IE
WIS
BURG
CHRONICLE
II. C IIICKOK, Editok.
O. N. WORDEN, rniNTEn.
1 KWISDUIMi CllllONlCL15.I,,,anccai anl flcrcd nobody, lie was
, , to strong, too honest, as well as too proud
Union county, I'enitfylcania. jincn. " lie was a giaut, symmetrical
TER V.t $1.50 !' wr. r"r c"h "rtuMly !n a.lranre an,l complete."
1.;:,if itlnu tliiw mutln: il ' .anl ri:l.in .
nr: ii.vi if um p:wi b-nio-tiw yewnpiMi: irai r..r! Tl lie following speech and a curious,
rin.rl umb.-r. Sutwrniiti..nj IV.r rix nii.lli or I.-., t.i ."-. . '
r r.i " bn.nminuMini' itiiui uh tu stirring, powcrlul one it is was made
r.hltHlwr.riipl !.n Utr ywr is paM up. . , ' .. , - a .
AKBlucuni r..l..u..lv in-rte. m M chit's r"- aOOUt ttlO time WUCn tllC AntlOlaSOniC
r,t n..t wiihm iw of party or -rtari:.o cmit.irt.
All lrttrr mut ctoff KM-iimt1. acrtniipaiiul ly lif nl
.i.irr t tiw wriu-r. t wvin mt.-iiti.Mi. 4r-ThiM
tltinif rxHul..lvlo Iho Wit.ril IVprtmt.Ui lw .ll -
rul tn lli:R f. Ilii-n."!. if.fcw auJ Hione on
burin to ... . W oicle. IM4.W.
OFFICE (for the present) in Beaver's block
on X. 3d St, first floor, 4th door from corner.
A Character,
AND A FOI HTH-OF JULY STElXH.
The Philad. Dity lly'der of tbo lltb
inst. contains a peculiarly graphic ana ; an,i puiCSj covcrej w;tu i,Ut;ucs frusu
masterly doliueatiou of tbc character of j cut au(j C)03C jilci to cst.iuju the sun,
Oeneral Om.F, formally of South ; jias j,ecn jjscussoj. tue miljt,,-, tuc citi-
Wcstcrn Pcnn'a, from tbe pen of Dr. Wm. Z!,nc an,i ti,e j. refreshed by tbe rc
Klueb, of Philadelphia in fact, such an i p.lst an,i t.uijvenoj a littlo (more or less)
unique analysis as Dr. Elder and nobody j witU rye-whiskey, whiskey and water,
tbe could well pn'iduce. Mostof the sketch j wu;!J:ey swcctelied witb sap-sugar, and
appeared originally in Putnam's .Vuiithty. , i,oer gra(luated to the tastes and
We regret that we have room only for ouc ; aC3 (lf tic t.omranyj are ai J,r0Ugbt up
tf Lis 4th of July speeches, which Dr. K. ; standing by an order for "Attention!" from
lias reproduced from memory ,ns a specimen tue (Jaj.laiu of tbe " Independent Wues,"
.f bis forensic performances. Tbe Cent ral i anj ti,c (jcilcral wouuts te table. Ll.
was a staunch Democrat, of large mental j LucLlary CUivnidc.
calibre, great cxiK-riyiiec and practical sa-,
jrarity, of incessant activity, limited school j TIIE SI'EECII.
vJuvation, and a sclf-rcliauce that felt itself j " lVrcixely, my fellow-citizens, (wavin"
.jual justly, too, iu most cacs to any
.... :i.:Ki lT.i n-o tin. r.i.1itI--Ml nmrlt
ic.-muaiuiiuj. i "
.f bis fection of country, and hi? potent
influence was felt in tbe State and National
councils fir a period of half a century. He
regarded the people of his county as his j,.frc VOu to speak the truth in tbe love word. That's the difference between a
family, whose welfare be bad at heart, t,f ;t I stand here as Abraham, when he man of faith and the snobs that do all their
whose thinking he was to do, and whose wa, returning from tbe slaughter of the! travcliug in a tread-mill.
atTairs generally it was bis Fpccial prcrog- fc;,, gt00(i at ftast of Mclcl1;sadt.l j But with such snipes nothing can be
ative to manag He would sometimes say j,rcparcj for the grand old hero, to Mess ' onc- Cure them of witchcraft and they
o them, as they thronged around bim at tie nnmo t,f tuc jjost Hign wii0 iiat,h de-j sl'Je '"to fortune-telling, or some other
public gatherings, "I have made you happy i;vcrc(i an ni;nc ccmj(;s nt0 nij hanj. stupid kind of wonder working ; for they
at home, aud respected abroad ; and there j (Jhedorlaonier, and Julius C.xsar, and j understand nothing, cither by insight or
isn't one iu a dozen of you that doesn't owe ,jiat ap0State democrat, Napoleon, all died ' xFricncc- Af,er a "'- wucn the pros
your good luck to my advice, and your ;n t1L.ir sins for tLl!;r ev;j wnrj.s wcnt j pcrity, which they at first resisted, poured
misfortunes to neglecting it. I want no- f,jrc thpm to j, Pigment ; Pontius Pilate cut down "rou thcm from a PP01' tutJ wcnt
bing from you I belong, to myself, but1 ,;.. own tiiroat bccausc j,e uai condemned j craz3r anJ 1 was fobbed again for stand
I want you to know what is for your own ' tuat jmt qdc. jus Tscar;ot iiangcci ( ing by Simon Snyder's veto of that ba"tch
good, percisely." The following is tins de-' i,;,,, jn rcui()rse for betraying bim ; of shin-plaster banks which tbc legisla
wription givcu of b'w personal appcarajicc: a,,, George the Third wilted away in Lis!turc cuarterc1 D' two-thirds vote, and
"Imairine a man six feet two iuclies high, w;..i;ejnrss. . i.P ni,i r.;n.tro ,i.or gave you your keepsakes of Owl-creek and
finely proportioned, with some aq.tb of;
best and breadth of shoulder aJUed to
,UV i. ,bi,,i,.,..,.
