbid, and mud be

paid for accordingly

All letters, addressed to the Editor, must

be poll pad or they will not be taken

out ot the ouice

FOR THE WESTERN SUN. ilfi?. Editor.

WHEN in the difcufllon of

pclitical fuhjrfts an author defcends to icurrility and p-rfonal abufe, we may fairly conclude, tlut'liis caufe is a bad one, that lie fears the invr (ligation of its merit, and tUat the perpetuation of error, is his object. For no man in his tight hnles will, it ph ced on (Irong and defenlible grc-ttr.d, fuhQitnte intuits for arguments, :utd nfe threats, when he can convince Such ihutn.i have often fucceedrd here ; by a violent ttack on a writer, you c raw him off his guard, force him to a prCinal drTeucr, and make him look light of the real ohj e" he had in view, the public attention ts divert, cd to another point, and the main cpieHion is forgotten in the difgufling tumult of perfcnal iqoable. I was lod into thefe reflexions by the peiufal of fornc publication over the litnature of Slim Simon, to which J piece t;dl-0 the Citizen of Vinccune s, fecms to luvr j;iven rife. Tome, tqu lly uncquaintru with both, it is a matter cf perfect inditfrrencc whether tl;e hit is a had nun. or, his antagonill immarulate : the only thin.r wh-rein 1 feci tnyfelf cnniernrd, is, whether their principles and opinions are tortcCi, every tl.inv; clle is prilVftly iir-levaut. Nl y ("hj-ft in thefe numbers is to try the foliditv ot w hatevrr has thr femhlaire of argument in Slim Sinmn's tiroductiotis.

leftioneering trick with a view of carrying

a particular perfon, it is the open and a

vowed purpofe of electing only fuch, as will

oppofe every meafure tending to the intioduclion of llavery. A requelt to that ef

fect is Certainly proper, and cannot offend

the honelt candidates, be their opinion, what they may, and no man of honour will

decline avowing the principles under the

guidance ot which he propoles himfelf to

act.

That the Citizen has ufed expreffions of

feverity, and fome others wherein malignity

will fee perfonal allufions, will be readily

admitted ; butthofe defects wdl find theit

excufe in the warmth cf an hone (I heart, indignant at the vices which infc It fociety,

and are but two apparent here With the fame readintfs Til confefs that he has ma.

teriallv erred in the following inltance,-

he divides the people of this county into

two defcriptions ot p-ifons, federaliOs and

republicans ; the hi ft, trieuds or, and tht

fecond oppoled to 11 -i very There nevtt

were two fuch parties difcoverable here,

the country to long debafed by a terntori A government, exhibits the fune uniform ity of complexion, it is not union of fenti

ments, it is torpor. I he Citu ns dinint tion is tbr-forr inenrrcl, Mid clcul-'te:'' to tuillead Mad he laid that the frifiul of fl tvrry wete ariflocrats, his ptifiuot i would pei haps have been more tenable, for a friend to flaveiy mult not only be r,n nrif tociat in his heart, but one of the wortl kind. Common aristocrats have not, notwithltanding their inventive faculties, arri ved at the ultimatum of oppreflion, many means of afflicting the human race, havr by them been let umttempted. The ne ro arillocrat may witli jullire be faid to outflrip thrm all, he preys upon man himfclf, mnkrs his perfon, his et'dlrfs labouts. his offspring his own, and in the folnrfi of h;s own impotence often fUrvcs the friend lefv wretch who feeds him. Up'n the whole, the piece figncd a Citizen of Vinctnne;, notwitldtanding the blemiOies above nientioned appears to me, to be the work of a well defigning man, ac tuated by motives of public good This judgment which l have formed on mature

it flection, ant) which I doubt not many of

toy readers will supurfce in, is further oi fumed by his fuhfrqurnt numbers, v herrm, in an attitude of tranquil dignity h- further devrlopt his mottle and his viewn, oppoftljurf uinrnts to declamations, -in J fdeme to p-ttoru! infults. I will now proceed to Slim Simon, and full dilcafd th t ei!onnou :naf of extranr. ous matter, whic h nlo.uh his pges. Hn atrumft will tl-.-n nnear to be in tub-

territory receiving, or the ftate furnilhingi

the tupply, when their condition, would, by the propofed plan, have been in fome degree tneliorated. licfides, it is a well known

tact among ft commercial men, that the

product iventfs of a commodity will ulways

meet the demand, and tinte, to our (hame, the negro is an article ot traftic, it will fol

low that opening a new market for blacks

to the fouthern ttates, will have the infalli.

