Excerpts from the Michigan City Gazette Newspaper.

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Excerpts from the Michigan City Gazette Newspaper.

"Let Justice Preside and Candor Investigate"
James M. Stuart - Editor

Wednesday, May 5th, 1841 edition.

(Transcriber's Note: There are only a few editions of this very early local paper available on microfilm. As seen on the film, it is obvious that there were numerous rips, tears and smudges on the original papers, leaving several blank and/or doubtful spots in the text.)

HOW TO KILL A PAPER.
Subscribe for the paper; take it two years, and then when asked (to pay) for it, curse the editor for his impude(nce), throw down a dollar, and tell him "tha(t is e)nough, and you may stop my paper." We (ha)ve seen instances like this gentle reader, and it is the best and most effective way to kill a paper. A few days since, we sent out several accounts in hopes to get either money or notes of hand, in order to have our business in some shape, and we had an account against one man for 13 months subscription, amounting to four dollars and fifty cents, for which he sent us an order on an individual for three dollars with the polite information that he would not pay any more. The order we have used, and the gentleman can have a receipt in full, if he desires it, but with this proviso, that we keep his name standing in our paper as a warning to other printers.

RATES OF INTEREST.
The following are the rates of interest in the states and territories of the Union, together with the punishment of usury. It is a valuable statement, and should be preserved.

Maine, 6 per cent - forfeit of the debt or claim.

New Hampshire, 6 per cent - forfeit or three times the amount unlawfully taken.

Vermont, 6 per cent - recovery in action with costs.

Massachusetts, 6 per cent - forfeit of three fold the usury.

Rhode Island, 6 per cent - forfeit of the money and the interest of the debt.

Connecticut, 6 per cent - forfeit of the whole debt.

New York, 6 per cent - forfeit of the whole debt.

New Jersey, 6 per cent - forfeit of the whole debt.

Pennsylvania, 6 per cent - forfeit of the whole debt.

Delaware, 6 per cent - forfeit of the whole debt.

Maryland, 6 per cent - on tobacco contracts, 8 per cent. Usurious contracts void.

Virginia, 6 per cent - forfeit double the usury taken.

North Carolina, 6 per cent. Contracts for usury void - forfeit double the usury.

South Carolina, 7 per cent. Forfeit of interest and premium taken, with costs to debtor.

Georgia, 8 per cent - forfeit of three times the usury, and contract void.

Alabama, 8 per cent - forfeit of interest and usury.

Mississippi, 8 per cent - by contract as high as 10 - usury recoverable in action of debt.

Louisiana, 5 per cent - bank interests 6 - conventional as high as 10 - beyond contract, void.

Tennessee, 6 per cent - usurious contract, void.

Kentucky, 6 per cent - usury may be recovered with cost.

Ohio, 6 per cent - usurious contracts void.

Indiana, 6 per cent - on written agreement may be as high as 10 - penalty of usury, a fine of double the excess.

Illinois, 6 per cent - three fold amount of the whole interest.

Missouri, 6 per cent - by agreement, as high as ten - if beyond, forfeit of the {unreadable here} (ta)ken.

Michigan, 7 per cent - fo(rfeit) of the usury taken, and one-fourth the {unreadable}.

Arkansas, 6 per cent - by agreement, any rate not higher than 10. Amount of usury recoverable, but contracts void.

Florida, 8 per cent - forfeit of interest and excess in case of usury.