make his courage and confidence Hie surer,
cknowledged great .nan of the world be
I..... .if inn arrn ill i .i I v -1 i' iiiir
lives iu ; one who really never meets a
.superior in anything to which Le makes a
claim, full of the reeling ana marKea vy
the manner of a "8
Dent fitness and efficiency, bis luirl.ru.he.
straight from brow and temp'es backward
towards the crown, ad powdered, and,
:,;n,-t that it was conccrucd iu
i i . I.,.,.! ;n tl...
expressing huh, wiiciioui ,x w,
open air,
his hat was lifted or removed
ften enough t give it all its proper rf-
feet in the iwprcsMon t his presence.
waistcoat was invariably a uurh. cniuou
luviriali V a UarK crimson, .
s iMvaruoiy a u..ii t. ,
dm" coat collar lined with 1
aud bis stan-
His fine large face was always ;
clean shaved, and Le wore a bosom frill
elegantly ..cgl.g-nr just as a ram er
would set a superb bead in a cloud yedtu.
It was not bis di ess that bo paraded; it
las much as Urea, could d! to match
bis mien nd ww-ip" and crimson, :
.?f tsrxA mfH wore tunic onmi'ra
1
il loo anu nana w ...u .
wrsonal beaut v. bv their more delicate
... . i r r Lie
elegance ;
nd bis boots, crimped ami i
- -
tasselled, rclievc.1 the length oii..uos,auu
lightened Lis too imposing praimcui,
rhySn?sjMabl redueend soften the
stride of verse. He walked with bis bead ;
..... r .1 T Knwn.li..t-l'ir !14 ISi!
a little lorwaruot ...i-i'-.i
usual with men
t-oem niotest ana unoutruMv ... , L(, kQOWS wLo j mCjM . & ; penny pettuoggcr raiue tut; Ktcuk .t.u
vice, -llw bat was la'ge, with liberal . , who have given us our free institutions,
breadth of brim, turned up behind to ac- j V" I d u; f a
,nn,uw.Lta the erect co ar, and decticu " My hairs are white, like the fields of , r r
TiS of So point which Lhclu-red 'tbc ' Judca, ready for the harvest of the great 1J'8 an?.t0 8f erJ off dr.'V
broi?, and repeated and impressed tbc;rcapt.r and thcsc BlialBUling 6banks mcWaS nooulc9 ' L profan.ty
J .n.l Hi nf hU fine a-miline nose. 1 , . ,. ... . . ... like the words of lifo ! But Providence
snal with men whose lrontal urainisae-;
tiv
n oca nf rsnrcssion
less of expression in bis countenance
which marks a man happy in speaking to
.hors who are as hai-pv in hearing mm
No eye ever caught hint weary, listless, or
acant ; be took no holidays, nor ever
tnew those remissions of engagement
which ordinary people indulge in at thc
beginnings and nnislungs oi tucir uuuer
tikings. Ho was always fully employed
aud equally intent, and thc spring in him
wa? not ouly strong enough for work, but
it was easy enough for play : while the
tide ran like a cataract, tbc surface rippled
and srarkb d with humor the eunsbiuc in
dalliance with thc spray tho ptorm tones
rarificd into music. His temper was sharp
and high, but steady. As it never fell
into feebleness so it never rose into rage;
the 'jyrcizcly'. and 'piuc blank' tone of foe
ling, ever present, kept bim too well bal
nnccd for that."
fPr.E. stales that as a speaker "not one
man in a million lias rnual command of
the nerves of bis auditors." " Ho was
felt like magnetism when near. His was
a frank, confident stylo of eloquence, in
tended to impart bis own convictions in
tbo directest way." "He did not hold his
position in men's ppiuions on thc tcrm:
ihat demagogues maintain tli' ir reputation
"Uli vu'gu f'-'oli. He rTf ti'el no c-'in
ittZLl Willi mcu y ""s-v. 1 -
ive and always with the pleased engaged-,bury
1
excitement, (which made Somerset county
gh Anti-Masonic as as it was pre
mMicil'1 democratic,) Lad begun to make
SCrious inroads upon the old General's
I
power, and provoked a ppecial anathema
. ' .
on this occasion
twentyGvc years
The date is about
o ; tbc scene at tbe
"Coffee Spring," about a mile ouf; tbo
company made up of tbe population of tbe
town and neighborhood, mustered en masse.
'Jbc dinner, spread upon a table cast into
a horse-shoe sbanc. in an arbor made witb
j a rcj silk handkerchief at aruiVlcugth,)
' .. 1 r 1 r .i
pieiici iruius, ircsii ironi me cxe-
iuti0n of the tyrant IVcsar, cried to Lis
countrymen, ' hear mc for my cause, and
be silent, that ye may bear ;' so I come
, , . tn j; ,ntn;D(r 0f heaven dead
.... , ., . ,. ... ,
at the top while the miserable old trunk
. i'.
