The Litchfield County post., 1826-07-04


 of tho inhabitants that if tho Spaniards were to attempt to take advantage of their divisions, all would instantly unite to opp pose them. There is not much consOla- ton in this for if they are to fight among themselves and cut each others thTOats, it would perhaps be better that they should have a foreign foe among them. But must they always be at war either without or within? The writer of the letter seems to be of the opinion of some people whose chains of wedlOck sit uncomfortably, and who seem to think it is we'll enough for them to ply each other with the shovel and broomStick, provided that both weapons are turned against any third person who may attempt to interfere.
 The Mexican Aguila of May 10th, re- lates the assassination of man by the name of Marchona, formerly monk, which had produced great sensation in the capital, and given rise to many conjectures. He had kept himself in concealment, on ac- count of having been suspected of de- sign to commit murder, which has since proved to be too we'll founded. On the night of the 18th he was found covered with wounds in the place of his conceal ment. Other recent acts of violence arc complained of, and the police of the city justly blamed.
 4 Libel Suit was commenced against the Editors of the N. Y. American in October 1924, by Erastus Root of notorious memory, then It. Gov. of New-York, and leader of ! the immortal Seuenteen,-for publication in their paper charging him with intoxication while presiding over the Senate at the extra Session of the 5th of August, of the above mentioned year. After considerable political 1 chlcanery, the cause came up for trial on the 18th ult, before Judge Belts, on the Delaware county circuit and after long and critical investigation, the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff of sl4OO damages and cts. cost. From the different reports of the trial, which we have read, we are much inclined to view this as very extraordinary decision, and one of vital importance to the liberty of the press, if it may hereafter be appealed to as prece- dent for future jurors. These reports repre- sent it as trial where "justice and judgment did not occupy conspicuous seat upon the bench, since the council for the parties appear to have been permitted to wander so widely from the path, as to contend about the political differences which distracted that state at the time of the publication of the alledged libcl,- and since ten respectable witnesses, and sev- eral of them at that time members of the sen ate, swore positively, to what they "saw with their own eyes, and heard with their own ears" that the charges in the American were substantially true,-and this positive testimo- ny was done away, by the negatiue tcstimo- my of as many more, who swore they did not perceive the indications of drunkenness, speci- fed in the charge.
 In the publication of the defendants we can see nothing that appertains to libel, Every body" friend or foe,--says that Gen. Root is an incorporate man, and not genteel drunk ard by the way, but one of your real jolly old toPers, ready at all times to compromise his reputation for quart of brandy. Now to ac- cuse such fellow of ''bearing little too heavy upon the neck" is not defamation, especially when we consider, that, to all his other sins, was to be added that of political treachery, in sacrificing the well known wishes of great and enlightened people to the Crawford mi nority in the state. His character is not in- jured by the charge,-for, in fact, as far as it pertains to good morals, he is reported to have been destitute of character for goodly number of years. Now we know not how other peo- pie will view the subject; but if Gen. Root has not made himself fair game for the corps Editorial, we will acknowledge that in this in- stance we have missed figure, and got the .'wrong pig by the ear.' He arraigns per son for breach of the peace in calling him a drunkard,-- ,--and arrays his witnesses, to prove that the accusation is groundless, every one of which says he is an incorporate man,--we would correct ourseif, Charles E. Dudley, of the Albany Regency, says he (Gen. Root is no more inclined to get too highly excited than other gentlemen are! at least, gentlemen of his acquaintance. Reckon the witness