Tri-weekly journal., 1848-01-29
/ From the Indiana State Journall
ELECTION OF CANAL TRUSTEE-PER-
I PIDIOUS CONDUCT.

cd in the election OF Trustee for the Wabash
and Erie Canal. As one among the thousands
of wings who feel deeply mortified at the cleo
tion of Austin NJ. Puett, over the many distin-
guished men who were named in connection
with that office, must express my surprise a
the action of those two or three dlsorganlzlngl
spirits who brought 1t about. l am mpelled
by no selfish considerations. As Wing, re-
ceiving no favors from the Legislature asking
and expecting none, | may be permitted to
speak as one having it common with the great
mass of the party, nothing but its own good
nothing but its complete triumph. How can
| with these views, with these aspirations, in
common with the great mass, account for the
conduct of Grafton +. Cookery, of VigO county,
and his compeers, in that eectionf 1t is as
certaned that Mr.. Puett was elected by tloO if
not three whig votes-shall | say whig votes?-
no, will not say it-but by votes that had re-
ceiyed the endorsement of our whig brethren
from the counties wheLce they hailed-a record
bearing upon its face primd tacic evidence of
devotion to whig principles, but which has been,
in the case am now citing, clearly prosen to
the contrary. One of these men, the wings of
the Legislature know, and | trust he will be
known throughout the State. That man is G.
L. Cookery, one of the representatives from
Vigo county. He sought this noteriety-de-
liberately, premeditatIngly, by acting in con-
cert with the locofocos, openly and exultingly
The others would fain cover their official de-
linquencies from the scrutinizing eyes of their
more honest constituents. But hope they
too, will meet just recompense of reward.
But, sir, allow me to inquire what possible
reason the Vigo representative can have for
defeating his political associates? Was he not
elected as whig by the wings of Vigo? Have
not the wings OF Vigo the same great interests
at stake, as their whig brethren of other por-
tions of the State represent in this Legislature.
And were not the political interests of the par
ty involved TO an eminent degree in the cleo
tion of State Trustee? Is not the result Of the
next State election, one of the contingencies
depending upon the forces mustered from the
scene of his labors?
know Mr.. Puett went about the Hall, as
surng the wings that he would not bring his
official station in contact with the freedom oi
the elective franchise, but did he draw the
wool over the eyes of any but the gentleman
from Vigo and his one ortwo iHcog. compeersY
And if lac did it over them, are they less OBJ
noxious to censure? Are they fit to be intrust-
ed with the cherished principles of devoted
Wings?
But allow me to inquire further, how il
comes, while laboring under this strange de-
lusion, that the Vigo representative the even
ing previous to his last overt act of bad faith
and worse principle, should be found in the
whig caucus, among sirtytOur good and hon
estwhigs. who, considering the important in
terests at stake, had met together, noblv re
solving to bury their local interests and person
al predictions, and go for the choice of the
majority? | ask how came the gentleman from
Vigo, there? You will say the endorsement o
the gallant wings of old Vigo was sufficient t
entite him to a seat in whg caucus Tru,
enough. But how did he honor that endorse
ment? Let the election Of A. NJ. Puett ans
wer. Seemingly in the most solemn name
did he declare himself willing to vote for thu
choice OF the majority, with one exception, anC
that was Mr.. Hanna. And when objections
were made to that proviso, he exclaimed, g
withdraw it ALL take il all back"-thus strik
ing his hands with his whig associates in tn
most sacred covenant known among politica
men. But he went further than khis, Thougl
he could not stay during the balloting for
whig candidate, TO show his sincerity, he com
mitted his vote to the hands of another gentle
men to be cast for him. And when this vot
by proxy, was cast, this gentleman, it was pre-
sumed at the time, upon the most implicit con
fdencein what he was saying,-again renew
ed that pledgei A query naturally arises here
Was Mr.. Cookery sincere when he made tho
pledge, personally, and again through his viii
friendl Or did he go there and salute ther
with this political password with the Juda
purpose in his heart, to betray them into til
hands of their opponents? 1t is enough for IN
to know that he betrayed them the very nel
day, without probing the motives which gov
erned his conduct in making these false repre-
sentations-for false they proved to be.
As devoted member of the whig party c
Indiana, and seeing it suddenly and unexpec
edly deprived of its rights and interests. an
rendered powerless where thought to be stron
torn into fragments where it ought to
united-dishonored where it ought to be hor
ored-the shame of its enemies-I say | hay
a right to ask who is the man, or men, that hay
brought this reproach upon us? | have rigl
to scIutinize their conduct, to bring to ligl
their iniquity-to brand them before their loh
constituents as hduing forfeited all title to the
confidence or future support.
1t is time the whig party of Indiana shou
clear its skirts of those who betray it-wanto
ly and wickedly betny it. 1t is time that u
on all fundamental principles and time homo
ed customs OF the party-the rcbellious shou
be Topped of like so many dead and wither,
limbs that retard the growth ofa tree and ro
the cultivator of its fruit as a reward of his |
Dor. care not who the men are-high or 10
rich or poor-if they seek the whig ranks
Office, and then with black ingratitude, tu
the influence of their official stations again
that party-l care not on what local or perso
al pretexts-theY ought to be denounced by d