Western Sun & General Advertiser, Volume 12, Number 29, Vincennes, Knox County, 18 August 1821 — Page 2

n Mri,ma Mm II III-t - - -.-r-... -( mi Illl III 1- --- rilli liriM MtlMrMIIIMMMirrr nr ummmm 1 V

as the plumage, whether genuine or borrowed, of Kobert Ihnitin, jr. is not so sph ndid as

t; bewilder, I must view him as the person he assumes to be as the auth ;r 1 n replying J at all, howev er, to this hand-hill, 1 do not dissent from the opinion of some esteemed friends, that on com non occasions, unsupported assertion is unworthy of denial. They will t acknowledge this is no common occasion ; . and 1 am sure, thev can exerc ise more char- !

ity than the law which always presumes a man innocent 'till his guilt is proved. Hut there is another class of people even where this latter class will presume the truth of charges which indifference may permit to remain -unc'jntrovtrtul. I cannot, therefore, avail tnv self of th.it sentiment of silent contempt, which the subnet matter of this replv allowedly indue.es. 'Tis true, I have long kit too much confidence in the rectitude of my nigral and political principles, to dread the viper-like efforts made to hurt nic by tiic Centincl whiffler but 1 ha e long remarked the observation of MoUinginvkc, 4 if c.alatniy is laid on b idly, cuu by the most ti'irthis., mi'iion of societv, there is a risque that Some of it will adheie," aid therefore 1 hac occasion. dlv , and it ue t arv Miail here .tier in-ire fieri icuLul ' , , undo tiie base workings of even that creature. If io defence at this time, against uncan-

ditl anil unmanly aspv rslo . be considered by some as an act of vi pen-;; ition, it shall at h-ast be admiiU d by dl c ouial men, th U it is fairlv and coin iusivcly established. As nei titer property, nor ephemeral popularity, h v e hitherto weighed wnh ,,,c,in the pursuit of Vicfraluic w chare, so are ta y nov exrfidc.d cor-.si ier tim u In n my own character is ass ,dvd, and ycur w ish-s v'el'e ted. It h is never been my rule of e.tr d: v.a'- .s tnis measure f: JitL;r ? I have always, always sli dl. stop at much more simple a;;:l safer

of indisputable testimony, you are tnab.cd to draw jour own conclusion in regarel to the charge of Mr. Buntin, of a paramount coutroul in the Common's sae urged against nic in bis decent hand-bill ; and ii sou be itresistably foiced to adopt the opinion, that the charge is false, and was merely intended as a mischievous device to destroy the chance of my election, aod thettby gratify and subserve the angry ha'e of unconciliated vanhy, ambition, and interest, let it be remembered. As I have condensed all the charges

such a pitiful argument ? He still insuti in that hand-bill, that i am the writer or dictator," of the piece signed " Knox.' I should disdain to repeaL my denial, after having afforded the only testimony the nature of the case would admit of: and really, having read the piece since, with more attention, I cannot with-hold from the writer my public acknowledgments. He fcretold what I could not susfiect ; and manifested a degree of sagacity, of which 1 was entirely wanting. Had col Buntin pointed out the remarks

in that piece w hich he may have thought

on to our trade and population, and very materially lessening the count", taxes. 1 have, I confess, y t to learn, how the French were swi, idled," or how h better disposition ot the Common for the public good, could wed be imagined. The petitiou to Congress, which v.a signed by almost every citizen, may be found ftubliJvd in the Western irmn

of the 24: January, 1818 ; and 1 would lure aff rd a list of the goers name had colonel Bun tin persisted m Ins original opinion. The publication of the petition may have reached the eye of col. Buntin ; and if it did, then was the lime he should have blamed the proceed