ble effect of keeping up their numbers

there This reafoning a priori will, I truft fa tisfy every rafonable mind, that the argument fo nun h relied on, and fo oftentati oufly repeated, is deltitute of all kind of lolidity. But I am not content to fufier the qurttien to left upon analogical deduc

tions, and I will proceed to prove by fact

you, I will make a few obferv?tions. It is alledged by fome well meaning mt n, that in number and atrocity, thefe crimes have exceeded thofe committed in an equal fpace of time, In any other part of the union, making an allowance for the proportion which cur population bears to them It has been afked frmi what cafe have thofc crimes proceded ? Is it from the rigor, or laxity of cur laws ? or is it from the exiftance amongft us of a greater proportion o Vicious individuals, forced by a more prompt and correct execution of the laws in the adjacent countries to emmiprate to Indiana? All agree in this, that the evil, as well as the application of the nioUedicient remedy which our leiflatore could devife, equally merit, and dein.ird the earlicft

and molt falutary confederation of the citu

the fdlacy of Slim Simon's reafoning?, and zrns in all p rts of the territory. Jt Iu3

that the exportation of negroes fioni one ot,b?en alledged, that our juries areavetfe,or

- i ,t t i r ii

Jn try rr.vi'avoms to perimm tnat i;.ik, l.Uaiue loiiow : fliill ;uitlr.i ti e uudeiitandini:, and not thej 44 'thc rxntiince of shivery in tftr Ss:t plVt:n of my read; rs, and fh;dl at h aU the rnSiJtt r, thrt:tcnirn; :h ne Mates ivtih ilami the met it, ratr in this place, of hv- (,:r;'f if is cor.iiter.t with gcvd f t treutrd thrm wi'.h becoming refprct. V; t rt i.ei; uutu t for sir.vs :n this temt, Hut brtore I enter iuto tliis inveitigati- n. cjrf h; ssjtUrtng them to rcv.dcr them

on it fjrco;n;s unavoulnie tf lav a trw ;j.? ar r;fi, '

word oti

th- ri-ce which has created fo

We m y lrnl rtir faneie? with drlufivr dreams, hut the unchme able hv.s of na

Thr obvious objret of the Citiien rfj ture tirvrr will c ie tt operate, rfirt d l )

murh irritatio'U

w . . . i i i

iiicriints. ws to oiiTam rr.Mn me

dAte for the 'j-cneral atTrnddy, a public drtliratt.m of their opinion u-lp'tmR lNerv, . fubjrA v. h t ( 1 1 uith biir.drrI o-t'.rr.-, hr jultly c oididrts ai of .dt importtt re. Ti e otrts be an uoqii ft'i,nnr r.ht to know tt t- political fentiuiM.!- ol tl.r tatuiidtes for the h gillitin e, tl'at'try i.mv miike a itun.l thoitr, ud ivr thr ir v-ilt to foe hat yv til rcprefent ihT.i ill leali:y, nd net in name only. That u no c-

I, WJ I lOriti

canoi iiritiHl t atih s r.r v-r wi cca r to Trov!ucr

thrir wo.ktrd rtlfCS, ai.d except you cXtri ntr the mi ic ot ptopgtioji, the nrjroe like rriy other fpTtrs of m-o, witrn, b wbai caufrs f;everthj4r f m tl it ion is rei

drred ii'cir h-", r. ot Kij deplorable,

proprrtiiHJ!dy ;pu!tt .lyX3?v i.o other pru;

riple can tl

it . i

lilies ur raii(ti?itv r x -

lord to fii;v.fr i!,,r thr population of r.

the foutbrrn Itaies, I;as not diminiHied their

numbers there. By calculations m de by mr. Jefferfon, in his note. on Vin ini, life correct nets of which h is never been qui ftioned, it appears that in the year 1782, the number of negroes amounted in Virginia, to nearly 270762. and by the 'cenf:itaken in the yrr I8C0. to 3 ii7G i Kentucky at the 'timer period being as it were lately difco vered,.ad in a weak and incipient ftate, cannot .'ffect the t orrcctnefs of our coticlulions. Thus we fee, that during a fpace ol 13 years, notwithstanding the v0 exportation! of negroes to Kentucky t Ten ne flee, and other parts, their number 1ms not only, fuffered no diminution, but has actually coulidernbly iucrcafed ; 'and it is but fair to pic film tlut the reception of flaves in thr MiffifTippi territory, New (Menus 201' Louili.ua, has not ferifiuly leffened their numbers in the other (lave Itatc?. 1 will now nlk the candid reader whether I am not jiifiifiable in inferring fiom the f.cts above (lattd, that the adu.ilTtotJ of ftavrry in Indiana could not muili vary the rt fult, and, as it is not likely tint the middle and eafter.; ftates could be made converts to that ftrange doctrine, that thr only fiuit we fliould reap from that impro vident mrafure, would be, to fre ourfelves pht ed by cur own choice exadtly in thr tame perilous fituation, whejeinto the fou

tbrrn flairs have hern forced, and winch rxcites fo much fympatl.y for them a-

tllul.ll IS.

