Ohio History Journal

160      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

HEMISPHERE - EXTRA. COLUMBUS, OHIO, SEPT. 17TH, 1834.

 

BIOGRAPHY OF GOV. ROBERT LUCAS.

 

BY A CITIZEN OF COLUMBUS.

THE life and services of all public men, holding high official

stations in the government of the country, are a species of public

property, and it is right and proper that the body of the people,

who are subject to be called upon to act directly upon the merits

and fitness of candidates for popular favor, should be made ac-

quainted with their history, that they may know how to estimate

their value.

I do not design to write a full biography of Gen. LUCAS.- It

is not required - the space allotted me in a weekly newspaper,

forbids it -my purpose will be fully answered by merely glanc-

ing at some of the most prominent incidents of his life, and by

giving the basis of those services and claims which have elevated

him to the first honors of Ohio.

ROBERT LUCAS was among the early settlers of this state.

He emigrated from Virginia with his father and family, and set-

tled on the Scioto river, near its mouth, in 1802, being then only

21 years of age. His grand father was among the border settlers

of the State of Virginia, and shared largely in the Indian depre-

dations of those early times. His father had experienced much

hardship and suffering in the early Indian Wars of Pennsylvania

and Virginia.-He was one of a party of Volunteers under Col.

Boquet, in the famous battle of the "Bloody Run" in Pennsyl-

vania, previous to the revolutionary war;- and was subsequent-

ly in several engagements in Virginia, until the flight of Lord

Dunmore from that colony.

He was one of a party of volunteers, who, in the year 1764

marched from Virginia to Pittsburgh, and from thence, under the

command of Col. Boquet to the Indian towns on the Muskingum

river in Ohio. He was of a family of nine brothers, FOUR of

whom, after sharing in all the dangers and privations incident to

Indian warfare upon our border settlements, were brutally butch-

ered by the savage monsters who then preyed upon the depend-

ent, unprotected families of that ill-fated country.

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Biography of Robert Lucas.            161   Raised upon the frontiers of Virginia, where the Indian tom- ahawk glittered with the blood of its victims, these hardy, ro- bust sons of a chivalrous age, had been taught to look upon dan- ger without dread, and to face the scalping-knife unmoved. His-

tory records some of the no- ble triumphs of these unholy conflicts; and the family of the Lucas's bears a conspicu- ous part in the tragic honors of the day. Possessing great bravery and skill, they aided essentially in affording shel- ter to thousands of innocent, defenceless  citizens, whose lives were in their hands. GEN. ROBERT LUC A S, whose history I am attempt- ing to sketch, had f o u r brothers, who, as well as his venerable father, were early settled near each other on the Banks of the Scioto, all of whom have sometime since deceased. ROBERT   is now the only aged representative of the family name in Ohio,

and the proud eminence he has attained, and the strong hold he now has upon the affections and confidence of his fellow country- men, reflects the highest credit upon his ancestry, as well as upon himself. In rapidly passing over the history and services of Gen. LUCAS, I fear that I may do him injustice.-The various inci- dents of his somewhat eventful life, would fill a volume. I am obliged to bring my notice of these incidents and events to a nar- row compass. In 1803, the year following his removal to Ohio, and when at the age of 22, he was commissioned a Lieutenant in a company Vol. XVII.- 11.

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162      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

of volunteers raised in the Scioto valley, he was directed by the

President of the United States to be in readiness, with the regi-

ment to which he was attached, to march to Louisiana, and, in

the event of the violation of the French treaty by the officers of

the Spanish Government, to take forcible possession of that ter-

ritory. He subsequently filled a great number of the civil offices

of the county in which he resided, from that of County Sur-

veyor, Justice of the Peace, County Auditor &c, to those of a Rep-

resentative and Senator in the General Assembly of the State.

At various intervals from 1808 to 1832, he was returned a mem-

ber of one or the other of the branches of the State Legislature,

stations which he occupied NINETEEN YEARS, ably and faithfully

discharging his public duties, and meeting with the smiles of ap-

proval on returning to his constituents.