hw. v ,,.. r,,,,,.-,,-,, w.w adduced bv col. Buntin, into two, Sc have

uil iviivii i tnv vi.-iv. 'i inv. v-" nil "i, - i - ' I I i I r t '1 ,

not approved until the JOth April, 1818. and : disposed of one at some expense ot time, , appucauie to nimscu, us possmie, now the Trustees did no: proceed many way, to ' I t.ink I shall be more brief touching that Ids conduct is known, there are maact up. in that Uw, until the 8th day of Sep the second; and I realty feel happy that ny men in community, who would not hetcmbcr following, wnen they adopted an or-, tj,e recoids of the Board renders that sitate to become their lk god-father " dinance for the survey h.uI sale of the Com- i CnUrse ,v oper one. The money of the But it is time to conclude. I had ramon, which was pubhshed, and the sale ad- C9mmQtt, fund has bccn ,he x -x ()f lher much rathcr bc thcvictim than the vet tiseu according v. r or tne tmal tirocceil- , .. . J . . e , J r ti i .t,.. ings on this or hn . , at fi ndh .. Pll!,llc investigation heretofore. It is gen associate of u!Kar a-t.fice. I had rather " Tins it will b. o:er v .i, w ?(. ' mouths crally known that dl the tunds received continue a private citizen, than be elected after tiie publication of the pciitio , .md.iir 1 on account of the small part sold, except l? thc Senate by such means and the mcntiis dter the p is.ge of the law of Con- - the nart necessatily expended for survey- time is approaching w hen such means gres, tdopied m compliance with that peti-, injr, Set. were loaned out on interest, tin- will tail of their effect. For. if politics t.o.i, w inch authorized the Trustees to sell, j tj demanded, for good no'cs with appto- are at all worth attending to, as nofieeBut U. BuMiii.Jr. mtimates he was at Cory- : vcd srcu, iiy As a member of the Board uian will dispute, then it is the duty of don and kno s notnmg ot the puhhc meet-, , C(l of that p10CCcUini;. I found every man who is entitled to a vote seiiing! It he was at CoimIou tt om J muarv un- r ,. , . , .1 i .1 i ii til September, tne time when the Trustees ! 0,"; disposition ot tne money must be ousiv to think the matter over-probab y nrst acted on he suoject, n.v nnunorv must ndc, and ; opposed lis being lodged in : bet caller they will be more likely to do be treacherous indeed, as well as the memo bank it cvas in preference to making a so ' 1 hey will look at the course of mear of cither citizens. Tne act ot Congnss deposit in bank, that I Was induced loan- surcs pursued, the men in power, and the

i . . : t a . i . ...... r t r v . . f i - . i a

oeprn cvi tne r rviua man.j.i.uus oi in; usv m proco: loaning: not one cent ot it uiu I situation cu uirir countrv, ana men cpm

ur eo.ihimn as oi.anuii), uu ,iua.vo.u- take on lntcrcst mysell 1 he result pare inese matters, with what tbcycouglir iy deprived every c.ii.eu ot any el urn wmat- shcws ycs it rox,r,Sf tiat J mjide the bet- ' to be, in dispite of ail personal bickering ever to the Un.n as it was p ,.e or . f preserve This will bring to a salutary termination law to :o. 1 he trdthtinct !)etorc m ntion- . . . . .... 7

eti j. nnes

-1

s d r.'ii'.u

ed, adopted bv tne lioird ot Trustees, was " i IUI " appa- cnt ii tins money nau c.mmiiir in mc coumij. fnr.dcd u.-oiith it u?y of Congress, &: when been lodged in bank at that time, even I o satisty my own mind, I have oltcn

Is it ::-j!i".t ? Now : s it was adoiiied, tie: poor I rencti nad been coi ttuntin couiu not ten wtiat rmgit have compaieu inc conduct ot the partic3