-- - ' " . - - -
or to the race of regicides ; destruction to
the oppressors of the people everywhere;
aiJ(j a stout arm ,0 ,i,e i0 j ucart
f , Jcmncracv all ov(.r.(llt nn;vcrse
u j, Jcar fen dtt nndcrstand '
J J cIliIj..cn
" out it. is as clear as light to the ctuluicn
of light, tbat tbc Lord rcignc'.b, and the j
l),.,;!' fo..l T l-nm it- ;n tnHMr
. ... :
an(1 ton l n(;V(.r Mw lU(J riilfcous
r ...t. t . i i : i i ;
berrin'r
t,"v.Z . ,..n :
" V ':.c t . I
1 u.ciums into im; viiw ur. it j'ou
j i- '
go nosing about in thc dirt for a livine.l
aaJ Jozin iQ lbo mu1 f()r clljovment, the ;
hail)V. of a caf w;n m lh L . u J
- - ' I
hare no pros-!
j o fc
I-ct- Ihey grunt when they arc comfort-j
able, and squeal when they are hurt; but
th dont understand tbc course of thinjrs.
' And if any fine fellow here feels Lis bris-
m
souj , . at thc CDgtheniUg shadow
e b , ,
" f, " . " J , rJ
r i . i - - r ... .1M .
.o , ...- "J I
iiue a sun-uuii upon a iiiououtiu-iuji, ucu
Le L.omcS out of uis cuamlcr iu the cast to
arounJ tjc of
"li,,,.,,..,, t nm , ft Ualll . when von
. I
not i
i , . , . T
my bones, remember that I am
- -
dead, l'cter was bewildered, when lie pro
posed to build tabernacles f Moses and
Elias on tbc Mount of Transfiguration
When we have done our duty here, we go
up hi"hcr ! When this frame bas lost its
strength and beauty, tbe kindly mother
earth will sweeten and freshen it info
youth again ; aud thc limits of its life will
widen into glorious liberty. . Hallelujah !
Thc light of these eyes is growing dim in
thc light of paradise I
" Idiots and drivellers, from seventeen
to seventy, think the worbl is coming to.
an end, when worn-out frames and worn
out things arc blown np : but such dotards
arc but first-cousins to the beast that per
ishesall but the beauty. Such cattle
have about thc same right to scratch their
beads, for anything there is in them, as so
many ring-tailed monkeys ; and, very like
ly, will make as much by tbc-operation.
(Here, Bill, turn up a clean tumbler, and
give mc a drink of water )
" I was among these grand old hills, my
sweet fellow-citizens, before tho oldest of
you w.-re born ; aud, snipes and uight-
owl-; ' did you ever .Jctrct any humbug in
If
h if." 1'it
V"1 'li'l. nut Tt-Jt
LEWISBURG, UNION COUNTY, PENN, FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 1853.
tired of barking, that I would like a bite.
Try your teeth in tbia tough old hide, ye
whipper-snappers. There 's blood in me
that would muk-j you as drunk as blazes
for the rest of your lives, and give you
the first peep of glory that ever opened
upon your benighted souls.
" Tbe follies of tbe dead arc buried with
them. They were not worth minding
then, nor remembering now ; but didn't I
tell your respectable daddies that they
were making fools of themselves in the
whiskey insurrection ? 51.ickguardisin
is n't democracy ! When Washington
came to Bedford with the army, the Alle
gheny Mountain rocked ander bis foot
steps, and the -diminutive little manikins
that danced like drunk monkeys around
their pig-nut liberty-pole in the diamond
over there, trembled iu their shoes till you
could hear their toe-nails jiugle. I was a
democrat, a Jelfersonian democrat then, as
I ain now : but I was n't a demagogue, a
coward, or a broad-mouthed brawler against
my country, its laws, and tbo constitution.
" Your grandmothers can tell you. what
a rumpus the same ninnies raised around
mc, for the first wagon-road made over tbc
mountains to Pittsburgh. It would break
up the pack-horse men, forsooth, and the
tavern-keepers and horse-breeders would,
be ruiued, when one wagon could carry as
much salt, bar-iron, and brandy from Bal
timore, as a whole caravan of half-starved
mountain ponies ! But I told them then,
that, of all people in tbc world, fools have
' the least sense, and that they would live
to learu that the best way is as good as
any; for, when I was but a boy, I discov
ered that nothing less than too much is
plenty, in the American meaning of the
! Mattou-lown UU- And now, wheeling
gee, as much too far as ye went haw, be
fore, you are bellowing at the top of your
voicc anJ thect,J rf our wit3i ffinst a11
bank paper!
"lit any wonder tbat I keep my old
t 1 grudge at the devil for making such pco
pie ! Jack, (to a darkie carter, occupied
at tbe other end of tbe table upon the
. i-i.
ast-bonc of a turkey winch he was pol-
Lsbinfr,) you may as well tuit beating and
i.. ,ii.: .....1 . tl...;, l.wl.
j ...... .... r i '
uuiuiiuB ,
bunas oi sheet-iron, ana we traces oi cod-
web : for tbc more you wallop them, the
more thev won't ro. Mv donkies arc of
" '
the same breed ivrcisclv and thev arc all
lue sarac urctu ifrL,sc u '
a spree just now, licking out their hoofs
. j mi . . 1 F II
at free masonry I That's the secret of all
the viIlainy auJ """g Icgwl-tion,
- ? inUcr vonr brains, and give them
'3 ,l" i your urains, e
the dogs for a Nw ear s gift, and let
somebody else do your thinking. Oh, H s
CB00Sh t0. a P to Lcar a tw0
always had his hands full of such for'orn-
ities. If He can bear with them, 1 may.
