Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-05-07
To Correspoudents.


notice of this weighty subject continues to edify
his readers with the repetition of has opinion that
Gov. Whitcomb did not subscribe enough towards
erecting the Jackson monument. The question is
what is enough! To answer this, we must regard
the cost of the object The monument is to be an
equestrian statue. The design to afford to erery
friend of the cause an opportunity Of contributing
towards the work. Now have made cacula-
ton and find that if but one in every hundred of the
democratic voters was to contribute but one half as
much as did Gov Whitcomb, it would amount to far
more than sufficient to accomplish the whole work
In the present case the contributors in this city
amounted to serenity. Of these but one contributed
more than Gov Whitcomb, but five contributed as
much, leaving sixty-four who contributed less. But
we make no invidious distinctions, for each doubt
contributed enough for the object in view. The sta
tue will be erected. Let it be borne in mind too that
Gov. Whitcomb, from his position is naturally the
object of more applications for public and private
charity and aid, Of all kinds, than any other one
among How he has met such calls, may be in
ferred from the fact that this is the first complaint of
the kind that has been made, and this is made only
because be happens, Just now, to be candidate for
the SURFACES of his fellow-citizens. Else why not
attack many prominent democrats in our State who
have not subscribed at all !
1t will be recollected that just after the result of
the last Presidential election KNOWN 1t was pro-
posed by leading men of the wing party that coos
sal marble statue should be erected in honor of Henry
Clay on one of the hills of Kentucky between Cincin-
matt and Louisville, and facing the Ohio river And
how was Wing generosity to be manifested! Why,
the proposition was, that every whig voter in the
United States should have the honor of contributing
just ttcelue-Gnd-a-ha centS-neither nor less
towards the work. 1t was well known that the
amount thus raised would be far more than sufficient
to make the statue, besides literally paying all
nected in any degree nth the mailer. Well did any
of the democratic party that occasion, accuse
the wings of parsimony want of admiration to their
political leader Not at all, and for at least three
very good reasons. /. Because that sum cannot be
called parsimonious which is sufficient for its object.
2 Because democrats place their objections to their
opponents on their principles and measures 3. The
very cause in which they engaged makes demo-
Gratis noble and hgh-minded-and they could feel that
an objection of this kind would be rather "smal po-
tatoes." A. Because democrats would not think that
any actual calamity would take place, if the wings
should not only contribute too little, but actually fail
-as they have failed-to erect any statue TO Mr..
Clay s. Above all, they would feel that it none
of their business.
The simple sum contributed is not the measure Of
the gratitude or admiration of the giver where it
ceeds the cost Of the object. The overpus in thai
case would 90 to strangers Mere money cannot can
eel the gratitude and admiration due to the memory
of the illusrious Jackson for the benefits derived by
his country from his TO be forgotten military
and civil services. As money alone cannot expires:
this deep sense of obligation, how shall it be testified
We answer by rescuing the name of the departed
Hero and Statesman from the unjust reproaches Of his
enemies, and the disseminating and intoxicating th'
noble the just, and the patriotic sentiments and prn
cipes to establish which, he devoted his iustrlou
life. How far Gov. Whitcomb has labored an thu
way, with tongue, pen, and purse the people of In
diana do not require 10 be told.
But how stands the account with the editor of tht
Journal! We believe he sometimes takes credit fol
having once been jackson man" himself. Has h
contributed any thing towards the monument! Or
the contrary, even the cold and silent tomb has no
been sufficient to disarm his malignty to shield it
unconscious tenant from his abuse.
We have extended these remarks further than tE'
nature of the subject deserved merely for the purpos
of saying that the very fact that Gov. Whitcomb'
enemies descend to such small, pitifM accusations, i
abundant proof that they have nothing of a NOR
weigty character to urge and that they already de
spair of defeating him, unless upon personal ground
and misrepresentation, entirely apart from the grea
questions of State or national policy, which he has
constantly upheld and advocated.