1 v o.:sder a netu e ot tne n atcu Dal no; otny rig: it .ual honest, bat an m V.spe usable du; . I v.U not question its expediency. This hand bdl, winch tike a p iper kite. apjeared on the day of election, hovering over the unwary French, 'after a sui feit of peurile frivolity, and fdse !mt pointless latimation that 1 will not nov deign to remark upon, reposes itM If oil the gross assertion, that was the pi incip.d agent in the .salt of the Conunni, and the disposal of the resulting funds. I do n it mean that this is its fihrmc-A vjf:, but wish to be understood that its language, whether . '.w'.ve 7y or nerrsMirily vulgar, impresscel ttjion the French voter and the American reader, that I was princip illy, if not solely, rcsoo ;si!)le for the whole transaction. To shew that this redieulous tale, which caused inv n one to be strickeu off so many Y ench tickets, is fallacious ; and that if Robert Bnntm, jr. did not knew it to be so, 'twas his own fault, when witn a pecul.ar hypocricv lie p d.ued il upon the ere anions with so much elect, is my object, and one which a phdn narrative of facts shall readily and conclude iv ascertain. A hisiorv of the orie-n and progress et the authority to,y. , and eon se uent vt.'f.v of the Common, will be argument enough, without the delay of obvious comment. l'.very American citizen in town, who has Tesided hereov er three year, knows that the avt of t'.oi.gress authorizing the sale of the Common, and direetu g the manner of it bv the Trustees of the Borough, as well as the Ultimate appropriation oi the coi. sequent sales money, w ..s passed, not in compliance of .'.' requestor th.it of any number of rmui ciie.g rhiividuatfu .t was passi d iti confhrlv.itv vv itii the pr.iver f ' the crr ;;.v cf t;r to'vn f' Vir.ccKu. as set f rdi in a pct'ti'Mi agreed upon aiul adopted at em adio-anad pulu'.e meeting of our eittZi ns, held t the Inn of M irk irne tt, i'a cii. on the e einnjr of the 3d of January, l.Vio. On that oceasifm, :, we 11 ;s at a tne t ;h:g-in n gard ti- the v. tne sim'e t held a f. w da sptevicus, K;.bt. Buntic., F.sq. not oriy ittende-l, but was tlie most co".-pieuon ; f. r ou both c-ec-.sions r.v d a', and j. uievl the ether citizir.s in s-'iT't; the p.r iVi r to Cohg-cs. This petition wlroh be-igtd oi Congts the ie simpU' of the Co.nmon, is the e;d bl.ina btc ..ct, if aw be blamea'.de, in relalien to the whole matter. Jn .acting on that petition the Trustees, as such, had no share. But the real situ itien of the Common at tint day, seems hv H. lUintin, jr. to be wilfullv or ignorantlv unknown ; lie wishes to impress the belief that the Common was the property or the French citizens. This a little enquiry will correct. The act of Congress entitled "An act iv granting lands to the inhabitants and settlers at Yinco'.iiics and the Illinois countrv in the territory North West of the Ohio, and for confirming them in their possessions," pproved the 3d day of March, 179 1, is the only law having any referren- e to this Common previous to that ef IS IK. This act of 1791, did not pv e any titie w iiatev er ; it merelv ntV u ded the :'-v of the Common 4i until otherw ise deposed of," to the '?..'.::.V'vv. Now, ea uh; the illiterate French citizens be made to believe that they were r.rra v.a entitled even to the use ef th wliidi was only tempor tr'.ly gr anted in C'.:mn . No; nvt -issur'-dly vi-ider that act, e ery inhab;?ant had equal privilege unt'd Congress thought rrvvr to d:snv se of it : .uid r:'":ied f.!: ft!" fit r.'.v cf r,.e r-::'tl S'.a:.' r to tifir dtfi-jsal c! irr: ti"?. As it is clear then that the Tnitcd States could at f.nv monntit. hive ordered the sale cf the vvate is: uni:nprovel tr .rt c died the

C ommon : u tr '.Ct e at 'er.im; about 50C0 aere. r.-a.r one half ef wh'eh ;s p.v.d. of water deiiu v. us to he t'uh. at-d ver :e .;'P i-ajs to the B u'ou'.'h., and to tiie surround'rg uoantrv ; r. d is it is t opi . U clear tliat ii td it not be.-;, r.vke.l, such mieht h tve b; en the n salt ; n' in th kt i ase -t vv fal 1 -v been ImMovsjYe- f indi'-i-hfd eiiterM-;-.. to hav e rid us .f qo : ju"ous ni:;s '.:( f tactuMd,or red limed 1mdo:.e a, a I i'-ge bod of as fertile 1 oi 1 it ev in the world, thereby enticing a large aduiti-

th

have, in part the welfare of the frail tu but with a tear, utizens, and of citiz ns vet un- I remain, fellow citiz

ens,

s-vm de l" by eOugres?., a: the instance J becotvc ol it at this day ! Yscc afifien- throughout the state, and every davr" ex-

.s.v-r-j to the m-vi, ii they really were dix DA penence furnishes me with additional"