He will find thc men somehow, when thc
time comes, to do up the world's wort
work
... . ...
kn tLS Fpl rf st..'g truth,
: The B.verl laws keep the earth in it,
.l.W an.) mII IhA unvli'M r.TI lt3 S'.irfoCe
"l ------
can't shake, or turn it from its track. I
' , .
bcueve and live. Jiehow, ye aespisers,
and wonder and perish.
" And there is the common school sys
tem that I have been laboring for, until it
is at last fairly on foot. Sec that you keep
it alive, and make it answer the glorious
purpose of its establishment. Don't clip
it down to nothing by your beggarly econ
omy. I wish to the Lord that you under
stood thinking as well as you do eating,
and could feci an empty head as painfully
as an empty 6toniach. Can't you under
stand that keeping money in your pocket
is not saving it f A dollar in a buckskin
purse won't breed a sixpence in a hundred
years ; but employed wisely in the service
of soul or body, it will bless the one and
glorify the other. If you can't see the
policy of education, make a religion of it.
The world of ideas is thc world of spirits.
Introduce your children there, for every
good thought is a guardian angel to the
little lambs. And don't stop just where
reading, writing and arithmetic can be
worked into dollars and dimes ; carry thcm
through and over tins fordi'l world into
God's world up to tho circle CI ue neav
pits governii the univcrso
by his laws. Every discovery in the truths
of nature, is so far into tbo counsel and
confidence of the Supreme Ruler. Only
the man that has the mind of God is God
like. Now, for Heaven's sweet sake, edu
cate your children. You may talk stupid
ities about the salaries of public officers,
as you did against me for voting a gentle
manly per diem to the members of Con-
gross ; but don't cheapen your sehoolmas-
tcrs, till nobody but bankrupt cobblers,
habitual drunkards, cripples, consumptives,
and such other ugly incapable, can be got
to serve you, for very shabbiuess of the
salary. Buy cheap store-goods, if you
like, for when they wear out you will know
it, and can replace them ; buy cheap pro
visions, and eat the less of tbcin ; buy any
thing but cheap talents. Don't venture
upou that speculation, for you are no jud
ges of the article, aud the ouly way for
you to insure the excellence of the quality,
is by the liberality of the premium which
you will offer for it ; that will bring tbe
genuine into'the market, and the bogus
will be clearly exposed by the difference
of tbc ring, weight, and shine.
" I go in, ye see, for the arts of peace,
the prosperity of the people, and all that
blesses aud embellishes the life of roan ;
but I would not forget, on this great Salt-bath-day
of the nation, the glory our
country Las won iu the field and on the
wave. It is n't the pluek of the bull-dog
or the game-cock in a soldier which I ad
mire, but the bigb-soulcd heroism that
chooses liberty above life, and knows
how to make victory a blessing to the
world.
" In the Revolution, and in the late war
against Great Britain, we fought against
foes who were, only a generation or two
back, bone of our bone, and flesh of our
flesh ; born brothers, they were, of course,
our equals in all qualities of manhood.
They had the advantage in numbers, arms,
and all the the appointments of war : but
the strength of the cause was ours; we
had the right, and the Lord of Hosts was
with us. But, if we had been poor in
heart or Lope, we would not Lave been
elected to the office of banner-bearer in the
army of universal freedom. The cove
nants of Heaven are made with faithful
men ; and a people that falls away from its
worthiness is rejected at last, though still
beloved for the fathers' sakes. While ye
thmK ye riaod, tV I,1 loot j- fall
" This is a great country, and it is n't
all fenced in yet Very little of it, is so
far finished as to be ready for the first coat
of paint. All the wilderness of the new
world is ours, for we alone can occupy it
The dwarfed provincialism north and south
of us have no expansive growth in them.
French and Spanish harn't the right kick
in their gallop to match us in the race of
empire. 1 nave no contempt lor any ot
Cim)' rrintnr.i tbcr'H all weavn intn iho
t. r 1. :n
, , -
wcu vi ca.sicucc wunnunc. m mc. nm
do for selvedge and fnngcsj but showy
and shabby is a bad mixture to make dp
;,,, . e .t t.
by themselves. They are not of thc right
'. . , . .. ...
stripe lor ucm tuey on t come up
a B. s I.. I A mntUMn Wk TTfm
I tell ye, my dear fellows, we have
had thc wool pulled over onr eyes by tbe
European writers which we are all the time
reading. Of course they know no better
than to call Bonaparte a hero, and Wel
lington another for conquering bim. That
will do for t' other side of the water, for
everything is great or small by comparison.
But comparing themselves with themselves
they arc not wise ; and they dou't know
cuough to discern the tree standard. Hea
ven help them to better doctrine and diet !
Tbcywill have such Generals as Washington
and Jackson, when they have the same
occasion for them ; and when they go to
fighting for progress instead of power, and
organize their civil institutions iu thc faith
of the people's honesty and capacity for
sclf-govcrumcnt, fully, fairly, and faithful
ly they may put their achievements down
upon the page of history in parallel col
umns with ours.
