Western Sun & General Advertiser, Volume 16, Number 2, Vincennes, Knox County, 26 February 1825 — Page 1

, WESTERN SUN U ...GENERAL . AB YERHSEM,

BY ELU1U STOUT. VINCENNES, (IN 1.) SATURDAY, FEBIlUAltY SO, 1825. Vol. 10. No. s.

CIRCULAR. 7o Mr Citizens of the Senatorial District composed of the counties of Knoxy Daviess and Martin. GENTLEMEN, AS your Senator, you know

that I am your fellow citizen ; and viewing no space of distinction between the representative and the represented, I feel happy, now that I am at liberty, to direct your attention to the course your servant, ot agent in the Senate, has pursued and in compliance with this duty, give you the necessary information to enable you to judge of the manner I have dischaiged my sacred trust. In an address of this nature, I cannot give you the minute information that the fullest possible account of all the proceedings will afford, when the journal be published; but I can, with conscientious satisfaction, give you an outline of the most important acts : and demonstrate, that if the power confided to me, has not been exetcised to please pettyfoggcrs, office holders, or aspirants to office, and their enthusiastic admirers, it has been exercised for the certain advancement of your prosperity, rights and happiness. The acts passed, and most interesting

to your immediate interests, I will briefly

a trustee in the same manner as the citi- I the judgment is predicated so that our zens of other counties. Hoththe White ! laws should never be retrospective, or rivers will be examined during the recess impair any legal contract. Also, to prcand a report will be made to the next lc- ! vent sheriffs and constables from acting gislature of the obstructions to their nav- ! as judicial officers in the release of prisigalion, so that an estimate can be made J oners, and the administration of oaths, unof the expence, and their improvement j der the present execution law. Also, to commenced simultaneously with that of extend the jurisdiction of Magistrates to the Wabash. j 00 by winch the intervention of attorMany other acts were adopted, but of a : nics would in many cases become unnccharacler less interesting and indeed, as j cessary, fees be saved, and fewer suits inthe revised code of the former session , stitutcd as many suits lor that amount, had been before the people so short, a j and under, would be delayed on promis-o time, it was with labour that any change of payment, knowing that access to a macould be cflVctcd. During the session, I gisttatc is never untimely. Had that

never lor a moment lost snrht of the lm-

provement of our rivers, nor of the inju

ry the greater part of the state would sustain if involved in debt to open a canal at the falls of the Ohio, fjr the benefit of neighboring states, both as regards the expenditure and the advantage My report on the Wabash was net cssaiily kept back, to ascertain the fate ol that measure, which happily was defeated in the lower house ; and the report was unanimously adopted by the Senate, and ordered to be specially printed ; it gives an outline of the course that will be pursued, and I hope, obtain hereafter.

In the special acts of 1824, there is

notice as follows " A joint resolution one setting apart so much of the 3 per J . -.

.i i i .,..Ki: i i er.nt. limn, as was men aue. or mitrni he-

respecting pureiiusers ui uuum. saow. This resolution 1 presented on the first d iys of the session it was adopicd without amendment by both houses, and is intended to procure for those citizens holding certificates of land entered, upon Trhich the extended credit was not taken, bv application to the Register of the Land Oflice, as required by late laws, the same

cent, fund, as was then due or might become due, to the counties of Knox, Sullivan, Vigo, Vermillion and Parke, for the purpose of improving the navigation of the river Wabash. Early in the last session two bills were sent up to the Senate from the lower house, taking a considerable part of the money so appropriated, to

pay certain claims and road commission

piivilegc ol relinquishment as is enjoyed ' ers, which my duty to my constituents and

my sense of right, caused me to oppose in every stage of their progress but in defiance of an existing law of the interest of the people at large, a'd of all that could be urged against them, the inlluence of road commissioners prevailed, Ik the Wabash fund was in my humble judgment, unrighteously pillaged. I entered a protest against both acts, which I am informed has been so misrepi csented as to cause dissatisfaction : and really it an-

measurc prevailed, I believe a general re

duction of fees and salaries would have

succeeded to a certain extent.