swui'ueu at ill! until atter congress nau j am now through with the Common, reason to lov e and support the cause to Trtist's Uw!:r,;;nr?;Jrt and Common fund business; and I can- which I have always been attached. Vhe lioard in no wav interbred in the oiauer-a, lhlnk Y uonal man. who has read principles which I advocate, and shall adtaen records vvdl prove ccatfi rtdi.v . and can imdcrsta. d the whole matter, will vocatc, arc those upon which the it dciv ii if they had interfered to i.i)i. i , the law, tor a moment believe that I was even ac- pendence and prospcrit) of the people uv.av; deny, there are runt or tiiem, and it ct ssary to any injury done to the French rest principles w hich the immortal requires a inajoritv of the in t act in any citizens so far otherwise, I can with Washing i or acted on and approved of case, and how candid liberal to render me confidence appeal to their own members principles which if ever seriously cnresponsuble for all ? It is vvorthy of remark, al Ul(. Hoard of ;IustecSt the members tcrtained, can never be er.tineuished votrig ofUie l owerWaidlmean who have punciples which require sir,ceritv from nett, Fsq. re e eased-. nc. e was consistent served there with me, and who will have their advocates, and which would be disthroughout, except as regnds signing the the candour to acknowledge, that on ev- honored by any barter pi inciples which petition, for it will be remembt red he pub- vrY projer occasion, I have defended their possess s would nev er lay aside to lick.lv protested afterwards against the sale their interests advocate banking" arintocracies nor will of the Common! t For my conduct at this Board of Trus- the real adherents of such principles evI have already stated, that on the 28th tees, I have also the consoling rcflertion, cr become indifferent to their success, day of September, the Hoard of Trustees tbat n.y constituents do not upbraid me ; when opposed by the corrupt workings, as in dut bound, passed the first ordi- I have been annually re elected by lavp:e aid dangerous proceedings of any set of nance relative to the i. ommon ; immedi- majorities since I first served them in the ttesining men, be they whom they may. atciy after which tiie time of sde was ad- capacity of a member All this may ar- f should ever ercaftcr be doomed to vettised in this, and the. two adjoit inp' gue something but I claim it rot. For witness an abandonment of these princistates. On the 6th day of November fot- my conduct as a Trustee. I have been pies, on tiie part of those I had viewed r.s lowing, when the-day of sale had almost frequently arraigned by men tidio have their upholders, I hope I ?diall not feel arrived, a petition was piesented to the inter? t in the welfare vf the Borough ; the same degree cf regret recently exciBa;d, asking ot it to postpone the sale and for it I have on every occasion held te ? hut endeavor to forgive the offence i .i . . rti :. ...! . ' 1 T , 1 . . . 1 U.l A.. '1- with n hhit-fi mifl -..-... .

oi mo v emiii.eui pciuuui v assign-, uioi u luuiituij n;ijuiiMim;. ns i l us- J m-tvi leuicmucr tilt:

ed b a numbet ol I-teoch nainei but a. tees vve ha

verv lew ot wnotn tie knoan to n side present citizens, and ot citizens vet

witlun the lhuouuh. Had this p tition born committed to our charge. 1 net; b em pri'v t.ted in lime and th.e Fttnch therefore under the responsibility of the inhabitants of the Uo.otih joined their p-esert, as of future citizens. I have like nau es to it, the tnci e sendi.anee ot pto-' wisr ai'art from this, a deep and enduring prieiy, miglit have iuduceet the Board to peixnal responsibility; my own fame - ' talax tt eir obligation Sc ir.duie the wish nty own ho oi my own character my expressed But a compliance with the : own pt perty : and I, as all the T usfees, piavcr-'f the pe'uioiiiu that particular., have sworn a solemn o:tth to pciform coun.l iti no respect alter ti e then existing j faihfully and honestly oo- r'utv, to the cxi nation of ti.e Common oi in any vay ; tent of mv ability. I shall perform it, f 'eiliuite the ae t empiishtiitnt ol the wihh-j vhile my fellovr citizvr.s 'hink p'orer to es of ti e pt titioi its. j ho' or oui with their confidence. But let In t v:.ml tt this petition, it will be dis-! mv acruers remember, that as men and

covered that a committer of three mem-! christians a responsibility rests on them noxv taken up anf? read a third time

be i s vx ei t appointed to return an answer, ' aUothcy stand at t is ninn'ent account- carried in the affirmative, and read see af-fietid x K j On the vame dav U c able 'o yv my fc'l-w citizens, -nd to w heir upon it was moved and econded, petition above tefct 'cd to was piesented their rrrator at the day of judgment, for hat the tame be now read section hv sect, and disposed of by, the Ti usic s, Mr. the f.tlse ehari; s they so invcterately tion, for its final passage, which bring Harnett introduced a motion to postpone : urpe against ne. done, the tiuc-tion put, shall thin ordithe sale of the omn on for three m:nh : j The nPonnl fi;n rnnu.V.nnclv na"er ia" ayes and navs were rail.

the fate ot thatmoti.,n was read.lv aseer-1 displayed towards mr 'inthe hnn l-bill T

uum i; i,i .mi. ua-neu nao just oecn bsivr yct n,erf,v alindpd to : a more

psiap-rs,

infrrf nres

dawn the mot hostile and mn'mnant vnd th r the c c rred. mav to stinrfr v if h what appetite thev mrv " Mvfllnw citizens well kt.ow T hnvr bon trup-r'iru?: for sevn vears r:"' 'o sid bie the n ost unbolv fsirtir.ti cf itud. h?c rpinciple, that ever h:id roonccin ti s ip a-

