Harpers-Ferry free press. [volume], January 22, 1822, Image 1

About Harpers-Ferry free press. [volume] (Harper's Ferry, Va. [i.e. Harpers Ferry, W. Va.]) 1821-1824

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c M E P ESS.
TO SHEW VIRTUE HER OWN FEATURE) SCORN HER OWN IMAGE, AND THE VERY AGE AND BODY OF THE TIME, HIS FORM AND PRESSURE.
VOL. I.
HARPERS-FERRY, VIRGINIA, TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1822.
No. 25.
PUBLISHED, WEEKLY, BY
JOHN S. GALL A HER Sc CO. j
CONDITIONS.
Tlie u Free Press” is published at two
dollars per annum, if paid in advance ;
two dollars and twenty-five cents if paid
at trie end of six months ; or, two dollars
and fifty cents at the expiration of the
year.
IC?”'As payment in advance will serve
the interest of all concerned, that models
1-espectfully solicited.
A* Advertisements inserted three times
fbr one dollar per square; twenty-five
cents for every subsequent insertion.
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TO TITE PUBLIC.
tempt was made to effect affe improvement
in respect to the education of the chil
dren at this place, by the introduction of
the Lanctisterian system. For that pur
pose a letter was addressed to the founder
of it, inquiring whether a teacher might
be obtained from his institution at Balti
more. Upon receiving his answer in the
affirmative, it was communicated to the
proper authority, and Mr. Lancaster was
solicited to visit Harpers-Ferry, with a
view to obtaining the aid of his experi
ence and advice, in respect to the estab
lishment of such a seminary. At that
time, in the first instance, it was not even
imagined that an opposition to a measure
of so beneficial a tendency would he open
ly avowed, much less that it would be
published to the world, and expose the
inhabitants of Harpers-Ferry to the foul
disgrace of being the only community in
the United States who were disposed to
slander one of the most useful of men.
Such, however, has been the case. A few
individuals, whpse standing in society
gave to their assertions a weight to which
they were not entitled, took advantage of
the credulity of those who moked to them
for correct information, and with a mali
cious activity contrived to exciie the pre
judices of many, to such a degree, that,
on Mr. Lancaster’s arrival here, his sys
tem was viewed by them as an imposi
-Kj£ N** i.?r»pr>&t0> T'o
obviate the ill effects of the misrepresen
tations which were then made, the writer
of this article took a course which none
but.a good cause would ever admit of with
any. probability of success. He collected
facts,'and submitted them to the com
munity, believing that the natural good
sense of his countrymen would enable
them to detect and treat with due con
tempt the deceptions which had been
practised upon them. But the opponents
of the Lancasterian System of Education,
at this place, it appears, thought differ
ently. Having at first succeeded in de
ceiving those who confided in them and
had listened to their false statements,
they have since shewn that they thought
no insinuation too absurd to be belie ed
by those they had once duped. They have
not hesitated to intimate to the inhabi
tants of Harpers-Ferry that Joseph Lan
caster, the man who had received such
distinguished attentions from the Con
gress of the United States, had come to
this little place to intrigue with one of its
inhabitants to trumpet his fame to the
world ! ! and that the numbers which ap
peared in the Free Press, signed by “ An
American,” were written by Mr. Lancas
ter, although the contrary was evident on
the face of those very numbers. The
strong testimonials in favor of the Lan
casterian System of Education, which
they contain, being from som e of the most
eminent men in Europe and in America
—for instance, the Marquis Fayette,
who said in the French Legislative As
sembly that the system was the most im
portant invention, since that of printing,
which had been offered to mankind.
The Edinburgh Reviewers, wrho testi
fied to its excellence as applied to the
higher branches oi education.
De Witt Clinton, Governor of the
state of New York, who, in his message
to the legislature of that state, says, that
“having participated in the first estab
1 lishfhent of the Lancasterian System in
( , this country, having carefully observed
;i , its progress and witnessed its benefits, I
:» . can confidently recommend it as an inva
luable improvement, which, by a wonder
; ful combination of economy in expense,
n f and rapidity of instruction, has created a
■« new era in education,5’and “ that wherever
it has been attempted it has succeeded.”