At the time the present fees were csta-

own wishes and demands, by every pedes of wrong, falsehood and oppcssioii that the same principle must impel iho patiiot and the statesman, to seek to piomote the general good and that the glaring evidences ot laxity of morais, and paral)zcd industry in cur stale, admonish of the necessity of a change in man) essential paiticulars, or a rettogi essicn more rapid than our advance in population must ensue. With these, and similar views, I vv as intrusted to naiiiciia'c in some ol the most impoitant concern ol the state and as it has not rem aired unknown until this day, that I have ever felt anxious for its advancement, I faithfully laboured under the constitution, not

only to satisfy the popular will, bin also to sticngthen the natuial l constitutional

blished, they may ..ui have been too high safeguards of our libcity St rights. 1 was

but as the value I moncv has since

become much greater, and the value of labour and produce much less, there arc many of them now disproportionably, if not unreasonably exorbitant they aie as high in many cases, as in other states

by all who availed ot the law and I had

ascertained that it might produce an immense saving to many poor men in the state. The " Act for taking the enumeration of free white male inhabitants," will pro d ice a saving of 1500 or 82000, when compared with the system formerly adopted. It requires the Clerks of tne Circuit courts to forward a list of all the exemnts from the noil lists, and ol all the iu-

f :. . I . i .1 .. ...

sane persons an I paupers, with other in- YVA lu "lc 11 "a a suange formation that may enable the next legis- perversion, to be disapproved ol by those latme to make some very mateiial and for whom I'm part acted. Let any man of proper alterations in the police system of common sense amongst my constituents, the state and this, with the polls in the understand the subject, and if he does not auditor's ollicc, will do away the necessity applaud my course, I will agree to forand expence of making a special census feit al1 the sma11 pretensions to sense that in upwards of fifty counties, at from 30 to 1 can liave- I-et the law in force, and the 880, according to the size and populati- laus referred to, and the protest, be exaoi) thereof, heretofore paid for the same , mined wi h my proceedings asset forth purpose. ! on tne journal, and all will then be pro- " An act authorizing the docketing of Pcly appreciated. I would have doiie transcriots bv Circuit court Clerks, of niore against the acts if I could; for my

' t . . r . i- . 1 l

uuiy, is. inc interest ol tne people secmcu to require it. The journal will show what I attempted, Sc amongst other things that I wished lawyers to be required to give security, as constables and sheriffs have t do, for the safety of the money they collect, and that judgment might be entered up a-

gainst any attorney wno collects money

judgments rendered by magistrates" does away the necessity of employing a lawyer to make stich judgments a lien on real estate, as is required now by the intermediate process which this act abolishes. Essential alterations in regard to the taking up of animds, Sec. going estray, which save needless trouble k expence,

and in regard to salt sptings or woiks, lor his client, and fails to pay it over af-

Tvhich requires them no longer to be fen- j ter due notice, Sc for all costs incurred by ced, have been adapted. The Probate neglect or ignorance. I attempted to rebusiness will revert to the Associate Jud- I quire notice to be given ot petitions to the ges. Called sessions of the Circuit court I legislature affecting vested rights, that

at winch tne circuit judge ami Prosecuting Attorney is bound to attend, is authorized in certain cases. The road law is equalized, and Supervisors rendered more responsible A special appropriation is made to obtain maps of all the land in the state, Sc lists of all the tracts sold,

donated, or patented at the difieicnt offish ces : a reference to which will a fiord usc-

xui lntorma ion, 6c enaoic your Representatives withmoie precision, to apportion

& guard the revenue ( a bill to the same effect was introduced by me at the early part of the session, it was then rejected, fthough the principle finally prevailed, Sc it will be salutary and advantageous ) tax upon land is one third lower than the last year : I wished to undo the poll tax, and the tax upon oxen, except as tc-r-ards the new purchase, where little else

citizens interested may never be taken by

surprise, or espartc statements influence the legislature upon the same principle