The testimonials of popular opinion, so often bestowed upon

him, and that too, without, at times, an opposing candidate, to-

gether with the numerous military honors conferred upon him

from time to time, affords abundant assurance of his great popu-

larity and worth, and of the high place he holds in the respect and

confidence of those who know him best. He also has, in addition

to the offices enumerated, been a Presidential elector of the State;

and during his long and arduous services in the Legislature, was

twice elected Speaker of the Senate, over which honorable body

he is said to have presided with great industry and ability.

But this notice does not end here. There is yet a brighter

page to unfold - still another, and yet stronger light in which the

life and services of ROBERT LUCAS are made to shine with re-

doubled splendor. I do not allude to his moral virtues -to the

exemplary life as an active member of the Methodist church

which he adorns; nor the space he occupies in society. - These

are of themselves, a high eulogy upon his name; but its to the war

worn soldier's plume; to the honors won amid the battle strife, in

sheltering the innocent and the dependent from the hatchet of the

wild man of the forest, that our attention is now directed, and

which wins our hearts and enchaines our affections. It is not

merely as a civil officer, as a Representative in the public council

chamber that Gen. Lucas is endeared to the people of Ohio, and

of the West. He was bred and educated in the old Jefferson school

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Biography of Robert Lucas.             163

 

of Virginia, and was both in and out of the Legislature, the early

champion, and the faithful advocate of the late war with Great

Britain. The Halls of our House of Assembly were more than

once made to resound with his voice in support of the principles

and measures of the war; and while Brigadier General, at the

commencement of hostilities in 1812, he rallied his troops by an

eloquent appeal to their valor and patriotism, calling upon them

to volunteer in defence of their invaded and suffering frontier.

There is merely room in this short notice, for a few extracts from

this speech, which has been politely furnished by a friend. After

adverting to the call of the President upon the States for one

hundred thousand men, he thus appropriately and feelingly al-

ludes to the great CRISIS in which our bleeding country was then

involved, and to the necessity on the part of the Government, for

the most prompt and decisive measures of resistance:

"Let each of us for a moment, make the inquiry, what was

the situation of the American people when colonists? and

what would have been their situation, had they remained such?

I would answer in a word; we would have been the disposable

slaves of a despicable tyrant. This leads us to a further inquiry.

By what means were we released from the yoke of bondage? I

would answer, by the exertions of our fathers through a seven

years war; wading, as it were, thro' seas of blood - destitute of

all the comforts of life-toiling through many difficulties, and

at length, after a loss of thousands of lives, gained for us that

freedom which we have since enjoyed.

"And can we - I say, can we, their children - the heirs of

liberty, be so far degenerated as to suffer the blood of our fathers

to be disgraced, and the grey-headed survivors of these perilous

times to be again bound in chains? No, it cannot be possible!

I feel a confidence that there is not one man in Scioto so desti-

tute of patriotism, inspired by the God of our fathers, as to be

willing to bow his neck, receive the yoke, and become a despisable

tributary to a royal tyrant.

"Parents, could you see your children dragged from your

presence, and bound in chains? Children, could you see your

aged parents toiling in bondage? Husbands, could you see your

wives forced into the embraces of a ruthless and brutal soldiery?

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Young Men, could you see the fair and blooming virgins with

whom you are acquainted, prostrated at the feet of merciless sav-

ages?  I presume every one of you will answer No--I would

rather terminate my existence, than to submit to any such flagrant

outrages.

"Fellow Citizens and Soldiers: - The liberty we now enjoy

was gained by the sword. It now becomes our duty to prepare

to defend it by the sword. And as we are required to furnish

our portion of one hundred thousand men; called by the President

of the United States to be in readiness to take the field at a mo-

ment's warning; which quota must be raised either by volunteers

or a draft; I possess a confidence that the citizens of Scioto will

not suffer the degredation of a draft, but they will cheerfully ten-

der their services as volunteers, resolving to risk their lives-

their all, in defending and supporting their invaded rights.

To those who may feel a disposition to volunteer, I particu-

larly address myself. Gentlemen, patriots and defenders of lib-

erty - It is highly probable we shall in a short time be called by

our country into honorable service, and when called we may flat-

ter ourselves with being engaged in a active campaign, where an

opportunity will be presented not only to combat with our ene-

mies, but to enjoy the highest gratification of which the true pa-

triot is susceptible - To conquer.