" Now, I have a few words to say that
I don't want you to forget Turnpikes,
Canals, and Railroads must bo made, whe
ther they run in front of your cabin doors
or not. These mountains must be tun
neled, those valleys must be paved must
be, and will be. So, don't let any of those
niiiicrablcs who Bometiuics get themselves
into your Legislature, set you against thc
necessity which is upon you, making fools
of you, and scoundrels of themselves, by
pretending that they will lighten your tax
es anl reduce the State debt. It is your
opposition that will make thc taxcs.hcavi
cr, aud still will not prevent thc inevitable
march of public improvement. Support
an enlightened system of public works, and
choose honest and capable Representatives
choose gcntlcmen,and give tire snobs the
cut direct. In the compromises and accom
modations of conflicting policies which must
take place at the scat of government, noth
in will savo a man but sound instincts
and blah persotiat fittalltics For rough
roadij take a surcfooted nng, tho' Lc bo
a little head-strong and hard in the mouth.
I never prophesied unto you smooth things;
I never daubed yon with untempcrcd mor
tar ; and I never betrayed yonr trusts in
half a century of public service.
" Finally until every man is as wise as
his neighbor, and as good as he ought to
be, you most be governed by the majority,
and that necessity will divide you into par
tics two parties, mind ye, or one and a
parcel of fragments. Now, the greatest
of these will have thc power in its hands,
of course. How will yon mend it when
it goes wrong? By drawing off into as
many little squads as there may happen
to be differences of opinion among you ?
This will only strengthen tbe party that
you are trying to control. The mountain
springs refresh the l ikes by flowing into
thcm, not by running off iuto a multitude
of puddles to stagnate in the sun ! Par
tics must be built upon general views and
broad policies. Organize as yon may upon
transient and trivial contingencies, it is all
fuss and foolery. A party with anything
positive iu it will outlive its own abuses
and your grumbling ; or if the real major
ity of thc nation is too corrupt to purify
itself, it will not be improved by changiug
its channel. Thc judgment day divides
the world into two classes only, one right
and one wrong. Do you think you can
make a better or more accurate division ?
My dear fellow citizens, don't be augbt
starling aside after every vagabond fancy
that inspired idiots can scare up. Within
the proper party of truth and progress will
be fouud all the available means of reform
that political agencies can ever effect Jo
nah withdrew in a lit of disgust because the
Lord would not destroy Nineveh for its
corruption, and sheltered Lis indignant
head under a gourd tbat grew np in a sin
gle night,and of course perished in a night
whereupon be wished himself dead anj
fainted outright. Better bear your small
percentage of yonr neighbor's sins and
blunders till they arc cured, than curse the
world and quit in a passion. It is good
enough for you to do your duty in, and too
good to be condemned as long as it is get
ting better.
"I'm dono, for I don't jump off tbe
stage or stump, like the pony in a traveling
menagerie, through a blazing hoop; I
wouldn't wbino a dying doxology to y
speech if I knew that it was the last tbat
I should ever itiaVa tn yrm I
will speak to you from my grave. My
voice will echo from these bills, as long as
the truth of my life is of any sc to yon,
and you arc worthy oWt Wherever I
am here among yon, or there above you
I'll be doing my duty and minding my
own business go home and mind yours."
With the downfall of Gen. Ogle's
political power, the man was down. His
sceptre passed into the hands" of the late
Judge Charles Ogle, whose sway was al
most as omnipotent as tho General's hal
been. Gen. Ogl's after life was a dreary
blank. Dr. Elder says, " I date his death
at the period of his discharge from public
duty ; there justice sets np his monument,
and its broad shadow covers all that lies
beyond it."
Important Correspondence.
ExEcrf ive Department. I
A nnnvvlis, MJ., May 2. 1353. 1
To His Excellency,
The Uoeernor of Pennsylvania :
Sir : 1 have maturely considered the requi
sition made by your Excellency, lor thc appre
hension and delivery ol Thomas M'Crcary and
John Merritt, charged with the crime ot kid
napping a certain ltachel Farker. I must re
spectfully decline to comply with it, for the
following reasons :
You will perceive by thc statement of L. A.
Schoulficld, Esq.. (the truth ot which has not
becD, ndI presume, will not be com ro verted,)
that Thomas M'Crcary went to Pennsylvania,
not as a kidnapper, hut for thc sole purpose ot
capturing Rachel Tinker, then supposed to Le
Eliza Crocus, the fugitive slave of Mrs. Dickey
hut. It is also certain that he carried with
him the authority ot a PQiver ot attorney from
the owner of the alleged fugitive, or her agent,
designing to net under it, in good !aith. It is
likewise well known that he captured Rachel
Parker, believing her to be Eliza Crocus.