Wisconsin, 7 per cent - by agreement not over 12 - forfeit treble the excess.
On debts and judgments in favor of the U. States, interest is computed at six per cent, a year.
Thus, there is not a single state or territory where an enlightened system prevails upon the subject of interest, for all laws limiting the price of money ought to be repealed.
- Louisville Adv.
- Madison, W.T., April 10. (Transcriber's Note: W.T. = Wisconsin Territory. Additionally, a large portion of this article is missing due to a tear in the paper. However, it is nonetheless interesting for its historical documentation of this incident.)
Trouble at St. Peters. - An express arrived at Forts Crawford and Winnebago a day or two since, from Fort Snelling, w(ith) the intelligence that the warriors of (the) Sioux tribe of Indians were collect(ing) large numbers, in the vicinity of (the) mentioned military station, and (1-2words) an attack upon the garrison. (1-2words) of Dragons from Fort Craw(ford) (1-2words) company of infantry from (1-2words) have been ordered, we on(...) (1-2words) (St.) Peters, to assist in the (2-3words). The origin of the (2-3words) this. One of the Sio(ux) (1-2words) {probably intoxicated}, create(d) (1-2words) (...)ance within the limits of (1-2words) (re)fusing to obey the order o(f) (2-3words) who commanded him to des(...) (1-2words) and resisting the attempt to (1-2words) order ri et armis, he was shot (1-2words). His body, which had been (2-3words) order of the commanding officer, wa(s) (1-2words) (...)manded by the Siouxs - but the de(...) (1-2words) was not complied with, which highly exasperated the Indians, who thereupon, as the rumor goes, assumed a hostile attitude, and commenced making their preparations for an attack.
- Enquirer.
COUNTY CONVENTION. - On Thursday last, the Whigs of this county held a convention for the purpose of nominating two candidates for representative to the State Legislature, and county officers. On the first ballot it was found that John H. Bradley, of La Porte, and Alexander Blackburn, of Kankakee were the choice of the Convention as candidates to the State Legislature. - Willys Peck was nominated for Treasurer and Collector; Benjamin Beard county commissioner; John B. Fravel, auditor; Samuel Stewart, Probate judge; Patrick S. Weed, assessor, and Jacob Bigelow, coroner. The ticket is composed, generally, of good men and true, but we learn that much dissatisfaction prevails, so much so, as to endanger the success of the entire ticket. In this city the murmurings are loud, and we must confess there is much reason for it. - For two years our citizens have gone into an election canvass with an ardor unequalled, and have had the proud satisfaction to know their exertions have twice saved the ticket from defeat. - For this very reason, and at a time when our brethren throughout the county were thanking us for our noble exertions, we were promised a representative to the state legislature, from this city. This promise was made, as we thought, in good faith, and coming as it did, from all parts of the county, we felt assured it would be fulfilled. Indeed, but a few days previous to the Convention, we were requested to present the name of some suitable person, as every delegate to the Convention felt it would be nothing more than justice to give us a candidate. - We did present the name of an individual, and asked that he might be nominated; but judge of our surprise and mortification when we saw that some of the very men who had been loudest in their professions of friendship to us, doing all they could to defeat us. To the voice of the people we are ready to bow; but at the same time, shall never quail from expressing our views fully on every matter wherein we think it is needed.
**************
For three or four weeks we have not paid that attention to our agricultural selections, which we otherwise should, had our time been less occupied by other important business. We shall endeavor to make up for it in the future. We invite every farmer or mechanic in La Porte county to open a correspondence with us, in order that we may by a unity of action, wake up the tiller of the soil to a sense of his own importance.

AGRICULTURAL MEETING.
At the annual meeting of the Laporte County Agricultural Society, on the 3d day of April, 1841, (present, Joseph Orr, President, and Thomas D. Lemon, Secretary, pro. tem.,) on motion, a committee of five was appointed to nominate officers for the ensuing year. John B. Steenbergen, Nicholas Closser, J.I. Crandall, John Hefner, and Willys Peck were appointed said committee.
An address was delivered by John B. Niles, Esq. when it was on motion of John Walker.
Resolved, That Mr. Niles be requested to furnish a copy of his address for publication, and that the editors of the Whig and Michigan City Gazette are requested to publish the same.
On motion, a vote of thanks was given to Mr. Niles.
On motion of Mr. B. Newkirk.
Resolved, That Mr. Gilbert Hathaway be requested to deliver an address to the Society at the annual Fair.
The Treasurer made a report, which was accepted.
The committee, appointed for that purpose, reported the following list of names for the ensuing year:

For President, Gen. Joseph Orr

Vice President, Daniel Brown

Corresponding Secretary, Thomas D. Lemon

Recording Secretary, John I. Crandal

Treasurer, William Hawkins;
and for Curators,

Centre Township: W.A. Place and John B. Steenbergen

Michigan: Zebina Gould and Willys Peck

Scipio: Benjamin Beard and Nicholas Closser

New Durham: John W. Cole and Daniel Jessup

Kankakee: Alexander Blackburn and Leonard Cutler

Wills: John Whitehead and John Hefner

Hudson: Alonzo Betteys and Gabriel Drillinger

Galien: Amos Cadwallader and James Catterlin

Springville: Charles Vail and Gilbert Rose (Transcriber's Note: The last two townships are now named Galena and Springfield.)