the constitution declares, justice siLbe

administered without denial or dell it

a declaration will be rcudeicd nullXl)n

tecnically con eel under the law such a measure would save thousands of the peoples money the change of countyscats county boundaries marriage contracts, Jkc. Sec. it passed the setute, but failed in the lower house. I attempted to limit the unknown discretionary power of Judges, and other officers in certain cases, but too many lawyers killed that measure. I attempted to rcndei road commissioners under the act appropriating S 100.000 of the three per cent, fund to roads, ineligible to hold a

scat in either branch of the legis!aiitas

is paid, and to substitute in lieu thereof, ho'ding an oflice and pocketing the ruJU-

a tax upon practising aitormcs notaries, lie moncv, and reatlv preventing tncue-

.'ii r i: c- .1... ' i . . . i i

it ot tnat n nitncious anci mucn lamen-

...... - i i

disti cries ot snirituous Honors, it diiKrs

and medicines, but failed Tavern liccn- . ces can no longer be so easily obtained J k and gi and and petit jurors will hereafter

ccive 50 cents per day, during their atJemce at cnuit, with two days exemption of work on the road to each grand juror addition. 1 the present fees of jurors to be taxed on the fee bill, and when collected paid into ti e county treastry Knox county Seminary is to be regulated as other county srminanci, and the people will enjoy the same controul, and elect

pe

ted act. Also to cause militia ofiicers to

drill twelve davs in each year, and confine the musters of the men to two, except they choose to adopt company musters. Als), to pav Mr. R.ipp the 85000 the state borrowed of him. by the sum or sums he may be due on the stock he held in the state bank thus the money might pass into the pockets of our own citizens. Also, to make execution' subject to the constitutional laws existing at the time the contract was made upon which

not disappointed in finding opposition to

my course, but I was conscientiously tonvir.ced the worthy l the good, vvoi. Id duly appreciate it, when concctly mado known.

Since my return to Vinccnnes, howe-

where depreciated paper is tendered in j vcr, 1 have heard of the workings ol un

payment; Sc ll the jurisdiction ot magi- principled encuues to rum me ; St indeed stratcs had been extended, although thty 1 have heard so much that is new and sui -

require lass clipping than others, the sv s- prising, that if I did not sut.pt ct the real

tern would have been insisted upon. J authors, as I b:iieve my lelio' ciiizer a

On the last night ol the session, when do, I should apprehend univti sal dtct t ti-

all the acts were sinned, uo crnor Hen- on. But I have no caic to fear that, lor

thicks tesigned his station, and under the moral uprightness and tiuth, mint and

18th section of the 4th article ofutir con- will prevail, and few can be Knowingly

stitutiun, the President pro tern, ot the impostd upon by the men who wcic mcst senate became the acting governor. As inimical to n y election.

the Senatoiial period of that gentleman

will expire on the fust Monday ot Au gust next, and he cannot be viewed as President pio tern, of the Senate, when he ceases to be a member of that body he of course, can no longtr exert ie the functions of the executive under the constitution. With this conviction 1 oliered a resolution to enter into the election of a Picsid nt pro tern, in prospective, who

should, on and after the first wLLday of

August, exercise the functions, aR possess the authority, and perform the duties

j incumbent upon that station. My reso-

lution was opposetl bv many experienced membeis but Mr. U the President

pro tem. left the chair, and took no part in thtj debate; indeed he appealed to me

anxious that the Senate shouid decide the question one way or another fiually how

ever, Mr. Montgomery of Gibson in the chair, the senate adjourned sine die. at

12 oclock, p. m on Saturday night, with

out doimr as I wished ; and ll a call sts-

sion become necessary, let those whoop

posed me bear the blame, and father the

trouble and needless expence.

The election of a Judge for this Circuit

The chief falsehood that demands par

ticular nr tice in this ;dJrt ss, Wrasse it

has bten induntriously circuia ea to engender oihcis of a more injurious r.a'ure, is, that I did rnt vote for Isaac Ulacklord.

Esqr. now a Judge of the Su pi erne bercli

encc a Judge of the Ciicuit con it, then

Cashier ol ihc b.tnk of Vincci ties, the state bark of Indiana," and a repicst nta-

tive also in the legislature, to be a Sera-

tor in the Congress of the United Ststrs I and upon the woeful strength of this, o d

enmity is seemingly revised, ai d I am to be Cfiicifud without a heai ing, and with

out redemption ! ! Well, who is the hon.