Neither can it be denied that he hod good rea
son for so believing, not only from the infor
mation received in the neighborhood, but also
from the extraordinary likeness which exists
between Rachel Parker and Eliza Crocus, and
upon which some of the most respectable citi
zens ot Baltimore were prepared to swear to
the fact ol identity. From these premises, the
conclusion is irresistibly drawn, that Thomas
M'Creary is not a criminal. Thc presumption
ot malicious intent, necessary to constitute
ciime, is absolutely rebutted by the facts ot the
case. If guilty at all, under the law, his guilt
is purely technical. He is morally innocent,
beyond the shadow of a doubt. The first ques
tion which arises, therelbrc, is, would it be
just for the laws ol Pennsylvania to punish a
man under such circumstances i l tie next
question if, ran 1 consent that a citizen of
Maryland shall be exposed to the hazard of no
unjust prosecution t It is unnecessary for mc
to assure you tbat the people and government
of this Slate bold the crime oi kidnapping in
the deepest abhorrence, and that our laws visit
it with lhe severest punishments. But, that is
not the enquiry here. The question is, wheth
er or not, being perfectly satisfied ol the moral
innocence ol the accused, I shall send him into
another Slate lor trial ? It is extremely un
pleafant to make any allusion wharscertr,
Which may possibly t stirp"fid to tff!trt tin
i.vlv unnn n of the citizens rf (mother
iind a Incu'lly State; nevertheless, i' is ny j
duty lo remind vuur Excellency that verv
strong and unreasonable prejudices, touching
the lubjecl-matter of M'Citary's allied ul
lencp, prevail in lhe county where he has hern
indicted, which would render lhe result of his
trial exceedingly uncertain. I could out, there
fore, consent to expose him to the risk, unless
I felt constrained lo do so hv ttie mandate ot ,
the Federal Constitution. Without euiennu
into an argument upon this point, it is sulli- j
cient to say, that I consider the case of M'Cre-1
ary fully within lhe scope of that discretion,:
in regard to requisitions, which has always;
been claimed and exercised l.y the Executive i
of thc different Slates of the Union. Not
only the Governor's, but the Courts also, on '
habeas corpus, have repeatedly gone behind re- I
quisilions, and have examined iuto and decided '
upon the merits of the cases themselves.
I respectfully call youi attention to a letter i
addressed to me by the Hon. James Campbell, I
late Attorney (icneral of Pennsylvania, a copy ;
ol which is herewith enclosed. The late At-i
torney Geneiat expressly Hales, Hint, at the
trial on the petition for Ireedom, filed by Rarhel .
Parker, in lhe Circuit Court for Paltimore 1
county, it was distinctly understood and agrctd '
between the counsel for lhe petitioner and the
claimant, respectively, that no criminal pro
ceedings should be instituted against M Lreary
in Pennsylvania, il the claimant wou'J aban
don the claim, and permit a verdict to be ta
ken in favor of llie netitloner - and that lie t lhe '
late Attorney General) would, without any
hesitation, have entered a nolle prnsrirui on lhe
indictment lately found againstjl.ini (M'Creary)
n Chester county, hau lie the power to do so.
From this statement ot thc late Attorney Gen-!
eral, it must be supposed that M'Creary wa I
not regarded by lhe counsel as morally cuil'y,
if guilty at all. In pursuance ol the irrrange-j
ment entered into between the counsel, a ver- !
diet in favor oi the petitioner was rendered by j
the jury. It is not for me to inquire how far 1
lhe State t Pennsylvania might consider her-;
sell bound bv the deliberate act of lhe counsel
appointed bv your Excellency, at lhe request
of the Legislature i.f your Stale. I must re.
gard those counsel, thus appointed, as the rep-1
resentatives ol Pennsylvania, authorized lo act1;
in her behnlt. I must, consequently. assKr.ie j
tliat Pennsylvania has admilled the moral itf-1
nocence of M'Creary ; because upon lhe oppei
silc hypothesis, I should be driven to the con-!
elusion (which is wholly inadmissible) that a
felony had been compounded, in order that the;
freedom of Rachel Parker miijhl thereby be'
secured. It cannot be doubted that the conn-
sel, on both sides, acted from the highest and !
purest motives : and that, being satisfied ol the;
moral innocence of II Lreary, the counsel ol ,
Pennsylvania considered that a prosecution f rj
kidnapping would not ooly be unjust to
M'Creary, but might tend very strongly to ex- j
cite unpleasant feelings between two great i
States, which have always cherished, and, I .
sincerely trust, alwnys will continue to cherish
the warmest mutual respect and attachment. i
Here, then, by the force ot thc facts themsel-
es, as well as by the admission ot Pennsylva- i
ia, clearly implied from the net of ht r ac
kuowlcged legal representatives I am brouuht !
to the certain conclusion that Thomas M'Cre-!
ary is an innocent man. 1
The case of John Merritt rests upon the!
same facts and is governed by the same prinei-!
pies. He was but the f Att.w
and ot course should not be held accountable, '
it M'Creary be declared irresponsible. j
Under these circumstances, I must decline ,
to comply with the requisition ol your Excel-;
Wncy. "
I have the honor to be, with thc hicbest re
spect, your ob't serv't, E. LOUIS LOWE.
I
Exr.crTivE CiMMr.rH, j
Uarrhburg Mm 26, J.S53. j ;
To His Exccllenry, E. Loris Lowk, j
Oorerfor of Maryland : I
Your Excellency' communication of the 2d
instant informing me that you had declined to
issue a warrant for the arrest and delivery ot ;
Thomas M'Creary and John Merritt, alleged
fugitives from the justice of this Slate, came '
to hand by due course ot mml. An unusual
pressure ol other othcial dunes must plead my .
apology to your Excellency lor having so long
delayed to acknowledge its receipt. !
