Western Sun, Volume 2, Number 46, Vincennes, Knox County, 21 October 1809 — Page 1

WESTERN SUN.

lure, or the collly coulter of the fportfnun

VINGENNES, (I. T.) FROM THE PRESS OF E. STOUT. Vol. II. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1809. [ No. 46. ]

which, by the dmiion, was reduced to lour fertile body ot land, has Uid tlir foundation

On Tuefday latt the Governor met both members? By the old law, nine was to be for a great intreafe of wealth and popula-

iiuuir5 m ui: ivcpreiciuatives namuer, mc grcaicu nunioer auowcu to uic iioule Hon I and delivered the following of Reprefentatives, and feven only had ac- The organization and diftipline of our

a v -- wwu uitiuiivui i'un ib la iiiijui millilJ, lias, iur d luiiiiuciduit lime ruoru Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and fible to believe that Congrcfs had afted un- my unremitted attention, but thr proirefs Gentlemen of the House cf Representatives, der the imprellion that after having lopped altho' conliderable has fallen far ffiort of my " t The happy change which has been eflec- oft' what was conlidcred one third part ot the wilhes, Sc of that ftate which promiles effected in our confUtution by the aft of Con- Territory, that there would remain feven tual fecurity to our expofed fettlements. grefs, which gives to the people the choice members in Indiana ; Documents fuffici- The law upon this fubjeft is indred extreme of the members of the Legiflitivc Council, cut to Ihew the number of members which ly deficient, and altho my recomme ndations and the Delegate to Congrefs, is a fubjeft would remain were alfo at hand, as the pro- for amendments have been as urgent and of felicitation to every friend to the happi- ceedings of the Governor in his Executive frequent as my refpeft for the two hoofej nefs and profperity of the Territory. This capacity, are biennially tranfmitted to the would allow, every attempt to procure aft is alone fufficient to prove the parental prelklent. From all this it appears to have them has hitherto failed. 1 cannot iuppof tare of onr National Government, and been the intention of Congrcfs, that a Ge- that thole unfounded jealoufies of the accufiiews alfo, if other proofs were wanting, neral AtTcnibly ihould be couvened under mutation of power in the hands of the Ex.that the unfortunate dtviflon of our late the old law, previoully to the organization ecutive, which have been propagated aTcrritory, rould only have been effVded by direfted by the new. No other conffruc- mongft the people with fo much indnftry, a total mifreprefentntion of the intercfts & tion can be given to the fcftion without and fo little fuccefs, have ever found adwiflies of four fifths of our citizens. rendering it altogether a nullity. Thr pow- mittance within thefe walls. Altho' not Gentlemen of the house of representatives cr given to the Governor in the 3d fcftion well informed of their fourcr, it is not im--;The proclamation which convened you to apportion the members of the Council, pofiible to believe, that they have a common at this time, was not iffued without fome is alio a ftrong circutuflancc iu fvor of this origin with thofe unremitted exertions to doubts of its propriety, arifing from the conitru&ion. Under tLe authority of the excite our Indian neighbors o hoftilitits different conflruclions which might be giv- old law he could not organize a houfc a againft us. Th?t infamous policy which cn to a chofe in the al of Gongrefs for IleprciVntatives, but as Congrcfs hud deter- would kindle the fury of the blood tbirfly extending the right cf fuiFiage in this mined to drftruy the former Council, and lavages, and direct it againft an unoffVnd-

Terntory, and for other purpofrs. By the as there could be no General Aflembly ing people, would not be too delicate to at-

f aft creating the Indiana Territory, the ap- . without a Council, it was neceflary to invelt tempt by any means, to paralife the force

