Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-12-31
ROBERT DALE OWEN.
a w AsHINGToNrAN.


10 the editor ofN.e Palladium.
SR:-I have been an attentive locker on
for many years, at the strife of politics which is
become rife and general IN our country, and
mostly a silent spectator OF the same There are
times, however, when II becomes almost a crime
to keep silence when a sense OF duty should a
rouse tho most idle and IIdfei en. Having seen
much which could approve in the leaders OF
both our great political parties, | have OCCASION
ally voted on both sides, according as approved
Of the moral character Of tho candidates. am,
sir a professor of Religion and have adopted the
old fashioned maxim that corrupt tree cannot
bring forth good frui',' therefore have generally
preferred such candidates who could best stand
tho test Of such n criterion Too many, sir, OF
public men are men OF loose character ano
lives. 1t is well known that Congress abounds
with such, and thereby the character, and the Dig
niiy and the business of the nation has ''become
a bye>word and reproach" ! believe II my
duly TO prefer to office those who have "the fear
Of God than the fear OF men before their
ewes" Nor can | consider it consistent IN any
christian professor Of any denoHlna ton, TO a Id IN
cevatIng TO othce any person who dtsregards the
precepts or Impugns the doctrines Of revealed re-
iigion. Ours, sir, is a Christian Nation, and all
laws and institutions are based upon Christian
principles and usages, and It Is a political anom>
ally to choose such public servants, who either IN
theory practice are enemies to both. | was
therefore much surprised a few weeks since to see
in the Jetfersonan recommend ton Of Robert
Dale Owen, a candidate for Governor OF our
State! Ii surely must be unknown TO that gen
tlemau that r ID Owen has done more publicly,
than any man in our day TO overthrow and bring
into disrepute common Religion, to destroy
the hopes and belief Of the righteous, and nculca te
the cold, wretched. hearess doctrines of atheism
and general infdelity.
Robe., d lie Owen, sir, has shown himself not
q mere speculative scepuc on sundry doctrines as
the majority of unbeesers are, bu, wholesale
opposer 10 The belief Of Ds,y, Savior, or a
future state! What shadow Of pretence then can
any religious person have for voting for such
man to be the Governor Of Christian State?
"Let no such man be trusted" Mr.. Owen has
been but a few years in our country; he is British
born and bred, and when he first came before the
public il was at New York, editor of the Free
Enquirer coadjntor with the notorious Fanny
Wright. Together they assaulted the Christian
Religion in print and IN debate, and in conlunc-
ton with the avowed atheist Abner kneeIand,
poured their on,empt upon all religion and all its
professors 1t was all however IN vain, the chris
tian religion still survives, nor are the hopes OF
its professors ready to perish Mr.. Owen left the
East and came into this State to look after the
wreck which his fathers antl-religious society
had left him at New Harmony. He came into
democratic county, and became a Jealous poiti
cun. He twice sent TO The Legislature. as
he promised or projected a canal down the valleV
Of the Wabash by his own property and through
his own county. Bat his ambition reached highs
err though a foreigner, and inimica to our
iisious opinions, no wished 10 60 10 Congress
He bought press aud started il at Evansville,
10 advocate his claims; he engaged one Of the
Growing Chapman's 10 edit il for him, one Of the
most scurrous of tools, who had formerly been
EMPLOYED BY his aiheistica friend iceland -
The paper ived twelv emonihs, and by its gross
language md superficial politics, injured the Dem
ocra,ic party in the District, and he was beat by
the renegade Wing Profit; his own county for.
merly strongly democratic having since twice
returned Wing representatives.
What claim then a politician can MIR. Owen
possibly have 10 be made Governor of the State?
OF his party there is scarcely man in public
life but who has greater Claims for public servi-
ces Mr.. Oven has sold his press another of
his creatures. and in another il now puffs
Mr. Owen. Ave, openly comes out and recon-
mends him for Governor. OF course Mr. Owen
knows nothing Of this! He add no, prompt ~
Oh no no! not he but i. afords him opPortu-
nifty Of keeping his name before the public; and
what is better, OF declining and refusing the honor
with many thanks and much cant and atfectation
about other candidates claims. Does Mr.. Owen
think that either wings or democrats can be de
ceived with such hummery as this! No man af-
fecis moderation and suayIty OF disposition to-
wards his political opponents moro than Mr.
O.ar but | believe no man has it less al heart