I have cxamiued with some solicitude and
much care, the reasons ihu communicated to
me by your Excellency, for your refusal to i
comply with he requisition ol the Governor
of this State for a warrant to arrest the said
fugitives, and regrrt that I should feel required
to say, after all this consideration, that I can-;
not regard the reasons assigned as sufficient : ;
indeed I feel constrained by a hih sense of
othcial duty lo dissent almost cntirelv from the 1
doctrines promulgated by your Excellency,!
touching this uufortunate 'aflair. j
Before proceeding to discuss the important ;
features of this unpleasant controversy, it !
would seem proper that I should at least at
tempt to remove from your mind npprehrn-'
sions, not disguised in your communication,!
tbat thc prosecution ot the fugitives may hare!
proceeded from prejudice or unfriendly (Vt -Ini" ;
on the part of certain citizens of PeiinM Iva-
nia. I can, 1 am happy lo say, sec nothing in.
lhe preliminaries of this case to warrant this,
impression. The. vindication of thc law and
the punishment of crime, I beg to assure yon, :
were the ouly objects sought. The very ami-1
cable relations which l.ave long existed between .
Maryland and Pennsylvania should he siifnVicnf,
it seems to me, to relieve yonr Excellency from '
apprehensions as to lhe just intentions ol thej
authorities of this Stale. Tin re is surely'
nothing in thc history ! renusylvania lo ex- i
cite distrust in the justice of her laws or the
purity of their adnuuis' ration. Some excite
ment very nnttirallt grew onl ot lhe riremn- j
stance connected with this affair ; but 1 cannot
conceive that ft is of sneh a character as loj
hazard the supremacy of the law, or enilanntr j
the integrity of trial bv itry ; and I regret ex-!
ccedingly that your Jftcellency shottM have
found it necessary to ' make any allusions j
whatever, which may possibly he supposrd toi
rcflcrt Ungraviou-iv upon any of the e i.-ens i
ol another and Irienilly Plate." Kxritcntcnr j
and misdirected feeling mny, n special oecn- i
sions, prevail without, tan lhe sacred portal
of justice, m this orderly Cciiinionwenlih. re 1
seldom if rver invaded by popular cbmcr.
Tbe jUilt ot innocence of panics is ever rstnb-!
Iishrrl according lo the rules anil principles ot ;
ilie law. Far be it fr in rf, tl.rrrlr.re, in r.r-1
ognire the tclit rf V'tir Er. tlnirv, liml. I the .,
law or rules of runilv. lo reltise tn surrrnder j
lhe accUM d on the allecation that a tinr ticil j
m.nhf not ! I.ntl l.i a f.ltv of this Slte : In r
ran I agree with you thai lhe interest mam-1
tested bv lhe ntiwns el t nestrr county, iu lite
girls Eliaheth and Karhncl Parker, whom they
knew to have bcrn f artled ofl fiom il.etr ml!t
in Violation nf law, should be rrcartled a. "a
very strong and unwnsooaHe prejudice." nor
that such a stale of krltng in a rommiiuity is
in render the ends ol justice " exceedingly un
certain.
I r-liall not attempt to answer a' leng'h the
plea ol innocence which von hive If en pl'isti'
rc iu'.crpoc f.-i the f'i'!i-cs, I a I mu-t dtnx
VOLUMK X NO 11.
Wnoi.E Number, 479.
its legitamary entiiely. One or two point,
however, would seem to demacd a passiu uu
lice. You allege that ' Mr. M'Creary went to
Pennsylvania, not as a kidnapper, Lut lor the
sole purpos" of capturing Racliael Parker, then
suppled to be Eliza Crocus the fugitive slave
ol Mrs. Dirkcyliur." The answer lo this is.
that the law of Congress prescribe a mode of
reclaiming a fugitive from labor, and bad Mr.
M'Creary respected these forms there would
now Le no indictment against him. Uau be
taken the alleged Eliza Crocus before an Uui
li d States Commissioner, to establish her iden
tity, as the law requires, the lact would have
been developed that the person whom he was
aliout to carry oil, was not Eliza Crocus, but
P.achael Parker. At best, therefore, il will he
seen that Mr. M'Creary rarrud olf P.achael
Parker in violation of the law and your Excel
lency will certaiuly agree wi;h die, that he
should bear the consequences.
Hut this whole inquiry into the guilt i r in
nocence ol the accused partu s, is unauthori
zed, and, to my mind, in clear derogation of
the letter and spirit of thc Constitution and
laws ot the United States ; nor can I agree
with you that the "case of Mr. M'Creary
comes wilhiu the scr pe of thai discretion in
regard to requisitions which has always been
claimed and exercised by the Executive of the
different States ot the Union." I have alo
searched in vain lor the cases in which not
only the Governors but the courts on babea
corpus, have repeatedly trone Miicd the requi
sition and have examined into aud deenl. d upon
the merits of the cases themselves." This ex
amination, so far from bringing me to a con
currence in your Exrellrnev's views, has con
firmed me in the belief, that there is nothing
iu the Constitution of the United Stales, in the
laws of Congress, or the practice ol the Gov
ernors ot the respective States, lo warrant an
Executive iu going behind a correct record, to
decide upon the facts. Every suggestion
which you have made in defence ol the accu
sed, constitutes subject matter for the conside
ration of a Pennsylvania jury when trying tha
question of guilt or innocence, and should not.
I apprehend, have attracted lhe notice (d t!ie
Executive ol Maryland, when enquirin" into
the forms of lhe requisition.