"Gentlemen, I now freely enroll myself as a volunteer, and

pledge myself to share the fate of war with you, let us be called

to any station the President of the United States may direct. I

will cheerfully go with you. Let the rallying word with us be

"Death to the invaders of our rights; or death in defence of

them."

This stirring appeal aroused the patriotism of his brave sol-

diers, and the roll of volunteers was almost momentarily filled

with many of the most active and hardy of the sons of the Scioto

valley.

His three brothers were all, more or less experienced in the

sanguinary Indian wars of Pennsylvania. They were all entered

as volunteers in the Western insurrection of that state, having

marched from Virginia to the relief of the Western sufferers, by

the order of the President. His brother John commanded a com-

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Biography of Robert Lucas.             165

 

pany of volunteers in Hull's campaign, and when the two broth-

ers were on the march to the frontier in ₁81₂, their aged father

accompanied them as far as Chillicothe, and on taking them by

the hand in a final leave, "WELL, MY Boys," says the old man,

"farewell! DEATH RATHER THAN DISHONOR."

Gen. LUCAS now held himself in readiness to march at a

moment's warning. Soon the cry of distress reached his ear. It

was the cry of suffering innocence, appealing for help and pro-

tection from the reeking tomahawk.  The blood of his brave

ancestry coursed his veins. His heart beat high in the cause of

liberty. He shouldered his knapsack, and at the head of a bat-

talion of brave volunteers, pushed forward to Dayton. He was

soon dispatched by Gov. Meigs as a special messenger to De-

troit, and met Hull's army in the wilderness when on his return.

He crossed the river from Detroit to Canada, and was the

first man who passed the Aux Canard when the British were dis-

possessed of the bridge over that river. At the battle of Browns-

town, his horse was shot from under him. He had previously

marched, by order of Gov. Meigs, to the Indian town of Green-

ville, where the hostile Indians were reported to have committed

ravages, and to have killed several men. - Soon after his return

from this excursion, he was solicited by Gov. Meigs to undertake

the expedition to Detroit before mentioned. He was subsequent-

ly ordered to scour the country around the river Raisin, and hav-

ing been assigned a company of men for that purpose, he entered

and performed that hazardous service without encountering an

engagement.

Gen. Hull having learned that a party of Kickapoos had en-

camped near the river Raisin, Gen. Lucas was dispatched to as-

certain their number and strength. About this time he was at-

tached to Gen. McArthur's regiment by the permission of Gen.

Hull. The succeeding night was pitched upon for crossing the

river. Much confusion prevailed. Gen. Lucas had been re-

quested by Gen. McArthur to assist him in directing the move-

ment of the troops preparatory to crossing. Gen. LUCAS, with a

patriotism and feeling truly honorable to his character, anxiously

sought permission to accompany this expedition, and to be among

the first to plant the STARS and STRIPES in the enemy's territory.

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166      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

Several actions in which the most signal courage and skill

were displayed, succeeded this movement, in which Gen. Lucas

was a prominent actor. He accompanied Cols. Cass and Miller in

taking possession of the bridge near Malden, and was appointed

to lead the advance guard in that engagement. The troops who

crossed were doomed to traverse deep and dreary swamps which

intercepted the line of march; but, led on by the God of Battle,

they finally triumphed without the loss of a single man. The

most prominent engagement during the whole campaign was the

battle of Brownstown, to which allusion has previously been

made. A short period previous to the battle, one McCullough

had sought and obtained the assent of the commander-in-chief

that LUCAS, himself, Fowler and Stockton should accompany Ma-

jor Vanhorn in the expedition upon the enemy. The march was

commenced on the following morning. LUCAS and McCullough

proceeded together. Near the Big apple-tree McCullough

alighted from his horse. Capt. Barrier accompanying LUCAS,

they moved immediately forward. The road here forked, one

leading to the right of an Indian cornfield, a little in advance, and

the other to the left of it. They took the right hand path. Mc-

Cullough, on coming up fortunately took the left hand road, in

company with a servant of Major Vanhorn. - They were fired

upon by a party of a dozen ambushed Indians, and McCullough

and another of the detachment were killed, scalped and toma-

hawked before relief could reach them. This was in the rear of

the main engagement. LUCAS paid the last sad duties to the un-

fortunate travelling companion, by conveying it a short distance,

placing it upon a plank, and covering it with bark! all the funeral

rites which the darkness and dangers of the hour would permit:

-all the poor soldier, falling in battle in a distant wilderness

could expect to find. The Indians fled across the cornfield and

escaped.