The Pennsylvania Board of Control
lers who say, that since its introduction
, into that state the cost of education in
the schools, where it has been adopted,
has been reduced to one-third of its for
ty mer amount—that it is by far the most
V economical mode of public instruction—
V, that it causes the greatest number of chil
dren to be brought to the schools, secures
the most regular attendance and the most
icqrrect deportment of the pupils at the
schools, and the education which it en
sures is correct, substantial, and really
efficient.
An opponent of the Lancasterian Sys
tem, at this place, as if desirous of shew
ing that he is willing to go all lengths in
his attempts to deceive the community,
asserts, in the last paper, (Free Press of
15th inst.) that “ in a late National Intel
ligencer may he found a highly wfought
recommendation, bearing the imposing
name: of Joseph Lancaster, expressive of
the high satisfaction he entertains of a
young man who has been ten years trader
his u immediate tuitionSee. The fol
lowing copy of the ad mr-ti^emen-t. from
The ■?vt«foTraTT7fce!iigencer of '28th Dec.
will shew the falsity of that writer’s inti
mation, and that the expression “ imme
diate tuition,” which he has quoted as
being contained in it, is a sheer fabrica
tion of his own. Mr. Lancaster there
states: “ This experienced teacher has
been ten years engaged in tuition on the
system,” viz. engaged in teaching others.
The opponent then goes on to insinuate
that this teacher has been “ ten years ac
quiring the useful art of making letters in
the sand,” and undoubtedly expects that
those who have believed the gross ab
surdities which have formerly been utter
ed against the Lancasterian System, will
give credit to this also.
To Committees and Patrons of Lancas
terian Schools.
A young gentleman, whose qualifica
tions are of the highest character, and
worthy of tlie warmest encomiums, is
respectfully recommended by Joseph Lan
caster, founder of the Lancasterian Sys
tem of Education, as superintendant of a
school of any magnitude, from a hundred
to a thousand pupils. This experienced
teacher has been ten years engaged in tui
tion, on the system, in many cases under
Joseph Lancaster’s own eye, and in all
with his immediate sanction and appro
bation. Joseph Lancaster considers it
but justice to state, that no other teacher
on the system, in England, America, or
on Che continent cl ibaropu, p'cscirsscs, or
is entitled to the same ample testimonials
from its founder; no one having had equal
opportunities of attending his lectures, of
improving by his experience, of visiting
institutions in Europe and America, and
becoming acquainted with his latest im
provements.
Letters on this subject, post paid, may
be addressed to Joseph Lancaster,
Lancasterian Institute, Baltimore.
The fact is, the enemies of that excel
lent method of instruction know, that if
the inhabitants of Harpers-Ferry do but
reflect, for themselves, without bias, in
this case, and make their own calcula
tions upon the subject, they will be uni
versally in favor of the adoption of the
Lancasterian System of Education, and
that the only chance of preventing it rests
on the boldness and success of their mis
representations. They well know, that
the inhabitants of Harpers-Ferry will not
long consent to support four teachers out
of their hard earnings, after they clearly
perceive that one of them may, upon the
Lancasterian plan, do much better for
their children, and produce a saving of
their expenses for books, pens, ink, pa
per, pencils, fire wood, and ultimately, a
reduction of their rents; and knowing
also, that it is impossible to disprove the
testimonials of its goodness, they have re
course to the basest insinuations and per
versions of truth to effect their vile pur
poses. AN AMERICAN.
Harpers-Ferry, Jan. 15, 1822.
[There is a sentence in the foregoing
upon which it is due to ourselves to re
mark. It is that in which the writer af
fects surprise that the system for the in
troduction of which he has been laboring,
should have met with opposition, “ much
less that it would be published to the
world.” We will say nothing of the in
delicacy of presenting to an editor an ar
ticle containing such an insinuation ; but
spurn the indirect charge of aiding in the
slander of “ one of the most useful of men.”
Such conduct is neither consonant to our
feelings nor compatible with our ideas of
justice. So far from it, that we gave to a
defence of this person’s system and con
duct a far greater latitude than, perhaps,
even the most liberal notions of the free
dom of the press demanded. We did so,
because we believe it to be of the very es
sence of republicanism, that a free and
ample discussion of every question of
public interest should be allowed; and
that not only the system, but the motives
of the advocates of any particular theory,
should be fairly canvassed, as tending to
elicit light and to produce correct results.