jortionment of the reprefentatives amonglt him with this power, or their intentions which would defeat their machinations. the fcveral counties, (which was not to ex- with regard to the fubfrquent organization It is the duty of every republican to keep ceed nine, nor be lefs than feven) was com- of the Houfe of Reprelentatives could not a watchful eye upon thofe who are entrufmitted to the Governor. Before the aft have been efFeftrd, and the Territory left ted with the reigns of government ; but it - sof divifion took efFeft, the Houfe of Re- without a Legislature. Thefe are my views is no lefs his duty to give to them that conprefentatives was compoftd of feven mem- of the fubjeft, gentlemen, but ihould you fidence and fupport which is fo eflVntially bers, but four cf whom by the line of dc- diefFr from me in opinion, I would recom neceffury to the proper difcharge of their marcation was left in this Territory. I mend that the laws you may pufs, Ihould duties. No trouble or expenfe fliould be j thought it proper therefore to iflue a pro- not be fuffrred to go into oppcration, until fpared to procure the removal of a bad ofti- ' ilamation on the 4th of Aprl, giving to application can be made to Congrcfs to con- cer, but every citizen fliould be prepared to , each of the old counties an add itional mem- firm them fupport the conftituted authoritifs of his ber, and to the new county of Harrifon, Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and cuuntry, in every legal exercife of his func- ' one, alfo. After the proclamation had Gentlemen of the House of Representatives tions. The Territorial form of goverribeen figned, but before it had left the of- The divifion of the Territory, has devol- merit poffeffes fome traits, which are not J fice of the fecretary, I received the firft in- ved on you the unpleafant tafk of provid altogether reconcilable with republican 7(timation, that a law was about tobepaffed ing for a confiderable defalcation of the re- principles, and the commiflion with whkhl

by Congrefs, which amongfl other provifi- venue. But before any additional burthens am honored, is independent of the people, ens, transferred the apportionment of the arc laid upon your conltituents, every pofli- I am, however, fo perfectly convinced that reprefentatives from the Governor to the ble retrenchment fhould be made in the their confidence and fupport are eiTentially Lecnflature, and increafed the number of expenditures of the public money. If your necelLry to the proper difcharcre of many

jh tiembers nrcefiary to form a houfc from labours to this effeft Ihould be inefficient important duties, as to be unalterably dc-

lj fcven to nine. 1 he proclamation being in to reduce the demands upon the I rcalury, termincd, that the moment which brings a ' r!I refpefts completed, and confidcring the to a level with the receipts, we have no o- conviction, that their confidence has becu allowance of additional members in the na- ther refource than that of increafing the tax withdrawn, fliall terminate my commiflioii

ture of a grant, and the law under which I on lands, v further tax upon any fpecies by a voluntary relignation. Such is the

afted giving me no power to abrogate an ot improvemeet would be highly impolitic, nature gentlemen of military affairs, that a

d of this kind when once done, I did not and the odious capitation tax, (that appro- great iacnhce of that liberty which is the

' ffiink myfelf authorifed to countermand the priate emblem of an arillocratical govern- boaff of every American, becomes neerflWy

tleftions which had been ordered. Nor ment) ought on no account to be again re- even in the temporary affumption of the I, indeed did there appear to be any neceffity for ted to. As the wealth of our citizens military habit, which our laws require of J far doing fo upon an accurate examination confilU almoll exclufively of lands, no tax every able bodied c itizen. The powers gi)ca the law itfclf, which foon after reached can be mor equal and juff, than that which ven to the commander in chirf nd other ( nv. The 4th 0-ftion of the aft does in- is levied on this fpecies of property. It ftiperior officers, Ihould be ronimenfurate to i?;-cd give to the General Affembly the ap. ought inderd, in my opinion, to be the the great objeft of the militia inflitution.

r pnrtionment ot the Kepreleniatives, and iource trom wnicn, wi;n lomc trining ex- thitot lornnng t :y rticipline ai.u trequent

crclares alio that there fh .11 not be lefs than ceptions, we (houlu draw the whole ot cur trainings, a body of citizen f.lJieis, which nine- but how was this to he done by the revenue. It is impoilible to m ike the tnx fi -mil be eqml to the defence c t our country Gmral Afiembly unlefs they were cmve- upon horfrs an equal one, bec?iufe tbe ex- againff rvery invader. By urging this fubrd. and how could a Gener-1 AlTemhly be p-nces of valuation would nearly ahforb the jrft upon you, gentlemen, I wilh it nrt to

formed even under the old law, without an whole amount, and realon and julticee- be underltood that I have the I-afl reafoii

incrcafc of the Iljufe of Rtpreicnutivcs, vclt a; the idea ot taxing the low priced to complain of the want of militaiy -ardor