Pleasant: Samuel Stewart and Benjamin Crumpacker

Noble: Amos Webster and Benjamin Shaw

Union: John Moore and Miles Henry

Clinton: W.M. Wilson and Herbert Williams

Coolspring: Purdy Smith and Alfred Stanten;
which report was agreed to.
On motion, Resolved, That the editors of the newspapers of the newspapers in the county be respectfully requested to publish the proceedings of this meeting, as also the By-Laws and regulations of the Society.
Premiums will be awarded next fall, as shall be determined by the Managers at their meeting the first Monday in May: for which purpose they are all requested to meet at the Court House on that day, at one o'clock p.m.
- J.I. CRANDAL, R. Sec'y.
At a meeting of the Society, held at the Court House, in the town of Laporte, on the 13th day of June, 1836, the following by-laws were adopted for the government of the Society, to-wit:
ARTICLE 1st. Pursuant to an act of the Legislature, for the encouragement and promotion of Agriculture in the State of Indiana, this Society is formed, and shall be known and called by the name of the Laporte County Agricultural Society.
ART. 2. The officers of this Society shall be, a President, Vice President, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary and Treasurer, and two Curators from each township in the County, who shall be elected by ballot, by a majority of the members present: Provided, however, that nothing in this article shall interfere with the appointment of Officers for the present year.
ART. 3d. This Society shall consist of ordinary and honory members.
ART. 4. Ordinary members may be admitted by the Society, viva voce, on motion of any of its members, at any meeting thereof, but honorary membership shall be conferred only by the Board of Managers. Ordinary members may be admitted by the Treasurer, at any time between the meetings.
ART. 5th. Every person uniting with this Society shall pay to the Treasurer the sum of one dollar.
ART. 6th. The annual meeting of this Society shall be held on the first Saturday in April, at the Court House, at 10 o'clock A.M. in Laporte.
ART. 7th. There shall be three quarterly meetings of this society, to-wit: on the 4th of July, and on the first Mondays of October and January.
ART. 8th. The time of meeting at all regular meetings shall be 10 o'clock A.M. but the Society, when met, may adjourn to meet an any other hour.
ART. 9th. Twenty members shall constitute a quorum for business at all meetings. In the absence of the officers their places may be filled pro tem by ballot or otherwise.
ART. 10th. The board of managers shall have power to hold meetings for the transaction of the business of the Society, at their discretion, and to adjourn from time to time as the case may require.
ART. 11th. Any member of the board failing to attend the regular meetings of the Society, or of the board of managers and not rendering satisfactory reasons therefore, shall pay to the Treasurer one dollar for each neglect; which shall be collected by said Treasurer, for the benefit of the society.
ART. 12th. The President shall have power to call special meetings, when in his judgment the interest of the society may require it.
ART. 13th. The Recording Secretary shall keep a neat and legible Record of the proceedings of the society, and keep a regular file of all reports made thereto, and such other matters and things as may be required of him from time to time, and deliver over to his successor all books and papers belonging to his office.
ART. 14th. The Corresponding Secretary shall lay before the society at each and every meeting thereof, the result of his correspondence (if any) in a concise and explicit manner, which he shall file away in his office - subject at any time to the examination of the board of managers - all of which he shall deliver over to his successor in office.
ART. 15th. The Treasurer shall take charge of the funds of the Society, and be required to give bond with approved security to the board of managers in the penal sum of one thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful discharge of all the duties required of him by the virtue of his office. He shall report quarterly to the society the state of the funds; shall collect all dues of the society, and pay out all moneys on the order of the board of managers; and said Treasurer shall keep his books and papers always subject to the examination of the said board, and shall make to said board an annual report, setting forth the amount of funds received for the past year, and the amount expended, the amount of donations received, and the objects for which they were made, and to deliver over to his successor in office all moneys, books, and papers belonging to the society.
ART. 16th. That the Parliamentary rules be adopted so far as applicable for the government and rules of proceeding in the board of managers of this society.
- J.I. CRANDAL, Rec. Sec'y.


