Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-06-05
INDIANA STATE SENTINEL.
,eutation of Testimonial to MIR. Owen.

On receiving from Prof LARRABEE, the Silver Pitch
or presented by the women of Indiana Mr.. Owen re-
piled as follows:
I should be wholly unworthy Of the beautiful gift,
which this day receive Sir at your hands, did not
feel even from the hearts depths, that brings an on-
or far beyond what ONCE confer political dstInc-
ton bestow These, though may fairly and honor
ably aspire TO them, still but every day prizes, the
trappngs that fall TO sons ones lott sometimes
the mere reward of selfish intrigue. This Is the Tree
will Offering of those who rarely indeed step forth be
yond privacy of domestic secuslon, and can be ac-
tuaed now, doing but by single motive, TO tes-
tiiv gratitude for service rendered, or believed 10 he
rendered, to their
1t is common thing, such occasion as this, 20 dis
claim merit desert, though conscience Whisper,
shat it is lip disclaimer only but never more justly
or truthuIy could all special deserving be discIamed,
than in the present case. With the belief deeply I'M
pressed my mind for many years past that the Com
Law, modified among Us by statutory enactment,
works daily wrong and mischief 10 those VINO hau no
voice in framing it, and who let them suffer as they
may by its provisions without means OF Legislative
redress, rather regard it shortening not unde
serving of blame that had suffered good intention to
slunnber so long, than consider it as deed mering
praise or reward like this, that, last fuhlment OF
my bounden duty delegate, did what within
me Law to remedy crying and notorious injustice.
Andf Sir IN so doing did somewhat put to hazard the
popularity of the hour, if | exposed myself IN some
measure those petty shafts, which the world seems
to make it point Of honor discharge at every man
who questions Its lnalllbiity or puts niger on It's
abuses; small the risk or the danger, and little
deserving the notice with which you have hOnOred IT.
However, in my case, your own feelings may have
prompted words Of commendation far beyond desert,
am very sure Sir that, had the been your own,
you must have felt feel how little OF public reward
or distinguishing honor Justly belong to him, who but
acts as every upright is bound to act who but i'm
proves in obedience urgent convictions rare oceas-
ion to discharge duty plain and simple, that Its
neglect must have subjected him, at the bar oil con-
science, for after, to merlted se-reproach.
Yet the less, because OF my small dsseryings; do
receive with deeply gratifed feelings this token OF
appreciation from the women OF my adopted State
When in after years, it descends, valued memorial
of the past my children, may strengthen, IN their
young hearts, the love OF justice of Justice but the more
especially due those who hold political rights by
which they might secure it to themselves.
| trust that shall not be deemed encrOacher on
your kindness avail myself of the opportunity Afford
ed by this presentation, to detaln you bret space
that may say to yOu and to the public, IN connection
with the movement which brings US here tonight, lew
things, much demanded by truth and reason and which,
hope may be without their usefulness or their M
huence. hereafter.
The effort in our late Constitutional Convention which
has called forth this memorial, not Tor the time,
successful one think indeed, that the opponents OF
the section securing to married women independent
rights OF property may scarcely deny that the battle
stoUy fought. Thrice in various forms, was that
section engrossed; twice passed, under the yeas and
nays. Bat then appeals to the fears Of the tlmd,
whisPerings the doubts OF the cautious Then were
successfully stirred 10 action latent lealOuses, sumber
ing preudices. How easy to do this Who, that has
read the lessons of the past will wonder that 1t was
done You ask to surrender, in favor OF others,
certain exclusive rights Of property with which law and
custom have clothed them, and which they conscious
of the power retain, would give the lie to all
perience it would present isolated in the history
of human progress, if the surrender were made quietly,
with ready assent without argument or struggle
Then, again. the law which 1t proposed To change,
is Of those ancient landmarks which fathers have
1t embOdies usage of antiquity remote In all
Common Law countries, that 1.-THE memory oil man run
meth to the contrary Memory cngs toit Venerable
associations cluster around it. 1t stands like
cent patriarch OF the forest the survivor Of thousand
storms; that the limbs retain their sap the trunk
its souniness but because the verdant ivy Of antiquity
entwined sustaningy around it, adOrns its deiormiy
and cOnceals It's decay
Abuse, the incumbent, make hard fight
against REFORM the newcomer Mankind more
disposed to suffer, while evils suherable than to
right themselves by abolishng the forms which they
have been accustomed" And it is not a little remark
able and fact pregnant with instruction. that there is
If may express it, a family likeness between the
various styles Of argument put forth different periods
OF the world in defence Of the things that be- whether
the proposal to change these 60 merely to the repeal n"
ancient law reach the subvertion Of entire gov
ernment system.
1t will be three-quarters of century, in the month of
July since crowd assembled in open square
and its Joining street. Chestnut street in Philadelphia,
Of grave aspect read n certain document, every
syllable Of which thrilled through the hearts of the null
titude.
The same words reached the ears Of all; the words
chow often repeated since that these United States
are, and Of right ought be, free and ndependcht'-
AL nedrd the announcements all lett lis vast
good or for evil, bu how various, how opposite
the effects produced the minds of the listeners That
document divided them as all great public movements
divide mankind into two classes the Conservative and
the Progressive.
The word Tory, to-day but an offensive term of re-
proach a respectable word then. And If could
but have followed Of those who bore and glored
in bearing It, their handsome residences and down.
with them in luxurious parlor. to listen their
the they had just left instructive,
indeed, might have been the lesson
H. tboa ho~ olo clr ms
titled the Declaration, read that day from the steps of
the old State House. that there nothing plausible
then to be urged against it grievous error Moth
ing sound nothing logical grant you but for plaus-
ible When did old ever lack specious plea de-
fend il
IL required to coniure up before you graphic
sketch Of what may fairly imagine to have been in
those days the style Of argument among the anrevo
luonsts i should adopt believe, for text book, this
volume Mr. o. held up the volume of Debates Of the
Convention) sometimes called ''FOwler's Book of Mar
tyrs' and should turn, for material the speeches
here recorded that terrible section of last winter
which, had it been adopted was have spread know
not what unheard fcataogue ofevs social and political
over our bghted land nay, might have imagined in
reading someofthese lugubrous tirades-was have
produced among US, in a domestic il in a national
sense, the times so wildly pictured by the poet,
When Murder barred her arm, and rampant War
Yoked the red dragons iron car;
When Peace and Mercy, banished from the plain,
Sprung, on the viewless winds, to Heaven again.
A word altered here and there as Iogalty for
domestic obedience; few slight changes of phrase a.
the substitution OF gracious king and Louag subject for
generous husband and derOted rife; and undertake to
Gull from these Debates the staple Of an argument that
would have reioiced the heart Of CORVALLIS himself
Let US try IL:
All this morbid laundering after novelty this rest
less never satisfied spirit Of cous innovation Where
will 1t end When came good Of itl How wise we
have grown" How much wiser than our benighted
furn- Fat ara y No.