The man who will, from an o’erweening
fastidiousness, shrink from a scrutiny of
hr motives and conduct, may lay claim to,
br; rrill find some difficulty in sustaining’,
the dignified attribute of usefulness. We
d' - laim all feelings of hostility to this,
or rtiality for any other system of edu
camin, it being our purpose to give to
every proposition a fair and impartial
hearing. In doing this, however, neither
just-Vie nor a true sense of propriety de
mand, that we should tamely yield to un
camlid imputations or insinuations affect
ing the line of conduct which conscious
rectitude has prescribed to us.]—Editors.
MR. JBALOWIn’s RESOLUTIONS,
l j\ ’) before the House of Representatives.
. . t/. That it_Js expedient to pro
vtfie uy law, that, from and after theihir
tieth day of Jure next, the same rates of
duties which aisy by the existing laws,
now laid on goods, wares, and merchan
dize, composed of any specified material,
or of which any specified article is the
material or chief value, shall be laid on
all goods, wares, and merchandize, where
- of any such specified article shall be a
component material.
That, to the existing rates of duties up
on goods, wares, and merchandize, (glass
excepted,) there shall be added the amount
of such bounty or bounties as, on the ex
portation thereof, may be given, paid, or
allowed, in the place or country whence
imported, produced, or manufactured, or
in any place or country in which any
bounty, or premium, in the nature thereof
may be given, paid, or allowed, on the
exportation of similar articles, which shall
be ascertained and calculated in such man
ner, and under such rules and regulations,
as the Secretary of the Treasury shall
from time to time prescribe.
That all and singular of the provisions
of the forty-first section of the act, entitled
“ an act to provide more effectually for
the collection of the duties imposed by
law on goods, wares, and merchandize,
imported into the United States, and on
the tonnage of ships and vessels, approv
ed the fourth of August, seventeen hun
dred and ninety,” be, and the same are
hereby revived and continued in force, as
if the same was herein specially enacted,
reducing the custom-house credi'y to the
tines limited by the law of oi^a^jusand
seven hundred and ninety.
That there shall be levied and paid up
on the following articles imported into
the United States, in ships or vessels of
the United States, the several duties here
inafter mentioned, over and above the du
ties now payable by law, viz :
On iron, in bars or bolts, per hundred
weight, fifty cents.
On hemp, per hundred wright, one
dollar.
On lead, and all manufactures thereof,
per pound, two cents.
On glass, of all kinds, per pound, six
cents.
On all articles paying a duty of seven
and a half per cent, and twenty per cent,
ad valorem, and on all articles not free,
and not subject to any other rate of duty,
(raw silks excepted) five per centum ad
valorem.
On ail manulactures ot silk, oroi which
silk is a component material, (raw silks
excepted) fifteen per centum ad valorem.
On linen, and all articles of which flax
is a component material, ten per centum
ad valorem.
That the duties now in force upon the
articles hereinafter enumerated and des
cribed, at their importation into the U.
States, shall cease ; and that, in lieu there
of, there shall thenceforth be laid, levied,
and collected, upon the said articles, at
their importation, the several and respec
tive rates of duties following, that is to
say:
On slates and tiles for building, not
exceeding twelve inches square, two dol
lars per thousand ; over twelve inches
square, and not exceeding fourteen inches
square, three dollars per thousand ; over
fourteen, and not exceeding sixteen inch
es square, four dollars per thousand ; over
sixteen, and not exceeding eighteen inches
square, five dollars per thousand; over
eighteen, and not exceeding twenty-four
inches square, six dollars per thousand.
On bricks, three dollars per thousand.
Oh all royal, super-royal, imperial, ele
phant, medium, demy, crown, folio, quar
to, post, cap, and post paper suitable for
writing, or blank books, and all drawing
and copper plate paper, twenty cents per
pound.
On all paper suitable for staining and
for printing, twelve cents per pound.
On all other paper two cents per pound.
On screws of iron, commonly called
wood-screws, not exceeding one inch in
length, eight cents per groce; over one
inch, and not exceeding two inches in
length, fourteen cents per groce; over
two inches in length, twenty cents per
groce.
On linseed oil, twenty-five cents per
gallon.