HOW TO KILL A PAPER. Subscribe for the paper; take it two years, and then when asked (to pay) for it, curse the editor for his impude(nce), throw down a dollar, and tell him "tha(t is e)nough, and you may stop my paper." We (ha)ve seen instances like this gentle reader, and it is the best and most effective way to kill a paper. A few days since, we sent out several accounts in hopes to get either money or notes of hand, in order to have our business in some shape, and we had an account against one man for 13 months subscription, amounting to four dollars and fifty cents, for which he sent us an order on an individual for three dollars with the polite information that he would not pay any more. The order we have used, and the gentleman can have a receipt in full, if he desires it, but with this proviso, that we keep his name standing in our paper as a warning to other printers. RATES OF INTEREST. The following are the rates of interest in the states and territories of the Union, together with the punishment of usury. It is a valuable statement, and should be preserved. Maine, 6 per cent - forfeit of the debt or claim. New Hampshire, 6 per cent - forfeit or three times the amount unlawfully taken. Vermont, 6 per cent - recovery in action with costs. Massachusetts, 6 per cent - forfeit of three fold the usury. Rhode Island, 6 per cent - forfeit of the money and the interest of the debt. Connecticut, 6 per cent - forfeit of the whole debt. New York, 6 per cent - forfeit of the whole debt. New Jersey, 6 per cent - forfeit of the whole debt. Pennsylvania, 6 per cent - forfeit of the whole debt. Delaware, 6 per cent - forfeit of the whole debt. Maryland, 6 per cent - on tobacco contracts, 8 per cent. Usurious contracts void. Virginia, 6 per cent - forfeit double the usury taken. North Carolina, 6 per cent. Contracts for usury void - forfeit double the usury. South Carolina, 7 per cent. Forfeit of interest and premium taken, with costs to debtor. Georgia, 8 per cent - forfeit of three times the usury, and contract void. Alabama, 8 per cent - forfeit of interest and usury. Mississippi, 8 per cent - by contract as high as 10 - usury recoverable in action of debt. Louisiana, 5 per cent - bank interests 6 - conventional as high as 10 - beyond contract, void. Tennessee, 6 per cent - usurious contract, void. Kentucky, 6 per cent - usury may be recovered with cost. Ohio, 6 per cent - usurious contracts void. Indiana, 6 per cent - on written agreement may be as high as 10 - penalty of usury, a fine of double the excess. Illinois, 6 per cent - three fold amount of the whole interest. Missouri, 6 per cent - by agreement, as high as ten - if beyond, forfeit of the {unreadable here} (ta)ken. Michigan, 7 per cent - fo(rfeit) of the usury taken, and one-fourth the {unreadable}. Arkansas, 6 per cent - by agreement, any rate not higher than 10. Amount of usury recoverable, but contracts void. Florida, 8 per cent - forfeit of interest and excess in case of usury. Wisconsin, 7 per cent - by agreement not over 12 - forfeit treble the excess. On debts and judgments in favor of the U. States, interest is computed at six per cent, a year. Thus, there is not a single state or territory where an enlightened system prevails upon the subject of interest, for all laws limiting the price of money ought to be repealed. - Louisville Adv. - Madison, W.T., April 10. (Transcriber's Note: W.T. = Wisconsin Territory. Additionally, a large portion of this article is missing due to a tear in the paper. However, it is nonetheless interesting for its historical documentation of this incident.) Trouble at St. Peters. - An express arrived at Forts Crawford and Winnebago a day or two since, from Fort Snelling, w(ith) the intelligence that the warriors of (the) Sioux tribe of Indians were collect(ing) large numbers, in the vicinity of (the) mentioned military station, and (1-2words) an attack upon the garrison. (1-2words) of Dragons from Fort Craw(ford) (1-2words) company of infantry from (1-2words) have been ordered, we on(...) (1-2words) (St.) Peters, to assist in the (2-3words). The origin of the (2-3words) this. One of the Sio(ux) (1-2words) {probably intoxicated}, create(d) (1-2words) (...)ance within the limits of (1-2words) (re)fusing to obey the order o(f) (2-3words) who commanded him to des(...) (1-2words) and resisting the attempt to (1-2words) order ri et armis, he was shot (1-2words). His body, which had been (2-3words) order of the commanding officer, wa(s) (1-2words) (...)manded by the Siouxs - but the de(...) (1-2words) was not complied with, which highly exasperated