This scene over, intelligence was received that the Indians

had waylaid them at Brownstown. Order for battle was imme-

diately formed - LUCAS rode along the defile near the village -

the thicket of bushes on the left afforded a convenient shelter for

the savages, though they mainly lay on the opposite side of the

creek. After cautioning the men on the right flank, LUCAS rode up

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Biography of Robert Lucas.                  167

 

in front between the lines, accompanied by Mr. Stockton and Ma-

jor Vanhorn. They were fired upon by the Indians when within

twenty or thirty yards of the ambush. LUCAS and Stockton's

horses both fell. That of GEN. LUCAS wheeled at the fire, plunged

and threw his rider. In his fall, he lost the hold upon his gun.

He flew to the ranks of Captain Barrier where he was furnished

with another musket, and rallied the men to form and fire, which

was instantly accomplished. But Fowler and several others were

killed in the first broadside. The battle became general, and it

was found necessary to order a retreat to the river. Seventeen

men were killed in the engagement, and several wounded. Here

we must close our notice, I have already gone into detail beyond

my original intention.

The following is the copy of a letter written by GEN. LUCAS

while at Detroit to his friend, Maj. Kendall of Scioto county,

previous to the surrender of Hull, which was handed to the

writer by a friend, and is indicative of the chivalrous spirit of

its author, thus struggling in liberty's cause. A few days after,

Hull capitulated to the enemy. It is impossible to describe the

deep and lasting degradation done his country by this act of des-

peration and cowardice, that, though a man of great moderation

and forbearance, Gov. LUCAS dashed his musket and cartridge-

box against the wall, and immediately left the Fort, determined

never to submit to become a prisoner of war:

 

DETROIT, AUGUST 12, 1812.

DEAR SIR:- I have the mortification to announce to you that on the

evening of the 7th inst., whilst waiting with anxiety for liberty to march

to Malden, the American army was ordered by the Gen. to recross the

river to Detroit, and thereby have been prevented from plucking the lau-

rels which have heretofore been hovering over our heads. Never was

there a more patriotic army, possessing a greater love of country, or a

more ardent desire to render it important services. Neither was there

ever an army that had it more completely in their power to have accom-

plished every object of their desire than the present-and it must now

be sunk in disgrace, for the want of a General at their head. Neither

were there officers more solicitous, or more united than our patriotic

Colonel, (and indeed the whole army) have been, both regulars and vol-

unteers, to promote the public good. Neither were there ever men of

talents as there are so shamefully opposed by imbecile or treacherous

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168       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

commander, as they have been. He has frequently called the Field

officers to council, in which they have, without exception, united in senti-

ment, and have been, in every instance, opposed by him. Would to God!

that either of our Colonels had the command; if they had, we might yet

wipe off the foul stain that has been brought upon us. We are now re-

duced to a perilous situation. The British are reinforcing. Our com-

munication with the States is cut off. Our provisions growing short and

likely to be surrounded by hosts of savages.

All appears dark at present, but hope is not lost. If energy and

perseverance is united with courage, we may yet extricate ourselves.

With submissions of respect, I am your obt. servt.

ROBERT LUCAS.

MAJ. WM. KENDALL.

 

This is a hasty sketch of the life, and services of ROBERT

LUCAS, now the Governor of Ohio. The reader may perhaps

discover in it some of the causes of his elevation to so honorable

a post; -some of the claims on which his past success has

rested, and some of the reasons that have governed his friends

in rallying to his support.

Such was his conduct during the northern campaign, as to

call from Gov. McArthur a very flattering notice in his letter to

the Secretary of War. Gov. McARTHUR often said, that ROBERT

LUCAS underwent more hardship and danger than any man in

the army;--and this deserved compliment from       such a dis-

tinguished source, is certainly worthy of high consideration.