A FARMER.

r r p.'.d jVillation of thrl' rmaliv r x rMnd, and it i ab

FOR Tfli- VVESTKUN SUN. TO 1 JAR MOD 1 VS. THK anxiotn fditituJc for th.r political f.!c of onr frllow citiz-?i5 which you in v lira 11 ifr ftrd, and the vigilant activitv wluih his been exerted by you, to prrvrwt thrm from being feduccd fn.m their rral in. trrrih, hv the infidu ujs aiti of thr Km l;(h nd Scotch, hIio have hern adoptrd, or p-i. ijiitted to refiue in our tree at d happy I tiif', KaveaiTurrd ne, vou muft be a fnu ur patriot, ami iurnifh a pledge to th- pojdr cf the territory, that you will not dr linr the invrfli tior of any o'h.T luhjcu which equally rttfect :b- ir lives liberty, am! n:err4l pr .tr, at d which for f-ni" tin;-, 'xve extr. d the iult nlarminK' apprrhen 1 oi in their mindi. 'i'fi- fu jf-ct v I u i ' w ukl atprrf'-nt recommend to th- invfl4ion rt i i:u li'nt aid b ri,4 uiMi at ynu appear to be, i, th'- fa; :: v of murder s s j.;ur.rt'nr, ind ot'ic? rnts, winch b-vr hrcn rerp-tra.rd '.Mtlur

too humane, to convict criminals ; ami. that the exerrife of the pardoning power, fiid to be veiled in our goven-or, in a late inftmce, contrary to the expectation of the citizens, will, irftead of decrcafing the evil, have a tendency to increafe it. The governor may fuppnfe that the citizens have not the right to know the caufrs which may hve ioilured him to parden Hiley. But, fuch a ftippofition may be groundlefs. In other countries, we find the people h-ve no rights except thofc whic h emperors, kings, and governors arepleafrd to grant. Tn the United States, all the powers legitimately exertifed by preiidents and goverr-ors, are conferred by the prople, who therefore have the right to know that the officers ot government apply thr laws correiftlv 'vry cafe. Within tbcfc frw d ys, the jjovernir has granted a paidon to an Indi. n rnirr.lttrd to the jVd of this ronnty for horf- j)-a ling, whic h, by our flattite is cpit . ; and lie was liberated ht fore tnal. ai wh b only, it is bcltevrd be mild y avail him lelfof ti e p-artloii. Ts thr lb nff in fuch cafes to ju-lge, ant librrate a ma;i v. bo preterits him a p-'i-don : and ran ti e only Court ompctr nr, ! precluded from .iC' upon, or r rn knowing :le cwf ? Afd tall t he cmiid'ment and thr pardon, rpT-rte thus in IVtrrtou the liberty and reputation

of a citizen ? fuch a procedure frr tns to be hollile to a correct adtniniftration of our Itvs. Hy tl;e ordinani e f r the government ot the territory, the fi uerior court has

a common law juriL'iction, but tint infhiiment doe3 not rxprefly m ll th- srnvrnor with the power rt pod ain. It n f il to be d-riveii from the common law, i.d to be incidental to the cXTutivr d-p irtn.-i.t of t!:is government. It Ihoul.i iVr m tfen fore reafonablr that our tl 1 1: rr w 'dd t o f;-

der this important fuoj wt. ; nd dlif in

what Cdfr thi power (!v uH n- ryrnihd, that no tufpit int;'. of t! e c orr c f'i -tion of fo !ii;;idv important a trn!t '"fjli r xitt in tlie mi:uls of tlie c r.ize'n, v oil". on tents grovrn (Mi, ot o'h' r c .. s, t!r '..ire.;oiT:HrcumfT!:crs Isave -w-ur tly courrifHltrd to ap.MaVitr. If you V II C0 V-y riir feutimeittt and oplnirn? 1 11 t'ls fe fobj fs thro tl'e mi .bum of mr. S'ottt' ii:de-

ifiit ii'per. vmi v.dl noirh

fellow iiuzcnv. m.-

PIM.O !I AUMODIUS.

iccs wcu'a rcni4iu iUtiuh-iy, cill.cr in tU'a li.ui t time 1 ait in the tcn'.tory. ToiIiit

:endmt pper, ymi jnufli o'd'C'e your

y-"f'u u! r!v.

TO THE CUT.EXS OF IX MAX J. WHAT I hive 1 i'.herto written, has Ven (!Utat?u by a fenf- of chry. if I '(ukl c dndv louk on, aw! (rr my coin uy

4 from a ,! t v urfu'd with un-

difi

rti

irc:ei

1 cjaiman z

al,by

men hih in

cliicc. ni