the Indians, who thereupon, as the rumor goes, assumed a hostile attitude, and commenced making their preparations for an attack. - Enquirer. COUNTY CONVENTION. - On Thursday last, the Whigs of this county held a convention for the purpose of nominating two candidates for representative to the State Legislature, and county officers. On the first ballot it was found that John H. Bradley, of La Porte, and Alexander Blackburn, of Kankakee were the choice of the Convention as candidates to the State Legislature. - Willys Peck was nominated for Treasurer and Collector; Benjamin Beard county commissioner; John B. Fravel, auditor; Samuel Stewart, Probate judge; Patrick S. Weed, assessor, and Jacob Bigelow, coroner. The ticket is composed, generally, of good men and true, but we learn that much dissatisfaction prevails, so much so, as to endanger the success of the entire ticket. In this city the murmurings are loud, and we must confess there is much reason for it. - For two years our citizens have gone into an election canvass with an ardor unequalled, and have had the proud satisfaction to know their exertions have twice saved the ticket from defeat. - For this very reason, and at a time when our brethren throughout the county were thanking us for our noble exertions, we were promised a representative to the state legislature, from this city. This promise was made, as we thought, in good faith, and coming as it did, from all parts of the county, we felt assured it would be fulfilled. Indeed, but a few days previous to the Convention, we were requested to present the name of some suitable person, as every delegate to the Convention felt it would be nothing more than justice to give us a candidate. - We did present the name of an individual, and asked that he might be nominated; but judge of our surprise and mortification when we saw that some of the very men who had been loudest in their professions of friendship to us, doing all they could to defeat us. To the voice of the people we are ready to bow; but at the same time, shall never quail from expressing our views fully on every matter wherein we think it is needed. ************** For three or four weeks we have not paid that attention to our agricultural selections, which we otherwise should, had our time been less occupied by other important business. We shall endeavor to make up for it in the future. We invite every farmer or mechanic in La Porte county to open a correspondence with us, in order that we may by a unity of action, wake up the tiller of the soil to a sense of his own importance.	AGRICULTURAL MEETING. At the annual meeting of the Laporte County Agricultural Society, on the 3d day of April, 1841, (present, Joseph Orr, President, and Thomas D. Lemon, Secretary, pro. tem.,) on motion, a committee of five was appointed to nominate officers for the ensuing year. John B. Steenbergen, Nicholas Closser, J.I. Crandall, John Hefner, and Willys Peck were appointed said committee. An address was delivered by John B. Niles, Esq. when it was on motion of John Walker. Resolved, That Mr. Niles be requested to furnish a copy of his address for publication, and that the editors of the Whig and Michigan City Gazette are requested to publish the same. On motion, a vote of thanks was given to Mr. Niles. On motion of Mr. B. Newkirk. Resolved, That Mr. Gilbert Hathaway be requested to deliver an address to the Society at the annual Fair. The Treasurer made a report, which was accepted. The committee, appointed for that purpose, reported the following list of names for the ensuing year: For President, Gen. Joseph Orr Vice President, Daniel Brown Corresponding Secretary, Thomas D. Lemon Recording Secretary, John I. Crandal Treasurer, William Hawkins; and for Curators, Centre Township: W.A. Place and John B. Steenbergen Michigan: Zebina Gould and Willys Peck Scipio: Benjamin Beard and Nicholas Closser New Durham: John W. Cole and Daniel Jessup Kankakee: Alexander Blackburn and Leonard Cutler Wills: John Whitehead and John Hefner Hudson: Alonzo Betteys and Gabriel Drillinger Galien: Amos Cadwallader and James Catterlin Springville: Charles Vail and Gilbert Rose (Transcriber's Note: The last two townships are now named Galena and Springfield.) Pleasant: Samuel Stewart and Benjamin Crumpacker Noble: Amos Webster and Benjamin Shaw Union: John Moore and Miles Henry Clinton: W.M. Wilson and Herbert Williams Coolspring: Purdy Smith and Alfred Stanten; which report was agreed to. On motion, Resolved, That the editors of the newspapers of the newspapers in the county be respectfully requested to publish