His life has been one of active service, of devotion to his

country and of great usefulness to the State. Whether in the

public council or in the tented field, he has always exhibited the

man of talents, and proved himself equal to every station as-

signed to him. As a Legislator he was intelligent, energetic and

devoted-as a soldier, we need only quote his emphatic words

before his fellow-citizens in 1812. "DEATH TO THE INVADERS OF

OUR RIGHTS, OR DEATH IN DEFENCE OF THEM."

"DEATH RATHER THAN DISHONOR," was a father's legacy

to his sons, when marching to redress the wrongs of a suffer-

ing country, and how faithfully it was cherished and observed

by the honored subject of this notice!

Gen. LUCAS may well be denominated a self made man.

He is indeed one of the people, a practical farmer by pursuit,

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Biography of Robert Lucas.             169

 

educated among them, and taught to know and appreciate their

wants. Firm and settled in his opinions, acute and penetrating

in his investigations, yet modest and unassuming in all his pre-

tensions, he is always at home in every thing belonging to his

official duties. And no man, whatever his predilections may be,

however unyielding in his prejudices, can pay him a visit without

being strongly impressed with his general intelligence, and the

mildness and urbanity of his manners. Although not deeply

learned, he is thoroughly acquainted with the history and policy

of the State- with its internal resources -its legislation- its

public works - and the means proper to be employed to support

and extend them.

Such is ROBERT LUCAS, and as such he now stands before

the people of Ohio, either to be sustained or to fall by their

suffrages.

Perhaps a few words of remark, in addition to the forego-

ing, inquiring more particularly into the MANNER in which Gov.

LUCAS has performed his official duties, and discharged the high

trust confided to him by the people of Ohio, may not be out of

place. And how, let it be asked, has he met the responsibility,

and discharged the duties of the station he now occupies? How

has he demeaned himself as executive of the State?   Is he

chargeable with any omitted duties; any neglect of business;

any want of industry or zeal; any remissness or inattention to

the concerns of the people? If he has been thus assailed, if a

single word of censure has fallen from any individual in Ohio,

it is not known to him or others. On the contrary, his exer-

tions and faithfulness in administering the government, are

everywhere acknowledged. Even the more candid of his political

opponents, admit his capability; admit his close attention to busi-

ness; admit that we never had a Governor who has been more

devoted to the duties of his office, or one more thoroughly ac-

quainted with the business of the State. Many gentlemen, of

the opposition, here at the capital, have been eye-witnesses to his

personal devotion to the public calls; and to their honor, let it

be said, they as publicly admit that they cannot and will not

oppose him. Such, too, is the frank and honorable course of

many of the first men of the opposition in other parts of the

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State. And when the candid and upright of his political oppo-

nents are thus disarmed of the power of charging him with official

misconduct, whence springs the rancor, and the enmity with

which his re-election is opposed? Whence the rotten source that

has called up a RENEGADE member of the party to put him down?

Whence the idle cry of "OFFICE-HOLDER'S CONVENTION" and on

what foundation, in fact, rests the opposition to his re-election?

What real excuse has any man for opposing him? Is it party-

spirit alone, that "HYDRA" which the more candid of the enemies

of the administration have openly condemned for years; is this

the foundation on which his political adversaries rest their oppo-

sition? Will they, can they, in the face of the oft repeated

song of "No PARTY," "LET US GO FOR THE BEST MEN," forget

their duty to the State, to themselves, to the country, by thus

annulling all their former professions of fairness, and oppose a

candidate for no other reason than because he is found to differ

with them in some of the measures of national policy? True,

Gov. LUCAS is a Republican. He does not hide his opinions from

the world. His friends all understand his views. They have

always been openly avowed, and let us inquire for what does

PARTY-SPIRIT assail him? Is it because of his known firmness?

Because he has never turned his coat to receive the support of

any man or set of men; Because he advocated the last war, and

fought in defence of his invaded country? Because he was the

early and true friend of JEFFERSON; and equally the friend and

supporter of ANDREW JACKSON, and the measures of his admin-

istration? Because he believes in the sovereignty of the States,

in freedom of opinion, in moderate tariff, and in low taxation?