The Constitution ot the United States, pro
vides " that a person charged io any State
with treason, felony, or other crime, who shall
flee frcm justice and be h und in another State
shall on demand ol the Executive authority ot
lhe Stale from which he fiid, be delivered up.
to be removed to lhe State having jurisdiction
of the crime." The law ol Congress declares
" that whenever the Executive authority cf
any Stale in the Uoion shall demand any per
son as a fugitive Irom justice, ot the Execu
tive authority ol any State or Territory to
which such person shall have fled, and shall,
moreover, produce a copy of tbe indictment
louno, or an affidavit made before a tuaais'ratr
ot any such State or Territory, cliargmg the
person so demanded with having committer!
treason, felony or oilier crime, certified as au
thentic by the Governor or Cliiel Magistrate of
lhe State or Territory from whence Uic-persons
so charged fled, it shall be the duty of tbe Ex
ecutive authority ol any State or Territory to
cause him or her lo I arrested and secured
and delivered tn the Executive authority ma
king the demand, e.r bis acent."
to what nature or this ptaia and mandatory
law is found the right to go behind tire record
and try lhe case ? The injunction to deliver
the fugitives under the prescribed forms ol the
requisition is positive.- It it had been contem
plated that tlie Governor upon whom the re
quisition is made should inquire into themeits
of lhe case, why did not Congress so declore ?
M'Creary aa4 Merritt are tlairoed on the in
dicting i of grand jury, the highest grade ot
a prima faeB ease that can be made out ; and
still your Excellency has lelt required to go be
hind this ehsrge and inspire into tbe lacts ol
the case, and even into the leelioffs of the neo-
ple who rorght be called vpoa to act a jurors.
Much controversy is been hcM between
the Exerative ol the respective Slates ol ths
Unioo, as to the meaning ol the terms " other
crimes" as expressed in tbe Coesinntion aad
touchiDj the torms ot requisition ; but in Bo
instanre that I bare been able to discover be
lore ikw present, has an Executive claimed the
right to go behind as admittedly correct jrc
crd and dismiss the accused on the lac:r nl
lhe rase. No objection is itirit to the f tm
or substance ol the rrquisitirn, and the crime
charged according lo the language of your
r.jcr'.-ewy, is as ouuus to .Maryland as in
Pennsylvania." But whilst admitting the
sufficiency of the requisition as to form, yon
twsome or infer from an unauthorized inquiry
ruto the facts, the innocence of thc accused
and then nsk if it would be right lor
lhe laws of Pennsylvania to punish a man
under such circumstances " and if yon should
give your conseut " that a citizen ol Mary
land should lie exposed to an unj'isl pros
erntion." Thc answer is that ibe law
must I administered as it is. It is not fcr am
Executive officer to account for the consequen
ces nor is it safe to dooht the justice of lhe
law. Thc i-lea tfrai it is mv dutv as an Exec
utive to foreknow the kind of trial which is u
await parlies Claimed on the requisition of your
Excellency or lhe Governor of any other Slate
is troly slarllnij. Why Sir, to my mind do
Exiruiive should pretend lo understand the
luctsorihe eonsrqtirnres ; he should be con
lent lo obev lhe maiidatrs nt tle Ceptitulion.
confiding the rights nntf interests of accused
parttcs to their peers and the laws ol he land.
Your view of the stiljm, it will br readily
seen would impose irpon the Esccutitr a moss
onerous and dehente duty n't couiempbited by
rlieaci t l Congnss. It' it be th right of ihV
Exrctitive. upon wham a requisition is made
to !T rrbitvl tbe indictment In notice the tart
tor lhe protection ol the aermed, it is bis dutr
lo do so. 11 he has the rij;?it lo do soir. one
case, he is bound to .!,, fl, m l. MttT
!y impracticable and never should Ir attempt
ed. Should an Executive l- eg pert 4 tore
verse ihr action ot a j-tan.1 miv in the nhsenr.
ot n'l thr testimony n w I, fit ih- indictment
aaainst the accused m.r hare been f.nd ?
Should an accused party be tried Ik lore arrest -.Shottl
l .judgment I rendered in the absence cf
Mlt the prosecutor and arCrjrd The inevi
table eilert ol your Kxcrllcnrv'spceilicn vnlJ
be t,. bad i ! .vstem thus impracticable an
.lan?rron. If. iherr-t.,r. 1 .,-,, rr.y sat
isherl of the mswnKr of the accil-r f. I ecol t '
not c neiit to pnnicpate tD the establtshnieni
ol a pre.-etl. tii so fraught wnh dsnrcre.jj rn
srqtieurrs lo the p.o e of the roii.iirr. rT the
ends ol jtisiite, as i. acquiesce in the it-hl
an Exccntirc lo so Mum! t.r irdMineut el a
jufv, and a icqnivjuon 10 rrular tctm, to do:
rule the Merits of the cac.
Thr- provisions rf the Cnnsiitofcit mrst
have the paraiticnnl eflecl 1 1 a treaty siiruja-'
Hon between Sovereign and nd"epeD?-'
Slates, and aie not only positive and mandato
ry in ihrit rcV..rcn.,t,. but cr.Dtaf0 a ,:.
. s, lufunatN ,0 ,hc j0wJj!lirll r, ,he cf..
cue rh-jr-ed If ,, had f.rrn tntcrob J r Tr
be -lyVc-r d,s ie.,.n.v pf,wr, , fc
0t rum