the proceedings of this meeting, as also the By-Laws and regulations of the Society. Premiums will be awarded next fall, as shall be determined by the Managers at their meeting the first Monday in May: for which purpose they are all requested to meet at the Court House on that day, at one o'clock p.m. - J.I. CRANDAL, R. Sec'y. At a meeting of the Society, held at the Court House, in the town of Laporte, on the 13th day of June, 1836, the following by-laws were adopted for the government of the Society, to-wit: ARTICLE 1st. Pursuant to an act of the Legislature, for the encouragement and promotion of Agriculture in the State of Indiana, this Society is formed, and shall be known and called by the name of the Laporte County Agricultural Society. ART. 2. The officers of this Society shall be, a President, Vice President, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary and Treasurer, and two Curators from each township in the County, who shall be elected by ballot, by a majority of the members present: Provided, however, that nothing in this article shall interfere with the appointment of Officers for the present year. ART. 3d. This Society shall consist of ordinary and honory members. ART. 4. Ordinary members may be admitted by the Society, viva voce, on motion of any of its members, at any meeting thereof, but honorary membership shall be conferred only by the Board of Managers. Ordinary members may be admitted by the Treasurer, at any time between the meetings. ART. 5th. Every person uniting with this Society shall pay to the Treasurer the sum of one dollar. ART. 6th. The annual meeting of this Society shall be held on the first Saturday in April, at the Court House, at 10 o'clock A.M. in Laporte. ART. 7th. There shall be three quarterly meetings of this society, to-wit: on the 4th of July, and on the first Mondays of October and January. ART. 8th. The time of meeting at all regular meetings shall be 10 o'clock A.M. but the Society, when met, may adjourn to meet an any other hour. ART. 9th. Twenty members shall constitute a quorum for business at all meetings. In the absence of the officers their places may be filled pro tem by ballot or otherwise. ART. 10th. The board of managers shall have power to hold meetings for the transaction of the business of the Society, at their discretion, and to adjourn from time to time as the case may require. ART. 11th. Any member of the board failing to attend the regular meetings of the Society, or of the board of managers and not rendering satisfactory reasons therefore, shall pay to the Treasurer one dollar for each neglect; which shall be collected by said Treasurer, for the benefit of the society. ART. 12th. The President shall have power to call special meetings, when in his judgment the interest of the society may require it. ART. 13th. The Recording Secretary shall keep a neat and legible Record of the proceedings of the society, and keep a regular file of all reports made thereto, and such other matters and things as may be required of him from time to time, and deliver over to his successor all books and papers belonging to his office. ART. 14th. The Corresponding Secretary shall lay before the society at each and every meeting thereof, the result of his correspondence (if any) in a concise and explicit manner, which he shall file away in his office - subject at any time to the examination of the board of managers - all of which he shall deliver over to his successor in office. ART. 15th. The Treasurer shall take charge of the funds of the Society, and be required to give bond with approved security to the board of managers in the penal sum of one thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful discharge of all the duties required of him by the virtue of his office. He shall report quarterly to the society the state of the funds; shall collect all dues of the society, and pay out all moneys on the order of the board of managers; and said Treasurer shall keep his books and papers always subject to the examination of the said board, and shall make to said board an annual report, setting forth the amount of funds received for the past year, and the amount expended, the amount of donations received, and the objects for which they were made, and to deliver over to his successor in office all moneys, books, and papers belonging to the society. ART. 16th. That the Parliamentary rules be adopted so far as applicable for the government and rules of proceeding in the board of managers of this society. - J.I. CRANDAL, Rec. Sec'y.

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