Because he is a plain man, a farmer by occupation, and the advo-

cate of a plain, unostentatious, economical government?  Be-

cause he is the avowed and determined enemy of THE BANK OF

THE UNITED STATES, and resolutely fixed, and firmly established

in all his views and opinions of the unconstitutional powers of

that incorporation? - Are these among the reasons why one of

the ablest and best Governors Ohio ever produced, is to be de-

nounced and put down? Certainly, there is virtue and intelli-

gence enough among the people to correct every improper feel-

ing on the subject; and all good men-all who cherish right

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Biography of Robert Lucas.             171

 

notions of government, and who regard the interests of the peo-

ple as paramount to the bitter, rancorous feelings of a mercenary

partisan, will come out in support of the claims of GEN LUCAS.

They will not put to hazard the best interests of Ohio, by elevat-

ing his opponent to the place he occupies; a man who tho' mor-

ally upright, is known to be ignorant of the business of the State,

and to possess no one qualification for the station he seeks. Such

an experiment must put the blush on all other miscalled "EXPERI-

MENTS," and leave the friends who advocate his claims to en-

counter a fearful responsibility at the hands of the honest tillers

of the soil. The friends and supporters of Gov. LUCAS hazard

nothing. He has been tried and found faithful. The contrast

between him and his antagonist is so striking that no man can

fail to distinguish the difference. THE ONE has spent his whole

life in the service of the State. -THE OTHER, it is said, HAS

NEVER HELD A CIVIL OFFICE UNDER THE STATE GOVERNMENT,

AND KNOWS NOTHING OF ITS PUBLIC LEGISLATION, & LITTLE OF

THE CIVIL HISTORY OF THE STATE. He was a few years in Con-

gress from the Cincinnati District, and it is not alleged or pre-

tended, by any of the friends of Gov. LUCAS, that he is not de-

servedly esteemed, a highly honorable, gentlemanly, correct old

man. The advocates of Gen. LUCAS do not rest his claims for a

continuance in the place he now holds, on the weakness of his

adversary. They rely alone on the merits and fitness of their

own candidate for support, and if these shall prove insufficient to

sustain him, let him fall. The history of ROBERT LUCAS is iden-

tified with the State. His name stands, for NINETEEN sessions,

ON THE JOURNALS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, several of which

were served as Speaker of the Senate; and can his opponent

point to a single Journal of either House where his name ap-

pears?- It is not remembered, if he has ever served, for a single

year, in the State Legislature, or even held a responsible office

in the civil administration of the State. This will readily account

for what has been before observed, that Gen. FINDLEY must

necessarily be deficient in information. He must be ignorant of

the respective acts of Legislation, and of all the great mass of

general and local business, requiring from time to time, the

superintendence and action of the executive of the State. And

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here it is solemnly asked, will OHIO, at this important epoch in

her history, trifle with the elective franchise? Will she, when

her growing energies are about putting forth in their strength,

shove aside the most experienced and valued of her sons, to

make way for such an "EXPERIMENT."   This is a day of impor-

tance to Ohio, one swelled with consequence to the West, and

to the whole nation. Every lover of liberty is required to be at his

post. While our happy UNION is threatened with dismember-

ment, and corruption, in a thousand forms, is endeavoring to

steal a march on the Government of the country - when that

poison canker worm of freedom, the GREAT MONEYED MONSTER

is uprooting the deep foundations of this Republic, and men,

once the pride of the nation, are found leaguing together in a

common purpose to prostrate forever the liberties of the people,

'tis time the country was awake, and every patriot enrolled for

duty. These are matters of grave import, and the people will

no doubt be prepared to meet the CRISIS, and to decide the ISSUE.

To that tribunal, the honored subject of this notice will confi-

dently submit his claims, assured, as he must be, that in no in-

stance has he failed, faithfully and fearlessly, to discharge his

duty; and that whatever may be the event of the approaching

contest, his past labors and services will allow him to share the

approbation of his friends, and the smiles of an approving con-

science.

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