Isaac lilackford. and who is John Ewing, and how stand the facts ol the case ? And if the declarations of that honorable Jude were even true, that I had prevented his election to the United States Senate, and that I was the only western man that voted for governor Hendricks, (though by the by, both cssertijns are false, I did vote once for that Judge, and I interfered with no mans opinion or vote ; and I car. provo I was not the only western man that voted for Mr. Hendricks, and that neither my vole, nor my absence ftom the house.

was gone into contrary to my wish, and I would have secured the Judges election) would not be present. The regulation of on what ground should 1 be censured ?

me man irom vmcenncsto inuianapoiis, is it because the Judge has an occasional

(respecting which 1 have sent on a pti- residence in Vinccnt.es wished to be

vate remonstrance, signed by many mem- thot a western candidate, &c that I niomi-

bers of the Senate, to the post master gc- sed, or was elected to uphold his preten. neral) is now such, that when there two sions at any rate ! Or is it that he has un

weeks, I had received no communicatior.s equalled talents, & hasrent'eud any im-

irom my constituents, anu in icgaru to portant and unrequited services to ti c that appointment, some were promised ; state, or to any particular pan t f it I Or

Judge Porter was therefore elected with- is it that he stood foiward uron his own

out opposition a gentleman to whom I incut, the only enlightened cai didate for had no personal objection ; but I know the important stath n ? Or is it that he baa

too much ol certain measures and men, not to know that my conduct on that, ai.d many other matters, displeased the interested parties however, as I was a pretty careful obseiver ol the doings of all nartics during the last session. I am fiiny convinced the work of redemption vill yet succeed, in defiance of both the bench and the bar. I am well convincetMliat the people have only to consult their own interests, and elect no one to leprcscnt them who can be influenced by a contrary interest. For myself, I was perfectly convinced when I left home, that the advancement, honor, and political salvation c.f our state, demanded many changes, with some wholesome regulations torestrain the foul and odiou preponderance of the judicial department. 1 was aware that our legislature has too often appeared judicial, and our bench, directed by the bar, pctsonaland political that pub-

such powerful tics to secure his future residence in this state instead ol NewJersey, if he had been succts-.ful ? With any decent man who may be deluded into such opinio? s, I cheerfully join issue, and positively answer no no no. The gentleman was twice in our legislature, and let his course be revcrted'to on the journals it will give no enviable or ex. traordinary value to his political standing with the people. At this time he holda the most profitable office under our constitution, and holds it if he chooses, for sis years to come. An office that icquirea his attentioa in court, thirty or forty day in the year, living where he pleases tho residue of the time and pocketing of tho peoples taxes 16 or 5520 per day, for hi& ut..... i i . . . .

iauuur in open court anu wnne ne holda

the cemmission, the compensation cannot be reduced : without rclinouismW ihat-

! office, he offered for. and navrrtprl ti t

lie distinction should only follow known ' Mate to secure a seat in the Senate of tho

merit, ana oe earner, nciorc it be cruoycd United States, and with what political athat 1 would be rancorously assailed by bility, or character, cr claims, 1 will leavo men who find it much easier, and much ' every one of ycu to answer to his own samorc suitable, to tell what is not, than ' tisfaction Governor Hendricks, the other what is but that the sp'nit of-ir coEMj- ! prominent candidate, also held an importution, and the spirit of ficeme, n(Ac , taut c fiice for one year to come ; an offico justire ant! liberty commensrat wH 1 requiring his residence at the seat of goand inseparable fiom our soil thauii&J. vernmcnt, and his whole time ar.d aitenw ho revel in licentious luxury upot the . ticn, with a salary of glCOO per annum, peoples earnings, would not approve of j affording about S3 per day for his servi. the representative who might call them : ces. Hoth the candidates of the same po. to account, and restrain their unrighteous- litical school ; but Mr Hendricks moro discretionary power ai d I was aware of a western man, because he hai been that factiens are. tyran; exacting their longer iu our territory and eiRtc, tadhs