Resolved, That the committee on ma
nufactures be instructed to report a bill
pursuant to the foregoing resolution.
FROM SOUTH AMERICA.
CARACCAS, NOV. 20.
Things look uncommonly prosperous
in the Colombian Republic. The arrival
of an American consul, in Mr. Lowrey,
looks well. Liberal principles are taking
deep root in our Congress Hall. Coffee
and sugar are to be exported duty free for
ten years. Cocoa and indigo to pay tea
jKTrt! rn AOtv ;,~
paratus, tools of mechanics, and agricu.
turists, are to be free of imposts, ano
busts, pictures, See. to be admitted freely.
Custom-house oaths are abolished, and &
word of honor taken. —
FROM THE CHARLESTON CITY GAZETTE.
Pirates Sentenced.—At Savannah, o&
Friday, the 28th inst. eight prisoners, viz.
John White, Robert Wessals, Ge; rg@
Tucker, John Martin, Pierre Mauraux,
Solomon Lodowick, Thomas Hall, and
John Lloyal, were called up to receive the
sentence of the law, in the United States*
Circuit Court held at that place. A mo
tion was made by the counsel for the ac
cused in arrest of judgment on the ground
of informality in the indictment and sen
tence ; but the argument was overruled
by judge Johnson, who then proceeded to
pass the awful sentence. It is said his
address to the prisoners was short and
unstudied ; but its impression was great
ly heightened by the feeling manner in
which it was uttered. The occasion alone
would render the solemn award of justice
an appeal more eloquent in substanr*
than in language. The prisoners^
added, felt it; one of them faintec
with that sickness of the heart
shuts out hope ; and, generally, th<
guor of muscle and despairing loo
ced the horror of that trying r
One man. however. (Solomon jLoc .
listened to his fate without any appa^
emotion, and when the first Wednesday
in April was named as the day of igno
minious death, he smiled, and in retiring*
declared he would die contented, if he
could only be revenged on his accusers.
Another example will, we trust, be now
made of the final result of guilty pursuits.
Murder and piracy are deeds that all man
kind must unite to execrate and punish.
Wretches whose actions throw them out
of the pale of civilized society, should be
cast away from its protection, and no
false clemency, no natural throb of pity,
which rises within us at the prospect of
their dreadful fate, should divert the
sword of justice from its exterminating
sweep. The seas have been crimsoned
with the blood of the honest mariner, and
the wealth of the industrious merchant is
scattered by the winds, or made the pan
der and exciter to vice and villainy. ’Tis
time to crush the hydra and spare man
kind. -—•
BALTIMORE, JAN. 5.
Counterfeiters.—In our paper of the
31st ult. we noticed the apprehension of
three persons at Savannah, detected in
having1 and passing counterfeit notes.
Another account states, that the consta
bles were in pursuit of four other fellows*
supposed to be accomplices; and gives
the following list of false notes found on
one of them 3,700 dollars Planters’ and
Mechanics’ Bank, Charleston ; 2,400 dol
lars Farmers’ Bank of Virginia, Winches
ter, Lynchburg, Petersburg, and Frede
ricksburg branches ; 1,500 dollars Frank
lin Bank of Baltimore ; 3,500 dolls. Bank
of Orleans. All the above are 100 dollar
notes; 60 dollars Philadelphia Bank-—10
dollar notes; 11,260 dollars in one par
cel; 2,000 dollars Bank of Orleans'—100
dollar notes; 1,100 dollars Planters’and
Mechanics’, do. ; 100 dollar notes, Far
mers’ Bank, Virginia; 3,200 dollars in
another parcel; both found in an old
stocking;
Another letter to S. M. Allen at Netf
York, dated Charleston, 25th ult. states,
that a suspicion exists that these villains1
are the mail robbers, as genuine one hun
dred dollar notes of the Planters’ and Me
chanics’ Bank, Chari, ston, have been
found on them, the number only being
altered. Some of the above described
notes, particularly on the Franklin Bank
of Baltimore, are so well executed as to
have been received by the banks in Phi
ladelphia. A person had been arrested
in New York, for offering a false 100 dol
lar note of the Planters’ and Mechanics*
Bank of Charleston. An attempt had
been made to pass counterfeit Virginia,
bills in that city.