V"ha I hnva

Your grateful and

Obliged friend, JOHN EWTNg7J Vincenncs, August 15, 1821. 2

Beard

APPENDIX rn

d cf T rustics of the Borough of Vmcennrs Stitembr 2B 1ft 8

Members prcsentGenl. W Johnston, O. R. C. Sullivan J,hn Ewincs William L. Colman, and Muik Barnett On motion made and seconded. That the ordinance respecting the Common.be

nv country

u'inr. in

" ; -ll jwo1 nave as vet met-riv anndp i to appointed -.nc of the committee to an-. pBrticlai ref.-rrr.pe to a few i suortlm pennon beoie noticed, and the wi,erf. lam,lK.RP , srf1. a,.(1

proeeeiUMijs im rcarti to tliat matte r rendered liis mo.- ni obvieitislv nugatory. Mipposc the motion had suceeded, what would have been the result ? Why the faith of the boat d would have been needlessly sacrificed, for nothing could have bt-eu fflVcted in the time nor in any length of time tuchim; the Common.

By the act of 18 18. called for by the peti- rcri;

. , ,. , , '"-'-'e. none con pretend, trnn-nve f : r.n- en Congress had divested theme vcs of all or,t. ' , i, . -r f , . , . , . arV riMzrn wrnder j! -ffrr such n vearpower, title, nKht to, or authority over f..re. T shonhlins'ant'y no-ice t'o ,.Pf.n. this tract of land ; to accomplish certain dcd uphrl1dirir. of , tmn wll , ,,r;rfr spectficd purp.ses it had become a vest-; thp nrnr.rd ed rhrht in the 1 .ustcesof the Borough ; to t, ;nk W?.,A Mr Rn?it., K bnfy,1rirr0 and no p?wcr,or authortv knovvu to the 5n .?;C nrrnrc of Tp,ry of mv fn constitution k laws ot the Lmted States, had cVar,v and exnr.sslv drMrnntod trr could uamsav. or annul that ngnt. The as t,,e , canfidef ,1C apmW1 to in tunc had ironc by to .Inert, or claim the; n,:nrl Card n,i nf .;. ri

- - . ....... j urn"

!in. and in purse, durinr h-'t time

M C . . " w !-- I ' II' I I I

voinmon. tor uiy other tfian 'he purnost s t :. . . . ( . . . . . . ' ' five m takmc Sten ;o (IfrisivP. nnlv r.nr i

I d',M'?.tcU .n.n ,ct; ,aw; m 'xVr bef re the election, no eentVman who ' ('"' JZ

equran.e c-m.o v ruc nnz.ns mi,ht ; hrard him k iad any ,toubl,Tv rs 'ivar, 5. 1 ell

nave w,n comttn.. as muc- -tention axiv thintr in the opinion of even- Ik dv, and numeration rtf dav.z u woud rat1Pr tlnn svnipathv for t, c Vrerrb f"

nv that to have d Invcd e o e could in

n yi'sible wav, nid to their prospert of u e ss. uch was the opi'.io i ;t b ar, 'f mo'f h a m ijotitv of the Ho ud tin r. prev. rit ".s'r af f 'ndix ( i Thus, fellow citizens, by a plain array

ipaioy mr i : c l rerc

ele hr fec'in;' wauild rot lave brn restrained until that moment Yet he bbmcs in h s !and-hill for taking th?t ' c?t d" o pvself : nltl out-h ir the s?mr pnb1:at:on, he avow it w: "nterded for vc ! vhat remark should I not n ak upon

ed tor ant! tnkcm rs follows : Avs Colman. Fwing. Johnston, and ullivan 4. Nav s Barrett 1. Carried in the afiirmative. Board of Trustees cf the Borough cf Vincnve J'.vrmbrr 1R18. The petition of Lewis B'.ver jvnd others in icgatdto the Common, was laid bef oe the Board by the Chairman and on M rn nf Mr. Sullivan Ordered, That a comm fee rf three be appointed, to answer the -aid petition, shewing tha tendency and view ol Congrs in atitho. using, and this Board in selling the Com. moo wheieupon, Mr SuMivan, Ewing, and B o-nut. were (by the Chairman) appointed that committee. rn 2Tr. Barnett moved that the sale cf the Common, be postponed for three months on which the avs and navs wrre

cnUc1 for and taken, as follows": Avs

Runtin. and Barnett 2. Xavs Ewinc.

hnston. Kuykendsll, and SuU

in the negative.

August . 1819.

Mr. Batterer., introduced the follow in resobiNon, Besolvd bv the Board ef Trustees, f'.r the Bcvsrh cf Pircrne, in Common Council ast'trblrd. That so much of the money now in the hands of the Trca-